Michelangelo produced large-scale frescos and heavy marble sculptures at the pinnacle of his career and this has ensured that most of his best pieces remain in Italy because of the difficulty which would be involved with moving them elsewhere. There is no one gallery which contains all of his work, unfortunately, but certain cities make excellent destinations for seeing collections of his most famous paintings and sculptures, most notably Florence and Rome.

Florence was the spiritual home of the artist, where much of his best work was produced. It is also here that much of his finest art remains for all to see. The frescos which he produced in the Sistine Chapel, Rome were clearly always destined to remain there and continue to be one of the finest art installations ever made.

Michelangelo’s original frescos on the ceiling, such as The Creation of Adam centerpiece, were later joined by The Last Judgement which sat close by on the Altar wall. The upshot of this is that the Sistine Chapel is a religious pilgrimage and fine art gallery all in one, and this is reflected by the huge numbers of tourists who visit it each year.

At the time that it was made, Michelangelo’s David sculpture was so enormous it was actually a great effort just to place it on display. It’s popularity and importance meant that it was eventually moved indoors, where it could be better protected from the elements. The original David sculpture can now be seen at the Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence although some full-size copies of it may appear across the rest of Italy.

The difficulty which exists for many of the artist’s global fanbase in being able to see his original works in person has led to a growing interest in online galleries with photographs of his various paintings. Others will also buy art print reproductions to have his work on their own walls at home.

In conclusion, Rome and Florence remain the best destinations to head for if you are wanting to see original Michelangelo sculptures, frescos and drawings. Online galleries offer an alternative to those unable to make the trip, and there are also many sketches which have been dispersed around the globe to potentially more local places, with most in Europe and USA. Several extra large publications can also offer supreme detail of the master’s finest artworks, but seeing the originals will always be the preferred choice for most.

If you want to buy canvas wall art to decorate your home, a good place to buy them is on the net. Although it is very convenient and also cost-effective to purchase art online, there are still somethings you have to keep in mind before clicking on the “buy now” button.

When you search for paintings on the Internet, you can take your time. Buying at an art gallery will limit your choices to a handful. Art galleries only have a few pieces on hand and only a few will provably be suitable for your tastes. On the net, you can find hundreds of suitable artwork.

When your window shop online, you can take your time picking possible items and comparing the prices, styles, sizes and colors. You may feel pressured to buy at an art gallery by a pesky salesman breathing down your neck.

The first thing you have to do before surfing on paintings online is to take measurements of your wall. Write them down and have the measurements next to your computer. Now as you surf on possible purchases, take note of the dimensions of the paintings too and write them down.

A good tip is to save the photos or links to the canvas wall art on your PC so you can compare all your choices later on. Decide if you plan to buy artwork according to the subject like landscapes, flowers, portraits, or still life paintings.

Do you want a relaxing blue painting for your bedroom, or do you prefer to buy a sophisticated cityscape or abstract canvas art set for your office? Consider the style of your home or office too when deciding on what type of artwork to get. Make the painting match with the rest of the room’s theme.

Take extra care about colors too. One good tips is to base your painting’s color choice on colors of your furniture and decor accessories like throw pillows, the lampshade color, or the rug. Avoid getting a painting with the same exact color of your wall because you will lose contrast that way.

Know how much you should spend on your canvas wall art. You should be able to buy reasonably priced paintings online compared to expensive artwork at art galleries. Expect to spend about a hundred dollars at most for a medium-sized single painting, or a couple of hundred dollars for large canvas art sets.

When you see an attractive painting that you want to buy, check the signature on the artwork. If you like one of his paintings, you will likely appreciate his other works too because they will be created with the same style. Check other paintings made by that artist because you might find something more ideal.

Once you find the perfect painting that you want to buy, decide if you want the canvas wall art framed or not. Some online art stores can frame for free. It will be cheaper to have the art store frame it for you before they deliver the artwork. Getting paintings framed at independent framers is a bit expensive.

You should also check delivery charges. Some art stores pad shipping fees to make more money. Some online stores can deliver for free depending on your location. You should also ask the seller to have the painting installed with a hanging device.

Your home is your sacred space, and it is necessary to decorate it well. This is necessary so that you look around your home and like what you see; it gives you that sense of being at peace in your own home.

Home decor is very important for your family too. Everything in your house should give you a welcome feel. This is also true for guests who visit your home. After all, you do want them to like the kind of home that you have. The artwork exists at the very core of home decor, and original canvas art can take your home to new heights. It gives a different outlook to your house.

