1. Get the Furniture Right!

The furniture in a living room sets the tone and functionality of the space. Well-chosen furniture enhances comfort, promotes relaxation, and creates an atmosphere for socializing or unwinding. It defines the room’s aesthetic, contributes to the optimal use of available space, and can enhance the flow and functionality. The right furniture selection ensures a harmonious balance between style and practicality.

The shoreline in Seaside Dreams by Pete and Chrissy Angelheart really pops when paired with a white couch! Click the image to shop for seascape art.

2. Showcase Statement Art or Create a Gallery Wall

Adding a curated gallery wall enhances your living room’s visual appeal and personalizes the space. Art reflecting your unique tastes and interests can be a great conversation starter. It also adds texture, color, and visual interest to the walls, making the living room more inviting and curated. Furthermore, it allows flexibility in styling and updating art, ensuring the space remains dynamic and reflects your evolving style. Click the image below to shop statement art for your living room.

3. Experiment with Color

Play with colors in your living room to create a visually stimulating environment. Consider selecting a color palette that harmonizes with your preferred art style. For instance, if you’re drawn to vibrant and energetic art, incorporate bold hues like reds, yellows, and blues into your room through accent walls, furniture, and decorative accessories. If your taste leans towards a more serene and minimalist aesthetic, opt for a monochromatic or neutral color scheme that accentuates the artwork.

Order Blue Cosmic II by American Artist Matthias Lupri is perfect for a retro living space. Click the image to make it yours!

4. Layer Textures and Patterns

Introduce depth and visual interest by layering various textures and patterns throughout your living room. Consider incorporating plush rugs, velvet cushions, woven throws, and embroidered wall hangings. Mix and match patterns like geometric prints, floral motifs, and abstract designs to add a dynamic and artistic touch.

A mixture of couch cushions perfectly complements Love Is A Place by Tania Chanter. Click the image to shop the art!

5. Create a Display Area

Designate a dedicated display area within your living room to showcase smaller art pieces, sculptures, collectibles, or personal treasures. For example, you could install floating shelves or wall-mounted cabinets. This display area will add storage and visual interest and provide a platform to showcase your trinkets, moments, and other decor items. Click the image below to shop for sculptural art. 

Are you struggling to find the perfect artwork for your living room? Get free assistance from Bluethumb’s friendly team of Art Advisors today!

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1. Abstract

A popular category on Bluethumb, abstract art moves away from the figurative (the literal way something looks), blending feelings, concepts, and spirituality with forms, colors, and composition. It shows that our brains perceive our reality, not just our eyes. Read more on abstract art here.

Bluethumb Artist Liliana Gigovic with her abstract artworks.

2. Composition

A piece’s composition is the arrangement of elements within the available space. In sculptures, this space is three-dimensional, which affects how viewers interact with the piece.

3. Conceptual

When the idea or concept behind an artwork is more important than its appearance. The emergence of modern art has helped conceptual art reach a larger audience.

4. Form

Form refers to the physical nature of the work or the element of shape within it. It is one of the seven elements of art, alongside line, shape, value, color, texture, and space. Form can be geometric (like a sphere or cube) or organic (like a leaf or human face). For centuries, form was the most important element in painting and was based, above all, on the human body.

5. Impasto

Impasto is a technique that first appeared in the Venetian Renaissance period. It involves applying or layering paint thickly so it stands out from the surface. Impasto paintings, known for their delectable texture, are popular on Bluethumb.

This glorious landscape, Lovers’ Lane by Kenneth Halvorsen, uses the impasto technique!

6. Impressionism

Originating in 19th-century France, Impressionism involves painting spontaneously ‘on the spot’ and often outdoors rather than in a studio from preliminary sketches. The main impressionist subjects were landscapes and scenes of everyday life. Today, Impressionism is primarily characterized by a painting’s small yet visible brush strokes, its emphasis on accurately depicting light in its changing qualities, and, similarly, the feeling of movement – as if we are experiencing the piece in a fleeting time.

