The Beauty of an Abstract Painting

The art of abstract painting began a very long time ago. Artists began this art several hundred years ago. In fact, you have probably seen some of the more famous abstract paintings before. You may recall a famous abstract painting created by Van Gogh. Picasso also had an abstract painting or two as well. Modigliani is also known for his abstract painting work. Because of these artists, and many others, the art of abstract painting has gained popularity in the modern world.

Now what exactly is an abstract painting? An abstract painting is defined in many ways. First off, an abstract painting does not depict reality like traditional paintings. In the beginning, most art was depicting a photographic or realistic expression of someone or something. But an abstract painting does not do this. The definition of an abstract painting is that an abstract painting does not depict objects in the natural world. Rather, an abstract painting uses colors and shapes in a non-representing and nonobjective manner. It can be of anyone, anything, or just nothing at all.

You can easily see this when you look at an abstract painting. An abstract painting has bold, bright, and vivid colors. An abstract painting also has many biometric shapes that are used with the bold colors to make the artwork stand out. It is both strange and beautiful to look at an abstract painting.

In the 1940's a movement called "Abstract Expressionism" was started. This movement was started to show the freedom of an artist's expression and to push the art of abstract painting. It was started in New York in a school that also called it "Action Painting." This school was one of the first American schools that declared its independence from the European style of artwork. They liked to think of their art as a form of spiritual and intellectual art. This then further pushed the art of abstract painting.

Now that you know the history of the art of abstract painting you may come to understand it better. It is important to appreciate all forms of art, including the odd art of an abstract painting. You may find yourself wanting to get a piece of this artwork for yourself. It is truly an interesting thing to look at.

Using Contemporary Art Prints in Your Home

If you're looking for an inexpensive way to add style to your home, you mat want to consider contemporary art prints. By hanging these prints of your favorite images and paintings, you can not only add color to your favorite rooms, but also add a focal point for those who enter the room. With contemporary art prints, you can do wonders for any room of the house, without having to spend a lot of money in the process.

The most obvious place to hand contemporary art prints is in your living room or great room. Since this is the area where most of your entertaining will take place, it's the idea place to begin redecorating. Here are some steps that you should take in order to choose the right print for your home:

• Look at your room right now to see where you might want to hang a print. If it's a large space that needs to be filled, you will need a larger print and vice versa for a smaller space.

• See what other colors are in your room and which ones you might want to enhance. By choosing a print with these specific colors, you can create more energy in the room.

•Decide if you have any themes that you want to continue. If your living room is in a southwestern decor style, try to find contemporary art prints that might enhance this look.

You can also do wonders with contemporary art prints in your kitchen area. Often, this is the other place in your home where people will want to spend the most time, so why not liven it up with some art? The same ideas for choosing the best print can be used in this room too, but since the walls tend to be smaller, you might want to choose smaller prints that can be groups or aligned on wall space.For example, you could choose three of the same picture, but have them in different coordinating colors for a balanced look.

Another room that could use the special touch of contemporary art prints is your bedroom. By bring in rich images and colors, you will add to the sensuality of this room and allow yourself to create a certain feeling.By adding prints of oceans and other soothing scenes, your room can become a den of relaxation. If you want something more energetic, you can choose brighter prints that add vitality and action to the room. You may also want to choose prints that show
happy lovers in order to ramp up the loving feeling in this room.

With contemporary art prints, you can create the look that you want without spending a lot of money to do so. Try to work with the furniture and colors that you already have instead of redesigning the entire area. Start by taking a picture of the room that you want to add the print to, and then go shopping to find the best print that fits.

History of Chinese Art

Early forms of art in China were made from pottery and jade in the Neolithic period, to which was added bronze in the Shang Dynasty. The Shang are most remembered for their bronze casting, noted for its clarity of detail. Early Chinese music and poetry was influenced by the Book of Songs, Confucius and the Chinese poet and statesman Qu Yuan. Early Chinese music was based on percussion instruments, which later gave away to string and reed instruments.

