Every creativity, even when it is not apparent on the surface.

I-am-An-Artist is a campaign series from The Artist, which aims to spread the awareness of a simple fact –creativity does not belong to a small group, we are all creative and this creativity comes out in our everyday lives. Even without knowing it, we are all artists.

Through simple messages on posters, this campaign delivers one main idea – every human is an artist!

Featuring here change makers (artists) whose work created a significant impact in this world. Check out Steve Jobs (Apple), Abraham Lincoln (President), Michael Jackson (Performer), Howard Carter (Archeologist), William Shakespeare (Poet), Wayne Goss (Make-up Artist), Ansel Adams (Photographer), Adolphe Pegoud (Pilot) and Selvin (Forester)

We’re all creative, it’s just some of us earn our living by being so. Every human is an artist!

The article contains sponsored affiliate links from Amazon to valuable resources.

The post Why Every Human Is An Artist? appeared first on The Artist.

1) Balance

Balance refers to the weight of objects and their placement in relation to each other.

It’s a sense of stability you might feel from elements in alignment. This can take three forms: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial.

Symmetrical balance refers to the exact mirroring of objects across an axis (i.e. an invisible line on the page).

Asymmetrical balance is the opposite of this – when objects do not mirror each other perfectly, shifting the balance to one side or the other of the axis.

This is often done to highlight an object in relation to another. Radial balance is when objects are distributed all around a central point.

2) Proportion

Proportion is the size of objects in relation to each other, or within a larger whole.

This could be natural (e.g. a nose which fits onto a face the way you would expect it), exaggerated (e.g. a nose that is vastly over or undersized), and idealized, in which parts have the kind of perfect proportion that you just don’t see occurring naturally.

One of the key characteristics of Renaissance Art that changed the world forever is the invention of linear perspective, and proportion is one of the inherent behaviors towards achieving perspective

3) Emphasis

Emphasis is an extension of these first two principles: it is when contrast, placement, size, color, or other features are used to highlight one object, area, or other elements of the artwork.

This is used to draw attention – a focal point – or accentuate a feature.

4) Variety

Variety is a sense of the difference between elements of an artwork – the opposite of unity, or harmony.

Variety adds a sense of chaos to a work, and this is often used to highlight certain powerful emotions. Salvador Dali is one of the artists who have experimented with chaos and variety in his paintings, yet achieved a great sense of perfection.

Who is Salvador Dali? and Which are the top paintings of Salvador Dali?

When unity is used instead, it immediately calms – though this can also lead to being boring!

5) Harmony

In follow on from variety, harmony is the use of related elements.

This might be similar colors, shapes, sizes of objects, etc. It’s about repetition and a relationship between elements. This creates a sense of connection between the objects, creating a sense of flow.

One of the great examples is Titian, the iconic artist often remembered as the Venetian Master of Colour. Titian Paintings Are Truly Stunning, Brings Brightness, and Lustre To His Works Through Brilliant Colors. And, if you look at it, he used the color as a tool to bring harmony to the subject.

Harmony is one of the most important aspects when it comes to principles of art

6) Movement

This indicates the direction your eye takes as you view the work – in what order does your eye travel? If the emphasis is used, this often means you start with this element first and travel away from it.

The movement inherent in the image is important, as it tells you a story through the use of lines (whether they are literal or implied).

7) Rhythm

This can also be thought of as a kind of relationship between patterned objects.

Rhythm is often the use of regular, evenly distributed elements – they could occur in slow, fast, smooth or jerky intervals, and this tells you something about the feelings invoked.

Like listening to an upbeat pop song versus a slow ballad, the arrangement of notes creates a kind of pattern you naturally respond to. The important part is recognizing the relationship between the objects.

8) Scale

It might sound similar to proportion, but they differ slightly: scale is about the size of objects but in relation to what you’d expect them to be in reality.

If an object occurs in a natural scale, then the object is the size we would expect to find it.

Diminutive refers to an object being smaller than expected, and monumental is when the object is much larger.

9) Unity

Not to be confused with harmony, unity is the overall cohesion of the work.

You might achieve this through any kind of grouping of objects.

Any kind of similarity will help to strengthen the sense of unity you feel when looking at a series of objects.

10) Repetition

This is the pattern itself.

A combination of shapes, colors, or other elements recurring across the composition.

Objects might be repeated such that they slowly get smaller, or slowly change color – where the pattern starts and stops is important! Patterns usually evoke feelings of security and calm.

