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Artspan Portal: Painting
Introduction to Painting
Painting in the form of pigmented surface decoration was practiced as far back as the Paleolithic Era. The development of pigments was initially contingent on the availability and creative use of local natural ingredients. Only with advancements in trade and chemistry that painters were afforded the scope and flexibility that they enjoy today. As a fine art, painting found its stride during the Renaissance. In that era, from the 14th to the 17th centuries, artists developed perspective in painting and became interested in more naturalistic representation of the human form. Artists also gained considerable personal renown. From that time to the present, painting has been a bellwether of avant garde artistic movements, and has spurred corresponding movements in other visual mediums as well as in disciplines such as music and literature. Painting has undergone many important transformations. In particular, the radical departure from Renaissance modes represented by color field painting and abstract art in the mid-20th century stands to illustrate a dialogue interested in the dynamic nature of visual culture. Through choices in the construction, distortion, or rejection of a scene or figure and through the use of color, composition and texture, painters are able to express their ideas to the farthest extent that their imaginations allow. It is perhaps the most universal of mediums, both in its practice and in its range. As Hans Hoffman observed, "through a painting we can see the whole world."Featured Members
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Art Market News (see all)
- Aesthetic Magazine
- A British art and culture magazine.
- Art in America Magazine
- Art in America is an illustrated monthly, international magazine concentrating on the...
- Frieze
- European contemporary art and culture magazine. Includes essays, reviews, columns and Art Fair...
Art Suppliers (see all)
- Blick Art Materials
- PO Box 1267 Galesburg, IL 61402-1267 Toll-free 800-828-4548 Fax 800-621.8293
- Dakota Art Brushes
- PO Box 2258 17873 S R 536 Mount Vernon, WA 98273-9998 1.888.345.0063 Fax: 888.345.0067...
- Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA).
Books (see all)
- Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks & Techniques for Working With the World's Most Versatile Medium
- Acrylic Revolution is your essential, all-in-one guide for acrylic painting techniques and more....
- Classical Painting Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice
- Students of art hailed Classical Drawing Atelier, Juliette Aristides’s first book, as a dynamic...
- Facial Expressions: A Visual Reference for Artists
- All artists are tired of persuading their nearest and dearest to look sad…look glad…look...
Workshops (see all)
- Creative Arts Workshop
- Creative Arts Workshop 80 Audubon St., New Haven CT Creative Arts Workshop is a nonprofit...
- Cullowhee Mountain ARTS
- Cullowhee Mountain ARTS exists to support artists of every skill level. We are committed to...
- Guildford Arts Center
- Guildford Arts Center 411 Church St., Guildford CT WELCOME TO THE GUILFORD ART CENTER, a...
Workshops (see all)
- Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
- Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts 556 Pkwy., Gatlinburg TN Arrowmont School of Arts and...
Associations (see all)
- American Impressionist Society
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Vero Beach, Fl
Promotes the appreciation of Impressionism through exhibitions, workshops and... - American Society of Portrait Artists
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Montgomery, Alabama
To instruct, motivate and share knowledge with all who desire to learn... - International Society of Acrylic Painters
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Oldsmar, Florida
To be a vehicle for collective exhibitions, which aim to promote the...
Publications (see all)
- American Artist
- Devoted to the realism in art and excellence in their medium, whether oil paint, watercolor,...
- American Center for Artists
- An e-zine that focuses on the biography and autobiography of famous and emerging painters and...
- Art Forum
Education (see all)
- Arcadia University
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Glenside, PA
BFA in Art, concentration in Painting - Boston University: College of Fine Arts
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Boston, Ma
MFA in Painting - Colorado State University
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Fort Collins, Co
MFA in Painting