Lawyers can fight for pretty much the rights, the justice (ideally) of nearly any subject from pharmaceuticals, corporate, criminal, divorce, and my favorite even art. It’s always a question of appropriation, what belongs to whom. In the case of art this is going to go way over anyone’s head because nobody has a clear definition of art (this changes all the time) and then there’s the issue of who owns the art.

Is it the creator? Does the artist really own the art since they really don’t have anything appropriated to the work of art once it has left the studio. In terms of appropriation there is such a thing as artist resale rights (or droit de suite in French the origin of the term) where the artist is allowed to claim royalties, a percentage of a final sale price when a public transaction has been made. However artist resale rights only exist in certain countries (not the USA mostly) so whether the art belongs to the original creator might depend on your nationality? Seems a bit manipulative.

Then there’s the artist gallery relationship. The artist produces the work, but the gallery representing the artist has some ownership rights over the work- they generally get a generous 50% cut of the final sale price for all the work they do to get the art noticed. But then if belonging changes through transactions if the art is bought then does the buyer then own the art? Is it an object with interchangeable rights dependent on that monetary exchange? Some people might even argue that art should belong to the people, this proletariat view seems to be easiest to fight for, but private viewing minimizes that belonging to the person with the biggest pocket book.

Let’s say art does belong to everyone, to the world, art is a child of the world and therefore is owned and belongs to everyone.

They also say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes it’s argued art only exists to serve its when there is a viewer at hand (meaning art for arts sake belongs to itself.) This cliché statement poses so many problems for instance not all art is beautiful, aesthetics doesn’t imply beauty. If art is so subjective that belonging changes according to the viewer then appropriation of art is practically impossible- so why even fight about and create laws for it?

Then why is it whenever there is a conversation between artworks, if too much is ‘borrowed’ from one work a lawsuit of copyright issues arises?

Examples are Shephard Fairey and the Associated Press concerning the Obama Hope posters. The Associated Press is suing Fairey for copyright infringement among other things because he mass produced a picture originally owned by the AP without permission (with his artistic interpretation of course not the exact photograph) The truth is had his posters not made such a statement and if some small scale artist had done the same without as much exposure, conversation, money…it probably would’ve gone unnoticed and been treated as a compliment. Jealousy is a dangerous and vicious creature.

Then there is someone like Richard Prince where the work is mostly a collage of photographs from ads with recognizable brands and figures for these brands. He has been sued by many of the original ‘producers’ of these creative advertisements. He generally uses these photographs out of their original intent and context to create his own collages without of course demanding for the right to use them. But did these originals belong to anyone in the beginning?

It is true a lot of initial work goes into the creation of these photographs especially if a photographer has worked 10 years earning the trust of Rastafarians in the mountains to produce a body of work with a specific intent. But does it end there? Isn’t art about a conversation between already existing work of art, it would be limiting to have the appropriation end any potential discourse. Maybe influence and inspiration should be given credit and maybe explained a bit rather than claiming a whole work as completely original in every way possible.

Then there is what commission can do for appropriation. If a piece is commissioned, does the artwork then belong to the decisions of the pocket book owner? Richard Serra found this out the hard way when he filed a $30 Million lawsuit against the General Services Administration (GSA) for a sculpture he had created called “Tilted Arc” at the 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan and it was very site-specific meaning the creation of the piece was adapted and largely depended on its physical location. It wouldn’t make sense had it been transferred unlike a painting from one gallery to another. The GSA who had commissioned the work were adamant on changing the location, and unfortunately they got their way.

Art Law is growing segment for representing the rights of art in many ways. But the question is still more complicated that before because if you give art a primary holder, it’s meaning (which is already intertwined and convoluted) can be affected by simply giving it an owner.

From the cubism of Picasso in the early part of the 20th century to the latest up-to-date showing at that avant-garde gallery in town, abstract art has been all about change. Purveyors of modern abstract art will take commissions, true, and hew to a set of instructions, yet the art that is for sale in galleries has a rich history of styles to choose from, fauvism and Dadaism and lyrical abstraction. The electronic methods of making art have not been neglected, as anyone who has ever attended a hologram display can attest.