In all, these ten principles of art combine and contrast to create the effects we respond to visually. By breaking down the elements, we begin to understand more about the intention or meaning of art.

The post 10 Principles of Art appeared first on The Artist.

What allows it to stand the test of time?

Is it the technique the artists use? Or perhaps it’s the colours? The theme?

No, it’s something infinitely more complex than that. Real art is alive. It is given power by the artists who see a different world and show us exactly what they perceive.

They expand our understanding even of simple concepts. But in order to do that, they need to be courageous.They mustn’t paint because they expect someone to like or appreciate their art. They mustn’t paint because someone told them to.

[quote_colored name=”” icon_quote=”no”]The mesmerizing charm of a great work of art doesn’t come from what is painted on the canvas. Rather, it comes from what was in the artist’s heart while he was painting.[/quote_colored]

Franz Krueger’s The Parade auf Opernplatzis a great example of that

In 1824, Nicolas I, the future tsar of Russia, commissioned a painting to commemorate a very special day in history. He made sure that a well-known painter was to illustrate his grand stature and show the whole world his greatness. The painting was supposed to be about him. Thus Franz Krueger was given the great honour to capture his future majesty’s prominence on the canvas.

Krueger was already a well-known painter in Berlin and specialized in military paintings and portraits, so this choice made a lot of sense. However, the artist had something a bit more different in mind.

The painting shows a sky, shrouded in clouds. There’s a great gathering of people on the square so it’s obvious that something important is happening. The buildings are expertly painted to remind us of where we are. Statues silently observe as events unveil. In the background, soldiers are standing in perfect formation, each one a copy of the other. Military officers are riding their horses around to signify that something is going on, all the while a large crowd has gathered on both sides of the ranks.

The artist has beautifully painted the crowd and infused it into a whole – it’s impossible to tell if there are aristocrats or ordinary people under the black hats. There is no distinction – just as the artist wanted it.

It’s continuum of people. Just people, without putting an emphasis on their stature, social status, political influence, profession or anything else! Just people. The disorderly crowd provides a perfect contrast to the structured ranks of the military. This breathes life into the painting.

If you carefully read the description again, and if you observe the painting with a bit more attention to detail, you will notice that something is missing. Or perhaps not missing, but definitely not getting the focus some parties intended.

Where is Nicolas I in all of this?

It is a known fact that he was the one who ordered the painting and it was supposed to commemorate a big moment for him. Yet he’s not the centre of this incredible work of true art. He’s just a part of the crowd. Just another person in a sea of normal people! His stature and grandiose nature are not shown in the painting. Krueger wanted to capture something special, something grand, and having a lot more substance than the life of an aristocrat, even if he was a future tsar. Instead of being a monument of the duke’s ego, the painting actually told the story of the people in that particular moment.

[quote_colored name=”” icon_quote=”no”]Scandalous for its time, the painting gathers the attention of the art community to this day. It doesn’t have one central image to it, but rather shows the gathering of the Berlin bourgeois, subtly hinting that no one person is more important than the others; that they’re a whole and they are what creates the spirit of the city.[/quote_colored]

Krueger shows us that true art can be created only through courage, strength of character, and determination.

The artist simply painted what he saw. How was this gutsy?

It actually took a lot of nerve to depict the Berlin bourgeois with the same level of detail as the future tsar of Russia. The duke, his influence, the force of the Russian military – they are all undermined by the presence of these ordinary people in the painting. The painting was commissioned in 1824, yet Krueger didn’t deliver what was asked of him.

Instead of designing a beautiful lie or pleasing the king by bringing him to center of attraction, the artist represented the even more beautiful truth. He tells a narrative, showing us that there is no one “hero” in the centre of this story, but that each and every one of these people matter. They are what make the city what it is. They are Berlin and without them, there is no city; there is no parade; there is no story.

Look at the painting and ask yourself how does it make you feel? The dim sky perfectly sets the serious mood of the piece. The huge, empty square, the big buildings contrasting with the huge crowd underlines the importance of each and every one of the people present in the painting, whether we’re talking about soldiers, officers, or civilians. It makes you feel that all of them are a part of something great, locked in the moment; but also that they are the moment itself, and that this great thing wouldn’t exist without them.

It transports you into the parade and makes you feel like you’re a part of it, too. The painting simply inspires you to contemplate something great.

