Time after time, I have been wondering what I should be doing in this blog. First off, I have shortened the description of this blog to include only “oil paintings” and “Chinese culture“.

Ideas so broad and free from any restriction. More often than not, this blog has been about oil paintings and Chinese culture. The former idea is a challenge for me, since I’m not a painting artist.

How ordinary people appreciate painting art from their unlearned minds?

Oil paintings is my interest I hope to learn more from other great painting artists. I love fine arts, visual art and oil paintings. I will not be able to showcase my art work by blogging. Practically, not so able to gain a good chance of hands-on with oil on canvas.

Despite that limitation, I cannot rule out the possibility of learning digital paintings. It could be a new trend. I might want to try that to explore my creativity too. 

Presently, I’m learning to appreciate all sort of art form for its aesthetics and conceptual purpose. I’m doing my own study and research. Studying about art history from Renaissance art to Impressionism movement. As well as, modern art, like Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism.

Vincent van Gogh was the great Dutch post-impressionist painter. There are more to learn from his paintings. Claude Monet has great painting technique of alla prima, also refer as wet-on-wet painting.

Good example of Claude Monet famous artwork will be the series of water lilies paintings. Believe it or not, approximately 250 oil paintings by French Impressionist in his life span.

Naming a few famous artist of all time, Leonardo da Vinci, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Gustav Klimt, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe and Paul Jackson Pollock. There are more to catch up!

The art news came yesterday evening, broadcasting on television about a 4-Year-old girl who takes NYC art world by storm. And what has surprised me is not her art talent, but the sales that she received from 3 art paintings hanging at the Agora Gallery in Chelsea, New York. Artist named, Aelita Andre, an Australian toddler, has become famous overnight.

How much is her paintings received? Within a week, three buyers has already paid a ‘hefty’ sum of US$27,000. Naming it it contemporary abstracts, the paintings are some splatter work. With each art piece priced to about US$9,000. Frankly speaking, I don’t see the point of worth in her art valuation based on a few influence that are factual.

Firstly, both her parents are artists, whom has provided her a strong background and education to groom this toddler to be artistic. Secondly, she is only 4 years old. Expectation from most parents, with little girl of this tender age, will be hoping their child’s art work showcasing in an elementary school exhibition. But not for young artist, Aelita Andre, giving her solo show at the Agora Gallery in Chelsea, New York.

So what worth being paid for these 3 art paintings which, if you believe the hype, is the highest value in age versus art skill proportionality?

This is a totally absurd, as some may have thought. I’m not to criticizing on her artwork; I love art, and it isn’t dead, but its patrons are brain-dead. To add on to the art valuation received, it is no doubt more than enough to stock up 1 year of premium quality milk powder to nourished her creativity.

Unlike the Chinese, there is a proverb that goes ‘hit while the iron is hot’. Indeed, there are good at speculation, and it has proven in every art auction. Just look at recent Christie’s auction “Asian 20th Century & Contemporary Art (Evening Sale)” held in HongKong, less than 2 weeks ago. Most of the buyers and artists are from China.

The well-known Chinese contemporary artist, Zeng Fanzhi, with his featured paintings entitled “The Leopard“, has fetched a value of about US$4.7 million. And all proceeds will generously contribute to the non-profit organization The Nature Conservancy.

So as for her colorful paintings considered an artwork of child prodigy, with the help of speculation by the news media? Or maybe it turn out to have mutual benefits for both Agora Gallery in Chelsea and her future fame in the art industry? Has she paints like Picasso, or did Picasso paint like a 4-year-old?

source: NBC New York, 4-Year-Old Girl Takes NYC Art World By Storm

Visiting an art gallery is more relaxing, as compared to listening to music repertoire in a concert hall. Soothing music is not that distracting to our ears, some audience may just fall asleep in the midst of listening. Some prefer to have it noisier and more energetic, such as trance or rock concert.

I play my musical instruments, and that is how sound is produced through this medium. Likewise, an artist uses his painting brushes to produce an artwork on a large canvas filled with vivid oil color. Medieval art, renaissance, baroque, impressionism and expressionism are art movements defined by the Western art; there are analogous with different genres in music.

‘Likings’ is the rudiment for every artist’s hope to achieve in an art exhibit with invited friends and guests. It is a simple gesture and compliments, beside trying hard to understand and breaking the ‘da Vinci’ code from the hanging art frame. Abstract art does not necessary have to translate into words.