Abstract art gained a new lease on life with the blossoming of electronic and robotic methods of expressing art. Form and color and texture combine in video abstraction as portrayed by the modern abstract artist Nam June Paik, the Korean-born artist who is said to have coined the phrase ‘Information Superhighway.’ Paik used media as they excited his interest, mastering one genre and then moving on to another. He has been called the first video artist, a natural progression from his artistic beginnings as a student of music. When he was inveigled by John Cage and other composers as well as conceptual artists to work in electronic art, he was more than ready to tackle another genre. He used both working and discarded television sets in his art, saying that he catered to the American admiration for ‘bright shiny things.’ Whether his art is sculpture or electronic is difficult to say, so fluid are his techniques.

Traditional art on canvas has not been forgotten in the last fifty years. If minimalism is defined as ‘multiple use of a single entity’, then abstract art contains minimalist elements, as pictured by the tightly-bound appearance of George Ortman’s works, perhaps the most famous being ‘Narcissus.’ ‘Narcissus’ may look like two diamond shapes whose tips touch surrealistically, but the geometrical quality of the flower is outstanding and the white discs inside the center of the rows of primary colored stripes, which make up the middle of the diamond shapes, take the naturalistic shape of a flower and glean the clean shapes from the curves. Ortman’s works use symbolism, not normally the case in abstract art, yet the meanings of his shapes are plain: a square equals intellect, a circle means sensuality and a triangle signifies ethics. His work has a tremendous moral and spiritual weight that feels authentic. Ortman has embraced abstract art in his artistic vision of minimalism and his use of primary colors is masterful.

Why not peruse the differing ranges of abstract art and find just the right genre for your taste? You may want to think out of the box or you may want the reassurance of quality that comes from a well-loved genre, but the piece of art on your wall will have a good home with someone who can think and learn about the fascinating steps that abstract art has taken lately. Abstract art on the computer is another genre, not something to hang on the wall, but to enjoy every time you boot up and visit your favorite museum site or individual artist’s gallery. Of course, if you are adventuresome, you may take a Photoshop tutorial or two on the internet and create your own art!

If you are an emerging fine artist, you may be agonizing over how to approach a gallery with your work. It can be intimidating to even the most outgoing person.

There are some general steps you should follow before approaching a gallery. They are:

1. Have a solid body of finished work available in a similar theme or style.
2. Prepare a portfolio complete with your Biography and your Artist Statement.
3. Have your website up and running (gallerists want to see an updated, fresh website).
4. Research galleries that would be the best fit for your artwork.
5. Make a list of the galleries you wish to approach, based on your research. Then get familiar with the artists that are represented by those galleries. You want to be able to intelligently discuss the art that the gallery is showing when you do finally meet with them.
6. Don’t cold call or just drop in on a gallery. Use snail mail, a non-intrusive form of contact, to send them postcards of your newest works, and printed newsletters if you have one, until you’ve built up their knowledge of your work. Attend their shows, take time to support what they are doing with other artists before you ask for a meeting to consider representing you. One artist I know built up a gallery’s familiarity with her by mailing postcards of new artwork she created every 2 months. Over the course of a year, the gallery knew her name and work and eventually brought her in.
7. Understand that there are over 200,000 fine artists in the U.S. – and there are not enough galleries! You’ll have to be patient, take your time developing relationships, and not take rejection personally.
8. After you’ve become familiar with a gallery and their artists, call and ask for an appointment to show your portfolio. You may get turned down – galleries get called on by artists every day – but don’t despair. Continue to send postcards of your work. Keep them on your mailing list. And move onto the next gallery.
9. When you do get a meeting, be as professional as possible. Have your portfolio, website and business cards in tip top shape. Arrive to the meeting on time.
10. Sometimes it takes a few years for a gallery to finally represent you. So when you are told “no, not right now” keep in mind that it doesn’t mean “no” forever. Keep the relationship cordial and friendly. And stay in touch.

Not all artists need galleries. Actually, most do not now that we have the internet. But there is some value to having your art represented; it gives you credibility, helps you reach new collectors, and allows you to have a professional location to show your work.

