Art of World

Art:
Art is an extremely private experience, yet, it is meant to be shared with the public. Society, as a whole, examines the art produced and has the right to approve, disapprove, acknowledge, ignore, praise and abuse it. The public or society has not remained constant over the years. In the time of the Renaissance, for example, only a select few were "society." They commissioned art, were patrons of the arts and their artists. Today, almost anyone can share in the experience of art. They can attempt to create, view and act as a critic.


Art gallery:
Art gallery is a space where various forms of art are displayed to public. The various art are sculpture, handloom, photographs, illustrations, installation art and applied arts. The main objective of these art galleries is to provide recognition and promote the emerging talent. It also creates awareness or art amongst the public. One can also understand as an attempt to perpetuate arts.The art galleries and art exhibits plays a vital role in art appreciation and providing a unique perfection of art. An artist’s proficiency can be easily judged in these galleries. An art gallery does can also be interpreted as springboard for many artists.

Art of buying art:
Buying art can be a great pleasure. You can also buy art as an investment. Experienced art collectors buy canvas art as an investment more than anything else. Of course art painting is expensive especially if you are considering work of a known artist. If you are a first time buyer and are considering making a purchase of wall art, it would be a very wise idea to visit art dealers who are genuine and have been around for some time. A genuine art gallery would be able to advice you on newer artists and if their work will make a worthy investment. What you will also need to keep in mind is that you will rarely sell art that you buy, even if it is just an investment and so it is very important that you like what you are buying. There are also plenty categories of art that you can choose from, like modern art, new art and contemporary art.
People buy contemporary art and original works of art for many different reasons. In this guide we will be exploring what motivates artists to make artwork and what motivates people to collect or buy art.
Fine Art photography including high quality scenic photographs, landscape prints, architectural photography, and abstract art are all terms that you are likely to have come across before. Art has evolved and developed and includes other terms such as conceptual art, figurative art, Photographic art, cityscapes and landscapes. These are sometimes referred to collectively as Contemporary Art. The term contemporary art generally refers to art that has been made by living artists. Art can be very expensive to buy as original art, limited edition prints or collectible prints.
Art of World.
Author: jill

Your Arts here

read more “Art of World”

Do you have the bottle To Collect Art

The headline reads "Undiscovered master piece sells for millions at Auction". The family was overjoyed to discover that a picture that had hung on their grandfather's wall for years attracted a six figure price at auction. Grandson and heir said "The whole family knew he collected odds and ends but we never envisaged it would amount to anything".

Ok the above is fiction, but it's what's at the back of the majority of collector's minds, especially those who collect art. Buy it cheap and sell it for squillions. Just don't rely on it as your retirement fund. In many respects it is a lottery, your betting your collection decision against that fickle beast, public opinion. The beauty of the art collecting lottery is you can hang the ticket on your wall. A win, win situation, your wall decorations are working for you and all your friends can admire your taste.

Now that can be scary, because 90 out of 100 people know damn all about art. If it isn't chocolate box pretty it isn't art, right. Wrong, have a look at the masters of art in your local museum or better still here on the internet and see how many pretty pictures you can find. Look at Picasso, Gauguin, Pollock, Matisse, Cezanne or Van Gogh to mention a few. It's Ok, I'll wait.

Not much prettiness there. What is there is life, both the depiction of it and in the picture itself. There is an energy that radiates from art and if you allow it that energy will take you places you have never been before. But be prepared, it will confront you, it will challenge you, it is opinionated and isn't afraid to speak its mind, it is prepared to stand up and be counted, it is art.

As such it is in the vanguard of human experience, it is raw, it is fresh and new. It isn't the tried and true of recipes of yesterday rehashed, it is pushing the boundaries. In the 21st Century it is computer generated art in all of its many and varied forms. Be it fractal art, manipulated photography or cartoon cells, the collectable artists of today are using a keyboard and a mouse. If Michelangelo were to paint the Sistine Chapel today you can bet London to a brick he wouldn't be using intonaco. Now as then he would be using that latest technology available to him.

