Artists Teaching Eager Learners Painting

The majority of painters in the world do so as a hobby. A much smaller amount are able to make money by selling their paintings, and an even more privileged group are able to dedicate themselves to painting full-time thanks to these sales. However, it is truly rare for a painting to fetch tens of millions of dollars, since many of the most famous are owned by museums and never sold. Thus, when such a transaction does take place, the world takes note. The following is a list of the most expensive paintings ever sold.

1. “No. 5, 1948,” Jackson Pollock, painted 1948, sold for $140 million in 2006 ($151.8 million 2010): This painting is a perfect example of Pollock’s abstract expressionism, Direct TV, consisting of large amounts of brown and yellow paint applied over an 8′ x 4′ fiberboard sheet. The painting’s whereabouts are actually something of a mysteryit was originally owned by Samuel Irving Newhouse before being sold to David Geffen (of Geffen Records) and then allegedly sold to David Martinez, although Martinez has denied owning the painting.
2. “Woman III,” Willem de Kooning, painted 1953, sold for $137.5 million in 2006 ($149.1 million 2010): David Geffen also owned this painting, which he sold around the same time to Steven A. Cohen. The piece is also an abstract expressionist work, and portrays a full-bodied woman with rounded curves set against a jagged background.
3. “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I,” Gustav Klimt, painted 1907, sold for $135 million in 2006 ($145.3 million 2010): This painting depicts the wife of Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, a wealthy sugar industrialist who commissioned two portraits of Adele from Klimt. The piece was confiscated in 1945 during the Nazi takeover of Austria, but in 2006 it was established that Bloch-Bauer’s niece Maria Altmann had the rights to this painting and four others. It was purchased by the New York Neue Galerie in 2006.
4. “Portrait of Dr. Gachet,” Vincent van Gogh, painted 1890, sold for $82.5 million in 1990 ($139.5 million 2010): There are two original versions of this painting, both showing van Gogh’s personal doctor Paul Gachet. It was purchased by Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito, who famously threatened to have the painting cremated with him when he died. However, its whereabouts today are unknown.
5. “Bal du Moulin de la Galette,” Pierre-Auguste Renoir, painted 1876, sold for $78.1 million in 1990 ($132 million 2010): Satei purchased this painting at the same time, and made the same threat of cremation. Its ownership is unknown, but it is hung in the Musee d’Orsay in Paris. The painting shows a Sunday afternoon in Paris’s Moulin de la Galettea galette can be either a type of crusty cake or a buckwheat flour pancake.

Posted on July 28th, 2013 by admin
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You may enjoy art, but be unsure how to critique a painting. What exactly do you look for? Here are some tips on evaluating paintings.

Composition is an important point; this is how the painting is laid out. It should have a strong focal point that draws the viewer in. Painters often go by the “rule of thirds.” This means that they divide the canvas into nine squares, and the focal point is in the center square.

Color is also important. The Read more…

Posted on March 26th, 2013 by admin
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There are a number of places you could take your paintings to get them professionally framed. Have you ever wanted to learn how to frame a painting or wanted to frame your own painting? People that like to frame their own paintings are after a certain look and feel for that particular painting plus it could be cheaper if you do it yourself. You wouldn’t have to pay somebody to frame paintings for you if you know how to frame them yourself.I was looking for more information and found it here. Framing your own paintings can also be Read more…

Posted on October 1st, 2011 by admin
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To begin a self portrait arrange the background in such a way as not to distract from the face itself. Think of the Van Gogh self portraits: even thinking about them most people can’t remember what was behind the face. Think of the shape of the head with the hair or hat you plan to have in the picture and be sure that there is room on the canvas or paper to include everything. Set up the lighting so that you can see the shadows that will give form Read more…

Posted on September 6th, 2011 by admin
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Cauvet is a series of caves lying along the outskirts of southern Paris, France. It’s discovery was made in the winter of 1994 and it is said to be the first site that gives an account to the way early man lived, dating back to well over 30,000 years ago. Chauvet is named after Jean-Marie Chauvet, one of three Speleologists who discovered it. The walls of Chauvet house a story that belongs to creatures of the time of its beginning as some of them are no longer living on earth. Early man worked with very limited Read more…

Posted on April 30th, 2011 by admin
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