Last week, we addressed some of the things to keep in mind when selecting a photograph for a custom photo portrait painting. If a portrait isn’t what you’re in the mood for, you’re probably thinking about a landscape oil painting instead. Even without needing to check to make sure that everyone’s smiling right and no one’s got red eyes, there’s still plenty to consider when selecting your landscape scene.

Historically, landscape paintings have usually involved scenes of nature, often showing a long stretch of horizon with the emptier space of the sky given as much attention and importance as the verdant ground activity.

If a traditional scene is what you had in mind, a serine country landscape can help to transform many interior spaces into calming oases.

This week's installment of oil painting through the ages will explore what is often referred to as the “golden era” of art history, the renaissance age. This was also the introduction of oil paint as we know it today, a glorious heyday of the medium.

This “revival” or cultural “rebirth” (the very definition of Renaissance) took place between the 14th and 15th centuries, namely in Italy but also spanning over Europe. This was a time of renewed interest in the intellectual: in science, philosophy and educational reform. This era is also often noted as the bridge between the medieval and modern ages.

This era was the dawn of realism in art. Science had taught the artist to show linear perspective (a form of perspective in art that gives the illusion of distance and depth.) The great painters of this time moved towards hyper realistic renderings by also studying light, shadow and human anatomy, giving a full appearance in their paintings.

So you want to display a favorite family portrait photograph in your dining room, but when you try to enlarge the digital image to the size you want, it becomes too pixilated and just doesn’t look right.
Or maybe you’ve always wanted an elegant painted portrait of your family but didn’t know how to go about finding an artist talented enough – or how to afford the expensive sitting fee they’re going to charge you! Fortunately, a portrait painting from a photograph can help eliminate both of those problems. Our artists can enlarge your picture without any difficulty, and since they’re working from photographs, there are no complicated sitting fees.

With those two issues no longer a concern, you’ve got no limits on the image you choose. But this raises another question: what portrait picture is the best one for you to use? If you’d like a painting of your family, maybe you want a picture from when everybody was purposely looking their best – a family wedding or a graduation, perhaps. Then again, if you’re wanting a picture of your baby granddaughter, you might want a painting that shows her as she really is right now – grinning with her first birthday cake smeared on her face. If you’re giving your son and his fiancé an oil painting from a photograph as a bridal shower gift, do you use a picture that was taken by their engagement picture photographer, or do you use a snapshot of them laughing together that you took at Thanksgiving last year?

For years the Home Fashion Industry has followed a prepared a forecasted color palette. The successful Interior Designer has learnt to pay attention to every detail of the project no matter how minuscule. Today’s signature room requires much attention from the skilled creative. More is essential than simply hanging a painting upon a wall. And, for many that landscape or still life painting is at times used simply as an accent and is just one of many components that contributes luxurious opulence to a room.

But such was not the case during the Renaissance. For, during this period in history status came from a specific pigment that was used. So special that even by today’s standards its’ status remains unchallenged. While it is known that the Italian Masters had a limited color palette there is one color that far outshone all others. This pigment was at least as important as the painting itself. Its name is ultramarine.

The semi-precious stone from Afghanistan, called Lapis lazuli was more precious than gold and obtaining it was extremely dangerous, just as it is today. It dates back seven thousand years when it was used in the royal tombs of Ur and Egyptian pharaohs. Lapis is considered the rarest of stones, and mined mostly in Badakshan, Afghanistan, the oldest mine in the world. This same source for the Lapis lazuli supplied the pharaohs and the Renaissance artisans. Adding to this expense was the difficult and often long grinding process necessary to transform the ultramarine into granules. Even today while it remains rare it can be purchased only through selective distributors specializing in museum quality restoration materials.

If you're an artist or art-lover it would come as no surprise that oil paints cost more than acrylic paints and therefore an oil painting will often come with a heftier price-tag. Whether or not oil is actually better than acrylic is a debated topic. Some artists religiously and solely use thick, buttery oils while some love water-soluble acrylics. There are artists that use both mediums, sometimes on the same canvas no less.

Both oil and acrylic can produce beautiful works of art, the quality of the work is truly all about the artist in the end. Yet, we art lovers are left wondering why do oils cost more? Is oil worth more?

If you are a lover of art history or one who frequents art museums, you know that oil painting has a long and rich history. Oil painting is traced back as early as the 13th century, when it was used in England for interior decorating purposes. It was in the 15th century that oil paints were primarily used for works of art.

Acrylics paints, on the other hand (or palette) are a fairly new invention. They were first available in the 1950's. Acrylic is said to keep color well while oil tends to fade over time, yet we also know from oil painting's long history, that the long-lasting-life of an oil painting is indisputable.