tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51222754676189223272024-03-13T12:48:50.161+13:00New Zealand Art Print NewsNews and articles from <a href="http://www.prints.co.nz"><i> New Zealand Fine Prints </i></a> - NZ's art print experts since 1966.Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.comBlogger260125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-19246246283130216232023-06-23T11:57:00.002+12:002023-06-23T11:59:22.868+12:00What’s the Difference Between ‘Abstract’ & ‘Stylised’ Painting?<h1>What’s the Difference Between ‘Abstract’ & ‘Stylised’ painting?</h1>
There are countless art styles worldwide, each bringing unique and eye-catching work to life. Art styles can evoke several emotions, from <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Art_Deco_Prints" target="_blank">Art Deco prints</a> to detailed <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Portraits">portraits</a>. With numerous established art styles, they can be hard to differentiate. In this blog post, we discuss abstract and stylised paintings, the key elements of each style, and how they differ.<div><br />
<h2>What Are Abstract Paintings?</h2>We stock a vast range of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Abstract_Art">abstract art prints</a>, one of our favourite visual styles. Abstract art came from a place of change. As society grew, so too did the desire for new art. In turn, this unique art style was highly conceptual, no longer focusing on replicating scenes from the real world or creating recognisable motifs. This new style used shape, colour, and line to create striking imagery.
The style departs from the real world, creating imagery that does not resemble reality. Abstract art can sit at different levels of familiarity. Some paintings are extremely obvious in what ideas they represent. Others are less easily understood and can evoke thought and emotion in a viewer. Abstract art can help us see the world from a new perspective, comparable to cubism or surrealism. <div><br /></div><div> The earliest works of abstract art are geometric and linear. These works have appeared in several mediums, including pottery, fabrics, and rocks. Many believe that abstract shapes and symbols represent ideas; however, they are still easily admired without understanding the meaning.
Abstract art allows us to create meaning and choose how we interpret a work of art. The critical difference with abstract art is that the aim is not to create an object or reflection of reality but to create feeling and emotion. <div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/1405"><img alt="Broadway 1936 by Mark Tobey" border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="256" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bWw40Wd3wdV1RjEcB6ss98XM8Svmr0E2XI-aT0n1qOLbfVcF7UNpiZQ3f6bmjEb3Aw8RRyfs6uTAP9xcFWOiQol0S7W16E6ve62oHDCQezXV3vFmY00CRB6ZaB4_kh_am_eGVXlrnJNyMZxUnlEN27E3uDQda3UehDrP7k3SM7qO1yVCMTOag9CvXEhz/w175-h239/1405_Broadway_1936_Tobey_Mark.jpeg" title="Broadway 1936 by Mark Tobey" width="175" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/1405">Broadway by Mark Tobey</a></td></tr></tbody></table>One of our favourites, <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/1405">Broadway (1936) by Mark Tobey</a>, is made up of white lines on top of a dark blue and red canvas. The white lines are nothing more than squares and shapes, but they work to create an abstract cityscape. The piece immediately evokes the feel of a loud, bright, bustling city street. There is not a single building, taxi, or storefront painted. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, with only a smattering of white lines, our brains can make sense of the painting and recognise the abstract elements of a city, further encouraged by the busy feeling of the artwork.
<h2><br /></h2><h2><br /></h2><h2>What Are Stylised Paintings?</h2><div><br /></div>
Stylised paintings use more recognisable imagery to create bold and unique art pieces. The art becomes ‘stylised’ by using colour and shape distortion to disconnect the image from reality. Stylised art allows artists more freedom to experiment with shapes and colours to create beautiful imagery. Stylised art aims to depict a subject effectively but with a unique style that takes away from realism.
Stylised paintings sit as a stepping stone, sitting between realism and abstract. There is a clear representation of an object but no need for accuracy. Instead, there is the freedom to be creative and paint beautiful, bold pieces.
Some stylised works are exaggerated and focus on the essential details to emphasise and exaggerate the overall look of the painting. Other stylised artworks are more minimal, aiming to portray an object accurately but with as little detail as possible. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/1738">Milford Sound vintage travel poster</a> is an excellent example of a beautiful, stylised painting. The<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/1738" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Milford Sound Vintage Travel Poster" border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="246" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyKQX4zqxRUYZ3IFQjWENtXSiQLImPWhAXvig-pWq9tK9WLOpanHP5vwdkjuUcmfij1myhCs1fv5PbsduhClD3LYZJ_-gi6oiGOO0391LyRBD_A3cAjTJWiaUunDzLN4nZtA0a88NtaoJ9A0aJV0m1IF-R1qOlZwJwTEnL7931OaSAxY3Obc-p45nySNQ/w214-h320/1738_Milford_Sound_NZ_Travel_Poster.jpeg" title="Milford Sound Vintage Travel Poster" width="214" /></a></div><br /> piece includes an obvious depiction of a mountain—the famous Mitre Peak—made of blue, red, and yellow tones. The colour pallet creates the subject clearly, but with hardly any fine detail, just colour mixed beautifully to create a stylised interpretation.</div><div><br />
<h2>How do the Styles Compare?</h2><div><br /></div>
They both give artists the power to sway from reality and focus on creating unique works that use the technique to tell a story. Abstract art leaves much more to the viewer’s interpretation, with no ties to realism. Stylised artwork incorporates unique, stylistic elements from the artist. The subject is recognisable, but the artist has more freedom to experiment and put their unique twist on reality.
Abstract, on the other hand, eliminates the reality aspect. Artists have the freedom to combine visual elements to produce awe-inspiring artwork. Colours and shapes are combined to create striking imagery. You don’t need to understand what is happening in the piece to admire abstract art—all you need is a pair of eyes. The art will evoke an emotional reaction.</div><div><br />
<h2>Find the Perfect Piece of Wall Art for Your Home</h2><div><br /></div>
NZ Fine Prints offers an extensive range of art prints from artists worldwide. From famous abstract paintings to stylised <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Kiwiana">Kiwiana imagery</a>, we have the perfect wall art for your home. Explore our full range of art prints online today.
</div></div></div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-60204903120943941592022-08-09T17:10:00.003+12:002022-08-09T18:28:33.772+12:00Art Evolution: Painting Styles Throughout History | NZ Fine Prints<h1> Art Evolution: Exploring Painting Styles Throughout History </h1>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3uXVSeRilouccUf6Tnh0CpBZIGsayJeX_jj5e4R9ld0joAlQOue7g5W2fcLIWCUdw_JpvvKLyfqc-fXB0Vy6JFh6aNrOneD1Tj1_AbZHdtHzRZxRMQ0Ns-ZbdB1f2ksUB37bjySFmuepiJ6s-uRcPDIFsH8XfhGfCE3fRISslL2Ct6x_Ermnavmdww/s1600/painting-styles-throughout-history.jpg"><img alt="Paintbrushes sitting in front of abstract-style paintinging in front of abstract-style painting" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3uXVSeRilouccUf6Tnh0CpBZIGsayJeX_jj5e4R9ld0joAlQOue7g5W2fcLIWCUdw_JpvvKLyfqc-fXB0Vy6JFh6aNrOneD1Tj1_AbZHdtHzRZxRMQ0Ns-ZbdB1f2ksUB37bjySFmuepiJ6s-uRcPDIFsH8XfhGfCE3fRISslL2Ct6x_Ermnavmdww/w640-h427/painting-styles-throughout-history.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />From ancient cave paintings to Warhol’s famous <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/ ">art prints</a>, there’s no doubt that painting styles have evolved in numerous ways throughout history. In this blog post, we walk through some notable periods in art history. Read on to explore ancient artworks from around the world, gain a brief glimpse into their evolution, and reflect on how these styles are expressed in the art scene today.<div><br />
<h2>Prehistoric Painting </h2>
Prehistoric paintings are the oldest known paintings of prehistoric man, found on the walls of caves, produced by people of preliterate cultures. Prehistoric paintings are now considered to be priceless artworks. During their time, they are thought to have symbolic or religious intent, and to have been used to keep records and track major historical events. Prehistoric art was observational, documenting the other cultures they had come across, the success of hunters, and more. <div><br /></div><div>The first examples of art are dated back more than 64,000 years, such as the 71 hand stencils found in the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2018/02/neanderthals-art.page">Cave of Maltravieso</a>, alongside animal paintings and some linear designs. Other forms of prehistoric art include engraved stones and crosshatch designs, found throughout Europe and South Africa.</div><div><br />
<h2>Egyptian Art </h2>
Egyptian art gained traction across the western world for its symbolic, vivid, and abstract design. A notable difference between Egyptian art and the record-keeping of prehistoric times is intent. Art was used in a more ritualistic way to express wealth, power, belief systems, history, and life after death. For example, statues were used to honour the deceased. This practice was a symbolic way for the spirit of the dead to remain connected from beyond the terrestrial realm.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are many examples of <a href="https://www.theartist.me/art-movement/egyptian-art/">ancient Egyptian art</a>, both two and three-dimensional, used to honour the dead. Heavy symbolism was used to connect the Egyptian people with the gods, creating beautiful, usually front-facing statues to honour the royal and elite. Throughout all art styles, the ancient Egyptians used the imagery of people, animals, and other figures, accompanied by text. </div><div><br /></div><div>A notable attribute of ancient Egyptian art is the use of size. Many ancient art pieces found across Egypt use size differences to convey hierarchy. Royalty was portrayed in large scales while lower-ranking figures or average Egyptians were depicted much smaller.</div><div><br />
<h2>The Middle Ages </h2>
The Middle Ages are of incredible importance in art history. During this time, <a href="https://owlcation.com/humanities/medieval-art-history-ancient-art-forms-of-the-middle-ages">medieval artworks</a> around Europe were heavily influenced by Christianity. Societal and cultural developments lead to a boom in the visual arts and a shift in aesthetic values. Medieval artists developed secular art, a departure from the common religious themes at the time, and the wealthy and elite would commission works such as cathedrals, churches, and manuscripts. </div><div><br /></div><div>Medieval art encompasses many artistic styles, including the birth of Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic art, to name a few. Artists during this period would use mineral pigments and a layering technique for painting. With few options for creating a range of colours and textures, artists would paint over dry colour to create mixes of colour and thick-textured brushstrokes.</div><div><br />
<h2>Renaissance Art </h2><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Renaissance_Art_Prints">Renaissance art</a> developed around the year 1300 and is associated with social changes within society. Art in the Renaissance period was influenced by the Middle Ages, with scholars studying literary texts from medieval scholars before them. With artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo, this is one of the most influential and widely recognised periods for art. </div><div><br /></div><div>This period saw a shift in painting and sculpture style, with the development of linear perspective, alongside a range of other techniques, used to give their work a more realistic feeling. The more abstract art of the medieval period had transitioned to a representational style that expanded the subject matter to go beyond biblical scenes. </div><div><br /></div><div>More and more artists began adding their own originality to artworks and the period is seen to represent the rebirth of human ideals and naturalism. As well as oil painting, the Renaissance saw the full development of mixing techniques, originally seen in medieval artworks.</div><div><br />
<h2>Pop Art </h2>
Of the numerous modern art movements to date, some of the more notable styles included futurism, surrealism, minimalism, and of course, <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Pop_Art">Pop art</a>. Andy Warhol and other artists within the pop art movement used imagery from popular and mass culture to challenge historic styles of art. This movement utilised commonplace objects and imagery from popular culture or mass-produced objects.</div><div><br /></div><div>The modern world rejected the history of realism in art and saw the rise of innovative and experimental art. The focus of artists shifted from depicting realistic scenes to the use of various materials, techniques, and other abstract elements. </div><div><br /></div><div>Warhol’s work with Marilyn Monroe and the infamous Campbell’s Soup Cans are some of the most recognised modern art pieces. The style has cemented itself in art culture for its use of humour and irony, communicated through the bright punches of colour in the various works.</div><div><br />
<h2>Neo-Expressionism and Beyond </h2>
In the late 70s, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Neo-Expressionism ">Neo-Expressionism</a> dominated the art world, with the portrayal of realistic and familiar objects returning, but often with a more abstract nature. The use of colour harmony and intense expressionism was used as a reaction to the high-concept, minimalistic styles previously seen.
The post-modern era of art sees no clear direction for future styles, but it is thought that the world is moving toward pluralism. This means that different art and painting styles are being adopted from various cultures, with artwork and artists becoming more diverse and all-encompassing.</div><div><br />
<h2>Find Your Favourite Art Styles at New Zealand Fine Prints </h2>
There are too many art styles and movements throughout history to cover in a single article. Here, we’ve highlighted some of the most influential periods from prehistoric times to today, showing a brief glimpse into the diverse evolution of art.
Interested in delving deeper into the art scene? If so, we have a range of beautiful <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Canvas_Prints ">canvas wall art in NZ</a> for you to explore. Browse New Zealand Fine Prints online today and find your favourite <a href="http://prints.co.nz">art prints</a> from around the world.</div></div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-38811313834830840992022-06-24T08:35:00.003+12:002022-06-24T08:56:17.074+12:00Street Art Capitals Around the World | NZ Fine Prints<h1> Street Art Capitals Around the World </h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kovkYpCqMO1LoBlHmFk-L6DGxtuNGXqP720-rV7xio4OMwXDN6MEaiTOfou3bAUaBlnG1xAIQr_4T3QHJ7Z85L3wTpwr821t6NqGQWtHmiwQz1J7Qj4YeP2yqJ-S9XQbcp3dKZMdIRfSFhFvFf8yo5SlK9CYTs8Cj454Ml6d2Lj6JMTwEumDsFbYvg/s1628/Street_Art_Capitals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Street Art Stye in Camden, London" border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1628" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kovkYpCqMO1LoBlHmFk-L6DGxtuNGXqP720-rV7xio4OMwXDN6MEaiTOfou3bAUaBlnG1xAIQr_4T3QHJ7Z85L3wTpwr821t6NqGQWtHmiwQz1J7Qj4YeP2yqJ-S9XQbcp3dKZMdIRfSFhFvFf8yo5SlK9CYTs8Cj454Ml6d2Lj6JMTwEumDsFbYvg/w320-h214/Street_Art_Capitals.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Street art has a long history and can be seen in every corner of the globe, but some cities have stood out for their immensely creative, beautiful, and in many cases politically charged street art. In recent decades, we’ve seen <b>street art style</b> move from being viewed as vandalism to being celebrated in galleries, <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Street_Art">with art prints of street art</a> selling out. In this article, we highlight some of the street art capitals around the world and show what makes these cities so special.<div><br />
<h2>Barcelona </h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUUoMtSbFgy9If0Eg_zHVs4vGR-LT0iUKSl1U7EyDYTAHRH8McVxUUoSX00vSKkvLGgKnN3J-ki4lIPUZ_RmpIN6R0isEgaVeA2OvdgrOg4tLTUgW1cnw0ZiPcm0TvXLRhsfBZLCBZkn3rHA_SngqW5_GpD3rvdjhPdSFdKB6c7dIuWqlaKwOOPf11A/s463/Barcelona_Street_Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="463" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUUoMtSbFgy9If0Eg_zHVs4vGR-LT0iUKSl1U7EyDYTAHRH8McVxUUoSX00vSKkvLGgKnN3J-ki4lIPUZ_RmpIN6R0isEgaVeA2OvdgrOg4tLTUgW1cnw0ZiPcm0TvXLRhsfBZLCBZkn3rHA_SngqW5_GpD3rvdjhPdSFdKB6c7dIuWqlaKwOOPf11A/w200-h133/Barcelona_Street_Art.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>When it comes to art, Barcelona has birthed some of the world’s greatest artists—such as Pablo Picasso—and this extends to the street art scene. Many parts of the city have come to life with creativity and colour.
Areas like Poblenou have many abandoned buildings that have provided some of the best street artists with canvases for their work, bringing the neighbourhood back to life. The Three Chimneys urban park is built specifically for graffiti art, where artists can express themselves and put their art on display without having to worry about any legal consequences.
There are thousands of incredible art pieces throughout the city. With so many beautiful discoveries to make, you can’t help but feel inspired. Barcelona should be at the top of any art-lovers travel list.</div><div><br />
<h2>Brooklyn </h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbnKLPpfDTRk7Ad3Z7oKKc9ka_iymNYIfGoQ4bw8srAHCP4tR1uxuT_D_DNl_iFWXNZ1H0HEmuyG36PloZ9FJrx0MXz0r3iBPelRrmW009Aoig0M1XJ_1uUfgwT74yehbNc_6ALH5txlgMAHEOLjrQippDgSRN5h_AytociKk8sUF2JyDWHwANnLtvg/s466/Brooklyn_Street_Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="466" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbnKLPpfDTRk7Ad3Z7oKKc9ka_iymNYIfGoQ4bw8srAHCP4tR1uxuT_D_DNl_iFWXNZ1H0HEmuyG36PloZ9FJrx0MXz0r3iBPelRrmW009Aoig0M1XJ_1uUfgwT74yehbNc_6ALH5txlgMAHEOLjrQippDgSRN5h_AytociKk8sUF2JyDWHwANnLtvg/w200-h134/Brooklyn_Street_Art.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>New York’s thriving art scene is recognised around the world and the streets are no exception. Within the city, Brooklyn is the heart of the street art scene, with local and international talents taking advantage of the enormous canvas provided by the concrete jungle.
Brooklyn has life and character around every corner, the creative murals constantly changing and evolving. The Bushwick Collective was started in 2011 by local artist Joe Ficalora. The Collective is an open-air gallery space, highlighting the murals of many artists and creatives. The Collective has transformed the Brooklyn neighbourhood into a colourful and artistic space.
Graffiti and street art tours through Brooklyn are popular tourist attractions, bringing people from all over the world to the heart of New York’s street-art culture. The enormous and detailed murals are a must-see for any street-lover, giving this small New York neighbourhood a contemporary and creative re-vamp.</div><div><br />
<h2>Buenos Aires </h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSgAJjuhzC9ENZStG3qJW0dlFsCZ0Dl8E0Gs2u0LY5jOjdR-upEsx5xfWVWusWm85n9uvRb8vA4lLV3UN8VBWRtpjZaJBkVrVqutlZgB0Etsj5mWEn-6QwdP1E2d9eG6qtrNS4eOlaLapbxTCU0tDoXRdgT3Ez9Q8aQdq8Ajh1Sqk92nu5CW93VWNPQ/s462/Buenos_Aires_Street_Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="462" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSgAJjuhzC9ENZStG3qJW0dlFsCZ0Dl8E0Gs2u0LY5jOjdR-upEsx5xfWVWusWm85n9uvRb8vA4lLV3UN8VBWRtpjZaJBkVrVqutlZgB0Etsj5mWEn-6QwdP1E2d9eG6qtrNS4eOlaLapbxTCU0tDoXRdgT3Ez9Q8aQdq8Ajh1Sqk92nu5CW93VWNPQ/w200-h134/Buenos_Aires_Street_Art.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The street art scene in Buenos Aires began as a political and socially charged movement, inspired by Mexican muralism. Artists used public spaces in the city to communicate their message and protest the repressive political climate developing a language of protest throughout Argentina.
Almost a century later in 2001, the streets became riddled with propaganda and negative messaging due to the recent economic crisis. Art collectives worked to transform the streets into a colourful and positive space, breaking up the overwhelming political messages and creating larger than life cartoons and vibrant imagery.
