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New Art Talent: Online Art Galleries are a Great Place to Discover Emerging Artists

Brian Wiltshire — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:02:39 +0000

When looking for new art talent, there are many ways to start your search, but online art galleries are most likely the best.

There are those that say that a good place to find new talent is at a college art department. There is a good chance you will, but what about the natural talent who chooses not to go that route? Others prefer the trip to an art gallery.

Galleries are always looking for new talent to showcase. But what if you live a long distance from a metropolitan area? Most know that the best galleries are in New York, Miami, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. Another thing to consider is a physical gallery will only showcase one artist at a time. What if their art doesn’t appeal to you?

Find Great New Artists Online!

Looking for original artwork for sale online? Our online fine art gallery features art and artists from around the world. Discover a new abstract artist, landscape painter or even a mixed media master. Find the perfect piece for your home or office!

All of our artists are professionals in their field and we are pleased to represent both established and emerging artists for your review. Shop our online art gallery today!

So the physical art gallery is a good place to start, but with some limitations. Online galleries take some of the guess work from your search. As with physical galleries, they are always looking for new talent. But unlike physical galleries, they can showcase many artists at a time. They really pick up where physical galleries leave off. They can showcase many emerging artists at a time, and the show can be for a longer period of time.

You will also find artists that may not have gone the “college” route. You don’t have to be in a large metropolitan area, all you need is a computer, tablet or smart phone and internet access. Voila! Art at your fingertips.

The best part is that if one artist’s art doesn’t appeal to you, there will probably be another artist or online gallery that will. The gallery will send the art to your home, making an expensive trip to a major metropolitan area unnecessary, and your collection will grow and, hopefully, prosper! New art talent can be found in online art galleries faster and easier than college art departments or physical galleries.

The Fight for Klimt’s Masterpiece, the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer

Brian Wiltshire — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:58:38 +0000

The fight for Klimt’s masterpiece began because of what the Nazi’s did with fine art and artwork.

Before and during WWII, the Nazi’s went on a campaign of seizing, or stealing to those who lost out, great works of art from private homes and businesses of Jewish people and others who the Nazi’s considered “enemies”.

Now the legacy of stolen art is coming back to haunt those who reaped the benefit 60 years later. In Germany, a German federal court ruled that the German Historical Museum in Berlin has to return a rare collection of handcrafted posters to the son of the original owner. The posters were seized by the Nazis from a Jewish art collector in the 1930s.

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Many similar cases have come to the courts in recent years involving art stolen from Jews by the Nazis. In those cases, the descendants of the original Jewish owners have been awarded back their family’s stolen pieces.

The most famous case was one that involved Gustav Klimt’s masterpiece, the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer. The beautiful painting of Adele, a high society hostess became known as Austria’s Mona Lisa. She was also Jewish. She had commissioned Klimt to paint her portrait. Klimt was already well-known at the time for his erotic, gold-leaf paintings. Adele began to sit for a series for Klimt. There were, as the sittings went on, whispers through Vienna of a possible affair between them.

The portrait was a sensation from the first. It hung in the Bloch-Bauer home for several decades, but in 1941 a Nazi officer walked into the home, took it off the wall and brought it to Vienna’s national gallery, now known as Belvedere. The Nazi’s also renamed it, so that there was no reference to the Jewish family that owned it.

The painting remained on display at the Belvedere until 1998, when Bloch-Bauer’s niece, Maria Altmann began a six-year fight to reclaim the portrait of Bloch-Bauer. She was 82 at the time and lived in Southern California. The Austrian press raised a furor and Austria fought tooth and nail to keep the painting or any of the other items looted in the 30’s and 40’s. After a long and difficult legal battle, an Austrian court found in Altmann’s favor. Sixty-eight years after the painting was stolen, it was returned to the family. For more information, visit, Fight For Klimt Portrait A Fight To Reclaim History. The fight for Klimt’s masterpiece is finally over and the it turned into a happy ending for the Bloch-Bauer family.

Oldest Art Studio Ever- Cape Town South Africa Discovery

Brian Wiltshire — Tue, 01 May 2012 08:11:27 +0000

Scientists have discovered an amazing 100,000 year old paint processing workshop in a South African cave.

This discovery shows that our ancestors had a bit of a basic understanding of chemistry and for long term planning. Scientists came to this conclusion from what was discovered: bones, charcoal, grindstones, hammerstones and, ochre, an iron-rich red rock. This last piece, the ochre, was the most important.