[quote_colored name=”” icon_quote=”no”]Krueger showed us that great art comes from the heart.It doesn’t come from doing what you’re told. This is why the painting is so mesmerizing – because it doesn’t portray something we’ve seen a thousand times before. It doesn’t paint scenes of the fake heroism of aristocrats at the time. There is no idealization or painting with rose-tinted glasses. The artist simply shows us the truth and the critical realism of his painting is what resonates with us.[/quote_colored]

Krueger knew that there is a difference between creating something beautiful and creating something powerful.

Even though these two concepts don’t necessarily exclude one another, it’s entirely possible for beautiful art not to be powerful, while vice versa is almost out of the question. Power comes from creating something that’s exploring the boundaries and reaching new frontiers. It comes from doing something people think you shouldn’t be doing; the unpopular choices that are misunderstood by many; the experiments no one believes would be successful. Yet in most cases they are the ones that withstand the test of time.

[quote_colored name=”” icon_quote=”no”]A true artist has the courage to get outside of his comfort zone and this is when true masterpieces are born. Courage is possibly the most important aspect of painting something meaningful that leads to a greater understanding.[/quote_colored]

It breeds authenticity and is not there to please the audience, but to show them the way the artist sees the world. It’s there to make people ponder questions and think about their own reality. If you don’t do that, if your art doesn’t bring people to new heights, then what’s the point?

If you have the chance to visit Berlin—an amazing, living, breathing city which offers fantastic art—be sure to visit the Alte Nationalgalerie and see some of Berlin’s finest paintings.

The post The Virtue Of Courage. Great Art Comes From The Heart, Doesn’t Come From Doing What You’re Told appeared first on The Artist.

May it be the story of a single person, of a community, or of a nation, art has in many ways contributed to the beautiful way these stories are told.

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls” – Pablo Picasso

The definition of art can be multi-disciplinary.

In the same way, art can also convey an experience that’s so common that many people can relate to it. Take Adolf Menzel’s The Balcony Room, for example.

This piece shows a space with strong light pouring into a typical room while a breeze blows into the white curtains.

Instead of making something revolutionary or innovative, Adolf Menzel took the very common scenario – a room in an ordinary house – and turned it into a masterpiece.

Through art, Adolf was able to enhance what otherwise was a common experience and turned it into a serene, emotionally charged story that everyone can appreciate.

Why do we make art?

The purposes, motivations, intentions, and inspirations behind the art are endless. Below are just some of the reasons why we make art:

1. To form part of a ritual, ceremony, or cultural tradition

Whether you refer to the finely crafted instruments of the different ethnic tribes in the Philippines or look at the creative mascots of different sports teams, we use art to creatively represent practices that have been part of our lives for years.

One of the most common reasons why we make art is to form part of a ritual or tradition.

Look at how beautiful modern-day weddings are – every item is planned to be a work of art!

One of the most comprehensive events depicted in history is The Last Supper by Da Vinci

2. To practice faith in a more tangible way

Believing in a higher being can be a unique experience, and art is used to make those beliefs much easier to grasp and feel.

Creativity is one of the demarcating landmarks that differentiates us from animals. It is what makes us human.

Faith is another factor that has been a key theme behind reasons for making the art.

Look at how the Sistine Chapel paintings by Michelangelo or the Christ the Redeemer statue or Indian Paintings from Rajput. Just looking at these world-renowned works can strengthen or renew a person’s faith. A theme that has the most answers to – Why we make art

3. To record history

Another reason people make art is to record a moment of the past.

More specifically called History Painting, we use art to capture the most significant historical scenes. Some notable examples include Benjamin West’s Death of Benjamin Wolfe and Jacques-Louis David’s Oath of the Horatii.

These paintings and other art forms have a special way of making history a point of interest to otherwise disinterested people.

They spark discussion, commemoration, and appreciation of important historical events.

4. To teach something as an alternative to verbal or written methods

The changing generations have made it much harder to attract the attention of our young learners.

The question – of why we make art – is becoming less relevant these days.

With the help of art, people who would otherwise ignore books can be taught concepts more effectively using visual arts.

These can be seen in the form of visual Public Service Announcements and awareness campaigns in the form of films. In some cases, artists make art with great imagery that can also complement written messages

5. To tell a story from literature, myths, religion, and poetry

Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper is one of the most famous paintings inspired by Christian history.

There are also a lot of famous paintings that depict significant parts of famous literature. Sometimes visualizing a story is the best way to appreciate it.

That’s why we use art and why people make art – to elaborate on the myths and religious aspects of an event or a period

6. To create someone’s portrait.

It’s not just about someone getting their portrait painted.

