If you are an art enthusiast, a visit to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MAF) is a must. Home to more than 450,000 art pieces, this famous museum is one of the largest in America. Streams of visitors pour in each day to the Museum of Fine Arts to catch a glimpse of its comprehensive collection that goes back to historic times. Opened in 1870, the place offers an extensive range of things to view that range from Impressionist artwork to an ancient mummy.

The museum is filled with many interesting exhibitions, interactive displays and other unique features that are bound to leave you appreciative of the true nature of art. Apart from the art work on display, the museum also hosts special gallery talks, concerts, movies, family programs and artist lectures on a daily basis.

Amid the Museumâ??s popular collections are those of the Art of Asia, the Art of Europe, the Art of Americas, the Art of the Ancient World and Contemporary Art collections. The Art of Asia features art starting from 4000 BC and extensively covers about half the worldâ??s population. It includes Japanese, Chinese and Indian artwork. The Art of Europe highlights a fine collection of art by famous artists like Van Gogh, Renoir, Rembrandt and Titian. The collection of Art from the Ancient World holds over 70,000 pieces that are highly interesting to view. You will be able to see artifacts such as mummies, gold work and sculptures retrieved from historic times from places like Egypt and Rome.

At the Musical Instrument section, instruments that range from its first innovation to those that are used today are on display. Even fashion lovers have something here that they will be interested in. The Museum of Fine Artâ??s Textiles Collection has over 27,000 items that include Middle Eastern throw rugs, European drapes, African cloth and haute couture designs. The Prints, Drawings and Photographs section is also worth a visit to gain a historic perspective into these categories.

Boston is home to many attractions like that of the Museum of Fine Arts. If you are looking for elegant and cozy Boston luxury hotel that is well placed for exploring the city, the Langham hotel Boston is a top choice among other Boston hotels. This hotel provides a perfect blend of modern charm with classy elegance that will make your stay in the city a comfortable one.

There are literally thousands of art galleries all over the world. Almost every city has an art gallery but there are some art galleries that are known all around the world. People will travel across the world just to see some of these famous art galleries and the master pieces that they house inside.

Probably the most famous art gallery in the world is ‘The Louvre’ in Paris. The most famous piece of art in the Louvre is the Mona Lisa, by Leonardo Da Vinci. This famous painting is kept under high security as it tops the list of art thieves the world over. The Louvre also houses many other famous paintings by Da Vinci and hundreds of other famous artists.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, is a renowned location for beautiful art masterpieces. This museum has an impressive assortment of American paintings. In addition to these, it also has paintings and statues by famous artists such as Botticelli, Raphael, and El Greco. This makes it a global museum.

London has an amazing gallery known as The National Gallery. This gallery boasts of some of the finest examples of European art, including paintings by Raphael, Manet, Leonardo Da Vinci, Renoir, and Monet. This gallery has a very large number of paintings and some of the most famous ones are: Sunflowers, by Vincent van Gogh, The Virgin of the Rocks, by Leonardo Da Vinci, and Venus and Mars, by Sandro Botticelli.

Not all galleries across the world are homes to the old masters. Many of them offer representations from the twentieth century. Among the most famous contemporary art galleries and museums is the George Pompidou Center in Paris. The architecture is unique as well, since the piping and ducts are on the outside, rather than being hidden behind walls.

Contemporary art galleries and museums typically feature not only paintings, drawings, and prints, but exhibits of furniture, sound, light, and even music. Visiting these galleries can be a fascinating visit through the past few decades and shows how much style and taste has changed.

Most of the major European cities are home to at least a national and a contemporary gallery. Usually there are also private galleries. Any time you visit a major metropolitan area, be sure to include the galleries in your itinerary. It’s a wonderful way to learn about a country and its cultures. History and its changes are reflected in the art on display.

If you plan on buying some art pieces, you won’t be able to do so at the national galleries. You can however visit private galleries in your pursuit of owning some major works. These probably won’t include Renoir’s or Van Gogh’s, but you will find many wonderful pieces that you’ll be able to call your own. Art auctions are often held at Christie’s and other art houses. This is another way of obtaining some incredible works of art.

Art as an expression of our culture, thought process and creativity has no parallel. Viewing these masterpieces in an art gallery transposes the viewer into the mind and time of the creator who has shaped our culture.

