Tag: appreciating art

What can we learn about visual art from Bible Scripture?

Let’s examine what the Bible has to say on this subject. To gain a better understanding of what Scripture has to say, try reading the passages in various translations. A good online resource to read other versions of Scripture is BibleGateway.

The best way to read Bible Scripture is always in context. Reading the texts that come before and after the ones mentioned helps create context and give a deeper grasp of what the Bible says on the subject. With that in mind, it’s up to you to read the passages below in context from your Bible or follow the links to read them online.

From Scripture, we learn:

Artistic Ability is God-given

God’s love for beauty is evident in creation, and Bible Scripture reveals that He has gifted some individuals with artistic abilities.

• Exodus 28:3 English Standard Version (ESV)

  You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood.

• Exodus 31:1-11 The Message (MSG)

  1-5God spoke to Moses: “See what I’ve done; I’ve personally chosen Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur of the tribe of Judah. I’ve filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft to create designs and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to cut and set gemstones; to carve wood—he’s an all-around craftsman.

6-11“Not only that, but I’ve given him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, to work with him. And to all who have an aptitude for crafts, I’ve given the skills to make all the things I’ve commanded you: the Tent of Meeting, the Chest of The Testimony and its Atonement-Cover, all the implements for the Tent, the Table and its implements, the pure Lampstand and all its implements, the Altar of Incense, the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering and all its implements, the Washbasin and its base, the official vestments, the holy vestments for Aaron the priest and his sons in their priestly duties, the anointing oil, and the aromatic incense for the Holy Place—they’ll make everything just the way I’ve commanded you.”

• Exodus 35:30-35 The Message (MSG)

  30-35Moses told the Israelites, “See, God has selected Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. He’s filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and know-how for making all sorts of things, to design and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to carve stones and set them; to carve wood, working in every kind of skilled craft. And he’s also made him a teacher, he and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He’s gifted them with the know-how needed for carving, designing, weaving, and embroidering in blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics and in fine linen. They can make anything and design anything.”

• Romans 11:29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
  

  for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Art is a Skill

The Bible teaches that God has given each individual particular talents and abilities to employ for His glory. Therefore, it is up to each individual to develop and nurture these skills.

• 1 Chronicles 22:15 English Standard Version (ESV)

  You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working

• 2 Chronicles 2:13-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

  13Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi, 14the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David, your father.

• 2 Chronicles 24:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
  

  The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the Lord, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the Lord.

• Proverbs 31:24 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies belts to the tradesmen.

• Jeremiah 18:1-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

  1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” 3So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. 5Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

Art is Beautiful

Artists often find inspiration to create beautiful artworks because as they seek to capture and reflect the image and likeness of God.

• 1 Kings 6 — In this passage, it is evident that God provides detailed instructions for the construction of His temple. These verses make it clear that God desires a beautiful worship space for His people.

• 1 Kings 7:13-51 — In addition to specific instructions regarding the temple construction, God also goes into detail about the design of the temple’s furnishings.

• Ecclesiastes 3:11 English Standard Version (ESV)

  He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

• Song of Solomon 7:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O prince’s daughter! The curves of your hips are like jewels, the work of the hands of an artist.

• Philippians 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Art Glorifies God

God appreciates the beauty of art, and He desires to be honored and glorified through diverse forms of artistic expression. Since art serves as a vehicle to honor and serve God, it ought to be a celebration of God and everything that He created and called good.

• Psalm 50:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth.

• 1 Corinthians 10:31 English Standard Version (ESV)

  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

• Colossians 3:23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

God is the Original Artist, the Supreme Master Craftsman

The Bible begins by revealing God as the original artist, who conceived the universe and created it with exceptional craftsmanship, including the heavens, earth, and everything within them.

• Genesis 1:1, 27, 31 English Standard Version (ESV)

  1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, he created him; male and female, he created them. 31And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

• Genesis 2:7 English Standard Version (ESV)

  then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

• Job 10:8-9 New International Version (NIV)

  8Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? 9Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again?

• Job 38:4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding.”

• Psalm 139:13-16 English Standard Version (ESV)

  13For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them

• Isaiah 29:16 English Standard Version (ESV)

  You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

• Isaiah 45:9, 18 New International Version (NIV)

  9“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands?’ 18For this is what the Lord says—he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—he says: “I am the Lord, and there is no other.