Buenos Aires is known for the enormous scale of its murals, scattered throughout the city. This bright and large-scale street art scene has put Buenos Aires on many art fans’ travel bucket lists. The beautiful architecture and street art pair together perfectly to provide the city with a thriving pulse.</div><div><br />
<h2>Christchurch </h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYXsKa3dWSA6wOjzxOOiD7FwWGHjkM-Fq4saGaB0PZXnr62dHlPLHspP1gngyw-IGy7RYPhU4ODlKlC21SzCbcnJfmILarcNhbL6zpmwDaSj3PONBlIoepbIpaGnlzvDMSAhcnwf9_4hRMxQpnbbMZIjSBJq870e_6O2YHtFoDvRc1deKoLPIRRMHZQ/s476/Christchurch_Street_Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="476" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYXsKa3dWSA6wOjzxOOiD7FwWGHjkM-Fq4saGaB0PZXnr62dHlPLHspP1gngyw-IGy7RYPhU4ODlKlC21SzCbcnJfmILarcNhbL6zpmwDaSj3PONBlIoepbIpaGnlzvDMSAhcnwf9_4hRMxQpnbbMZIjSBJq870e_6O2YHtFoDvRc1deKoLPIRRMHZQ/w200-h130/Christchurch_Street_Art.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It’s common for street art culture to come from tragedy, and sadly, that’s the case for our very own Christchurch. After the devastating earthquakes in the early 2010s, Christchurch was due for a major rebuild and this is where street art became a core part of the city’s new life.
In 2013, George Shaw, a Nelson art collector, organised a <a href="https://blog.prints.co.nz/2013/12/art-exhibtion-that-will-change-Christchurch.html">street art festival</a> in Christchurch, commissioning new art pieces on walls throughout the city centre. The festival’s success planted the seed for Christchurch’s growing art scene and inspired artists to engage with the landscape and repopulate the city’s abandoned spaces with murals. The street art style in Christchurch carries political, social, and in many cases, humorous messages.
Natural disasters destroyed parts of the city. The landscape changed and evolved. Street art rejuvenated the streets with creative energy and has now created an ever-changing graffiti art scene in our very own country.</div><div><br />
<h2>Melbourne </h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuSTXatMKh7JvKp3cmN3_bN3cSuhcBrUxzMsyEk2B_SlspXpENWslatkh7yT_ROToggFO8S04BgPVtJD_wdYNidIWNsHwBr4uNdoo9WG30zlZSmq8dGMdTuoqcP0V0pfWM4sITuVKS-xlC8S9We7HSYv1ovwHj2h-dc4u5TaTVelt1yxJ47XThpzH8w/s469/Melbourne_Street_Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="469" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuSTXatMKh7JvKp3cmN3_bN3cSuhcBrUxzMsyEk2B_SlspXpENWslatkh7yT_ROToggFO8S04BgPVtJD_wdYNidIWNsHwBr4uNdoo9WG30zlZSmq8dGMdTuoqcP0V0pfWM4sITuVKS-xlC8S9We7HSYv1ovwHj2h-dc4u5TaTVelt1yxJ47XThpzH8w/w200-h133/Melbourne_Street_Art.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The diverse range of street art on Melbourne’s street walls is among the most eclectic and accomplished in the world. The city has become the “Stencil Capital of the World”, bringing street art culture to a wider audience. The city is host to both illegal exhibitions and public festivals, bringing people from all over to the streets of Melbourne.
Small street lanes with a huge range of unique bars and eateries are surrounded by large-scale, beautiful murals—many inspired by the street art culture of New York City. Melbourne’s streets are pulsing with life, always changing and inspiring new artists to contribute to the vibrant and creative movement. Melbourne’s bright streets are recognised globally and have continued to inspire other cities to adopt the urban art style.</div><div><br />
<h2>London </h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGupisIUg2pBU9-e2js6QUgzTwQbOnA0E4zFjnKBwDQbMjj_IoiuIDNsSUMX8ISBulkB0iMmzB5Y9k7j4CWG6e35txmhxBlrPlhI_j3yVKRB2v9hcFMLDjY5S7bVT3roAsc_Wb-x4kdZuuI6oFZah6foIYLorjctvHvSbGQ01OPNnaQtqUUcQDxXZMQ/s462/London_Street_Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="462" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGupisIUg2pBU9-e2js6QUgzTwQbOnA0E4zFjnKBwDQbMjj_IoiuIDNsSUMX8ISBulkB0iMmzB5Y9k7j4CWG6e35txmhxBlrPlhI_j3yVKRB2v9hcFMLDjY5S7bVT3roAsc_Wb-x4kdZuuI6oFZah6foIYLorjctvHvSbGQ01OPNnaQtqUUcQDxXZMQ/w200-h134/London_Street_Art.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>You can’t discuss street art without mentioning London. Inspired by the art movement in New York, London began seeing street walls used as canvases with stencils, tags, and public sculptures popping up all over the city. East London is the hot spot for street art culture, but the work is seen in all the city neighbourhoods. Places like Brick Lane, Shoreditch, and Camden are just a few of the numerous locations where you can explore the culture of London street art.
<a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Banksy">Banksy</a> has become one of the most famous street artists in the world, going from the underground Bristol scene to spreading his stencil art and political messages all over the city. The anonymous artist’s signature style of combining humour and politics in his imagery or slogans became a sensation and cemented Banksy as a street art phenomenon.
Balloon Girl, Kissing Coopers, and Bomb Hugger are a few of Banksy’s globally recognised works, contributing to the widespread acknowledgement of graffiti as art rather than vandalism.</div><div><br />
<h3>Find Some Street Art for Your Home </h3>
Street art is a unique style that can transform an old, abandoned street into a beautiful art piece, attracting thousands of visitors. Why not bring the same provocative style to your home? <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Framed_Prints">Framed wall art</a> provides character and can add a dash of swagger to your living space. We have prints by talented artists from all over the world, in a huge range of styles to help you bring some art culture into your home, browse online today.</div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-83876130706763061702022-03-31T10:47:00.003+13:002022-03-31T10:49:32.058+13:00Gardening & artists who garden | NZ Fine Prints<p>For some people gardening is a chore, for others it is a sandpit for adults. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10155" target="_blank"><img alt="Pohutukawa Tree in Blossom" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="255" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjUDu2LT2mhqhvHHlvuC8tuFDPUDT8FjAFiaol0KDYXZLT1E7qq6DRQDjrsNtNdYAPqNFOU2drPiTKgORCsIGuuBylTfdvTyTeBTtvxgurjh7aZfd3j79hXp9nt3X6vy6MlwbcLefaNfCv0tQcjAmvm61ln6NEhP2b-QF5S_ewhrTkbtDuVBwjIiBaQg" title="The Garden Art Print by Barry Ross Smith" width="237" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10155" target="_blank"><i>The Garden</i> by Barry Ross Smith</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The intersection between human habitation and our natural environment is where the intrinsic beauty of plants meets our unique among animals impulse to re-order what nature has created in what appears to us to be a more aesthetically pleasing (and productive) way. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10224" target="_blank"><img alt="Wheelbarrow in Garden" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="275" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEpP8uoEKh-d-vwAybF4E5LjBnV5MqVM_Uv3kbkxNiLQiPVEZb_XXN6yxr6dD9C77qKHz4SXAg4VlC3UAj8LGGEZD98PJitoJeHDmVU3POHwFTSVikv0HbRyb31JBTzfE7dRthVPWUttG_49WgolBp7WJ3Y5t0th9B4qGdLYkteQTjZlOEqEgRXUY4Fw=w320-h233" title="Garden Art by NZ Artist Hamish Allan" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10224" target="_blank">Detail of Lazy Bones & the Pleasure Garden by Hamish Allan</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>It is fair bet that those of us who have been bitten by the gardening bug might also want to bring the outdoors inside when it comes to art, decorating our walls with <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/New_Zealand_Plants">botanical posters</a> for instance. And it is not too far of a stretch to imagine these flora fans are also buying prints of birds in such vast numbers over the past few years as we celebrate the fact that native birds of NZ are being seen in increasing numbers within the gardens of our towns and cities thanks to both pest eradication but also the deliberate creation of habitat in domestic and public gardens.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Japanese_Artists_and_Prints"><img alt="Blossom Trees and Mount Fuji" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="540" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyIuigP0Qd80LkWx5CKo5-zR8NF1ZktUKGR24RWb9kxARIOj17XeKxu6CMg4Ti_u22dIJjSPOdglVfxlX9JZWmKrksSivGmtJhsVK1claStpB-m4Jbi0P-gE2vW4Omp8tncIbjS2Z2so8YfkjYq_jfuPvOmZJVPpdzKVZbughIT1WOalng4S21Ov2OBg=w320-h213" title="Hiroshige Poster Mt Fuji from Koganei Bridge" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Japanese_Artists_and_Prints">Japanese artist Hiroshige, the epitome of gardens as art</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>But as part of a small campaign to exercise our print buyer's more whimsical choices (he jokes that sometimes he can't resist buying what he thinks people should want rather than what they actually do) we have dipped our toes into offering a new collection of wall art - prints of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Gardening_Gardens">gardens and gardening</a> (we have also allowed him to buy a large range of <a href="https://blog.prints.co.nz/2022/02/film-music-posters-how-we-select.html" target="_blank">retro/vintage music and film posters</a>) but he will now be back on the straight and narrow for the next <br />few months!<p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9186"><img alt="Dick Frizzell "Incinerater" Ltd Edition Print" border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="314" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvSREvS9GQLuFNLEoQ3IIG-McjuuKqL7TcL-18aBOaCF_FntVB6X-rGvlYo5PwIIKOiVfJjL3WBXtFPG5IO6bXKLk9CGYJ7du-6z9K_-oMqFEU5EnZCx1f9zIEjQnxjaPiyJEWYVrct07vIzi57lho_l5FqMnyWRTS_NnZ2_5z5olsl_2tJDhIsC1rA/w145-h188/Dick_Frizzell_Backyard_Incinerator.jpg" width="145" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9186">Backyard Incinerator by Dick Frizzell </a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />There are artists who garden,<br /> most famously <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Monet_Claude">Claude Monet</a> whose garden at Giverny was, as we would say these days, part of his practice. But local kiwi painters like <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Blackburn_Jeanette">Jeanette Blackburn</a> are almost as well-known for their garden art galleries as for their work. And then we have <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Allan_Hamish" target="_blank">Hamish Allan</a>'s carefully composed renditions of what could only be a New Zealand backyard, Dick Frizzell's "backyard" series like his prints of lawn mowers and the incinerator pictured here - and then the doyen of NZ garden painters Karl Maughan from whom we still have just the single offset print available, "<a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9940">Riverhead</a>".<p></p><p>The impetus for putting together our new gardens/gardening art collection really came from seeing how the <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Japanese_Artists_and_Prints">posters of Japanese woodblock prints</a> brought together artistic merit with a celebration of gardening as art, as the gardens in Japan are surely the epitome of the landscape as art. And we thought that maybe people who are into gardening but not so much into art would like to see just how well Japanese style wall art would suit them but they would not think to search for this kind of artwork in our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/All_Fine_Art_Prints">online catalogue</a>.</p><p>Gardens are such a fascinating glimpse into the way we imagine we would like to live, from the garden that is neglected to one that is bursting with this season's most fashionable colours how we garden says so much about the people who live in it. We hope you enjoy our new collection of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Gardening_Gardens">garden art prints</a> - it is not just for those of us who are into gardens and landscaping, surely there are plenty of folk who may enjoy a garden when it is an artistic expression of aspects of what a garden is framed on the wall rather than being out there pulling out the weeds every weekend!</p>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-32776188703797389432022-02-25T17:25:00.004+13:002022-02-25T17:30:41.726+13:00Film & Music Posters - How we select vintage wall art design<p>The all encompassing term "wall art" is becoming a more prevalent shorthand for what were once<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10469"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTJJ4tg2QKttFeL8_O6GxBu8lqg5s4KfCZ0-BWidJ_rekOVJrkKaB3BjiHKgPo4P7kBzW502gO45qZYTn5PG7vc3D2LHZSIxsX4biEZKFIwFUrMRQgy4aAa-wvmMOtNu0QcW3ZnL1qw4IQrA4vF2lTwP9lspIrLC2staWnVsiml7saGvKn8Dd2LLONGA=s320" width="214" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10469">Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> exclusively referred to as art prints and posters. Like when what we thought should be called <b>fine art</b> by NZ painters a decade ago started getting referred to as "<a href="https://blog.prints.co.nz/2010/05/kiwiana-art-iconic-kiwi-pictures-prints.html" target="_blank">kiwiana</a>" alongside the more obvious tiki paintings, four square man etc New Zealand Fine Prints are happy to move with the times and be guided by our customers what they would like to call what we sell even if this new phrase takes a bit of getting used to!</p><p>One of the advantages of the expanding definition of wall art (eg from framed prints to wall charts, prints on canvas and even wall decals) is we have been able to expand what we sell beyond the traditional reproduction prints of paintings, maps etc into other things that can go on the walls of kiwi homes and offices, but without straying too far from our core values as a business. It seems obvious that those folks who show more than an average interest in art would also be interested in music, theatre and film and those of us on our wholesale buying team certainly are into the broader arts as well for sure.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10367"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid1jVs6m54FfsgrhuEohpebsds-1_9vKH4FVZEPkEKNMpRulG-CL4U1rJbb-H55C9TYm1dovnwjc7vsK7pzJxZqDpyD2J0bI-X65ClzQXbZCyAsjtsyQvp9m9Gpxq8UCSUBqqCJI5K5YE7q4oCwu2VuDATztbBjTpWH3D9xvCJ_IlHkT3KW0MJB6R5sA=s320" width="213" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10367">Poster for Fritz Lang's Metropolis</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />But we believe that delivering value to customers is not just in a good quality item from a production standpoint, it also about selling decoration that will endure not just physically but also continue to be enjoyed as an artwork (ok, wall art) for many years. This means selling prints by artists who have something to say, prints of places that mean something to New Zealanders and trying not to promote more ephemeral watered down or generic designs that are, as we say, to match the curtains. We don't want you to buy an artwork for your walls that "fashions out" really quickly.</p><p>So as we grow our range of film and music wall posters we had to devise a criteria that would satisfy demand for a broader range of poster choices without going too far down the path of stocking modern day music posters created for fans (or more cynically created by publishers to cash in on what's popular right now). Drawing a line between what we call the "social expression" market (the teenager whose choice of music or movie posters are a visual shorthand to tell people what kind of person they are) and the broader decorative - ie wall art - market where a poster is there both for its aesthetic merits as well as for its content/subject or design theme.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10468"><img alt="The Supremes UK Tour Poster" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="353" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEyk5RB7YZVrSskrmwvicf_eAlX6Purx4pC9LxWdKSc5g1em4d6BUfmEfj5yJ04C77jAMf7Ilf-XFzzbQCIFdvE6ZGzJS9gJ5Lx_M4yA8l9wLjiENZA4u-uLmIxR19WOeRHGcVZXnXKz6AhkV_Zgw2i435_O6nq3EMuS73o5Mh75TdJijlct61js5CCg=w182-h257" width="182" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10468"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Supremes UK Tour Poster</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table>Our wholesale team have therefore decided that we won't - at least initially - stock music posters that are designed purely to demonstrate that you are a fan of a contemporary band or a singer or love a just released film. Musically these are the posters that are a photograph of the act (or actor) doing their thing on stage/film set or showing their attitude or style accompanied with the name of the group, rapper or singer or film. Given the size of the New Zealand market and the order minimums that make sense when importing posters it just doesn't work for us to try and pick trends, there is nothing less saleable than a cutting edge music poster after the band's popularity has peaked! But we believe there is a sweet spot where a music poster captures both the spirit of the band/singer with an iconic retro/vintage design aesthetic that makes it more broadly interesting than just to fans of the group. So we are stocking retro or vintage designs that have stood the test of time already and that we believe will continue to resonate for the life of the posters on your walls.</p><p>Obviously we would like to have a diversity of designs and acts from around the world and across different genres, so we have lined up four different wholesale suppliers across the US, Australia and Europe to try and achieve this aim.</p><p>We think in particular that vintage music poster designs for concerts and album releases are true to the spirit of New Zealand Fine Prints, they fit with our extensive range of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Vintage_Posters" target="_blank">vintage travel, tourism and advertising posters</a> from what are now well-known graphic designers. This is where we offer a good quality reproduction of an authentic poster design, a replica as close as we can get to the original - ie without Photoshopping the imperfections.</p><p>Illustrating this post are examples of some of the new movie and music posters that are now in stock at New Zealand's wall art specialists since 1966, please check out our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Music_Theatre_Prints">music and film poster collection</a> to see everything we currently have for sale.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-36095979623706423022021-12-31T17:09:00.001+13:002021-12-31T17:11:16.526+13:00Common Mistakes When Choosing Wall Art | New Zealand Fine Prints<h1> Common Mistakes When Choosing Wall Art </h1>
When looking at inspiration for <a href="http://prints.co.nz" target="_blank">wall art online</a>, it’s easy to feel like the choice of art doesn’t matter, and most examples online look great because they’re in an expensive home! But the truth is, if you’re smart about the art pieces you choose to hang, you can make an interior look more incredible than you’d guess. No matter what your home décor looks like, putting some thought into choosing wall art can elevate your space, and transform your interior into something spectacular.<div><br /></div><div>Below, we’re going to cover some of the common mistakes you should avoid when choosing art to hang on your wall, so you can get the most out of your home!</div><div><br />
<h2>The Wrong Art for the Wrong Room </h2>
Step one is to make sure that a piece of art matches the room it’s in. A lot of the time, people will choose art pieces that look good online or in a store, but don’t match the room they’re being purchased for.<div><br /></div><div>Professional interior designers or decorators usually approach this by first focusing on the <i>function</i> of a room. By understanding what each room is for, you get a better sense of the atmosphere you want to create with certain pieces of art. Sometimes this can require some experimentation, but there are some rules of thumb you can use as a starting point. For instance, a lounge is more likely to have a piece that’s colourful and dramatic than the bathroom, where it’s generally preferable to hang more relaxing or straightforward pieces.</div><div><br />
<h2>Misusing Wall Space </h2>
One of the easiest mistakes to make when hanging art is underusing or overusing the space you have available to you. One piece hanging alone in the middle of a large wall will feel odd, as will many pieces covering a wall completely. You always want a bit of open space to let the pieces breathe, but too much can be distracting. </div><div><br /></div><div>This can depend on personal style; some people go for a very cluttered look on purpose, and this can work occasionally! But for most people’s homes a balance is preferable.</div><div><br /></div><div>Generally speaking, more open space on a wall is more soothing. This means that louder, more dynamic pieces of art might look better with nothing around them than a more subdued, tame piece of art, because the emptiness balances out the noise of the piece of art. It often depends on the colours of the art and how they contrast with the colour of the wall. A lot of contrast can make one single piece of art pop, while pieces that are a similar colour to the wall will blend into it if surrounded by nothing but empty space.</div><div><br />
<h2>Setting the Mood for the Wrong People </h2>
This mistake is more common than you might guess! When choosing wall art, homeowners often pick pieces based on the impression they want the space to give to guests and visitors. While this is important, and very much worth factoring into your decisions, it’s a mistake to prioritise this over choosing art that makes a good impression on you! And there’s a simple reason for this; you’re the one who has to look at it the most. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is why you’ll hear people saying it’s important to limit how eye-catching art pieces are in places like the bathroom. While it might seem like a fun idea to throw caution to the wind and put a really arresting piece of art in the bathroom, there’s a real chance that you’ll get sick of looking at it while brushing your teeth every day! So, most decorators opt for calming décor in the bathroom, and save more dramatic pieces for rooms where the owner will spend less time, like a hallway near the front door. </div><div><br /></div><div>Again, it’s ultimately up to you, but it’s always worth thinking ahead and considering what it’s going to really be like looking at a piece of art every day.</div><div><br />
<h3>Ready to choose some art for your home? </h3>
The NZ Fine Prints collection has a wide range of art pieces, in varying styles, moods, and materials, including some of the best <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Canvas_Prints " target="_blank">canvas art prints in NZ</a>, from celebrated Kiwi artists. No matter which room you’re decorating, we can help you take it to the next level. Take a look at our site and explore our categories today!
