Zatista The premier source for original art online

If you are at all familiar with social media, you know Pinterest. That ghastly site that makes you want to shop, bake, cook, craft, and workout all at once. Launched in 2010, the website acts as a virtual bulletin board and bookmark for everything you love, love, triple love on the Internet. Known as the first stop for DIY projects, home décor ideas, and wedding planning, the site has not only attracted 25 million users, but keeps them there… probably for several hours… a day.

What I love about Pinterest is its ability to be a one-stop shop for online browsing and “window shopping”. I can simultaneously shop for shoes for that dinner party while I plan my new bedroom with all the finishing touches, and be linked to products’ original websites. 

At Zatista we utilise the powers of Pinterest to share our art. We create boards geared towards our favourite timeless photography, American paintings, hand-pulled prints, as well as boards full of art that are meant to inspire thoughts of the coming spring weather, or remind us of the beach.

Many may not realise it, but Pinterest is an excellent resource for shopping for a finishing touch to a room. With access to original art marketplaces like our own, Pinterest brings multiple art suppliers to you in one neat webpage. But how do you go about finding art perfectly suited to your dazzling taste on Pinterest? Start by checking out some of Zatista’s boards and the works we’re loving, or just browse what Pinterest’s Art category has to offer. Many of the pins may not link to a product’s site, but this is the best place to start. Look for colours you want, styles, and even specific mediums.

To make your searching as simple as possible, we’ve tried to check off all your searching tactics – great gifts, artworks under a certain price, decoration for the man-cave. It’s all there on our Pinterest boards.

What’s great about Pinterest is not only does it bring you to original artwork you can invest in, but it is a center of ideas on how to introduce art into your home. It can teach you how to be an at-home curator, so to speak. When you check out our Pinterest boards, you’ll find ideas and inspiration for integrating original artwork into your home as well as ways to decorate with art, and around it.

Be sure to follow us on Pinterest. If you don’t know where to start when choosing which artwork is the best investment for you, Pinterest can be a great ease into the process. We swear… Pinterest can be Producti – OH! Look at that Cupcake recipe – sorry. Productive.

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Last Snow in February by Richard Szkutnik on Zatista.com

Considering it is the shortest of the year, February can sometimes seem an interminable month, when memories of holiday festivities past seem as far away as the promise of spring. Wherever you may live, you are probably tired of the extremes of whatever season you happen to be stuck in the middle of.

Nocturne in March by Richard Szkutnik on Zatista.com

On the whole March has a lot more going for it. Daylight Savings Time begins, with the Vernal Equinox and St. Patrick’s Day soon after, followed by Passover and Easter.

Mem’s April Chairs by Deborah Cushman on Zatista.com

As if the general air of release and celebration were not already fully realized, April seals the deal, by beginning with a day on which we are not only allowed, but encouraged to pull pranks on each other, and offering us an equally shameless and silly riot of color in the form of spring blossoms.

Love Always by Sharis Dejaynes on Zatista.com

Fortunately here in the States we have a few special occasions to distract us and help move along the progress of this least popular time of the year.  First we had the annual rites of passage known as Groundhog Day and Super Bowl Sunday, next came Chinese New Year, this week Valentine’s Day, and next week President’s Day.

Spring Thaw by Nina Fuller on Zatista.com

For some of us these days provide a brief moment of relief, a day off from work, or a timely opportunity to let loved ones know they’re loved. For others they are a welcome sign that better times are ahead and getting closer.  But for those of you who still can’t wait, art is a great way to bridge the gap between where you are and where you’d rather be.  The next time February gets you down, remember that here on Zatista, escape is just a click away!

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.

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Thought of a gift or special treat for your Valentine yet? You’ve only got one week left!

Peace by J Coleman Miller on Zatista.com

Here’s a little secret: nothing says ‘I love you’ better than art. Whether it’s art you create or craft, art by another artist, or a visit to a gallery or museum – art is personal enough to be a thoughtful element to weave into your Valentine’s Day celebration.

Love by Simon Fairless on Zatista.com

Avoid those silly, mass produced greeting cards and get original on Valentine’s Day. C’mon, if you love someone, what have you got to lose?

Tango in the Streets by Kenneth Mucke on Zatista.com

Being original with your own art or someone else’s art is always a great idea.

My Old Friend by Inkyung Choi on Zatista.com

The Huffington Post says, “Why not save yourself the disappointment of yet another Hallmark card and take the reins? Here is how to jump in: Think beyond dinner. Sure, dinner is always great, but so is an afternoon or daytime adventure.”