For the collector this just adds another level of complexity. Because computer art is so easily reproduced, what does one actually collect? As in the past, collect signatures, preferably from a limited edition. Obviously, the shorter the edition the better. If an open edition with a signature is all you can afford, go for it, it is better than a poster with or with out a digital signature. If your print isn't signed by the fair hand of the artist, as a collectable, it is worthless and that includes digital signatures. It is a $29.99 commodity and barely worth the paper it's printed on. Although the frame may attract a bid or two.

If you consequently come across your print on the cover of Vogue or in a TV commercial for whatever, chances are you're on a winner. That is the paperback of your signed first edition. Assuming of course your print has staying power, for so much of the mass media is based on ephemera. It is the quick hit that attracts attention and while this can be true of art there is a deeper relationship just waiting for your attention in works that can stand the test of time.

For anyone seriously considering collecting art, the pieces to acquire are those you can live with. If you like it from the start that is a bonus though not essential because if you have chosen wisely you will, over time and many conversations, come to love your new found friend. Works of art do become trusted friends and when it comes time to dispose of them it is a gut wrenching experience. This I know for I have been there and done that. When I had to dispose of my collection a few months ago my main concern was that they were going to good home rather than the financial return they could afford me. Consequently the ROI was less than if I had been less sentimental.

Though if ROI is your motivation and you can be hard nosed at the end of the day you will have many hours of enjoyment from your friends upon your walls along the way.
Author:Mary Johnson

read more “Do you have the bottle To Collect Art”

How to Selling Your Art And Making

One of the quickest and more effective ways to expose your art or crafts to the public is by opening a booth at an art or craft show. Thousands of people come to these art shows each year with the intention of buying something, and there doesn't appear to be an end in sight.

Before you pack your bags and head out to the next show, you should definitely learn as much as you can about art shows. This type of work requires planning, research and various expenses, and may not be for everyone.

A great starting point is to visit sunshineartist.com. Sunshine Artist is a great magazine that covers art shows in detail. They provide listings of upcoming art shows and information on how you can participate. They also evaluate art shows and provide reports on sales, attendance, and other important details.

It may be a good idea to head out to your first art show as a visitor before actually setting up shop. Once you arrive, walk around and just observe how everything works. Observe the booths that have the most traffic and see what they are doing right. Introduce yourself to the booth owner and see if they are open to talking about their success with you. As long as they are not in direct competition with you, they should be happy to give you some pointers.

When you sell your work at an art show you are selling directly to the public. You make all of the profit. There is no need to share a huge percentage with an agent or gallery owner.

It is probably best to sell items at various prices to accommodate the different buyers that come to your booth. If you typically sell paintings for thousands of dollars, offer smaller, more affordable prints as well. This way, your art can be available to everyone.

Make sure you can accept credit cards. Many people who visit art shows pay by credit card. If you aren't set up to accept credit cards, then you will more than likely lose sales.

Setting up and running a booth at an art show can be challenging. Bring a family member or friend along to help you set up and help customers. It's also nice to have someone to keep you company and provide support and encouragement.

Art and Craft shows are a great way to build a customer mailing list. Set up a little section at your booth inviting customers and browsers to provide you with their name, address, and email address. Next time you attend an art show, you can send out a mailer to your list. You can also let your mailing list know about any new art or crafts you have for sale. It may not be easy to build a mailing list, as people are a bit hesitant when it comes to parting with personal information. To entice people to join, you can offer something for free. You could create small color postcard prints of your work and put them in inexpensive frames and give those away to each subscriber.

Make sure you keep track of your expenses and sales. You want to determine if you actually made a profit, otherwise you may have to make adjustments or possibly not attend the same art show again.

Don't get discouraged if you don't make a huge profit your first time out. Like I said in the beginning, art shows may not be for every artist. Many artists sell at art shows exclusively, while others only use art shows once in a while for marketing purposes.

read more “How to Selling Your Art And Making”

Image protection (for Internet Artists)

No method of image protection is wholly effective, but nevertheless, Artists should take reasonable steps to defend their images from unauthorised use. The aim of this article is to show what can be done, rather than how to do it. Free tools, software, codes, and how to advice can be easily found on the Internet, once you know what to look for.

