Would you like to take a tour of the major art museums of the world for free (except for the cost of your internet service)? To discover, in the words of art historian Andre Malraux, a “museum without walls,” from New York to Seoul, Paris to Moscow, Amsterdam to Buenos Aires, where you can explore countless paintings, sculptures, photography, decorative arts, and other media guided by art experts?

For today art museums, from the oldest institutions to 21st century art collections, are increasingly investing their time and creativity in developing websites for virtual visitors like you.

Here is a summary of the variety of art museum websites available to you.

THE GOOGLE ART PROJECT. Since February 2011, the Google Art Project has been providing access online to art museums across the globe, expanding from 17 to more than 180 (and counting) sites. The Art Gallery of South Australia, Istanbul Museum of Art, and the Phillips Collection are just a few of the recent additions.

SUPER MUSEUMS. The Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Prado and the State Hermitage Museum represent just a few of the “mega” museums. For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds thousands of works of art in a variety of media, spanning centuries of art history, from ancient Egypt to the modern period. Its galleries display European, American, African, Asian, and Oceanic art. In addition, the museum exhibits special collections of costumes, furniture, armor, and musical instruments.

Super museum websites often offer extensive online collections with colorful images and detailed descriptions. Current exhibitions are also highlighted with information on past and upcoming shows. In addition, educational and interactive opportunities are available with special features such as videos, podcasts, blogs, social media, and virtual tours.

Google “list of most visited art museums in the world” to find more super museums.

A MUSEUM OF ONE’S OWN. Are you a fan of Van Gogh? The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam houses the largest collection of his works in the world. Its website is an excellent resource for Van Gogh’s paintings, drawings, and letters as well as providing a chronicle of the major periods of his career. Or you might check out the websites of other museums dedicated to one artist such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Edvard Munch, Auguste Rodin, Marc Chagall, and Norman Rockwell.

SPECIALTY MUSEUMS. Some museums focus mainly on one style or period of art. You might investigate the websites of the three unique museums below.

Impressionist Treasures. The Musee d’Orsay, located in a remodeled Beaux Arts train station in Paris, is THE museum for Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, unrivaled in the number and quality of its works. Its unique website showcases more than 800 masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Rodin, and a long list of other leading artists of this period.

The Genius of Italy. Florence was one of the birthplaces of the Renaissance and its Uffizi Gallery holds the most comprehensive collection of that artistic movement (including Botticelli’s famed Birth of Venus and Primavera). And you can browse through almost every gallery on the Google Art Project.

Inside the Acropolis. The new Acropolis Museum (just opened in 2009) displays probably the most beautiful sculptures in Western art; experience them in virtual reality through both the museum website and the Google Art Project.

MASTER COLLECTORS. Discover the best of the great collectors and their visions of art on the websites of the following art museums: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a palace of art built by American heiress Gardner in her hometown of Boston; the J. Paul Getty Museum that introduces you to the priceless collections of the oil billionaire at two sites, the Los Angeles center and the Getty Villa decorated with ancient Greek and Roman art in Malibu; and The Frick Collection, the elegant Fifth Avenue mansion of 19th century mogul, Henry Clay Frick, with galleries of Vermeer, Rembrandt, and other famed European artists.

MUSEUMS, MUSEUMS, AND MORE MUSEUMS. When the first Guggenheim Museum, designed by architectural pioneer Frank Lloyd Wright, finally opened in New York City in 1959, its founder Solomon R. Guggenheim had been dead a decade. Could he have envisioned that four more art museums with his family name would someday be in Venice (1980), Berlin (1997), Bilbao, Spain (1997), and Abu Dhabi (planned completion 2017)? Take a look at the New York, Venice and Bilbao Guggenheim museum websites; each one provides an overview of its collection plus images of the distinctive architecture of its building.

You can explore as well the impressive website of the Tate complex of art museums in the UK, starting with the original Tate Britain (1897), Tate Liverpool (1988), Tate St. Ives (1993) in Cornwall, and latest addition Tate Modern which premiered in 2000, just across the Thames River from the Tate Britain.

ACROSS THE CONTINENTS. Except for Antarctica, art museums are present on every continent from the Museum of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia to the Sao Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil to the National Palace Museum in Taiwan to the Iziko South African National Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa. All the art museums above have websites and are members of the Google Art Project.

