After visiting art galleries and museums over the years or selecting new art for your home, you know pretty quickly which pieces you like and which you can easily pass.
What you may not know as well is the art styles you prefer and most appeal to you. Of course, as an art fan, you’re probably familiar with terms like art deco, impressionism, and realism, but you might not know what types of paintings or other artworks represent. a particular style.
Looking to get better acquainted with different styles of art and possibly add a few pieces to your home? Then check out the following tutorial:
Art Deco
Art Deco originated in the 1920s and is a term that applies to both artwork and architecture. In particular, this style is characterized by the use of geometric shapes, including trapezoids and triangles, as well as bright colors, clean lines and zigzag patterns.
italian renaissance
The Italian Renaissance art features a combination of classic art mixed with a more contemporary look. Examples include the use of perspective in drawings as a means of organizing the spatial depth of the painting, and the emphasis on secular rather than religious subjects.
Realism
The classic “fruit bowl” painting that many beginning artists strive to capture is a great example of realism. Essentially, if the artist is able to make the main subject of a painting look like that person in real life, then you probably admire a piece of realism. These types of paintings also feature realistic perspective and beautiful lighting. Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting “Mona Lisa” is an excellent example of realism.
Summary
Abstract art is pretty much the opposite of realism. In fact, artists who practice this craft tend to shun realism and focus more on creating subjective works subject to interpretation. For example, Jackson Pollock’s paintings may seem disorganized and messy, but they are also captivating and allow people to form an opinion about what they represent.
Minimalism
In a way, the minimalist style of art is like the first cousin of abstract art. The work is simple, has geometric lines and does not express any personal feelings of the artist. If you are looking art prints that are minimalist, look for designs with clean lines, rounded shapes, and other visually appealing patterns, without any added “plush.” Minimalist artists are adept at letting the white space in a painting or artwork have a voice.
Impressionism
One of the best known artists who painted in the style of Impressionism was Claude Monet. These paintings include lots of beautiful lights and large strokes of different paint colors. Again, you don’t have to squint and turn your head to the side to figure out what’s looking at you. With Impressionism, artwork resembles what you would otherwise see in real life, but with a bit more daring.
Expressionism
Chances are you’ve seen Edvard Munch’s classic “Scream” painting – if not on a reprint, then on a T-shirt, mug or calendar. This famous look at a horrified person includes unrealistic color swatches to help convey the mood of the room – which is a classic feature of expressionism in which artists use colors that are not necessarily accurate but match rather to the atmosphere of the scene.
Which is your favourite? There is no wrong answer!
Now that you know a little more about the different artistic styles, you may find that you own some abstract pieces or that your tastes align more with Art Deco or Impressionism. No matter which styles speak to you – maybe you enjoy several – knowing a little about each unique art style should make it easier to choose new artwork for your home.
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