It takes time to find the right match in a gallery. Sometimes it can take a few years. But remember, truly successful art careers not only last a long time, they take a long time to get going. Be patient, keep creating new artwork, and you’ll find a good home for your art.

Ontario is one of the southern provinces of Canada. It's the most populated province, as 40% of Canada's population lives here. It is also a famous historic place, with a full range of attractions, touristic hotspots and travel opportunities.

One of the provinces's most important natural sightseeing, that Ontario is famous for, is obviously Niagara Falls. Millions of tourists come to see this attraction and walk along the magnificent landscapes every year. Niagara Falls consist of three waterfalls that flow in this area. Together they form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America. It is stunning, beautiful and also beneficial in the terms of recreation and industry.

Another "must see" here is the CN Tower, one of the most recognized across the globe. It is 553 meters high, lit up at night and can be seen from every angle of the city. The view from the Tower is astounding, looking over the whole city and the lake.

Tourists also love to explore the provincial and national parks. In the south part of the province you can travel through the deep forests of Algonquin, French River, Killarney Provincial Parks, Bruce Peninsula National Park, etc.

However, Ontario is famous not only for its nature, but its museums. The Royal Museum in downtown is one of the largest museums that feature scientific exhibits as well as natural history of the world. The National Gallery in Ottawa, which is also well known, contains the masterpieces of popular artists. This part of Canada also has the Art Gallery, which is prestigious beyond the country, as it hosts amazing collections of African and Oceanic Art.

One of the sightseeingings also include Wonderland, which is 30 kilometers northwest of Toronto's city center. It is a huge park that provides different thrill rides and roller coasters. Children adore Dinosaur Park and water parks, as well as live shows that are usually shown in summer.

The area is also famous for Muskoka, which is located around Lake Muskoka and various other popular lakes. It is full of cottages, resorts and marinas. Tourists, as well as locals typically spend holidays here, in the surroundings of rocky shores and pine trees.

If you want to spend time with friends and love art, The Stratford Festival is without a doubt a very good chance. The Festival Theater has 2,250 seats and launches plays of Shapeskpeare and other famous writers.

First, buy contemporary art. Some of the older carvings can be a good investment only if you are sure that they will increase in value over time. The thing is they are already old and expensive, so they won’t grow in price as much as contemporary art. On top of that, there are many old Inuit carvings that simply don’t worth anything, you really have to be an expert in older Inuit art to buy it or you are at a huge risk of overpaying. With contemporary art, there are comparison, so you can check similar carvings by the same Inuit artists at different galleries and make sure you are paying a fair value.

The best place to shop for Inuit art is online Inuit art galleries. You will see that prices at online galleries are lower than at brick and mortar galleries. Actual stores have to pay rent, utilities, employees’ salaries and they have to mark up their prices a lot. Online Inuit art galleries buy sculptures directly from the artist and don’t have any additional expenses, they are just a middle man between you and the artist.

You may be curious to find out if there is a way to eliminate any middle men and buy Inuit art directly from the artists. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy, virtually impossible. You would have to go to a Canadian northern community yourself. You cannot drive, there are no roads, the only way to get there is by airplane. The airplane ticket alone will cost you at least 2,000 dollars. Now, once you arrive to Cape Dorset, Sanikiluaq or any other Inuit community, you need to rent a room in a hotel, that would cost you 200 dollars a night. Then you would have to rent a truck because there is no public transportation, you would have to eat something and food is expensive too. And even after all these expenses there is no guarantee that you will find any carvings to buy. There are times when Inuit communities are completely dry, carvings wise, because it’s not a season or somebody else just bought everything before you. The best time to go on a carving adventure is in fall, because Inuit artists get their stone in late spring and summer and there are usually many carvings for sale by fall season. The worst time to travel would be in early spring, you are at a high risk of not finding any carvings for sale.

Another tip is to look for well known artists. Buy Inuit art by internationally recognized carvers like Nuna Parr, Jimmy Iqaluq or Paul Kavik. Although their art is already quite pricey, you can be sure that it will appreciate over time even more, especially when they retire from the trade. There are many younger artists whose art is much less expensive than art from master carvers, but it may be a better investment opportunity to purchase from them. For example, if you acquire a dancing bear by Noo Atsiaq, who is a younger promising artist, you will pay only a fraction of the price as compared to Nuna Parr’s bear. However, in only about ten years Noo Atsiaq will be as famous if not more as Nuna Parr, and you will be able to get a good return on your investment.