Whatever your views on Cuba, everyone agrees that the island has been home to some of the most colourful and passionate people in history. Cuba seems to lend itself to free-spirited and wonderful figures, many of whom take holidays to Cuba, find themselves under her spell and decide to stay.

The Buena Vista Social Club

More of an institution or group than single inhabitant, The Buena Vista Social Club is the umbrella name for a series of Jazz musicians and singers. The name itself comes from a club in Havana which was popular in the 1940s and 1950s with Jazz musicians. A fraternal club where black musicians would go to hang out and jam, the venue became a focal point for Cuban music. Famous artists would gravitate to the club, which gained what would today be called cult fame with international black musicians. Many planned holidays to Cuba specifically to go to the club and jam with the band.

The club was closed down after the revolution as it was seen as a part of Havana’s hedonistic lifestyle, and it wasn’t until 1997 when the club’s musical style was revived. An album recording by producer Nick Gold went wrong when some of his musicians couldn’t get to Cuba, so Gold filled in with local artists. Most had been members of the club, and the album took on the flavour of the club and its name as a title. The musicians themselves gained international renown – Juan de Marcos González, Compay Segundo, Rubén González, and Ibrahim Ferrer became known as Los Superabuelos (or “The Super-Grandfathers”). The album sold more than five million copies, and the club itself took on legendary status; so much so that searching for it while on holiday to Cuba is a wild goose chase – even residents who lived nearby at the time can’t agree on where the club actually was!

Ernesto “Che” Guevara

Wherever you are in the world, you can’t escape images of “Che”. In student bedrooms, revolutionary enclaves and art galleries, Che Guevara is iconic, and he was one of Cuba’s most famous residents. This is even more obvious on holidays to Cuba, where he is a hero of the revolution. His image is everywhere, not least in famous murals and sculptures in Havana.

Originally from Argentina, Che was a key figure in the Cuban revolution under Fidel Castro. He literally wrote the book on guerrilla warfare, rising to command in some of the major battles of the revolution. Committed to his Marxist beliefs, he was a fierce fighter and revolutionary and became a high-ranking international negotiator and political appointee in Castro’s government.

Though he spent much of his time in Cuba, his beliefs lead him to aid other revolutions with anti-capitalist sympathies. He travelled to many countries on state sanctioned and personal missions, eventually being caught and killed while attempting to foster a revolution in Bolivia. However, his fame and fervour were such that he is still hailed as a countercultural symbol worldwide.

Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway was a world famous journalist and writer, and spent almost half his life on holiday, working or living in Cuba. He was involved in the First World War, the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War, and produced a huge body of short stories, longer prose pieces and articles including classics such as “For Whom The Bell Tolls”, “The Old Man and The Sea” and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”.

Hemingway created his own writing style that became influential for a whole series of later journalists and authors. He is one of Cuba’s most famous inhabitants, and people on holidays to Cuba visit the Hemingway Museum housed in his villa, which includes his boat and preserved examples of his writing.

Does the artist make the electric guitar, or the electric guitar make the artist? I suspect the answer to that question would vary significantly depending on who you asked. A manufacturer such as Gibson, Fender, or Yamaha would probably reply that an artist can only be as good as his instrument. But a guitarist, while likely to acknowledge the importance of a good guitar, would probably want to take the lion’s share of the credit for himself. This is the “chicken and the egg” question of the musical world and one to which we will probably never know the answer. Fortunately, even without knowing it, we can still enjoy the outrageous talent that electric guitarists have displayed over the decades.
Keith Richards. My favorite quote about this gentleman comes from comic Robin Williams’s 2002 Live on Broadway performance: “I know there is a cure for whatever bioterrorism they send at us. I know that there is one, and it lies within Keith Richards, I know that. He’s the only man on the planet who can go ‘Anthrax? (sniff) Alriiiight!’” Sums it up, don’t you think? Mr. Richard, guitarist for The Rolling Stones, is a wonderful example of the rock and roll electric guitar player. He’s rebellious, scandalous, filthy rich and still going strong.
Eddie Van Halen. A poster child for the big hair era of the 80s, this man is still recognized thirty years after the release of his band’s first album, which was entitled “Van Halen.” Hey, if both the band and the album are named after you, that kind of says it all. Van Halen didn’t confine his talents to his own band, either, and he contributed a guitar solo to the song of another 80s icon. The icon was Michael Jackson and the song was Beat It. No wonder this guy is still (in)famous.
Carlos Augusto Santana Alves. No, I didn’t know he had four names either, to me he’ll always be “Santana.” This gentleman first became famous over forty years ago and he’s showing no sign of slowing down. His genres include rock, blues, salsa and jazz fusion. His music has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the last decade or so and in 2003, Rolling Stone named Santana number 15 on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time. Talk about getting the industry’s stamp of approval.
Jimi Hendrix. There has possibly never been an electric guitarist who more strongly influenced the industry or who more perfectly embodied a generation. He has, posthumously, been inducted into both the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a statue on the streets of his hometown, Seattle, Wash., and an eternal place in the annals of not only American music, but American history as well. A tremendous performer and a brilliant innovator, Rolling Stone named him number one on its 2003 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He remains one of the most famous artists ever to have lived.