• Isaiah 64:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand.

• Zachariah 12:1 New International Version (NIV)

  A prophecy: The word of the Lord concerning Israel. The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares:

• Romans 9:20-21 New International Version (NIV)

  20But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

• Ephesians 2:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

• Colossians 1:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

• Hebrews 1:10 New International Version (NIV)

  He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

• Revelation 4:11 English Standard Version (ESV)

  “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

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FROM THE EDITORS: We hope you enjoyed this blog about visual art and Bible scripture and found it’s information to be useful. We’re sure you’ll enjoy the Bible-centered paintings below too. For more information and details, click or tap the thumbnail link.

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Additional Reading

My Christian Art Series

The Why of Christian Art

What is Art Appreciation?

What is Fine Art?

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Art appreciation is an understanding of the qualities that identify what great art is. It goes beyond the enjoyment of mere aesthetics. Art appreciation also involves having a knowledge of art movements, art history, and art styles or techniques.

Art Movements

An art movement is a distinctive style of art characterized by a group of artists practicing or adhering to the same creative concept, philosophy, purpose, style, or method within a specified time frame or region. Each art movement is subtly or distinctly different from another. Other art movements, however, have influenced some movements as they show obvious similarities, while others seem to defy them. It is fascinating to study the differences between art movements and art periods.

Art History

Art history is the study of the development of artworks in painting, sculpture, drawing, architecture, and other visual arts. The history of art spans from the earliest cave drawings to the present. The two primary goals of art history are to determine (1) who produced a particular work of art and when, and (2) understand the stylistic approach or school of thought that the artists used to create the piece.

Art Styles or Techniques

The style or technique of a particular artist, school, or movement. It is that ‘thing’ that makes you recognize a specific painting as being by a particular artist before you’re close enough to see a signature or to read the image label. A painting style refers to: (1) the technique or brush strokes used to paint; (2) the subject(s) chosen; (3) the range of colors used in a painting; or (4) a specific color used in every painting.

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FROM THE EDITORS: We hope you enjoyed this blog about art appreciation and found it’s information to be useful. We’re sure you’ll enjoy the fine art paintings below too. For more information and details, click or tap the thumbnail link.

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Additional Reading

What is Fine Art?

Visual Art in Bible Scripture

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Some creative ways to decorate your home with fine art.

Decorating the walls in your home with fine art can significantly elevate its visual appeal and reflect your personal style. Fine art offers the flexibility to create a focal point, add color, or simply express your tastes, making it an adaptable and valuable component in the design of your living space.

Let’s explore 10 creative ways to incorporate fine art into your home’s decor:

1. Create a Gallery Wall

Create a dynamic gallery wall by mixing artwork of different sizes and shapes. Combine large-scale paintings with smaller prints, photographs, and decorative mirrors. Display them in a seemingly spontaneous yet harmonious arrangement to achieve an eclectic and visually interesting look.

2. Experiment with Frames

Integrating various frame styles, such as pairing sleek, modern designs with more ornate ones, creates a dynamic visual contrast that can captivate and add an element of surprise to any space.

3. Fill Awkward Spaces with Art

Odd corners and narrow walls make ideal spots for art displays. They can be used to showcase smaller pieces or to create a mini gallery.

4. Create a Focal Point with Statement Art

Transform a bare wall into a conversation starter with an eye-catching statement piece. A piece of large-scale art can serve as the focal point of a room, drawing the eye and anchoring the decor. Be it a striking painting, an eclectic gallery wall, or an avant-garde sculpture, let it command attention and set the tone for the space.

5. Showcase Fine Art on Easels

Accentuate a distinctive painting by displaying it on an art easel. Easels add a touch of sophistication and highlight specific artworks.

6. Lean It Against a Wall

Leaning large canvases or framed artwork against the wall offers an effortlessly stylish look, infusing your space with a casual, laid-back atmosphere. It’s an ideal choice for those who favor a straightforward and relaxed aesthetic.

7. Display Fine Art Behind a Sofa

Rather than positioning artwork squarely above the sofa, you might opt to set it slightly askew or even position it behind the sofa. Such an unconventional arrangement can introduce an element of surprise and add depth to the room.

8. Layer It on a Bookshelf

Incorporate art into your decor by tucking it behind vases, stacking it atop bookshelves, or allowing it to peek from among your cherished books. This blend of art with different items generates a visually stimulating environment and piques curiosity.