Image preparation

The best form of protection is to make your images fit for use only as web graphics.

1. Don’t make your pictures any bigger than necessary. The bigger an image, the easier it is to achieve quality prints.

2. Use image compression/optimisation software to reduce the file sizes of your images. On screen, there is little difference between a compressed and uncompressed file, however compressed files can comprise up to 90% less information, and will not withstand enlargement without severe loss of quality.

3. Watermark your images. Visible watermarking is simply a matter of placing some text, or a graphic, over your image. The trick is to achieve a balance between making your watermark difficult to remove, and not overly obscuring the image.

4. Use a correctly worded copyright notice on your web pages, and as your image watermark. This should comprise the © symbol (to let others know they should not use the artist’s work without permission), the name of the copyright owner next to it (so that anyone wishing to use the image to trace the copyright holder), and the year in which the image was created (to let others know when the term of protection started).

File protection

There are a number of easy steps that can be taken to keep your image files as inaccessible as possible.

5. Protect your image directory. Most web designers put their images and graphics in suitably named folders (sub-directories). Browsers automatically look for an “index” or “default” page within each sub-directory, and if there isn’t one, they display a list of all the files in that sub-directory. This means anyone can get a complete list of all your images and grab anything they want. There isn’t much point in employing other safeguards (such as no right click) if folder content lists are accessible. To stop this happening, place an index page in each folder where you have images. The page can be a blank document, or could include an appropriate message.

6. You can stop Browsers from caching the images on your web pages, by inserting the following code HEAD tags of your web page: <META http-equiv="Pragma" content="no-cache">.

7. Internet Explorer 6 has an annoying little feature called the “Image Toolbar”. Whenever your mouse hovers over an image, the Image Toolbar pops up, and invites you to save, print (etc). To disable the Image Toolbar, insert the following code between the HEAD tags of your web page: <META HTTP-EQUIV="imagetoolbar" CONTENT="no">.
Code techniques

There are a number different ways in which you can use code to deter people from copying your website images, but unfortunately NONE of these are fool proof. They will only ever discourage the casual thief.

8. Use a rollover script to display images
. When the mouse is moved over the image, a second image appears with a copyright notice, for example. Right clicking will only grab the rollover image.

9. Null images and nested tables (or overlapping layers, or even CSS). Briefly this involves creating a transparent image (GIF or PNG) the same size as the image you wish to protect. The “real” image is placed in the first table, and the “null” image placed in a second (nested) table, so that it is in front of the real image. If you right click to save the image, the transparent GIF/PNG is grabbed.

10. Sectioning images is a process in which that image is divided into parts to form a number of separate images. These are then reassembled in a “zero border” table, recreating the original image. Right clicking will save only a section of the image.

11. Disabling the mouse right click functions prevents the most common method used to grab an image. There are several JavaScripts available – with and without pop up warning messages.

12. Slide-Shows
Java and Flash slide show scripts can be a good choice. The images cannot be saved directly, however, they remain vulnerable to screen grabs.

Other options

13. Invisible watermarking, like those created by Digimarc, digitally embeds a personal identification number within the image. They do not prevent your images from being taken, but offer proof of ownership.

14. There are a number of further techniques and software options, but they all require either a little expertise, or expenditure.
Author : John Burton

read more “Image protection (for Internet Artists)”

Anime Is The Latest Buzzword All Over The United States

Anime has taken the United States by storm. The term refers to the Japanese word for animation and is used by the rest of the world to describe any Japanese animation. It can be hand drawn or computer generated illustrations that are used in television shows, films, video games and web series that encompass all genre types.

One of the largest cultural exports of Japan is Japanese anime; it has been translated into many languages. Anime is an actual art form with a visual technique that includes characters with gigantic eyes and facial expressions that are quite exaggerated. When a character is embarrassed, they sweat a lot. If they have tender feelings for someone, they blush.