One last thing, make sure you like what you are buying, After all, Inuit carvings, as any art, are all about perception. If people don’t like the particular Inuit sculpture, no matter how famous the Inuit artist is, you will have a hard time selling his carving for big profit.

You often hear that an artist is listed, so what does this really mean? Basically, it means that an artist has attained a certain level of recognition in the art world.

Just like everyone else, an artist starts their career at the bottom level. They start to show their work by attending local or school shows, having their art in galleries that specialize in emerging artists, listing their art on sites like eBay and Etsy. As their art matures and they develop a signature style, the artist will start winning awards in major shows, have representation in more established galleries, articles written about them and possible museum attention.

This gets the artists noticed by the publishers, curators, art critics or sites that reference these artist. These entities report biographies, dealers and secondary market information. The importance of this is that it validates that the artist is a professional, creates quality art, deserves recognition and has a stronger potential for maintaining or increasing in value.

It’s the same type of progression as a musician that starts playing at the local pub and graduates to large concerts and the cover of the “Rolling Stone”.

During pre-internet days, the major reference books, kind of the “Rolling Stone” for art, that an artist could be listed in were Benezit, Mayers and Who’s Who in American Art. Being referenced in these books qualified the artist as being “listed”. Publications in which an artist paid to be referenced in do not qualify the artists for this distinction.

Today there are major art reference web sites (most are subscription based for all or part of the information). If an artist is referenced on these sites, they are considered as “listed”. The major sites are AskArt, ArtPrice, ArtFact and ArtNet. It is very easy to verify if an artist is “listed” by checking these sites. These sites are constantly being updated with new information.

Picasso, Rembrandt and Van Gogh are examples of “listed” artists. Very few listed artists achieve their level of recognition, but this does illustrate that not all listed artists are created equal. Some are much more famous than others.

Just because an artist is not listed does not mean that they are not a creative and accomplished artist, but a “listed” artist has the added confirmation and recognition of their talent.

Most artists never receive this recognition and sometimes, not until after they have passed away.

What to put your the website if you are an artist.

1) The art work

Try and think like a gallery hanging a show. Would a gallery

put 20 paintings of an artist’s art work on one wall? No,

because the visitor would be completely confused and not

be able to focus on any one painting. The same rule

applies to artist’s websites. If you cram 20 pictures on one

page the Web visitor will move on. Feature a few paintings

on each page.

The opposite is also true. Do not put only a few pictures on

your artist website. There is nothing more frustrating than

finding an artist that you like on the Web and not being able

to see a representational body of work.

2) Background color

Background color on a website is just as important as it is

in a gallery. White, light gray, cream are all safe colors.

Black can be very dramatic way to highlight paintings,

however, black makes text almost unreadable. If you use a

color, which can be done effectively, make sure that the

color works with all your art work and reflects who you are

as an artist.

3) Design

Keep it clean, classy and simple. Make sure to visit

“Websites That Suck.” www. websitesthatsuck.com.

Make sure your artist’s website loads quickly; visitors on the

Web will not wait, they will leave.

Stay away from all the newest flashy innovations that web

designers often like. They usually irritate the visitor and take

longer to load.

4) Search engines only read text.

Search engines do not explain how outstanding your art

work may be. They only read text. It is very important to have

text on your website. The more relevant text the better.

5) Text on a website is different than text in a book or

magazine.

All the lessons that apply to “regular” writing do not apply on

the Web.

When you are writing text for your website, think bullet points

and outline. You want sentences to be short and choppy;

phrases work well. Paragraphs should be short. Make your

text chatty and do not be afraid to start your sentences with

words like “And” or “Because”. Writing for the Web is the

opposite of what you learned in high school and college.

6) Splash pages are now out.

It used to be that on your Home Page you could put a

gorgeous picture of your art work and then move on from

that to the rest of your website. This is called a “splash

page”. Search engines no longer like splash pages. It is

now recommended that on your home page you have text

explaining what the entire website is about and links to all

the major pages.