</div></div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-15685551752848705522021-10-30T09:15:00.001+13:002021-10-30T09:15:54.635+13:00How Does Landscape Art Contain Emotion? | NZ Fine Prints<h1> How Does Landscape Art Contain Emotion? </h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7FkGehbGkf7DBlJP-qYHmRMVFto-RbyfqRSCfOJAL1T0a_juwGCRXgqWkfe5jPh9sS-kZt3Djk4LBCThvzEStmKmbOBI-cP6f_7wkzMr7ZBHgVC6Pl5C6e1w1bGFRNMdv6Si49uyH8C0/s1000/NZ_Landscape_Painting_Lusk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Painting of NZ landscape with sea surrounded by hills" border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1000" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7FkGehbGkf7DBlJP-qYHmRMVFto-RbyfqRSCfOJAL1T0a_juwGCRXgqWkfe5jPh9sS-kZt3Djk4LBCThvzEStmKmbOBI-cP6f_7wkzMr7ZBHgVC6Pl5C6e1w1bGFRNMdv6Si49uyH8C0/w640-h344/NZ_Landscape_Painting_Lusk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>
If you’ve ever looked at landscape art you might have wondered what the artist was trying to capture. As with most art, understanding an artist’s intention can require some time. Look long enough at a landscape painting, and you might be able to feel the emotions that the painter was trying to capture!
Landscapes make popular <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/ ">art prints</a> for their ability to evoke emotions. In today’s blog post, we’re exploring which techniques artists use to create evocative landscapes.<div><br />
<h2>The history of landscapes</h2>
The most famous landscape artists are usually associated with the Romanticism movement in art. There’s a whole range of styles within romantic landscape paintings, from peaceful, pastoral visions of nature, to awe-inspiring visions of mountains and storms. A lot of romantic landscapes were used to comment on religious or philosophical ideas, but it was in this movement that the association between landscapes and emotion was forged. This association more or less still exists today; we still expect contemporary landscape art to evoke emotions when we look at it.
In many ways, the Romanticists set the blueprint for the common techniques used in landscapes, especially in regard to capturing certain emotions. Below, we’re going to look at three.</div><div><br />
<h2>1. Colour </h2><div><br /></div>
The colours chosen by an artist can have a huge impact on the effect it will produce for the audience. One of the most famous landscape painters, <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Turner_JMW">Joseph Mallord William Turner</a> (usually just called Willian Turner), was a master at using colour in landscapes. In fact, Turner was a key reason that landscape paintings became popular in the first place.
Turner painted both sunsets and sunrises over Venice multiple times in his life, and in all these paintings the colours aren’t necessarily realistic. Often, he painted scenes like this with a reduced palette. All the bright colours are used to depict the rising or setting sun, and the rest of the image is grey or yellow, almost unfinished looking. This forces the eye to focus on the sun, just like how a real sunset or sunrise captures your attention; everything else around you seems to fade away.
A lot of early landscapes also used warm colours to create feelings of nostalgia or comfort, especially when depicting the countryside and trying to foster a sense of kinship with the land.</div><div><br />
<h2>2. Brush techniques</h2>
The brushstrokes also change the way a landscape feels. Harsh, sharp brush techniques make the bristles of the brush stand out a lot more in the paint, and this can dramatically alter the atmosphere of a piece of art. One of the most interesting things about this is that the effect can change based on the context creating a sense of grief, or chaos, or even awe. Landscape painters in particular tend to use visible brushstrokes to reinforce the power of nature.</div><div><br />
<h2>3. Scale</h2>
Landscape artists often choose subjects that are overwhelmingly big, like mountains, the sea, or the sky, and all these subjects have roots in the romantic origins of landscape paintings.
Romanticists were fascinated by an emotion that they called the “sublime”, and this was true of Romantic poets and writers too, not just visual artists. To the Romanticists, the sublime was best described as a feeling of being overwhelmed by the sheer scale and beauty of the world. You may have even felt this yourself, when looking up into a clear starry sky, or down at a rolling view from the top of a mountain. It’s an experience that makes you feel tiny and insignificant, but also enthralled by the beauty of the scene.
For the Romanticists, it usually had an explicit connection to Christianity too; they felt they were experiencing God through the majesty of nature, so in many ways, the sublime was a spiritual experience. Quite a hard thing to attempt to capture in a painting!
To try to replicate the unique mixture of powerlessness and euphoria, early landscape artists chose to paint things that were massive, and usually tried to show this to the audience by painting tiny people into the scene for scale, showing them dwarfed by the scene around them.</div><div><br />
<h3>Interested in landscape art for your home?</h3>
Here at NZ Fine Prints, we have a whole collection of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Contemporary_NZ_Landscape ">contemporary New Zealand landscape art</a>, showcasing our own unique environment and its beauty. Browse our collection to find some of the best landscape <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Canvas_Prints ">canvas art prints in NZ</a>, like Dale Gallagher’s <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9924 ">Majestic Fiordland</a>, and <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9922 ">Church of the Good Shepherd Lake Tekapo</a>.
Landscape prints can bring true character to your home or office and make a great way to celebrate the stunning environment here in Aotearoa. To find out more, feel free to contact us today!
</div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-31561353755840145892021-09-30T16:37:00.005+13:002021-09-30T16:37:48.376+13:00Portraits: Why Are They So Common in Art? | NZ Fine Prints
<h1> Portraits: Why Are They So Common in Art? </h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSXJi9bnUc9FCNL5r5Q8gZPhCh7gEgsH6bN-fETL0sfCI1QU4ZTzKt_XPshsMvn7TTpLa3aF5l0j4xewNgCoGVwddSOLHMiFcoiTE_REMH7zLMtqJguUkvE3ncQtuVgqe-zbYZAO_e5VN/s1111/Portrait-art-knight.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Painting of knight in front of castle surrounded by other people" border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1111" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSXJi9bnUc9FCNL5r5Q8gZPhCh7gEgsH6bN-fETL0sfCI1QU4ZTzKt_XPshsMvn7TTpLa3aF5l0j4xewNgCoGVwddSOLHMiFcoiTE_REMH7zLMtqJguUkvE3ncQtuVgqe-zbYZAO_e5VN/w640-h445/Portrait-art-knight.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>
There’s no doubt that <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Portraits">portrait art</a> is one of the most common art types, and that this has always been the case. But why are portraits so prevalent, both in the history of art and today? In this blog post, we’re going to explore why portraits are so popular, and so common in many different movements of art!<div><br />
<h2>1. Making portraits paid well </h2>
Historically, painters could count on portraits when they needed income. This idea grew out of the practice of ‘court painting’, wherein painters like <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Goya_Francisco">Fransisco Goya</a> were kept on retainer to create paintings of royalty. For a lot of history, commissioned work like this was basically the function of art; the idea of ‘personal inspiration’ is relatively new to modern society! A huge amount of historical art began not with the painter themselves, but with someone else paying the painter to create a piece.
It's probably worth mentioning that this idea is drawn mostly from the European tradition of art, which we’re focusing on in particular, because it’s more or less where a lot of the formal ideas about portrait painting come from. Many of the most famous European paintings of all time are, in fact, commissioned work, including the <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/509">Mona Lisa</a>!
And it’s easy to understand why people were eager to pay artists to paint themselves or their families, because it was the only way to keep images of loved ones before photography existed everywhere in the western world.
The movement away from commissioned portraits is though to be relatively slow. It began as a practice reserved for the rich, but slowly became more accessible for lower classes in European societies, until eventually, painters simply began painting portraits of people they knew, or even strangers they happened to see.</div><div><br />
<h2>2. People like people! </h2>
The next big reason portraits have always been popular is very straightforward; we’re social creatures! Humans enjoy looking at other humans, and portraits were one of the first ways we could reproduce the experience of looking at someone.
There is more to it than that, of course. On a deeper level, portraits can also reveal all sorts of interesting things about their subjects. Part of this lies in the decisions that are made by the artist. How have they chosen to represent the subject of the painting, and what does this say about how people viewed the subject at the time? With older paintings, it can be a full-time job investigating the historical context surrounding these questions, but they are still engaging to think about for anyone, whether they collect art or not.
Portraits can also tell us a lot about someone from the level of detail alone. A great example is the oil painting <i>Virgin and Child with Canon van der Paele</i> by Jan van Eyck. The painting depicts its donor, Joris van der Paele, and modern medical experts now believe that they can guess how he died from the details in the painting alone. The two biggest clues are the spectacles he carries, and an enlarged vein on his head, which suggest he suffered from temporal arteritis. Jan van Eyck’s paintings were known for this level of minute detail, and it’s incredible that his portraits can tell us things about their subjects that the people of the time didn’t even know.
Overall, it will always be true that people are fascinated by other people, and portraits give us a window into how other people think, showing us either how the subject wanted to be seen, or how the artist wanted to show them, or both!</div><div><br />
<h2>3. People like painters </h2>
This final point is an extension of the one above, with a twist. It’s true that people are social beings, but it’s especially true that we tend to be fascinated by the painters themselves, and self-portraits have always carried this mystique with them, offering us a glimpse into the creative mind. Just as portraits can tell us about how their subjects were viewed, self-portraits can tell us how artists view themselves.
A lot of painters painted self-portraits during their careers, but <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Kahlo_Frida">Frida Kahlo</a> is probably one of the most well-known artists of the form, creating over fifty self-portraits during her life. The Two Fridas is one of her most analysed self-portraits because she painted two versions of herself; one in European clothes, and one in traditional Tehuana clothing. The meaning behind this has been discussed for decades, and many different theories have been proposed, including by Kahlo herself, who said it was representative of a memory of a childhood friend.</div><div><br />
<h3>Do you like portraits? </h3>
These are just a few of the reasons that portraits are so common and have been so influential. However, art comes down to taste a lot of the time, so no matter how popular they are or have been, they’re not for everyone! On the other hand, if you’re not a fan, you shouldn’t give up on the whole genre straight away! Portraiture contains so many different styles of art that there’s always a chance you’ll find something new and fall in love with it!
Portraits make great additions to your home too. Here at New Zealand Fine Prints, we have a range of portraits available under the portrait category on our site. You can also find some classic portraits in our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Framed_Prints ">framed wall art</a> collection, including our largest portrait print by <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Goldie_Charles">CF Goldie</a>, who was best known for his portraits of Maori dignitaries. To find out more, browse our range today!
</div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-7597538851997022682021-07-31T18:39:00.004+12:002021-09-30T16:43:37.186+13:00How to Hang Wall Art Like A Pro | NZ Fine Prints<h1> How to Hang Wall Art Like A Pro </h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPe0XBeFCNuXHUAeDLsGNYWyK4P_3z5kNw3U4esqF87lYtbpF5wRGYeeXzCQswt2otHFUB4AAGGh_hhBwpAnsJDupZ5LrLt6kCql8-eoRJg6r2F17H9bniUweodRscm0JG30xqQ9Y5oIb/s1112/How-to-hang-framed-wall-art.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A collection of art prints ready to be hung up" border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1112" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPe0XBeFCNuXHUAeDLsGNYWyK4P_3z5kNw3U4esqF87lYtbpF5wRGYeeXzCQswt2otHFUB4AAGGh_hhBwpAnsJDupZ5LrLt6kCql8-eoRJg6r2F17H9bniUweodRscm0JG30xqQ9Y5oIb/w640-h428/How-to-hang-framed-wall-art.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>
Having <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/ ">art prints</a> in your home is a great way to express your creativity and personal style, and making an extra effort to thoughtfully hang your favourite images will only help maximise the aesthetics of your home. This guide will provide a few tips on arranging your art to get the most out of your walls. <div> <h2> Determine Your Location </h2><div><br /></div>
Once you have collected your pieces of print art, you'll want to start to think about the best place to hang them in your home. As most <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Canvas_Prints">canvas prints</a> are susceptible to damage from elements like temperature and humidity, it's recommended that they hang in a cool and dry area of your home. Some optimal areas include living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways where the temperature stays consistent.<div><br /></div><div>Luckily, within these areas, there are so many different places to hang your wall art, such as above: <div> • a bed </div><div> • living room furniture </div><div> • a fireplace </div><div> • a desk
</div><div><br /></div><div>You can ultimately much hang your art anywhere in these areas that there is a blank wall available. The choice is yours!
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<h2>Consider the Arrangement </h2><div><br /></div>
But before you even think about hanging your art, it's essential that you consider the arrangement of your pieces. This step will help you to avoid any unnecessary holes in your wall. </div><div><br /></div><div>We recommend gathering your art prints, placing them on a table—or even the floor—and moving their positions until you find an arrangement that you like best. This process allows you to get creative and try different layouts without committing to one solution. Once you have made your final decision, take a photo of the arrangement so you can refer back to the picture as you begin to hang them. </div><div><br /></div><div>This technique is especially valuable for prints in a series. Some pieces of art are designed to be hung together—in a triptych for example. On the other hand, you might take three pieces from completely different artists, and decide that you want to make a series out of them! Art that uses similar colours or themes is ideal for matching like this.</div><div><br />
<h2>Hanging Multiple Prints </h2><div><br /></div>
If you are working with an extensive collection of art, you might find yourself needing to create several different series of prints—perhaps a series for each room. When you have a lot of art to arrange like this, it's important to treat them as a gallery to achieve a balanced look. </div><div><br /></div><div>When you are arranging wall art with groups of prints, you can really get creative. Try a few different techniques like hanging them side-by-side, slightly staggered, symmetrically, or even asymmetrically. Whatever layout you decide on, we highly recommend using low adhesive tape to plan out your arrangement on your wall and help you determine your optimal hanging position and nail placement.
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<h2>Judge the Distance </h2><div><br /></div>
Measuring your available space and the distance between each print will help keep the correct spacing between them as you begin to hang them on your wall. Ideally, the space between each piece should be in the range of 5cm to 15cm. This, as a general rule, is the sweet spot.
</div><div><br /></div><div>Another helpful recommendation is that your art arrangement should not span wider than the piece of furniture that you're hanging it over. While these "rules" are certainly solid advice, feel free to experiment with different measurements, especially if you want to achieve a different effect.
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<h2>Hang at Eye-Level </h2><div><br /></div>
Most people tend to hang their wall art too high on the wall, and it's widely accepted in the art world that the optimal position to hang a piece is at eye level. To be exact, you should look to hang your print at the height of 5'7, which represents the average human eye height, and is also a measurement that is regularly used in galleries and museums. </div><div><br /></div><div> Of course, there are a few exceptions to this rule. For those with low ceilings, you will have to calculate the optimal position based on the available space, and if you intend to hang your art over a couch or a fireplace, these prints will naturally be placed higher on the wall. </div><div><br />
<h3><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/contact-us.html">Reach Out to Us</a> for More </h3><div><br /></div>
For more information on how to hang your art like a pro, reach out to our team of experts—we are more than happy to answer any of your questions. If you are still searching for your dream prints, check out our stunning range of canvas prints and <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Framed_Prints">framed wall art </a>in our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/">online store</a>. </div></div></div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-19586216080458529842021-07-01T14:12:00.001+12:002021-07-01T14:12:18.285+12:00How to Look After Your Canvas Art Prints | NZ Fine Prints <h1> How to Look After Your Canvas Art Prints </h1><div><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPlrdebdqlrz_6ia396pZWSwnuspgZ3MPTCcEM4S6xggaBqG1StVX1ReVjNP6lP6TUQmKmvdbX5A9mlSsV9Dwo2znycUArCWMYj1AW0Yg357_J1HBR4M5WaBZNAsMPAkiCTiI_udczVF3/s275/Care-for-canvas-prints-in-nz.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="One of our selection of canvas art prints" border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPlrdebdqlrz_6ia396pZWSwnuspgZ3MPTCcEM4S6xggaBqG1StVX1ReVjNP6lP6TUQmKmvdbX5A9mlSsV9Dwo2znycUArCWMYj1AW0Yg357_J1HBR4M5WaBZNAsMPAkiCTiI_udczVF3/s16000/Care-for-canvas-prints-in-nz.jpeg" /></a></div>Canvas art prints today are brilliant quality and should be long lasting as well. They are a beautiful way to enjoy your favourite artwork on your walls every day. When you invest in a canvas piece that you love it’s worth spending that little extra time learning how to look after it properly. In this guide, we will discuss the proper handling and care your canvas print will need to stay in perfect condition for years to come.<div><br /><br /><br /><h2>Hang in a Cool and Dry Room (this can be ignored though*)</h2>
Once you have purchased your print and and we've delivered it to your home or office, you will likely begin to think about the walls where it will hang best. Wherever you decide to place your piece, we advise considering elements such as the temperature and humidity of the room. For a canvas print, cool and dry conditions are best since heat and moisture can cause your canvas to stretch over time. It is good practice to avoid hanging in areas like bathrooms and kitchens where heat and humidity often accumulate. The optimal rooms to hang your prints tend to be the living room and bedroom, where humidity is low, and the temperature stays mostly consistent. *However we might also contradict ourselves a bit here, in that canvas prints can work really well in bathroom or kitchen because unlike an original artwork you won't be as concerned if the canvas does take a bit of a hammering from humidity and heat because it is relatively inexpensive and easy to replace!</div><div><br />
<h2>Avoid Direct Sunlight</h2>
Hanging a canvas print in a well-lit area of your home will undoubtedly bring out its vibrant colours, but—if possible—we recommend keeping your new wall art out of direct sunlight unless you don't mind having to replace the artwork every few years. Canvas art (and in fact most artwork) really does not fare well under frequent exposure to the harsh NZ sunlight. While most canvas prints are sprayed with a UV-resistant coating consistent direct sunlight can still cause your print to eventually fade a lot faster.</div><div><br />
<h2>Frequent Dusting </h2>
Like any furniture or fixture in your home, your canvas print will accumulate cobwebs and dust. To keep your print looking stunning, we recommend dusting it regularly using a dry, soft brush, or even using a clean feather duster to gently wipe the canvas’s surface. If you can, try to avoid rubbing the print with your fingers, as this can damage the print material. If you have a <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Framed_Prints">framed canvas print</a>, feel free to use a damp cloth to remove any dust, but be sure not to spray any water directly onto the exposed print.<div><br />
<h2>Don’t Use Chemical Cleaners </h2>
We strongly advise against using chemicals to clean your print. Many household cleaning solutions contain strong acids that can cause real damage if they come into contact with your wall print. Most prints are treated with a protective UV coating that does not react well to chemical or water-based cleaners, often responding by breaking down and stripping the ink. If your print needs a more thorough cleaning, you can try running a damp microfibre cloth or a dry lint-free cloth over it gently. For tougher stains and grime, your best option is to take your print to an art restorer, they will work carefully to clean your print without any damage.</div><div><br />
<h2>Careful Storage </h2>
Whether you’re moving to a new house or simply updating your home or office décor, you may want to put your canvas prints in storage. The key to storing your prints is to have them upright in either back-to-back or face-to-face positions—this ensures that they are protected from damage. If possible, it’s also recommended to keep them off the floor, as this will help prevent them from absorbing moisture out of the ground and reduce the chances of physical damage.
If your canvas is going into long-term storage, we advise wrapping it in acid-free craft paper or even acid-free bubble wrap, which will keep your print from scratching and yellowing from being in contact with acidic wrapping materials.</div><div><br />
<h3>Find Your Own Stunning Canvas Print </h3>
With the proper care, it’s easy to keep your canvas art prints looking vibrant and pristine for years to come. If you have any doubts about your cleaning and storing methods, refer back to this guide, or <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/contact-us.html">contact</a> one of our team for more advice.
If you’re interested in purchasing a high-quality print for your home, we have a stunning range of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Canvas_Prints">canvas prints</a> in our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/">online store</a>, deliverable across New Zealand and around the work (unframed canvases only outside of NZ). Browse our collection today and find one that you love!
