Years ago, a well-known annual art show had a set of guidelines which outlined why some paintings may not make it to the hanging stage. One of the most ardent points was that if seascapes didn't show the curvature of the earth on the horizon, they would most likely not be chosen for hanging.
Read MoreHonestly, there are more grumpy artists in the world than you can poke a stick at, and there are very few of us that haven't been in that category at least once.
Apart from things that do not go right while we are painting, it's mostly art shows and galleries that can turn us sour.
Read MoreI must confess from the outset, that when looking through an art show, I zero-in on paintings with brush strokes. For me, there is nothing more exciting about a painting than seeing evidence of the brush. And that includes knife marks and pastel strokes.
Read MoreAs most people see it, a painting is either a print or an original. We see and feel the brush marks and exclaim - "yep, it's an original!"
Several years ago a gallery in Australia was selling hand-painted copies of Vincent's work. Even though they were very close to the original works of Van Gogh, they were just hand-painted copies, nothing more or less. So, even though they were produced with brushes and paint, did that really make them originals? The answer is clearly no. There was nothing at all original about them.
Read MoreOf all the paintings styles in the world today, I believe impressionism is the most powerful.
When the impressionists of the 19th century were given the label it was not a friendly description. Their work was regarded by many as unfinished and rough. Such a departure from the traditional ways was not accepted with open arms.
Read MoreUnless the art class you attend is part a needful social outlet, there is no need to be going there for years on end to improve your art. The sheer weight of class hours alone does not equate to being a better artist.
It's a bit like students being involved in higher learning right into their thirties. Life has left them behind, while they are still 'learning' about stuff. The very best learning in painting or life is done on the job and life experience shows the truth of this.
Read MoreIn life there is hardly any success without momentum. Whether in the business world, sport, home life and yes, even in art - momentum plays a huge part in progress. The winning ways of momentum can be seen first-hand in sport. Two teams may be evenly matched in skills but in the end, momentum and the mental confidence that accompanies it will irresistibly win the day.
Read MoreIf we are concerned with selling our work we have to rise above the average. People will love paintings before they will buy them and with so many artists around we need to stand out from the growing crowd.
While it's easy to see how ordinary other artists' work may be, it's almost impossible to see it in our own. It's just the way it is and it's a real problem with art.
Read MoreThere are some simple things artists can do that will help their work and some are so obvious that we just don’t see them. Cropping is one of them. For artists, cropping comes in three forms:
Read MoreRecently I viewed a very realistic painting of an expensive watch on Facebook. It was undiscernible from a photograph, so much so, that people questioned whether it was in fact a painting. Some step-by-step views showed that it was indeed hand-painted.
Read MoreIf you've been involved in the art world for a while you will know that as far as paintings go, the biggest selling items are those bought to match home or office decor. If it's not true in other countries, it's certainly the case in Australia.
Read MoreWithin the ranks of artists, the term lost and found edges is quite a cliche - we hear it a lot.
However, when it comes to actually painting it can be forgotten, right along with other things we thought we had learnt along the way. It's easy to forget when we are busy at the easel!
Read MoreArtists are some of the greatest observers of the world that you can find. We tend to look at things a lot and analyse them in terms of colour, shapes and tones.
Read MoreWith more and more people taking up art, particularly in their later years, it has produced it own little economy. In many respects it is good for artists. Never before have art materials been so accessible and affordable. Learning painting is also not a problem, as the mysteries of the skill are taught and outlined in the myriad of online tutorials, art classes and workshops..
Read MoreIt's something most of us have said or at least thought when we see some pieces of art - particularly if it's got a high price ticket.
What is often not recognised in the strange world of art pricing, is that the price is often bound up in who the artist is and not the art itself. The more well-known the artist is, the more likely they are to attract higher prices for their work.
Read MoreAfter reading a rather baffling artist's statement the other day I thought it was worth a few words.
It is now common for galleries and art prizes to request artists come up with a statement about themselves and their work. This is in addition to any achievements they have gained over the years. The artist's statement is important.
Read MoreI noted online recently an artist starting off painting demo with a palette full of colours. There were 21 colours in all – a formidable array for painting a landscape and the finished product told the story. The landscape in question turned out to be quite detailed but the overall colour scheme was jarring. The overloaded palette was the downfall of an otherwise competent work.
Read MoreIt has been said that inspiration is the luxury of the amateur and in a sense, this is true. A professional artist can't wait for some inspirational moment before they can paint - poverty will be the result. In fact the need for food and shelter is inspiration enough for those who live by the brush!
Read MoreIn some respects taking up painting is like learning to drive.
Gear changing, clutches, brakes, mirrors, accelerators and coping with live traffic are familiar memories of our first days in a car. All we could think about was the actual procedure of driving, with hands firmly gripping the steering wheel.
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