It is rather easy to buy paintings online these days because there are so many sites to choose from. However, not all of them have the best galleries or paintings that they portray in their homes. So, this can get quite disappointing after a while, and it will be a waste of money too if you don’t know where to look for.

Things to consider before buying

You can easily find an online art gallery but finding one that is worth your time and money is difficult. But here are some things you should keep in mind before investing in canvas paintings or anything else.

• You should only buy what you love. At the end of the day, it is your home, and you will be staying there all the time. So, whether it is modern art paintings or even simply a painting of a waterfall on a blank wall. You should be passionate about what you choose. Many people choose paintings on canvas because of their old school texture and feel.

• If you are a genuine collector of art, then keep in mind the value of the art you purchase. Consider purchasing only from an original art gallery so that you can ensure its authenticity.

• Content should also be an important factor. Especially if you are an art enthusiast. What the painting is about and what it says to the world should also be important.

• When you go to any art gallery website, keep in mind the color scheme of your house and how well the artwork suits your general decor.

• Oil paintings are not very popular these days, but they can still be found online if you search the web long enough. You will need to skim through quite a few sites to find them.

The importance of art

Art is something that portrays your personality to the world whether you create art or simply display it in your home. It tells the world about the things you like, the things you are passionate about and the things that catch your eye. They are quite the conversation starter. So when you venture out to buy paintings, you should definitely look online first.

In the online store, you can find all the art you want. Whether you’re a collector, or want something original, or just looking for ideas to decorate your home, you can find everything you need if you find them in the right manner.

If the woman or man you’re dating loves art, impress them by suggesting one of the following activities for your next date. It’s an opportunity to see them in an environment that brings them joy. Who knows – you may even learn a thing or two about art!

1. Visit the Local Public Art Gallery

Whether you’re looking at a masterpiece by Rembrandt, an Emily Carr, or the work of a local artist; art can be a natural conversation starter. To those not versed in art or painting, don’t worry about using the right language or terminology. If your date is an art lover they can teach you. If you want to save some money, check to see if the gallery has any free viewing periods.

2. Browse Privately Owned Art Galleries

Most cities have a number of art dealers who exhibit art for sale via their gallery. Some may specialize in showcasing and selling a specific type of art – such as sculptures, paintings, First Nations art – or specific artists. Check to see if they’re open to the public. If not, they may have upcoming events or exhibitions.

3. Tour Public Art Displays

Take a look around you – are there sculptures scattered throughout your city? If so, have a sculpture hunt and visit a handful of them. Many cities have a sculpture garden or park with a collection of pieces in one area. It’s a great opportunity to walk around and take some pictures of you next to various art pieces to document your date.

4. Take an Art Class

Spend an afternoon learning how to paint, sketch, or throw pottery. If classes aren’t your thing, get a book on painting or sketching and try to teach yourselves one rainy afternoon. Remember to sign and frame your masterpieces!

5. Finger Paint

Relive a time you probably loved as a kid. All you need is paper, paint and some rags to wipe your hands on. Get your hands in the paints and create!

6. Splatter Paint

Bring out your inner Jackson Pollack and try splatter painting. If there are no studios set-up for that sort of thing, you could improvise. Cover an area in the garage with tarps (floor, walls and ceiling); tape a big piece of paper or secure a stretched canvas on the wall; put on your old clothes or overalls, a hat and goggles; and start flinging some paint at the canvas. Put on any music that brings out your creative self.

7. Get a Caricature Sketch

In the summer time there is often a caricature artist or two set up in the tourist area of town. Sit down and let them do their thing.

8. Sketch the City

Get a pad of paper and pencil and set out into the city. Try your hand at sketching a boat at the pier, a coffee cup at the cafe, or the trees in the park. If your date is a talented sketcher, just watching them create can be awe-inspiring. At the very least you can play with an Etch-a-Sketch.

9. Local Art School Events

Are there any local art schools in your city? If so, they’ll often have at least one art exhibit during the year. It’s an opportunity to converse about the young talent in your city.

10. Build Rock Sculptures

If you live on a coast or shoreline, you may see a handful of large rocks balanced in a free-standing sculpture. To make your own, get a handful of smaller stones and start stacking them. To make it harder – try balancing some of them on their ends.

1. Presentation

Present your art in the most professional way possible. Ideally, showcase your art in a gallery, an online gallery if you want to sell your art online. You could create your own online gallery.