</div></div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-7580289882327977052021-04-02T09:41:00.004+13:002021-04-02T09:42:29.101+13:00Van Gogh and Surrealist Exhibitions in NZ This Year | NZ Fine Prints<h1> Van Gogh and Surrealist Exhibitions Landing in NZ This Year </h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV_c-HEdgB4D8KEtqmT4tiGjh7qIR34VXvqrPFzA83Gbv7O6PJiPlJisI69Htw6Or67fxks09tn5JfJM3n5EiUmSAQdmWOE400fIxwfrHIn1GkGol_Y6Bcff1eSkbkVfdoRppxdQ9TQXp/s1111/vincent-van-gogh-paintings-and-surrealism-paintings-exhibition-2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vincent Van Gogh self-portrait on wall" border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1111" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV_c-HEdgB4D8KEtqmT4tiGjh7qIR34VXvqrPFzA83Gbv7O6PJiPlJisI69Htw6Or67fxks09tn5JfJM3n5EiUmSAQdmWOE400fIxwfrHIn1GkGol_Y6Bcff1eSkbkVfdoRppxdQ9TQXp/w640-h427/vincent-van-gogh-paintings-and-surrealism-paintings-exhibition-2021.jpg" title="Vincent Van Gogh Self Portrait in an exhibition" width="640" /></a></div><br />Two exciting exhibitions are on in Aotearoa in 2021: the enormously successful “Van Gogh Alive” experience and a visiting collection of surrealist works in Te Papa. Both exhibitions shine a light on some of the most enduring art of our history, and both aim to showcase the work in new and provocative ways. In this blog, we’re exploring the subject matter of these shows and delving deeper into the details of the exhibitions, to give you an idea of what to expect.<div><br />
<h2>The Legacy of Vincent Van Gogh </h2>
While very well-known today, Vincent Van Gogh spent his entire career working in obscurity. Over ten years, he created over two thousand artworks, including roughly 860 oil paintings, many of which he completed in the last two years of his life. It was in this later period that he developed the style he is famous for today; much of his highly expressive brushwork isn’t present in a large majority of his early work.
The Dutch post-impressionist painter only became a major influence on western art after his death at 37, in 1890. This has made him the archetype of the “tortured artist” and given his story a poetic, tragic quality that plays into his enduring popularity. Despite the common perception of his creativity and mental illness being two sides of the same coin, it’s largely accepted now that he only painted during those times in his life in which he was not depressed or in poverty.
Regardless, his work lives on, and prints of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Van_Gogh_Vincent ">Vincent Van Gogh paintings</a> remain some of the most popular items we have ever stocked here at NZ Fine Prints.</div><div><br />
<h2>Van Gogh Alive </h2>
The “<a href="https://vangoghalive.co.nz/ " rel="nofollow">Van Gogh Alive</a>” experience first came to New Zealand last year, appearing on Wellington’s waterfront as ‘Digital Nights’. The new show is a large-scale, indoor installation, designed to take attendees on a journey through the various stages of Van Gogh’s life, and transport them to the places he lived and worked over his career, such as Arles, Saint Rémy, and Auvers-sur-Oise.
The experience is a multi-media adventure, including a musical score and projected moving images, offering visitors the chance to go beyond the surface of each of Van Gogh’s works and step inside them instead.
The installation has been confirmed to exceed the government’s current COVID-19 health guidelines. The show has already concluded in Wellington, but tickets are still available to book for the current run in Christchurch, which concludes on March 28, and the upcoming opening in Auckland, which will run from April 10 through to May 6.</div><div><br />
<h2>From Van Gogh to Surrealism </h2>
In many ways, Van Gogh paved the way in the late 19th century for the surrealist movement in the early 20th century, which has its roots in numerous earlier traditions, post-impressionism included. The first surrealist manifestos were published only 30 or so years after Van Gogh’s death.
Like Van Gogh, surrealist paintings have proven to be enduring, although it’s harder to say why. The abstract nature of the work may give it a timeless quality; many surrealist pieces look like they could have been painted yesterday. It’s also possible that art movements tend to remain popular when they are attached to an idea or a way of life. Early adherents of surrealism certainly talked about it being more than just an art movement; they wanted to create a new way of life, and challenge existing conceptions about how people ought to think and act. As humans, we tend to enjoy the concept of trailblazers, especially in art.</div><div><br />
<h2>Te Papa’s Upcoming Surrealism Exhibition </h2>
Due to open last June but postponed due to COVID-19, this upcoming exhibition will showcase 180 surrealist works, including well-known paintings by Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Marcel Duchamp, and more. Organised by Te Papa curator Lizzie Bisley, the exhibition is possible thanks to the collection’s usual home—the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen—being closed for renovations. It is the first time the collection will be on display in Australasia and the first opportunity many Kiwis will have ever had to see some of the world’s most famous surrealist pieces first-hand.
Like the “Van Gogh Alive” experience, this exhibition will feature digital projections and interactive elements. Visitors will even be invited to record their own dreams, so they can take part in the creation of surrealist art too! Te Papa is planning to run a schedule of public events in tandem with the exhibition, to further enhance the showing.</div><div><br />
<h3>Bring a piece of art history home </h3>
Here at New Zealand Fine Prints, we have a wide range of pieces from many famous art movements. Our collection includes the largest range of prints of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Surrealism ">surrealism paintings</a> in New Zealand, from artists such as Salvador Dali, M.C. Escher and Rene Magritte. If you want a piece of art history to call your own, browse our collection today, and find one that speaks to you!
</div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-31936982100603395822021-02-24T16:44:00.003+13:002021-02-24T16:44:45.600+13:00Beautiful Black and White Art Prints for Your Home | NZ Fine Prints<h1 style="text-align: left;">Beautiful Black and White Art Prints for Your Home </h1><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTiXfy4yUzMh6bLWmnARlP90rJOecux3jcSG9_Fdnc3hsnfEJyLKgM0zmKFoilIQAdHnlp1U_oUUkCSQBykFKHnPdF1dw_IQm7Hpb2wOS1g37H8Rh-pUB6hxpq4m1UdXVsNinP8XOMH9r/s512/Black-and-white-art-prints-nz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="As the Mist Clears by Robyn Schroeder, black and white art print" border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTiXfy4yUzMh6bLWmnARlP90rJOecux3jcSG9_Fdnc3hsnfEJyLKgM0zmKFoilIQAdHnlp1U_oUUkCSQBykFKHnPdF1dw_IQm7Hpb2wOS1g37H8Rh-pUB6hxpq4m1UdXVsNinP8XOMH9r/s16000/Black-and-white-art-prints-nz.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black & white print by NZ artist Robyn Schroder "As the Mist Clears"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Monochrome </span><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">art prints</span></a><span style="text-align: left;"> have long been a staple when it comes to decorating, as black and white—when used appropriately—can fit into almost any colour scheme. Many different styles of interior design make use of monochrome tones, including minimalist, contemporary, art deco, and Scandinavian design. Even very vibrant colour palettes can benefit from a bit of black and white, as black helps bring a space down to earth and gives other colours a grounding point, while white provides a dramatic contrast. Including both is a great way to focus the look of almost any space and bring a fresh sophistication to it.
Here in New Zealand, black and white (or silver) are two of our national colours, along with the red ochre seen on the Tino Rangatiratanga flag. When adding a bit of black and white to a space here in Aotearoa, it carries a little bit of extra meaning, and can really be a chance to create a visual context that us Kiwis live within.
Below, we showcase our favourite monochrome art prints, with particular attention to the those that reference our home right here at the bottom of the world.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><h2><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9061"><span style="color: black;">Rise Up – Barry Ross Smith</span></a></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStQh0EvrofHOCNv0ipPrYVpSxdlo25Mc5nF_zK_hER8eIp4aQchjvu4cK9l2sQ0Gu195tnBH1Qwxe3bP02DWXmwNGZ36wfbyjLIV8ltWpQ8zd7KM5HyrOgbhHAnc4d2RONsB8Vh-UoxmD/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Haka bulls" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="392" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStQh0EvrofHOCNv0ipPrYVpSxdlo25Mc5nF_zK_hER8eIp4aQchjvu4cK9l2sQ0Gu195tnBH1Qwxe3bP02DWXmwNGZ36wfbyjLIV8ltWpQ8zd7KM5HyrOgbhHAnc4d2RONsB8Vh-UoxmD/w320-h226/image.png" title="Rise up by Barry Ross Smith" width="320" /></a></div><br />First, we have this print by Barry Ross Smith. It’s no surprise that a lot of Kiwiana artworks reference our national pastime—rugby. For many, the All Blacks are the first thing that comes to mind when you mention ‘black’ and ‘New Zealand’ in the same sentence. Nearly all our national sports teams use either black or silver in some way, and this translates easily into the monochrome pieces created by Kiwi artists.
Barry describes this painting as evoking the passion we feel for our national game, while tying it to our agricultural heritage.</div><div><br />
<h2><br /></h2><h2><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9032"><span style="color: black;">Mince – Dick Frizzell</span></a></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7XbFOpphpRnW2SnazBWNKj69ohrsQ9RZ0-XrE5Ln6D3N5rduffh04vrjiQWFq8oQEfxx66pjlJAWz-2tY_EfwluFWXckpaabo1eKEO6DI5U3clrjVrQMFTh0Y67OmR67Nw55SWEZ1ara/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mincer with knife" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="226" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7XbFOpphpRnW2SnazBWNKj69ohrsQ9RZ0-XrE5Ln6D3N5rduffh04vrjiQWFq8oQEfxx66pjlJAWz-2tY_EfwluFWXckpaabo1eKEO6DI5U3clrjVrQMFTh0Y67OmR67Nw55SWEZ1ara/w240-h320/image.png" title="Mince Dick Frizzell Limited Edition Print" width="240" /></a></div><br />Part of a series of domestic graphics, ‘Mince’ is an understated print, perfect for the kitchen. It embodies the labour of household management, but chooses to do so in a sharp, uncompromising way, referencing the Kiwi approach to practical living.
This screenprint is available on Artistico Fabriano cotton rag paper.
<h2><br /></h2><h2><br /></h2><h2><br /></h2><h2><br /></h2><div><br /></div><h2><br /></h2><h2><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9791"><span style="color: black;">As the Mist Clears – Robyn Schroeder</span></a></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ccRwMPLp98musYY2xKCAkV_2lYDuoneQq4Nz28sg70m8vbp7QZvHP7mu_2Z2A-ib54uOd7Dk0Rt6bf-jM-WZvozYpb13_Bc_0gOZlL0Sp835ZCKgLF5zngEN-Eoco7KdGN_7P1x5xMqK/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Monochrome NZ landscape with lake & trees" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="372" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ccRwMPLp98musYY2xKCAkV_2lYDuoneQq4Nz28sg70m8vbp7QZvHP7mu_2Z2A-ib54uOd7Dk0Rt6bf-jM-WZvozYpb13_Bc_0gOZlL0Sp835ZCKgLF5zngEN-Eoco7KdGN_7P1x5xMqK/w320-h239/image.png" title="As the Mist Clears by Robyn Schroeder" width="320" /></a></div><br />This print of Robyn Schroeder’s original painting showcases another element of Aotearoa that we hold dear—the natural landscape. Presented in stark black and white, this piece depicts mist evaporating off a South Island lake in the morning.
Connection to the land has always been important for those living in New Zealand, giving this piece an unspoken weight and beauty. This print is ideal for pulling together larger spaces, like the dining or living room.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />
<h2><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10344"><span style="color: black;">Game of Two Halves – Weston Frizzell</span></a></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKd8P2ofRpg4vC2Otij1hlHC86TwV9EmNW-iCUjgm6gQzlkT5OxOqn2Up6R22viYk4qpPxHtpXlMbS02If1k4uvlEC5AwRxMx5z0RIJpksW0VJZl7Trq0hFmRGL9TjBENZ6xVshUMUNj3/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black & White Rugby Ball with Koru lacing" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="359" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKd8P2ofRpg4vC2Otij1hlHC86TwV9EmNW-iCUjgm6gQzlkT5OxOqn2Up6R22viYk4qpPxHtpXlMbS02If1k4uvlEC5AwRxMx5z0RIJpksW0VJZl7Trq0hFmRGL9TjBENZ6xVshUMUNj3/w320-h312/image.png" title="Game of Two Halves - Print by Weston Frizzell" width="320" /></a></div><br />Another Frizzell family piece, this print is a cool piece of modern NZ printmaking which also celebrates our national game of rugby. It is a sophisticated representation of the game, referencing the popular phrase “game of two halves”, which is used to state that any situation could end any number of ways, regardless of how it seems to be going now.
It also references the koru shape, the illusionist works of MC Escher, and the dualist concept of Yin and Yang.
<h2><br /></h2><h2><br /></h2><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h2><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10333"><span style="color: black;">Scared – Colin McCahon</span></a></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-2tfBTEO0si4vP2DT-7oa7qp1NAophTwpMgOZaznXWAJYIagHGIOpYIyergxwM5th4nIXcvJi5fJP2brLlT886_R9veTW_cy_e_MrIFr49IogiEq8ul3r7aDtmGIF7isH4nD4OGQ1ki1/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I am Scared, I stand up in Colin McCahon's handwriting" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="397" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-2tfBTEO0si4vP2DT-7oa7qp1NAophTwpMgOZaznXWAJYIagHGIOpYIyergxwM5th4nIXcvJi5fJP2brLlT886_R9veTW_cy_e_MrIFr49IogiEq8ul3r7aDtmGIF7isH4nD4OGQ1ki1/w320-h213/image.png" title="Scared, Colin McCahon Fine Art Print" width="320" /></a></div>Finally, we have this NZ masterwork. More abstract than the others presented so far, ‘Scared’ can be seen as a highly personal work, and an allegory of McCahon’s life, but its cry is also a universal one—a call of protest and a demand to take action.
Colin McCahon started his ‘Scared’ series in the mid-70s when he was around 60 years of age. His work was often directly related to emotion, and he talked at length about his fears and doubts when discussing his art. The artwork has a harder edge than more commercial Kiwiana style prints, making it better suited to spaces that want to be more attention grabbing, or challenging. Similar prints by this artist can be found in our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_McCahon_Colin"><span style="color: black;">Colin McCahon art</span></a> collection.</div><div><br />
<h3>Learn more about decorating with Fine Prints! </h3>
For more advice on decorating from the NZ experts, follow our blog for articles like this. If you’re interested in purchasing high-quality prints in black and white, you can also take a look at our new <span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Black_and_White">black and white prints</a> </span>collection!
</div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-62376940891568135432021-02-12T13:33:00.002+13:002021-02-12T13:35:41.054+13:00 The Best New Zealand Landscapes for Art Prints | NZ Fine Prints<h1>The Best New Zealand Landscapes for Art Prints</h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_8FNEuOwljf2Wze9maIUbq_bK0ZFAM_Yjal4byPcKu6uQSB1fFSJuMsvl03aY900z7-Z6lYzYOJBwEGJqkx-68uANXBU6mfVGPKtAtYHEyXFLd0S9GiDQI3xgPKDz3sOp_cbSdlmvxR1/s533/Best-Nz-landscapes-for-framed-wall-art.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Clouds hanging over milford sound with two mountains and water between them" border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_8FNEuOwljf2Wze9maIUbq_bK0ZFAM_Yjal4byPcKu6uQSB1fFSJuMsvl03aY900z7-Z6lYzYOJBwEGJqkx-68uANXBU6mfVGPKtAtYHEyXFLd0S9GiDQI3xgPKDz3sOp_cbSdlmvxR1/s16000/Best-Nz-landscapes-for-framed-wall-art.jpg" /></a></div><br />When exploring the world of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Framed_Prints">framed wall art</a> in New Zealand, you can quickly discover that there’s a wealth of options. Landscapes are a popular pick, especially because there’s no shortage of incredible scenery in Aotearoa, and thus no shortage of art featuring stunning natural features and breathtakingly vistas, viewed through the lens of the artist.
In this blog, we look at some of the best New Zealand landscapes, and discuss why they lend themselves so well to art.<div><br />
<h2>Aotea / Great Barrier Island </h2>Aotea, known to most as Great Barrier Island, is part of Auckland’s well-known Hauraki Gulf. The island lies around 100 kilometres from the central Auckland harbour. It’s the sixth-biggest island in the country, and Mount Hobson—the island’s peak—reaches over 600 meters above the sea. Aotea is the ancestral home of Ngāti Rehua, and the island has two marae, one affiliated with Ngāti Rehua, and the other with another local iwi; Ngātiwai. <div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10299" target="_blank"><img alt="Print of Great Barrier Island by Justin Summerton" border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="500" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovIrmwJLiS3ZH-M1RtLUaTZqeIWawuOcHjEm3hEc0M_jP-Aiagno6nGv-jEhJMJEokE99csjKFzB0MeKEO3T0ZSfEO59PMGAF0Q2BES3DF6gtVKvgxtcZEs6Hf5L5_3hP2zMfKMffC7mx/w320-h247/Justin_Summerton_Great_Barrier_Island.jpg" title="Great Barrier Island by NZ artist Justin Summerton" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10299" target="_blank">Print of Great Barrier Island by Justin Summerton</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>During the colonisation of New Zealand, Aotea was settled by Europeans for mining, Kauri logging, and was later the location of New Zealand’s last whaling station. As time went on, more on more of the island fell under the protection of the Department of Conservation, and these days, over half of the island is a nature reserve. Just under 1000 people live on the island, and those who visit tend to feel like it is like stepping backward through time. </div><div><br /></div><div><br />Aotea’s position just off the coast of Auckland is a big part of what makes it so great for art. It’s pronounced shape in the heart of the harbour draws the eye, and it hasn’t been settled in the same way that other islands—like Waiheke—have. Even though it’s just next door to New Zealand’s biggest city, the island remains largely how it always has.</div><div><br />
<h2>Piopiotahi / Milford Sound </h2><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9937"><img alt="Milford Sound, New Zealand" border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="540" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj-ZIadrn6Rw9w5E-vjQRqFKkwD3jtiYzgapCbicxIEWRhvRhm2PFFGE0Nm4w2FikrnkGkjM0Ym9cqa4v5X_n3H-qxdj10UVjDNojwqZWueUuN5fjGLrJZfeVIUPa3F-PDRlswaPgfB4z/w320-h159/Milford_Sound_Canvas_Print.jpg" title="Print on canvas of Milford Sound" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-90fce910-7fff-64c4-d212-cf451d9ea925"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9937">Milford Sound Canvas Print by Dale Gallagher</a></span></i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Milford Sound, or Piopiotahi in Māori, almost needs no introduction. The South Island fjord is world-famous, having been named the world’s number one travel destination in the TripAdvisor 2008 Traveler’s Choice Awards. Piopiotahi is potentially New Zealand’s most famous attraction, and in the age of the Travel Instagram, the magical location has charmed thousands. Rudyard Kipling even once called it the eighth Wonder of the World!
It’s no wonder Milford Sound makes such a popular subject for landscape art—it’s hard to think of any part of New Zealand that looks more visually arresting. View our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/product-search.html?Search=milford+sound" target="_blank">Milford Sound prints</a> for more!</div><div><br />
<h2>Aoraki / Mount Cook </h2><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/8145" target="_blank"><img alt="Mt Cook/Aoraki and the Tasman River" border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="530" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2Oj5uq7BW0lswVSMs1L08izQwH55ypFYIe3mZmDAeGmOeUUUbajoeJ4TYNmNbsmiHaWSlQ9MZ8NrPfBN7mcjbfQK5u6hoT7yonAmHPPyCaavjNn9_jBGJj1b4IZVdZ_dGZ_nzMGd-RxR/w320-h211/Mt_Cook_Tasman_River_New_Zealand.jpg" title="Peter Beadle "Mt Cook & the Tasman River"" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/8145" target="_blank">Mt Cook & The Tasman River by Peter Beadle</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The tallest mountain in New Zealand, the mighty Aoraki reaches 3,724 metres above sea level, towering over the Southern Alps; the mountain range that forms the spine of the South Island. Mount Cook has long attracted avid mountain climbers, with several summits, and views of nearby glaciers.
