Month: October 2013

Art is a term that has grown to encompass innumerable creative processes and activities. Among these are the visual arts, performing arts, writing arts, and virtually anything creative. As such, painters, sculptors, photographers, actors, dancers, musicians, writers, filmmakers and other creative individuals each can be referred to as artists. Today, the meaning of the term “art” has expanded to the point that any “true” definition of art has become a topic for debate.

Human beings have been making art for nearly as long as they have been walking the earth. Archeologists have attributed the earliest artistic discoveries to the Paleolithic Age, and some works are believed to be 25,000 years old. Although the oldest known artistic renderings consisted of crude sculptures and cave paintings, such works have been primary historical sources through which modern generations have culled most of the existing knowledge about the earliest history of humankind.

Essentially, prehistoric art works are the first historical “texts,” and their discoveries have allowed modern people to learn about many important aspects of ancient societies and cultures. Throughout history different works of art have been used for instructive, sacred, political, celebratory, record keeping, and purely aesthetic purposes. Whatever the purpose, art has always been an important form of human expression.

The artwork that one can view through free online art magazines is incredibly diverse, and to some folks, challenging to understand. This is particularly true when it comes to modern and contemporary art, which many people do not consider art at all. These people would argue just because paint splashed on canvas appears in a random online arts magazine does not mean it is art. However, supporters of contemporary art contend that the definition of art is in the eye of the beholder, and that modern and contemporary art is more about “concept” and “idea,” as opposed to traditional notions of form and technique.

Jackson Pollock is a prime example of the controversial modern artist. The artistic merit of Pollock’s infamous drip paintings have long been a topic of debate. More traditionally-minded art aficionados believe “true” art should take time, practice, and skill, none of which, they claim, are apparent in his paintings. Nevertheless, Pollock’s paintings are among the most famous works regularly featured in modern art galleries and online art magazines.

Regardless of your individual taste in art, there are many free magazines covering different styles of art online. Whether you are looking to purchase art, explore different styles of art, or conducting research for a paper, free online art magazines offer something for everyone from art connoisseurs to curious neophytes.

Did you know humans, at least some form of humans, have been making art for tens of thousands of years? According to National Geographic, the oldest piece of art is a cave painting found in the El Castillo cave of northern Spain. These paintings, featuring hand-prints and dots, are thought to be 41,000 years old.

Our art has evolved over the last 40 millennia. Some of the most famous examples of our work include the “Great Wave off Kanagawa” from 19th century Japan, da Vinci’s 16th century “Mona Lisa”, and Michelangelo’s magnificent Sistine Chapel murals painted in the 1500’s. Even in the last six centuries our art has changed.

Consider computer graphic artists like Pixar, the surrealism of Salvador Dali, and the pop art of Andy Warhol. These things fascinate and excite us. Naturally, we want to find a place where we can easily view great art online. Here are four of the best sources of free online art.

• ARTnews

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ARTnews is the oldest, most widely circulated art magazine on the planet. Created in 1902, the outlet has striven to provide its readers with a central source to find great works of art, to find out about the art market, and to educate the public on great artists, both famous and underground. With the world’s shift toward all things digital, ARTnews has made the jump to become one of the best online arts magazines available.

• Juxtapoz Magazine

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As an online art magazine, Juxtapoz is vastly different from ARTnews. The outlet features a greater focus on modern, edgy art than most other sources of art online. For instance, the magazine has sections for illustration, graffiti, street art, and artistic adult art; the latter is decidedly not found on many other sites as it is considered to be too risque by some. If readers want a source of art online that is not afraid to push the boundaries, this is likely it.

• deviantART

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The webpage known as deviantART has grown into the preeminent forum for artists, amateur and professional, on the worldwide web. Since its inception in August 2000, deviantART has become the largest community of artists on the web. This incredible resource of art online features over 28 million artists and their work. Illustration, computer imagery, photography, and many other mediums all have a place here.

• 3D Artist Magazine

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According to First Showing, the 1991 release of “Terminator 2” was incredibly important for motion pictures because of its use of revolutionary computer graphics. Since that time, companies like Pixar have shown just how amazing 3D computer art can be. It is this fact that spawned 3D Artist magazine. This source of computer art online features image galleries showcasing its members’ art, tutorials for newbies, and news about the form.

Whether you are looking for a source of edgy art, a place where you can view more traditional work, or 3D computer pieces, there is a high quality source of art online for you. Further, if you are an artist and want to share your work, deviantART is a powerful tool for getting your work out there. Check out these sources to see what works for you.