Excerpts from the book “Inspiration Tuscany”
The cultural landscape of Tuscany exerts a special pull on art lovers. As if it was a painter’s composition, its scenery tempts them to embark on a hedonist art and culture tour from town to town. With the rhythmical wave shapes of its cypress and pine studded hill ranges and its unequalled light, it is so much more than your regular holiday destination. Drawing on ideas from the ancient world, the Italian Renaissance also heralded the separation between crafts and fine arts. As the creative act became art’s central focus, people’s understanding of what “art” meant underwent a significant change.
Tag Archives: international
Art gift book ‘Inspiration Tuscany – Inspiration Toskana’
In memory of Michelangelo and the Florentine Renaissance
Book series LOUNGE 2 – volume XII
Editor: Kurt Ries
“Florentia”, “the blossoming one” can also be found in the name of the city of “Florence”. Over time, the city has blossomed into the queen of Tuscany, and continues to be one of the most important art metropoles in the world. The conscious differentiation between a landscape’s significance as an artistic motif and its arability led to a new culture, the blossoming of the “villeggiatura”. Its inhabitants began to reflect deeply, write poetry, make music. Florentine cities like Siena, Lucca, and Pisa have their own architectural charm. Similarly, the walled picture book villages on the hill ranges of Tuscany resemble organic structures.
‘Enter into Art’ book design awards 2024
The book design prizes are awarded according to the requirements of the book design, whereby the quality of the works of art naturally plays an important role. These prizes are awarded as part of a book project. The winning images will be selected solely from the participating images in the respective book. In our LOUNGE series we usually have about 40 to 70 participants per book. The artworks of the participants automatically take part in the respective competition.
Continue readingGerman online show and other related links 2024:
Free German “Virtual Art Installation” with international artworks and Online gallery (archive):
After one year they will be shown forever in our German ONLINE GALLERY (archive)
Pictures will be shown for one year in our free German online show (embedded in our meditative color concept).
Information about our free services: German online show, tips and offers, “Enter into Art” bonus video, networking on the Internet.
Continue readingArt gift book ‘Excellent Art – Exzellente Kunst 2024’ – vol. 4
Book series LOUNGE 3 – volume IV
Editor: Gabriele Walter
The art and gift book introduces 41 selected artists from 20 countries around the globe. The interpretations focus mainly on the visible, specific side of paintings and sculptures. The texts invite art lovers to connect with the artworks themselves. Special art and poetry pages have been incorporated to give artists an opportunity to present their visual work alongside their poetry. The book also deals with the topic “Ludwig van Beethoven in Vienna”: Due to its programmatic character, his Pastoral Symphony is ideally suited to establishing a connection between painting and music.
Ludwig van Beethoven in Vienna and his “Pastorale”, Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68
Excerpts from the book “Excellent Art 2024, vol. 4”
This art and gift book introduces 41 selected artists from 20 countries around the globe. The book invites art lovers to connect with the artworks through philosophical-poetic texts about the images and classical music. Due to its programmatic character, the Symphony No.6 of Ludwig van Beethoven is ideally suited to establishing a connection between painting and music. While the poems in this book were selected based on the musical message of its five movements, the artworks were created independently of it. Rather than making Beethoven’s composition a guiding principle throughout the book, the idea is that listening to it will increase readers’ sense of joy and relaxation while looking through its pages.
Art gift book “Congratulations! – Herzliche Glückwünsche!”, vol. 2 – 2024
Relaxing with Flowers, Colors, Poetry and Art
Book series LOUNGE 5 – volume 2
Editor: Gabriele Walter
Flowers are a gift for every occasion. With gorgeous blossoms, art, and rainbow colors in panoramic format, this unusual gift book will take you on a soothing trip to deep relaxation. The printed flower bouquet was created with love to bring joy to your loved ones. Consciously experience the colors and shapes of the flowers as you breathe them in through your eyes like healing scents. Every year, eight artists are selected and awarded the Diamond Prize.
