Franz Marc The Mandrill

Ever seen the popular painting Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci? How about La Donna Velata by Raphael? These famous paintings were created in the 16^th century but still live up to this time. These great art works were created using one of the materials used for painting—the oil. Oil painting has been present since early Modern Europe and until now. Oil painting is done by mixing pigments into a drying oil. Artists like Michaelangelo, Van Gogh and Da Vinci, crushed the pigments using their hands and mixed them into the oil. The mixed paint should be applied to the canvass cloth quickly because oils dried up easily.

These are the materials used in making oil paintings such as abstract oil paintings. Contrary to other oil paintings, abstract oil paintings do not have regular shapes and forms. Abstract oil painting, by definition, means “not realistic”. It is said that artists who do abstract oil paintings goes beyond the picturesque and clear form of the object. They believe that each object has an internal form waiting to be uncovered.  Usually, when painting, these artists simplify or exaggerate the objects seen in the environment. They simplify it or exaggerate it by adding vivid colors or many irregular objects not understood by the one looking at it. In abstract oil paintings, details of the object such as the shape of the leaves or the figure of the nose are not well-considered. What gives life to abstract oil paintings are the colors the artists used. Artists of this kind of painting do not copy the nature or the person they want to paint; nonetheless, they make it as their starting point.

Abstract oil paintings have a history that can be dug from very old civilizations. It has to be noted that people before had their own concepts and elements of abstract art. However, for written records, abstract art can be attributed to Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. In 1910, these two artists invented cubism. Cubism is a method that shows more than one dimension that can be seen in different viewpoints. However, cubism is not what the abstract that most people know today. In Picasso’s cubism painting, the forms of human beings or nature are still visible—it’s just that they have many dimensions.  After half a decade, pure abstract called supremism was created by Piet Mondrian. Supremism is said to be the “Big Bang” of modern abstract painting.

After that, numerous developments in abstract works happened. Geometric abstraction, where artists used geometric shapes in expressing the nature or the figure of the person, was developed. Soon after, people try to look higher things and places than what they actually see in their immediate surroundings. With these in mind, artists of abstract art imagined how the higher places look like. They also tried to create images that are meant to be more spiritual and universal—images that flesh and blood human beings cannot see.

As shown in abstract oil paintings, human beings have limitless imagination. And with that, they brought happiness to the human spirit.

Franz Marc Tyrol

Oil painting is a process where in color is blended with a drying oil medium. The most common medium used in oil painting is linseed oil. Aside from linseed oil, sunflower oil is also used since it doesn’t cause yellowish discoloration in lighter pigments. Oil painting has been considered as one of the basic ways of expressing art. A distinctive quality of oil paint is its ability to remain wet for a long time. It could take as long as weeks before the paint dries completely so the artist has the chance to blend and mix the pigments. Oxidation is the term used to describe the process where oil paint is exposed to air. As soon as it “dries” up, it becomes a solid.

Around the Renaissance time, artists experimented on traditional oil painting. By exploring new possibilities, these artists were able to create modern art. Today modern oil paintings have become a new form of art starting from 1863 and continued and evolved till the 1960s and 1970s. The early artists of modern oil paintings were Paul Cezanne, Vincent Van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Paul Gauguin, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Their works made the fundamental nature of modern art as abstract. Around the 19^th century; Impressionist, Romantics and Realists became the leading innovators of modern art. The painters were able to make a living on their creations through public exhibitions and commissions. Even the government also offered their support for artists and their paintings.

In the 20^th century, Pablo Picasso made his mark in modern art. It signaled the beginning of the “Picasso’s style” by incorporating his own touch on the traditional art technique called cubism. A prominent work he created that depicted such art form was in the Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. It has incorporated geometric shapes as an avant garde technique of expressing art even though the majority may not completely understand what it aims to portray.