To read more about the world’s leading art museums, go to http://www.artseverydayliving.com (arts everyday living), click on its blog, and you’ll find articles from August 5 – August 25, 2012 and beginning in January 2013.

Millions of people visit Italy every year to experience the landscapes, beaches, and the huge list of archaeological sites scattered throughout the country. But while it’s not surprising that many tourists opt to focus on the nature and history of the country when they visit, its art cannot be overlooked.

The stunning region of Tuscany, apart from being known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, has been home to many great artists. In fact, the city of Florence in Tuscany is often referred to as the “Art Palace of Italy.” For an art-filled Italian vacation, accommodation and itinerary must be the first two factors you take care of. Tuscany is a major artistic and cultural hub and it requires planning to enjoy the kind of vacation you have in mind. For starters, here are some museums you must not miss.

Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery in San Gimignano

It’s important to note that before anticipating an enjoyable Italian vacation, accommodation should be secured first. Once you have that out of the way, it will be easier to prepare your itinerary, based around what’s within reach. One of the best things about Tuscany is that beautiful sites are not limited to the major cities or more populous, touristy destinations. In fact, even small towns such as the medieval San Gimignano boast excellent museums worth checking out. The Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery, which is housed in the Archaeological Museum, should not be missed. Also high on the list of “must-sees” is the panoramic view of San Gimignano from the top of the Torre Grossa, the city’s tallest tower.

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence

When preparing for the ultimate art focused Italian vacation, accommodation should be well within reach of public transport, unless you have your own car. Art lovers cannot go to Tuscany and not visit the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, and the city is easily reachable by train from anywhere in the region. Considered by many as one of the best museums in the world, the Uffizi contains masterpieces such as Botticelli’s Primavera, as well as works by Leonardo Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, and Michelangelo. It’s a once in a lifetime experience to see paintings acknowledged by the world as the best of the best.

Leonardo Da Vinci Museum in Florence

The Leonardo Da Vinci Museum is also located in Florence and is another must-see site on any Italian vacation. Accommodation options near the museum are easy to secure, so you can opt to book in nearby and enjoy the convenience of walking to the museum and all the other sights of Florence. The Leonardo Da Vinci museum is more than just a museum, however – it is an homage to one of the greatest men not only in Italy, but the entire world. The museum features many of his works, along with reconstructions of some of his inventions, which are all life size. Regardless of how much or how little visitors know about Da Vinci, they invariably come out of the museum totally in awe and with a new sense of appreciation for the definitive Renaissance icon.

The American Artist struggle is one known well by an American/German Artist known as “Lyle”. He was born in 1957 with the name Baron Frederick Lyle Bartholomew der Graf von Thrauthemburg und Morsbach und der Graf Von Morris.

Baron Von Morsbach und Morris studied at Park College in Parkville, Missouri and Northern Virginia State University in Arlington, VA, he studied in Boston Mass, Penn State, several universities in Germany and currently has exhibits in Colorado, New York, Paris and Germany. He has degrees in Behavioral Science, Psychology, and Art History, is employed as a Systems Analyst and Database Manager. He intends to keep his painting as a hobby, feeling he does his best work with that approach.

Baron von Morsbach un Morris, has traveled extensively, and now lives in Heppenheim, Germany, has a home in Weston, West Virginia, a small farm in Natick, Mass and an art gallery there as well. He keeps a flat in Norfolk, VA and has a family home in Pennsylvania. Most of his family lives either in the United States or Germany. He has been exposed to European art, his influences include Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin.

Some of his exhibits have included the Vesecky Gallery in Paris; the City Gallery of Ixheim, Germany, the Tylor Gallery of Aschaffenburg, and the City Gallery of Aweibruechen. In the United States, he has exhibited at galleries in Norfolk, Virginia; Detroit and Birmingham, Michigan and currently has exhibits in Colorado Springs, Colorado, New York and Germany. He received the Beacham Fine Arts Award and a Beacham Gold Medal in 1997. Among other awards are the Grumbacher Gold Medal, the Velsecky Fine Arts Award, and the U.S. Army TACOM Artist of the Year.