It’s about how the artist sees that person. The most famous example, of course, is Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, whose smile has captivated the world throughout history. Van Gogh’s portrait of Dr. Gachet, who happens to be the artist’s close friend. Read Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous?

The faces of these people, their expressions, and the painting itself have the power to show you what these people mean to the artists who made them.

7. To allow the artist to express oneself.

One of the most adopted reasons for people making art is to allow themselves to represent their thoughts and life.

When Edward Munch painted The Scream, he was thinking about the orange sky he had just recently seen which, to him, it looked like nature was screaming. This is how he used art to effectively convey his idea or opinion about something.

Similarly, Frida Kahlo documented her lust for life through her deep and surreal works, and those were a true depiction of Frida’s life and thoughts.

8. To reflect the beauty of nature, a landscape, or a city

When Vincent Van Gogh was spending time in the sanatorium, he created the view outside his window, now the famous Starry Night.

While beautiful scenes are sights to behold themselves, they become a new creation when turned into art.

Similarly, Edward Hopper has documented every flavor of nature in his numerous works. Most of people make art to document nature, a landscape, or a city.

Claude Monet’s famous paintings are a classic example of experimentation of using interchangeable nature of light and shadow by repeatedly producing the same visuals of nature multiple times to discover more than one angle of nature’s light to shine on one image.

9. To illustrate a narrative or a diagram.

Why we make art – To teach people. Art can be quite educational too, especially when it is used not only to provide aesthetics but also to serve as an aid to educational materials.

Often people make art or infographics about certain things that are much easier to understand and digest than their strictly written counterparts, making the artistic version more effective as it is appreciable.

10. To depict reality and ideals.

Often referred to as realism and idealism, art can either capture a perfectly undistorted image of reality (i.e. a natural landscape or the image of society) or portray the artist’s aspirations or ideals for those realities.

In other words, art is a way for an artist to say “this is how I see the world,” and then sometimes say “this is how I think it should be.”

11. To provoke thinking and discourse.

Whether it’s a painting that dramatizes the horrors of war or a dark depiction of domestic violence, art can shock one’s senses to force a person to think deeply about a real social issue. It can spark debates and even cause revolutions.

12. To illustrate their dreams.

Perhaps one of the richest sources of inspiration is a person’s dreams.

Many notable works of the likes of William Blake and Salvador Dali have been inspired by their own dreams.

Many artists gained inspiration from dreams and depicted a great level of detail.

13. To experiment with different elements.

Sure, you’ve got your ordinary colored paint and brushes, but did you know that painters have also tried to use sand, straw, or even wood to make their creations?

The variety in the elements also gives rise to a new artistic perspective on the same subject. For instance, a painting of a flower would look totally different, if not more intriguing when depicted in sand art.

14. To experiment qualities of a particular medium.

Even with the same elements, artists tend to get creative with their creativity. That’s how concepts such as pointillism and cubism came to be. As artists grow, they use their art to outdo their creativity, allowing their works to become more diverse.

Closing thoughts – Why do we make art? What motivates artists to create art?

In fact, art is the only way we can relay our experiences effectively to others.

Good stories have to be able to convey a thought, reflection, and meaning to a person who was never part of any of those experiences.

The challenge is to creatively bring together reality, imagination, medium, and technique to produce something that will make the audience feel like they are part of that story.

Art matters.

How to Sell Art Online? – Guide to Sell Your Art From Vision to Execution

The post Why We Make Art? appeared first on The Artist.

Easy, you may say. Someone who makes art.

Well. Okay, so an artist is someone who makes art.

But is everyone who makes art an artist?

Is someone who does sketches on their dinner napkin given the same title as someone who has worked for years on their craft?

And while we’re at it, what are we counting as art anyway?

It is just painting and sculpture, or should we take it in its broader context of The Arts, with dance and music and performance?

Or even broader – think about someone who may be referred to as an artist in a non-artistic field, maybe because of their incredible skills or creative problem-solving.

What exactly is an artist?

Every person has the ability and potential to be creative.

Creativity could be simply defined as using imagination to make something. That might serve as a pretty good way to describe art, too.

Creativity isn’t about a new age, hipster, or beatnik look or lifestyle; you don’t have to don a new personality or even learn a fine art to be creative.

You have an idea, and you turn it into a painting, recipe, building, or knitting pattern. So creativity is the process. And artistry is the skillset.

Art is something that is created, an artist must be someone who creates.

This is a good starting point.

It is also the one thing that all artists share.