Modern oil paintings can be seen at homes and offices as decorations. However, the famous works of notable artists can be found in museums such as the Tate Gallery in London. Aside from the paintings, even the architectural structure of the building screams out modernism. Modern painting is created by not having a subject in mind and letting the mind wander at each stroke of the paintbrush. With the help of oil paints, an artist’s feeling and ideas are brought to life. Unlike traditional painting where the artist and the spectators have a similar understanding of the work, modern art allows both the artist and the spectators to freely interpret the painting.

Modern oil paintings are made through a distinct texture and style. It has become a way of providing pleasant ambience to offices and houses. The cost of modern art not only depends on the size of the artwork but also how the artist feels about his/her work. The painting is sure to be pricey if the painter holds special emotions for it. Another factor that determines the price of artwork is by the person who created it. If the painter is prominent at his craft, then his products are sure to be expensive.

Leonardo Da Vinci Mona Lisa

What made Mona Lisa great? Well, as far as the Leonardo da Vinci is concerned, it is just a picture of a merchant’s wife. But there is something in Mona Lisa– something that cannot be explained. People who stare at it experienced a different kind of feeling—some are angered by it while some are relaxed by it. Whatever magic Mona Lisa has, surely, every professional and amateur painter want to achieve that magic.

There are many painters in the world. And so are the art works that they produced.  Painting has not only been a hobby for most people but also a career. Some earn their living through selling paintings in the internet. There are various paintings for sale online.

These paintings for sale are in various types.  Some are ink, charcoal, pastel, acrylic, watercolor, hot wax, fresco, enamel, and oil painting. These kinds of painting require specific coloring materials and proper cloth or paper. They also should be meticulously done to achieve a picturesque image.

The last type of painting—the oil painting on canvas is one of the most expensive paintings for sale. It is also a classic example of painting. Art works such as Mona Lisa and The Raising of the Cross were made using the oil paint.  Oil painting usually uses linen canvas or cotton duck canvas. Each of which has their own cons and pros. Linen is known to be stiffer, thus more difficult or impossible to stretch. However, it offers smoothness and permanence of the paint. This is the kind of canvas used by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and other professional painters. Cotton duck canvas on the other hand, is economically better. Also, unlike the former, cotton duck canvas is easier to stretch. However, the downside of this canvas is that it is very stretchable that it can be a bad material for large oil painting works. This canvas is good for the students and amateur painters. Paintings in both canvases can be found in the paintings for sale in the internet.

There are many types of oil paintings that a buyer can choose from. Some of these are abstract painting, landscape painting and portrait painting. Abstract paintings are also called “non-realistic painting” because of its lack of form and shape. Abstract painters go beyond the clear and tangible form of the object and penetrate the “spirit” of the object. They do not directly copy the figure of an object or a person but make it as their starting point in painting.

Landscape painting on the other hand is a painting which shows the scenic view of nature. Usually, this kind of painting is in a wide view and usually do not have a human figure in it. Lastly, the portrait painting is one of the most common paintings displayed in houses, churches or public buildings. In paintings like these, the subject poses and look directly at the painter.

These are some of the paintings for sale. And these paintings can also give magic to one’s life by means of relaxation and serenity.

Albert Bierstadt Deer in a Field

Having an art piece displayed on one’s home or office can be uplifting and it can add to one’s personality. Choosing to buy oil paintings online requires the buyer to consider many things to ensure that his that the artwork would be worth the money.

Before even choosing to buy oil paintings, location of the painting, the size of the painting and even the reason of buying the painting must be considered. The quality of the painting to buy however must also be given high regard especially if buying from online shop.

Before the buying process, it is imperative for the buyer to set a location or place for the painting. For collectors with their own set of galleries this may not be a problem, but for an office or home display this can very well decide on what painting to buy. This is significant at this stage to make sure that the painting to buy will not reside in the attic or be in a room just to collect dust. The painting to be displayed must not be in an obscured location. The theme of the room of motif can also be criteria on choosing a painting to buy. This could be a complementary to the current room setup or even in contrast to make it stand out in the room.