9. StairWay Displays

Maximize the potential of the wall area along your staircase by thoughtfully arranging art pieces at different levels within the stairwell. This approach will craft an engaging visual journey, whether you’re ascending or descending the stairs.

10. Hide Your TV Screen with Art

Hide your television within a bookshelf, ingeniously designed to let a favorite painting slide or swing shut over it. This clever solution seamlessly blends practicality with visual appeal.

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FROM THE EDITORS: We hope you found this blog on decorating with fine art both informative and useful. We believe you will also appreciate the fine art oil paintings featured below. For additional information and details, please click or tap the thumbnail link.

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Additional Reading

Choosing the Perfect Oil Painting for Your Home or Office

Taking Good Care of Your Oil Paintings

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Proper care of oil paintings is essential for their preservation.

Oil paintings bring an element of beauty to any living space, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. When you bring home oil paintings, it’s crucial to take good care of them. Often times, people overlook the easy steps needed to maintain their artwork. It’s important to remember that you need to take good care of your oil paintings.

Ways to Care for Your Oil Paintings

Taking good care of your oil paintings involves several key steps to ensure their longevity and beauty. Here are some things you can do to protect the beauty of your oil painting:

HANDLING YOUR PAINTINGS

Oil paintings should be handled with care and individually to prevent damage. Do not stack paintings when moving or storing them, as it may cause damage. Additionally, avoid leaning a painting against any sharp objects or surfaces that could scratch it. Always carry a painting by its frame, and make sure your hands are clean before handling to prevent soiling the artwork. For safe transportation, lift the painting with both hands, placing them securely at the center of each side of the frame.

DISPLAYING YOUR PAINTINGS

When hanging a painting, it’s essential to use hooks specifically made for that purpose and secure them into a wooden stud in your wall. Avoid hanging your painting directly on drywall, even if using wall anchors; a heavy painting might cause the hook to rip out and the painting to crash down. Using the right hooks will help ensure your artwork stays put, protecting both the painting and the wall from damage. Moreover, avoid using just any nail or screw as a hanger, as they could inadvertently damage your painting. Always opt for the appropriate hanging hardware to safeguard your painting from harm.

PRESERVING YOUR PAINTINGS

To preserve the vibrant colors and structure of your oil painting, it’s best to avoid exposing it to direct sunlight. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause the paint pigments to deteriorate over time, leading to fading and a loss of vibrancy.

Position your oil painting away from sources of high heat such as radiators, hot water pipes, or fireplaces to avoid paint cracking and blistering. An ideal room temperature for preserving your artwork is between 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit (21-24 degrees Celsius).

Protect your oil painting by keeping it away from areas where there is a lot of humidity and moisture. Areas such as damp basements, attics, bathrooms, or kitchens. Humidity and moisture can lead to mold growth on your artwork, necessitating professional cleaning. Strive to keep indoor humidity levels within the range of 40% to 60%.

CLEANING YOUR PAINTINGS

Dust your painting at least twice a year using a natural-hair or Japanese brush to keep it top condition. Avoid using feather dusters or abrasive cloths, which can scratch the surface. Also, steer clear of water, sprays, and cleansers that could cause damage to the varnish or paint.

In conclusion, if your painting should ever become heavily soiled or damaged, you should have it professionally cleaned and repaired. A professional will be able to restore your artwork to its original beauty without diminishing its value. Additionally, they can provide you with invaluable information on how to properly store or display your paintings at home to preserve their condition.

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FROM THE EDITORS: It is our hope that you found this blog on oil painting care to be both enlightening and beneficial. We believe you will also appreciate the oil paintings displayed below. For additional information and details, click or tap on the thumbnail link.

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The Importance of Varnishing Oil Paintings

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Fine art represents the visual manifestation of human creativity, encompassing both the technical expertise (skill or know-how) and the innovative imagination required for the conception of new ideas.

It’s important to understand that the term “fine” does not refer to the quality of the artwork but rather the purity of the discipline. Thus, fine art encompasses practices like calligraphy, drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture, distinguishing itself from applied art, decorative arts, and crafts.

