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How to educate yourself in the fine arts?

I graduated college a few years ago and do not have the time to go back and study the fine arts I wish I had back then. Now when I am at dinner parties and social events, I don't feel that I can hold my own in conversations about great literature and fine art.

My question is: what would you recommend to educate yourself on the fine arts? Perhaps you can recommend a reading list of great literature as well as texts on the great works of art? This is very important to me and I will be very grateful for any input!

3 months ago
Besides better conversations, I'd like to become more acquainted with the fine arts so that I can be a better writer. I feel so uninspired lately... :-(

Art Appreciation and History, here are sites and links that can help you;
http://www.creativity-portal.com/howto/a...
http://arthistory.about.com/
http://www.appreciation-of-art.com/...
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/makowgest...
http://www.sungazette.com/lifestyles/art...
some books to read;
In the Aftermath of Art: Ethics, Aesthetics and Politics (Routledge Harwood Critical Voices) (Paperback)
by Donald Preziosi (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=utf8&keywords...
An Outline for the Study of the History of the Fine Arts (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=utf8&keywords...
The Mind's Eye: Art and Theological Argument in the Middle Ages (Publications of the Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University) (Paperback)
by Jeffrey F. Hamburger
The Fine Art of Reading: And Other Literary Studies (Hardcover)
by Lord David Cecil (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=pd...
Educate yourself as a fine art collector next; sitehttp://www.emoma.org/faq/collect_faq.htm...
http://web.info.com/infocom.us2/search/w...
http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/o/o...
http://www.fineartregistry.com/about_far...
http://www.sfcp.org/resourcecenter.cfm?t...
http://www.artandantiques.net/articles/i...
http://synnernation.wordpress.com/tag/ed...
http://www.colum.edu/portfolio_center/in...

Excellent site below for familiarising yourself again with terms and artists;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fine_arts...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/category:ar...
For great literary Authors;
http://www.classicauthors.net/orczy...
http://www.classicauthors.net/
http://www.bartleby.com/
Why Should Businessmen Read Great Literature?
http://www.acton.org/publicat/randl/arti...
The 100 Greatest Books in History
http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/100books/n...
Other ways to educate yourself.........Read news articles or columns on line.
For great sites free for artists;
wetcanvas.com
http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/pdf/view_...
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store.aspx?s...
Magazines or art articles will also help dramatically.
Look at on line sites like these next ones to see and hear artists ideas,exchanges and views.
http://www.flickr.com/ or another good one is http://ww.photobucket.com/Sign up for free and post your work on http://www.etsy.com/
https://www.boundlessgallery.com/..........
http://www.faceyourart.com/
Join an artist forum like.
http://www.deviantart.com/ get reviews
http://www.artistsforum.com/
http://www.gfxartist.com/community/forum...
http://dart.fine-art.com/boardlist.asp.....
http://www.cafepress.com/
http://www.pageresource.com/zine/art1.ht...
http://www.wildlife-fantasy.com/promotio...
http://www.webdesignoffice.us/web_design...
http://www.storyboardsinc.com/index.shtm...
http://www.takingitglobal.org/
http://www.thewritemarket.com/articles/i...
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/sell/.....
http://www.yessy.com/overture.html......
http://midwestslant.com/
http://www.artocracy.org/
http://www.artistsincanada.com/php/~entr...
http://ca.search.yahoo.com/search?p=free...
http://www.cjb.net/
http://members.************/
http://websearch.about.com/
http://www.killersites.com/
http://www.surrealart.si/
I would try to get myself into an art gallery or an on line museum.There are many virtual museums ex. The Louvre.

Hope these ideas help.
Cheers!