Frederick Morris is a featured artist in New Art International, published June 1998 by Book Art Press, and he’s listed in American Artist’s Who’s Who in 1998. His painting, “Friends,” depicting a tropical bird, was on the cover of Cruise Magazine, June 5, 1996, and was part of a benefit auction of a large donation of his work for the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project.

In June, 1998, Morris presented an oil painting, “The Mask of Virgil”, to Park University President Doctor Donald Breckon. From April 19th to June 17, 2002, the artist had a solon exhibit, open to the public, at the invitation of the city of Lindenfels, Germany. H.E. Frederick Baron Von Morsbach un Morris has been featured in art exhibits and news accounts such as The Weston Democrat “Artist Off to Iraq” Oct 27, 2004, Weston, WV., Alumni Magazine “Artist honors College” Summer 1998, Park University, Parkville, OK., The Progress News “Craig Gallery Presentation” Volume, Issue1, July 1988, Clarion, PA., The Detroit News “European painter displays locally” May 1993, Warren, MI., The Swann Gallery -Progression of Maters (Detroit Free Press Feb 7, 1997) Detroit, MI., noted in several exhibits as Frederick Von Thrauthemburg for The Clique Gallery A New Way of Looking May 22, 1996, Royal Oak, MI., New Art International, Page 149, Lyle Morris, 1992., Diversions Magazine, Gallery Opening Apr 3, 1998, Detroit, MI., The Rescare Connection Magazine, Award Winning Artist, Winter 2004, Buckhannon, WV.. Art Notes Magazine, Spring 1998. Detroit, MI., as well as numerous other magazines.

Recently, Frederick Von Thrauthemburg, graf von Morsbach un Morris has donated a variety of paintings to the American Easter Seal Foundation in Colorado, other charities supported by this artist is Inside Out, a youth group, SCAP of Colorado, The American Red Cross, FCC Church, MCC Church and other organizations. Recent sales have been conducted by boundless gallery on the Internet.

Georgia O’Keeffe or Georgia Totto O’Keeffe was an American painter, who revolutionized the concept of modern abstract art. Born on November 15, 1887 in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Georgia O’Keeffe grew up in Virginia. She graduated from the Chatham Protestant Episcopal Institute in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1904, and studied painting at the Art Institute of Chicago (1905) and the Art Students League of New York (1907). She later moved to Texas and headed the Art Department at the West Texas State Normal College in 1916. The charm of the barren landscape caught O’Keeffe’s fascination, tilting the balance of her artistic skills towards capturing the beauty of the valleys and plains that surrounded her.

Georgia’s paintings drew up a close-up view of desert flowers, backdrops, cow skulls, and Calla Lilies. Her work won her a passionate audience. Her artistic brilliance was first noticed in her charcoal drawings of bud and flowers in 1916. Ace photographer and art gallery director of 291, Alfred Stieglitz, whom Georgia later married, exhibited 10 of her drawings in the same year. She had the knack of capturing and representing natural beauty in her own distinct ways. April 1917, O’Keeffe held her first solo show at the art gallery, 291.

1920s witnessed some of the best artworks of O’Keeffe. Her first large scale flower painting, “Petunia, No.2 (1924),” was first exhibited in 1925. She canvassed the buildings of New York in “City Night and New York–Night (1926)” and “Radiator Bldg–Night, New York (1927).” In one of her painting, ‘The Black Iris (1926),’ she magnified a flower beautifully, giving it a startling and an unusual look. Later in her career, O’Keeffe introduced different patterns of the sky, which she observed during her travels by air. Her mural, ‘Sky above Clouds (1962-63),’ is one of her largest illustrations.

Georgia O’Keeffe finally settled down in Abiquiu, New Mexico, after her husband’s death in 1949. She continued to fascinate the world with her emotive and simple paintings of exotic southwestern landscapes. By the time her illustrious career ended with her death in 1986, Georgia had carved a niche for herself and had left behind a legacy, which became a major source of inspiration for the other artists.