Even famous quote from the great painter, Claude Monet, once said:

“People discuss my art and pretend to understand as if it were necessary to understand, when it’s simply necessary to love.”

Here are a few reasons why visiting an art gallery is more relaxing, as compared to listening to music:

1. Viewers share and discuss about the oil painting art that is hanging on the wall, without the constraint to sit silently listening music in a concert hall.
2. Before an audience is able to listen to audio music, one need to take a step further to press the ‘play’ button. Visual art is mainly for the eye only.
3. Its healthier to keep our body moving and walking around in the art gallery. Listening is merely an exercise of your ears, while siting restlessly in a cushion chair.
4. There isn’t a need to pay a high entrance fee to view a masterpiece in an art museum; most displaying less than 3 meters from your naked eye. Conversly, one need a bionic eye to see the musician playing in a stage, with at least 15 meters away from the chair you are sitting.
5. Scan your paintings or take a snapshot with your iPhone, and upload it to Facebook. It is much faster and less tedious than recording music.
6. Your Mom will love your paintings, even she is busying cooking for your dinner. A glimpse of your mini Picasso’s art is what she have to do. Same support goes to your good friends who is an artist.

Today’s post will be short.

In about less than 2 weeks, one of the best oil paintings by Claude Monet will finalize the auctioned price at Christie’s. The paintings entitled, “Nymphéas” or Water Lilies, painted in 1906.

This set is just one out of the 250 oil paintings in his life time. Every artwork on the water lilies is rendered with rich colors, expressing his most accomplished skill in alla prima technique, aka “direct painting” or “wet on wet”.

Less of describing the paintings, but to learn more about art auction at Christie’s.

Estimated price is ($43,350,000 – $57,800,000). This magnificent artwork will be offered in the Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale in London on 23 June. What will be the price realized?

Nympheas, Water Lilies, Claude Monet, 1906, Oil Paintings, Auction

Vincent van Gogh is regarded as one of the most influential post-impressionist painter in 20^th century, for its vivid colors and emotional impact. Being the famous artist in today’s museum art, how many of his oil painting artwork has successfully sold during his lifetime? Perhaps, the one and only oil paintings done in early November 1888, “The Red Vineyard”. Sold for 400 Franc (equal to about $1000-1050 today).

Similar to “The Night Cafe”, by the outbreak of World War I (1914–18), this work owned by Sergei Shchukin were nationalized by Bolsheviks, and now exhibiting in art museum.

As of today, at least 8 of his most expensive work has been sold since last 3 decades, either in auction or private sales. Below showcasing 8 most expensive oil paintings paid, plus 2 more potentially priced paintings. (Inflation adjusted)

1) Portrait of Dr. Gachet (June 1890) – US$138.4 million (Was $82.5 mil)

Vincent van Gogh painted this piece of his work during the last weeks of his life before his suicide. There are two versions of the portrait. Both painted in the same year.

One of the version was sold in May 1990, through an auction at Christie’s, New York, put up by the Siegfried Kramarsky family. The buyer was a Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito.

Since Ryoei Saito’s death in 1996 Reports in 2007 have claimed the painting was sold a decade earlier to the Austrian-born investment fund manager, in turn, had reportedly been forced by financial reversals to sell the painting to parties as yet unknown.

The second version of the portrait is currently in the possession of the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France.

Portrait of Dr. Gachet 1890, Van Gogh

2) Irises 1889 – US$101.2 million (Was $53.9 mil)

Van Gogh’s passion of painting flowers, has made this highly priced irises paintings sold at US$101.2 million. This brilliant artwork was painted while Vincent van Gogh was living at the asylum at Saint Paul-de-Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France in the last year before his death in 1890.

In 1987, put up in an auction (Sotheby’s, New York ). Sold by the son of Joan Whitney Payson to an Australian businessman, Alan Bond. Interestingly, buyer did not have enough money to pay for the bidden price. Eventually, the pieces was re-sold to J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles in 1990.

It is noticeably that the painting style used wasn’t as hash as the famous Starry Night. Back then, before inflicted by mental derangement, Van Gogh felt that he could keep himself from going insane by continuing to paint.