Video ‘International artworks 2024’ with relaxing music
Video for the first 20 participants
in our book projects 2023 – 2024
The images in the video represent a bonus selection of about 20 images per book that have been published in 2023-24 in the bilingual Enter into Art – gift book series:
Art gift book ‘Inspiration Venice – Inspiration Venedig’
An Homage to Venice and Marco Polo
Book series LOUNGE 2 – volume X
Editor: Kurt Ries
Venice stirs admiration and wonder and exerts a strange power over the imagination. At times its appearance resembles a theater production, at times a mirage from 1001 Nights. Strolling through it feels like sliding into a daydream – shimmering like mother-of-pearl, everything solid dissolves into water and colors. For centuries, the poetic melancholy of the lagoon city has been challenging artists and poets with its magic. Even its name stirs up associations with “Venus” who sprang from the foam of the sea.
Venice – Lost in an Enchanted Dream
Excerpts from the book “Inspiration Venice”
Venice stirs admiration and wonder and exerts a strange power over the imagination. At times its appearance resembles a theater production, at times a mirage from 1001 Nights. Strolling through it feels like sliding into a daydream – shimmering like mother-of-pearl, everything solid dissolves into water and colors. For centuries, the poetic melancholy of the lagoon city has been challenging artists and poets with its magic. Even its name stirs up associations with “Venus” who sprang from the foam of the sea. As Goethe’s “Venetian Epigrams”, this book also features artworks that lack any direct connection with Venice because inspiration may be expressed in the most diverse facets.
Continue readingArt gift book ‘Art Château’
Vernissage imaginaire with Bordeaux Wine
Book series LOUNGE 1 – volume I
Editor: Gabriele Walter
A festive occasion like an anniversary or a vernissage is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a fine wine. This gave us the idea to create a series of books called “Art Château” celebrating the special relationship between wine and art. Wine as a cultural treasure goes far beyond drinking. Wine cannot be considered a muse, it is however, said that only those who value art, poetry, and music, can truly treasure it. .
Vernissage with Bordeaux Wine – Art, Wine, Poetry, and Music
Excerpts from the book “Art Château” – vol. 1
Vernissage imaginaire – Invitation to the Opening
A festive occasion like an anniversary or a vernissage is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a fine wine. This gave us the idea to create a series of books called “Art Château” celebrating the special relationship between wine and art. Without question, wine stimulates the imagination – and the exchange of thoughts. We should only pay serious attention, however, to the truly fine wines. The joy of winetasting should not be the result of alcohol. Drinking wine is not about making life fade into the distance – even if this aspect of it tends to be glorified in volumes of brilliant poetry. Wine as a cultural treasure goes far beyond drinking, and many of the landscapes where the grapes are grown enchant us with their quaint historical appeal.
Continue readingTable Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Drinking wine is a sensual journey, and listening to music is said to make it even more enjoyable. Even the grapes themselves love music – as they ripen, they prefer the great symphonies of Beethoven or Mahler, while fermentation makes them long for sacred vocal music and Baroque pieces. Yes – plants are sentient beings, too! While the wine bills of famous composers often mark them as sensual personalities, wine is not the most common subject in classical music.
Continue readingFrom the Winemakers’ Idyll of St. Emilion to the Prehistoric Splendor of Lascaux
Excerpts from the book “Art Château – vol. 1 – Vernissage with Bordeau Wine”
St. Emilion – surrounded by a medieval city wall, even the name of this quaint little town in the Bordeaux wine region breathes spiritual inspiration. Immediately upon entering the town, the stunning ruins of a former Benedictine monastery will tempt visitors to take pictures. The old Franciscan monastery with its gothic cloister with its contemplative combination of ruins and elysian vineyards is another eyecatcher. Like all winemakers around here, the inhabitants bless every path most generously with cases of fine wine. The magic aura of the place will make visitors float through the town’s medieval alleyways. Not a single modern building will disturb their historic sojourn.