Impressionist landscape painting Wildflower Meadow In Bloom by Leon Devenice.

7. Medium

Medium is a term that can be used in both broad and specific contexts. It refers to a type of art (painting, printmaking, sculpture) or the material used (oil on canvas, gouache on paper).

Fun fact: the plural of the medium is media. Each artwork on Bluethumb lists its medium so you can refine your search for the perfect artwork!

Bluethumb Co-founder George Hartley sports a fun lino print above his mantelpiece.

8. Memento Mori

A memento mori is an artwork designed to remind viewers of their mortality and life’s fragility. It uses symbols like skulls, hourglasses, and bubbles to convey the transience of life.

Memento Mori Valhalla by Tom Hermann features the accouterments of the Mighty Thor. It explores death and the celebration and legacy of life.

9. Modern

In the early 20th century, artists began using new imagery, techniques, and materials to reflect modern society’s reality and values, marking the start of modern art.

Modern abstract artwork Sunburnt Oxide by Franko.

10. Narrative

Narrative art is art that tells a story. Until the twentieth century, Western art predominantly depicted religious, mythological, or historical tales. At this time, it was assumed the audience was familiar with the story on which the artwork was based. In modern art, narratives may be more coded and require knowledge about the artist to understand the artwork entirely.

11. Still Life

A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects that are natural or manufactured. These items are usually set on a table and include fruit, flowers, glassware, and textiles, giving everyday objects new value.

Lunch At Nonna’s Table by Veneranda Russo Cornelio

12. Surrealism

Surrealism is a movement that rejects logic and embraces the unconscious and dreams. Famous surrealists like Dalí brought magic and strangeness to their work and continue to inspire contemporary artists.

Yulia Pustoshkina is a Surrealism veteran on Bluethumb.

13. Symbolism

Still life is a late 19th-century movement that focused on expressing ideas through realistic and figurative art rather than literal description. It often incorporates symbolism to convey deeper meanings.

The painting below is a perfect example. Melissa Ritchie captures a day in the life of a busy working woman by using a handbag, which is this piece’s metaphor for the day, with its contents strewn about and each object having its analogy. For example, the list shows family commitments, the glasses represent vision, the headphones show focus, and the Ventolin depicts breath.

Arsenal for Today (Grey) by Melissa Ritchie

14. Tone

Tone refers to the lightness or darkness of a color in a painting. A single color can have an infinite number of tones. Use this art term to impress your friends when discussing color.

Solana by Katie Wyatt captures the myriad shades of blue in nature’s seascape.

15. Verism

Last on our list is the most uncommon term! Stemming from Latin, verism describes strict naturalism in art, portraying everyday subjects with imperfections. This “warts and all” approach to representation dates back to the Roman Republic era.

Impress your friends on your next visit to the local gallery! By learning these art terms, you can talk confidently about art.

The post Art Terminology 101: 15 Art Terms to Impress Your Friends appeared first on Bluethumb Online Art Gallery - Blog.

What is Abstract Art?

It was Kandinsky, a true pioneer in abstract art, who highlighted abstract painting as the most difficult of all: “It demands that you know how to draw well, that you have a heightened sensitivity for composition and for colors, and that you be a true poet. This last is essential.”

Untitled by Michelle Tholen shows how color and form can communicate feelings of peace and serenity, building on artists like Mark Rothko.

A Century of Abstraction

While some argue that non-figurative art has been sighted from the earliest cave drawings, it’s only within the past 100 years that abstraction has sprung into being. With radical ideas that shocked, surprised, and even repulsed at the time, we’ve seen the likes of Pollock, Gorky, and Malevich and the innovative risks at play that have come to shape the world we live in. Our private spaces are adorned, our buildings designed, and our perception of reality changed and challenged by the progression of abstraction in our everyday lives.