The size of the painting is also important since it can be very well affect the overall appeal of the painting. A sole painting’s dimension must not be more than a third of the wall for display, especially if it’s a portrait. Too large display room for a single painting lessens the appeal of the painting itself while too small room can make the painting stand out. The size of the painting may also be scaled to the sizes of furniture in the room to maintain aesthetic completeness.

The reason for buying a painting of course can vary widely. Displaying for a collection gallery can be common these days, however many offices buy oil paintings now as another way of investment. Buying original artwork from a yet unknown artist can be worth more after several years. For a home display however can be very dependent upon the owner’s preferences.

These three things alone however may not suffice in picking the right painting for the buyer. The company selling the artwork and the artwork’s overall quality must also be considered.

When someone opts to buy oil paintings online, this entails him to various risks. The quality of the painting may not be fully checked until delivery. In terms of original paintings that are popular can be very highly expensive as such authenticity must be checked. A certificate of authenticity comes with a painting bought online if the company is legal while this may be absent for those that may scam buyers for higher profit.

Before choosing the painting to buy it would be wise to have a professional appraised the pictures of the paintings posted online. This can also be done upon delivery of the painting; however, refunds or replacements for unsatisfied buyer may not be available for all.

Albert Bierstadt Cathedral Rocks, Yosemite Valley, California

Nature is really relaxing and comforting. When people want to get out of the bustling and rustling sound of the city, they opt to travel to places where there is peace and solemnity. These places are probably miles away from the city. But, believe it or not, even in the raucous and busy cities like Kyoto, Paris or Milan, one can find a piece of nature. And that piece of nature can be felt and found in landscape oil paintings.

Landscape oil paintings are arts that depict the scenic view of mountains, hills, valleys, oceans, forest and rivers. The nature painted can either be real or just an imagination of the artist. Either way, the goal of landscape oil paintings is to show the wide view of the nature. The sky and the weather are important elements of landscape oil paintings so they are mainly emphasized. To communicate the weather or the emotion enveloped in these oil paintings, the artists should know how to appropriate the colors. It is through the use of appropriate colors that one can feel the serenity or the delight of the nature.

Landscape oil paintings, just like any other landscape art, sprang from Western and Chinese culture. The earliest art work that shows pure landscape are frescos in Minoan Greece which was created in the 1500s. Other than the Greek landscape art, records showing the hunting scenes set in the Nile Delta are seen in Egypt.  However, unlike the contemporary landscape oil paintings, the hunting scenes painting gives emphasis on the human, or the single plant, not the whole landscape itself.

Chinese tradition, on the other hand, made landscape arts that included a small image of a human being or any object. However, the Chinese is not really notable for using oil paintings. They usually make use of their ink tradition by using ink sticks. Chinese landscape art showed great panoramas of landscape, generally backed with a range of mountains or bodies of water. The humans or objects are just an infinitesimal object of the entire Chinese art.

Another gigantic step was added in landscape art works when landscape oil paintings came onto the scene. Landscape oil paintings use mixed pigment and drying oil. In the medieval times, artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo crushed the pigments and mixed them with oils from food. These oils include poppyseeds oil and walnut oils. During those times, it is important that the mixed paint be applied to cloth immediately because the oil base dries up easily.

Nowadays, enthusiasts of landscape oil paintings do not have to manually get oil from food because there is available oil that is sold in art stores. The commercial oil that is stored in tubes is called the linseed oil and is very effective and efficient for landscape oil paintings.

Contemporary landscape oil painters are William Hagerman. Hagerman paint real landscape oil paintings. Another painter is Teresa Bernard who also does real oil painting of landscape, seascape and wildlife. It is good to get nature on canvas before industrialization eats it up.

Leonardo Da Vinci The Madonna and Child

There are several works of art wherein the human spirit can express itself. These art works include dancing, singing, and of course painting/drawing. The latter one, being the focus of this article, is among the arts that need not physical expression. Unlike the dancers and the singers who express their emotion through physical movements, painters express the emotions they have through the canvases and pigments.