Irises, 1889, Van Gogh

3) Portrait of Joseph Roulin 1889 – US$$100.9 ++ million (Was $58 mil plus exchange of works)

Sold by in a private sales via a Swiss art dealer and collector, Thomas Ammann, to the Museum of Modern Art new York.

Joseph Roulin was described as the typical bread-winner in the household, during the period of working class in 19^th century France. Working as a postman toiling for money to make ends meet. A father of three children, and a husband of a housewife, who care for home and children.

Van Gogh did different versions of this portrait. In fact, he told his brother Theo in a letter: “I have made portraits of a whole family, that of the postman whose head I had done previously – the man, his wife, the baby, the young boy, and the son of sixteen, all of them real characters and very French, though they look like Russians. ”

Portrait of Joseph Roulin 1889, Van Gogh

4) Portrait de l’artiste sans barbe 1889 – U$94.5 million (Was $71.5 mil)

Sold by the family of Jacques Koerfer, in late 1998, at an auction held in Christie’s, New York. Buyer remain anonymous till these days.

A self-portrait of artist without a beard. Leading fourth in the list of most expensive paintings. Among many with bearded portrait, this work is exceptionally unique and rare; clean-shaven, crispy-looking, hair gel and back-combing, self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh.

Van Gogh, Self-Portrait, without Beard

5) Self-portrait with bandaged ear 1889 – US$90 million (Was 71.5 mil)

This paintings sold in late 1998, at an auction in Chrisie’s, New York. Buyer remain suspected to be anonymous. Recently, reported by Forbes.com on 10^th March, Phlip Niarchos “Eldest son of late Greek shipping magnate, Stavros Niarchos, inherited father’s art collection of such masterpieces as Vincent van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear””

Again, another unique piece of Van Gogh’s paintings, with bandaged ear. Do you know that he actually presented his lower chopped-off part of his ear to a prostitute at his favorite brothel?

Van Gogh, Self-portrait with bandaged ear

6) A Wheatfield with Cypresses 1889 – U$85.7 million (Was $57 mil)

Sold by son of Emil Georg Bührle in a private sale via Steven Mazoh. Buyer was Walter Annenberg, a Jewish-born American publisher, diplomat, and a philanthropist.

Van Gogh painted this while he spend his life in a mental asylum at St. Remy in May 1889. In his written letter to Theo, “...the wheat field in the sun, which represents the extreme heat... “, describing one of his best sun-drenched landscape in summer canvases.

There are 2 variants of this paintings, the other owned by National Gallery, London.

Wheatfield with Cypresses, Van Gogh

7) Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers 1888 – U$76.7 million (Was $39.7 mil)

Yet another related paintings on flowers. Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings was auctioned in 1987, an event held at Christie’s London organized by the daughter in law of Chester Beatty. Buyer was described as a Japanese insurance magnate, by the name of Yasuo Goto. Little was known about the intention of this purchased. Neither was a self-interest in a private sales, nor buying it on the behalf of the company. The painting currently resides at Seiji Togo Yasuda Memorial Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo. After the purchase a controversy arose whether this is a genuine van Gogh or an Emile Schuffenecker forgery.

Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers, Van Gogh

8.) Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat 1890 – U$64.1 million (Was $47.5 mil)

Sold to Stephen Wynn, an American casino resort/real-estate developer. An unknown seller held a private sale via Acquavella Galleries Inc., New York.

Stephen Wynn has owned an extensive art collection, including Paul Gauguin and Pablo Picasso.

Peasant Woman Against a Background of Wheat, Van Gogh

Last but not least, below are my 2 guesses on the Van Gogh’s painting artwork, having the ever-potential to be priced highly. Despite the fact of every priceless work already in public domain, both are also well-known for oil painting reproductions.

9) “The Starry Night” – June, 1889. St-Rémy. Current Location: Museum of Modern Art, New York City

10) “The Night Café ” – September, 1888. Arles. Current Location: Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven

What will be your pick? I would be interested to hear your ideas and opinions for the next 2 to complete Van Gogh’s Top 10 most expensive paintings.

Pricing Source

Chinese ancient art, inclusive of paintings, are mostly consist of objects which were put to practical usage in those days. Others were stored away and only brought out on special occasions. In fact, those artwork produced by the olden Chinese, were classified into different hierarchy. The quality differ greatly, if Chinese artworks for emperor and those made for scholarly elites, for ordinary people or for furnishing tombs or temples.