Ngāi Tahu, one of the main iwi in the south of New Zealand, have a strong connection to Aoraki. They hold the mountain as a sacred ancestor—Aoraki forms a physical link between the natural world, and the supernatural. It’s easy to see why the locals hold the mountain in such high regard—it truly is awe-inspiring. Mountains—particularly volcanoes—are almost always held in high regard by indigenous peoples, and perhaps this sense of awe is also why so many artists are drawn to it, in an attempt to capture the immense sense of scope the mountain has.
View our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/product-search.html?Search=mount+cook">Mount Cook prints</a> to find the perfect landscape piece for your space.</div><div><br />
<h3>Want a piece of New Zealand’s landscape in your home? </h3>
Here at NZ Fine Prints, we sell a huge range of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Contemporary_NZ_Landscape">NZ landscape prints</a>, from a number of celebrated artists. If you’re looking to decorate your home with a piece of New Zealand’s natural majesty, you can’t do much better than a framed print. See the range for yourself in our shop today!</div></div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-87857338488684488472020-12-31T16:46:00.005+13:002020-12-31T16:48:18.873+13:00An Art Print for Every Bird of The Year | NZ Fine Prints<h1> An Art Print for Every Bird of The Year </h1>
While the annual <a href="https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/" target="_blank">Bird of the Year</a> (BOTY) competition may have already come and gone for 2020, we believe that native birds of New Zealand need all the love they can get all year round. In tribute to the Bird of the Year competition that raises awareness of native birds in Aotearoa, in this post we revisit four of the birds that have recently been voted Bird of the Year to showcase <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/">art prints</a> of each specimen by a talented avian artist from our collection of prints for sale.<div><br /><h2> The Kākāpō (2020) </h2><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: left;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/8947"><img alt="Kākāpō or Owl Parrot from Buller's Birds of NZ." border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="540" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hwiXcyRXqtlzHijy31S_CuLuKmX0u2CFQnIYdqnt2541Kvsp2JK0NA4Rz2jXEJAvAFx324LwwctlNPWbUB5H6qgS3_UuFekIgNIqYP6OsS4q9oNIjP3g042l3h_RzhBFugx8X1wGwQjK/w320-h246/Kakapo_or_Owl_Parrot_Bullers-Birds.jpg" title="Kakapo Print from Buller's Birds" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/8947">Kakapo Print from Buller's Birds of NZ</a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/8947"><br /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/8947"><br /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table>The first New Zealand bird we introduce is the kākāpō (a.k.a. stringops habroptilus), winner of New Zealand’s Bird of the Year (Te Manu Rongonui o Te Tau) for 2020. In this print, we see a beautiful rendition of the kākāpō or "Owl Parrot" from Buller's Birds of NZ. This is a fine example of this endangered species before it was endangered! This large, nocturnal bird is a flightless, ground-dwelling parrot endemic to New Zealand. First published in 1888 in Buller’s A History of Birds of New Zealand, second edition, the kākāpō is subtitled as an “Owl Parrot”, a common name at the time, now forgotten by most. Bird prints like this one will make a fine addition to any home or office, bringing a refreshing touch of natural Kiwi beauty to your walls.<h2><br /> The Kererū (2018) </h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/8950"><img alt="Kererū, the New Zealand wood pigeon by John Keulemans" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTEiSjHcbpVJGyEy_q37pGkcsCuzShrhyft5Jm1yC6g8PiFWH9XbImzqmpb00DfO0-CpgTsMfgJQtZSfPBwh_isjKqanF6Uxa0OrRhZXXBMuNY9bY7bduk5z5DHb3F2n1XXqssbE_Nn6L/w251-h320/Kereru_Art_Print.jpg" title="Kereru Print" width="251" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/8950">Print of a Kererū by Keulemans</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Meet the Kererū (Carpophaga Novae Zealandiae), the only pigeon that is native to the mainland of Aotearoa. Winner of Bird of the Year 2018, this large feathery fowl is known for its noisy wingbeats and is seen as an important seed disperser for native trees, attributed to its ability to swallow large fruits that other birds cannot. It’s for this reason that kererū are usually seen sitting on a branch, digesting their recently devoured meal.
The featured artwork elegantly captures the pigeon’s soft plumes, as it sits perched in its natural habitat. Created by John Keulemans, this image was first shown in 1888 in W.L. Buller’s A History of the Birds of New Zealand, second edition, alongside the kākāpō and many other native New Zealand fowl.
This print comes in a 350 x 490 mm sizing, surrounded by a charming white border to complement any home décor!</div><div><br /></div><div><h2> The Kea (2017) </h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10100"><img alt="Buller (After Bill Hammond) by Barry Ross Smith" border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimYV2m2EWgGYDLO_AAyipCApC46Uv4lJCpD52ziZrn3Qy68HsVg_7bhQ2stUCtBJ3uKdQetAulfCYrWSmMJrg3nLZfVmI5ZpJfniZzinDIoG6TZQo4dJOFDf1PDVCBFv8RMPqqJ8gxJ29/w314-h320/Kea_Print_Barry_Ross_Smith.jpg" title="Native Birds after Buller by Barry Ross Smith" width="314" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10100">Buller (After Bill Hammond) feat. NZ's native kea</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Another championing bird of New Zealand is the kea! As part of the parrot family Nestoridae, the kea (green bird, second from the left) is a large species of parrot native to the South Island of New Zealand. Living in alpine and forested regions of the island, the kea is from the same family as the kaka and is most distinctly recognised for its olive-green plumage and brilliant orange colouring under the wings.
The print shown is a Barry Ross Smith artwork from his “island” series of paintings. The title, "Buller (After Bill Hammond)" references both Buller’s Birds and <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Hammond_Bill">Bill Hammond</a>. In this painting, the island is home to a variety of native New Zealand birds, including the Tui, Kiwi, Weka, and Kea, alongside the extinct Huia.
Any bird lover or collector of New Zealand <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Animal_Prints_and_Posters">animal posters</a> would love to add this uniquely NZ artwork to their collection!</div><div><br /></div><div><h2> The Kōkako (2016) </h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10092"><img alt="kōkako in Karaka by Holly Roach" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="452" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL-f_CPmRcysBiWxxR1zx-KbiKqfgfTTS6g0swwmnE2PvoMOUfZvllyuZhyphenhyphenPYVklWVlLSko5_X1W3RGApxErNObTRgAfOuKw07L0tY94AfPq-r78wWOBOUQGH9Y8qsbta6YY4-y2HBAB4/w226-h320/Holly_Roach_Kokako_in_Karaka_Print.jpg" title="Kokako Print by NZ Artist Holly Roach" width="226" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10092">Kokako Print by NZ Artist Holly Roach</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />For our fourth winner, we feature the kōkako, champion of the Bird of the Year award for 2016! The wonderful print shown above is a fine example of the kōkako (Callaeas cinerea), which is large, featuring long legs and tail, deep bluish-grey plumage, a black mask, and a short, strongly arched bill. The “Kōkako in Karaka” image depicts NZ Flora and fauna by Holly Roach. The kōkako in this print sits idly in a karaka tree, feasting while surrounded by fat orange berries.
Using archival inks for rich, deep colour that lasts, the fine art print is created on a smooth matte paper that’s mid-weight and acid-free. This contemporary print comes in a 420 x 600 mm and is available alongside many other incredible bird posters within our online NZ bird prints gallery.</div><div><br /><h3> Buy quality long-lasting prints from New Zealand Fine Prints </h3>
We hope you enjoyed this brief tribute to the birds of New Zealand! If you’re interested in seeing more exceptional works from our artists, feel free to explore <a href=" https://www.prints.co.nz/contact-us.html">New Zealand Fine Prints</a> online. Whether you’re looking for incredible <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Bird_Prints">prints of New Zealand birds</a> or art nouveau posters, we have a vast range of art prints for you to see. If you have a favourite already, then peruse our collection of artists online to view all their latest works, or search prints by category and find brilliant new artists to love.
Each print is deliverable either rolled and kept safe in a tube, framed or occasionally even pre-stretched on a canvas, ready-to-hang upon arrival. Start shopping New Zealand’s greatest prints online today!
</div></div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-67856673426582788082020-12-12T09:22:00.001+13:002020-12-12T09:22:59.467+13:00The NZ Fine Prints Christmas Gift Guide | NZ Fine Prints<h1>The NZ Fine Prints Christmas Gift Guide</h1><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvOY-g0_nCWIQGcZNTjPFpT5NAsDDKQHOL71t6cvmHcxWhz25Hr-y3Y4VPALqGdkkoPTLD0MiJOA0JUCZJ8p4tuD7y-OM9535uPJS-4K2wINHv82g5JNLPg2hxw-RLwIIXmudaEfmOaxX/s512/Giftwrapped_Prints.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pile of christmas gift art prints wrapped in brown paper among Christmas decorations" border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvOY-g0_nCWIQGcZNTjPFpT5NAsDDKQHOL71t6cvmHcxWhz25Hr-y3Y4VPALqGdkkoPTLD0MiJOA0JUCZJ8p4tuD7y-OM9535uPJS-4K2wINHv82g5JNLPg2hxw-RLwIIXmudaEfmOaxX/s16000/Giftwrapped_Prints.jpg" title="Giftwrapped Art Prints" /></a></div><br />From canvas paintings to woodcuts and <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Giclee_Art_Prints" target="_blank">giclee prints</a>, art makes a great Christmas gift for any family member or dear friend! Finding a print of something they love truly shows how much you care about them. Plus, art is a gift that will remind them of you whenever they see it hanging on the wall. It’s not something that they’ll feel guilty about not using, because it doesn’t need to be used! Art exists to brighten the world around us, and by finding that perfect piece for your loved one, you’re doing just that for them.
You might think that buying art is expensive, especially if you’re interested in giving a print of a famous piece, but that isn’t always the case. In fact, here at New Zealand Fine Prints, we have prints available at a range of prices, which you can sort by budget. Just open the left-hand menu, and select ‘gift budget’.
If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, don’t worry! Below, we’ll go over a few of our top picks for gift art in 2020.</div><div><br />
<h2><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9985" target="_blank">Pohutukawa Cave</a></h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9985" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Painting of nz beach in summer with cave in background and Pohutukawa in foreground." border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="596" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cJPuY0OqNoj-O9JU7Qx9rCxhZN7T5hXg5W_EcCZy1IZ_gIVBrbBysTqqLyRJG-41nSbKWoemTYJtWJHK_vRkat6DrbnRJcScG1h-oVnZl1UALOayMVGsrvwyrmPiBqRBcYfq32STr0FC/w320-h216/Pohutukawa_Cave_Canvas_Diana_Adams.png" title="Pohutukawa Cave by Diana Adams" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pohutukawa Cave by Diana Adams</td></tr></tbody></table><br />What better way to celebrate Christmas than with a print featuring New Zealand’s own Christmas tree—Pohutukawa! This print is a fine example of <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Canvas_Prints">NZ canvas wall art</a>, originally painted by Diana Adams, known for her bold, clear paintings in acrylic. Golden beaches like the one in this painting have long been a favourite subject of hers.
This is a large, more expensive print, ideal for a big gift for someone with a lot of wall space. Canvas prints of paintings like this are typically delivered rolled in a tube, but if you need it delivered ready to hang, you can select “stretched” on the main image page.</div><div><br /><h2><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9631" target="_blank">Nympheas 1913</a></h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9631" target="_blank"><img alt="image of Monet water lilies painting with pink and blue flowers" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="540" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo0zYh-pDFL5OagwxWWYp2cO5GjMDsMs8KEZABeJW6-FCaWN4XxhGXLWg77QPTlNa2Taf_z3v4rW_y67r31fUOSzutCdRoIYzodFIt1g4mMRfnmhOLQkxpcfNyGJE386RP8EjjufZVQGn/w320-h281/Claude_Monet_Nympheas_1913_Print.jpg" title="Monet Print "Nympheas 1913"" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nympheas 1913 by Claude Monet</td></tr></tbody></table><br />A great example of a classic piece at an affordable price, this faithful recreation of Claude Monet’s impressionist masterpiece is in our $30-$50 Gift Range. This painting is part of the wider ‘Water Lilies’ series by Monet, which includes a total of about 250 oil paintings. They were created during the last three decades of his life, and many were painted while Monet was suffering from cataracts and losing his vision. This is a great but affordable piece for the classic art aficionado in your life.</div><div><br />
<h2><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9877" target="_blank">Kiwi Print from ‘Birds of NZ’</a></h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9877" target="_blank"><img alt="Kiwi art print by Sir Walter Lawry Buller" border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="540" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCgS9ylL0fyr9x8wUgNqVNtwyi_EI9D6PYXk5dgdwKZcmwRe-7PgA1axWG90iTvKKMrAcKuO9nHcKugtGec202-RqIwEWPIn33hZz7N-vi18wvGRTmYoYOjPBFvRUULOglaphxIyqYBr7/w320-h229/Kiwi_Art_Print_Bullers_Birds.jpg" title="Kiwi Art Print" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9877" target="_blank">Kiwi Print from "Birds of NZ"</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />This print is a great pick as a stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift, available for under $10! The original of this print is a lithograph that was published in 1873. It was created for ‘A History of the Birds of New Zealand’ by Sir Walter Lawry Buller, who was born in New Zealand just before it was colonised by Europeans. He published several books on the native birds of New Zealand, including the aforementioned ‘Birds of New Zealand’. This book had a total of thirty-six lithographs of native birds, all coloured by hand!</div><div><br />
<h3>Find the perfect gift today! </h3>
For more great gift ideas, browse our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Galleries">galleries</a> to explore the huge range of classic and contemporary art we have on offer. No matter who you’re buying for or what your budget is, we’re sure to have something that will catch your eye. Give the gift of art this Christmas, and make someone’s world that little bit brighter!
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Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0New Zealand-40.900557 174.885971-67.290835769402207 139.729721 -14.510278230597798 -149.95777899999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-53944510320106817392020-09-18T10:59:00.001+12:002020-09-18T11:00:08.001+12:00New Zealand’s Māori Heritage in Modern Visual Art | NZ Fine Prints<h1>How New Zealand Is Reclaiming Māori Heritage Through Visual Art</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsmJ1-ae0TzlZAlgm-N7pL1ubQLY0VBatSY4F2IX9XbLUfubfrC20_c7fGVFwRFK-2558r07Qx_N6CkECCOHbFMeHuW0IKO_DBgrPHZuSSxO2-tySkwbgp0r7st6901i5WlozjJw2vFJH/s533/Maori-art-history-heritage-in-New-Zealand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Traditional maori carving in hamiton gardens maori heritage garden" border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsmJ1-ae0TzlZAlgm-N7pL1ubQLY0VBatSY4F2IX9XbLUfubfrC20_c7fGVFwRFK-2558r07Qx_N6CkECCOHbFMeHuW0IKO_DBgrPHZuSSxO2-tySkwbgp0r7st6901i5WlozjJw2vFJH/s16000/Maori-art-history-heritage-in-New-Zealand.jpg" /></a></div><br />New Zealand’s indigenous Māori culture has always valued art. The patterns and designs of tangata whenua are easily identifiable when seen in <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Menzies_JH">Māori poster</a> art, architecture, and carving, but few outside of NZ know about the history behind modern Māori art. Where did it begin, and what happened to it through the 20th century to bring it to where it stands today?
In this blog, we’re going to explore some of these questions by tracing the basic history of Māori art from pre-colonisation, through the contemporary Māori art of the 1950s, to now. In particular, we highlight how and why Māori art changed in the 20th century.<div><br />
<h2>What was Māori art like before Pakeha arrived? </h2>
Traditional Māori art was historically focused around practicality. What we often think of as Māori art now began as pieces that intentionally married both form and functionality. In many cases, one inspired the other. Pieces could have had many uses, but they often had a principal use or an underlying symbolism.
Furthermore, Māori art was used to give physical shape to important ideas, and often, art pieces were created by a single material, whether wood, bone, or flax. The material chosen also helped inform how a piece of art would look.
Before European colonisation and repression typified by legislation such as the Tohunga Suppression Act of 1907, Tohunga were deeply involved in art. While there may not be a single, analogous definition for Tohunga, they are often described today as experts in a given skill or art form. They may have been priests, carvers, linguists, or tattoo artists—a master of any of these could be considered a Tohunga.
Not all art was created by Tohunga, as art was also a communal activity that groups could work on together, but art created by Tohunga was especially valued.</div><div><br />
<h2>The effects of colonisation on Māori Art </h2>
The introduction of Pakeha changed Māori art dramatically, in multiple ways. There were surface-level changes, such as carving changing in response to the metal tools Pakeha brought with them, but there are also more profound changes in the culture which altered the art form.
Some Māori adopted Christianity, for example, while others felt that their culture was being eroded, and the policy of Pakeha impacted Māori art directly, as in the case of the Tohunga Suppression Act.
New leaders emerged, like Te Kooti, Te Whiti, and Rua Kenana. Te Kooti, in particular, inspired a religious movement called Ringatū, which combined elements of the Bible and Māori spirituality. His battle flag, Te Wepu (translated as the whip), was sewn by Catholic nuns, and became a famous piece of art. The flag was eventually captured by Gilbert Mair Jr, a colonist soldier and interpreter, who at one point led the national hunt for Te Kooti. Mair Jr then entrusted it to the Dominion Museum, but later learned it had been destroyed.</div><div><br />
<h2>The emergence of ‘modern’ Māori art </h2>
In the early 1900s, Māori art began to return to more traditional forms. The establishment of the Young Māori Party, led by figures such as
Sir Apirana Ngata, helped shape these opinions, and encouraged Māori to forget the teachings of prior religious leaders in favour of finding their own path to progress. While this did push Māori to reconnect with more traditional forms of art, many criticised the views of the Young Māori Party, which also called for Māori to abandon other traditions and adopt western medicine and education.
Māori art began to change again in the 1950s, and this can be traced more or less to Gordon Tovey, national art supervisor for the Department of Education. He was particularly interested in fostering Māori art, and so began a small training group of Māori artists. This group included several artists who went on to become very important in New Zealand’s art history, such as Ralph Hotere. This movement began what we know think of as the contemporary, or ‘modern’ period of Māori art. <div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9311" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Paratene Matchitt print "Me Whawhai Tatou Katoa Mo Te Ora"" border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="540" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1nYPmLPbA_IRvWMdkreDLdWkmd-cBOZpdf4V22-4r0C4lW8jXI0eL8pDUD-3byFYgN_1MWg2d6px7rYFsJJ4omgHaePf6G-AQ1tYcqrplnE3Y2fTLlbWP7XWWHP5iZlblHEY-2Igxlf8/w320-h248/9311_Paratene_Matchitt_Me_Whawhai_Tatou_Katoa_Mo_Te_Ora_540x419.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paratene Matchitt limited edition print<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Matchitt_Paratene">Paratene Matchitt</a> was also part of this group. His work is known for combining Māori tradition with modernist art forms, and references much of New Zealand’s history, including the prophetic movements, especially that of Te Kooti.
Matchitt’s wood sculpture ‘Te Wepu’ is a clear reference to the original flag, and it is now owned by the same institution that destroyed the original. Matchitt originally created it as a wero, or challenge, calling out the National Museum’s tendency to endorse a narrow section of Māori art.</div><div><br />
<h3>Māori art today </h3>
The combination of Māori and European art continues to this day, often used to make art that interrogates its own history or makes statements about Māori in the world today. Shane Cotton, for example, has continued the use of the Ringatū motifs that Matchitt referenced in his own work. The digital landscape of the modern world is also bringing more attention to traditional forms of Māori art. As an example, a Rotorua-based carver going by the online name ‘<a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12335336" target="_blank">Broxh</a>’ has received a surge of popularity after streaming his work process live on Twitch.
If you’re interested in bringing some of New Zealand’s history into your own home, take a look at the <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Maori_Art_Design">Maori art for sale</a> in our gallery today!
