This
interactive site allows you to create digital paintings with
its (free!) downloadable graphics software, plus view award-winning
art others have created on the website. You do need
java capability on your computer to use the graphics program
online and the instructions can be a little complicated, but
if you have an artistic bent plus are handy with computers
you can do a lot, including create 3-D and even movie effects.
An
odd, almost surreal site that invites the artistically-minded
to download and then alter online images. Some artists
add color, some add collage, while others crop the original
image or change the perspective. Thumbnails of the altered
images link to full-screen representations, with info. provided
on the artist and the techniques used. Obviously, this
site will get a lot cooler as more images are added/altered.
With
minimal practice, you can create endless variation in the
patterns displayed by this virtual kaleidoscope, simply by
choosing the size of your "paintbrush," and then dragging
your mouse across the screen. Intricate, psychedelic
designs will appear almost magically in a rainbow spectrum
of rich, glowing hues. Provides a soothing, creative
interlude, though unfortunately, saving your finished creations
is difficult.
This
site showcases graffiti on city walls and on trains. The artwork
is arranged by city, with 18 entries for St. Louis. Each thumbnail
is a link to a full-screen representation of the graffiti.
Read about some famous (infamous?) graffiti artists in articles
and interviews, then see if you can spot any of their work
in your own hometown.
Calling
itself "the fastest way to find art on the net," Artcyclopedia
lives up to its claim by providing keyword search capability
for artist, title of work, museum, media (oil paint, collage,
etc.), subject, & more, plus a browsable alphabetical
index. In an instant you can discover the museums that
house works by your favorite artist (finding this info. can
be quite difficult and time-consuming), view thumbnail images
or zoom in to the size of your choice (especially nice when
you have time to wait for an extra-large file to load), and
wander through the online collections of museums around the
world.
A
site devoted to virtual photography. View digital photography
exhibitions in galleries and museums in "Galleries." Find
articles, reviews, and books on this art form in the "Library."
An archive of online versions of exhibitions since 1983 can
also be found, with large representations of the artwork in
glowing, leap-off-the-screen color.
A
searchable site focusing on the arts of Asia, with links to
associations, museums, exhibitions, and galleries. This site
can load somewhat (not excessively) slowly. Extra-large thumbnails
link to more information on these mostly visual arts. You
can also read illustrated articles about ancient and modern
asian art.
Offering
ever-changing galleries and online exhibits, this virtual
art museum can be browsed by style (Baroque, Impressionism,
etc.) or artist. The site allows you to "zoom in" on
the art so that each work can be viewed in much greater detail
than is usual in an online museum. Exhibit notes, theory
& criticism, and a variety of self-guided tours are also
included. Best of all, the images load quickly!
This
site focuses on the prehistoric cave drawings discovered in
Chauvet Cave, located in Ardeche, France. Read about the cave
itself and the process by which the drawings were dated. Thumbnails
of the cave art link to full-screen representations. Links to
prehistoric drawings discovered in other caves round out the
site.
This
site allows you to take a virtual tour of the St. Louis Art
Museum. You can see samples from a variety of sections--African,
Asian, Oceanic, & more. It also provides updates on new
acquisitions and upcoming exhibitions. "What's Hot" includes
games for kids and adults that you can try at home or in the
"real" museum.
Explore
the world of art chornologically with pieces from the Metropolitan
Museum of Art's collection. The timeline begins with prehistory
and will extend to the present day by the fall of 2004. Each
timeline page includes examples of art from the Museum's collection,
a time period chart, a map of the region, an overview, and a
list of key events.
A
gateway to the Web pages of museums in the U.S.A., this site
allows you to search alphabetically by museum, by type of museum,
or by state. Although the Web pages of these museums differ
in format, almost all allow you to view at least some of their
collection online.
A
virtual museum and database of European painting and sculpture
of the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods (1150-1800).
There are commentaries on pictures and biographies of artists.
Guided tours, free postcards and slide shows are also available.
This
site is based in Paris, so when you leave the WebMuseum via
links you might find yourself in sites that are in French! The
WebMuseum itself, however, can be read in English. Art museums
from all over the world are represented. Special areas include
the art of Paul Cezanne and a Medieval Art exhibit--both of
these include thumbnails that link to full-screen representations
of the artwork. You can also search an international, alphabetical
list of painters for biographical information and to view samples
of their paintings.
An
original and fascinating website that showcases painting, sculpture,
architecture, and gardens from around the world. "Travels
for Art," the main section, supposedly includes 50,000 thumbnail
slides that link to full-screen photos in clear, glowing color.
Brief text enhances the mostly visual experience of the website.
A nice extra allows you to download audio and actually hear the
tour guide.
Artsy-Crafty
types might enjoy creating unique works of art with this traditional
Japanese paper-folding technique. The instructions are
exceptionally clear, the projects range from simple to quite
complex, and the full-color images in the online gallery are
lovely.
This
online tutorial offers comprehensive instruction in photography
basics, including equipment, composition, darkroom techniques,
and much more. A particularly nice feature is the trouble-shooting
guide to fixing common photo problems. A section on using
the pictures you take to create online postcards or contribute
to a virtual PhotoQuilt rounds out the site.
Describing
itself as "the world's oldest and largest quilting site,"
this page provides a wealth of info. for beginners and the
more experienced alike. You'll find plenty of online
tutorials in basic and advanced quilting techniques, an extensive
library of block patterns, info. on quilt shows & museums,
and much, more more. A quilting glossary, Trading Post
(site visitors exchange patterns), and recommended reading
lists round out the site.