O’Keeffe always maintained that anything around her that came to her notice and intrigued her, she simply brought to the canvas. She was awarded the National Medal of Arts by the National Endowments of the Arts Washington, DC in 1985, which was presented to her by President Ronald Regan. She was also awarded the Medal of Freedom, which is the nation’s highest civilian honor. The National Institute of Arts and Letters awarded her a Gold Medal for Painting. She also held the distinct honor of being the first woman to exhibit her art at the Museum of Modern Art.

Oscar Wilde once said “All art is quite useless,” but that statement was part of the aesthetic movement in Literature which he was a salient figure of. Art is not actually ‘useless’ it is rather useful because it provides a sense of escape from the dreary monotony of life. Therefore it is most important to understand and admire art since it shows a portal to our lives that we are alienated from.

Leno Morfin is a Mexican painter. He was born in the Sierra Madre of Jalisco. When he was sixteen, his entire family immigrated to the United States. Leno Morfin has been in Chicago for many years and is now coming back to Mexico. He intends to tour the beautiful Mexican Museums with a French artist Louis Durot. Louis Durot has been a colleague of Leno Morfin for years and has been exhibiting his art with Morfin throughout the world.

On the 5th of June, Leno Morfin opened his new art show, “The Dreams To See,” at Biblioteca Los Mangos. If you are a great art lover and are intrigued by this art show you can even meet Morfin and talk to him about your views. ‘The Dreams to See’ art show was held in Puerto Vallarta(PV) Public Library, Biblioteca Los Mangos, on the 5th of June at 8 p.m. Drinks and complimentary snacks were also offered to all the people who attend this show.

In addition to this spectacular art show Leno Morfin offered free art workshops on the techniques of the traditional Chinese water-print painting at the PV Public Library on the 6th of June and also the 13th of June at 11 a.m.

PV does offer a beautiful weather with amazing scenery, delicious and mouth watering treats at restaurants with their refreshing and revitalizing drinks, and adventurous fun of all kinds but what many people do not know is that Puerto Vallarta offers a great variety of art to people, which is a great attraction for the locals and visitors as well. Abundant art galleries, art shows and art classes are present in Puerto Vallarta; and these wonderful opportunities are just waiting to be availed both by the tourists and local people.

You should plan to visit this Utopian place as soon as possible because in its pockets it carries a glorious and colorful way of life. When ever you do visit PV, do not miss these art galleries and obviously do NOT miss your camera because such beauties should be savored and kept for all times to come.

Puerto Vallarta is very famous and most ideal destination for the tourists and vacationers especially those coming from USA and Canada. The condos and villas in Puerto Vallarta offer various facilities and luxuries to the visitors. The tourists really enjoy the breathtaking and stunning view of the beaches of Puerto Vallarta.

The weather and atmosphere of Puerto Vallarta is perfect to enjoy a peaceful vacation. Puerto Vallarta is the best place to celebrate your special occasions like wedding, birthday and family reunions. The green gardens, sea and idyllic weather along with the splendor of these Puerto Vallarta rentals add vigor to your special events. You will never get bored in this beautiful city as there are so many places to see and visit, where you can really enjoy and have a great time.

Dubai is the modern shopping paradise and home to some of the best architectural structures in the world. The culture of the city enterprises old Islamic architecture, souks and attractions that allows you to look into the region as it was before it got modernized.

Since shopping has become the top rated activity in the city, you should visit souks to get a feel of old markets. Souk is an Arabic word which literally means market. Traditionally, souks were the places where one could buy and sell products used daily.

If you want to get an experience of typical Arabic marketplace, consider visiting smaller yet traditional souks located in different parts of the city. From these souks, you can choose many items such as clothes, spices, raw meat, other food items and jewelry. If you are looking for traditional crafts and souvenirs, these souks are the best alternative. Tip from the experts: negotiate as much as you can to nail down the best deals.

Art lovers from around the world book Dubai flights to visit Miraj Islamic Art Gallery. The gallery is known for exhibiting collections of Islamic arts created in the Middle East. While taking a closer look at the collection, you will come across Turkish brass engravings, Iranian carpets and jeweled Indian dresses. Beside old and antique pieces, you will also come across contemporary art works. Whatever you find in the gallery is on sale so, if you like an item you can buy it.