</div></div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0New Zealand-40.900557 174.885971-69.210790836178845 139.729721 -12.590323163821154 -149.95777899999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-78848794513845395852020-09-04T13:11:00.003+12:002020-09-04T13:17:10.214+12:00NZ most collectable prints? - The Barry Lett Multiples<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH90fQnb0Hb-iHj2WuMHdIEmLIw9NPudEYdMuIWSu9UcM5YEoVVlGA8s5USWuR4vnB4UX0ZK-b7HlAbQ1PGFqhwxkWpWrbaYRmPNofhvAGK_YdmOwRdQb6gyHfUTHoCQLJrKMq1s2zaZqq/s800/Barry+Lett+Multiples+Gallery+Catalogue.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Barry Lett Multiples Catalogue" border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="800" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH90fQnb0Hb-iHj2WuMHdIEmLIw9NPudEYdMuIWSu9UcM5YEoVVlGA8s5USWuR4vnB4UX0ZK-b7HlAbQ1PGFqhwxkWpWrbaYRmPNofhvAGK_YdmOwRdQb6gyHfUTHoCQLJrKMq1s2zaZqq/w400-h293/Barry+Lett+Multiples+Gallery+Catalogue.jpg" title="Picture of the Barry Lett Catalogue of 12 Prints" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The catalogue for the Barry Lett Multiples <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(all images credit: Lesley Melody)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The Barry Lett Multiples are a set of 12 prints published in 1968. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Lett_Galleries" target="_blank">Art dealer Barry Lett</a> produced the set with the idea of making modern art accessible to a wider audience by at a low cost. Artist, creative and clothing designer <a href="https://www.lesleymelody.com/" target="_blank">Lesley Melody</a> is very familiar with the Barry Lett Multiples, as she explained in a recent email she is "very fortunate to own a set of the Multiples and enjoy them every day". A few years ago Lesley took the time to transcribe the original catalogue which accompanied her prints when purchased. This catalogue describes the 12 artworks and gave biographical information on the artists - some of whom have become regarded as extremely significant NZ artists by today - that participated in this fabled series of screenprints over 50 years ago. We are very grateful that Lesley has given us permission to re-publish material from her 2009 article, a copy of which she now has just put on her new website <a href="https://www.lesleymelody.com/interesting" target="_blank">here</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Lesley wrote in her introduction "Art dealer Barry Lett invited 12 artists, some established and some up and coming, to contribute to the project. They were printed on paper and came stacked in a single glass fronted frame so that they could be rotated for viewing at will.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many of the 12 who contributed have emerged as significant New Zealand artists - most notably <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_McCahon_Colin" target="_blank">Colin McCahon</a>, <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Walters_Gordon" target="_blank">Gordon Walters</a>, <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Hotere_Ralph" target="_blank">Ralph Hotere</a> and <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Mrkusich_Milan">Milan Mrkusich</a> [we would also add <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Smither_Michael" target="_blank">Michael Smither</a> and <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Artists_Binney_Don">Don Binney</a> to Lesley's original list].</div><div><br /></div><div>In 1968 the price $35 for the full set and it is unknown exactly how may copies were produced.</div><div><br /></div><div>The exhibition catalogue is a sheet of large (A1-ish size) paper, printed in 2 colours with an explanatory piece about each artist and their print, and shows (with an orange line) the size of the main prints.</div><div><br /></div><div>The sets usually became split as the more widely known artist prints, especially those by Colin McCahon, Gordon Walters and Ralph Hotere were more sought after. There are therefore relatively few complete sets. Iconic works like McCahon and Binney have been seen to change hands between $3,000 and $6,000 each [these prints sell for about double these amounts in 2020]."</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Catalogue Transcription</h2><div><br /></div><div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0WIzySkFmMkFxrFtcVcLohtR5VbkI1ae6vc1UjS2OLxvAvcD2RVHvwkDb9dj_AG6GW2kDgrCZoklFo4alTND_EYYVD05bSvph_bMiN0sqRRNpPDkRTOqJAZviBDmluulmLpMcMGYyss/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Don+Binney+Pacific+Frigate+Bird.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0WIzySkFmMkFxrFtcVcLohtR5VbkI1ae6vc1UjS2OLxvAvcD2RVHvwkDb9dj_AG6GW2kDgrCZoklFo4alTND_EYYVD05bSvph_bMiN0sqRRNpPDkRTOqJAZviBDmluulmLpMcMGYyss/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Don+Binney+Pacific+Frigate+Bird.jpg" /></a></div><br />Don Binney, Pacific Frigate Bird</i></div><div>Born in Auckland, 1940. Studied School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland 1958-61. Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Fellowship in 1966.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Europe and North and Central America in 1967-68. At present painting full-time.</div><div><br /></div><div>He has held several one-man shows since 1963, including one at the Instituto Anglo-Mexicano in Mexico City, as part of the cultural programme accompanying the XIX Olympiad. His work has been included in all important exhibitions assembled here in recent years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finalist in the 1968 Benson and Hedges Art Award.</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Dunedin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Binney has used the frigate bird in several paintings recently In most of his recent paintings and drawings the placing of images is similar to the present work, his concern being to establish a vertical tension between natural forms, usually with birds, and the landscape, or, in this case, the horizon, as his major images. [Update: There is now an offset <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10329" target="_blank">reproduction print available of Pacific Frigate Bird</a>.]</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz10rqR8C6DPRf1gFYeKrtGsFLBnRACGOZT92cwzqSlvPOZfnNBaQR1D1qJynn_3MmKcVcO38dmdetuG8jcLVWRw4-4VP3Uo4DnAWpVwWUuFvDs4mtRBIBLu3DJk1wGwUIIcFnKi1Wsg/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Gordon+Walters+Tawa.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz10rqR8C6DPRf1gFYeKrtGsFLBnRACGOZT92cwzqSlvPOZfnNBaQR1D1qJynn_3MmKcVcO38dmdetuG8jcLVWRw4-4VP3Uo4DnAWpVwWUuFvDs4mtRBIBLu3DJk1wGwUIIcFnKi1Wsg/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Gordon+Walters+Tawa.jpg" /></a></div><br />Gordon Walters, Tawa</i></div><div>Born Wellington, 1919. Studied at Wellington Technical College School of Art. The first exhibitions of his work were held in Wellington in 1945 and 1947. Traveled and studied in Australia and Europe 1947-53. Commenced developing his present style of painting after returning from overseas. Has subsequently held one-man exhibitions in Auckland and Wellington. Finalist in the 1968 Benson and Hedges Art Award, and was second prize winner in the 1967 Manawatu Prize for Contemporary Art.</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland, Palmerston North, Sydney, N.S.W.</div><div><br /></div><div>Walters is undoubtedly New Zealand's foremost practitioner of Op art and there are few artists working in any style who have resolved the combination of international (Op) and national (the koru-like forms) elements with the success that he has.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFl7kaB99KpWJbzXrC13-yKljVbh3QmnJAAdyQmxGrEodtgCRGXc6kMb_rCPSbmhhvSL-0uWCX1gyr-wCoLPUvG88i5OffZzmsQq3AcXy9WGgneLavZAUrNSwqj1IftUh7ZN5rDgxlLo/s200/Bary+Lett+Multiple+Robert+Ellis+Motorways.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFl7kaB99KpWJbzXrC13-yKljVbh3QmnJAAdyQmxGrEodtgCRGXc6kMb_rCPSbmhhvSL-0uWCX1gyr-wCoLPUvG88i5OffZzmsQq3AcXy9WGgneLavZAUrNSwqj1IftUh7ZN5rDgxlLo/s200/Bary+Lett+Multiple+Robert+Ellis+Motorways.jpg" /></a></div><br />Robert Ellis, Motorways</i></div><div>Born in Northampton, England in 1929. Studied at the Northampton School of Art 1944-1947, and at the Royal College of Art London, graduating in painting in 1952. After four years teaching at the Yeovil School of Art he came to New Zealand in 1957 to take up an appointment as lecturer at the Elam School of Art University of Auckland. He has been there since, being made Associate Professor in 1966.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ellis has held many one-man shows in New Zealand and Australia, and has been included in most contemporary New Zealand painting exhibitions, both local and touring, since 1962.</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Adelaide.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since 1960, most of Ellis' work has been based on various aspects of the man-made urban environment - predominantly the city itself and, more recently, the communicating motorway systems which steadily deface the natural landscape. For Ellis, the city has developed an organic life of its own, and the paintings convey the forces contained within it. Ellis' cities are highly complex images, built up from experience acquired at different times from many places. Although often superficially resembling aerial views of cities, they are in fact an assimilation of many viewpoints and experiences.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasVKLrdrw3s6F8z2nOi5sZlW6MEjNirqnZOj4VMEyTwTAvUbKCjviyv6aw58kmHYfSTafclqCgme4FLGciwU5Xam7j1jOA33AA7csldq4Pl6ncvfdSAD48ySfKceJP-svxL_9jpz4GZg/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Mervyn+Williams+Midas+finds+his+Soul.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasVKLrdrw3s6F8z2nOi5sZlW6MEjNirqnZOj4VMEyTwTAvUbKCjviyv6aw58kmHYfSTafclqCgme4FLGciwU5Xam7j1jOA33AA7csldq4Pl6ncvfdSAD48ySfKceJP-svxL_9jpz4GZg/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Mervyn+Williams+Midas+finds+his+Soul.jpg" /></a></div><br />Mervyn Williams, Midas finds his Soul</i></div><div>Born in Whakatane, 1940. Studied at the School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland. Works as a silk-screen printer and was, for a while In 1969, a tutor at the Auckland Technical Institute.</div><div><br /></div><div>Has participated in group shows since 1965 including a two-man show with Pat Hanly in Wellington in 1966.</div><div><br /></div><div>His work has been included in the 1966 International Print Biennale in Tokyo and the 1969 Biennale in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia. Winner of "Samarkand Award" New Zealand Print Council, 1969 .</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland.</div><div><br /></div><div>Midas finds his Soul makes use of a combination of Op patterns and a photo-copy of a detailed technical drawing of a compressive mechanical device implying pressure and stress. Williams' Midas symbolises certain ill-considered tendencies in our society, especially those that could endlessly exploit both physical and social environments to render them - as with the ill-fated original - ultimately unsuitable for human habitation.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfggWX8aTkHVfxslID1S2SAq-bYfT0iMaQ_0sbchyyucenHrK8_0IekG9aMoS2ZQLbX9ziC1k6oUV3lYM6hXU2sOJkDAlrxprcZe1bjUUtlc1ATFw_zU0f-MSVInTITHTci94zoKn900/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Ralph+Hotere+Red+on+Black.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfggWX8aTkHVfxslID1S2SAq-bYfT0iMaQ_0sbchyyucenHrK8_0IekG9aMoS2ZQLbX9ziC1k6oUV3lYM6hXU2sOJkDAlrxprcZe1bjUUtlc1ATFw_zU0f-MSVInTITHTci94zoKn900/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Ralph+Hotere+Red+on+Black.jpg" /></a></div><br />Ralph Hotere, Red on Black</i></div><div>Born in Northland in 1931. Studied art at Auckland and Dunedin Teachers' Training Colleges. Worked in Northland as a school art specialist for nine years. Awarded an Association of N.Z. Art Societies' Fellowship in 1961, taking him to England and Europe; sponsored by a Karolyi International Fellowship in France and Italy 1962-63; returned to New Zealand in 1965 to resume his post as an Arts and Crafts Advisor to the Education Department. He left this in 1969 to take up his latest</div><div>award - the 1969 Frances Hodgkins Fellowship at Otago University.</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland, New Plymouth, Dunedin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Much of Hotere's recent work has been predominantly black, using other colour only for the thin cruciforms included in many of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>In this "minimal art", surface texture, tonal variations and, in some highly polished paintings, reflections have played a large part in the effectiveness of the works. The multiple offers an excellent opportunity to deliberately deny painterly qualities and "Red on Black" can be regarded as perhaps an ultimate summation of Hotere's intentions.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of an earlier body of work, to which this may be related, he says "(This) may be called an object of visual contemplation ... I have provided the spectator with a starting point ... It is the spectator who provokes the change and the meaning in (this work) ".</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluc-DGQKcFyePPYWA_zhpacZRVvz0NztFhBG4mk0maEmu5RL30DA8LxCWBIAbysz8cLGLmeEw6Jc0VRCnBlCl3ZPYqMJACsXIS4YyEtD_0jNXGL-pkH4np7f1mRub-M9H4dC54I6cq-s/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Michael+Smither+Wave+Invading+Rockpool.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluc-DGQKcFyePPYWA_zhpacZRVvz0NztFhBG4mk0maEmu5RL30DA8LxCWBIAbysz8cLGLmeEw6Jc0VRCnBlCl3ZPYqMJACsXIS4YyEtD_0jNXGL-pkH4np7f1mRub-M9H4dC54I6cq-s/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Michael+Smither+Wave+Invading+Rockpool.jpg" /></a></div><br />Michael Smither, Wave Invading Rockpool</i></div><div>Born New Plymouth, 1939. Studied School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland 1959-60. One-man exhibitions in New Zealand and Australia from 1965 onwards and has taken part in group shows including four exhibitions with the "Essentialists", 1968-69, a show that has visited Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. Has done many church commissions.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finalist in the 1968 Benson and Hedges Art Award, and winner of the 1968 H. C. Richards Memorial Art Prize in Queensland.</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland.</div><div><br /></div><div>The sea, and especially, the rock pool are recurring images in many of Smither's paintings. For maximum effect in the present medium he has simplified his normally super-realistic style while still retaining both essence and illusory effects of the foam-capped wave breaking into a rock pool. This multiple was printed under the artist's own supervision.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kJRIZoFQLFqhsPZkBTnRytees_vb4KfkbzeGEYoLVzXafzv7DkuZibSbICBhl6Usk1_ZVwj_GkqeZQqoL_WGbugd-9N4mkBdbUiWIKBQF6vqJ7l8y8Z624x9AvUjzojWQ_EEjUJOq2U/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Patrick+Hanly+Inside+the+Garden.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kJRIZoFQLFqhsPZkBTnRytees_vb4KfkbzeGEYoLVzXafzv7DkuZibSbICBhl6Usk1_ZVwj_GkqeZQqoL_WGbugd-9N4mkBdbUiWIKBQF6vqJ7l8y8Z624x9AvUjzojWQ_EEjUJOq2U/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Patrick+Hanly+Inside+the+Garden.jpg" /></a></div><br />Patrick Hanly Inside the Garden</i></div><div>Born Palmerston North, 1932. Studied School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury, 1952-55. Painted in London, Florence and Amsterdam, 1957 -62, British Art Council Award to Yugoslavia in 1960; awarded Italian Government Scholarship in 1960, Dutch Government Scholarship 1962.</div><div><br /></div><div>Returned to New Zealand in 1962 and has devoted most of his time since then to painting although he acts as a tutor for both the School of Architecture and the School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland. He has also been a tutor at several Adult Education summer schools in Wellington and Auckland.</div><div><br /></div><div>He has held one-man exhibitions in London and New Zealand and has participated in group and travelling exhibitions in England, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Yugoslavia, Poland and Argentina, including the 1963 and 1965 Paris Biennales, the 1964 International Print Biennale in Tokyo and the International Exhibition of Graphic Art in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia in 1967.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 1966 he won the Manawatu Prize for Contemporary Art.</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland, Palmerston North, Dunedin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hanly's exhibition of watercolours entitled 'Inside the Garden' was an expression of the artist's new attitudes towards existence and painting. Having readjusted to the external aspects of returning to New Zealand he is, in these works concerned with the inner nature of things. The garden is a place of peace and yet a place of great sub-molecular activity. "Those who see only the garden see nothing."</div><div><br /></div><div>Unlike the other works in this series of multiples which are all silk-screen prints, this one uses a line block and stencils and was printed by the artist.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQ5xiBK2LQwZQhXppsayTNw1nC6ZM7AYc8ttLmjeVg-Kg1DAzt0viN2oQCxkWg4yCO07zn_K8F84pgqFUlI8oJoYoVt_iK4wWI3MoINRjnPmTyhuxF1YCUN_ykgrgnjfeAIEjEdd-bxU/s200/Barry+Lett+Multuple+Colin+McCahon+North+Otago+Landscape.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQ5xiBK2LQwZQhXppsayTNw1nC6ZM7AYc8ttLmjeVg-Kg1DAzt0viN2oQCxkWg4yCO07zn_K8F84pgqFUlI8oJoYoVt_iK4wWI3MoINRjnPmTyhuxF1YCUN_ykgrgnjfeAIEjEdd-bxU/s200/Barry+Lett+Multuple+Colin+McCahon+North+Otago+Landscape.jpg" /></a></div><br />Colin McCahon, North Otago Landscape</i></div><div>Born in Timaru, 1919. Largely self·taught although he studied with Russell Clark in Dunedin from 1933 to 1935 and at the Dunedin Technical College 1937 to 1939 during the winter terms. From 1939 until 1948, when he moved to Christchurch, McCahon lived in various localities in the Nelson province. In 1953 he came North to join the staff of the Auckland City Art Gallery where he remained until 1964, leaving to take up a position as lecturer in painting at the School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland.</div><div><br /></div><div>McCahon has held one man shows in one of the four main centres every year since 1947, and his work has been included in all the major exhibitions of contemporary New Zealand painting that have been assembled in this country. He spent four months, in 1958, in the U.S.A. on a Carnegie Grant. He was joint winner of the Hay's Art Prize in 1960. A retrospective exhibition (with M. T. Woollaston) was held in 1963.</div><div><br /></div><div>Collections: Auckland, Palmerston North, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin.</div><div><br /></div><div>The land has always been one of McCahon's great loves and his paintings have included many landscapes incorporating religious themes. Several of earlier paintings depicted the crucifixion taking place amongst the Nelson hills. In 1965 the painter revisited North Otago, out of which came a series of landscape painting of which he has said:</div><div><br /></div><div>"These landscapes are places I have seen and known ... in painting this landscape I am not trying to show any simple likeness to a specific place. These paintings are most certainly about my long love affair with North Otago as a unique and lonely place. The real subject is buried in the works themselves and needs no intellectual striving to be revealed - perhaps they are just North Otago Landscapes."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbOSHhFcikjOFuoXtyv9PQ40GDcwem1TkGDkczUeOzNQIBzD976O1mX-yHSMXBDJJUqn6ByKWa58zRACGpjsjP3CKdpQnUEhr6e3RlQIYTXOmiZpwQVWQppcqxbLMc2RkvWOJJDy_Xhs/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Michael+Illingworth+Tawera.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="155" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbOSHhFcikjOFuoXtyv9PQ40GDcwem1TkGDkczUeOzNQIBzD976O1mX-yHSMXBDJJUqn6ByKWa58zRACGpjsjP3CKdpQnUEhr6e3RlQIYTXOmiZpwQVWQppcqxbLMc2RkvWOJJDy_Xhs/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Michael+Illingworth+Tawera.jpg" /></a></div><br />Michael Illingworth, Tawera</i></div><div>Born in England, 1932. Studied textile design after leaving school. Came to New Zealand in 1952. Worked, traveled and painted throughout the country until 1957 when he returned to Europe. He spent five years there painting, visiting galleries and working in a London dealer-gallery.</div><div><br /></div><div>Apart from a brief period of employment after his return here in 1961, he has worked as a fulltime painter. Was recipient in 1966, of the first Frances Hodgkins Fellowship from the University of Otago.</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland.</div><div><br /></div><div>The asexual Tawera is an image that has occurred often in Illingworth's work and is, perhaps, a natural and logical total symbol for the tiny stylised people who have been included in so many of his paintings. Here, too, we find the stylised portrayal of the almost idyllic landscape that Illingworth feels this country is.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyTRPT2qwhKok8ch4A2iaW2pZ42j0mU3-FhHbR0hWeS2EqDVaPwjLEO_9h5E6cFE1ir58sSbLD6JCnN1e3eSOwOh5jznYWrfMQpEoBGTMnjp0VHUCqYq3KbptIh5GRMhSdLWew-5dT40/s200/Bary+Lett+Multiple+Toss+Woollaston+Patrick+.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyTRPT2qwhKok8ch4A2iaW2pZ42j0mU3-FhHbR0hWeS2EqDVaPwjLEO_9h5E6cFE1ir58sSbLD6JCnN1e3eSOwOh5jznYWrfMQpEoBGTMnjp0VHUCqYq3KbptIh5GRMhSdLWew-5dT40/s200/Bary+Lett+Multiple+Toss+Woollaston+Patrick+.jpg" /></a></div><br />Toss Woollaston, Patrick Lucas</i></div><div>Born in Toko, Taranaki. His only professional art training came from two terms at the Canterbury College School of Art in 1931, at Dunedin Technical College in 1932, and a further term at Canterbury in 1938. He lived at Mapua in Nelson from 1939 until 1950 when he moved further south to Greymouth. He has now moved back to the Nelson Province.