Contact by Katherine Fraser on Zatista.com

The HP continues, “If Valentine’s Day falls on a weekday, you can easily put it off until the weekend and plan something fun and different. Try a hike and bring a picnic (complete with wine, of course). If the weather is limiting, take a stroll through your favorite museum.”

The Couple by Wlliam London on Zatista.com

This is my best advice, folks! Be ORIGINAL and ARTFUL this Valentine’s Day, and enjoy!

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According to The New York Times’ Arts Beat blog, “The once-grand Knoedler gallery [in New York] has been accused again of selling a forged painting for $5.5 million that was attributed to an American master, in this case, the artist Mark Rothko.”

Knoedler & Co. Photo: galleristny.com

The NY Times continues, “The Martin Hilti Family Trust sued the gallery on Tuesday, stating that a forensic analysis of the work “Untitled (1956)” reveals that a particular red pigment used in the work “was not developed until the 1960s, years after the purported ‘1956’ date of the work.”

Untitled,1956 attributed to Mark Rothko

Arts Beat states, “This suit is the fourth filed in Manhattan federal court against Knoedler & Co. since it closed its doors in November 2011. It names Knoedler’s owner, Michael Hammer, its former president Ann Freedman, as well as Glafira Rosales, the Long Island dealer currently being investigated by the F.B.I. for supplying this painting and dozens of others to Knoedler.”

Left, the “Elegy” painting that the dealer Julian Weissman bought from Glafira Rosales and sold to an Irish gallery that later demanded its money back; right, Motherwell’s “Spanish Elegy (Alcaraz) XV,” from 1953, which is part of the catalogue raisonné sponsored by the Dedalus Foundation. Photo: NY Times

“One of the suits, filed over a $17 million work attributed to Jackson Pollock, was settled in October. A second suit was brought by Domenico DeSole, the chairman of Tom Ford’s fashion firm, and his wife, Eleanore, over a $8.3 million work attributed to Mark Rothko, while a third was filed by John D. Howard, a Wall St. executive, over a $4 million painting attributed to Willem de Kooning.”

A PURPORTED POLLOCK A Rosales painting signed “J. Pollock” and sold for $17 million to a London hedge-fund director who is suing for a refund. Photo: NY Times

“Mr. Hammer’s lawyer, Charles D. Schmerler, said: “The Hilti complaint rehashes the same baseless claims contained in the prior lawsuits. Given the attention this matter has received, it is not unexpected to see copycat suits filed. We plan to aggressively litigate this case and expect to see Knoedler and Mr. Hammer fully vindicated.”

From in-depth Vanity Fair article, "A Question of Provenance" PHOTO: BY NINA LEEN/TIME & LIFE PICTURES/GETTY IMAGES

“Ms. Rosales’ lawyer has said that she has never knowingly sold any forged works.”

The forgery stamp that the Dedalus Foundation put on the back of the disputed Motherwell “Elegy” as part of a court settlement.

“Ms. Freedman’s lawyer, Nicholas Gravante Jr, provided a statement from her that said: “These paintings were exhibited in museums around the world and heralded as masterworks. This particular Rothko was featured at the Beyeler Foundation in 2002. The personal vendettas and professional jealously behind the attacks on the works and on my reputation should be obvious.”

What’s the truth? There’s a lot of reporting out there on this topic. Do a little reading on the topic and you be the judge. Let us know what you think here on WallSpin.

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The View I by Sharon Sieben on Zatista.com

Not that I would ever follow such guidelines or suggest them to a fellow artist, but the other day, out of curiosity, I searched “Best Subjects for Selling Paintings.” I found the following list on About.com, whose source was an Art Business Today survey done in 2003 based on sales of paintings in the UK. Further online research and other highly random and unscientific inquiries found that most lists fall in line with this one. Here they are in reverse order, with examples courtesy of Zatista artists. See if you can guess number one before you reach the end!

Sleeping Fox by Anne Lively on Zatista.com

10. Nudes.  9. Impressionistic landscapes.  8. Wildlife.  Do you agree with the bottom three placement of these themes?

Matador Beach, Malibu, California by John Kilduff on Zatisa.com

7. Seascapes, harbour, and beach scenes.  6. Figure studies (excluding nudes).  5. Dogs. How about the next three?

Violet Soul by Stephen Cimini on Zatista.com

4. Abstracts.  3. Modern or semi-abstract landscapes. 2. Local views.  Do you think these belong near the top or not?

Illuminated Pond by Silvia Trujillo on Zatista.com

1. Traditional landscapes.  This seems accurate, given the prevalence of this theme in both public and private collections throughout the centuries to this day. Sales figures and popularity aside, what do you think are the best subjects for painting? Let us know your choices and why.

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.

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