I just found about this amazing art resource, the Google Art Project through another art blog by artist Marc Dalessio. Start out with the short video Visitor Guide under the Learn More link. It shows how much you can do with the site. They have set it up so you can tour the facilities just like street view. You can also look very close up at individual paintings. This could provide hours of exploration.

I like this kind of thing, not only because you can see the paintings, but seeing them in their actual place in a gallery or museum gives a better sense of the scale of the works. The ability to see them up close lets you see the textures too.

Then you really want to travel and see them in real life! There is nothing like seeing the actual painting though. Standing right up close to any work of art is an amazing experience. You are within arms length of a piece of work done by someone who made a difference in history. You can see how they did it, chisel marks on sculpture, brush strokes on paintings. I always think, Monet or van Gogh stood just this far away and made this wonderful thing. Or whoever you love and admire. Or you find pieces you never new about, or painters you weren't very familiar with, and discover something new to admire or love or wonder about.

So I see a site like this as an inspiration to find out more. Go on a virtual tour and then try and go on a real one.

Love it!

PS there is also a Google Art Project YouTube site with some more information.

I am enjoying another art blog called 'Making a Mark' by British artist Katherine Tyrrell. If I ever get a chance to go to England, this is the site I would go back to, to see what is happening in British galleries. She also talks about good resources; right now she is listing best art books and art business books. 

Recently, she highlighted the Birmingham (UK) Museums and Art Gallery, which has put up a beautiful resource, their collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings. It is called the Pre-Raphaelite On-Line Resource. It is amazing - you can zoom right into the painting and see all kinds of detail. Plus there is lots of information and you can even make your own collection of your favourites.

I plan to have a really good look around it. Having these kinds of resources available is such a wonderful opportunity for those of us who can't travel to these galleries,to see these beautiful works of art, and study them closely. Also, should we have the opportunity to travel, we can find those galleries which we would like to visit.