Another highly admired type of Japanese animation would be the magna. Magna is defined as a Japanese comic book that is read from back to front, opposite the western books. A lot of the magna series number over 20 volumes and have become television shows.

Manga and anime merchandise is considered to be very profitable. Many fans have invested billions into purchasing action figures, stickers, lunch boxes, trading cards, apparel and many more collectibles and memorabilia. The video game industry has been very successful and Japanese culture has increased in popularity in the United States.

A recent phenomenon has public libraries unable to keep up with the demand for Manga. Manga is a popular type of Japanese animations whose adoring fans have formed groups who trade the comics as well as meet to simply discuss them. The most extreme fans have become known as otaku.

Otaku is a Japanese term used in the United States to described obsessed anime fans, but is considered a negative term in Japanese. Some of these fans dress up as their favorite animated characters and call it cosplay. Cosplay is another term for costume play and fans usually dress up to attend comic conventions.

These conventions are commonly referred to as comic-cons and there are dozens held annually across the states. New comics are featured, authors meet and greet fans and merchandise can be purchased at these conventions. There are panels, workshops, seminars, costume awards and animation screenings as well. Toy collectors fly all over the country to attend comic-cons to buy rare collectibles.

anime is the latest buzzword all over the United States. This term is derived from the Japanese word used for depicting animation and the world outside Japan uses it to refer to any work of animation from Japan. It is a huge export of a cultural art form out of Japan and has been adapted into many languages. Rattling obsessed fans are described as otaku. It is a Japanese term, and interestingly, the word has negative connotations in Japanese. These dress in outfits to resemble their favorite animated characters. It is known as cosplay, another word for costume play.

by: Ben Pate

read more “Anime Is The Latest Buzzword All Over The United States”

Are You Talented in Arts?

The word "art" unites a lot of different definitions and branches. We usually associate arts with something of extreme beauty that brings pleasure. Arts help us solve one of the philosophical questions "What is beautiful?" With the help of arts we can see the beauty that was not yet shown to us. Arts started developing from the simple sketches made on the stone by our predators. Now we can see how many branches arts have.

We distinguish verbal arts, such as poetry, prose, theatre, movie production though it can also be put to the category of drawn arts or pictures, another branch is sculpture which is closely united with architecture. Then we call music a true art and enjoy various styles and compositions. Dancing is an art and a sport, for it helps a person to keep fit and brings joy to the audience.

We've enumerated a number of arts that exist, but the list is certainly not full. Martial arts are called arts not without a purpose. Examining the works of the talented and gifted we see that art is everything that is exceptionally beautiful. The definition of the kind of arts can be a good argumentative essay topic; there's a lot to consider. During your work you may determine if you are talented in arts. It is quite clear that a person is born with certain possibilities in different spheres. Your family, your teachers are to discover that talent when you are yet unable to do it for yourself. One is also to distinguish the difference between being talented and being gifted, though it may seem slight.

A person that is gifted knows about his/her abilities or just feels them and is ready to dedicate all his/her life to the calling. Their creations are masterpieces that impress the society by its beauty and originality. A talented person even may not know about his/her ability to do something in a special way which is positively different from the rest. But there is a perspective to develop the talent and use it to profit yourself and leave a trace in history and give pleasure to the others that are not lucky enough to be like you.

Once you, or your teacher, or you family have discovered that you have talent, or maybe it was even your discovery; it is a horrible sin and ungratefulness to the nature to ignore the fact. You are to develop it. There are a lot of ways to do it. For example, your tutors kept on telling you that essay writing is your strong point, so you should not ignore their advice and constantly make progress in this direction. You can develop for yourself and use necessary materials and ways to move up to the next level and try to reach perfection. It is all about the will and stamina.

