Portrait Painting - A Traditional Art of the Modern Era

Portrait painting is created with a purpose of showing the characteristics and features of the image whatever the subject it is. Hence, portrait painter could able to emphasize the details of a certain subject to boost up the ordinary appearance to a more elegant and classic one. Usually, the original photographs have some blemishes or even a blurred print, but with the use of the latest technology, the final portrait painting derived from an ordinary photograph will be a cool view to every pair of eyes. Whatever their methodologies are, portrait painters could surely paint a smile in our faces for assuring a very excellent portrait painting product.

In the ancient time, or the era when the first recognition of an art was evident, painting portrait was also considered as an art for royalties. Why? Actually, availing of personal portrait or painting was very expensive. This is because only a few could able to paint a certain subject. Furthermore, only the royalties and rich people could able to avail their personal portrait painting. It is believed that this kind of painting was originated in Egypt and it is proven because of the paintings that are found inside the pyramids. Hence, this kind of masterpiece was treasured and usually kept for years.

One of the most popular mediums of this kind of painting is oil. I know that most of us know Leonardo Da Vinci and his masterpiece "Mona Lisa". Well, we could not deny the fact how people appreciate the beauty and elegance of the said artwork. Some portrait painters who became famous in the art industry are Michelangelo, Raffael and Tizian. All of them have their own styles and concepts that made them known all across the globe.

Until now, the art of portrait painting is still recognized and appreciated by many art lovers especially the painters. Well, this kind of art is designed for a long-term life. It means that it could live longer than the ordinary photograph.

Portrait painting is not only ideal for memory preservation and decoration purposes. In fact, this is also an ideal gift option for your special someone. A portrait with a customized subject of personal picture, pets or even nature could really gain a lot of complements from the recipient as well as from other viewers.

In terms of price, you have to expect that portrait painting is more expensive as compared to the ordinary photograph. But then, you have to take in your mind that common photographs have no assurance to live longer but the life of a portrait could last for a century.

Western Painting - Action Painting - An American Abstract Art Form

Action Painting - The Concept and History 

Action Painting is a form of Abstract Art from the United States that came into existence around the 1940s. Also referred to as 'Gestural Abstraction,' the style relies heavily on the unencumbered movement of a wide range of colors, on the base. There are various ways to achieve it - by dripping, by staining, by overlaying, or by splashing colors on the canvas to produce an effect of 'spontaneity.' art critic Harold Rosenberg coined the term 'Action Painting' to describe the newly developed style of the leading Abstract Expressionists Jackson Pollock (American - 1912-56) and Willem De Kooning (Dutch - 1904-97). The two went on to become the torchbearers of Action Painting.

The Correlations 

It is believed that the Action Painters drew their inspiration from an unconventional approach of the Surrealists of 1920s and 1930s, known as 'Automatism.' It involved the free expression of artistic brainwaves through the involuntary hand movements of the painter, over the canvas. The underlying philosophy of 'Automatism' was an attempt to establish a psychic connection with the viewer. On the similar lines, the proponents of action works meant to represent their innermost thoughts, in a way that awakened the subconscious patterns of the viewer's fancies. The tools for the execution of these works were quite experimental and revolutionary, ranging from kitchen knives to bicycles!

The Details 

Pollock is said to have employed a highly unorthodox method of using his 'painting' tools on a canvas cloth mounted on the floor. He used his hands and wrists, sometimes even his whole body to apply the paint, rejecting all the conventions of using the traditional brush and easel. However, the function of brush was not totally done away with, by all the painters of this genre. Brushwork in Action Paintings, set in oil paint medium, was usually bold and vigorous. The artists did not wipe the excess paint on the bristles before applying the brush on the base surface, which gave the finished works, a smeared and raw look. This natural appeal became the most distinguishing trait of Action Painting.

The Artists and the Artworks 

During its two decade-long tenure, among the most significant names that associated with Action Painting, were Franz Kline (1910-62), Robert Motherwell (1915-91), Philip Guston (1913-80), Sam Francis (1923-94), and Helen Frankenthaler (born 1928). Jackson Pollock's 'Painting (Silver over Black, White, Yellow, and Red)' & 'The Deep,' Franz Kline's 'Merce C' & 'C & O,' and Sam Francis' 'In Lovely Blueness,' are some of the signature works of this dynamic style of painting.