One of the most celebrated kinds of painting is oil paintings. Oil paintings, especially on canvas has existed in the history of art as early as 1125. However, oil-based paints in this period were used for sculptures, carvings, and wood fittings. In the 15^th century, European painters were credited for painting with oil-based on wood panels. However, around the end of the 15^th century, canvas oil paintings became popular. Many painters preferred to have canvas instead of wooden panels to be used in their oil paintings because canvas oil paintings are cheaper, portable and allow large art works. Led by Venice, the trade and marketing of canvas started. Because of the availability of canvas, oil painting on the canvas spread through other European countries. The oldest surviving oil painting done in canvas is the French painting Madonna with Angels accomplished in 1410.

The traditional canvas cloth that the early painters used for canvas oil paintings is made of robust brownish linen. To use this canvas cloth, one needs to stretch it into a wooden frame called the stretcher and should be coated with a gesso. Gesso is a white paint mixture comprising of a binder combined with chalk, gypsum or pigment.  Gesso is important to the canvas since it blocks the paint from having direct contact into the canvas fibres, which may lead to decay.

Nowadays, instead of using linen, people use cotton ducks. The difference between linen and a cotton canvas is the quality of the cloth used. Linen is stiff and difficult to stretch but proven to give smooth and firm surface. This kind of canvas is proven for the longevity of the art work. Added to that, linen canvas is used by painters of canvas oil paintings such as Leonardo da Vinci. Cotton duck on the other hand, is less expensive than the linen. Unlike linen, it can be stretch fully. However, because of its easily-stretch feature, it is not so good for large canvas oil paintings which really need details. The linen canvas is preferred by the professional artists while cotton duck canvas is usually used by students and non-professionals. It is also important to note that these two different canvas cloths are from different plants: linen came from flax plant while the cotton duck came from the cotton plant.

There are many different types of canvas oil paintings. Some of these include abstract oil painting, landscape oil painting and portrait oil painting. Using the right canvas cloth, a painter can achieve the oil painting that can last like the works of Da Vinci and Van Gogh.

Piet Mondrian Composition A

Abstract oil paintings continue to be very popular today, ever since the world’s evolution which has driven us to the modern era. Abstract paintings are just one of the examples of how art continually evolve. Modern houses choose to decorate their home with abstract paintings to make their living space appear simple but stylish.

Starting from the detailed and complex painting styles in the past eras, the painting styles of artists today have grown to be simpler yet strikingly full with complex emotions. These abstract paintings are one of a kind in a way that they show the beauty of art not merely from the way that the paintings present themselves physically and visibly but from the way they release emotions, feelings and thoughts out of the abstract image. That is how abstract paintings work. And that is also why modern individuals today find them both elegant and artistic.

When beginning to choose an abstract oil painting from the several ones in the gallery, one might feel some difficulty. These abstract images come in different styles and one might have a problem getting a clue on how to start selecting. But when one thinks about it carefully, choosing a good painting may not be that difficult.

Generally, abstract paintings on canvas are created with a wide variety of colors, shades, styles, and textures. This variety of painting designs and styles are already perfect adornment for a modern house. Choosing one that strikes the most among all the others is usually the best method. Because just like what is mentioned above already, that is how an abstract painting works.

In selecting an abstract piece of art, it is also important to consider the painting size. Why would anyone buy a large sized painting when he doesn’t have a wall space larger than that painting at home? Where will he put that? That indeed sounds ridiculous. But in art, being ridiculous can also be a part of the fun. As long as adjustments can be made in the house easily, any size of the painting can be bought. One cannot deny an abstract painting to be a beauty when it strikes him so much no matter how big the canvas is, right?

Choosing abstract oil paintings can actually be so much fun – especially to a person who love colors and symbolisms. Most abstract paintings use vibrant colors and different, unique shapes that are hardly explainable by the eyes and the mind of a literal and objective person. Abstract paintings require understanding, thinking and releasing of emotions and that makes it so much fun. Some abstract paintings are able to express a whole lot of different things unique to every individual.