If you are not able to control yourself you may turn for help to various tutors or sections that may help you develop in a team, sharing the experience. Your constant practice is very important. It will not come to you automatically; you'll have to practice to reach the aim you've put yourself. The help of you dearest and nearest may come in handy, if there is no one to support you, it may either become a great motivator to prove your capability or destroy your inner confidence and make you calm down with the idea. If you are firmly determined to do whatever you have necessary skills to do, you have to go through a long road but the award will be of a king-size: fame and recognition.
by:Johnny Modal

read more “Are You Talented in Arts?”

Copyright for Artists

What can be copyright protected?

Copyright protection applies to literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, plus a few other creative activities.

Artistic works include paintings, drawings, engravings, photographs, sculptures, collages, technical drawings, diagrams, maps and logos, etc.

In order to attract copyright protection, artwork must be “original”. This means it must be the result of independent creative effort.

A copy of something that already exists cannot be original, but if an artwork is similar to something that already exists, but which has not been copied, then it may be original (*).

Copyright does not protect ideas for an artwork: it is only the work itself that is protected.

If you have created an “original work”, you will have copyright protection without having to do anything to establish this. In the United Kingdom (and most other parts of the world), there is no official registration system for copyright.

For artistic works, in the UK, the term of protection of copyright is - for the life of the creator, plus 70 years from the end of the year in which they die.

What is the benefit of copyright protection?

Copyright protected work must not be reproduce in another medium without the owner’s permission. This includes activities such as photocopying images, using images for cross-stitch patterns, painting from a photograph, publishing images on the Internet, and so on.

Copyright should stop others from using your work without your permission. The existence of copyright may be enough to prevent others from to using your material, but it also gives you the right to take legal action to stop misuse, and to claim damages.

Copyright owners generally have the right to authorise or prohibit the use of their work, and so realise the opportunity to make commercial gain from the use of their work. You could, for example, sell or license your copyrighted images for use by others.

(*) For the artist, copyright is a double-edged sword. Painters in particular should avoid breaching copyright when working from photographs. In the case of landscapes, it would be difficult to prove breach of copyright, since many scenic locations are generally accessible to the public. But with celebrity portraits, the artist should proceed with caution; it would be impossible for most artists to have a celebrity sit for them, and therefore it is easier for a copyright holder to prove that their photograph has been copied.

Using copyright protection

There are a number of steps Artists should take to help protect their work, especially if it is published on the Internet. It is advisable to mark all work with the © symbol. This lets others know they should not use the artist’s work without permission. The © symbol should have the name of the copyright owner next to it. This helps anyone wishing to use the artwork to trace the copyright holder. If you also put the year in which the work was created next to the © symbol, this will let others know when the term of protection started.

If your artwork is published on the Internet, there are a number of safeguards you should consider. These will be the subject of further articles.

by:John Burton

read more “Copyright for Artists”

The Art Lover and the Art Collector

Are you an art collector or an art lover? You might say, well, what’s the difference? We can probably say with some certainty that most art collectors are art lovers. But we can also say that not all art lovers are art collectors.

Would the difference be that art lovers may enjoy seeing great art and taking trips to museums as a priority part of their private lives but they don’t buy art? But surprisingly, whether or not one buys are or not is not the distinction. Many art lovers buy certain pieces of art but would not really be considered a collector just as someone may have a few interesting stamps around but that doesn’t make him or her a serious stamp collector.

So it might pay off if we differentiate between what makes an art collector different from an art lover. This is not to say that one is superior to the other. Anyone who takes pleasure in the joy that great art conveys knows that we are all together in our admiration of this part of culture. But if you have avocations of becoming an art collector because you want to “take it to the next level”, the natural first step is to know what makes one art lover a fan of art and another a true collector.

· A collector specializes on the focus of his or her collection and knows the body of work that is available. Whereas an art lover typically loves many genres and artists, a collector tends to specialize and educate himself or herself in that catalog because it is pertinent to the activity of collecting.

· A collector’s love of art is expressed in investing in art pieces that give him or her great joy as a way of preserving that magic for the future on a personal level. There is that moment of sublime joy that any art lover has when he or she spends time with great art. A collector takes that to the next level by wanting to possess that piece and others by that artist or in that genre to personalize that experience and preserve it so that joy can be repeated in the home for many years to come.

