I used to think that art exists in a vacuum.  I would judge each piece only according to my personal aesthetics, and would intentionally ignore anything that I heard about art history.  The history of art seemed largely irrelevant to me.  Who cared about the evolution of different art forms?  All I cared about was the way that each painting looked.   When I took a class on the history of modern Art, however, it completely changed my mind.

If you have never studied the history of art, you are in for a big surprise.  You see, society and art interact very closely.  Any art movement is usually a response to a social movement or historical event.  By studying the history of art, you can gain a deeper appreciation of the art that you already know and love.  In addition to this, you can discover new art that you might never have come across otherwise.  The history of art is one of the most fascinating areas of academic inquiry.  It should be required for any student in a major college. Read more »

I have to admit that I’m not very big on interior design or home decorating.  I mean, I don’t have the most expensive furniture, my fabrics and colors aren’t coordinated, and I don’t make the best use of space. 

I think it’s safe to say you won’t be seeing any pictures of my place in a “Better Homes & Garden” photo shoot anytime soon!  Nevertheless, I believe that I do one thing well:  my walls.  To me, there’s nothing more depressing than a home with bare walls, so I go out of my way to make sure that mine are covered with interesting things to look at.  Some of my favorite wall hangings are the framed fine art posters that I’ve purchased over the years.

Sure, we would all love to be able to fill our homes with original artwork, but how many of us actually have the money to do that?  I’ve found that fine art posters are an excellent way to add a touch of beauty to my home at a reasonable price.  Read more »

Have you ever actually sat and pondered retirement? What will you do on a day-to-day basis once you’re finally finished with your career? Will you go sailing on that dream yacht it took you twenty years to pay off? Will you venture all over the United States in search of quaint towns and antique shops? Or maybe you’re more interested in just kicking back at the old homestead and reading the paper.

This routine certainly varies from person to person. It’s difficult to tell what we’re going to be satisfied with after our days of work have finished. Fortunately if we can’t seem to come up with any wonderful ideas, there are always crafts for the elderly available. Do you have a home computer available?

Have you ever come across crafts for the elderly? Now, keep in mind that these can range from any variety of things. It all truly depends on what you’re interested in. Do you like building bird houses or possible sketching and painting? Read more »

I know the most fanatical comic book collector. I would say that he is my friend if I could, but truth be told, I find him kind of annoying. He is actually surrounded at all times by comics stacked floor to ceiling in his apartment, and that is no lie.

Since he was very young, it seems that his sole passion was to collect comics and comic art. That was it. I love the arts, and I love literature, and in fact I love nearly anything with a good story or a striking picture to it, but to base your life around comic book art collecting is just sad if you are to ask me.

I can not stand fan culture – a group of people whose self esteem revolves around how much they know about whatever particular genre they are really into. Give me a break. It is about entertainment. Reading is great fun, but showing off just makes you a jerk. Read more »