Types of Fine Art

• Drawings—chalk, charcoal, colored wax pencil, crayon, graphite pencil, inked brush, marker, pen and ink, pastel, stylus, or various metals like silverpoint.
• Paintings—acrylic, aerosol paint, enamel, fresco, gouache, hot wax, inks, oils, pastel, tempera, or watercolor.
• Printmaking—engraving, etching, foil imaging, Giclée print, lithography, monoprint, monotype, screen-printing, stenciling, or woodcut.
• Sculpture—clay, glass, metal, plastic, stone, or wood.
• Calligraphy—the art of beautiful handwriting or fancy lettering. (See Calligraphy for more information.)

Fine Art Skills

The creation of fine artworks requires an understanding of art theory, a mastery of design techniques, and proficiency in the use of the tools of the trade necessary for the creation of fine works of art. The essential skills can be honed through various methods. These include, but are not limited to:

• Undertaking apprenticeships with accomplished fine artists.
• Attending college courses at all levels.
• Participating in workshops and classes led by fellow artists.
• Becoming a member of artists’ collectives.
• Studying the works of the Old Masters as well as contemporary fine artists.

Creative Imagination

Creative thinking is the ability to form a mental image of new ideas or concepts not previously conceived or encountered. It involves: (1) visualizing familiar objects or notions in a new light; (2) digging down beneath the surface to discover previously overlooked patterns; and (3) finding connections between seemingly unrelated attributes.

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FROM THE EDITORS: We hope you enjoyed this blog about what fine art is and found it’s information to be useful. We’re sure you’ll enjoy the paintings below too. For more information and details, click or tap the thumbnail link.

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Additional Reading

What is Art Appreciation?

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Your Feedback

“I think you should be complimented for the definition [of fine art] you came up with – it reads as thorough and yet completely understandable to readers who don’t have much experience with fine art.  Based on all the sources I checked prior to, and after finding, your website that is quite an achievement. “ — Robert (RA) May, Berkeley CA

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Why We Cherish Wildlife Art

Our affection for animals is what makes wildlife art so popular. Everyone has some type of fondness for animals, and even if they don’t love all types, there’s usually at least one favorite animal on everyone’s list. People from all walks of life find joy in the variety of creatures, great and small, that grace our planet—a gift from God to both the Earth and humanity.

Some are drawn to the exotic wildlife of distant lands, others by the wide array of birds flying overhead, while many have a deep appreciation for fish and other marine life that live in our waters. And of course, we mustn’t forget our beloved farm animals and pets!  Our endearment for animals is what fuels the popularity of wildlife art.

Wildlife art appeals to everyone because it:

1. Connects Us with Nature: Wildlife art connects people with the natural world, evoking emotions and fostering a sense of wonder. Whether it’s a painting of a majestic tiger, a soaring eagle, or an endangered aquatic species, wildlife art resonates with our shared love for the planet’s diverse creatures.

2. Enhances Living Spaces: Animal paintings add a touch of nature to your home or office, complementing nearly any décor. They offer a beautiful way to bring the outdoors inside, especially for those who can’t venture outside as much as they’d like. These artworks provide a sense of being in nature, even from the comfort of your own space.

3. Spark Conversations: Paintings of the animal kingdom can be a great way to start a conversation. Animals are so interesting and there is such a variety of life in the animal kingdom that you will never lack something to discuss. When visitors come calling, your animal art can be a great way to get a good conversation going and keeping it going for hours. What a great way to pass the time!

4. Relive Adventures: For nature enthusiasts, wildlife art offers a wonderful opportunity to reminisce about memorable trips to the zoo, safaris, or other outdoor adventures. It allows you to relive those cherished moments spent among wildlife.

5. Diverse Artistic Expressions: Nature offers a vast array of creatures to depict in wildlife paintings, from mammals and birds to fish and insects. And domestic animals like pets or livestock are portrayed too. Artistic depictions of animals can vary from realistic to abstract, to whimsical, or anything in between, catering to any décor style or personal taste.

Conclusion

Wildlife art provides a unique opportunity to admire the natural beauty of animals and their environments. It appeals to people of all ages and backgrounds, offering something for every enthusiast to enjoy. So, the next time you’re searching for a gift for someone (or even yourself), consider the timeless charm of wildlife art.

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FROM THE EDITORS: We trust you found this blog on wildlife art to be informative and helpful. We’re sure you’ll enjoy the animal and wildlife paintings below too. For more information and details, click or tap the thumbnail link.

⇒ See More Wildlife Art Here

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Flowers     |     Landscapes     |     Marine     |     People

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Sunset Paintings, Why I Love Them

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