2. Traffic, traffic, traffic!

Even if you have the most beautiful paintings in the world in your gallery, you will have little success selling your work unless people know where you are. Market your art through free ads, paid ads if you like, pay-per-click ads, websites, blogs, forums and articles.

Write “how to” articles about art. This is a great way to generate traffic to your site. At the end of your article say something like: “Want to see my art? Click on “(your name)

Art” below in my resource box.” Let the “(your name) Art” be a hyperlink to your art gallery. Also, have business cards made up and distribute them in as many ways possible. Be as creative as you want in marketing your art. Just use common sense and be wise not to do anything evil.

I must mention eBay.com. eBay gets lots of traffic, but you are probably going to have to lower your prices to compete with other works like your own. Clients looking for great bargains go to eBay.com. Make sure you put a price reserve on your work.

You don’t want to sell your work for ten cents. Remember, eBay.com is an auction site. Also, you will probably have to be a well known established artist to sell your work there for large amounts of money. But, if you are willing to sell your work at low competitive prices then check it out. Adlandpro.com offers you free advertising for your art.

3. Critiques

If you’re way too sensitive and thinned skinned, get over it. Criticism is one of your best money-making friends. Why? Because you want to find out what people like and don’t like about your art so you can fix it and make your art more salable. Go out of your way to get criticism of your art by asking friends, strangers (safe strangers!), forum groups, art teachers, art professors and even art appraisers if you want to spend the money for their opinions. Even Leonardo da Vinci asked for criticism concerning his painting of the “The Last Supper.”

4. Improvement

Creating your work should be a constant learning

process, ever improving because the more knowledge you have of the laws and rules of art the better your skills, hence greater financial return on your art. So what is needed to improve your artistic eye and skills. Look at great paintings and try to see why their art is so good. Take an art class. Read “how to” books and articles. Grow in your knowledge of what makes great art.

5. Pricing your art – Too High, Too Low?

Check out your competition, paintings similar to your own work. What are their art prices? Get opinions from people about your art pricing. Remember, be thick-skinned, for they are only helping you decide on the correct pricing for your art. Test your pricing. If it sells too quickly (how wonderful!), perhaps you could raise the price. If it is not selling, then your pricing is probably too high. Test, test, test. Consider having prints made of your originals because it would give you a whole new extra pricing market. Some people would rather pay for a print than to pay more for an original work. Enjoy your divine gift, the unique ability to express yourself through art.

And here’s a secret I discovered to having great success in art or in any endeavor you undertake. Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and trust in His grace (His willingness to release His power and ability in your life) to prosper you and give you success. Click on “Receive Life” below if you have never received Him as your Lord and Savior.

Financial three step plans, money making formulas and sowing and reaping scriptures can all be well and good, but if you have a poverty stronghold lodged and hidden in your mind, you may never enter your earthly wealthy place of successfully selling your art online. If you feel you might have a poverty mental stronghold keeping you from your wealthy place and you want to be set free, then click on “Free from a Poverty Mental Stronghold” below.

Tapan Dash’s reputation as one of India’s most significant young painters is based on a consistent and prolific output of work over more than one decades. His disciplined practice is characterised by oeuvre attests to a constant interchange of ideas and motifs. No single painting tradition has evolved in isolation; so this body of contemporary work burgeoned from hybrid seeds, incorporating diverse aesthetic influences into an extremely vibrant, mobile genre…at once inspired and original.

Allegorical and surrealist, his works, based on drawing and rhythmic line, reveal the imagination and zeal of the artist’s consciousness. There is a freedom of expression, a release from techniques of classic, material traditions of art, resulting in a dynamic dialogue of intersecting and tangential facial features and limbs.Characteristically, many of his portraits have multiple visages, , Cubism and German Expressionism. The figures are never immobile, highly vivid reflecting the intensity of their moods, effected through exaggerated features and body positions and possesses a vital inner life. Certain contemporary elements are derived from traditional art forms and motifs found in Tapan Dash’s art, the form is used to establish relationships and is varied in both positive and negative forms so that an ambiguity between figures and ground is created. This gives the painting life.

Rhythm, repetition and symmetry play an important role in Tapan Dash’s work to establish this optical pulse of life and movement. Similarly, his judicious use of colour creates harmonies and contrasts that recall the inner sensual organs active and steps forward towards a rhythmatic peaceful jurney.