7) Connect with the visitor.

Just having fabulous pictures of your art work is not enough.

A Web visitor will usually visit one or two pages and most

likely seldom or never return. It is very important to give the

Web visitor a reason to stay on your website as well as to

come back. The usual artist’s statement is not going to

accomplish that.

Tell or show your Web visitor something about you. It could

be a picture of your studio, people love to visit studios;

information about what inspires you; your technique, if you

have an unusual one; a particularly interesting interview with

you. Use your imagination

Give away free information. Visitors on the Web love that.

There is probably something obvious to you that is big news

to your average Web visitor. Share that information with

them.

8) Let the visitor know how to contact you.

Make sure the visitor on the Web can contact you as well as

your gallery, if a gallery represents you. If the visitor can only

contact the gallery, it feels as if the gallery is holding the

artist hostage. The Web visitor will move on.

If a gallery is concerned about an artist having an email

address of his or her own, there is an easy solution. The

person who sends the email gets an automatic reply saying

their message has been received. The same email

message can be forwarded to both the artist and the gallery,

and together they can decide how the email could be

answered.

9) Make your website easy to navigate.

Make sure that it is easy for a visitor to find his or her way

around your website. If a Web visitor finds it the least bit

frustrating, they will leave.

© Mary Baker 2005

Art collecting can often seem like the pastime of just the very rich, but with the right knowledge and a keen eye, you can start a contemporary art collection that enhances your home or portfolio on even the most modest of budgets.

1. Discover Your Preference
Art appreciation is totally subjective. With no hard and fast rules, an important first step on your journey should be to find out exactly what style you respond to. Browse your local fine art gallery or exhibition and find out which pieces draw you in.

2. Get the Back Story
Fine art is about more than just what's on the page. Learning the history behind an artist can help inform your purchasing decisions and point you towards an items worth. If you're buying face-to-face at an antique fair or local art dealer, quiz the seller on the items history; this may also reveal how much the seller knows about what they're flogging.

3. Different Strokes
An important distinction to make is if the art is original or reproduced by mechanical means. Original art is often the most expensive because it's one of a kind. This can come in the form of oil paintings, pen and ink drawings, watercolour paintings and more.

A Print, while not one of a kind, is also not considered a 'copy'; This is because, typically, each print differs due to variables in the printmaking process. Prints, while still often commanding high asking prices, will almost always be more affordable than original paintings.

Posters and reproductions are the least expensive way to collect, with no limit on the run of the item, meaning lower asking prices and higher availability. For the burgeoning collector, reproductions can be the most budget friendly and risk free method for expanding your portfolio.

4. Sourcing on a budget
Of course, this all means very little unless you can actually afford the item in question. Recent years have seen a revolution in the way consumers source and purchase fine art. Here are some of the avenues to consider:

Online Retailers: Sites such as eBay or Amazon offer extensive art collections, available internationally often at a significantly reduced price. It may however be difficult or impossible to view the item first hand before purchasing.

Contemporary Art Fairs: Events where dozens of artists get together to exhibit their work. These can provide a chance to speak and negotiate with the artist directly before buying.

Local Auction Houses: Can provide varied results and may require some digging before you find the gems.

Antique Art Fairs: A great source of 18th and 19th century art. May also require some careful digging but can be a good opportunity to negotiate and grab a bargain.

John Dronsfield was thinking of a new idea that would guarantee he would get two pieces of work into an open art competition. This is a similar situation that many artists find themselves pondering. As artists progress through their career they enter competitions and exhibitions, to increase exposure to their work. John came up with an idea that was certainly innovative and caught the eye of curators, critics and members of the public. Painting on toast was born.

That was fifteen years ago, since then the toast has not been seen as frequently, until recently. An organiser of The Art of Caring Exhibition and blog started talking about the artist who paints on toast. A piece of this artistic toast was then sent to be reframed and caused quite a stir. People are still asking about this amazing piece of work. It is not just recognition from the public it has been recognised by the curator of the Stockport Art Gallery and adjudicators. When they all saw the paints they all announced a “Wow, that’s amazing.” The response is still the same today. Unlike many pieces of art these are not just another piece of novelty art. This is important to both artists looking for an original, eye catching idea and collectors / investors wanting a unique and desirable piece. What makes this art on toast standout is obviously the medium being toast, the thing that really makes these special is the quality of the painting, whether it is gouache, watercolour or oil.