Dubai Museum should be the next attraction on your list to visit as it allows you to know more about the history and culture of the city. The building in which the museum is located is known as Al Fahidi Fort, a historical structure built around 200 years ago to protect the city from invaders. Beside the rich past, the fort is also known for exhibiting the evolution of Dubai. The items displayed in the museum depict the journey of the city in becoming an international business from a tribal region. Most popular displayed items are significant collection of weapons, traditional instruments and relic representing the centers gone by.

Bastakiya District is located next to the Dubai Museum. The district allows you to take a look at how the city looked like before it started featuring all the modern skyscrapers. There are numerous traditional building with a central courtyard and a wind tower. The district features shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafés.

Dubai is a city with plenty to see, from ancient to modern there is definitely something for everyone.

Hanging pictures has always remained an integral aspect of embellishing our homes since the time humans learned the art of painting cave walls in prehistoric times. Ancient people considered art as a magic that ferried us from an earthly to an eternal life. Surprisingly this concept has more truth to it than you would imagine as what we take in visually remains in our subconscious mind.

What we see has the capacity to captivate us and whisk us to another world magically and wondrously. To enhance the impact of this miraculous journey, it is all the more important that artwork is hung appropriately and is compatible to the ambiance of the room. Rather than recreating the wheel, leading artists and art galleries have published some of the techniques they use when hanging pictures to maximize their visual impact. And if we follow their example we can come that much closer to creating the most eye catching, breath taking visual experiences within our own homes without the heartache of trying to work it out for ourselves.

An Ottawa-based gallery director, Joel Pleet opines that the most common mistake people make while hanging artwork is that the pieces are hung either too low or too high on the wall as they take middle of the piece as their point of reference for “eye level”. Pleet is of the firm opinion that eye level for different people varies dramatically therefore, when in the business of hanging pictures, the rules of “eye level” need to be broken. To maintain consistency in his gallery, he points out that middle of the painting from the floor needs to be about 1.4 metres. In homes however, one should look at “what makes sense” in particular situation rather than going for a specific rule or guideline as certain other aspects of room decor like wall space, colour, furniture and low ceiling have to be taken into consideration.

Another expert installer Paz Bundell holds firm beliefs when it comes to how the artwork is fixed to the hanging surface. His suggestion to people who hang pictures themselves is that two anchors or hooks should be fixed to the wall at least 5cm apart and then the artwork hung across these two anchors. In this way, the frame remains square as it is prevented from pivoting on the one point. He further states that hanging pictures over two anchor points provides more stability for the pieces being displayed. Toni Spanos Nordan who is a former art gallery director, also suggests using specialised art hangers when the wall hanging itself exceeds 10 kilograms. For any pieces weighing less than 5 kilograms, a long thin nail works fine if it is secured at an appropriate angle to a solid base.

Bundell also hints that as most homes don’t have straight walls and ceiling lines so any artwork being hung in a home with walls and ceilings out of alignment, has to be hung to fit the room. For example, if the ceiling is not perfectly straight but a large picture hung close to the ceiling is, then the gap between the ceiling and the top of the picture frame will be greater at one end than the other, which makes the picture appear to be hung crooked. He highly recommends that if the wall or ceiling line is out of plumb by a small amount, hang the picture also a little bit out to compensate. In this way the picture will look visually correct. Another hint he has for grouping artwork is to lay all the frames on the floor in front of the wall to determine the arrangement before physically hanging it on the wall. In this way you can play with number of combination’s until you get the perfect look without reeking havoc on your wall.

Dr. Lori. as an art historian and a museum curator, suggests not displaying the artworks for long periods of time as both natural and artificial lights can damaging to your art and could potentially result in devaluing your artwork over time. She stresses to “light” the artwork wisely. Avoid infrared, UV rays and shining of bright light directly onto the work of art. Incandescent bulbs are recommended rather than fluorescent bulbs as they have only 4% of their rays in the damaging light range.

Rather than working on a trial and error basis yourself, use the techniques of other art experts to gain the maximum effect from your pieces. Don’t forget that it is the art that emancipates us from our monotonous habitual thoughts allowing fresh perspective to our mind. So it becomes imperative to display your pictures artfully and respectfully by putting extra creativity and thought in to the process of hanging pictures.

I DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ART BUT I KNOW WHAT I LIKE?