When we are all set to plan our interiors, artworks play important role. Classic paintings and murals of some famous painters gives elegant touch to the interior of the room and houses. Tradition of the painting starts in the 12th century. In this century, Europeans brought their memories of the dark Ages to the lime light. In the same period Christianity entered a victorious and new phase of history. People during this period contributed a lot to art.

Later on many of the painters like Michelangelo Buonarroti, Andrea Mantega and Leonado da vinci put in their paintings in this treasure. These painters presented their art of painting which were worthy to get renowned. The famous paintings of these painters are the creation of Adam given by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Ceiling of the camera picta by Andrea Mantega and the most famed Mona Lisa by Leonado da vinci.

These paintings become the mile stones in the art world. These paintings are the ideal paintings and many of the painters are still learning the art according to these paintings.

Painting of Mona Lisa is the 16th century portrait and is the oil painting on a poplar panel. Leonardo Da Vincci came with this painting in the period of Italian resurgence. This painting is arguably famous in the world. Generally paintings of Leonardo Da Vincci were based on realist styles. In these paintings painters gives the actual effects of life.

Another famous art work is of Over Vitebsk, The Violinist gave by famous artist Marc Chagall. Painting style of this painter was Expressionism and cubism. This painter always tried to express some feelings about certain things. Expressionism is the way of painting in which painters used to sketch exactly as what they want to present. Some of the paintings like Crucifixion are famous because of the Surrealism. These paintings are based on the dream themes. These paintings are filled with familiar objects which are painted to look mysterious and strange. This skill of Surrealism strikes in the paintings of painter Salvador Dali.

Paul Klee produces famous paintings of Fish Magic, Around the Fish, and Landscape with Yellow Birds. Typically these paintings are based on the theme of Primitive as well as Surrealist. In the primitive style are the arts done by the children and these paintings are painted in simple or two dimensional way.

Well-known paintings like Chaple of the Rosary in Vence, The Snail, and Beasts of the sea and Creole Dancer are based on the theme of Fauvism. This theme had bright and unusual colors. Generally they were bright and wild. Unfortunately this art lasts only around four years. Famous painter Henri Matisse brought this theme in to the lime light.

Pablo Picasso came with the style called Cubism which is the modern art and is not supposed to look real. The famous paintings of this painter are Guernica, Three Musicians.

The paintings become the landmarks as they are finished with different touch of themes and expressions. These painters brought up the themes and still modern painters are using them.

Copyright (c) 2009 Sherry Tingley

Designer checks are now being created with images by famous illustrators and painters. Thomas Kinkade, Kathy Davis and Mary Engelbreit are just a few of the famous artists that have their artwork printed on checks.

Check printing companies have the ability to print anything they want for the background image on the checks that people order. They have added some very artistic styles and designs to checks.

The background designs that you can enjoy include marbelized designs, tie dye themes, floral images, graphic designs in circles, triangles and any other shapes you can imagine. Gone are the days where your only choices where the safety blue background or the boring green safety backgrounds.

One special artist that has her designs on checks is Mary Engelbreit. She began her career as an artist at a very early age. When she was 10 years old she had a special place in her home that was deemed, the studio. She loved drawing and eventually began her first successful publications through a greeting card company. She now has her own company called the Mary Engelbreit Studios. Her illustrations are available on personal checks, checkbook covers, debit card covers, address labels and bill organizers. They have a playful, childlike theme and give you that unique designer theme.

