contemporary-art-canvas-paintings » Abstract paintings

Watercolor Art: Painting In Tones

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:55:07 +0000

But creating tones in watercolor is very important. Sometimes it is even more important than the color itself. To draw an analogy, a pianist for example might be good at reading sheet music and might have perfectly disciplined fingers to run throughout all the keys with ease but if he cannot coordinate his feet on the damper pedal, the resonance of chords will overlap and so will every key pressed that instead of music, all that is produced is a cacophony of noises. Watercolor art works the same way. As Henri Matisse once said, “There (a painting) should be a relationship and a living harmony of all the tones”.

Tones could be created with all colors, although lighter colors such as yellow will have less color tone possibilities than the darker colors such as reds and blues. Even so light colors could appear darker when surrounded by darker colors. This is also a tonal variation, a color illusion if you will that artists use and make adjustments but who gained first an understanding of color behavior.

Every good artist has to different degrees, practiced first on a grey value scale. A grey value scale is separated into 10 sections with the topmost color being pure white and the remaining nine is shaded 10% increments darker until the tenth or the bottom color is black. Comparing color tones based on the grey value scale gives the artist a very good idea on how color tones differ and how best to apply it. It also allows the artist uniformity on color tone application.

To achieve a good command at color toning, practice by painting a grey scale using black and white paints. Start with a white block at the opposite end and a black paint at the other and mix them in different range of grey. If you are starting from the darkest color the best way that this is done is to apply water as you go up the scale.

Once you can paint well with grey values, you can apply the same method with the colors that you use frequently. After that you can paint a value scale of all the colors that you have in your palette. These value scales will prove very important when you do actual watercolor work, as these tones are what you will use for color and tone referencing.

While working on the grey scale, you might be tempted to use white as you go to the lighter shades of grey. When painting a color scale however, it is not advisable since the color intensity will be lost. This practice always provided artists a very good working idea on how tones are created. Painting in tones is time well spent.

The artist says: Thanks for reading my contemporary art blog! If you are involved in the art and culture industry in any way, and would like to syndicate content from or to this blog, or if you simply enjoy art and would like to get in touch, please leave a comment! This article has been kindly provided by: articlesbase

Art On Canvas – A Buyers Guide

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:50:22 +0000

There are now so many companies selling photos on canvas online these days that it’s hard to know which direction to turn in.

To help you we have put together this brief buyers guide.

1) Choose a photo on canvas specialist
Ask yourself, is this is a company that specialises in printing photos on canvas? A specialist company will have trained artworkers and printers whose job it is to get things right and who deal with canvases day in, day out!

2) Choose a company who will check your images before printing.
This may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how often this doesn’t happen.
Before printing, the company should be colourbalancing, retouching and cropping your images, before emailing the results to you to choose from.
Do you really want to discover that you photo is too dark or has a feint line running through it only after the canvas arrives?

3) Choose a company who print and cut the frames to the exact size you specify.
To get the best from your photo, the printer needs to be able to print and frame the canvas using the same proportions as your chosen crop. The only way they can do this is by cutting their own frames.
Many companies will try and fit your print onto a pre-made frame and encourage you to have it ‘Gallery Wrapped’. This basically means the image goes around the sides, loosing important parts of the picture. For the company it is easier to do, allows them to use cheaper frames and covers up for the fact that the frame doesn’t quite fit the print. A classic piece of marketing spin that tries to turn a negative into a positive!

4) Price is important but it isn’t everything
If the price seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is. To prepare a bespoke photo on canvas properly takes time and requires high quality materials. The price you pay should be competitive, but as with everything in life, you pay for what you get. Remember that the canvas will be hanging on your wall, so you’re after a perfect finish.

Follow these four simple rules and you should soon have hanging on your wall the canvas that your favourite photo deserves!

Make Your Art Project Unique As A Photo On Canvas

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:51:20 +0000

I know an art student who came up with a terrific way to turn a sculpture project into the beginning of a lucrative business and gained critical attention in the process.

For a year-end project she had created a series of puppets modeled on 19th Century French freak show performers. The puppets were beautifully constructed of wood, clay, fabric, and fur and were outstandingly accurate. The eight finished puppets were acclaimed by her teachers and peers alike and were chosen for display in a popular local gallery.

Following the show they were simply stored away…until their creator, also an amateur photographer, came up with an idea.

She carefully photographed each puppet on a neutral background many times over until she came up with eight high resolution same-size matching images. She then sent the digital photos to a popular online photos to canvas art gallery that had been highly recommended, Paint Your Life ( www.PrintYourCanvas.com ), and had the photos printed on canvas and framed in two sets of four each.