Continue reading‘Enter into Art’ book design awards 2023
The book design prizes are awarded according to the requirements of the book design, whereby the quality of the works of art naturally plays an important role. These prizes are awarded as part of a book project. The winning images will be selected solely from the participating images in the respective book. In our LOUNGE series we usually have about 50 to 70 participants per book. The artworks of the participants automatically take part in the respective competition.
Continue readingArt gift book ‘Magic of La Bohème – Zauber der Bohème’
An Homage to Paris and Puccini
Book series LOUNGE 2 – volume IX
Editor: Kurt Ries
Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece “La Bohème” is one of the five most frequently performed operas in the world. Set in Paris, the main reason for its success is that it depicts the actual lives, pains, and loves of artists working without trying to please the public, striving instead to create pure art. Any life governed by such idealistic ambitions is somewhat awe-inspiring. Cherishing the complete creative freedom the bohemians sought, this book predominantly features works unrelated to its title topic.
Retracing the Paths of Famous Artists and Poets in Paris
Excerpts from the book “Magic of La Bohème”
Critics regard Puccini’s works as sentimental, but the fact of the matter is: They are enchanting! Whilst working on Mimi’s dying scene, Puccini is said to have burst into heavy sobbing. The spiritual and sensory origin of his aesthetic sensitivity was Tuscany. It was in Torre del Lago, a romantic village near Lucca, that he lived and suffered with the heroes and heroines of his operas. “La Bohème” made the maestro world famous. Its success entirely freed him from financial worries. Nevertheless, he continued to hold the bohemian lifestyle in high regard, and even founded a bohemian club. His opera is marked by Baudlairesque anti-bourgeois aesthetics. The composer had read Henry Murger’s novel in one sitting. The subject allowed him to express exactly what he felt inside.
Continue readingColor Symphonies for Gauguin and van Gogh
Excerpts from the book “Color Symphonies for Gauguin and van Gogh”
Without color, life would be gray. This book explores the question why so many people around the world hang reproductions of Vincent van Gogh’s and Paul Gauguin’s paintings on their walls and do not mind waiting in line to see their originals. It is easy to forget that the origin of the artists’ social conflicts was first and foremost a kind of self-sacrifice, as reflected in the color eruptions of their paintings. Brightening daily life with their unconditional artistic passion, the fragrances of the South Sea and La Provence, seeing life as colorful and diverse, and respecting other cultures and their “primitive” ways as a precious asset doubtlessly constitutes their legacy. Both have had a significant influence on modern art and inspired fauvists and expressionists to use strong colors.
Continue readingExcellent Art 2022 – Exzellente Kunst 2022 – vol. 3
Book series LOUNGE 3 – volume III
Editor: Gabriele Walter
This art and gift book introduces 47 selected artists from 23 countries around the globe. The interpretations focus mainly on the visible, specific side of paintings, sculptures, and art objects mostly leaving out aspects related to the artists’ résumés. To learn more about the artists, please refer to their respective websites. The book invites art lovers to connect with the artworks themselves. Based on the concept behind Enter-into-Art, feel free to pick a painting, mindfully dwell on it following our instructions for meditative art observation, and relax.
‘Enter into Art’ LOUNGE – jury contest 2022
The international “LOUNGE” contest is divided into the following award categories:
- 1 – 3 prize and Honorable Special Prize
- Excellence Jury Prizes
- Honorable Mentions
- Amber Awards
- Finalists
- Artists Nominee
‘Enter into Art’ book design awards 2022
The book design prizes are awarded according to the requirements of the book design, whereby the quality of the works of art naturally plays an important role. These prizes are awarded as part of a book project. The winning images will be selected solely from the participating images in the respective book. In our LOUNGE series we usually have about 50 to 70 participants per book. The artworks of the participants automatically take part in the respective competition.
