Art Prints
Home Decor has relied substantially on art prints, canvas wall art and framed posters in recent years to create a complete look for the room. The enormous patronization of all these items in large numbers has resulted in experimentation in the various types of prints by artists. Over the years the advent of superior forms of printing to the extent that multiple prints are produced by the single touch of the button has increased the commercial viability of art. Fine art used in homes for decoration is purely based on aesthetic value. Their utility is based on the treat they provide to the visual senses. Fine art contains the whole gamut of expressions developed through the ages which continue to serve as medium through which our lives derive meaning and emotional sustenance.
Paintings including those made with watercolors, oil canvases and prints produced by the myriad ways fall into this category. Fine arts could also include crafts, photography, dance and theater. Over the late nineteenth century there emerged modern artists who were later classified as Romantics, Realists and Impressionists. Modern art uses symbolism to commentate about the many aspects of social life in the early twentieth century. The turbulent years of the two world wars and the end of colonialism together with rising nationalism gave them ample subject matter. Claude Monet, Norman Rockwell, Jean Debuffet along with Pablo Picasso comprise the legendary painters who delighted the world audience and art collectors alike. The theme of revolution is present in the underbelly of modern art. Exotic places lend their hitherto unknown customs, creating a new genre which was unrelenting in its thrust and global in its appeal.
A Print is an art piece created by the transfer of a previously created composition onto paper. The process by which this transfer is done can be varied- plates, woodblocks, stone, glass or screen are some of the techniques used for this procedure. The idea behind printing is creating an original piece, unique and different. The artist consciously selects one or more different processes to create an original piece of art. The different processes include woodcut, lithograph, mezzotint and aquatint among others. Print art has evolved through the ages with the invention and reinvention of the various techniques involved. Although new mediums of expression have emerged, printmaking has stood the test of time, creating a niche market. All print processes today share the space as viable medium for expression and social commentary. The most primitive form of art prints is the woodcut. Simple and effective, it is the stepping stone from which all other types have been derived. Using chisels and other tools, artists carve a design onto wood. Surface areas around the image are removed, hence causing an embossed picture. The printing block thus created is inked and then pressurized on paper to create an image. The modern artists Gustave Baumann and the Egyptian painter Hussein El Gebaly brought about the revival of this form of printmaking. Intaglio printing techniques are made using incisions onto metal plates. Intaglio makes use of either chemical or manual methods to create these incisions. Etching, Mezzotint and Aquatint are important techniques used to create prints. Pablo Picasso, Cy Twombly, Francisco Goya and a host of other artist experimented with these methods. The 'Three Crosses' by Rembrandt and 'The sleep of Reason creates Monsters' by Francisco Goya which are considered masterpieces today use this type of technique.
Screen printing is a popular form of printmaking made famous by Andy Warhol in the 1960's. His depiction of Marilyn Monroe has gained widespread acclaim. Screen printing has had exponential grown over the last century. The affordability and versatility of the materials have made way for this method to be widely used in the expression of sub-cultures. Robert Rauschenberg was another acclaimed modern artist to use this type of technique.
Canvas wall art is used by interior decorators to give living spaces a range of auras from the chic and urbane to exquisite. Canvas wall art consists of original prints on canvas. A range of subjects are explored in this medium. The most commonly used canvas art in home decor are landscapes, cityscapes and seascapes. Original reproductions of the great painters like Monet, Van Gough and Picasso are transferred onto canvas to ensure that a larger number of homes can exhibit the brilliance of these painters. A range of suppliers have introduced personalized service to create prints and paintings on canvas. Personal photos can also be mounted onto canvas. Using advanced digital photography techniques photos are mounted onto canvases and framed for decoration. Lithography is the most common form by which reproductions are made. Several hundred duplicates of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali exist, created with care and precision using the extraordinarily time consuming art of lithography.
Framed posters are an emerging medium of home decor. Nowadays a huge collection of movie, music, culture and sport posters adorn rooms all over the world. From Muhammad Ali's Rumble in the Jungle victory snapshot to Salvador Dali's surrealism, a cornucopia of posters to depict every nuance of the human condition have been produced. Framed posters of famous artworks have also been developed as homage to the artist and his or her work. These framed posters are especially popular among the young. Vintage advertisements and posters give a retro look to the room, rewinding the years instantaneously. Art Nouveou, the French new art also finds place in these posters. Reproductions are widely bought by art enthusiasts, the beginnings of urban living depicted with naivety and directness.
Art Prints can create sensuality within the living space. To achieve perfect aesthetics, one must take into account color combination and the existing the lighting available. Art prints and canvas wall art, however beautiful and enchanting, simply do not go in some settings. Each type of art either print or on oil canvas will need a room which conforms to the style and the intentions of the artist. One must pay attention to geometry, themes and size when making the choice.
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