Perhaps you’ve gone to a gallery or art museum, looked at the artwork displayed and said to yourself, “What the heck is that? I can’t understand it! Why is this here in a gallery?”

Or, maybe you’ve gone to a gallery or art museum and your reactions was, “Wow! Great stuff! I like this! I don’t know why, but I do!”

Or, maybe you’ve gone to a gallery or art museum, and, after viewing the exhibits, you walk away feeling bored and disinterested. You may have said to yourself, ” Why do I bother with looking at art? I never understand it. It’s beyond me.”

Like any other discipline, art requires the viewer to be knowledgeable about the information it presents. Sometimes we think we should just automatically understand art. After all, there it is, just hanging there on the wall and all we have to do, we think, is just look at it. But do we really SEE it? Often, our response may be, “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.”

That is just another way of saying, “What I like is really just based on my ignorance.”

THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU CAN ENJOY

Liking a certain artwork is a pleasure. You have communicated with visual phenomena and really enjoyed the experience. It can be a very enriching, rewarding experience to know how and why an art form developed or have some knowledge of how and why an artist works in a particular way. More than likely, your perspective is quite limited if you have never studied art or know how it has developed in not only, our Western culture but all over the world.

What if you could gain information on the many forms of art that have been produced since humanity began, and how it developed over time to the present day? What would this kind of study mean to you? It would mean that, equipped with that knowledge, you would be able to enjoy a lot more art! Here’s why.

The more you know about art and its development, the more you can enjoy looking at art! You will see much more and understand the context, content and style of the art form. And this is the basis of Art Appreciation-a study of how to expand your knowledge of the art world, past, present and future and, with that perspective, be able to communicate with the rich visual/creative world!

HOW TO BEGIN

So, how do your start gaining knowledge of this vast art world? Where do you begin?

Begin by dipping your toe into Art History. With a basic Art History 101 knowledge you will be able to see how art, as we know it, was not really a term until the science of Art History was developed in our western culture. And, when it was developed, as you can read in many art history books in the library, art has existed as long as humans have been able to pick up a stick, brush or chisel and record their lives and experiences.

There are several ways of learning how to appreciate art:

ONE — Learn about the basics of art history. How art developed, from the Lascaux cave paintings to modern art today. Older art history books deal primarily with artistic development in Western culture. Newer books add developments in Asia, China, Russia and the mid-East. The study of Art History has, over time, become global. In learning the time lines and factors that produce new perspectives and styles in art, you will not only gain a new historical perspective, but also become acquainted with the various art forms produced over the past centuries.

TWO–Choose a certain period or style in art history and learn about it. Perhaps Impressionism interests you. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to know the difference between Op Art and Pop Art. Through studying the cultural impact of a certain style on a specific period in time, you can understand why that particular art form developed and appreciate the artwork in a broader context.

THREE–Take a tour of your local art museum. Museums offer a wide variety of art educational programs and tours of their exhibits. Or travel and see the actual art in its setting. There are many websites on the Internet listing global art tours and travel, often by geographical location or specific art and architectural styles. On site art tours offer a unique and interesting way to travel and can give you an intimate, one on one perspective with the historical art and culture of the area. Tour groups are generally small in number and conducted by very knowledgeable guides delighted to respond to all of your questions and comments.

FOUR-Visit your local art galleries often. Galleries are supportive of their artists and gallery owners and attendants are usually quite pleased at your interest in their exhibits. They will be glad to give you information on the artists, such as whether they are local, where they have shown their work, what awards they have won, and who has purchased their artwork. Keep informed of present and future exhibits. This hands on approach, connects you closely with affordable art that is available where you live and often created by artists who live in or near your area.

DISCOVER A RICH VISUAL WORLD

Art Appreciation is as big or small a study as you want to do. Whether you want to make it an occasional outing or a serious study, whatever you choose, learning how art forms have historically developed and understanding what is on the walls in your local gallery will definitely change your perspective.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to discuss a painting on the wall in a gallery, instead of shrugging and muttering, “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.”

Think of it. Perhaps your response would be more like, “I like the way this artist uses color in an Expressionistic style. The brushwork is so vigorous! There is a lot of energy in the composition. Also, the use of thick paint produces an interesting texture.”

