elaine

I'd like to acquire a litho or oil or pastel, fairly large in size, horizontal, approx 36" width by at least 24" high. I'd like it to be contemporary in style, a land- or seascape, and the best would be if it evoked a place I've been to, especially Italy (Rome, Florence, Siena, or Venice areas), France (Paris or Provence), or Greece.

I'm not looking for a poster, but an original, or a limited edition print.

I can gallery browse here in New York, though I fear prices will be through the roof. I may try to go through some art schools, I don't care about the name, just the look and quality.
Anyone know of any artists or sources?

cigalechanta

bonjourparis.com maybe

m_kingdom2

You will always have to pay for quality. I fear that what you want is a painted photograph rather than art.

With art, you really do get what you pay for, I'm not talking conceptualist here, but paintings.

In bric-a-brac shops you can find originals, and/or prints of seascapes that could be anywhere Mediterranean.

Grasshopper

We bought a beautiful original oil painting from an artist in Sorrento. Are you looking for something on the internet or something you can buy on your next trip?

elaine

I am not interested in painted photographs and I am interested in art.
And I have found that in art as in life sometimes you get what you pay for, and sometimes what you pay for is not what you get.
Thank you for your input.

elaine

Grasshopper
My previous reply was to mkingdom

I don't think I could get to any indigenous artists, unless they are represented by brokers or galleries.
Shipping can also be quite expensive.
Maybe this forum wasn't the right place to muse about this, I'll give it some more thought. thanks

mikemo

Elaine,
Art in San Miguel de Allende,Mx is all relative, but some substantial stuff in sizes you want are available from recognized artists with a "potential" future.
We like Juan Escurdia - a famous (fmr Mex City) childrens' illustrator a lot.
Just a thought from somewhere else.
M

palette

http://www.torpedofactory.org/home.html

This is the site for the Art League, housed in the Torpedo Factory (that's what the building was in the 1940s) in Alexandria, VA. The site lists all the resident artists; you might be able to find something there to your taste. If you want abstract landscapes, see the paintings of Betsy Anderson or Connie Slack. But, you are probably looking at a minimum of $1,000 or more. Betsy also does monotypes; originals but not oil work. It's a fun site to roam through, even if you can't buy anything. Poster sales are not allowed at the Torpedo Factory.

Marija

Elaine--

We enjoy our large glass painting from Massimo Cruciani who is headquartered in Assisi. Check out his site.
http://www.cruciani.com/

rex

elaine:

I don't know if this will scratch your itch or not, but you can find a variety of "painted" ceramic tile murals from any number of ebay vendors (yes, I realize that you or others might snicker at this).

Here's "Bridge at Argenteuil" by Monet in exactly the size you mention - -

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...5&tc=photo

here is a "Portofino Scene" - -

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...9&tc=photo

in 30 x 22

and likewise, Venice (more like an antique scene), also in 30 x 22

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...8&tc=photo

There are other images of Venice, Santorini and Paris - - and this is just one of many people who sell such "art". I feel like I have seen Tintoretto's and other scenes that might be up the alley you are seeking.

I acknowledge full well, that none of these would be described as "contemporary".

I think you will pay at least $50 per square feet to have a "tile guy" install these, either in a frame, or directly on the wall.

Just a thought...

Best wishes,

Rex

Michael

Google Carol Jessen. She started as a print artist, doing Japanese style wood block prints, and has moved to oils after her travels to the Provence. One web site shows night scenes from Aix and Albi and a landscape of the Provence.

m_kingdom2

My point, what you are after is a painting of a seascape, if it is true to life, then it is not art, it become a painted photograph.

Underhill

Elaine,

If you'll send me your e-mail address I can put you in touch with a quite good artist who had a show in Paris last autumn (at one of the rue de Seine galleries) and will have another after Christmas this year. He paints primarily in the Impressionist style, and the critical response to his work has been very favorable. I especially like some of the paintings he did in Nice last summer, but those of Paris are also very fine.

You can reach me at [email protected].

beachbum

Interesting definition of art, mk_2. Where in that does the Mona Lisa fall? And, would that make Michelangelo's David a sculpted photograph, and thus not art?

m_kingdom2

The Mona Lisa isn't a straight portrait, there is hidden depth and meaning in what the artist chose to portray.

David again has allegorical context.

A pretty "seascape" is more of an interior piece with no feeling or meaning, hence it is not art. Art is not a photograph of a seascape, it has to have meaning, however, a photograph can be art!

StCirq

elaine:

There is a poster on the SlowTrav site named Jennifer who does beautiful paintings of the Italian countryside. I don't know if you can search by someone's screen name on SlowTrav, but it's worth a shot. Jennifer is part of her screen name, and her website is posted somewhere there. I'm on a different computer at the moment from the one I usually use, or I'd send you her website. Maybe later tonight if I get back on the regular puter I'll post it. I was so taken with her work I've offered to let her stay a week or two at my place in the Dordogne if she'll leave a painting behind for me. Her prices seemed quite reasonable to me. Of course, art is a personal thing, and my taste could be quite different from someone else's. That said, I think her work is both technically excellent and very evocative.

rsb99

Art is so subjective, who knows if this will be what you want, but...

We have bought work by two California artists who both love to paint the regions you are asking about. Tom Swimm has done a lot of work in Italy, and Maria Bertran has done a lot in Provence. I'm sure their work is available elsewhere, but we find it at Pacific Edge Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA. Here is their web site:

http://www.pacificedgegallery.com/

I agree that it is very special to have paintings that represent wonderful experiences. Good luck finding something perfect!

ninasdream

Elaine - this has always been my dream. I just did this for the first time and without extraordinary expense. Maybe browse some galleries specifically to see how much what you like is going to cost before you go. I saw this great gallery in Brugge, and I went by the old rule, trust what you like. I did not know the artists or the reputation of the gallery owner. I did negotiate but I didn't do the pretend-to-walk-out ploy to get a better deal. I finally got the nerve to do some research on the artists and learned that I did well ithos. They were lithos, expressionist, part of the Post WWII COBRA movement. I took mine home rolled in a tube. Don't forget to plan for the exchange rate, which is punitive. Also call your credit card company & find out if they charge you a per transaction fee(usu 3%). I was anticipating one, but luckily did not get socked. Have fun and enjoy the thrill of the quest. Mine are still being matted & framed.

elaine

Hi
I have no idea what the meaning of "a pretty seascape is an interior piece with no feeling or meaning" is.
No meaning to this sentence surely, as in addition to the unnecessarily condescending use of the word "pretty", most small-scale art is meant to be interior. And I'm sure I've seen a seascape or two during my life that had some meaning, as Monet or Homer or Turner might be pleased to hear. But I'm through with the baiting nonsense.

thanks to most of you who provided useful and thoughtful info.
I was hoping to spend no more than $1000, $1500 tops, for something that I hope to live with for a very long time.
You've provided some great suggestions, and ways for me to pursue this. I'm also going to visit some student and neighborhood art shows here in NYC.
Most of the time, I love this forum.
thanks guys.

Judy

elaine, the artist StCirq refers to is Jennifer Young. I, too, really like her work. Her website is www.jenniferyoung.com.