</div><div><br /></div><div>Woollaston has been awarded two fellowships by the Association of NZ Art Societies in 1958 and in 1960. He visited Australia for five weeks in 1958, and in 1960 he visited and painted in Nelson and later in Taranaki. An Arts Advisory Council bursary took him to Europe and America in 1962. "Erua" a book of drawings with an accompanying commentary was published in 1966.</div><div><br /></div><div>He has held many one-man exhibitions and participated in many group shows throughout the country and has been represented in most of the travelling exhibitions that have left New Zealand. A retrospective exhibition (with Colin McCahon) was held in 1963.</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland, Napier, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like McCahon, Woollaston has painted many landscapes but the human figure has held almost equal importance for him. H is distinctive style has been reasonably constant over the past thirty years. developing within itself rather than changing with the times.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of his drawings he has said " ... lines, blotches, abstraction, naturalism they all go to serve in a crisis. For me every drawing is a crisis and its resolution."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQ7zjGxPl-8EfPjPv0qx4OdrE8XKZ7jSYl1dlvO1VRp10CGTTvepc8a7AnSxwCoxkPuXk8Acl8psY12QRdIMvhmOef_ez1obgmdGDtppaIM7GQbigG5DLJRYJdRneLBd1InLBMHfXfpw/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Ross+Ritchie+Three.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQ7zjGxPl-8EfPjPv0qx4OdrE8XKZ7jSYl1dlvO1VRp10CGTTvepc8a7AnSxwCoxkPuXk8Acl8psY12QRdIMvhmOef_ez1obgmdGDtppaIM7GQbigG5DLJRYJdRneLBd1InLBMHfXfpw/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Ross+Ritchie+Three.jpg" /></a></div><br />Ross Ritchie, Three</i></div><div>Born in Wellington, 1941. Attended Wellington Technical College Design School part-time for 18 months, 1961 -62, otherwise self-taught. Moved to Auckland in 1964 and has worked at the Auckland City Art Gallery for most of the time since.</div><div><br /></div><div>He has taken part in several two-man exhibitions in Auckland and Wellington, and his work has been included in travelling exhibitions that have left New Zealand.</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ritchie has been moving increasingly towards hard-edged imagery though up until now there has been very little pure abstraction. The detail of his earlier work has given way to strong, simple images as in this one, where Op elements are also used, giving the suggestion of 3 dimensions.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJExDWzB8X7Jst0yVfJkz181rTF37e20dVDI5Wy5wIgDmIH4Gfv23DpzsXIjhuNOV1Tq3MEvQ5A_tkH9qX_BbT59Cb-jVogWvrfcW0RADB5KWkmRNEWak5Q_Fm3IqQ2nSvdZXddaCP9IA/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Milan+Mrkusich++Passive+Element+.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJExDWzB8X7Jst0yVfJkz181rTF37e20dVDI5Wy5wIgDmIH4Gfv23DpzsXIjhuNOV1Tq3MEvQ5A_tkH9qX_BbT59Cb-jVogWvrfcW0RADB5KWkmRNEWak5Q_Fm3IqQ2nSvdZXddaCP9IA/s200/Barry+Lett+Multiple+Milan+Mrkusich++Passive+Element+.jpg" /></a></div><br />Milan Mrkusich, Passive Element</i></div><div>Born in Dargaville, 1925. largely self-taught. First showing of paintings and drawings was at the School of Architecture, University of Auckland in 1949. He has exhibited widely since, both here and abroad, including participation in a three man show that visited Paris, London and Brussels; and his work has been included in most important exhibitions of contemporary New Zealand paintings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Public Collections: Auckland, Palmerston North, Dunedin</div><div><br /></div><div>Mrkusich has nearly always painted in an abstract manner' this has evolved into a formal and extremely sophisticated style. Passive Element is an example of his recent work in which he expresses his concern with the colour problem in painting, synchronised with the expression of the deeper aspects of reality.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-53217057841390816432020-08-22T12:11:00.002+12:002020-08-22T12:13:48.466+12:00Buying Limited Edition Prints: What You Need to Know | NZ Fine Prints<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMzyy6N4XmDVXxQnk4bwhlrLlI-COByBO9z3Rl5_Q6PNLyzeaHGUcJhL5k5RsP6_i-IOyWuL4j_ZAY9blF-A7qoquDtmAhrtWU7xbgB-d-D5IvId5ly8ecVNcUMXxEEjEynyWMG9wze6v/s540/Limited-edition-art-print-what-to-know.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tony Ogle "To the Lookout" limited edition art print" border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMzyy6N4XmDVXxQnk4bwhlrLlI-COByBO9z3Rl5_Q6PNLyzeaHGUcJhL5k5RsP6_i-IOyWuL4j_ZAY9blF-A7qoquDtmAhrtWU7xbgB-d-D5IvId5ly8ecVNcUMXxEEjEynyWMG9wze6v/d/Limited-edition-art-print-what-to-know.jpg" title=""To the Lookout" by NZ Printmaker Tony Ogle" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h1>What You Need to Know About Buying Limited Edition Art Prints</h1><div><br /></div>If you’re looking into buying a <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Editions_by_Contemporary_New_Zealand_Printmakers">limited-edition print</a>, whether you’re starting out your collector’s journey or are just really interested in purchasing a specific piece, edition info may not be the first thing you think about. Of course, if you have your heart set on a particular piece which you know you love, these details might not change your mind. However, knowing a piece’s edition info not only gives you a greater appreciation for the piece; it also gives you a clearer understanding of the piece’s value, the artist, and of the art market in general.
Not sure how to go about buying limited edition art prints? Here are the important factors you will want to consider.<div><br />
<h2>Edition Value </h2>
Many pieces of art—whether prints, photography, or sometimes even sculptures—are created in runs. These are multiple original artworks (not a reproduction of an original artwork) using printmaking techniques such as etchings, lithographs, etc. Even though many prints of the piece are made, they are counted by collectors and historians as ‘first edition’ artworks if they are part of a particular set. So, while a piece may not be completely one-of-a-kind, it is still considered unique or rare as part of an original run of prints.
These limited-edition groups of works often retain their value very well, as artists usually destroy the materials needed to create extra copies that are exactly alike, such as photo negatives. That said, popular art can be re-printed for second or third edition runs, or even more if demand is high. These limited editions can also be worth more than a standard replication of a piece.</div><div><br />
<h2>Print Number </h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYA1lOkNrBGKC9tlDxPsPZPgRMShBnkqEx2x87HO5JqVnJNUrwYKFt-35yAKeIzG2YeqIzbNeEPpTYjHYOZZvDXyGmUS1ijwTxuKLscuOMsU2RBI_3zCqjjqKXODthoOtIFOxwa5hmOe_/s275/Print_Number_Example.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Edition Number Pic" border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="275" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYA1lOkNrBGKC9tlDxPsPZPgRMShBnkqEx2x87HO5JqVnJNUrwYKFt-35yAKeIzG2YeqIzbNeEPpTYjHYOZZvDXyGmUS1ijwTxuKLscuOMsU2RBI_3zCqjjqKXODthoOtIFOxwa5hmOe_/w275-h200/Print_Number_Example.jpg" title="Print Number Example" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Print Number Example (8/75)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Given that editions get less valuable as they go on—first editions are more valuable than second editions, etc.—many assume this also extends to the number of the print. This is the number given to a piece to identify it within the edition. For example, if there are 20 copies in an edition, your piece may be labelled 5/20, or 13/20, or even 1/20. Contrary to popular belief, however, this number doesn’t impact the value as in general modern printmaking techniques don't wear out soft metal plates etc, which resulted in later prints being of lesser quality. In fact, most artists number pieces randomly, not in the order that they’re printed.
Sometimes, the end of the scale (20/20 in our case) can be more expensive, but this is only because galleries tend to list limited edition prints in numerical order. As these run out and stocks run low, demand can lead to higher prices.</div><div><br />
<h2>Artist Proofs </h2>
Limited edition pieces usually also come with artist proofs; look for ‘AP’ or ‘A/P’ in the edition info. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV0_HrXvXfpP6mSL6UqTHkZsu8AVhuAa9uXJkyjQSbtjKiDuxeYHpgPnwoMC7bvFQkg9xC-vlNtAux38b25xE2lhHpfEJrvSsXTm4iX1N3tKS6LtdjnA8R_TDrG_61TaOBR2sPhdyA6bi/s540/Dick_Frizzell_Mickey_to_Tiki_%2528Reversed%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mickey to Tiki (Reversed)" border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="540" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV0_HrXvXfpP6mSL6UqTHkZsu8AVhuAa9uXJkyjQSbtjKiDuxeYHpgPnwoMC7bvFQkg9xC-vlNtAux38b25xE2lhHpfEJrvSsXTm4iX1N3tKS6LtdjnA8R_TDrG_61TaOBR2sPhdyA6bi/w277-h200/Dick_Frizzell_Mickey_to_Tiki_%2528Reversed%2529.jpg" title="Mickey to Tiki (Reversed) Limited Edition Print" width="277" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9185">Mickey to Tiki (Reversed)</a> by Dick Frizzell, featuring artist proofs<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Other kinds of proofs exist too, which are provided by the printer, but artist proofs are more common.
Artist proofs are popular at New Zealand Fine Prints because these are the first prints to be made, and any adjustments to the printing process are made by the actual artist working on these prints. The proofs themselves can be highly collectable—some of them might have notes or marks made by the artist, and this can make them much rarer and more unique.</div><div><br />
<h3>Explore the world of art today </h3>
If you’re interested in edition info, your best course of action is to talk to the gallery or printmaker selling the prints. Here at New Zealand Fine Prints, we have a range of contemporary collectable ltd edition prints, alongside <a href="http://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Antique_Prints">antique</a> and rare pieces as well as our range of canvas prints, <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Giclee_Art_Prints">giclee fine art prints</a>, and more, and we’re happy to answer your questions about the differences between all the different kinds of prints that we stock, whether open or limited edition.
To find out more, get in touch with us, shop New Zealand’s largest collection of prints online today!
</div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-8133757970489235632020-07-03T12:16:00.003+12:002020-07-03T12:18:29.223+12:00Why Abstract Art Is Ideal to Hang in The Home | New Zealand Fine Prints<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10044" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Abstract art oil painting with orange, blue, yellow, red and grey" border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="540" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uwf6pPwLLjCZJW10b8uXS_IXpyerj-kNy7Xngsw0WPEov_JfX4jYBstVDlrk6l4GjyNCXakXrT3hGij3EHrPXZLyq8K5lrCtMTHhzAa9aepL-xiCjZtXQxnhoIzxI8tz4p0268uTk_nk/w640-h406/Abstract-art-prints-nz.jpg" title="Large Kandinsky Print - Red, White & Blue" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>There are so many options when it comes to home decorating that it can be hard to know where to start. So, why not begin with <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Abstract_Art" target="_blank">abstract art prints</a>— representations of a visual language that isn’t bound to any hard rules or restrictions? To some, this boundlessness can be intimidating, but in truth, decorating with abstract art is freeing and can be great fun!
Ready to dive into the world of abstract art décor? Discover the four major strengths of abstract art and what they can do for your home below!<div><br />
<h2>1. Abstract art can blend in, or stand out </h2>
Abstract pieces are truly flexible. These don’t have a defined style that’s common to all of them, so it’s more than possible to find something that blends perfectly into your existing colour story and style of décor. With a little work and a little more perusing, you’ll be able to find a piece that looks like it was tailor-made for the space it’s in, giving off a polished and well-considered look.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to make a statement with a piece of abstract art, that’s more than easy to achieve. The same flexibility that helps you match pieces to a room’s existing aesthetic also swings the other way. It’s not difficult to find abstract art that will pop against everything in its space, becoming a cornerstone piece that challenges yet complements the room’s other decorative elements.
Lastly, there’s such a wide range of stylistic sensibilities in modern abstract art that this flexibility makes them easy to place in any part of the house. Some rooms may benefit from art composed of smooth lines and soft tones, while others might benefit more from prints that use hard angles and bold colours. You don’t have to look far to find examples of both!</div><div><br />
<h2>2. Abstract art is timeless </h2>It’s largely thought that abstract art began as a movement in the late 19th century, with pioneers like Wassily Kandinsky and Gustav Klimt, but the history of art is a story of constant influence. All pioneers were inspired by those before them, and so there are elements of abstract art throughout ancient history as well.
This timelessness of free expression is why so much abstract art still looks modern to us, even if it dates back to the 20th or 19th centuries, or even earlier! By definition, abstract art defies convention so soundly that you can be sure it will never go out of style!</div><div><br />
<h2>3. Abstract pieces work well alone or in groups </h2>
Abstract art pieces are often hung alone, but for the more fearless decorators, these can be used to create engaging gallery walls. Alternatively, several small pieces along the wall of a corridor can help fill a long stretch of blank wall without cluttering it, acting as cohesive links between the décor of one room and another.
Selecting abstract pieces by themselves is great fun, because there really are no rules—it’s best to trust your emotional response to a piece of art. That said, putting two pieces side-by-side can change how they look, owing to the change in context. You might find that a piece you dislike looks great when hung next to another, and it can be hard to put your finger on why. Again, with abstract art, there are no rules!</div><div><br />
<h2>4. Abstract work can fill any wall size </h2>
Abstract prints don’t necessarily need to fit the size of the wall they’re placed on. In fact, you might even decide to not hang the work at all!
It’s become a recent trend to take oversized pieces and lean them against the wall instead; this can be a really engaging way to fill space.
Alternatively, smaller prints on big walls don’t look nearly as out of place if they’re abstract. Just like we pointed out before, the context can influence abstract art powerfully, and this includes the negative space of the wall too.
If you’re working with less space, smaller corner pieces can add movement and life to the room. While a room’s corners are often overlooked or covered up with furniture, they can be enhanced with bold abstract pieces that are eye-catching and easily comprehensible from a distance.</div><div><br />
<h3>Looking to add modern art prints to your own home? </h3>
The collections here at NZ Fine Prints cover a broad range of traditions and influences, including the abstract. Whether you’re looking for classic pieces, or contemporary <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/20th_Century_Modern" target="_blank">modern art prints</a>, we can help you find the piece you need to complete your home. Shop your next interior decoration piece today!
</div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-26089321027451954372020-06-15T11:00:00.001+12:002020-06-15T11:01:40.016+12:00Buying Art for Your First Home | New Zealand Fine Prints<h1>Buying Art for Your First Home? Here’s How to Start!</h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq62IlBBvTkvDymzBj2tEdfmOXGhyuMeU1X5oR0huULC-bl1c34OfN2Xupyb9JuRH0Tf-s7gcZf2_5jB2ymT3wjvPojeiSwM1IfJucoh95OEVXvxqA-_9_b35CNvPOs-11jo9Zy2Z97v2/s533/buying-art-for-your-first-home.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A nice, light home featuring a selection of framed art on the walls." border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilq62IlBBvTkvDymzBj2tEdfmOXGhyuMeU1X5oR0huULC-bl1c34OfN2Xupyb9JuRH0Tf-s7gcZf2_5jB2ymT3wjvPojeiSwM1IfJucoh95OEVXvxqA-_9_b35CNvPOs-11jo9Zy2Z97v2/d/buying-art-for-your-first-home.jpg" /></a></div>Moving into your first home is full of excitement, as you get to go about picking all your new furniture, decor and art! For many, having art in the home is a must, as it can make a space a thousand times more homely and welcoming. But how do you go about choosing those first pieces of beautiful <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Framed_Prints" target="_blank">framed wall art</a>? You may not have the biggest budget, or an initial idea of how to fit art collecting in with everything else that goes into moving! That’s why we share some tips in this blog—read on to find out more.<div><br />
<h2>Determine a few key elements </h2>
The first thing that’s good to do when buying art for your first home is to have a few design elements in mind that can be used as a starting point. There are lots of things you can learn about your own art taste (even if you thought you didn’t have any!) throughout the process of moving into your home—and you can use that when buying art!
For example, look at the furniture you’ve already bought, are there any similar features between each piece? Do they all look somewhat bohemian, or are they bold and geometric? Did you lean towards a colour scheme? Even though you don’t want to feel bound to a style or colour palette when choosing art, knowing these elements that are already in your home can help you determine if you are a statement person, or whether you need an element of calm in your home. It can also help establish what’s missing, and what may be necessary to bring balance to your space in any capacity.</div><div><br />
<h2>Do some research into artists </h2>
Art is always much easier to look at and understand when you know a bit of background about the artist, and on the flip side, you’ll find art more enjoyable if it’s by an artist you’ve researched and know a bit about. Do a google search of local artists from your area, or even just New Zealand Artists in general, and you may find a few artists that resonate with you, and whose art you connect with more as a result.</div><div><br />
<h2>Buy art that makes you feel something </h2>
Art doesn’t always have to make you happy, doesn’t always have to fit in with the room décor, and doesn’t have to be exactly what you were searching for! These are all important things to remember, to help you browse art with a clear head, and focus more on the way you react to each piece—whether positive or negative.
You might find a piece of art that feels challenging gives you a stronger feeling than one that simply ticks all the boxes. You may find that you keep coming back to a piece of art, or thinking about it long after you’ve gone home. If this is the case and you can identify that connection, chances are you are going to have a much more interesting time looking at that piece of art every day. Choose the piece of art that really makes you think.</div><div><br />
<h2>Start with Art Prints and Photographs </h2>
If it's your first home, chances are you’re going to have a lot of time to build your collection of expensive art. For the time being, you’re just going to want to have a home that’s full of exciting elements and accessories. A house with art always feels more like a home, but you don’t have to rush into buying original pieces of art right from the get-go, and it may not fit well with your budget either.
A great solution is to buy a good selection of quality photography or art prints. You can buy art prints from almost any New Zealand or international artist, and if you investigate photography, you’ll find a whole other world of art altogether. There’s no way this option is going to limit your selection in the slightest. Instead, art prints give you the freedom to choose your art at a more affordable level.
The unique paper and framing methods used in a good quality art print also mean you don’t need to compromise on quality. You can even decide on <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Editions_by_Contemporary_New_Zealand_Printmakers" target="_blank">Limited-Edition Art Prints</a> for your own unique piece.</div><div><br />
<h3>Quality Art from New Zealand Fine Prints </h3>
For good quality art prints at affordable prices, look no further New Zealand Fine Prints. We offer a huge range of local and international art prints perfect for any New Zealand home. Plus, we offer a range of framing options, and we can ship our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/">framed prints NZ</a>-wide. Browse our collection and find your perfect prints today!
</div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-22339368766037164112020-05-11T09:59:00.000+12:002020-05-11T09:59:35.762+12:00How to Talk About Art Without Sounding Pretentious | NZ Fine Prints<h1>How to Talk About Art Without Sounding Pretentious</h1>
Art is something that we will all encounter in many places in our lives—whether it’s in the reception of an office where you are trying to impress, a friend's home as you pop over for tea, or in its natural habitat, the many galleries that house art up and down New Zealand. But there’s a problem with eyeing up a piece of art and deciding whether to make a comment - the all-encompassing fear of sounding ‘pretentious’.