On White II is an early modernist oil painting created by Wassily Kandinsky in 1923.

Painting Your Own Reality

What we know of abstraction strays away from the figurative external reality we share. It combines feelings, concepts, and spirituality with forms, colors, and composition in search of expressing more than what we see – it shows that our reality is what we see with our brain, not with our eyes. On White II, one of Kandinsky’s most renowned works is a prime example of representing more than just what’s concrete.

Black and white, the two main colors at play, show a yin-yang style balance between the chances and prospects life has to offer and the definite nature of death. The sharp lines of a black slash across the white’s absolute opportunity, sending vivid colors rippling across the piece. Because of this, while figurative art often beckons the viewer to come closer, abstract art can be crude, primitive, and unapproachable – much like human emotions.

Everything At Once by Preston M. Smith conveys complex emotions through its vibrant, bold colours – creating a palpable chaotic energy within this abstract painting.

Something inside the mind constantly seeks meaning in what we see. Some might say that a great piece of art is defined by how many stories you can make out of it – which truly stands as testimony to how diverse our minds are. Perhaps the real issue, then, is not about our quest for meaning. Perhaps it’s a matter of joining the dots and making sense of what’s in front of us.

Narrabeen Lagoon B by George Hall is an immaculate blend of an impressionist garden and endless possibilities of stories.

Why does Abstract Art Matter?

Considering the shift in history between art trying to represent the world around us, the rise and shine of photography doing this for us, and art beginning to represent something more, the passing of time maps the quest to add our own sense of depth to the world around us.

Figurative art gives us something to look at and, to a lucky few, something to relate to, but it’s the abstraction that demands us to offer our own perception of life in order to comprehend it. It’s this perception that stops abstract art from being something drawn by six-year-olds and makes it something universally understood.

Positive Energy by Leon Devenice is filled with striking colors and captivating patterns, reflecting and encouraging feelings of optimist through abstraction

Explore and shop abstract wall art on Bluethumb; click here!

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1. In Prime Position

If you have a spot in mind of where your piece is going to hang, it’s worth taking into account a few factors that will set your artwork up for a good life:

• Save direct sunlight for plants and cats. Art hates sunlight. While watercolors are susceptible to bleaching quickly, even oils or acrylics will fade over time with too much exposure. If possible, embrace shadier spots, or consider framing the piece with UV glass.
• Not too hot, not too cold—just right. Frequent or drastic changes in the room’s temperature can create humidity or dampness. These are huge antagonists to artworks, resulting in warping and discoloration. Instead, think about areas with a steady temperature that match the medium of the artwork.
• Give the moisture a miss. We’d love to have artwork hanging over the bath as much as the next person. Sadly, mildew and humidity hang around bathrooms, and works on paper or delicate materials can quickly become disfigured or damaged.

This extra-large statement piece by PEZ is complimented by a white floating frame.

2. How’s it Hanging?

Jokes aside, the planning of the hanging is critical. Some simple steps will set you up as an art-hanging pro in no time!

• Find yourself a good-quality frame. Oh, the dread of realizing that the perfect piece is unframed. As tempting as it can be to chuck a print into a cheapie from Kmart, getting a good-quality frame gives an artwork extra flair and protects delicate surfaces and paper against damaging elements.
• Make sure the fixtures suit the weight of the artwork. A good framer will give the best fixture according to how heavy a piece is. You’ll also need to consider the wall it’s going on—crumbly or weak walls are a big no-no for those large-scale statement pieces.
• Be the curator you wish to see in the world. Your art deserves a place to get noticed and bring a sense of atmosphere to a space. Consider where the piece will flourish, whether it’s a statement piece flying solo or a segment of a salon-style hang.

This well-prepped portrait wall gets the woof of approval! Shop Framed Wall Art and turn your home into a gallery today!

3. The Aftercare

Okay, the dream piece is up safely and is looking mighty fine! Keep it that way with a few regular TLC techniques.