Continue readingArt gift book ‘Art in Dialogue with Nature – Kunst im Dialog mit Natur’
In Memory of Antoni Gaudí and Daniel Defoe
Book series LOUNGE 2 – volume VII
Editor: Kurt Ries
When Antoni Gaudí took over as main architect of the Sagrada Familia in 1883, his feelings towards Christianity– not unlike those of Daniel Defoe’s fictional hero Robinson Crusoe – were rather ambiguous. Inspired by his dedicated study of liturgy and the spiritual dialogue between art and nature, Gaudí finally found his faith as an architect. Similarly, Robinson on his lonely island developed a relationship with God through his conversations with nature.
German online show and other related links:
German online gallery and German online archive:
Pictures will be shown for one year in our free German online show (embedded in our meditative color concept).
Information about our free services: German online show, rewards – winner blog posts for the annual jury awards in German, tips and offers, “Enter into Art” bonus video, book presentations – on-screen art shows, public relations / networking on the Internet
Continue reading‘Enter into Art’ book design awards 2021
The book design prizes are awarded according to the requirements of the book design, whereby the quality of the works of art naturally plays an important role. These prizes are awarded as part of a book project. The winning images will be selected solely from the participating images in the respective book. In our LOUNGE series we usually have about 50 to 70 participants per book. The artworks of the participants automatically take part in the respective competition.
Continue readingArt gift book “Fairytale Art for Mozart – Märchenhafte Kunst für Mozart”
Book series LOUNGE 2 – volume IV
Editor: Gabriele Walter
Fairy tales used to be orally transmitted and kept changing in the process. Also the author of a literary fairy tale is free to let his imagination run wild and create fantastic wonder tales. Based on this idea, at the occasion of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 265th birthday and the 230th anniversary of his death, 64 artists from 33 countries came together to honor the world-famous composer with contemporary imagery. It was also 230 years ago that Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” was first performed.
Book presentations with on-screen show 2022 in Cologne
Foyer of the Town Hall Gallery in Cologne-Kalk
We are very pleased that – despite the difficult Corona situation – we are able to carry out 6 book presentations with on-screen shows in the Cologne-Kalk cultural center. This applies to the “Enter into Art” books that were published in 2021 with works of art from all over the world.
Art gift book “Flowers for Monet – Blumen für Monet”
Book series LOUNGE 2 – volume III
Editor: Kurt Ries
Don’t we all long to live like flowers, alive with perfect beauty? The work of Claude Monet (1840 – 1926) is a seed that has firmly taken root in the world’s artistic heritage. It was a trip that inspired Monet to create his radiant garden in Giverny. After traveling through the night, the flower fields in Holland appeared before his eyes like a bright sea of colours, in which the blossoming individual flowers simultaneously dissolved and fully unfolded. Flowers unite the light energy of the sun and the mythical spirit of earth and water. Based on this idea, 67 artists from 29 countries came together at the occasion of Claude Monet’s 180th birthday to honor the well-traveled impressionist with contemporary artistic abundance.
ART RETREAT Living with Pictures – KUNSTRETREAT Wohnen mit Bildern
Book series ART RETREAT – volume 6
Editor: Gabriele Walter
Small-format pictures from all over the world are not only suitable for an affordable as well as exotic art collection, but also for creating inspired refuges in living spaces. On the occasion of the 6th international “Enter into Art” art competition for the promotion of small-format pictures the art book shows – in addition to exquisite large-format pictures – over 150 works by artists from 36 countries and 5 continents. At the same time it is a poetry book for relaxation with art, poetry and colors.