In early imperial China, porcelain was introduced and was refined to the point that in English the word china has become synonymous with high-quality porcelain. Around the 1st century AD, Buddhism arrived in China, though it did not become popular until the 4th century. At this point, Chinese Buddhist art began to flourish, a process which continued through the 8th century. It was during the period of Imperial China that calligraphy and painting became highly appreciated arts in court circles, with a great deal of work done on silk until well after the invention of paper.

Buddhist architecture and sculpture thrived in the Sui and Tang dynasty. Of which, the Tang Dynasty was particularly open to foreign influence. Buddhist sculpture returned to a classical form, inspired by Indian art of the Gupta period. Toward the late Tang dynasty, all foreign religions were outlawed to support Taoism.

In the Song Dynasty, poetry was marked by a lyric poetry known as Ci (?) which expressed feelings of desire, often in an adopted persona. Also in the Song dynasty, paintings of more subtle expression of landscapes appeared, with blurred outlines and mountain contours which conveyed distance through an impressionistic treatment of natural phenomena. It was during this period that in painting, emphasis was placed on spiritual rather than emotional elements, as in the previous period. Kunqu, the oldest extant form of Chinese opera developed during the Song Dynasty in Kunshan, near present-day Shanghai. In the Yuan dynasty, painting by the Chinese painter Zhao Mengfu (???) greatly influenced later Chinese landscape painting, and the Yuan dynasty opera became a variant of Chinese opera which continues today as Cantonese opera.

Late imperial China was marked by two specific dynasties: Ming and Qing. Of Ming Dynasty poetry, Gao Qi was acknowledged as the greatest poet of the era. Artwork in the Ming dynasty perfected color painting and color printing, with a wider color range and busier compositions than Song paintings. In the Qing dynasty, Beijing opera was introduced; it is considered the one of the best-known forms of Chinese opera. Qing poetry was marked by a poet named Yuan Mei whose poetry has been described as having "unusually clear and elegant language" and who stressed the importance of personal feeling and technical perfection. Under efforts of masters from the Shanghai School during the late Qing Dynasty, traditional Chinese art reached another climax and continued to the present in forms of the "Chinese painting" (guohua, ??). The Shanghai School challenged and broke the literati tradition of Chinese art, while also paying technical homage to the ancient masters and improving on existing traditional techniques.

New forms of Chinese art was heavily influenced by the New Culture Movement, which adopted Western techniques, introduced oil painting and employed socialist realism. The Cultural Revolution would shape Chinese art in the 20th century like no other event in history. Contemporary Chinese artists continue to produce a wide range of experimental works, multimedia installations, and performance "happenings" which have become very popular in the international art market.

Brief Information about African Paintings

To say that African painting is complex and diverse is an understatement. To be ironically referred to the Dark Continent, this region has produced some of the most visually stunning and emotionally moving pieces of art the world has ever seen. Both in the past and in the current African art world, the people of this part of the globe are famous for their thought provoking depictions of their lives. As similar as many paintings may be in subject matter, they are incredibly diverse in theme and composition. Some display the despair of a sometimes chaotic political climate while others offer a refreshing look at life in such a natural, beautiful environment.

One of the most famous forms of African painting is the amazing works that have been found created on rock. The carvings and paintings discovered are considered to be the oldest form of art on the continent. While many of these unique African paintings date to prehistoric times, the tradition lives on to the present day. Many are thought to depictions of sacred gods or deities and are images of creatures that have both human and animal traits and characteristics. To come forward a little in time, other rock paintings show clear examples of the native people's clashes with European settlers in the time period in which Africa was being colonized. African painting had its beginning in these well composed and artfully rendered rock paintings.

Modern African painting is no less complex and visually enchanting. As with the past artists, modern African painters also depict the ever changing world around them for good or bad. While the choice of materials, techniques, and styles vary widely there is one element that seems to tie many African artists together. That is a common use of iconography.That isn't to say that there is no discernable difference in artists' work, there certainly is, only that they seem to work with a common bond.

