Smart "R" Arts

The ancient Greeks  became known for their perfection in art. During the classical era they developed their own style that historians would later call the Severe Style.    During the Classical Period, Greek artists began to sculpt people in more relaxed postures and even in action scenes. The most famous works from this era include the statue of Zeus at Olympia and the statue of Athena at Parthenos.   Greek Columns   Greek Architecture was intertwined with their art. A big part of their architecture was their columns. The Greek columns have been used in western architecture for the past 2500 years.  In Greek Architecture there were three main types of columns that were used: The Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. See below for examples.      Pottery   One place where Greek painting did survive was on pottery and ceramics. We can tell from the intricate detail and quality of work that the Greeks were very ta...

Kerala mural paintings are the frescos depicting Hindu Mythlogy and legends, which are drawn on the walls of temples and churches in South India. The murals palette consists of five colours namely, yellow, red, green, black and white, prepared from mineral pigments and vegetables. The themes are depicted using common iconographic symbols from the Puranas like Ramayana and Mahabharatafrom the Hindu myt hology.

Welcome to the Van Gogh Gallery - the definitive reference for information about the life and work of Vincent van Gogh. With a career that ran a little over a decade, he produced an astonishing amount of work: 1,000 drawings, 150 watercolors, 10 watercolors, 9 lithographs, an etching, and over 900 paintings.  We have also put together his biography, spanning his youth until death, going into his mental state, his influences, and the world in which he lived. We hope to share Van Gogh’s legacy with as many people as we can and give his genius the appreciation he lacked in life.

Aboriginal Paintings are probably the oldest surviving art form of the world. This joyous celebration of art of the indigenous tribes of Australia has marveled art lovers around the world with its simple yet graceful composition and themes.   This is one of the most common forms of Australian Aboriginal art. Like most aboriginal art it is more of a ritual involving secrecy, mystery and symbolism, than a purely artistic expression.     Aboriginal dreams are the stories of the history of the tribes that are narrated orally. They are the story of creation, about the life, people and animals of the tribe. These dreamings are passed on within a clan through a combination of music, painting, dance and singing.  Dot painting  is one such way in which the aboriginal tribes narrate their history.

This week I have conducted the Winslow homer's Inspired art workshop at library for kids aged from 6 to 12 years old. Winslow Homer was an American painter.  His mother was his first teacher. She taught him using watercolors. Early in his career he worked as a magazine illustrator. Became an important American painter.   Winslow Homer is known for his straight forward style. He is considered a “Realist”.  His subjects are often seen interacting with nature. He loved the sea, and his seascapes are the most popular and famous of his work.  Winslow homer considered one of the important American artist of the 19th century. His work and style have influenced lot of other American artist.  Seascape is one of my most favorite Art lesson for kids. In this class kids first painted the sky and ocean with watercolors. Kids picked their option from two choices of sky , red,orange & yellow sky or light blue & pink shaded sky.

Oil pastels are still my number one favorite medium, even though I also paint with acrylic and oil. When working with oil pastels I feel as if I am able to combine both painting and drawing qualities using just this one medium. Oil pastels have a lovely creamy quality when applied to a surface, feeling (and looking) like crayon. They are made with wax and oil, so they always stay workable, but do dry enough to be stable, and stay on the surface fairly well.                There are different brands of oil pastels, and each one has a different quality of creaminess.  

Thought of teaching some clipper ship drawings to kids.... Clipper ship, classic sailing ship of the 19th century, renowned for its beauty, grace, and speed. The word "clipper" comes from a word meaning: "fast". Clippers had several masts and a square rig. They were quite narrow for their length. Clipper ships were mostly constructed in British and American shipyards, though France, Brazil, the Netherlands and other nations also produced some. Clippers were built for seasonal trades such as tea, where an early cargo was more valuable, or for passenger routes.