When did enjoying art mean that we must learn ‘art jargon’ in order to talk about it at a level that’s ‘passable’ within the art community? <div><br /></div><div>Surely, we can just learn to enjoy art and make a passing comment that isn’t unnecessarily snobby sounding. After all, it’s entirely possible to simply enjoy art and just talk about it casually; everyone loves a good yarn! So, without further ado, here are some insightful tips on how to talk about art without feeling queasy about it!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBv1jgQy9pwPjhtijTHnw1R9qVmHMNrw4BGyD_jcUj2g42a7aSrXjr-RQBJ2vsnbneYAw6BQIdUhcA6l0IfQdjDnCkKzyrCpEBArJcHo54exmGjDS0-4J-s5jLDKBzI6YwKLVGMRb-LgL/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A couple looking and discussing some art prints on display." border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1110" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBv1jgQy9pwPjhtijTHnw1R9qVmHMNrw4BGyD_jcUj2g42a7aSrXjr-RQBJ2vsnbneYAw6BQIdUhcA6l0IfQdjDnCkKzyrCpEBArJcHo54exmGjDS0-4J-s5jLDKBzI6YwKLVGMRb-LgL/w640-h418/How-to-talk-about-art-without-sounding-pretentious.jpg" title="How to talk about art without sounding pretentious" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What to say about your friend's new art prints? <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>
<h2> Use words everyone understands </h2>
Dispel the preconceived notion that you must learn a whole new vocabulary to talk about a piece of art. If you aren’t confident talking about art and find yourself hesitating because you don’t understand what ‘chiaroscuro’ means, then just try to say the words that do come to mind when you see a painting. There’s nothing wrong with just saying you like the shadows or the dark colours in a painting. It becomes a lot easier to talk about art when you start with what you understand. As you become fluent in your own art language, the more complex terms will start to make a lot more sense as well.<div><br />
<h2>Keep the detail limited unless prompted </h2>
If you’re really encouraged to say things about art (for example, in a situation when you’re around an art boffin and put on the spot to talk about their latest piece) and you aren’t feeling super confident, then just keep your message short and sweet. Stick to one thing you like about the piece, whether that be colour, composition, texture, tone pattern or anything else. Say what you choose to say with confidence and assurance.</div><div><br />
<h2>Tap into your own personal reactions or feelings </h2>
Talking about art is usually just boiled down to how the art makes you feel. If you don’t know how to talk about the specific details of the art piece, it can be equally as valuable to discuss how the art made you personally feel or react. Use similar words that you would use to talk about your emotions, such as ‘angry’, ‘calm’, or ‘excited’. It can be as simple as capturing your first impression and putting that into words.</div><div><br />
<h2>Sound pretentious if you want to! </h2>
Maybe you’re actually extremely enthusiastic about a piece of art, and you’ve read up about its history and happen upon a piece of art that you’re extremely passionate and know a lot about. If you’re enjoying talking about the art, don’t worry about sounding pretentious! Don’t present a dulled down version of yourself just to conform to the rules of the art world - or anyone else’s world for that matter!
Art is something that spreads joy, and if it makes you happy to talk extensively about it, then go ahead. Your confidence and enthusiasm will be a breath of fresh air for whoever you’re talking to. Depending on who it is, they may even enjoy learning something new.</div><div><br />
<h2>There are no mistakes </h2>
As a great artist, <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10267" target="_blank">Bob Ross</a>, once said, “There are no mistakes, just happy accidents”. Take this piece of advice the next time you feel like speaking up about a piece of art, and just go ahead. If you like art, express yourself and enjoy it openly. Fill your home and your office and even your car with your favourite pieces. Share it with your family and friends! Never feel as though you aren’t qualified enough to say why you like about a painting.</div><div><br />
<h3>Art Prints from Art Enthusiasts </h3>
When it comes to New Zealand art in particular, we get pretty excited, and we could talk about it all day! If you’re a fan of New Zealand art as well, then there’s no better place to shop for your favourite prints than right here at NZ's art print experts since 1966. From <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Art_Deco_Prints">art deco prints</a> to <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Framed_Prints">framed wall art</a> of your favourite pieces, we’re your local go-to. Shop our range online today!
</div>Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0New Zealand-40.900557 174.885971-69.210790836178845 139.729721 -12.590323163821154 -149.95777899999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-26698741240021250172020-04-17T12:22:00.003+12:002020-04-17T13:41:47.223+12:00Dick Frizzell homage to Colin McCahon in new print<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dick Frizzell makes his latest print</td></tr>
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In <b><i>Colin Compared</i></b>, Dick Frizzell comes up with a modern twist on Colin McCahon's Virgin Compared painting to pay tribute to this famous NZ artist and to say thank you to Peter Simpson for his wonderful McCahon book released in March 2020 (Colin McCahon 1 : There is Only One Direction, Vol. I 1919-1959). In the period between 1946 and 1948, McCahon turned from depicting landscapes to Christian imagery. By synthesising disparate elements - portraiture, still life and symbolism (for instance the lamp and jug) with words McCahon emphasised that his works had a message.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10274" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dick Frizzell's homage to Colin McCahon "Colin Compared"" border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFAuP4-wHnuq_lvZhmjigW77L5u-9vqhGKN3Jl6V-VYtNRjmAvy0CT2gNwfCKRmEuA5y1i8AQzBbsgPkOMP9i1NDDJfPz7PG-UG8XgDg_B8z3yIn2nbmpkWTGhfxYaSvqnK_SZeHdJ5iM/s320/Dick_Frizzells_Colin_McCahon_Print.jpg" title="" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dick Frizzell's print "Colin Compared"</td></tr>
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Dick told me in an email:<br />
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<i>"I did a little gouache portrait of Colin for Peter Simpson to thank him for his brilliant McCahon book. i was inspired by the Theo Schoon photo of Colin on the verandah next to his fabulous painting of the Virgin Mary compared to a jug of pure water etc (one of my favourites).</i><br />
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Then i thought… I reckon that that’d make a great print!"<br />
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It’s meant to reflect that painting…of the virgin etc hence the close, dark colour scheme sp in the skin tones! Old school!!<br />
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May not be everybody’s cup of tea… but getting some good feedback up here!"</i><br />
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I have always liked the way that the Hocken library published prints of the McCahon painting popped up in the background of photographs of NZ writers and artists at home during the 1970s and 80s. A leitmotif of the era when a more confident NZ identity was emerging.<br />
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Here is video I found of Dick talking about the impact of McCahon's work a few years back, in it he calls McCahon's paintings "Hypnotic" and the artist gave him, "Something to think about forever".<br />
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You can now <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/10274" target="_blank">buy the "Colin Compared" limited edition print by Dick Frizzell</a> delivered direct from New Zealand Fine Prints. It will be lovely to see these prints in the background of another generation of New Zealander's dust jacket photographs!<br />
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Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-44738257585451962512020-03-27T13:32:00.000+13:002020-03-27T13:34:10.722+13:00 The Benefits of Framing Your Art Prints | New Zealand Fine Prints<h1 style="text-align: center;">
The Benefits of Framing Your Art Prints</h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5ErMsMdz6chYIH45B5FVOsuHogqzZ7iIDhS8w-D2fUEQcHqVTID-oug_yRK6rTmWF8rsiAQPC2iWfhqAdtnqVyPEJnkyDU_iJfFkaZHFFjtXyUagh0yEtgZSzm1OS3qfJumo1gv1Yoi5/s1600/Benefits-of-framing-art-prints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A row of framed New Zealand art prints leaning against a wall" border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="764" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5ErMsMdz6chYIH45B5FVOsuHogqzZ7iIDhS8w-D2fUEQcHqVTID-oug_yRK6rTmWF8rsiAQPC2iWfhqAdtnqVyPEJnkyDU_iJfFkaZHFFjtXyUagh0yEtgZSzm1OS3qfJumo1gv1Yoi5/s640/Benefits-of-framing-art-prints.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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Having art prints and buying art is a relaxing pastime for many New Zealanders. But when it comes to framing, it’s another decision to make whether or not to add one to your purchase. Frames can be especially beneficial to any art purchase for many different reasons. In this blog, we’ll take a look at what difference <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Framed_Prints" target="_blank">framed wall art</a> can make!<br />
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Keep Your Art Looking Newer for Longer </h2>
One of the most significant benefits of framing wall art is that it is a sure-fire way to extensively increase a print’s longevity. We all know too well the amount of collected dust, sun damage, and general wear and tear any piece of art will come across even in the most spotless of houses! A frame will protect your art significantly by providing a barrier between the artwork and the elements. <br />
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Instead of having to carefully remove dust directly from the parchment of your print, you can easily grab the spray-and-wipe and dust off the glass and frame. In the rare case any water damage should occur in your home, you can rest assured that your frame will be a good, hearty surface to stop a general spillage or leak from causing extensive damage to your art. Even in a bright and sunny room, the glass of a frame will be an extra barrier against UV rays that can cause your print to fade. You can even look into more advanced UV glass protection if your print is positioned somewhere that gets direct sunlight.<br />
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Frames Add More Value </h2>
Not only is a frame an excellent form of protection for a piece of art, it can also add additional value to a piece. After all, a frame is a crafted adornment that can add another element of beauty, elegance and overall quality to your art piece. Italian renaissance paintings were famous not only for the art themselves, but also for the stunningly extravagant frames that they were housed in, which showed likeness to the art nouveau architecture of the time. <br />
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While most art frames today are not so nearly intricately carved or adorned, they are still a beautiful piece of contemporary design which can hold immense value. Whether they are hand-carved out of a decadent woodgrain, or a simple yet on-trend design that fits into a contemporary style, frames can hold varying values to whoever owns them. <br />
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Work It into the Home </h2>
Frames add excellent benefit to any homeowner who is particular about their interior style. Pieces of art are unique; they often don’t fit into any particular trend or design style, because they are their own entity and shouldn’t have to. This makes it trickier for people to fit them into the right spaces in their homes—what if the colours don’t match perfectly or the textures clash with the wall behind it? <br />
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For homeowners who want to own beautiful art and incorporate it into the interior style of their home at the same time, a frame is the perfect middle ground. It sets a piece of art apart from its interior surroundings, creating a barrier that allows you to choose whatever art you like, and work it into whatever style of home decor you surround it with. Often, a solid white or black frame can be perfect for this. It causes the art to live inside the frame and prevents it from clashing with the space around it. <br />
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What about Canvas Prints? </h2>
You may feel a little different about <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Canvas_Prints" target="_blank">framed canvas prints</a>. Due to their interior frame already placed on many of them during the stretching or mounting process, there may be less reason to add an external frame. While this is true, and canvas prints can work better than many other forms of art on their own, it is still good to frame your canvas prints for longevity, value, and style. <br />
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Shop Framed New Zealand Art Prints </h3>
If you’re looking for a framed art print for your home, we have the widest range of New Zealand and international art prints available online. Get a print delivered right to your doorstep, framed and all! Shop online today.Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-53297167467475550372020-03-24T10:10:00.001+13:002020-04-03T11:33:40.149+13:00New Zealand Fine Prints is [not] delivering as usual during the lockdown<h2>
Prints NZ wide & Overseas Will [Not] Continue to Ship</h2>
<b>[Updated: Just after this post was written the government clarified their regulations to say only essential goods were allowed to ship or be delivered after 25 March.]</b><br />
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During this unprecedented closedown of many NZ businesses Aotearoa's specialist art print and poster store will still be shipping prints, posters and canvas prints. Our staff are working from home and shipments are being picked up by our couriers and delivered anywhere in NZ or around the world.<br />
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<a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/" target="_blank">New Zealand Fine Prints</a>' artists are supplying us with prints as normal and supplies from publishers of modern art prints that we import from the USA, Europe and the UK are still arriving as usual.<br />
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We have good stocks of prints on hand including <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Framed_Prints" target="_blank">framed wall art</a> and <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Canvas_Prints" target="_blank">canvas prints</a> that can be delivered ready to hang.<br />
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Art has been <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Uplifting_Wall_Art" target="_blank">uplifting, reassuring and inspiring</a> people during the most difficult times for thousands of years. Our hope is that if we continue to make it easy for New Zealanders to find and buy art prints for your home or as a gift to lift the spirits of your special people over the coming weeks New Zealand Fine Prints are making the small contribution that is all a business like ours can do to help get all of us through this difficult time.<br />
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Below is the latest update regarding deliveries from Aramex [Fastway]. NZ Post is also classed as an essential service and will remain open for Airmail shipments.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 28px;">Aramex New Zealand </span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;">OPERATING BUSINESS AS USUAL NATIONWIDE </span></h2>
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Afternoon All, <br />
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As you would have heard, the government have announced that we are to move to a Covid-19 Level 4 status effective midnight on Wednesday 25 March 2020. <br />
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The Prime Minister has made it clear at this stage that the Transportation sector is considered essential services and hence are a critical link to providing the first and last mile of supplies throughout the country. This being the case, Aramex New Zealand will be resuming Business as Usual service throughout New Zealand.<br />
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Our network is currently working very hard within the guidelines of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to manage growing parcel volumes during this challenging time.<br />
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We ask for your patience and will endeavour to provide up-to date service announcements as the situation progresses.<br />
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Stay safe <br />
The Aramex New Zealand team.<br />
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Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5122275467618922327.post-31096046747030030182020-02-27T14:33:00.001+13:002020-04-08T12:27:29.661+12:00The Role Graphic Design Played in Inspiring Some of New Zealand’s Best Art (and Vice Versa)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSs5F3zv2ILfkeV2Mirp1dX_TyQldePxaPMzQUwxMSxe52AWQyVRpn7Rh52zjbXI8zrlZTgwuntStAdHAMQT-ZFDOfAAJ4X74g26cNc1UONOLMQ_CH63HSg94W12hak-EbwCKD4939eFf/s1600/Graphic-design-and-fine-art-in-new-zealand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Side A, Side B print by Dick Frizzell – Graphic Design and Fine Art in New Zealand" border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="540" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSs5F3zv2ILfkeV2Mirp1dX_TyQldePxaPMzQUwxMSxe52AWQyVRpn7Rh52zjbXI8zrlZTgwuntStAdHAMQT-ZFDOfAAJ4X74g26cNc1UONOLMQ_CH63HSg94W12hak-EbwCKD4939eFf/s640/Graphic-design-and-fine-art-in-new-zealand.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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Graphic design is often described as a form of art used to convey a specific message, primarily created for commercial purposes. There is now a huge graphic design culture in New Zealand, spanning back to the first graphic designers of the 1930s who began their training in technical colleges from as young as twelve years old. [Update: We are now showcasing all of these prints in our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/New_Zealand_Decor_Art_Prints" target="_blank">NZ Design/Graphic Art Prints</a> collection.]<br />
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From the first print advertisements, tourism posters, and <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Art_Deco_Prints" target="_blank">art deco prints</a>, right up to the brands we see as we walk through the shops of Ponsonby or Lambton Quay today, graphic design is a huge part of our culture and history. But how has the graphical genre played a part in this country’s fine art history? When did the two professions intertwine and how did this affect the art scene? Here, we aim to bridge the connections between graphic design and fine art in New Zealand.<br />
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Early Graphic Art</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NZ Graphic Art Poster "Mountain Daisy"</td></tr>
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If we look back at early graphic design in New Zealand in the 1930s, much of it was influenced by the small yet powerful connection we had with the rest of the world. </div>
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By the1960s, advertising was booming. This was the ‘Mad Men’ era of the Volkswagen Beetle and Lucky Strike Tobacco. The iconography and mixtures of type, illustration, and even some photography in these campaigns trickled down to the New Zealand industry where some of our first graphic designers were finding their feet. </div>
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But what did we have to advertise? We may not have had any major global brands to make ads for back then, but we had a growing tourism industry, and plenty of places to sell to the rest of the world. </div>
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Our tourism posters from the 1930s onward reflect graphical practices while being pieces of art on their own. Their art deco and pop art style blur the lines between graphic design and art, cemented by their bold use of signwriting. </div>
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Type as Expression</h2>
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As modernist art grew in popularity around the world, New Zealand artists began to develop their own expressionist style that is uniquely Kiwi. </div>
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Colin McCahon played a huge part in defining this style, as he moved away from nationalist landscape art towards unique letterforms and figurative, graphic art. Through the medium of paint, McCahon revolutionised the way designers were using typography, and opened letters up as expressionist forms.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/8291" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uUTVjVFVHIs2RFZ49VYxQ_X0icJh8Ai4vNMrHBvTe0Na3e8mXCAbz9KjETKn9-sF3Z6UQf5fWmObGyPgZLRXo6fxTDJwUrUCXXvxnpvMJxwBUtVJMgg6xTeIDoohUr5XFLFD_cHw9ua2/s1600/McCahon_Painting_Constant_Flow.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Print of Colin McCahon's painting "As there is a constant flow of light"</td></tr>
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Many Kiwi painters took inspiration from this, most famously Dick Frizzell, and those iconic paint-stroke letterforms became a uniquely kiwi ‘typeface’ in their own right. This writer was tempted to buy McCahon's letterbox when it came up for auction a few years back, for it was numbered in McCahon's distinctive writing!</div>
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Now, as our graphic design industry propels itself onto the world stage, type foundries such as <a href="https://klim.co.nz/" target="_blank">Klim</a> use the medium of type to extend graphic design into an art form of its own. The concept of type as expression has come full circle. Klim has held art exhibitions displaying typefaces, such as ‘There is No Such Thing as a New Zealand Typeface’ and has even featured in Erik Brandt’s global interventionist experiment ‘Ficciones Typographika’. </div>
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Although the digital age has allowed us to use type in more than just hand-painted letterforms, we continue to return to the expressionist phase of typography that originally held so much power. </div>
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Revolutionary Practices</h2>
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As late capitalism grew in sophistication, and branding becoming a more graphic style, so too rose the opportunity for artists to create expressionist work that reacted to the world around them. As an example, Andy Warhol explored the lines between artistic expression and advertising with his heavily branded, pop art pieces. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/PROD/9344" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Braeburn - hand lettered graphic style print by Dick Frizzell" border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="253" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yfPNO1eZnUgDGZg-29E68V0fZoND5UvA7fl4-zyN5VNwkz7ObzuVi6dAs9tTXw0CdFv3axLjkVk0syo58EnyVEkMpmXVitpnohi9SfhzpyLktAX7t2ywRhIaXclhUWg3ytFNdmulDU43/s320/Dick_Frizzell_Sign_Writing_Graphic_Art.jpg" title="" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dick Frizzell sign written letter style print</td></tr>
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Many artists in New Zealand adapted a similar style at the time with our <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Kiwiana" target="_blank">Kiwiana</a> iconography. Dick Frizzell was a leader in this genre, with his Four Square Man interpretations that so heavily blurred the lines between branding and artistic flair.<br />
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Today, there are a growing number of contemporary artists (Glenn Jones and Hamish Allan, to name a couple) who take inspiration from Dick Frizzell, creating modern, <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Giclee_Art_Prints" target="_blank">fine art giclee prints</a> juxtaposed with a similar nostalgic style. And really, why wouldn’t they? Art is often a reflection of the world around us. </div>
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New Zealand art is both nostalgic for brands of yesteryear and is growing our current ones at such a fast pace. It seems that where art often took inspiration from graphic design; now, it is a medium of contrast—to rebel against it. Have we had too much of a good thing? Or are we just nostalgic for a simpler time?</div>
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<h2>
Graphic art Available at New Zealand Fine Prints</h2>
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No matter where you stand on the spectrum of design versus art, there is no doubt that some of the country’s best works were influenced by a creative community that worked together. You can get yourself a piece of this history with one of the many <a href="https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/20th_Century_Modern" target="_blank">modern art posters</a> available at New Zealand Fine Prints. Shop online today!</div>
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Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11905801520532883381noreply@blogger.com1