• Keep the chemicals away. Using cleaning products (or even water) on your artwork is just asking for problems. This point goes for original artwork, prints, sculptures—the lot. If a thorough cleaning is needed, leave it to the professionals. It’s not worth risking damage by doing it yourself.
• Check in. Giving your artwork a once-over from time to time will help you look for any signs of dampness or warping that can become much more difficult to repair over time. Some tell-tale signs of unhappy artwork are distinctive brown marks and discolored patches. By taking a look every few months, you can curb any damage and give it a better-suited environment if necessary.
• Dust. A frequent tickle keeps an artwork looking slick and prevents build-up. Use a dry, soft white cloth for framed works and pieces with a hard surface. Fragile surfaces or heavily textured pieces are best suited to a soft white brush, such as an unused makeup brush.

Giving this painting by Gabrielle Tito dust simultaneously as the piano ensures a glowing space all around.

Showing your artwork a little love from time to time with these tips will keep it looking fresh and at its most impressive.

The post How to Care for Your Artwork so it Lasts Forever appeared first on Bluethumb Online Art Gallery - Blog.

Pop Art Transformed the Everyday into High Art

Pop Art emerged in the 1950s following World War II and the explosion of consumer culture. Artists began creating vivid work that mirrored, critiqued, and incorporated everyday mass-produced consumer goods and popular culture. The Pop Art movement aimed to dismantle the hierarchy of culture with art coming from the most ordinary sources. As a result of their revolt, pop artists elevated the critique of popular culture to high art.

The movement reached its peak in the 1960s. From the vibrant hues of Andy Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s Soup Cans to the thought-provoking installations of Banksy, Pop Art remains a dynamic force in the contemporary world of 21st-century art. 

Campbell’s Soup Botanicals limited edition print by SLC Co.

Celebrity Culture

Contemporary artists frequently draw inspiration from celebrities and pop icons, exploring themes of fame, identity, and consumer culture. Figures like Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, and Madonna have become recurring motifs in contemporary art, symbolizing celebrity status’s allure and pitfalls.

American Dreamer 7 by Cold Ghost features actress, singer, model, and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe.

Andy Warhol’s renowned silkscreen artwork, titled The Marilyn Diptych (1962), has achieved iconic status, inspiring numerous contemporary pop artists who pay tribute to Warhol, a pioneer of the movement.

Film, Television, and Popular Imagery

Cinema, television, and popular imagery serve as rich sources of inspiration for contemporary artists who explore narratives, characters, and visual aesthetics associated with mainstream media. From reimagined movie posters to immersive video installations, artists reinterpret familiar images and narratives, inviting viewers to reimagine their cultural significance.

#43 by Bryan Scariano features the fictional cartoon character Popeye, the Sailor.

Advertising and Consumerism

Artists often critique the pervasive influence of advertising and consumerism in contemporary society. They challenge conventional notions of beauty, value, and commercialism through appropriation, parody, and subversion, prompting viewers to reconsider their relationship with consumer culture.

Chance 12 by Ben Tankard twists the classic imagery of the Monopoly board game, humoring the current state of societal expectations.

Like Ben Tankard’s work? Shop his portfolio of original art.

Political Commentary and Social Issues

Mainstream media coverage of political events and social issues often becomes fodder for artistic exploration and critique. Artists use their platforms to address race, gender, climate change, and globalization, spark meaningful conversations, and foster social change.

Desecration of Stars and Stripes by Greg Mount explores nationalism,  belonging, and division.

While owning an original Warhol may be out of reach for most, there are some incredible Pop Artists on Bluethumb. Click below to explore the Pop Art movement!

Explore Bluethumb’s range of Pop Art today!

The post Exploring the Pop Art Movement appeared first on Bluethumb Online Art Gallery - Blog.

Bluethumb boasts a diverse collection of Modern art. With just a few clicks, you can bring a piece of this art movement into your home, adding a touch of creativity and individuality to your space.