An abstract painting hanging around the house adds to the total modern beauty of the home. It’s a refreshing sight after all the other forms of art created traditionally. One can be amazed with not just how the abstract oil paintings were painted, but also with the message they deliver in a way that is uniquely amazing.

Vincent Van Gogh Irises

People buy art for many different reasons. What might look fantastic to one person, might not get any response from another. Trying to place parameters on what to look for in canvas paintings for sale is an almost impossible chore. However, there are some guidelines to follow if you are looking to buy oil paintings.

Appeal
Knowing what to look for in canvas paintings for sale starts with your individual taste in art. For most people, buying an oil painting, or perhaps an acrylic on canvas, is not an investment, but rather, something to decorate your home or office. It is almost always a mistake to buy a painting because you think it might go up in value. What to look for when buying canvas paintings for sale is how desirable and appealing the painting is to you. You can also pick something that will match your decor.

Size
Another parameter for purchasing canvas paintings for sale is the size of the work of art. Canvas oil paintings can come in any size. They can be a miniature that is only a few inches in size or they can be a behemoth, stretching 10 feet wide and 6 feet tall. Depending on the wall space where you want to hang a painting, you should chose something of an appropriate size. Don’t forget to include the frame when measuring for size.

Price
Even the very wealthy art connoisseur has a budget that they do not want to exceed. There is no point of shopping for a painting that costs thousands of dollars when you may only be able to afford something for a few hundred dollars. Concentrate your search on canvas paintings for sale that are well within your price range.

Art Auctions
If you attend an art auction, you never really know what a piece of art might sell for until the bidding is over. Your approach to bidding for canvas paintings for sale at an auction is slightly different than shopping for art in a gallery. Before the auction begins, take a look at the inventory that will be up for auction. Pick out 2 or 3 of your favorite pieces and decide what is the most you would be willing to pay for the particular piece of art. Then, when the auction starts, stick to your budget. Do not allow the excitement of the moment to make you engage in a bidding war.

Age Does Not Equal Value
An oil painting that is 150 years old does not necessarily make it worth more than one that is only 20 years old. The most important determinant of the value of a painting is the artist who created it. An original Warhol or Rothko, two very famous artists of the 20th century could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, while a 400 year old canvas painted by an obscure Italian artist might only be worth $500.

Quality
One can develop an eye for quality with experience. The brush strokes, composition, use of light and many other factors can determine the difference between a good painting and a great one. Of course, originals are more valuable than giclees or prints. If there is some credible provenance (authenticating the painting), that will add to the value of the work.

Finally, when looking for canvas paintings for sale, buy something you like. Art is meant to be appreciated and delight the senses. It should add to one’s enjoyment of life. While there is a certain segment of collectors who buy art as an investment, most serious collectors buy art because they want to enhance their piece of the world and surround themselves with the finer things in life.

Vincent Van Gogh Irises

Decorating a room or hall with various artworks such as famous paintings is very extravagant. Getting your hands on the Mona Lisa, Starry Night and Napoleon at St. Bernard pass however cost a fortune and require a lot of effort just to be seen much more to transact. There are now reproduction oil paintings on canvas for these famous paintings, knowing what to look for in them may just saves the buyer the cost yet enjoys the satisfaction of owning those precious artworks.

Various reproduced paintings for sale online can be seen to offer a lot of customization in terms of size and medium. However the original attributes of the artwork are recommended to achieve more authentic appeal. In example, if the original is oil on canvas in 36″ by 48″, it can be reproduced to be available in varying scales of size and can either be in original oil painting or a simpler digital print. In terms of sizes, an artwork is just reproduced in a scale of the original.

Two types of reproduced paintings are the original paint application and digital print. Both can bring authentic appeal and can be mastered to be a detailed copy of the original. However distinctions on their differences can still be noted.