Another artist that has her artwork on designer checks is Kathy Davis. Kathy, a world renown and respected designer has created thousands of artistic designs. Coming from a career in teaching, her new artistic designs have helped her to succeed in these tough economic times. In 2007, she was so successful that she was making $15 million dollars in annual revenue.

Her mission is to “scatter joy.” She is well known for helping people to create their most abundant life. You will find her artwork on stamps, checks, checkbook covers and many home decor items. Kathy likes to use watercolors in her illustrations of flowers and nature. The designs she creates are cheerful, using bright colors and a playful brush strokes. She has made a great contribution to the designer checks available now for you to enjoy.

Our last artist to discuss is Thomas Kinkade. His work is well known for the conservative old American themes. He often paints pictures of quaint homes, gardens, churches and has Christian based ideologies throughout his works. He often hides the letter N in his pictures in honor of his wife, Nanette. With revenues in the area of $53 million dollars, his mass reproductions have become well known. In the line of printed designer checks, you’ll find some of his most famous church paintings with scripture verses on them as well as his garden designs. Address labels, checkbook covers and checks have these designs printed on them.

With the large variety of designer checks available to the public now, there is no reason to not enjoy using them to brighten up your personal image and give you pleasure each and every time you write a check.

“There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality”. These were the words spoken by child prodigy Pablo Picasso – a Spanish painter, sculptor, graphic artist and ceramist who is considered by many to be the 20th century’s best art genius. No other artist of the modern period achieved the range of influence which Picasso reached over twentieth century abstract art. Picasso is in all probability best known for the part he played in pioneering and developing Cubism. Picasso entered into marriage twice and was the father of four children, three of which were born outside wedlock.

Born in Malaga, Spain on October 25, 1881, Pablo Picasso was the son of a painter by the name of Don José Ruiz Blasco. His mother’s name was Doña Maria Picasso y Lopez. From a young age Picasso showed an exceptional talent for drawing. His father, realizing Picasso’s outstanding talent handed over his palette and brushes to him and swore to never again paint as long as he lived. In 1895 Picasso’s family moved to Barcelona. Picasso – aged 14 – took only one day to pass the entrance examination for the higher class at the Barcelona School of Fine Arts.

Picasso had his first exhibition in 1900 in Barcelona. That same year, he went to Paris – where he settled in 1904 – and his creativity flourished. The period from 1900 to 1904 was known as his ‘Blue Period’. This period of Picasso’s art is characterized by the utilization of different blue shades. These shades underlined the miserable lives of his subjects; he portrayed beggars, prostitutes and alcoholics. The suicide of Carlos Casagemas, Picasso’s friend; and Picasso’s trip to Spain were the stimuli for his Blue Period. His abstract art works during this period included a portrait of Cassagemas after his death, The Frugal Repast (1904) and Portrait of Soler.

The years 1905 and 1906 saw Picasso shifting from the dark Blue Period to a cheery Rose Period, featuring pink and orange colours and with circus-associated subjects. Most of Picasso’s abstract art paintings during the Rose Period were influenced by the affectionate relationship he had with Fernande Olivier. Following numerous variations and studies, Picasso came out with ‘Les demoiselles d’Avignon’, – his first Cubist work in 1907. African artefacts were the inspiration for this painting which critics considered to be only a copy of African ethnic art. In the following years Picasso along with his new artist friend Georges Braque explored the prospects of Cubism.

Picasso’s abstract art phase from 1908 to 1911 was an Analytic Cubism phase. He and Braque created landscape Cubist paintings using neutral colours and monochromatic browns. The Analytic Cubism phase was followed by the Synthetic Cubism phase which lasted up to 1919. Picasso produced his most celebrated art work ‘Guernica’ during his surrealist and neoclassical phase. For many, this large work done while the Spanish Civil War was in progress; was a depiction of the inhumanity, despair and violence of war.

Picasso was one of the participants in a sculpture exhibition held in 1949, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His final works incorporated a variety of styles and were more expressive and colourful. Pablo Picasso passed away, aged 91, on the 8th of April, 1973 in Mougins, France.

As with many of the artists of the period Pablo Picasso created his art on artists canvases made from linen. Create your own art and let your creativeness flow with the new exclusive wide range of canvases from http://www.artistsblankcanvas.co.uk.