The results were amazing, and she sold both sets for a good price within a few days of receiving them from Paint Your Life. The images were charming enough for a children’s room and yet edgy enough for any home or office, and the quality was terrific.

So, she ordered some more. Once she saw that she was dealing with experts in the photo to canvas process, she started working with their editors to come up with variations in printing and displaying the eight images: single images in large formats, smaller images combined and framed together, etc.

Then she discovered that the Paint Your Life ( www.PaintYourLife.com ) photos on canvas gallery also had a staff of talented and experienced artists creating oil paintings, watercolors, and acrylic paintings from photos. So she ordered another series of her puppet photos as oil paintings…and immediately sold them too. Then she tried the puppets as watercolors…and they sold just as successfully.

The custom paintings from photos were such a success she’s now considering ordering Paint Your Life’s ( http://www.printyourcanvas.com/ ) photos to canvas produced in the style of Lichtenstein, Graphic,…or even Pop Art.

Canvas Art: Making Life Picture Perfect

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:24:01 +0000

Canvas art or canvas paintings are an innovative and aesthetic way of preserving and showcasing favorite pictures. A canvas print is actually an image which is printed onto a canvas from a photograph. That is why it is also known as a photo canvas. The canvas is then stretched gently across a frame. The photo canvas can then be displayed. This helps to preserve the original photo without exposing it to dust, wrinkles and other damage. Canvases need not necessarily rectangular in shape. Canvases that are of varied shaped like circles etc are sometimes referred to as New York canvases. This is because, around the 60’s, paintings on differently shaped and textured canvases became very popular in New York.

For a good quality photo canvas it is important that the original picture be printed on good quality photo printing paper. Multi purpose papers are available that can be used for printing both black and white documents as well as photos but photos that are printed on these papers will be inferior in colour and brightness to those printed on exclusive photo printing papers. There are different parameters to judge the quality of photo printing paper. A photo printing paper that is of high quality will be opaque so that colour does not easily run onto the other side. A large amount of light will be reflected of its surface when compared to ordinary printing papers. It will have a thickness of 7 to 10 mil so that it does not get easily creased or wrinkled and is more long lasting.

Digital canvas prints are also becoming very popular nowadays because of the wider use of digital cameras the world over and the convenience of using computers. A digital canvas print is also like a photo canvas except that a print need not be taken out on paper. The image can be directly printed from the computer onto the canvas and then gently stretched and framed. One big advantage of digital canvas prints is that changes can be made to the original digital image using special software. Thus the beauty of the picture can be heightened before it is printed on canvas giving the best possible effects. It is also cost effective as there is no requirement of photo printing paper. This feature also makes it more environment friendly.

Canvas prints, whether photo canvas or digital canvas prints can be effectively used to decorate a room bringing it to life with vibrant colors and happy memories. Apart from being used as decorative items these canvases make ideal personalized gifts for every occasion be it birthdays or anniversaries or even as a good bye gift. So go ahead , dabble in some canvas printing, and watch those precious memories come back to life as you glance at them each time you look up at your wall and don’t forget to take a photo of that wide smile your long time childhood friend gives you when you gift her a canvas print of those golden moments of innocent childhood.

6 Steps To Greater Canvas Art

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:22:48 +0000

1 – Use High Resolution Digital Photos

Canvas printing can be done with any picture or photo but the image file you send to the canvas printing service will determine the overall quality of the resulting canvas. Scanned photos can work well, as too can other digital picture files, but high resolution digital photos do tend to offer the best possible results. Also try to ensure that your camera is set to the most appropriate quality and lighting settings because these can make a big difference when viewed on screen and an even bigger difference when printed on canvas.

2 – Ensure The Picture Has A Natural Crop

Most pictures can benefit from some cropping, even light cropping. Cropping a picture basically means cutting it down and it is done to ensure that a picture does not contain too much off putting background or foreground and that the subject of the picture really is the main subject. Most pictures, but especially photos of people, have a natural crop to them that will lend itself perfectly to use with canvas printing.

3 – Remove Blemishes, Red Eyes, And Date Stamps

Blemishes, red eyes, and date stamps are just some of the factors that can detract from the quality of a picture. Canvas prints can last a lifetime so it’s important that you enjoy the end product once it’s hung on your wall. If you have a picture that you want to use and it’s perfect except for one or more of these then either remove them yourself with photo editing software or have it done professionally. Some canvas printing services will do this work for free of charge as part of the canvas printing process.