Below I have listed out the traditional hierarchy of Chinese art, starting from the most popular and prestigious in early times.

1. Landscape paintings and calligraphy writings. Using ink on paper
2. Figure paintings, including birds, flowers and insect paintings
3. Religious paintings of Tang Dynasty. Ink and colors on silk. Art for Buddhist temples
4. Hand-scroll paintings of Yuan Dynasty.
5. Jade craving and bronze vessels inlaid with gold and silver.
6. Decorative painting art, lacquer, porcelain earthenware and silk.
7. Silk embroidery
8. Ceramic ware

Ancient Chinese Landscape Painting, Handscroll; ink and pale color on silk

In those days, Van Gogh did not expect to earn much as an artist. Besides having proven skill in oil painting of his self-portrait, there were still many viewers whom did not commissioned him to paint. Most of his finished paintings were returned to his brother Theo in Paris. Living apart from his family members, Van Gogh wanted a simple life, without any luxury of owning expensive items. Best examples shown in one of his oil paintings work, Van Gogh’s bedroom. He painted this when he was living in Arlse, a town in Provence in the south of France, October 1888.

At first glance, you can tell its simplicity and straightforwardness of every objects displayed in the bedroom. Not even the simplest technology that exists. No gramophone and no clock, perhaps only a small light bulb on the ceiling that was not included in the painting. Its a small room, where most would not want to live in. Despite being dull for an interior design like this, Van Gogh has painted his bedroom with lots of bright colors and great contrast, yet without subtlety of tones. By examine closer, you will see his thick oil paint and brushstrokes are laid on top of each colored surface. It creates vibrancy, textures, and bold used of colors on simple items. It is also one of his characteristics in all his painting artwork, namely, his impasto technique.

Being poor at that time, he only had the room essentials. The double bed plays an important part of his painting, which is also his main wooden furniture. There is no wardrobe, but a few of his coats and a straw hat hanging at the far-right of the wall. Beside this personnel clothing, he had also hanged a few paintings on the wall near to the bed. A pair of portrait paintings, and underneath another drawings in white frames. On top of the two pillows, hang a landscape painting. Bed sheet is in yellow color, with high contrast against the warm red blanket; most prominent at the center of this painting. On both sides there are two shut doors that create sort of ‘framing’, aligned with the empty forefront wooden floor.

The chairs are in pairs, to provide simple hospitality to someone who visits him. A bedside table, placed with a jug of water and a washing bowl. Above it, a hanging mirror which regards as important item for him who is self-conscience of own appearance. A towel is close by, hanging from a nail next to the mirror. There is a window on the far end that allows most of the day light to shine into the room. The overview of his bedroom is tidy, all the items are in place, creating a sense of being organized and independence living.

All in all, I guess the most important aspect of the painting is the angled perspective drawn in this artwork. The view is quite similar to “The Night Café”, that Van Gogh depicted a situation that is totally opposite. The scale of the bedroom is much smaller and compact. Now, the question for you is, at which eye level did Van Gogh view and painted his bedroom?

To my observation, he could be possibly sitting on a chair, or even on a low stool. If you look closely at his artwork, the bedroom actually painted to include a small portion of the ceiling. That top corner of his bedroom is visibly located above the bed. A straight corner line on the far right, drawn upward that diverge into 2 smaller lines showing sign of the ceiling. It is at this point where the entire view creates a whole different perspective. This can easily prove by just covering the corner or remove it by image editing. The view of the painting changes, just like you are looking at it while standing up. Van Gogh’s painting is exceptionally sensitive and intelligent.

Van Gogh Bedroom, Oil Paining on Canvas, Arles, 1888

This is an excerpt from the book “Art Theory For Beginners” by Richard Osborne and Dan Sturgis. As a beginner, I have enjoy reading this nice handy book. With simple English and cartoon illustrations to help better understanding. Below on the topic of “The Invention of Oil Painting”

The invention of oil painting was another big change for art. This technology was not developed in Italy but in Flanders by Jan van Eyck 1385 – 1441. The Flemish thought it such a wonderful invention that they tried to keep it a state secret. Before oil painting, most painting was fresco, which, when you think about it, was Roman tradition, or what is called tempra, which is a quick drying opaque paint. Van Eyck discovered that you could suspend pigment in linseed oil, and then apply it to carefully prepared wooden boards, thereby creating a slow drying paint that could be worked on over extended periods of time. The development of oil paint was a huge discoveries; it resulted in far more realistic painting being made, as the application of thin glazes allowed a whole new level of naturalism to be achieved. Suddenly these new hyper-naturalistic paintings become portable, more resilient to changes in climate, and consequently far more of a commodity to be bought and sold. The invention of oil painting is an good example of how technological developments effect art.