Click to shop Modern Art today!

1. Impressionism: Painting the Moment

Imagine capturing a fleeting moment, a play of light, or the essence of a scene in quick, expressive brushstrokes. That’s the essence of Impressionism! Think of Monet’s dreamy water lilies or Renoir’s vibrant garden scenes. These artists sought to convey the feeling of a scene rather than its precise details.

Spring Story by Fangmin Wu. Click the above image to shop Fangmin’s original Impressionist artwork online.

2. Cubism: The Art of Deconstruction

Have you ever seen Picasso’s fragmented faces or Braque’s dissected still lifes? That’s Cubism in action! This movement takes reality and fractures it into geometric shapes, challenging our perception and inviting us to see the world in a new, abstract way.

The Sage and His Muse by Van Hovak. Click the image to shop Van’s original Cubism artwork online.

3. Surrealism: Dreams on Canvas

Surrealist art dives into the depths of the unconscious mind, giving life to bizarre and fantastical creations. Think Salvador Dalí’s melting clocks or René Magritte’s floating bowler hats. Surrealists aim to blur the lines between reality and dreams, sparking our imagination in the process.

Devotion by Linda Mitchell. Click the image to shop Linda’s original Surrealist artwork online.

4. Abstract Expressionism: Emotion on Canvas

Jackson Pollock’s splattered canvases and Mark Rothko’s luminous color fields are iconic examples of Abstract Expressionism. This movement is all about conveying raw emotions and inner thoughts through bold, non-representational forms. It’s art that speaks directly to the soul.

The Autumn Scent by Stanislav Sidorov. Click the image to shop Stanislav’s original Abstract Expressionism artwork online.

Explore a curation of Modern Art for the Modern Home and bring a piece into your space today!

Shop the curation and find the perfect piece to complement your contemporary space.

The post What is Modern Art? appeared first on Bluethumb Online Art Gallery - Blog.

Rule 1: Size Does Matter

Would you keep a piece of clothing that didn’t fit properly? Probably not. Art should be the same; make it easy for yourself and plan out the size of the artwork you need for a space before purchasing. “I have been suggesting more and more to people to get some masking tape or colored washi tape, mark corners of a proposed work on a wall, and live with it for a day or so to get a visual feel of really how big something is,” says Art Advisor Amélia Davis. “The most common mistake with size is going too small for the space!”

Are you working with a particularly long space? Consider hanging a series of artworks.

Rule 2: Orientation is Essential

“We put a lot of emphasis on the size of an artwork, but the orientation of it is also a key player in choosing the right piece,” says Bluethumb’s Head of Art Advisory and in-house Interior Designer, Alexandra. “I always advise clients and collectors to consider what orientation will best suit the space for the most impact.”

Usually, the orientation will denote the style of the artwork (i.e., portrait orientation for portraiture; landscape orientation for landscapes and seascapes). Bluethumb artist Elena Parashko advises: “For instance, above a lounge, landscape orientation works well, and at the end of a narrow hallway, portrait orientation is a good choice.”

With the perfect style and size, this commissioned piece by Theo Papathomas from one of Alexandra’s previous trade projects couldn’t look better in this space.

Rule 3: Framed, Ready to Hang, or Needs Framing: Know the Difference?

So, you’ve found the perfect piece and are ready to make it yours. Before going ahead with your purchase, check the current situation with the artwork listing. Is it framed? Is it ready to hang? Or does it require framing?

If you see ‘Framed’ on the artwork listing, the artist has done the framing for you. ‘Ready to hang’ indicates the artwork is secured with an internal stretcher bar but does not have an external decorative frame. If the artwork ‘Requires framing,’ you’ll need to send the artwork to a framer for stretching, plus a decorative frame if that’s your preference.

When purchasing the artwork, take the sting out of the task by adding a custom frame through Bluethumb. The artist will ship the piece directly to our framer, who will make a slick custom frame before sending it to you.