4 – Pick Canvas Dimensions To Suit Your Picture

As well as choosing the right crop for your picture, also ensure that you use canvas dimensions that are best suited to your picture. A canvas can be hung in either portrait or landscape orientation and there is a wide range of standard sizes available. For extra large or pictures with unusual dimensions, bespoke sizes are also available.

5 – Use A High Quality Canvas Printing Service

The canvas printing service you use will be one of the biggest factors in determining how well your canvas print turns out. A good service will be able to work sympathetically with the photo you provide in order to crop it, remove blemishes and other imperfections, and even advise you on the most suitable dimension of canvas to use.

6 – Get The Right Wrap

There are three types of wrap that can be used in the creation of your canvas print – gallery wrap, mirror wrap, and no wrap. With gallery wrap the edges of your picture are printed around the edge of the frame. For those pictures with important content on the edges, mirror wrap repeats the edges on the side of the canvas so that you can still enjoy the full picture on the front while softening the edge of the canvas too. No wrap means that the picture is printed only on the front of the canvas and the edges will appear blank.

Canvas Art-The Best Gift For Your Love One At Any Time

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:47:37 +0000

Rather than use acrylic printsto have photos made in a wall artthat one can be proud of, the use of canvas art is the most popular and revered. As most individuals try to find special gifts, inimitable and largely special for all their beloved people, many will just offer them presents and gifts that they are used to. There are a diverse offering of tokens but the pleasure of valentine turns to be an issue when you cannot provide a gift that is unique and raises joy in a person.

When you go to purchase a gift for a special person, you might work across the shopping complex and at the end of the day lack anything special and personalized you can give to your lover. Perhaps you might consider the irresistibility of canvas art and the provisions it comes with. Finding an alluring print that is well suited on canvas is a perfect present for a love one, since the extraordinary nature of the image does have some lasting feelings and effect. If you want a masterpiece at a cheaper rate, you can have them transformed using the art of canvas while you could also have the photos or even negatives of any size made into very dazzling and transforming pieces of art.

When it comes to canvas art, canvas comes endowed with a natural aspect that aids in the implementation of very high quality types of canvas jobs. The onset of inks that cannot fade and high class, quality fabric such as cotton and the advent of modern digital technology has made it easy to get a waterproof and qualitative product. Most of the canvases are well stretched well across wooden frames and suited superbly ready to adorn walls while creating very nice atmosphere that brings tasteful details to a home while transforming the present décor.

Have you ever thought of having your own digital photo or any other image of yourself and a special message put on the canvas? You might count yourself missing a unique chance like no other. It can be a great present for your boyfriend or girlfriend, canvas art that radiates love and happiness. With sweet lovely pictures, kisses and apt smiles adorned on the picture, you could add some very fine adorable words that will definitely shine in your love life forever, lasting longer enough like the canvas photo itself. Perhaps you have forgotten your old parents and the significance of valentine even for them.

However, you can run through their photo album, have the loveliest of all their black and white wedding photos, and have it transferred into canvas art where it will be harmonized with bright and new hues. No one will be surprised like your own parents while sending a lovely feeling and improving the mood of the day. Such small canvas photo moments transform a person, while lasting not only on the canvas for a long time but in the hearts of those in the image.

Stretched Canvas Prints – A Wonderful Gift And Home Decor Accessory

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:46:48 +0000

Stretched canvas prints make the moment that’s canvassed come alive. You must have noticed such prints while visiting a museum or an art gallery. Images stretched around the canvas appear absolutely grand. With stretched canvas printing available online, now you can also get your cherished memories converted into stretched canvas prints.

These enticing prints not only help you recollect the precious moment of past but also make a wonderful home décor accessory. Adorning the walls of your living room, these awesome artworks give you a great platform to showcase your photography skills in front of the visitors.

These prints let you add majestic look and an element of personal touch to the interior of your home. If you also wish to bring life to your living room with some truly memorable images of your past, stretched canvas prints are certainly the best option to go with. All you need to do is make your selection of photos and get them converted to canvas prints with the help of a skilful printer.

How to find a skillful printer?

Finding a skilful printer is easy, and a simple search on your favorite search engine will bring forth numerous good results to choose from. Few good printers let you crop the picture and change its background as per your preference. Once you are done with the editing and touching up of your favorite photo, you can place your order online and the rest will be taken care of by the printer.

Choosing the best photo

However, when deciding to get stretched canvas prints you must select the best photo in terms of the clarity and color balance. Of course, the picture should be one of the most precious moments of your life. To further add to the charm of your stretched canvas print, an aesthetic and attractive frame is a must.

