Although difficult to quantify in words, an artwork’s ‘wall power’ is perhaps the biggest determining factor in its value. Does it shock you? Does it inspire awe? Does it just draw you in and you don’t know why? All of this will help the price soar.
An artwork’s provenance, or a history of who it has belonged to, is another determining factor in its value. For example, if a painting was once owned by a prominent collector or came from a respected gallery, it will automatically be worth more.
Likewise, if the artist is super trendy at the moment, his or her work will cost more, regardless of whether the work has real staying power. It might seem absurd to think that previous ownership of a painting could radically affect its value, but remember, the art market is simultaneously a global consensus machine and a global status network. Read More
The hushed reverence of a cathedral, the meditative stillness of a Zen garden, the soaring melodies of a symphony – these are the spaces where art and spirituality intertwine, where the human spirit seeks connection to something greater than itself. But the encounter with the divine is not confined to traditional religious settings; it can be found in the vibrant hues of an abstract painting, the evocative lines of a sculpture, or the haunting melody of a song.
John Dowling Jr., a man whose life and art were a testament to the search for meaning and connection, found himself drawn to the intersection of art and spirituality. His journey, marked by personal struggles and creative triumphs, had led him to explore the depths of human emotion and the boundless realms of the imagination. His art, a fusion of traditional and digital techniques, was a reflection of his own spiritual awakening, a testament to the power of art to inspire, heal, and connect us to the divine.
A Canvas for the Soul:
Dowling's studio, a sanctuary of creative exploration, was filled with canvases that pulsed with vibrant colors and textures. His abstract paintings, born from a place of deep introspection and emotional honesty, were not just visual feasts; they were windows into the soul, invitations to contemplate the mysteries of existence and the interconnectedness of all things.
He poured his experiences onto the canvas, the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and struggles, the fleeting moments of beauty and the enduring questions that haunted his soul. His art became a dialogue with the divine, a way to express the inexpressible and connect with a power greater than himself. Read More
Abstract art is a way to connect to our intuition and feelings. For each piece we create, we focus on how we want the painting to make us feel. Making art is part of what it means to be human. We have been doing it since prehistoric times for mysterious, sacred, and socially complex reasons. What we know for sure is that making art can benefit both our mental and physical well-being in a huge number of ways - and that we don’t even have to be good at it to reap the rewards. Read More
The value of art lies in its ability to evoke emotion. Whether you’re looking at a painting, watching a performance, or listening to music, art allows us to experience a range of emotions from joy to sorrow and everything in between. Art can help us make sense of our own emotions and gain a better understanding of how other people are feeling. It can even bring us closer together as it enables us to feel connected with the artist, even if we have never met them. When we interact with art, it can often spark a dialogue, creating a feeling of understanding and empathy within us. Read More
Abstraction is a form of art that encourages imagination and emotional involvement. Its roots lie in the intuition and freedom of the artist, who has the ability to look beyond the physical and translate intangible emotions onto the canvas. The audience then has the opportunity to connect with the artist's intention and free their own mind of visual restrictions.
Historically, abstraction emerged in the nineteenth century as a reaction to academic painting or realism. Whereas realism pays attention to every tiny detail, abstraction gives the artist the freedom to trust their intuition to create art that is equally worthy of an audience. The most important thing to understand about abstract art is that it does not have to have a meaning, narrative or even a singular explanation. Read More
The impasto painting technique involves applying thick layers of paint to a surface utilizing a brush, palette knife, or other exciting tools like spatulas, sponges, or even fingers. This application adds a textured or three-dimensional effect to the piece, allowing the artist to create a sense of depth, volume, and movement in the artwork. The term "impasto" is derived from the Italian word for "paste" or "dough," which accurately describes the consistency of the paint used in this technique. While impasto is most often associated with oil painting, it can be used with other types of paint, including acrylic, gouache, and even watercolors. Additives can be mixed into the various paint types, changing the viscosity, adding a unique quality to each piece, and affecting drying times.
The texture created by impasto changes how light interacts with the painting, resulting in fascinating effects of light and shadow. The raised surfaces of the paint catch the light differently, creating a sense of depth and luminosity. To add to this effect, impasto can be combined with other techniques like underpainting or glazing, changing the painting's textural effects and hue variations.
Overall, the impasto painting technique offers artists a way to add dimension and expressiveness to their work through the physicality of the paint. This versatile technique can create various effects, from adding subtle texture to building bold, sculptural forms. Read More
Scotomisation - a term that's not in most people's vocabularies, yet it plays a significant role in how we perceive the world around us. It refers to our tendency to see what we want to see and ignore what we don't. This psychological phenomenon is particularly relevant in the blockbuster movie, The Da Vinci Code. In a pivotal scene, the characters discuss the possible hidden images in Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, The Last Supper. Is Mary Magdalene in the picture? Are Mary and Jesus married? Where is the Holy Grail? Sir Leigh Teabing, played by Ian McKellan, refers to scotomisation as a key concept to unlocking the mystery within a mystery within a mystery. Understanding this concept is crucial to comprehending why people perceive differently what's in The Last Supper, the artistic and historical mysteries surrounding it, and the excitement surrounding The Da Vinci Code book and movie. Read More
Symmetrical balance has been used in art throughout history, from classical Greek and Roman architecture to the Taj Mahal in India. One of the most famous examples of symmetrical balance is Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, which depicts a man with his arms and legs outstretched in a perfect circle and square.
In painting, symmetrical balance was often used in religious art to convey a sense of order and harmony. Vincent van Gogh’s painting “The Starry Night” is an example of symmetrical balance, with the cypress tree and the village on either side of the painting.
Symmetrical balance involves dividing a composition into equal parts on either side of a central axis, while asymmetrical balance involves creating balance through the use of different visual elements. Radial balance, on the other hand, involves arranging visual elements around a central point. While symmetrical and asymmetrical balance create a sense of stability, radial balance can create a sense of movement and energy in the design. Read More