Freshly made and ready for its new home, this white floating frame is available with canvas works on Bluethumb, thanks to our framing partners. Featured artwork by Leni Kae.

Rule 4: Listen to Your Heart

Do, give yourself a couple of days to imagine the artwork on the wall. But don’t set yourself up for heartache when buying artwork online. You don’t want to miss the ideal piece by umm-ing and ahh-ing about it for too long! Bluethumb’s 7-day returns policy means that if, for whatever reason, you have a change of heart, you have plenty of time to return the piece and get a 100% refund.

The heart wants what it wants!

Rule 5: Don’t Settle. Get the Artwork You Want

Rather than waiting for that artist to make the ideal artwork, ask them for it! Many artists are open to commissioning artworks for collectors, producing a truly one-of-a-kind piece that is tailored exactly to your needs. Contact the artist directly via their profile to kick off the conversation! For more information on the commission process, click here.

A commissioned piece by Tatiana Georgieva stands loud and proud in this mid-century meeting room.

With these five tips, your next online art purchase will be a breeze. Click below to shop for popular art on Bluethumb!

The post 5 Mistakes to Avoid when Buying Art Online appeared first on Bluethumb Online Art Gallery - Blog.

With Alexandra’s expertise, selecting art for any space becomes a breeze. Embrace these five expert tips and elevate your space to designer status!

Interior Design Rule 1: Use Your Space Wisely

“This is probably the first and foremost step to finding that ideal artwork for your home,” Alexandra highlights. “When a company or client comes to us with a brief, knowing the size of the space, the decor and furniture allows us to start thinking about what scale we’re looking at.” For example, consider if a large painting will cramp up your space. Would a small A5-sized print get lost in the breadth of a large wall? There is a place for every piece and a piece for every place.

“Knowing the size of the space you’re working with also feeds into all the other decisions you make with the artwork, such as color and style.” Once you’ve decided on the artwork, the importance of correctly hanging art cannot be overstated.

Art by Katie Wyatt is displayed in the entryway of a residential property, complementing the wooden accents.

Interior Design Rule 2: Be Subtle When Matching Colors

“People often go in choosing art thinking that the room’s dominant color needs to match the dominant color of the artwork,” Alexandra says. “A tip from the pros is that it’s much better to complement hints of colors in a piece of art with the space.” For instance, if your decor uses a lot of pastel pinks, choosing an abstract with a dash of pinky hues will be just enough to encourage a sense of cohesion in the space.

“Another effective way of choosing a color palette for a piece is by contrasting tones with the room’s decor. If your furniture is grey, choose a bright or bold hue that will pop against your decor instead of just layering greys.”

A subtle touch of olive in this Hayley Kruger masterpiece works beautifully with the furnishings in this room.

Interior Design Rule 3: Use Series and Cohesive Groups

Why stop at one artwork? Having a series of art throughout a space or creating a gallery wall can deliver impact and give a polished, professional look, even in more restricted areas. “A recent project we took on included corridors throughout an aged care facility. A series is a perfect solution to the size issue in these areas, which have a lot of length and not a great deal of width. There are plenty of ways to create a common theme between the artworks, too – we’ve seen gallery walls featuring work from the same artist, similar size works, similar subject matter, or the same art style tying the series together.”

Two of Emma Whitelaw’s prints pair perfectly with the chosen decor in this Airbnb.

Interior Design Rule 4: Nurture the Personality of a Space

Think about what you’ll be using this space for, and take the opportunity to set the tone of a room with the art you choose. Creating cohesion between your art and home is key to finding that ideal artwork. A peaceful abstract, for instance, can promote serenity throughout a central living room. Similarly, watercolor paintings are more likely to soften a space, whereas oil paintings with thick textures can energize the atmosphere in a room.

