It is important you learn
the difference between good art and bad art. You certainly do not want to spend
your hard-earned money and time on a piece of artwork that isn't as valuable as
you first though. So it is important to know what makes good art and how to
spot a quality painting when you see one?
Learning how to spot
quality artwork can be quite difficult. You cannot always trust art experts and
artists will always try their best to sell their paintings to you at
a higher price as they of course think everything they product is of the
highest quality which is not always the case with some artist or replication
and reproduction services.
There are a couple of
things you need to keep in mind when shopping for artwork. After all, you do
not want to spend big bucks for nothing, here a few things you need to keep in
mind that will help you in spotting quality artwork. Not all of these will
apply to you personally but this is a general template you can use to asses the
quality of the art:
Quality 1: Beauty of the Artwork
You certainly do not want
to bring something home that does not captivate you or grab your attention.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Everybody has different standards of
beauty so your decision about whether a piece of art is beautiful or not will
be natural and instinctive.
The artwork should invite itself to you. You should be drawn to it regardless of what anyone else may say or think. Here are some aspects that bring beauty to a piece of art:
- The Use of Colors: The use of colors which complement each other enhance art and make it more beautiful and inviting.
- Repeating Patterns and Symmetry: Art that features repeating patterns, shapes and symmetry appears more interesting and unique.
- Use of Textures: The use of textures and different kinds of paints which enhance the features of the artwork, giving it more edge and character.
- Correct Use of Proportions and Placement: A painting needs to be proportioned or it will look too cluttered.
- Crops and Composition: Cropping out the excess and good composition highlights the artwork and captures the viewer's attention.
- Framing: An artist should take special care in placement and framing as it plays an important part in capturing the viewer's attention.
Rest assured, there are no
rules when it comes to recognizing beauty, as beauty should come from within so
you do not have to carry a checklist with you when you visit art galleries. If
you are drawn to a piece of artwork, that should be good enough for you but just
keep these in the back of your mind!
Quality 2: Uniqueness
When purchasing art, you
would want something that not only defines you but something that is unique and
abstract. Unique art will always stand out and focus on a subject that is
either new or is generally neglected by artists.
Good art always explores
new subjects, emotions, feelings, sceneries and methodologies. If something
catches your eye or if you discover something new in a piece of art, you should
decide whether this uniqueness really sets the artwork apart and enhances the
piece, or not. Think about what makes "this" art special to you and why it is
different and if you like this difference.
Quality 3: Skills and Technique
When purchasing a piece of
art, you need to make sure the technical skills of the artist shine and has
measurable qualities and aspects of art. If you want to purchase a painting,
make sure you browse through paintings of many different artists. This way, you
will have a better idea of what you are looking for and you will be able to
tell good art from the bad.
While going through the
work of many artists, you will find some of them are talented while others may
not be as consistent or proficient. Some artists will copy others but not
always do as god a job, so do your background research and see where
the inspiration for the painting came from!
Carefully look at each
piece and examine strokes and lines. Does this piece of art look rushed, forced
or copied?
Though it is easy for
artists to cover their mistakes, you can still identify whether a mark or line
was intentional. If the artist's work features many strange markings, it is a
sign of carelessness and inexperience.
Good artwork includes
elements that are cohesive and work in harmony. If something looks out of
proportion, it means the artist may have misjudged. Do not worry if you are
still having trouble spotting what makes good art, it's not easy. Keep visiting
art galleries and comparing the works of renowned artists. You will be
able to tell the difference between the two soon enough.
Quality 4: Inherent Meaning
Art is a means of
expressing yourself. Art is powerful and more than just about beauty and skill.
While these two components are important, art should be moving and thought
provoking.
Good quality artwork will make you think and trigger an emotional response. Artwork can generally be created for the following purposes:
- Representational Art: This artwork is merely for visual appeal and does not hold any deep meaning. It could be a painting of a bowl of fruits or a picture of a pretty flower.
- Art That Tells a Story: This artwork provokes a specific emotion in its viewers. These pieces affect you and pull you towards them.
- Art That Makes Statement: These pieces hold a purpose and speak for a cause. In paintings and images, the artist is trying to highlight a cause that is important to them and holds meaning for them.
- Art as a Metaphor: This type of art features multiple meanings, so there is literally more to them than meets the eye. These pieces feature many symbols that focus on intangible human issues.
In order to know what makes
good art and a quality painting, try and follow the above qualities. Art
that depicts meaning and strikes emotions opens up a whole new realm of
excitement and will capture your attention at the same time. It is hard to categorize these qualities because at the end of the day art means something
different to each and every person but hopefully these points have given you
something to consider!
Good art will speak to you.
It not only appeals to you but is skillfully made. Good art will always be more
than what meets the eye. It will spark emotion, it will make you laugh, it will
make you cry and most importantly, it will make you think.
An artist puts a lot of work into their pieces. Everything that they have used serves a purpose. Do not purchase a piece of art if it does not appeal to you. Just go with your instincts and do not forget to have a good time the above points are to help you evaluate what makes good art in general and can not really be applied to everyone.
Sara Paxton (2016)