Stretched canvas print – a unique gift item for your family and friends

Not only do these prints make a wonderful home décor accessory but also are a unique gift item for your family and friends. Can you imagine the pleasure of receiving a memorable photo framed and printed like an exclusive artwork from some seasoned artisan?

Canvas Art Paintings

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:03:20 +0000

Getting A Gift In The Form Of Contemporary Art Canvas Pictures

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:49:31 +0000

Creating canvas pictureshas become a very popular enterprise in recent years. With so many people taking lots of digital photos in their anniversaries, weddings, parties, holidays and travels, the need to put them on canvas is very high. This goes hand in hand with finding a better and unique gift idea that is apt to be timeless. This perfectly suits canvas printing, through making the happy memories of the pictures into a lasting form and offering them as a gift, birthday, Christmas or just an anniversary one. When it comes to anniversaries and birthdays, they are genuinely the most crucial times in the life of two people, not only personal but also memorable.

If you have parents hitting 30 or so years together, you want to make canvas pictures the standard gift for that elaborate occasion. The photo canvas will definitely not disappoint. Many people are realizing the importance of the hundreds of pictures in their closets, why they are important and the need to make them ever-lasting is seen in the high demand for canvas print UK where the canvas printing is easily perfected.

Canvas pictures just mean a photo transferred onto a canvas of a higher quality. The kind of pictures, images and photographs that you make use of are largely dependent on your choice. This offers a vast independence in choosing the photos you feel represent the best moments and worth recalling. You might want to choose the picture of a couple elegantly on the day of their wedding or even an image of a holiday they might have graced. Just to make canvas print UKproduce you the best canvas photos ever, you might want to create a wall collage that represents the two individuals marrying or of your son or daughter during his or her birthday.

The choice for the right canvas picturesgenerally is dependent on you. Canvas photo gifts are immensely valuable because of the memories they tend to treasure, as well as the chance to place them on ones walls as a classical and splendid work of creative art. With the use of digital photographing, you have an additional option of brightening and enhancing the image of choice together with the canvas texture. This will create you a very stunning picture more than you can get from traditional photographs. If you are after a huge canvas print, get yourself digital images of a high resolution.

Remember that is not usually possible when you are working with wedding photographs taken decades ago. To get the best canvas pictures as you might want, just go for a service provider able to transform the standard photos into quality and immense wall canvas. When it comes to printing photos in the normal way, issues of size and format also crop up. It is quite possible to purchase a canvas photo that has been rolled just like an elegant picture, although the normal way is having it wrapped across a wooden bar of choice.

New Art Technique: Bas Relief Painting

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:48:55 +0000

Art has been around in many forms for a long time now. Even ancient civilizations like Egyptians or Mayans use to practice arts in forms of rock sculpture or painting or even literature which dates back to 2100 B.C. Music has been around for quite some time also.

However one of the latest arts that has been born in the last century is Cinematography, the art of creating motion pictures, also knows as films, or more commonly, movies.

The “foundations” of an art is generally called talent. That’s right, not everyone is cut to be an artist of any kind, you just need to have that special something. It is very hard to learn how to become an artist without being born with the talent required. For example, when I was a little kid, in elementary school, I just couldn’t understand how other kids couldn’t draw a perfect circle when it all seemed so easy for me, so therefore, a talent must be recognized by other because in many cases an individual could have a particular talent without even knowing it.

I have been an artist, for what, 20 years now… I always liked to draw thing, and I did.. a lot. So I was getting better and better. After high school I even took art classes and started painting with oil on canvas. After that I just liked it so much, paintings were coming and going.

Several years ago, while I was at the countryside, just sitting and chilling in a cool summer evening, an idea suddenly came to my mind. I started thinking about the new 3D technology I saw back then at news, so I wondered how would that look like combined with paintings.

So I did some research, and found about about bas relief sculptures. bas-relief actually means “low relief” represents the quality of a projected image where the overall depth is shallow and the background is compressed or completely flat.

After doing the research, I began testing methods to combine the bas-relief technique with a painting. My idea was to grant a wall painting the properties of bas-relief. First I tried using gypsum on a special canvas… but unfortunately the end result wasn’t what I expected. The weight of the modeled art was too big, so therefore I had to rethink it.

After some time I had another great idea on what material to use and the final result was outstanding, five times less wight, it was perfect. Soon after that, in a few months I made about 30 of these paintings and had an exhibition in the local museum. It all went so good all the people were impressed so I didn’t even wonder why at least half of them were sold in a couple of days.

If you are interested in the looks, check out the gallery I had, just to make an idea and feel free to contact me.