It’s a common sentiment: “Modern art is just a bunch of scribbles,” or “I could have done that!”—claims often accompanied by a dismissive eye roll. But what many people are actually reacting to isn’t modern art (which refers to a specific period from the late 19th to mid-20th century), but contemporary art—the broad and ever-evolving field of art being made today.

So why does contemporary art provoke such frustration? Is it the perceived lack of skill? The ambiguity? The belief that art should be beautiful rather than conceptual? In this article, we’ll explore why so many people feel alienated by contemporary art, how art has never been just about "pretty pictures," and some ways to start engaging with it more openly.

I recently had the privilege of having my work, And When in Days Hereafter, showcased as part of Sedbergh School’s 500th Anniversary Exhibition at Bridgewater Hall. The event, which celebrated five centuries of the school’s history, was a vibrant gathering of current students, alumni, and both current and former staff. It was truly special to see our community come together, not only to honor the school’s past but also to look forward with creativity and inspiration.

The sheer variety of oil paint brushes can be daunting at first, especially if you’re new to the medium. With so many shapes, sizes, and bristle types, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the choices. However, focusing specifically on oil paint brushes—something I am most familiar with—can demystify the selection process and help you find the right tools for your artistic journey. Understanding the unique qualities of each brush type will open up a world of creative possibilities and enhance your painting experience. This guide breaks down the essential brush types—hog, goat, badger, sable, synthetic, and blended—as well as their different shapes, empowering you to express your vision on canvas with confidence.

This summer, I graduated with a First-Class BA Hons in Fine Art from the University of Leeds, marking the end of an unforgettable journey that shaped me both as an artist and as an academic. As my life takes a new course, I wish to provide some updates to my readers about my recent experiences and future plans.

Following my enlightening visit to the "Prasasti Penciptaan Batuan" exhibition at the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) in Ubud, Bali, I found myself drawn deeper into the world of Balinese artistry. The exhibition, which showcased three generations of Batuan artists and paid tribute to the legendary I Nyoman Ngendon, had ignited a spark of curiosity about the techniques and traditions behind these mesmerizing works. It was this newfound fascination that led my sister and I to participate in ARMA's exclusive cultural workshop on Balinese painting, a two-hour journey that promised to immerse us in the very artistic practices we had so admired in the museum's halls.

The palette, an essential tool in the art of oil painting, serves not only as a physical platform for mixing paints but also symbolically represents the painter's personal field of creativity. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various aspects of palettes, including their history, types, materials, setup, and maintenance, offering insights for both novice and experienced artists.

Art forgery involves creating and selling works of art that are falsely attributed to famous artists. This deceptive practice has profound implications for the art market, legal frameworks, cultural heritage, and scholarly research. This paper examines the dynamics of art forgery, analyzing its impact through various case studies and discussing the legal, ethical, and economic ramifications.

An artist's palette is pivotal in defining their visual expression and style. This article dissects the curated palette of myself, Rhiannon Piper, detailing the historical context of each chosen pigment and their specific utility in my work. While it's true that palettes are ever-evolving, and I must admit a penchant for experimentation, the majority of my color choices have remained consistent over the last three years. The exception to this stability is a recent addition, which I will detail later. This exploration is the first in a potential series where I aim to examine the palettes of various artists and how these selections resonate with their artistic output.

Recently, I was made aware of the existence of artist CVs, a concept distinctly separate from the typical curriculum vitae. This alluded me, likely because my own career aspirations are directed towards art restoration and conservation, rather than the path of a practicing artist so I have not found a need for an Artist’s CV in the past. Despite this divergence in professional interests, the notion of an artist CV piqued my curiosity, prompting a deep dive into its structure, purpose, and significance. This exploration, born out of personal intrigue, has yielded insights that I believe could be beneficial to others who might be unfamiliar with this specialized professional document. Hence, I wish to share my findings on the topic, highlighting the distinctions between an artist CV and a conventional CV, and underscoring its critical role within the art community.

The exploration of the relationship between art and science necessitates a clear understanding of both domains. Art encompasses a wide range of human activities in creating visual, auditory, or performed artifacts, expressing the author's imaginative, conceptual ideas, or technical skill, intended to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. Science, in contrast, is the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. At the intersection of art and science lies a rich field of inquiry where creativity meets rigor, and intuition intersects with empirical investigation.

In the coming three weeks, I anticipate an unprecedented level of stress, a predicament many find themselves in due to various life circumstances. It's within this context that artist's block has emerged as a significant side effect, complicating my creative process further. This reflection delves into the challenges posed by a large-scale painting project that fell short of expectations, and how I've approached the issue of artist's block, especially under the looming shadow of stress.

