Sunday, February 10, 2013

Techniques Common In Southwest Paintings

By Alyce Larson


Southwest paintings are available in a range of diverse styles. There are abstract artists who depict the culture of the region through the inspiration they receive from Native American art from the past. It is far more common for modern artists to paint the landscapes and Native American customs using watercolor or oils. This kind of tourist focused art aims to give visitors a nostalgic reminder of their visit.

There are a number of well known artists who produce work focused on Arizona and New Mexico. Their work tends to be more expensive than those produced by lesser known artists. Consumers can benefit from higher valued work through the purchase of prints. Investment buyers need to concentrate on obtaining limited edition prints, which are more costly but may escalate in value. Investment buyers also gain financially by buying the work of artists who are on the verge of success.

Arizona and New Mexico have stark landscapes that have made them popular subject matter for painters. The mountains and canyons are breathtaking, and the cultures that reside in the area play a role in the themes of such work. There are local artists who specialize in their local scenery but visiting artists also take advantage of the landscapes in their work.

Many famous authors have written about the region, including DH Lawrence. There are artists who focus solely on the cave art that is plentiful in the area. They tend to depict wildlife and cultural ceremonies in an abstract way. Impressionist painting styles and palettes are commonly used in contemporary artworks of today.

The Ancient tribe of Puebloan has had a titanic influence on the colors and lines used in modern artworks. Their use of graphic designs and earthy colors has inspired many artists with their work. Typically, this tribe used its designs to tell stories that occurred in Arizona. More modern Native American tribes have introduced the depiction of healing ceremonies.

The settlers of the colonial times had an influence on the way local tribes painted. Hispanic artists were more interested in crafts such as leather and wood work but the unique aesthetic they used has affected modern painters. Anglo American art enjoyed a popular period when European settlers began to populate the region.

Local residents of the area started to produce silver jewelry in the late 1800s. The tribal cultures living there were influenced by the settlers' use of watercolors and oils. This altered the way they painted and depicted their culture. They began to use contemporary media more often.

After World War One, American settlers started to paint the landscapes and cultures of the region more often. There were several prolific artists working during this time. Over time, an enormous body of work has been collected from the region.

Kachina dolls and fetishes are an imperative part of the Native American religion. They make use of symbolism to depict ideals, and the appearance of such sculptures has had an impact on many of the more abstract artists painting in the area today. Petroglyphs that were left behind by the Pueblon are also an important inspiration for Southwest paintings today.




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