Artists being people, and people being the amazingly flawed being that we are, no two artists will be alike.

But there is a spark that all artists share.

The fact that they create, and glorify their creator by doing so, runs through them like a seam of gold through a mine.

So we know what an artist does. Let’s look at how on earth they do it.

And How Do You Feel About That?

“Art does not reproduce what is visible; it makes things visible.” Paul Klee, artist

One of the reasons the nature of art and those who create it is so hard to pin down is that it is usually emotionally driven. Not just: “I am angry; therefore, I will throw red paint at this canvas”. It’s a nuanced awareness of emotion.

The better an artist’s awareness of their emotional state, the better they will be able to chase down what they want to create and why.

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” Carl Jung

1. Cultivating Curiosity

Once an artist has a spark,  that idea needs to be built on. To do this, you need, well, more ideas.

More thoughts, feelings, facts, plans. It would help if you chased down every lead.

Artists are, as a rule, curious. The need to probe and look deeper, beyond the surface. All people are curious to a degree, of course. But for artists, cultivating curiosity means an ability to ask even more questions than before – to keep the mind going.

You may see a tree in a garden and appreciate its beauty.

Or you may start to wonder whether the tree knows that it is beautiful, or if the birds landing on it thinks so, or if it was the bird’s sense of smell that told it to land there, and if you could see smells, what would they look like? And so on.

The more questions we ask, the more we have, and it is this way we cultivate curiosity, something vital for any artist.

2. Keep Cynicism at Arm’s Length

H.L. Menken defined a cynic as “a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.”

Here, we come to a crossroads. Or, maybe, a barrier, something that separates artists from those who want to be artists more often than not. Having an idea is fairly easy. Making it into something is the challenge.

To do this, you need to be wary of cynicism: the instinct to mistrust and doubt, to always look for the dark side and reasons why something won’t work.

Art involves faith.

The artist must believe that they can make the thing they have in their head. Even if it is difficult, they must believe that it is possible. Otherwise, they’d never try.

3. Willing to Work

So, we have an idea. We’ve built on the idea, and we’ve decided to go for it.

Now comes the tricky part. Turning that idea into something that exists. Believing in yourself is the start, and it’s an important start, but then you have to get to work.

“If you’re an artist, you’ve got to prove it.” –Laurence Olivier

It would be best if you were willing to put in time and effort.

It’s one thing to have the most fantastic dance number ever conceived of by man in your head.

It’s another to have the physical ability to perform it or to have the teaching ability to instruct someone else.

An artist works on their craft.

They determine the skillset they need, and they practice. And when they fail, failure is inevitable at some point (see the earlier note r.e. humanity’s amazing flaws) they practice repeatedly until they can bring the idea in their head into the real world.

4. The Balance Beam

When it comes to the actual creation, art – and the artist – needs to find a balance. This goes for both the process of the work and the ideas themselves.

You can balance a disciplined training regime with time to play around with new ideas.

You can balance conservative tendencies with rebellious principles, your emotions, and those of the people around you; real life and fantasy.

The balance will allow the artist to determine what is important to their work and what is not.

Vincent Van Gogh, for example, famously left patches of unfinished canvas on Starry Night.

This is certainly not perfection – but those spots were left empty because Van Gogh decided to leave them, not because he lacked the skill to fill them.

He was balancing skill with artistic intent.

5. Being Brave

An artist must be brave.

Because it can get pretty scary, showing the world an idea that germinated in your emotions and came to be through your ideas and skills. You can get hurt.

Not only that but as an artist grows, they have to admit their current failings. How can you improve if you think of yourself as perfect? Being open to criticism means learning new things and constantly expanding what you can do.

“It reflects no great honor on a painter to be able to execute only one thing well… confining himself to some particular object of study. This is so because there is scarcely a person so devoid of genius as to fail of success if he applies himself earnestly to one branch of study and practices it continually.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Conclusion: Being An Artist

Being an artist is not limited to one medium, or activity, or skill.

An artist stays engaged and curious.

They look at themselves and the world and keep an awareness of both.

They follow new ideas. They build their skills, then use them to turn their ideas into something real.

They fight for their work.

An artist makes art.

The post Who is an Artist? – Artist Definition and Meaning appeared first on The Artist.

Lots of opinions come together to determine what art is valued at what price.

This can include a whole host of influencers in the art world, such as critics, gallerists, curators, experts, collectors, and more. It can sound very theoretical and difficult to establish, however, there are several key questions to consider that will help you determine what the dollar value of a piece of art can be.