One example of a modern African painter who has enjoyed much influence during his lifetime is Cheri Samba. This Congo born painter began his career without any formal training and has produced several African paintings which depict life in an area that is torn apart by civil unrest and corruption. The ability of his African art pictures and commentary to so clearly paint a picture of a world constantly interfered with by outside forces, like the Western world, is a remarkable gift to African painting.

Another well known African artist is Zwelethu Mthethwa. His contributions to African painting are often a portrait of life in South Africa. He tends to render his visions in pastel chalks. Having lived through apartheid and the social ramifications of that time period, he paints with the themes of alienation and separatism. Mthethwa's work is truly a reflection of one of Africa's darker eras.

From its conception of rock paintings to the present day artists who teach us all a little more about this fascinating region, African art painting is a rich, diverse art form. From strife and unrest has come some of the most remarkable artwork in the world.

Mr. Moyo Ogundipe has a Bachelors of Arts degree in Fine Art from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and a Master of Fine Art degree in Painting from The Hoffberger School of Painting, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, USA.

One of Africa's most celebrated and renowned contemporary Nigerian artists, Mr. Ogundipe has exhibited extensively in Africa, Europe and the USA.
His paintings have been described as hypnotic, colorful and densely patterned.

In 1996, Mr. Ogundipe was awarded the Pollock-Krasner Fellowship. And in 2005 he was invited to become a member of Africobra, an organization founded in the 1960s and whose membership comprises of distinguished
African-American artists.

The Philosophical Concept of Art

Art is a product of human activity, made with the intention of stimulating the human senses as well as the human mind and/or spirit; thus art is an action, an object, or a collection of actions and objects created with the intention of transmitting emotions and/or ideas. Beyond this description, there is no general agreed-upon definition of art, since defining the boundaries of "art" is subjective, but the impetus for art is often called human creativity.

An artwork is normally assessed in quality by the amount of stimulation it brings about. The impact it has on people, the number of people that can relate to it, the degree of their appreciation, and the effect or influence it has or has had in the past, all accumulate to the "degree of art." Most artworks that are widely considered to be "masterpieces" possess these attributes.

Something is not generally considered "art" when it stimulates only the senses, or only the mind, or when it has a different primary purpose than doing so. However, some contemporary art challenges this idea.

As such, something can be deemed art in totality, or as an element of some object. For example, a painting may be a pure art, while a chair, though designed to be sat in, may include artistic elements. Art that has less functional value or intention may be referred to as fine art, while objects of artistic merit which serve a functional purpose may be referred to as craft. Paradoxically, an object may be characterized by the intentions (or lack thereof) of its creator, regardless of its apparent purpose; a cup (which ostensibly can be used as a container) may be considered art if intended solely as an ornament, while a painting may be deemed craft if mass-produced.

In the 1800s, art was primarily concerned with ideas of "Truth" and "Beauty." There was a radical break in the thinking about art in the early 1900s with the arrival of Modernism, and then in the late 1900s with the advent of Postmodernism. Clement Greenberg's 1960 article "Modernist Painting" defined Modern Art as "the use of characteristic methods of a discipline to criticize the discipline itself."

Greenberg originally applied this idea to the Abstract Expressionist movement and used it as a way to understand and justify flat (non-illusionistic) abstract painting. "Realistic, naturalistic art had dissembled the medium, using art to conceal art; Modernism used art to call attention to art. The limitations that constitute the medium of painting — the flat surface, the shape of the support, the properties of the pigment — were treated by the Old Masters as negative factors that could be acknowledged only implicitly or indirectly. Under Modernism these same limitations came to be regarded as positive factors, and were acknowledged openly."

Though only originally intended as a way of understanding a specific set of artists, this definition of Modern Art underlies most of the ideas of art within the various art movements of the twentieth century and early twenty-first century. The art of Marcel Duchamp becomes clear when seen within this context; when submitting a urinal, titled fountain, to the Society of Independent Artists exhibit in 1917 he was critiquing the art exhibition using its own methods.

Andy Warhol became an important artist through critiquing popular culture, as well as the art world, through the language of that popular culture. The later postmodern artists of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s took these ideas further by expanding this technique of self-criticism beyond "high art" to all cultural image-making, including fashion images, comics, billboards and pornography.