Art Theory For Beginners

Chinese landscapes painting is commonly seen consisting of mountains and water. Yet, with its simplicity and minimal use of subject, color and medium, it is able to create a harmonious and peaceful viewing. One of the aspects to achieve this balanced result, is by applying the black-and-white yin-yang symbol. Also know as representation of ‘symbolism of opposite’.

The symbolism of opposite clearly seen in the contrast of black ink on white paper in calligraphy and brush painting. The Chinese named this theorem as BaGua or “eight symbols” system reflecting the dualistic philosophy of ‘yin’ and ‘yang’, dated back in 10^th century BCE. This system has been adopted by the Chinese culture and believes, even till the modern days in China.

Some of the landscape painting gives a clear-cut, articulated, rugged strokes that conveyed a strong, server form and definite designs; leaving little rooms for your imagination. Colors are bold, such as, blue, green and gold for the landscape paintings. This precise techniques produced beautiful and detailed decorative artwork.

On the contrary, Chinese paintings can be painted in faded color, mainly using ink and water, with light coloring. Their strokes were softer, more graceful, and suggestive. Theses landscape paintings were more poetic and imaginative. Water washes on the existing brush strokes of ink will produced softer and subtle effect.

Yang is the positive, masculine principle, associated with heaven, light, boldness, hardness. Yin is the negative, feminine principle, associated with earth, darkness, weakness, and softness.

In painting, the artist’s tools are either yin or yang. The strokes on the paper go right and left; a strong and dark stroke is yang, while a soft and pale stroke is yin. Thus, creating a balance systems of

Lake is separated from water,as mountain is separated from earth, showing the special significant of mountains and lakes or rivers. These are the primary elements of Chinese landscape paintings, hence the Chinese character for landscapes, Shan Shui (山水). Literary means, mountain(山) and water(水).

The meanings of color, for painting artwork, is often used to define the expressive mood of an artist’s thought. It applies to any form of painting work, be it for oil painting, watercolor, pastel color, wall decor, etc; using it to symbolize or as an influence to one’s emotion. A good understanding of color and its meaning, will provide an advantage to artists who try to verbalize a message by visual language. Likewise, a viewer will also has a better understanding and appreciation of an artist’s work.

Cultural difference between the Western or Chinese paintings may, however, convey a different meanings of color. One of the commonly used color, such as red color, maybe use to express anger or warmth. On the contrary , the Chinese paintings has a different interpretation on its significance; red color is use to express luck and prosperity.

Below listed some of the basic colors describing the meanings.

• BLUE: peace, professionalism, youth, truth, loyalty, reliability, peace, honor, melancholia, boredom, coldness, Winter, depth, stability, professionalism, honor, trust
• YELLOW: attention-grabbing, wisdom, comfort, liveliness, cowardliness, hunger, optimism, overwhelm, joy, Summer, comfort, liveliness, intellect, happiness, energy
• PURPLE: power, royalty, nobility, elegance, sophistication, artificial, luxury, mystery, royalty, elegance, magic, lavender
• RED: warmth, love, anger, danger, confidence, courage, excitement, speed, strength, determination, desire, courage
• BROWN: relaxing, confident, casual, reassuring, nature, earthy, solid, reliable, genuine, Autumn, endurance
• GREEN: durability, life, fertility, reliability, environmental, luxurious, optimism, well-being, nature, calm, relaxation, Spring, safety, honesty, optimism, harmony, freshness
• GRAY: conservatism, traditionalism, intelligence, serious, dull, uninteresting
• ORANGE: cheerfulness, low cost, affordability, enthusiasm, stimulation, vitality with endurance, creativity
  BLACK: Elegance, sophistication, formality, power, strength, illegality, depression, morbidity, night
• WHITE: Cleanliness, purity, newness, virginity, peace, innocence, simplicity, sterility, snow