Fine Art Review:Ashok Art Gallery

Canada is a country rich with culture and art. Its various museums display a wide variety of spectacular art pieces, sculptures, glassworks and more. Art binds people across nations and the artistic expressions of Canada are no less. Canada boasts of great museums for the art lovers.

Started in 1880, National Gallery of Canada is a great place to start your discovery of Canadian art. This museum holds many beautiful collections of historic as well as contemporary art pieces which give its visitors a more unique sense of the true identity and beauty of Canada. It’s located in Ottawa and is one of the best art museums in Canada. The Glenbow Museum in Calgary follows close behind with its museums, library and rich archives which all together create a beautiful ‘Western Canadian’ experience for its visitors. It has over a million artefacts and boasts to be one of the largest art museums in Canada. It has a lot of variety in its exhibits and not just showcases the art pieces which define Canada but also displays some beautiful art pieces from around the globe.

Musee de la Civilisation is a large museum which houses a 18th century house couple with rowboats. Stone wharfs and offers many such traditional themes for the visitors. Located in Quebec City, it’s a must visit for those interested in unorthodox themes and art. The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is located both in Yarmouth as well as Halifax and offers historic works of art in relation to Nova Scotia and other multi-cultural art pieces. Another large museum to look forward to in Canada is located in Toronto and is called the Art Gallery of Ontario. It boasts of having over 79,000 pieces of artworks which includes historic art pieces, contemporary art and even photographs worth seeing.

A few other famous art museums are Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

After the Second World War there followed a huge transitional period across Europe and the United States. Major reconstruction was the order of the day across Europe and, slowly, an increasing prosperity and abundance was enjoyed by the populous in these territories. It was the dawn of a new era, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that the emerging “consumer” society gave rise to a demand in goods that were simply unobtainable until then.

British pop art can trace its roots back to the mid 1950s. A small independent group comprising notable artists at that time together with critics in the art world put together an exhibition which was held at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in 1956. This exhibition was a focus on the topic of cheap consumer products and the role that they played in modern life. Although it didn’t seem like it then, the exhibition was a major step forward in the art world and a huge departure from what had gone before it. The erstwhile critic, Lawrence Alloway (1926-1992) hailed it as the birth of something new and in 1958 he christened this distinctive style of art as “Pop Art”.

Key figures in the British pop art scene that followed were Richard Hamilton (b. 1922) whose work depicted cars, pin-up models and electric appliances, amongst others. Peter Blake (b. 1932), on the other hand, concentrated on comic strips and pop singers while the magazine collector Eduardo Paolozzi (b. 1924) produced impressive collage prints by recycling and integrating old advertisement material with comic-strip images.

As for the US, during the 1950s the art world was dominated by “Abstract Expressionism”. It was until the early 1960s when art critics and American artists alike began to embrace Pop Art and give this new style of art their own inimitable American “take”. In 1962, an exhibition entitled “New Realists” was held at the Sidney Janis Gallery in New York. This was ground-breaking in America, not least because the exhibition featured work from artists including Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), Claes Oldenburg (b. 1929), Jim Dine (b. 1935) and James Rosenquist (b. 1933). Of these, Warhol, Lichtenstein and Oldenburg went on to become key figures on the pop art world. Warhol became a household name.

Indeed, Warhol’s fame elevated in 1962 after his “Campbell’s Soup Cans” work was produced and featured in separate works – firstly as individual “cans” and then the same cans aligned in immaculate rows. Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy, possibly the biggest 60s female icons at the time, were also given the “Warhol treatment” in which he silk screened their images, altered the colours and reproduced them in repeated patterns.

Roy Lichtenstein was very much a “comic-strip” artist and produced masses of works using imagery from comics. Starting out in 1960, he painted vastly-inflated images of comic-strip frames formed from the dots of colour newsprint. During the same year, Oldenburg set about carving his own niche in the pop art world, creating large, painted plaster sculptures of sandwiches and cakes! These were soon followed by huge plastic appliances that were softened to allow them to give a distinctive “droop”. All of it was designed explore the nature of “consumer culture” that was sweeping the nations on both sides of the Atlantic.

With mass consumer commercialism on the rise at an alarming pace (and seemingly with no end in sight) “Pop Art” remains very much alive and is perhaps even more poignant and thought-provoking today as it was even in the mid twentieth century.

There’s no doubt that some cities across the world are an artist’s paradise. Filled with the world’s greatest works and home to some of the best performers of our time, these cities are more than likely on your bucket list if you are an artist or an art connoisseur. Let’s take a look at some of the greatest artistic cities in the world, and why you absolutely have to visit them.