“Both residential and commercial projects I’ve worked on have been centered on the energy the client needs in that space,” Alexandra explains. “How can we nurture the personality of that room? That’s the question we always need to consider. For instance, if we’re looking at art for a client’s kitchen, a warm-toned still-life of fruit is a perfect match. If it’s an office space, opt for energizing cityscapes or calming beach scenery.”

A vibrant Indigenous painting adds energy to this office’s meeting booth.

How about letting your location lead your decision? Alexandra says. “A recent example of this was a large-scale project in Sydney, Australia. We started by looking at iconic scenes of Sydney and work by Sydney-based artists, then gradually spread out to neighboring areas. Choosing artwork influenced by location is an approach taken by residential and commercial clients since it’s such a fruitful way of reminding people of their unique place.”

Interior Design Rule 5: Get that Custom Look!

How often do we see things that are almost perfect but missing one small detail? Maybe the size isn’t right, or the color isn’t quite what we’re looking for. On Bluethumb, you can get that perfect artwork commissioned. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about getting a piece commissioned, and many see commissions as a daunting, perhaps expensive way to buy art,” Alexandra explains. “Don’t let these thoughts stop you–Bluethumb arranges commissions at no extra charge! So, there’s no reason why you can’t have that dream piece!”

Feeling inspired but don’t know where to start? Check out Alexandra’s picks below!

https://bluethumbart.com/curations/interior-designer-s-picks-18-april-24

The post How to Choose Art like an Interior Designer appeared first on Bluethumb Online Art Gallery - Blog.

• Artists have widely used acrylics since the 1960s. They are known for their vibrancy, versatility, and speedy drying time.
• A water-based medium, artists can apply acrylics in thin washes to create visual effects that resemble watercolors or thick layers of paint to mirror oil paintings.
• Acrylic artworks are easy to care for – give it a light dust occasionally.

The fluid effect in Amanda Krantz’s artwork is achieved with acrylic paint. “I started using oils but switched to acrylics about 12 years ago when I discovered their versatility,” says Amanda. “It was around the time that paint technology was advancing, and companies such as Golden, Matisse, and Liquitex had begun releasing an array of media. Globally, artists started experimenting with these—that’s when things really got fun!”

Acrylic Paintings for Artists

Without going too far down the science rabbit hole, acrylic is a water-based fast-drying paint that uses synthetic resin to bind pigments. Widely used by artists since the 1960s, acrylics become water-resistant once dry.

This wall features seascapes by Katie Wyatt, one of Bluethumb’s bestselling artists (who, coincidentally, loves working with acrylic!)

Whether you’re pressed for time or love the feeling of creating swiftly, acrylics are the perfect medium when time is of the essence. The room to modify the appearance of acrylics is expansive – painters can easily tweak the texture, hardness, and overall appearance by adding more or less water. In this way, an acrylic painting might resemble a watercolor painting or show the thickness of an oil piece. Therefore, applying acrylic paint may involve thin layers or washes to create effects of the delicate nature of watercolor or thickening agents and gels to bring oil-like thickness to a painting.

Sviatlana Osborne embraces the medium’s buildable, textural quality in her artworks. “Rendered in hues of blue, gray, teal, aqua, champagne, and silver, it offers a captivating visual journey.”

Because of their unique artistic practice, many artists find freedom in using acrylics. The medium’s usability on various surfaces, combined with its versatility in texture, gives a painter a broad scope of possibilities.

Additionally, many artists often praise the hues acrylics can achieve. “Oil painting lends itself to extreme darks and lights, with not much in between. When I use acrylic paint, the outcomes tend to be much lighter and freer flowing, bestselling landscape artist Meredith Howse explains.

Popular American artist Novi Lim uses light washes of acrylic paint to create silky tones and soft forms in her signature fluid abstracts.

A good varnish should always be thepièce de résistance to any acrylic painting. Varnishing your artwork not only protects it from yellowing, UV rays, and dust; it also pulls the painting together by adding a little layer of shine and bringing out those vibrant hues from the paint.