In digital prints of the famous artworks, size modifications and other details on the artwork can be easily done on a computer and can achieved up to 100%  of the original visual appeal through various customizations. However these are only produced on flat surfaces thus may be able to portray the original’s multiple perspective views. The time needed for reproduction can be as little as the time needed for calling for the order of the painting.

Original oil painting reproduction on canvas are done by professionals, painters that focuses on mimicking of these famous artworks, as such are produced in almost the same format of the original. Size modifications for the reproduced paintings, can be hard depending on the request of the buyer and the skill of the painter who will do the reproduction. The focus on details of the original artwork in order to create an authentic copy makes the production to last longer. The paint, brush strokes and other details can be greatly achieved in this format as such brings more authenticity to the artwork than the digital print on a flat un-textured form.

Digital prints of various famous artworks can be easily done by someone in a company who is at least knowledgeable in picture editing and printing process. It can be a simple graphic artist that can easily be hired. In hand painting of the original artwork, an artist is hired to mimic the famous artist’s works in detail. . Most of the time an artist can be very accustomed to the painting style of a famous artist while can be rough on some. Companies offering these reproduced paintings for sale hire different artists who are great in terms of mimicry to produce high quality copy of original famous artworks.

Vincent Van Gogh Irises

True recognition and success never came to Vincent Van Gogh during his abbreviated lifetime. The artist who took his own life at the age of 37 in 1890, was not considered an important artist by his contemporaries. In fact, The Red Vineyard sold in Brussels for 400 francs only months before his death, was the only painting he ever sold while he was alive. Today, Vincent Van Gogh is acknowledged as one of the greatest if not the greatest post-impressionist artist who ever lived.

Always a very troubled soul, Van Gogh spent time in an asylum for the mentally ill where he created many of his most memorable works. During the last decade of his life, the misunderstood artistic genius produced nearly 2,000 works of art. As such a prolific artist, Van Gogh saw the world in a different way from most and was able to express the images created in his mind on canvas. His gallery of works include almost 900 oil paintings and about 1,100 pencil sketches and drawings.

Owning any original Van Gogh would tickle the heart of even the most discriminating collector. Perhaps best know for his The Starry Night, the artist who could hardly support himself now can be included amongst the Great Masters whose paintings sell for millions. In fact, at auction, Van Gogh’s paintings can fetch more than $50 million dollars.

Van Gogh paintings hang in the world’s great museums. Some are in the homes of private collectors and others have been purchased by foundations that have come to realize the greatness in this man.  His life was short and troubled but his legacy will live on forever in his works.

It is very rare for an auction to come up where Van Gogh paintings sold for less than a million dollars. If you are lucky enough to attend an auction with Van Gogh paintings, you will need to have very deep pockets based on the prices that previous Van Gogh paintings sold for at auctions in the recent past. Following are the 5 paintings that garnered the most money at auction.

1. Portrait of Dr. Gachet
This most coveted of his works was also one of his final works. Sold at a 1990 auction in New York for $82.5 million, it set a record at the time for the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. The subject was the Doctor who took Vincent into his house and cared for him for the last 70 days of his life.

2. Portrait de l’Artiste sans Barbe
One of a number of self-portraits, this depicted Vincent in 1889 without his well-known beard. The clean-shaven Van Gogh self portrait fetched $71.5 million in 1998.

3. Portrait of Joseph Roulin
A close friend of Van Gogh while he was institutionalized, this painting expressed his admiration for his friend and the artist used all of his skills to make one of his most critically acclaimed works. It sold to a private collector for approximately $58 million.

4. Irises
Painted while confined to the Asylum at Saint Paul-de-Mausole, it was purchased for $53.9 million in 1987 by Allan Bond. It was later sold to the Getty Foundation for an undisclosed sum.

5. Peasant Women Against a Background of Wheat
Casino owner Stephen Wynn acquired this masterpiece along with several others. The painting was subsequently sold along with Gaugin’s Bathers for a total price in excess of $100 million.