If you ever get the chance for a weekend in Rome, grab it with both hands! This is one of my favourite cities in the world, not least for the wealth of art that is to be found there. Flights are not too expensive and you can pick up apartments in Rome quite reasonably, so why wait?

Top of my list has to be the Sistine Chapel, in the Vatican City. Decorated by Michelangelo amongst others, the Sistine Chapel is famous for its incredible frescoes, way ahead of their time for the sixteenth century. That most famous of frescoes, the Creation of Adam, with his hand stretched out towards God in that iconic pose that has been recreated so many times.

Then you have the ornate beauty of the interior of St. Peter's Basilica, both inside and out. Outside you have the incredible columned façade stretching around the piazza; and inside the marvellous decorated interior with its great dome. (more...)

Many people just don't get contemporary art. They prefer the more classic style of painting where people are depicted as people and items are true to life. They like to understand what is being portrayed and their appreciation is often based on how life-like the picture is and how much attention to detail has been paid.

In contrast, many contemporary painters leave more to the imagination. They concentrate on form and colour rather than aiming for a close likeness. They play with shapes and shades and paint as their mind takes them.

This can be more demanding of the audience as it makes the beholder think about what the picture means rather than it being a reflection of a person or a landscape. (more...)

Painting is a rewarding hobby, and which will eventually yield attractive pieces to be hung up in your home. In order to get the best out of your new pastime however, you may want to take the time to consult advice from the experts.

To begin with, professionals suggest that those keen to take up art as a hobby book themselves a short course of classes with a local school or college. Under the guidance of a teacher you will learn important and useful techniques and you will be able to find out which styles you enjoy the most.

Within this kind of structured framework, you will have the opportunity to sample a multitude of different media. This means that instead of having to buy myriad expensive art products, you can simply take advantage of those materials provided at the school. In this way, you will arrive at the conclusion that you like canvas prints or oil on paper, without bankrupting yourself in the process. (more...)

The beauty of art is that it has such wide appeal and a painting or sculpture that is considered attractive by one person might well be the object of derision by another person – everybody has their own taste and there is no right or wrong about what can be called a good work of art.

Everybody has their own form of art that they love the best, whether it is a certain period such as Renaissance or Baroque or whether it is a certain type of medium such as sculptures crafted out of wood or even street art which uses graffiti supplies.

Many people, however, remain very snobbish about what they believe constitutes good art and they therefore try to impose their cultural beliefs on others, making people feel that their preferred type of art is inferior or common. (more...)