Acrylic Paintings for Collectors

While it may be a relatively young medium, acrylics’ resourceful nature lends itself to varying qualities that are as appealing for collectors as they are for artists. Visually intense, they create new sensory experiences for first-time buyers and experienced collectors alike.

Kate Gradwell’s Lakeside Study shows acrylic paint on watercolor paper, which flawlessly complements the subject matter. “I paint in both oils and acrylics. I love acrylic paint for its versatility and speed of drying. It’s so easy to create transparent glazes and experiment.”

Because artists have the liberty to change the thickness of acrylics with water or gels, the texture, application process, and consequent appearance vary greatly from painting to painting or artist to artist. Artists such as Katie Wyatt distinctively use acrylic paints to bring thick, heavy texture to a piece; others, like abstract artist Karen Hale, employ acrylics to create flow with a watery, dreamlike form.

Californian-based artist Karen Hale demonstrates the fun and flexible side of working with acrylics in her recent artwork titled Exploration.

How to Care for Your Acrylic Artwork

So, let’s say you’ve found the acrylic piece that’s right for you. Cleaning an artwork might seem like a bit of maintenance, but acrylics are easy to take care of. Plus, a little TLC will keep it looking swish for years to come!

“I would always recommend checking if the painting is varnished when purchasing – it’s that little bit easier to clean if so, and gives it so much more of a lifespan. Framing the piece will also help preserve it,” Bluethumb curator Sarah advises. “If you want to keep it looking fresh, give it a bit of a dust from time to time; I’d steer away from water, though, as this can change the appearance of the paint. It doesn’t take much effort and keeps that wall candy looking like new!”

Ready to find that perfect piece? Click here to explore our recent art curation for the first-time buyer.

The post An Artist’s & Collector’s Guide to Acrylic Paintings appeared first on Bluethumb Online Art Gallery - Blog.

An article by Inc. summed up the benefits of pets at work:

Allowing pets in the workplace has long been seen as key employee benefit, as well as an amusement (depending on whether you’re an animal lover). But for some employers, an open door policy toward pets–particularly, man’s best friend–has a raft of other business-enhancing benefits, which includes improved morale, reduced employee absenteeism and stress-related ailments like heart disease and diabetes.

In a 2012 study, employees who were around dogs in the workplace reported feeling less stressed than employees who have dogs but left them at home, according to researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University. The study also found that pets triggered workplace interactions that would not normally take place.

Artists have always been ahead of the times, so it’s no surprise they’ve had dogs hanging around their studios for centuries. The presence of these art dogs keeps sensitive artists happy and healthy and often inspires great works. Below are some of the most famous artists from history sitting with their beloved pooches and the resulting artworks.

Picasso

Picasso with his Dachsund Lump.

Le Chien (The Dog) by Pablo Picasso.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol and his dachshund, Archie.

Dachshund print by Andy Warhol.

Shop original animal art for sale on Bluethumb!

David Hockney

David Hockney with his Dachshunds Stanley and Boodge.

Hockney’s sketch of a dachshund.

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo seated outside with one of her xoloitzcuintli Mexican hairless dogs.

Self Portrait with Small Monkey by Frida Kahlo.

 Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell works in his studio with his dog, Pitter, at his side.

Pride of Parenthood by Norman Rockwell.

Charles Schulz

Charles Schulz with one of his five dogs.

Snoopy by Charles Schulz.

Lucian Freud

Lucian Freud with his whippet Eli.

Lucian Freud’s last unfinished portrait of his assistant David Dawson and his whippet Eli, Portrait of the Hound.

Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch with his dogs.

Airdale Terrier by Edvard Munch.

Keen on more canine craziness? Discover more animal art in our collection here.

The post Famous Artists’ Dogs And The Artworks They Inspired appeared first on Bluethumb Online Art Gallery - Blog.