This is a great example of art for any collector, investor or a person just looking a piece of art to decorate their home or office. There are numerous artists in the market place, some are good, some are not so good, so what should you be looking for. The number one rule when buying art should be “Buy what you like.” Following this will give you a solid base to work from when buying art.

The next thing to be aware of is, buying gimmicks. There are many out there and the bottom line is they are produced for one purpose only and that is publicity. Looking at John Dronsfields toast, it could be called a gimmick. The only way to find out if it is or is not, is through research. Some of the questions you need to ask are. What is the history of the artist? What I mean is, find out as much as you can about the artist and their previous work. Is it commercial art? This is more relevant to art other than paintings. The point is was the art produced to be sold or to get on the news. Using the example of John Dronsfields toast, it was first produced fifteen years ago and has never been used purely for publicity. Also the toast art looks great with high quality oil, gouache or watercolour painting. In my opinion this is more than any gimmick it is art. It reflect the ingenuity, the fantastic sense of humour and artistic ability of John Dronsfield.

With any art I would recommend that you look at the number of pieces that are being produced. This is more important when the art is slightly different. As with most items to be more collectable you are looking for lower numbers. Again looking at John Dronsfields toast example there have been less than ten pieces produced and is only produced by commission.

Unique work is more highly desirable and for investment makes a purchase have a greater return on investment. This is one of the reasons some people suggest that limited edition prints are not a great investment, I explain why that is not always the case in a previous article. Returning to our toast example the toast is only a base to paint on and the painting on the toast. This painting is original to each piece.

Looking for art whether it is for decoration or investment, should be fun. Whether you are looking for a traditional piece or something a little different, like the toast to be a talking point, it is important to ensure you do the necessary research and get the best piece for you personally.

Every room you walk into should have a personality and an outstanding quality based on what the room contains. This means everything from design, shape, and color, placement of furniture such as tables, chairs, flower arrangements or contemporary art paintings. Everything in a room has its own place, and this adds a perfect ambiance to a room.

Why art is necessary

When you choose to decorate an office, you should first determine what you would like to portray. You can have an office that looks sleek and minimalist or one that looks busy and bursting with life. There are many modern offices that usually opt for contemporary abstract paintings. This is because these paintings allow the office to look chic yet warm and comfortable at the same time. Art tends to give a life to a place; it adds a certain amount of characteristic charm. This is why art is necessary for every home and office. They are also great conversation starters.

Art is celebrated in every corner of the world these days. It is easy now to search for art paintings online because there are a number of art sellers and creators available who choose the online option to showcase their work to the people of the world. But finding exactly what you need will be a bit difficult task.

You can always buy art paintings online or at a store if you find a good store nearby. Buying art online will save you a lot of time and energy. Online stores offer a huge variety than local art sellers.

Today, you can even buy paintings from an online art exhibition. These online art exhibitions are organized by different online stores. In these exhibitions, you may find much rare and exquisite art pieces at a very reasonable price. These exhibitions are definitely a good way to find new and interesting original contemporary art pieces for your office or home.

Things to consider

• The office decor helps to determine the attitude and atmosphere of an office environment, and contemporary paintings are the best option to add a mood to your office.

• If you are working on a budget, then it is probably best to look for an inexpensive art gallery online. You may get a wide range of options at a reasonable price.

• You should know where to place the artwork so that it adds the perfect ambiance to the office and catches the attention of people without being a sore distraction.

Contemporary art is very popular these days, and many artists are willing to create artwork based on your need or specifications. Art always adds to the aesthetics of any room. It is one of the main ways in which you can decorate your home or office. It helps to reduce the monotony that may sometimes associate with space. Original contemporary art is the most elegant and classy choice, especially if you have an eye for good artwork.

Original art paintings are rather hard to come across, but there are many artists these days who create paintings or art pieces according to buyers’ specifications. You can find these artists online and create a painting exactly in the way you want.