he City Of Gods by Stamatis Grigoropoulos

Aftermath BY John Need

Ventura Pier II by Kevin Charbonneau

The Stalker by Debra Raskin

Covered By Colors by Joni Dalia

Running Man by David Johnson

Visual Stimuli by Chad Settlemier

Corridor Of Colour by Stephen Barnes

Araba by Debra Raskin

Los Pecados by Rolando Espinoza

Against The Elelments by David Johnson

The End Of Modern Architecture by David Johnson

Solid As A..... by Michael Phillips

Lightleg by Frenk Kaufmann

Lone Tree by Michael Phillips

The Temple Of Poseidon by Stamatis Grigoropoulos

Curious Fairy by Steven Whitfield

The No Equivalent Gallery is the home of original, collector quality art created by an exclusive community of top artists.  Exhibiting the first one of a kind photography in the world, every No Equivalent artwork is personalized to a single client’s needs.

It is interesting that high end art, of which art originals are part, was never expected to be flexible; even though most of the time it was used as wall decor.  So it’s not surprising that many interior designers find dealing with art originals challenging and time consuming as finding the one that fits a space requires an extensive search.

The problem that original art has always faced is that a client can only purchase it once it’s already

1. Designed,
2. Printed & Framed, and
3. Exhibited in a Gallery

If the art’s already printed and framed then it is not flexible and can only fit a particular space.

Therefore, in order to make original art flexible, the process of its creation has to be rearranged such that a Client can provide input prior to the print’s creation.

Up until recently, the only way to do this was by intervening right at the beginning of the process by asking an artist to create a commissioned, original artwork.

The advantage of this approach is that the client has an immense amount of input into the art’s creation.  On the other hand, its disadvantage is that the client doesn’t get to see the finished artwork when placing the order and risks getting stuck with an artwork that isn’t to his/her liking.

The No Equivalent Gallery offers an alternative to this approach by exhibiting its artists’ original artworks in an online gallery.  The client then browses the art and selects the one he/she likes.  It is only then that the artwork is put into its print form, which is customized to the client’s space.

The advantage here is that the original art is made to fit the client’s space and the client gets to see it before purchase.  The disadvantage is that if the client wants input into the art’s artistic creation then commissioned art is the way to go.

It is these new methods that push Original Art closer to perfection by making it flexible and personalized.

The Haunted Factory by Stamatis Grigoropoulos

Curve by David Johnson

Lowern by Frenk Kaufmann

Tree Snake Holds Tight by Jak Wonderly

Nocturnal Fairies by Steven Whitfield

Ventura Pier by Kevin Charbonneau

Green Winked Eye by Joni Dalia

The City Of Athens by Stamatis Grigoropoulos

Butterfly by Debra Raskin

Rockfall by Michael Phillips

Yellow Daisy by Kevin Charbonneau

Woodland by Steven Whitfield

IceIceBlue by John Need

On Top Of The World by Joni Dalia

Breaking Into The Past by Stamatis Grigoropoulos

Abandoned Pier by David Johnson

A Seat With A View by David Johnson

Sea Turtle by David Lenhert

The No Equivalent Gallery of Original Art is home to one of a kind, collector quality art created by an exclusive community of top artists. Each artwork on display is one of a kind as it’s the only print, from the only edition ever made from an artist’s vision.

In its current issue, ARTnews posted a very interesting article describing Norton Simon’s secret bidding signals (recommended read) when he used to go to Christie’s auctions  in order to acquire art for his collection.  At the same time that Norton Simon put a stamp on the food industry through calculated moves and acquisitions, his unorthodox style when it came to art, his passion, were more like the moves of a child than a cool business leader.

Just one more way and further proof that art brings us closer to our true, pure, selves.

A Bow To The Sea by Stamatis Grigoropoulos

The Dragonfly by Stamatis Grigoropoulos

Dream Little Boy by Stamatis Grigoropoulos

Flowbridge II by Frenk Kaufmann

DoubleV by Frenk Kaufmann

Hide And Seek by Joni Dalia

Araba by Debra Raskin

Calm Waters by Stamatis Grigoropoulos

Coastal Defence by David Johnson

Street Light Shadow by Chad Settlemier

Field Of Dreams by Steven Whitfield

Edge Of The Sea by David Johnson

Reflection Of A Fairy by Steven Whitfield

Simply Beautyful by Joni Dalia

Mt. San Gorgonio by Kevin Charbonneau

Her Thoughts by Rolando Espinoza

Tunnel At Sea by Rolando Espinoza

A Family Portrait by Joni Dalia

The No Equivalent Gallery of Original Art is home to one of a kind, collector quality art created by an exclusive community of top artists. Each artwork on display is one of a kind as it’s the only print, from the only edition ever made from an artist’s vision.

Beauty connects with its audience, brings out emotion, is intimate and inspiring.  Beautiful art can foster large followings as the general public finds it appealing and understands its value.

Unfortunately this is not enough.

The art market is unique in that each artwork requires a stamp of approval from “in the know” individuals, rather than the general public, to reach its value potential.  These curators, art critics, and galleries often rely on artist reputation in order to provide their endorsement and therefore art by unknown artists often finds it difficult to overcome this hurdle.

On the flip side, some art doesn’t even fit the taste of the most open minded art lover, leaving its value  dependent solely on the reputation of its artist.  Because the reputation of its artist is established enough, it attracts investors, rather than art lovers, to purchase the art for its potential investment value.

