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Fish Waterecolor Original Painting by Liat Koren on Zatista.com

Not all works of art end up being large or on a grand scale. In fact, some of the most effective and deftly crafted works are considered small or even miniature. Some artists who mostly work in larger formats like to challenge themselves with the occasional small piece as a change of pace or a study for future work, while some are perfectly content working on that smaller scale from start to finish. Most artists will agree that any change of perspective can be refreshing and inspiring to their process.

A Bacchante by Jacques Jean-Baptiste Augustin on wikipedia.org

One of the finest examples of working small is the portrait miniatures that were popular in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. In the days before photographs, these miniatures were a perfectly compact means of carrying around the likeness of a loved one, family member, or friend. Some of the most stunning examples are in watercolor or on copper or ivory, and are as valued and visited in museum collections worldwide as more expansive and imposing works.

Still Life With Apple and Lemon by Livia Mosanu on Zatista

From the point of view of the casual collector, smaller works might be sought out for a number of reasons, among which limitations in living space and budget come first to mind. They can also be the perfect focal point in a tiny space or a subtle accent completing the décor of rooms already dominated by larger artworks.

African Sunset by Jean Lurssen on Zatista.com

Many contemporary art galleries now feature small works shows as part of their regular schedule of exhibits. These displays seem to challenge the belief that bigger is better, and, the way a whisper often commands more attention than a shout, invite the viewer to slow down, narrow their attention and engage in a more intimate exchange. The big picture is great, as they say, but sometimes it can be rewarding to think small.

Balancing Act by Pamela Sweda on Zatista.com

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

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Steven Tyler Study by Tracy Burke on Zatista.com

Painter Tracy Burke lives in Orlando, Florida and is accomplished in both abstract and figurative work. Her style is unmistakable, and her large, colorful canvases exhibit a mastery of composition and attention to detail.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to ask her about her process and her experience in the art market:

You are one of the few painters I know who has success with both figurative and abstract work. Why do you choose to do both?
In college, my full attention was figurative. I wanted the emotional eye-to-eye contact of the subject to engage the viewer. My abstract work came much later as an exercise in expanding the backgrounds of the figurative work to be just as engaging as the people.

Verdun #20 by Tracy Burke on Zatista.com

In what direction is your work going?
I’m working on a new series merging both styles – I want to capture what needs to be said from the figure and push back the rest into pattern, shape and color.

How’s business?
Business is good, but has taken on a huge transformation over the past couple of years. I’ve had to adapt and try new avenues.

Billie Joe Armstrong by Tracy Burke on Zatista.com

What are your ideal working conditions?
I like lots of light, space and good music. Sunlight is motivating, and I find that my productivity slows to a crawl on rainy days. I blame it on the drying time for paint layers, but I’m sure it’s more than that!

Do you have any advice for someone just getting started as an artist?
It’s all mileage. Don’t concentrate on showing or selling, developing your style or finding your niche. Just log the hours and put in the mileage. Everything else will fall into place.

Tidal by Tracy Burke on Zatistsa.com

What other art medium would you like to attempt / not attempt?
Encaustic. I’m so drawn to so many encaustic artists and works. I’d really love to learn more about it as a medium.

You are married to the very talented painter, Ralph Verano. How is it having two working painters in the house?
We have very different styles, but the work situation couldn’t be better; I have a like-minded sounding board on what I’m working on at any time. We work in the same studio, and benefit from each other’s feedback and support all the time.

Jim Jarmusch by Tracy Burke on Zatista.com

More and more, collectors looking for original art are turning to online venues like Zatista. What can you tell our readers about your experience?
I’ve had great success with Zatista! They have a great website, an aggressive marketing campaign that has targeted the right art buyers, and a flexible platform that has allowed me to sell to my collectors seamlessly, including custom commissions. I’ve been with them for over a year now, and have been fortunate to enjoy great sales and a great relationship with their team.