Art gift book “Moonlight Sonatas for Beethoven – Mondscheinsonaten für Beethoven”
Book series LOUNGE 2 – volume II
Editor: Kurt Ries
Name a tune you want to listen to again and again, because it goes straight to the heart. Millions on the internet click “Moonlight Sonata” in response to this call. At the same time, both the title and the history of this work have long been subjects of debate. The fact is that Beethoven reversed the conventional sequence of the first and the second movement, thus breaking with the classical sonata form, which may explain this word choice of “fantasy” in the original title. Based on this idea, 69 artists from 26 countries got together at the occasion of Beethoven’s 250th birthday and – with boundless sensitivity – interpreted the “Moonlight Sonata” in visual terms.
Art gift book ‘Excellent Art – Exzellente Kunst 2020’
Book series LOUNGE 3 – volume II
Editor: Gabriele Walter
The art and gift book introduces 33 selected artists from 20 countries around the globe. The interpretations focus mainly on the visible, specific side of paintings and sculptures. The texts invite art lovers to connect with the artworks themselves. Special art and poetry pages have been incorporated to give artists an opportunity to present their visual work alongside their poetry.
Gallery – small-scale artworks 2020-21 – ART RETREAT – Living with pictures
6th ‘Enter into Art’ International – Contest 2020/21
Participating artworks in the art gift book “Art Retreat 2020-21”
(Living with pictures: miniprint and mixed media)
Editor: Gabriele Walter
German online show and other related links:
German online show
German online gallery and German online archive:
Pictures will be shown for one year in our free German online show (embedded in our meditative color concept).
‘Enter into Art’ book design awards 2020
The book design prizes are awarded according to the requirements of the book design, whereby the quality of the works of art naturally plays an important role. These prizes are awarded as part of a book project. The winning images will be selected solely from the participating images in the respective book. In our LOUNGE series we usually have about 50 to 70 participants per book. The artworks of the participants automatically take part in the respective competition.
Continue readingArt gift book “A Fine Art Journey – Weltreise mit Kunst”
Editors: Gabriele Walter, Kurt Ries
With its purposefully structured content, unusual perspectives, and deep insights, and incorporating the sensitivity of people who create art, this art and gift book unravels the subject of traveling and invites readers to examine it in more depth. Eighty artists from thirty-two countries have come together to interpret traveling with their boundless imagination. Poets and artists are interested in experiencing selected places with a specific atmosphere, because their talent is based on their special power of perception and their sensitivity.
Exhibition and book presentation Cologne-Kalk: A Fine Art Journey
Small-format pictures, on-screen presentationof larger artworks and book presentation
Town Hall Gallery in Cologne-Kalk: March 09 – April 03, 2020
Group exhibition with 36 artists from 26 countries (3 – 10 small-format artworks of each artist)
‘Enter into Art’ book design awards 2019
The book design prizes are awarded according to the requirements of the book design, whereby the quality of the works of art naturally plays an important role. These prizes are awarded as part of a book project. The winning images will be selected solely from the participating images in the respective book. In our LOUNGE series we usually have about 50 to 70 participants per book. The artworks of the participants automatically take part in the respective competition.
Continue readingArt Book KUNSTRETREAT 2019 – ART RETREAT 2019
Fascination of Worldwide Art and Color
The gift book in German is also the exhibition catalog 2019. The foreword, the table of contents, the poems and further chapters are also in English. In addition to 292 images and the winning pictures in the larger format, the art book contains chapters on the topics “Apollinaire and His Time in the Rhineland”, “Apollinaire and Music”, “Exhibition Concept” and a detailed guide for mindful and enjoyable viewing of art and colors. In addition, there are 38 haiku poems (featuring the voices of birds), images with art objects, photos of the exhibitions and illustrations included. The book also contains a chapter on the topics “Polish Students visiting Cologne” and “Enter into Art-Information”. Last year saw the introduction of the new category “Featured Artists”. Eight artists get to present their work on double pages.
