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 cannot really be applied to
everyone.
Sara Paxton, 2016 (sarapaxtonartworks.com)