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

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Spring Mirrored by Shawn Nelson Dahlstrom on Zatista

Hang in there. Just twenty more days until the vernal equinox. If you’ve forgotten what spring is like, let us remind you:

Spring Thaw by Nina Fuller on Zatista

It’s green, it’s dewey,

Thoughts of a Spring Pond by Jacquie Gouveia on Zatista

it’s light, bright, and sunny.

I Like Birds by Prints by Peskimo on Zatista

Birds are chirping and people are smiling – some may even be skipping or laughing.

Exploding Heads by Azur Mele on Zatista

If you live in California or Hawaii you’re probably wondering what all the fuss is about, since it may not be dreary where you are.

Matador Beach, Malibu California by John Kilduff on Zatista

Even though this winter hasn’t been harsh or dramatic for the rest of us, I think we’re still looking forward to spring. Its freshness and promise are irresistible.

Spring Rain by Susan Ulrich on Zatista

If you find yourself dreaming of spring year-round, consider bringing a bit of the season home with you. Zatista’s invigorating selection of original works is like a breath of fresh air!

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The false Mary Todd - before and after restoration on nydailynews.com

In recent art news, it has been determined that a famous portrait of President Abraham Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd, which has been hanging in the Illinois governor’s mansion, is a fake. This deception was discovered by an art restorer, who found that the portrait is actually of an anonymous woman with elements added to the painting to make it appear as Lincoln’s wife.

The Goose Girl by Stanley Royle (originally credited to William Leach) on ireland-information.com

Art forgery is not a new concept, and I was surprised to learn that, according to Wikipedia, there are three categories of forgers: the person who actually creates the fraudulent piece, the person who discovers a piece and attempts to pass it off as something it is not, in order to increase the piece’s value, and the third who discovers that a work is a fake, but sells it as an original anyway.

A City on a Rock by 19th century forger Eugenic Lucas was once attributed to Goya on wikipedia.org

The Association for Research into Crimes against Art, or ARCA, is a non-profit organization that studies, offers education, and reports on art-related crime. A quick glance at their statistics shows that out of all countries, Italy leads the world in art crime. In 2001, 142,258 forgeries were recovered. A staggering number!

Leonardo or not? The controversal La Bella Principessa on telegraph.com

For art collectors, the best way to avoid frauds is to use common sense. Only deal with reputable dealers, and make sure each work comes with a certificate of authenticity. Educate yourself fully about the artists that you are interested in, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Christ and the Disciples at Emmaus a Vermeer fake by Van Meegeren on essentialvermeer.com

On Zatista, you can only find real works of art from real artists. There are no fakes or forgeries, just original artwork that is 100% guaranteed so you can always buy with confidence.

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

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cafepress.com

We all know that artists create fads – they’re notorious trendsetters. But these days trends come from all over and spread at an alarming rate, thanks to the Internet. A simple thing can turn into a national or even a global obsession, seemingly overnight.

Take the mustache for example. An interesting thing happened last year; one second they were an unpopular (at least in the current era) form of facial hair. Then, relatively quickly, they turned into some sort of icon. Now they’re everywhere! Especially the swoopy, robber baron kind.

Image: etsy.com/thetangledweb

I don’t remember the point it went from “funny ha-ha” to “whoa.” Forget about t-shirts and coffee cups, Etsy exploded with knit mustaches of all kinds – lip fur prostheses, if you will.

Image: Carstache.com

It got even crazier when someone started making mustaches for cars.

flickr.com CandyManGreg

Then there was a brief wave of mustache finger tattoos – get it?!

My question: In this brave new mustachioed world, does a craze like this help artists sell art? The question occurred to me as I was paging through illustrator Elizabeth Graeber’s work, whom I’ve written about before on Zatista. Does the fact that this piece includes a mustache make it marketable to a wider audience?

It’s kind of like trend chaos theory – Is a guy who gets a finger tattoo in Denver the same as the butterfly that flaps its wings in Kenya, unknowingly causing a hurricane in Florida? OK, that’s a little far-fetched, but  if silly fads help talented artists get more exposure, I’m all for them.

"Chester Arthur" by Elizabeth Graeber on Zatista.com

Long live the furry lip.

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