The history of the United States is a wild and crazy one. From the early fifteenth century onward people have been colonizing the continent of North America. People wanted to preserve the history that was being laid out before them. Some of them wrote books, and many others did great art history paintings to remember the past.

The subjects of many of the first paintings done were the colonists themselves. Before most Europeans even arrived, the Spanish had already begun settling Mexico, the southwest, and Florida. Many of the Spaniards had valiant portraits of themselves done, reflecting the conquistadors of their age.

The Spanish also painted many pictures of the natives in Mexico. Many paintings of the Mayans and Aztecs were done before the Spaniards started their conquest of Mexico. These paintings give us an idea about Aztec and Mayan life.

The French were the next to come into the Americas and they mainly started settling in the St. Lawrence River area of Canada. These people took up a lucrative fur trade with the native population. Pictures of trading posts and friendly relations with Indians were done frequently here.

When the British arrived in the Americas, there was not an influx of art like during the Spanish and French arrivals. The British were mainly concerned about setting up a dependent colony in the Americas. This was successfully done at Jamestown in the middle of the seventeenth century.

Painting did not start to pick up again in the Americas until the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Once again, the subjects of most of these paintings were the native peoples that gathered and hunted on the land. Many of these paintings sold for high prices.

When the Indian population of the Americas started to deteriorate, famous painter Catlin went to capture pictures of Indians untouched by civilization. He wanted to show people what was happening to civilized Indians. Catlin traveled up the Missouri River and painted over one thousand paintings.

There are many criticisms to the paintings that Catlin did. Most of his critics were people that had been up the Missouri River. They claimed that nothing Catlin painted was even close to how it actually was. As a painter, Catlin painted what he wanted people to see. He would embellish scenes to make his paintings easier to sell.

Catlin tried to sell his enormous collection to the United States government. This goal was never achieved before he died. Catlin gave us paintings that offer a glimpse, however not a very accurate one, of the native populations before mass settling of the west started.

Many paintings of the era were focused on the new idea of Manifest Destiny, which is the idea that settlers had a right given to them by God to settle the west and displace the natives. Many of these paintings used stark color changes. Some of them made the east look bright and holy, while the west was being consumed by the light as settlers moved west. The art history paintings can give us a glimpse into the not so distant past.

By: Al Smitty

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Art can be rightly described as the “expression of the appealing according to aesthetic principles”. The word ‘fine’ attached with ‘art’ does no wonders to denote the remarkable quality, but it redefines the purity in the institution of art! Over the years of its study and experimentation, fine arts has been personified as ‘visual art forms’ that include painting, sculpture, architecture and print making. This implies, rightly, that this discipline tends to exclude art forms classified as craft-work or applied art (example, textiles). A synonym for what we describe herein can be ‘visual art’.

The pen shows it might and is recognized as novels, and other acclaimed forms of literature, but what of the brush that paints, and perhaps colors with its crisscross lines says much more than words could ever express? Such forms go down into the history as fine arts. Picasso of Spanish origin and M.F.Hussain an Indian inhabitant, both are highly acclaimed names in this field. The beginners in this field idolize them.

Fine arts seeks no age, it only breeds a thought that needs a vent. A child learning to paint does not care about what others might say about what he paints, such is the essence of fine arts. A person of any age or *** or religion can indulge into the extravaganza of feelings and then find a new way, into self exploration, who knows that simple mixing of colors might give him the fame of a lifetime, or even better if the palette can satisfy the excited soul!!!

Fine art is further categorized into Architecture, Ceramics, Dance, Drawing, Film, Fine art photography, Furniture, Intermedia (interdisciplinary, traditionally referred to as Fine Art Media), Literature, Music & Opera, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Textiles and Theatre. Classifying art does not mean that unbreakable walls have been created around it, suffocating it to fatality. Categorizing is only done so as to create tables for each one of these because rapidly multiplying contributions in them.

The idea of fine art is expression, whatever form, whichever medium, whoever artist!! It underlines the fact the every creation is a masterpiece, every creator is an aficionado, and every medium is the most apt one!

So, let’s be the aficionado and create a masterpiece that reflects our soul and its comprehension!
Fine art can be taken up like a religion, where each day, you make your contribution by offering something to your God, good or bad, you do not know, but it is the best that you can offer, so offer it!

By: Tarang Bhargava

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The world of fine art is vast and to the beginner art collector the broad selection of oil painting pictures may seem confusing. Oil is a wonderfully textured medium that lends itself to bold colors and amazing versatility. There are many avenues to explore when it comes to collecting new artworks.