Today's article deviates slightly from our usual content, serving as a more personal update on my life's current endeavors. I believe it's essential to share these milestones with you, as they significantly shape the content and inspiration behind our regular discussions. I extend my apologies to those expecting our standard fare and appreciate your understanding as I navigate through this pivotal phase of my life. We will resume our regular content next week.

Self-portraiture, a practice embedded in the annals of art history, has consistently played a practical and multifaceted role in the artistic landscape. Beyond its apparent function as a means of personal documentation, self-portraiture has emerged as a dynamic tool for skill development, contributing significantly to the evolution of artists' capabilities. This article delves into the enduring significance of self-portraiture, delving into the intricate layers that underscore its historical prominence and contemporary relevance.

From the early self-portraits of renowned masters to the contemporary expressions of selfhood, artists have wielded self-portraiture as more than just a reflection of their physical appearance. It has been a mirror reflecting the evolving styles, techniques, and even the psychological depths of creators. This article seeks to unravel the underlying threads that weave through the fabric of self-portraiture, with a particular emphasis on the challenges inherent in accurately depicting one's own likeness.

In the relentless pursuit of abundance, the world found itself ensnared in the clutches of excess. Minimalism, born out of a collective acknowledgment that the relentless quest for more led to a stifling oppression, emerged as the antidote to this pervasive inundation. It began as a whisper within the realms of art, a deliberate departure from the extravagant and the superfluous, echoing a yearning for simplicity and essentiality.

This movement, which initially unfolded on the canvases of artists seeking clarity amid chaos, swiftly transcended its artistic origins to permeate every facet of our lives. It became a rallying cry across diverse sectors, as each recognized the need to liberate itself from the burdens of superfluousness. From consumer habits to architectural design, minimalism evolved from a niche aesthetic inclination to a profound lifestyle choice.

Personally, I find myself captivated by the allure of minimalism – a complex simplicity that extends its relevance far beyond the confines of art. It is not merely a visual aesthetic but a philosophy that offers a sense of control and order. As the world grapples with the repercussions of its insatiable appetite for more, this article seeks to unravel the roots and principles of minimalism.

As the year concludes, I pause to reflect on my artistic journey over the past twelve months. This article functions as a pragmatic review, providing a month-by-month breakdown of the pieces I've crafted throughout the year. It delves into the highs and lows encountered in the creative process, providing a candid look at the development of my artistry across the seasons. Additionally, it offers insight into the practical challenges of managing a creative workload, exploring the balance between ambition and feasibility.

The festive season is awash with vibrant colours that adorn our homes, streets, and, of course, our artwork. Christmas art, with its rich history and diverse cultural influences, has given rise to a palette of colors that carry deep symbolic meanings. In this exploration, we will delve into the historical and cultural significance of red, green, gold, and other colours associated with Christmas, examining how artists have harnessed these pigments to convey profound meanings.

As an art student, having your work displayed in a public exhibition can be an incredibly exciting, nerve-wracking, and rewarding experience. It’s a chance to unveil your creative passions to the world and get a taste of what it’s like to be a professional artist. But what viewers don’t always realize when they walk into that sleek, polished gallery space is the tremendous amount of collaboration, planning, and hard work happening behind the scenes to make it all come together.

Oil painters have used mediums for centuries to modify the properties of their oil paints. One of the most popular and versatile mediums used today is liquin, an alkyd-based medium. In this post, we’ll explore the history of liquin, its many uses and advantages for oil painting, any potential disadvantages, and important safety considerations when using this medium.

For over a millennium, tyrian purple stood as the most coveted pigment in the ancient world. Derived from a laborious harvesting process involving thousands of predatory sea snails, the vibrant crimson-purple hue was reserved almost exclusively for denoting imperial sovereignty across the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine empires. Though the specifics of its production may have faded over time, tyrian purple's legacy as a luxury symbol of status persists even today.

What does it mean for art to be truly original? In a hyperconnected world filled with references and reproductions, can any new creation stand alone as purely inventive? While the romantic ideal of the genius artist conjuring novel forms fully formed persists, the realities shaping artistic innovation prove far more complex. Upon analysis, every artwork contains traces of precedent inspiration, whether consciously integrated or subconsciously inherited. Examining the cumulative cultural and perceptual forces underpinning the artistic process reveals creativity's fundamentally collaborative essence. Art does not emerge within a vacuum. By embracing this more nuanced understanding of originality’s mythos, artists and audiences alike can evolve Their approach towards valuation and criticism.