4 minute read
Jing Zhao
WWW.JINGZHAOART.COM
Ienjoy creating portraits or figures and landscapes in which I can find a certain beauty in a unique characteristic or moods either from my daily life or a photo I took. I try to hold onto a child-like curiosity and use the artistic well-trained eye to see the beauty of our everyday life. Oil is my preferred medium.
My works use the line, shape, value, color, texture, and edges of all these technical elements to create a poetic interpretation of my inner voice. These basic concepts provide the fundamental structure for my visual goal of the paintings. When I see the subject, I try to interpret it and communicate my unique vision. It is not my goal to merely depict the scene as I see it. Instead, I use my artistic eye to express my inner response towards what I see—depicting my emotion and mood from personal life experience and inner spiritual world.
“Frolicking in the Shallow” Oil on Canvas, 16”x20” “Blue Dancer” Oil on Canvas, 24”x20”
Therefore, my visual vocabulary has to do with what I initially see in the subject to create my mental image of the result of the painting.
“Mom’s Helper” Oil on Canvas, 16”x20”
Paul Simpson
Whether you are looking to start or expand your personal art collection, you have many fantastic opportunities along the spectrum between one-of-a-kind Sotheby pieces and mass-produced Ikea prints. In order to take advantage, you have to be willing to expand your possibilities of place, medium, and payment. Check out the following ways you can own beloved artworks that fit your budget while allowing you to support your local creative scene and community artists.
Investigate familiar places. Some top-of-mind destinations for novice and experienced collectors alike are art galleries and art studios. These spaces are also often synonymous with full-price original works that can seem intimidating. However, this kind of misconception ignores the fact that both galleries and studios conduct seasonal and end-of-year sales and have permanent sections in which original works are offered at a discount. So, the next time you visit one of these spaces— whether it’s your first or your fiftieth trip—make sure to fully discover all the possibilities to add to the beauty of your collection. Get off the beaten path. In addition to the traditional mainstays discussed above, several lesser-known venues for finding the next crown jewel in your collection. While they may appear the same as for-profit galleries from the outside, non-profit galleries run in a very distinct manner on the inside. These differences can help you to support special causes, as well as to take advantage of greater price flexibility. Generally composed of a handful to dozens of artists, artist cooperatives offer the chance to support local artists who are motivated to sell their own work and their peers. Art fairs are yet another excellent place for art lovers. While many charge an admission price, it is more often than not offset by the deals available on their grounds. For the best deals, you may want to start negotiating at the end of the day, particularly towards the end of the fair, when sellers tend to become more flexible.
Mix up mediums. No matter the art you love—whether painting, photography, or sculpture—you can always find unique pieces for your collection by considering different forms. For example, if you love a painting that you can’t quite afford, you
may be able to enjoy its beauty as a limited-edition print or photograph. Or you may be able to purchase the autographed palette that the artist used to create the painting. Similarly, while that original sculpture may not fit your budget, you may be able to enjoy a limited-edition replica or even an autographed 3D-printed version.
Win with wearables. In recent times, artists are increasingly taking advantage of online platforms and other opportunities that allow them to translate their creations into wearable art. From hats, scarves, and shirts to skirts, handbags, and jewelry—you have an almost unlimited spectrum of creations to choose from. You can also discover limited-edition and autographed items, in addition to custom, one-of-a-kind opportunities to commission your own wearable art.
Make money arrangements. You may have the distinct pleasure of falling immediately in love with a work, mixed immediately thereafter with the pain of its seeming unattainability. In this case, do not despair. Instead, make sure to inquire about the possibility of installment plans, like galleries, co-ops, and individual artists are often much more flexible than commonly believed. In addition, specialized art lending firms (and even apps) offer another potential avenue for financing. Just make sure to look around for all of these possibilities before selecting the right option, as they vary widely in terms and conditions.