You could visit a gallery or take a tour through an art show and discover oil painting pictures that catch your eye. You might find beautiful oil painting pictures at an auction or you might be lucky enough to inherit a masterpiece. Always keep in mind that the oil painting pictures should appeal to your senses and should be something that you will enjoy having in your home for years to come.

Purchasing expensive oil painting pictures simply because they are considered trendy or are highly sought after when they do not suit your taste could leave you somewhat disappointed with your purchase at a later date. At the end of the day, no matter the price tag or the artist’s reputation, it is up to you, the buyer to choose oil painting pictures that you find beautiful.

There are many different styles of art. You could purchase an abstract work of art, a portrait style painting, a beautiful depiction of a landscape, but whatever you choose, it should be a piece that complements the room that it is intended for. Size, color and overall theme need to be considered. When selecting a piece of art for a room you need to decide whether it is going to be a focal point or simply an addition to the overall decor.

Color and theme is of great importance. The size, shape and color of the frame are almost as important as the content of the painting itself. You want to select a painting that is going to complement the overall theme. A high-tech, ultra modern room would be better suited to a modern art piece. A homely country cottage is going to be the perfect atmosphere for a sentimental depiction of a spring meadow.

Try to match the art to the atmosphere, but always keep in mind that your choice should always come down to your personal preference for color and content. Having a work of art that reflects colors found elsewhere in the room adds to the overall atmosphere, but is not a necessity.

Lighting is a very important aspect of showcasing your artwork and care should be taken to ensure that your painting is properly displayed with the correct lighting. Different lighting effects can completely alter the appearance of a painting and even the difference between spotlights, down lights and harsh fluorescent lamps can alter the appearance of a painting.

If your chosen oil painting pictures are the focal point in a room, find ways to build the decor around them using complementary color in accessories and soft furnishings. This can be done inexpensively by placing candles on a mantelpiece that reflect a chosen color in your artwork. A decorative rug or scatter cushions on a strategically placed sofa can pick out textures or colors in a painting with equal ease.

By: Arold Augustin

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Fine art paintings can be very effective wall decor in any room. All that it takes for the homeowner to pull it off is to consider a few things. First, the dimensions of the paintings should be appropriate for the size of the wall it is to be hung on. It should not look too big or too small for the space. If the homeowner plans on having more than one painting then they should be balanced when arranged. Secondly, the type of room and its predominating theme should be more or less the same as that of the painting.

As stated, fine art paintings are not only limited to the living room. These artworks can be used in the dining room, the library, the entertainment room or even the kitchen. There are even people who go as far as putting miniature pieces in their bathroom. It is all a matter of having a certain theme for the room. If the chosen painting fits in it, then there is no reason why homeowners should restrain themselves from purchasing one.

If the art prints on canvas are intended to be placed as the backdrop of a bar, the theme of the painting should be relevant to the setup. The era or school of design of the pieces of furniture in a specific area can also be considered. For instance, if the bar is leaning towards art deco because of the elements of chrome and other metals, then the paintings should also have the same theme for them to match. If the pieces are leaning towards old world charm, then the paintings should also have the same elements. There are some paintings that are neutral but they would not be as effective as those that have very specific themes. Others also like mixing paintings with photographs, wall sculptures and lighting fixtures in a wall.

By: Neil Penn

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With art festivals in full swing during the spring, summer and fall seasons, it’s a good time to discuss how to buy fine art paintings. Does not knowing what to look for in a painting cause you to walk away because you do not know the questions to ask the artist?

The following information will enable yo to be an informed collector:

If you go to any fine art festival there will be many different styles of paintings to choose from. Ask the artist if the painting has been produced with archival materials. When did the artist paint this picture?

Do you know the style of painting that speaks to you? It may be a romantic style, abstract or any where in between. The colors may be muted and soft or a bright composition, with the artist using many colors to create the design.

Consider how your home or office is decorated. Will you need to use heavy, ornate frames or a more informal wood frame?

Oil paintings lend themselves very nicely to either the ornate or wood frame. For a watercolor painting, choose a light, narrow frame. It can be ornate but narrow. Personally, I like a metal frame with watercolor. There are many beautiful colors that coordinate with the painting.

Oil paintings may be painted on canvas, linen or boards prepared especially for oil paintings. Ask the artist how the ground for this painting was prepared.

Watercolor paintings may be on hot press paper or cold press paper. The paper weight is important also. It can range from 90lbs to 300lb or more. A popular weight is 140lb.

A question to ask the artist is how environmentally friendly are the materials used in the painting.

You may fall in love with a painting that is not oils or watercolor. It may be a pastel, or other medium that needs to be framed in a special way.

By: Ellene Breedlove Davis

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