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The discovery was made in the Blombos Cave, about 185 miles east of Cape Town. Researchers say these tools and materials were used to make a something much like paint. They found an ochre charcoal mixture in an abalone shell. The ochre and charcoal were mixed with a liquid and heated, crushed mammal bones. While it isn’t completely clear how the mixture was used, but the researchers think that it may have been used in cave paintings, on clothing or to decorate the human body.

So why is this important? Mostly because it adds to the mounting evidence that modern human behavior, in this case artistic expression, emerged early in our history. Previously it was thought that we started to “act modern” sometime between 100,000 and 200,000 years ago, and that there was a dramatic change 40,000 to 50,000 years ago, when evidence of sophisticated cognitive behavior appears: use of things like tools and so forth.

However, now it is being discovered that this complex behavior appeared much earlier. In 2007, researchers found even older traces of things like red ochre, very small blades and the use of shellfish at a site dating back 164,000 years. This current discovery shows use of tools and artistic expression, as well as the knowledge of how to mix items together to use them for something other than survival. The dating of this current discovery of 100,000 years pushes back our current understanding of how we evolved, and how long ago it really happened.

For more information visit, Hominid Hunting, The Earliest Known Artist’s Studio from the Smithsonian.

Why You Should Sell Your Art Work Though an Online Art Gallery

Brian Wiltshire — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:20:10 +0000

Should you sell your art through an online art gallery? Being an artist is not easy, and making a living as one is even harder. Finding good ways to market yourself and your work is even harder and takes up time that most artists would rather be using being…artists.

The internet would seem to offer the answer to the problem, and in some instances can be. In others, it can make other problems. The answer is, if you are smart and do your homework, it can be the best way for artists to market their art and make money.

The internet can offer a diverse market of buyers, people who might not have seen an artist’s work had they not looked online. It also offers the opportunity to have more than one outlet for your art, as opposed to the traditional art gallery. Having someone else handle the details of selling your art frees up your time to do what you love.

Find Great New Artists Online!

All of our artists are professionals in their field and we are pleased to represent both established and emerging artists for your review. Shop our online art gallery today!

But, unless you educate yourself about the ins and outs of Internet selling, you could end up with problems. Your best bet is to do your homework before agreeing to do business with an online art gallery. A few simple searches and about 30 minutes of your time can save you money, time and aggravation in the long run. Go to the gallery website and look for corporate information, including an address, which is usually in the “contact me” area or at the bottom of the page.

Once you have a corporate name, then google the state and “business name search” or “corporate information”. This should take you to that state’s corporate information search area. Plug in the name and look to see if they are registered in that state as a business in good standing. There may be a disclaimer that the information provided isn’t a guaranty of being in good standing, but generally if they are listed as “active” they have provided the state what it needs to remain in business.

Your last search should be on the Better Business Bureau site and state Attorney General website for any complaints filed there. Be smart and selling your art through an online art gallery can work well for you.

How Artists are Using Pinterest to get the Word Out About Their Art Work for Sale

Brian Wiltshire — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:28:27 +0000

Pinterest has become the new online thing. It’s a relatively new social networking site that allows users to “pin” images to their profile, organize those images into collages called “pinboards,” and then share those collages with other users.

Users can follow other members, comment on their pinboards, tag them in comments and like other things people “pin”. Users use it for everything from recipes, pictures of their families, fans of bands, anything you can think of. What’s even better, artists can use it to get the word out about their art work and what they have for sale. So how can artists use this new tool to market their work?

Find Great New Artists Online!

All of our artists are professionals in their field and we are pleased to represent both established and emerging artists for your review. Shop our online art gallery today!

Here are some suggestions for artists who want to use Pinterest. First, create a board or even several boards on Pinterest to share your work. It’s a great way to showcase your best stuff to a targeted audience of artists, galleries, and potential customers. Then follow other people, since their pins will decorate your home page making it a hodgepodge of color and texture. Pin your best work to your board. Then embed those pins into other areas of your social network: blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Showcase who you are and what you do wherever the internet can find you.

A note about copyright issues. Since Pinterest is a new medium there have been issues about images appearing on the site without proper attribution. These will be worked out. Pinterest will not stay in business long if they don’t, but in the interim, monitor what is going on. If you find that your work is being pinned on Pinterest without a proper link back to you, you have the right to ask that user to either remove the pin or provide correct attribution. As in any other medium, protecting your creations ultimately comes back to you.

We are excited to represent our featured artists on our Pinterest account as part of our representation! Check us out http://pinterest.com/discoverart!