Participating artists 2019 – main and traveling exhibitions (miniprint + mixed media)
5th International ‘Enter into Art’ Installations 2019 – Opening of the Main Exhibition in Cologne
The traveling exhibition ‘Fascination of Worldwide Art and Color’ shows small-format artworks from all over the world whose composition emphasizes meditative aspects. The artworks are arranged in ‘color zones’ for attentive viewing and relaxation, giving the idea of intercultural exchange space to flow in. Very different artistic techniques and styles are presented and combined with smaller sculptures, poetry, and sound. The exhibition gives viewers access to a broad spectrum of high-quality art and we would like to thank all artists and contributors for their commitment!
Continue readingPrelude exhibition Bernkastel-Kues 2018-19: miniprint + mixed media
‘Enter into Art’ book design awards 2017 – 2018
The book design prizes are awarded according to the requirements of the book design, whereby the quality of the works of art naturally plays an important role. These prizes are awarded as part of a book project. The winning images will be selected solely from the participating images in the respective book. In our LOUNGE series we usually have about 20 to 70 participants per book. The artworks of the participants automatically take part in the respective competition.
Continue readingArt Gift Book – 16 times ART – 16 mal KUNST
The art and gift book „16 times art“ introduces eighteen artists from sixteen countries by presenting four small works per artist. The group exhibition under the same title was held from 25 June – 21 August 2018 in the light-flooded foyer of Weißenthurm’s townhall on the left bank of the Rhine. In addition to the visual artworks shown at the exhibition the book also features several haiku poems from Germany and the Netherlands. As two of the poets are also visual artists, their work is presented under the heading: “art and poetry”. During the exhibition, three artists received an “honorable mention” and are featured more prominently on the cover, title page, and back of the book.
Prelude exhibition Bad Breisig 2018: miniprint + mixed media
Touring the World through Art 2018-19
Art contemplations on your pictures: blog posts in German and English
Our German blog journal is a powerful public relations tool, which also disseminates professional articles, competition results and awards and our Online-Show. In this way, readers – particularly in German-speaking regions – can become more familiar with works of art to better understand them and the creative spirit of the artists concerned. Interested readers can view images and meditate with them. If they are interested in any of the artworks, they can get in contact with the relevant artist. Of course, the posts can also be published in English.
Continue reading4th International ‘Enter into Art’ Installations 2018 – Opening in Cologne
The “Enter into Art” exhibition period 2017-18 features 219 artists from 49 countries on five continents. All images submitted by artists are also presented in folders in our “Atelier Corner” (usually including two further images per artist). In addition, we have integrated the solo exhibitions of the first three award winners from 2017 into the Cologne exhibition. The main exhibition can be visited until March 14 at the Cultural Center in Cologne-Mülheim, while the exhibitions in Weißenthurm and Kobern-Gondorf will continue until May 17, 2018. A total of 20 prizes (and 47 finalists) have been awarded, including 13 jury awards and seven editorial awards.
Continue readingArt Book – KUNSTRETEAT 2017 – ART RETREAT 2017
The gift book in German is also the exhibition catalog 2017. The foreword and the Table of Contents are in English. In addition to 212 images and the winning pictures in the larger format, the art book contains chapters on the topics “Living with pictures”, “Collecting art”, “Art, wine, poetry” (wine meditation), “Exhibition concept” and a detailed guide for mindful and enjoyable viewing of art and colors. In addition, there are 40 haiku poems, images with art objects, photos of the exhibitions and illustrations included. The book also contains a chapter on the topic of the Prelude exhibition “Homage to Guillaume Apollinaire”.
Bonus video and other offers – 2018
Solo art book: Chiemi Itoi, Japan – Cat Love
It is perhaps no coincidence that artists and writers often lose their hearts to cats. Moreover, they tend to view their freedom-loving, four-legged friends with a degree of envy and respect. According to Mark Twain, “Of all God’s creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the leash. That one is the cat.”. Although the work of famous artists and writers plays no part in this book, the Japanese artist Chiemi Itoi and the German haiku poet Gabriele Walter have been inspired by their shared love of cats. In collaboration with graphic artist and designer Kurt Ries, they have created an imaginative and stylish gift book.