1. New York City, USA

New York City boasts a wide variety of artistic forms, from fine art to the performing arts. NYC is also home to more fine art schools, performing arts companies, art dealers and creative museums and businesses than any other city in the US.

Manhattan is an artistic adventure like no other. Home to world-famous institutions, such as the Guggenheim Museum, an incredible work of art in itself, along with a variety of other hot spots.

Immerse yourself in the local street art and contemporary galleries of Bushwick in Brooklyn. Queens is an unmissable attraction hosting the Queens Museum and the incredible Socrates Sculpture Garden.

2. Paris, France

Another art lover’s paradise has got to be Paris, France! Home to over 1,000 galleries, the city is filled with iconic art. The most notable is The Louvre which houses the famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo de Vinci. There is also an array of contemporary galleries to impress an artist. These include veterans such as Galerie Daniel Templon, to the newer Modus Art Gallery and La Maison Rouge. The Belleville neighborhood is also a must-visit destination for vibrant street art. The City of Light is jam-packed with art around every corner.

3. São Paulo, Brazil

The art capital of Latin America, São Paulo may not be as acclaimed as New York City or Paris, but the Brazilian megalopolis is overflowing with artistic attractions. Home to the second largest biennial, the venerable São Paulo Biennial, São Paulo is a must for your bucket list. The Museu de Arte Moderna showcases both modern and contemporary Brazilian art, as well sculpture gardens with 30 incredible works. If local, emerging talent is what you’re after, then galleries like Choque Cultural are where you need to be.

4. Berlin, Germany

One of the most varied art scenes in the world, Berlin is home to some of the longest-standing institutions. These include the Alte Nationalgalerie and Gemäldegalerie which showcase classic pieces from the 13th to 19th centuries. Modern 20th-century art collections can be found in the more-recently established Neue Nationalgalerie.

If alternative art is more your style, then Friedrichshain is the place to go for spaces like East Side Gallery, a section of the Berlin Wall that now displays the work of more than 100 international artists. Jonathan Borofsky’s sculpture, Molecule Man, is another must if you’re in Berlin.

5. Lagos, Nigeria

The largest city in Nigeria, Lagos, is fast emerging as a hotspot in the art world. Its thriving cultural scene is led by the Centre for Contemporary Art and the African Artists’ Foundation. The annual Lagos Photo Festival and National Art Competition are also attracting worldwide attention. With a variety of galleries like Omenka Gallery, you can delve into masterpieces by the best Nigerian and international artists.

Selling Your Artwork Online

The internet has revolutionized the way we buy and sell everything, including fine art. Many artists are finding that selling online can be another way to market and sell their artwork to a larger international community of art buyers and collectors. Have you ever thought how many millions of people all over the world use the internet every day to buy products including fine art to decorate their homes? According to the latest statistics, over 1.2 million people buy online every day.

Commissions and Membership Fees

Art galleries charge artists as much as 50% in commission, and the marketing exposure is limited to those people that visit the gallery and decide to make a purchase. Some online art galleries sites also charge a commission. Commissions for online galleries can range anywhere between 1-5% is normal and up to 10% on the higher end. Other online art galleries charge a monthly membership fee to cover their monthly overhead cost. The reason that online art galleries commission and overhead cost is not as much as a gallery in New York is because online galleries do not pay for leasing a facility, utilities and labor cost. There are a few online art galleries that do not charge any commissions or fees.

Selling Original Art

Some online art sites sell art online that is not always original art. You may think you are buying an original piece of art but instead it is a printed image of a painting on a canvas. If the prints are numbered lithographs of the original artwork, it could eventually have some value but not as much as an original painting. Some artists choose to sell prints and lithographs artwork in order to mass produce and maximize their income from every original piece of art. Those types of printed reproductions are for art buyers that are not interested in originality but are just looking to buy a print to frame and hang on their wall. More serious art buyers and collectors want the real thing.

Promote and Sell Your Artwork

Selling your art online is another alternative to market your artwork because online art galleries reach a larger audience. These sites provide the venue for artists and art collectors to connect and transact with one another. They provide artist and emerging artists with the tools to market and promote their art through social medias. There are many international artists and emerging artists that are discovering this new form of promotion and selling.

It has never been easier for artists to sell their work and been more convenient for art buyers and collectors to browse and select high-quality original art. Who knows, maybe the next Picasso could already be selling their art in one of those online art galleries.