The Discovery of a 40,000-Year Old Figurine Reignites Debate Among Archaeologists About the Origins & True Purpose of Art

Brian Wiltshire — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:58:47 +0000

A 40,000 year old carved sculpture of a human being is so small it could be hidden in your fist was discovered at the bottom of a vaulted cave in southwestern Germany in the fall of 2008. Carved out of mammoth ivory, the figurine is clearly the figure of a woman, with large breasts and elaborately carved genitalia. No head, arms or legs were carved specifically, but are merely suggested.

A team of archeologists headed by Nicholas Conard, a Ohio-born archaeologist with the University of Tübingen, found the sculpture. They named the discovery the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and its discovery renews a serious scholarly debate that has reared its head after each discovery since Stone Age figurines were first discovered early last century at Hohle Fels and nearby caves.

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All of our artists are professionals in their field and we are pleased to represent both established and emerging artists for your review. Shop our online art gallery today!

The debate revolves around whether these were literal representations of the surrounding world or artworks created to express emotions or abstract ideas. Depending on who you ask, some view them as representations of sought-after game animals and, therefore, survival tools, not works of art. However, many of the figurines discovered so far represent predators such as lions and bears and aren’t game animals. Others found are figurines of including a half-lion, half-man. These and the Venus have now some scholars thinking about what these figures can tell us about prehistoric perceptions and their thoughts on beauty and obesity or symbols of hope for a well-nourished community.

Conard seems to think they are “an extremely powerful depiction of the essence of being female,” and is convinced the artifacts from these caves depict a turning point in human development. No matter if they are art or talismans, they show creativity that began more than 35,000 years ago. From these caves in Germany the artistic impulse spread to Stone Age France and Spain. There cave paintings dated later than the figurines have been discovered. Of course, finding the true answer is probably impossible. To read more of the article, visit the Smithsonian Magazine.

Buying Fine Art Online – Framing Considerations

Brian Wiltshire — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 07:21:44 +0000

Buying fine art online gives you access to artists and pieces that might not be available in your local galleries, but there are some drawbacks. No one wants to pay a premium for purchasing framed art that may be shipped half way around the world.

The day comes when you have received that fabulous piece of fine art that you’ve been dying to get. Now, how to frame it… how DO you frame it? The kind of frame you choose and how you mount the art will have a huge impact on how it looks and its value. Frames enhance the aesthetic aspects of the work of art, and your home or office, as well as to providing protection for the piece.

The frame. What you choose should hit three marks: the piece of art; the room where it will be hung; and your own tastes. Getting all three to synch can be a challenge. The piece may call for something ornate, but that would clash with your décor and taste. The more important of the three is the work itself. Don’t frame it in something that will detract from the art. Having it always fit the art means you can more easily make it fit into your decor. If you’re not sure, ask. A reputable framer will have much more experience with different types of art and décor, so give them the details of the room, your taste and show them the art and they can help find the best frame to fit all three.

The mounting. Another very important issue is making sure the piece is mounted and protected properly. A piece that is improperly matted and mounted can be damaged and the value of the piece irreparably harmed. Do you put it under glass or acrylic? What kind of mat should be used? All materials chosen and used in framing your art should be archival, acid free and all rag fiber.

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Our online fine art gallery features art and artists from around the world. Find the perfect piece for your home or office, get a one-of-a-kind paining for a client or discover an emerging artist at our online art gallery today!

Glass, acrylic or plexiglass. Glass is cheaper and easier to keep clean, but it is heavier and more easily broken and can create a glare. Acrylic or Plexiglas is a better thermal insulator, is lighter and won’t shatter. It can also be treated with filters to protect the art from ultraviolet rays which can damage art over time. However, it attracts dust and needs special cleaning solutions. It has a propensity for static electricity so it should never be used to cover pastels, charcoals or other mediums that have powdery pigmented surfaces. Never let glass or acrylic touch the art piece itself.

Matting. Mats are important to provide support for the artwork and separate it from the glass creating a “breathing” space. Chosen correctly, the matting can enhance the art as well.

When considering framing options, make sure to take advantage of your local resource to make the fine art you purchased online a true work of art! We have a local shop that has spent hours with us, pouring over matting options and frame styles. Remember that buying fine art online is just like purchasing locally, a great framing job can make or break the piece!

Site Specific Art & Decor

Brian Wiltshire — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 07:52:56 +0000

Site specific art is artwork created to fit into a specific place and décor. When planning for the piece, the artist takes the space or purpose into account. It could be indoor or outdoor. Artistic landscaping is a good example of this, or creating a sculpture to be placed outside or on a specific building is another. Of course, there are so many types of art. Here’s some history and examples.

The term “site specific art” was first used in the mid 1970’s by sculptors like Patricia Johanson and Dennis Oppenheim. They started doing public commissions for larger urban sites.