Is your work authentic?

Authenticity is of huge concern in the art world.

Fakes are often not of interest, as the art’s value is a combination of its aesthetic components, intentions, context, and creator.

Certainly, works in a certain style can add mystery or curry favor, however, a work that is verifiable and of the artist themselves will always be more valuable.

Be aware that there are bodies dedicated to the authentication of certain works – for instance, there are bodies of art experts in France who have the final word on what is or is not considered a Monet original. This can seem strange, but these experts are there to ensure that works are correctly categorized for future generations to come.

Discovering that your work is a fake down the line can be very financially damaging: ensure the work is authentic in order to determine its correct value.

Does your art reflect an intense mode of individualism?

“Art is either plagiarism or revolution” – Paul Gauguin, painter

Famous artist Paul Gauguin once written – “Gauguin once written – “One must always feel the plane, the wall; tapestries need no perspective”

The value of freedom in our creative expression cannot be overstated. What about aestheticizing violence? What about creating art in gigantic forms? What about choosing topics that are controversial? Different expressive media have a tendency to attract different personalities.

Paul Gauguin’s art, style, and legacy reflected strongly in his artworks and often dismantled the traditional definition of art. Gauguin was once of a few ordinary men that we’re able to leave mundane life to realize and fulfill a dream – to become an artist. Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? by Paul Gauguin is a great example of individualism where Gauguin said to read from right to left instead of from left to right – which in fact provides an entirely different perspective to the reader, which itself shows the true power and meaning of art

How relevant is your work?

There are subjects in artworks that are generally more desirable than others. This means that portraits of beautiful women are more popular than grumpy old men, sunny landscapes more popular than gloomy ones, and death is never as desirable as a work of art celebrating life. Nudes can be difficult for some Islamic buyers, and this is an important thing to keep in mind when considering resale. Biblical subjects are generally unfashionable at present. Keep in mind, however, that an important artist or great master will add value to the work regardless of the subject.

Does your art validates or embrace your emotions?

In viewing art, our perceptions change and grow, leading to growth and change in ourselves. In the famous book Art as Therapy, the authors have outlined seven functions of art and explain how art helps us grow and evolve in our understanding of ourselves, each other, and the world we live in. 

Taking your time to mindfully observe artwork can be of true value to your emotional well-being.

How popular are you?

Artists tend to come in and out of vogue, following the trends of the international art community.

Today, much demand is made of contemporary and modern art. However, some artists and Old Masters re eternally popular, of course.

Matisse, Picasso, Rubens, Rembrandt – these are not names that are likely to lose value. However, German Expressionism and Surrealism have certainly become more valuable in recent years, as a result of the reassessment of certain parts of art history.

Keep international and major exhibitions on your radar – if an artist has been profiled at a major gallery, such as the Tate or a Guggenheim, they will experience a price hike as a result. It’s important to be on top of major artist trends.

Is the artist historically important?

As stated, if the artist is an established Old Master, this will trump all other considerations.

Take note of the big names and keep in mind that certain artists will always remain valuable – what might seem like a simple sketch will have much more value if it came from Picasso’s studio in the 1900s. Where most art is down to the eye of the beholder, certain artists remain valuable regardless of trends.

Within this, however, it is good to keep in mind that certain periods of the artist’s development are going to be more desirable than others – Picasso, for instance, dabbled with many different styles.

Art from the 1930s, however, will be the most valuable from his life’s work. Take into consideration the artist’s individual history as well as their place in the overall spectrum of art-making.

How interesting or powerful is your art?

This is the difference between a sketch of a few body parts and the full-blown composition of a hunting scene – some things are inherently more interesting to look at.

Factors such as the work’s composition, colors, and emotional resonance, will make work more compelling and interesting to own.

A powerful scene or subject will make a much larger difference to the price of work often than the artistic quality itself.

What will make someone want to own the work?

Is it a challenging or provocative subject?

Is it simply beautiful to look at?

What are its features?

Think about this carefully when determining the work’s potential value, both now and in the future. After all, some subjects will be desirable to many people at any point in time.

Closing thoughts.

All in all, valuing an artwork is a complicated business.

There are many factors to consider, but once you are able to answer some of these key questions, you are on your way to determining the rough value of the piece.

Take care to determine the qualities of the piece, and judge its physical condition before you commit to a sale. Once you are able to determine is characteristics, a value can be attached.

The post What Makes Art Sell appeared first on The Artist.