· A collector is aware of the documentation of an artwork. When you are looking at a piece of original artwork, a collector must know for certain that it is original. The documentation of a piece of fine art works like a “pedigree” of a show dog. It is part of the authentication of the artwork which gives it the right to bring the kind of prices only originals can command.

· A collector becomes immersed in the biography of the artist. Art collecting is a passion as well as a hobby and an avocation. By collecting you get to know the artwork, the artist and what his or her background. By learning about the artist’s biography, you pick up on meanings in the work that others might not see.

· A collector has an investment in the “provenance” of an artwork. That means where this piece of art has been. As a collector, you need to know who has owned this artwork it’s price history. As the new owner of this fine art work you must know where it has been before you owned it.

What stands out is that you don’t have to have a degree in art history or appreciation to be a collector. You don’t have to be a member of the superrich or even mix with those who have snooty art tastes. If you have a deep love of fine art and your passion for this part of your life takes you to the next level that we have discussed here today, you qualify as an art collector.
Post if you have any comments.

Jerry J. Jansen

read more “The Art Lover and the Art Collector”

Digital 3d Illustrators have the best paying jobs in addition to work satisfaction factor

3d animation is the newest direction in the design community. It gives unquestionably unlimited capabilities for graphic design of the future. The three dimensional animation can be used in lots of fields, like: web, multimedia presentations, movies, television, computer games, printing, architectural visualization, science and the list is endless.

3D depiction of geometric data in different forms are habitually referred to as 3D models. They can be similar with real world objects like buses, architectural entities, airplanes, clouds and even asteroids or an entire galaxy. Also they can be totally unreal thus allowing you to construct phenomenal visual effects giving you the possibility to nothing else but caress and discern an unreal model from different view points having different textures and colors.

To multimedia industry 3D Artists are a benefit. It is difficult to dismiss their comprehension in creating realistic 3 dimensional objects. In fields where complicated to shoot pictures are called for like architecture always utilize 3d animation services. These pictures or models are used in Science movies or even in health care tutorials for young doctors. Imagery for archaeological use such as visualization of architectural models or excavations are unique to their skills. After using a 3D design software a designer can easily reconstruct an aged place as it had been.

The 3D Illustrators as well aid in finding murderers and criminals by their restructuring abilities. Crime scenes are re-fabricated by utilizing the 3d graphics for assistance in solving cases. Cinema movie producers are conjointly inside the sector that requires 3D modellers to accomplish scenes. When we look at the Wolverine sit on the highest tower ever it is all 3d imagery.

Any person with an artistic skill can agree on a profession in digital design. Internet is flooded with institutions providing 3d production lessons. A lot of teenagers are studying for extensive qualifications in 3D as they understand that it’s the best profession that not merely provides an interesting development process but conjointly provides freedom for expression. Ten decades ago the phrase Three dimensional was related with men watching cinema movies with blue and red filters.. In the present 3D has a different meaning and is combined with art, models and pictures.

Demonstration of digital 3d art is conjointly encouraged in some websites that can be found on the World wide web. On these sites digital painters should sign up to show their artwork. A few bulletin boards are available forming conversation groups for similar topics. It's a colossal way for new or even advanced 3D artists to share their views and take a tip or two about the latest in 3D art work world.

3D animators have a satisfying income, sometimes even receiving more income if the designer can freelance. To become a Digital 3d animator, a person has to consider applying at a qualified college that offers curriculum on three-dimensional graphics.
These days 3D designers have a lot of projects because their expertise is required. 3d animation is thought to be in the top ten, best paying professions on the globe.
by : John Greystone

read more “Digital 3d Illustrators have the best paying jobs in addition to work satisfaction factor”

How To Buy The Perfect Piece Of Art

Consumers in search of that perfect piece of art often find themselves lost in a tangle of webs created by less than helpful gallery curators, bidding wars, and issues stemming from exhibit proximity and lack of time.

Shopping for accents to complement your home décor should be a pleasant experience, one which you look forward to and that expands your creativity.