It was expanded into environmental art and was first described as a “movement” by architectural critic Cathrine Howett and art critic Lucy Lippard. This type of site specific art usually combines landscaping and sculptural elements that are permanently placed as part of the site. Interestingly enough, dance performances have been described as site specific art, if they were choreographed and performed for a specific location, based on its historical, social or environmental specifics. Others consider architecture itself as site specific art.

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Typically, though, what comes to mind when you think of site specific art is a large mural or painting that is created for a wall, building or business, or even a home, created specifically for that space.

One great example that comes to mind is art created by Robert Wyland. Wyland created 100 different murals all over the US and internationally of marine life, known generally as “whaling walls”. These were outside murals painted on the sides of buildings, commissioned by the building owners, of marine life usually specific to that area, like the murals of “Extinct Atlantic Grey Whales” painted in Baltimore, Maryland or “Humpbacks off the Jersey Coast” painted in Wildwood, New Jersey.

Site specific art is really not a “new” idea. One could argue that the Sistine Chapel ceiling is site specific art!

Marriage of Art & Design

Brian Wiltshire — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:53:55 +0000

Art and design… some think they are two words that describe the same thing. Sometimes they can be, but not quite. Both use similar techniques and appeal to our aesthetic senses, but they differ in what they do, what their purpose is. Design gives its aesthetics in what we use and live in, but art gives its aesthetic presentation of things to think about and look more deeply into. They work together, but are separate things. So let’s look at both.

Design is a utilitarian thing. It’s how we use or convey things about ourselves in our living and working spaces. It’s not created in a vacuum. A designer starts with existing components: walls of a particular size and scale, colors, or other components. The designer takes those components and decides how they should come together. They may change them some: i.e. color or by changing room size or spacing, but there is no “blank canvas”. Design is also beyond the aesthetic. If the design of a piece of furniture is absolutely beautiful, but it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do, then the design is bad. Design is judged by whether it accomplishes a goal or end. It may be very attention getting and grab the emotions of the person viewing or using it, as art does, but it sill must achieve its end.

Original Artwork For Sale Online!

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Our online fine art gallery features art and artists from around the world. Find the perfect piece for your home or office, get a one-of-a-kind paining for a client or discover an emerging artist at our online art gallery today!

Art isn’t utilitarian. It has its own purpose. While there are those over the centuries who have tried to control its purpose, such as art patrons dictating to artists, those same artists have been known to march to their own beat and listen to their own muse in creating their works.

Artists start with a blank canvas or lump of clay. They create from nothing, visualize the piece from beginning to end and create it. Its primary purpose is itself, secondary purpose the intent of the one who commissioned it. Art’s primary achievement is beauty, whether it is in the eye of the beholder or not and that is how it is judged. The person viewing it looks into the work to see its purpose and needs no specific goal.

They work together, can be the same means to an end, but are different in how they get there.

Lighting is Part of the Relationship You Have with Fine Art

Brian Wiltshire — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 07:27:44 +0000

Fine art galleries the world over know a truth, art is not just about a canvas and some paint, it is also about the showing and environment the piece is displayed in!

Fine Art is can be a depiction of many different things. It’s not just about what you see in portraits or what you see in various types of exhibits, but what the artist felt and how they manifested that feeling in the medium they used.

Art may also be found in the little things. Anything around us can become a form of art or a form of expression depending on our perception. However, for the most part, our perceptions of art may be affected by the lighting that surrounds it.

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Our online fine art gallery features art and artists from around the world. Find the perfect piece for your home or office, get a one-of-a-kind paining for a client or discover an emerging artist at our online art gallery today!

Lighting is an important aspect when it comes to art. It is a vital tool of the trade. Because of lighting, we are able to see both the technical aspects of the piece like brushstrokes or lines, as well as different views of the piece depending on the lighting’s focus. The way light touches any art subject can affect the way you think about it and more importantly, the way you interpret it.

So it really is no surprise to see that a lot of people who showcase their fine art collections would really be meticulous about the lighting. As you have probably seen from most fine art galleries’ exhibitions, the curators have really considered how each work of art should be illuminated. Halogen is a popular choice because it can add that glow or spotlight charisma over a piece of art.

In a technical version of viewing the relationship between art and lighting, the term “chiaroscuro” may come to mind. This Italian word literally means ‘light-dark’ and it is mostly used by painters to help depict the difference between an illuminated part of the portrait from the part which is supposed to be the foreground or the shadow. This strategy is also in sculptures as well as mixed media pieces. Chiaroscuro is a clear depiction of how light is relevant to art.