Oil Painting
Cave Paintings
New theories and opinions suggest that human beings, in their primitive days, were not advanced and creative enough to express their sensibility and expertise towards art. However, researches, explorations, and excavations have proved that human beings were very conversant with art and artistic expertise even during the Upper Paleolithic Period that dates back to 40,000 B.C. Most of the cave paintings found, belong to that period and essentially reveal a lot about the culture, beliefs, and social systems of the Paleolithic Age. It is also believed that cave paintings started even before that, however, reaching their apogee in late Magdalenian period.
One of the most common themes found in these cave paintings have been large wild animals, human hands, and figures, and geometric shapes, and signs. The types of animals engraved on these cave walls mostly include horse, bison, woolly rhinoceros, deer, and aurochs in their various actions and postures. Some of these animals have become extinct now, while some were already extinct at the time when they were discovered. The earliest forms of the most rudimentary cave paintings were drawn with fingers in soft clay on rocky surfaces. It is said that this technique was used following the animals’ use of their claws. Engraving followed soon, made by the use of sharp objects and stones on rocks and flat surfaces. Painting and adding color to those was the final step where natural colors were used to color the engraved paintings. The most commonly used colors for cave paintings are considered to be red, black, iron oxide, hematite, charcoal, and white. Also, yellow and brown are supposed to be the primary colors used by the Magdalenian artists.
According to researches, colors were mixed and made from mineral fragments and shells of barnacles were used to serve the purpose of containers. Animal and vegetable oils were used as binding the colorants while the calcium available in the cave water was used to mix them. It is also said that the cave painters employed brush tools, devices, and blowpipes to enhance the artistic features, and apply colors in different ways according to the type of the paintings.
Landscape Paintings
A landscape refers to the diverse depiction of all the aspects and elements of nature comprising of hills, mountains, and oceans. It also reflects abstract elements such as the varying weather conditions of nature. Landscape paintings, representing the vast and picturesque natural elements have a significant place in American art. The early landscape paintings of America used a topographical presentation of cities, agricultural lands, and landmarks, which were a matter of interest for the local inhabitants and the people in Europe.
It was in 1820 that the American artists started illustrating the ‘unspoiled wilderness’ of the countryside in their landscape paintings. The artists used to believe that the study of the landscape before representing it in individual works, led to a spiritual enlightenment combined with a divine connection. According to these artists, understanding nature provided them with a deeper connection with its various aspects and the beauty associated with it. The concentration on the details of a snow-capped mountain, or a moss gathered rock not only revealed the wonders of nature, but also helped them in illustrating moral sentiments.
Landscape paintings can be made on different bases such as various types of paper, canvas, or cardboards using different types of medium for enhancing the effect and beauty of the paintings. Some of the most common of such mediums are watercolors, pastels, oil colors, charcoal, and pencil.
Several online art galleries sell landscape paintings online. These paintings are available in specific categories depicting various moods, themes, seasons, and natural elements. Each painting has a title representing the theme and the subject of the painting. The size and the author name are also displayed, along with the medium of color and the type of base used for the painting. Apart from the displayed one, other paintings by the same artist can also be viewed by clicking on the specific links. If the buyers find the price of the selected painting too high to meet their budget, they can even suggest a price preferred by them and submit online. The email addresses of the buyers are required in order to receive information from the galleries regarding the price quotes and other details.