Through Art Appreciation you can discover a rich visual/creative world that will inspire you and beckon you to learn more.

Thomas (Tom) Brunger’s artwork has been admired and respected by collectors, museums, and critics throughout his career. Tom started painting in small room inside his home until his inspiration and creativity gradually filled the house with canvases and sculptures. He is now ensconced in a studio on the historic North Side of Pittsburgh.

To experience Tom’s art is to reflect upon contemporary society. He intertwines nature and romance with the political, social, and philosophical statements of the day. The beauty and sheer force of Tom’s works first lead the eye and heart to the passion of color and form. Once the viewer has been moved by the power of his works, the subtleties of life come to the forefront and the intellect and soul are touched.

Tom’s approach blends geometric and mathematical components with the organic beauty of nature. He often takes the minutiae of the details and magnifies them to reveal the significance of the vitality and totality of nature. Numerology based on the eternal number 3 and its impact on aspects of Ancient beliefs, nature, and current philosophical thoughts are ever-present in Tom’s works. Pi and its relationship with humankind have played important roles in the development of his themes. History, sociology, and philosophy have been translated into his work.

The collector can discover Tom’s passionate art in oils, pastels, watercolors, and sculptures. His sculptures are made of aluminum, plastics, bronze castings, wood, and sometimes every day objects such as musical instruments and pipes. The range from large pieces that make bold statements to small pieces that are intrinsic and thought-provoking.

Tom Brunger’s art work inspires, amuses, evokes thoughtful discourse, and is beautiful.

Tom received his formal education at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. He has won awards and his works have been collected by museums as well as by private collectors. He exhibits in galleries and on Discover Original Art’s online gallery.

Art collecting can be called an art onto itself, and I should say there is no right way to buy art! Art is a personal thing and you should always buy what you fall in love with or what excites you. Yes, there are many styles, names, trends and some art goes up faster than others. Art can be very trendy and people may be talking about this artist more than that one. But somewhere between fine wine and investments is where you can find fine art.

Art As An Investment

The basics of art as an investment is that you purchase a piece of art that you're passionate about and in time the artist, gallery, or art house start selling that artist's artwork for more than what you paid for it. Voila! you now have equity in your piece of art, keeping in mind there are many factors to how fast the equity grows and demand for that particular artist. A friend of mine sometimes uses her collection as currency, trading artwork for other things she needs. She has used this method to buy cars, pay bills and dinner. The real value in art is finding other people that are as passionate about that artist as you are. Because of this, if you own the right pieces of art it can be leveraged by sharing it with the world. Corporations, museums and traveling exhibitions lease these kinds of works all the time which provide income for the owners. But If you want a guarantee on your art buying … then I suggest you buy art for love, you'll always get your value out of it.

Do Your Research

Spend some time learning about the art and the artist because trends and popularity can both be misleading. Whenever possible, buy art in person and even better meet with the artist. Ask them about the series if it is in one, ask what is the size of it and if they plan on continuing the series. At some point, you may plan to buy another artwork and it would be good to know if there will be more in that style. If you have the pleasure of talking to the artist, try to find out if they do art fulltime, where they will be showing next and what projects are coming up next. A lot of artists do studio sales, that help control their inventory, sale one-off pieces, and earn them additional income. Knowing when these artists are having their studio sales can normally save you a lot of cash, plus you get to hang-out in the studio. Research can be a collector's best friend.

Collect with a Focus

This is a hard one for new collectors because they have not set any parameters yet. You do not need to limit yourself to just one type of work. Focus on a style or two or three styles, this will really help you build a great collection. This type of collecting helps to make it easier for identifying the kinds of works you want to purchase.

Proper Title Transfer

Any reputable art dealer or gallery should provide you with things like the provenance, condition, artist information with signature, history and edition numbers.

Documentation Is King

As a collector, you need to have all the documentation for your collection. Because anyone that needs to evaluate your collection must have a very thorough understanding of all the pieces. From your very first artwork you purchase, start a list of all the works, descriptions, invoices of sale prices, the purchase dates, and subsequent appraisal prices. It's a good practice and will save you so many heads in the future.

One of the simplest ways to learn more about an artwork or an artist is to ask questions, have fun and happy collecting.