While such art often commands great value, it cannot become a masterpiece until it becomes accepted by the public and this requires intrinsic appeal.

Masterpieces are artworks that create a connection with their audience as well as boast the name of a famous artist.  It is parallel to having an interesting design catch your eye and then hearing that its made by a quality brand.  Since a famous brand is required for  art to be of high value and intrinsic beauty is required for it to be accepted by the public, it is only the combination of the two that puts an artwork on top of the pedestal, immortalizes its creator., and makes for a masterpiece.

Originality (wikipedia) is the aspect of created or invented works by as being new or novel, and thus can be distinguished from reproductions, clones, forgeries, or derivative works.

This definition establishes a complex paradox as an original artwork cannot be a derivative, yet the term is so broad that everything has the potential to be a derivative of something.   This is particularly relevant in the art world as the line between unoriginal derivatives of established norms and original works simply inspired by these norms is blurred.

Art is often inspired by existing objects, concepts, forms, or thoughts; those same influences that have led the crafts of countless artists since the dawn of time.  We take it for granted that the world around us shapes our thoughts but do not realize that this same influence boxes our minds into reality and makes our thinking less original.  People walk on the ground, clouds hover above us, red is red, and blue is not green.

An artwork inspired by such external influence may be argued as unoriginal since it is a derivative of the exact influence that inspired it.  If this is the case then we would argue that all human made art is  not original as it is created by people and all people are inspired by their surroundings.

Now we have gone too far.  The nonexistence of original art, as implied by taking the definition of “derivative work” too literally, is nonsensical and therefore we offer an alternative translation.  The critical aspect that separates original art from a derivative work is whether the artwork bends the influences it is based on and presents its audience a new, original perspective.  It is about the resulting message, not the origin.

We often applaud art that flies in the face of dominant, and sometimes oppressive, norms and stereotypes as we realize and admire its original perspective.  We do not consider it original because it is free external influence, on the contrary, we consider it original because it takes that same influence and provides us an original take on it.

To be original, art need not be uninspired, it should simply be different.

Secret Hide Out by Joni Dalia

Forgotten Harbour by David Johnson

Green Reflection by Debra Raskin

Ventura Sunset II by Kevin Charbonneau

Equatable Conclusion by Hugo Gatsby

Church Sealing by Rolando Espinoza

Lowlie by Frenk Kaufmann

Standing Against The Elements - David Johnson

Flying By by David Johnson

In Sync by Debra Raskin

Violet Dream Space by Chad Settlemier

Running Man by David Johnson

Droplets 3 by Eric Blackman

Winter Outcome by Reggie Linsao

The Catch by Aaron Easton

Burn The Light by Rolando Espinoza

Painted Desert by Kevin Charbonneau

Tiny Classic by Jak Wonderly

The No Equivalent Gallery of Original Art is home to one of a kind, collector quality art created by an exclusive community of top artists. Each artwork on display is one of a kind as it’s the only print, from the only edition ever made from an artist’s vision.

The childhood of art

Everything has a starting point, whether it is an impressionist painting, a carved statue, or a landscape photograph.  This starting point shapes the thinking of all artists in an art medium and sets the path it will take through life.

A painting for example begins as a blank canvas awaiting transformation into a vision.  This initial emptiness is like an infant waiting to be molded by its the artist, the parent, through simple impressions, brush strokes.

Photography on the other hand begins with a canvas already filled with an image of reality.  Somewhat like adopting a teenager, one that already has an impression of the world, the parent molds this existing image to one fitting their end vision.  Fortunately, unlike in the real world, here parents get to influence the initial impression such that, sometimes, it is exactly as the artist intended it to be.

Art coming of age

While the path to maturity depends on the artist, just like all other individuals, artists have their cultures and these cultures are shaped by their mediums of art.

Painters constantly push their canvas as far from its initial blank state as possible.  The further the art goes the more skill is evident in its creation and this often instills a culture of “more” rather than “less”.

Photographers on the other hand often have a more minimalistic approach to adjusting their art.  The initial impression that the photographer’s canvas starts from is often more than half way to the final creation.

Maturity of art

The initial state of art affects the mentality of its artists and, in turn, affects the art’s ending form.  This gives art distinct cultures that are very much byproducts of their mediums.  From the ultra realist approach of many photographers to the idealistic forms that many paintings take, art is just like the people that created it.  It is a reflection of people’s culture.

Fairy Flight by Steven Whitfield

The Stalker by Debra Raskin

For Those Lost At Sea by David Johnson

Resting On Rocky Rainbow by Joni Dalia

Enigma by Steven Whitfield

Curve by David Johnson

Jaguar Walks Along Fallen Log by Jak Wonderly

CoatHangerSkull by John Need

Sun Sets On Abandoned Building by Stephen Barnes

Ventura Pier II by Kevin Charbonneau

Reflections by Michael Phillips

Hurricane Horses by Debra Raskin

The Energy Of Flight by David Johnson

Lone Tree by Michael Phillips

Red Blue Kneeling Nude by Malcolm Salmond

River Of Eden by Joni Dalia

Los Pecados by Rolando Espinoza

Against The Elelments by David Johnson

The No Equivalent Gallery of Original Art is home to one of a kind, collector quality art created by an exclusive community of top artists.  Each artwork is one of a kind, as it is the only print, from the only edition, ever made, or will be made, from an artist’s vision.