While attending a gallery exhibition definitely has its benefits the hors d'oeuvres, conversation and cocktails the draw of the crowd can often be overwhelming.

We are not saying you need to succumb to the perils of dealing with large retail chains, which stock over-produced re-prints cased behind plastic frames. And purchasing your art in the same place you go to buy your milk is definitely out of the question. So, what do you do when you want designer décor but don't want to leave the house to find it?

Buyoutsidethebox.com, an online art gallery, is an ideal solution for all of your creative needs. With a name like Buyoutsidethebox.com, you can expect a selection that you most likely wouldn't find elsewhere. Ruth Mitchell, the creator of Buyoutsidethebox.com, traded in her career in magazine publishing in order to pursue a lifelong dream of owning her own art gallery.

However, Mitchell wasn't one to sit behind a desk all day, pushing papers and dealing with the public. She felt her time would be better spent searching for innovative artists, new concepts, and artwork that ultimately represented something outside the box. Enlisting help from her business savvy daughter, Cecelia, Mitchell soon turned her dream into a reality.

"I had seen Web sites that sold art, but they were lacking in so many ways. I wanted more of an exclusive collection to be offered in a classy magazine format," Mitchell said. "We would start out small, but focus on quality, building on the original concept."

As an avid online shopper, Mitchell was determined to make her new Web site user friendly. "I shop online a great deal myself, and two things I do not like are, having to register to visit a site, and paying a lot of extra costs as you check out," Mitchell said.

"So, we asked our artists to factor in shipping. We can do that with most of the art." With merchandise spanning the gamut, the Web site features paintings and photography, jewelry and glass, women's apparel and children's accessories, textiles and leather books, and a collection of well-written articles.

"Our theme is creative consumerism," Mitchell said. "Anything that falls under that umbrella will show up on our site." In addition to the merchandise sold on the Web site, which is hand-selected by Mitchell from more than 50 artists, Buyoutsidethebox.com offers its customers the luxury of perusing featured collections by visiting their blog.

The blog is much more than an extension of the Web site; it showcases a wide array of any and all things artistic while capturing the essence of creative consumerism. The blog's resourceful list of Arts and Culture Web sites proves to be a valuable tool for any creative mind.

And with an extensive background in magazine publishing, you can rest assure that this isn't just some run-of-the-mill blog but rather a tasteful narrative covering everything from museum profiles to film reviews.
by: Mary Johnson

read more “How To Buy The Perfect Piece Of Art”

An Introduction to Drawing Mediums and Accessories

Drawing is one of the most economical forms of art and is very easy to get started. You really do not need much. For the absolute beginner, all that is really needed is a number 2 pencil and piece of cheap scrap paper. Eventually though, you will probably want to purchase quality supplies as you become more experiences and start producing finished drawings. This article will provide you with an introduction to some of the more popular drawing materials and accessories available to todays artists.

DRAWING MEDIUMS

Graphite Pencils: Graphite pencils, which are sometimes confused with "lead pencils", are nothing more than a mixture of clay and the mineral graphite. These pencils are usually in the form of a long rod which is encased in wood. Graphite pencils range in grade from very hard to very soft, although the harder grades are not used as often as the softer grades. The softer grade pencils will allow you to be more expressive with your work. You can easily find a high quality graphite pencil set online at a number of different art stores and they are usually quite affordable.

Graphite Sticks: Graphite is also available in stick forms that are sold as is or can be inserted into holders or encased in plastic. Graphite sticks are graded in the same fashion as regular pencils and are excellent for covering large areas.

Colored Pencils: If you prefer to draw in color, then colored pencils may be a good fit for you. Colored pencils are available in a variety of colors and can be purchased in sets as well. They are rather waxy in nature so if you like to work with mediums that can be blended, then this is not the right choice for you. They are best suited for techniques that utilize "optical blending" like "cross-hatching" for instance.

Water Soluble Pencils- These are a very interesting and a relatively new drawing medium. These are a wonderful alternative to watercolor paints if you prefer to work with pencil, but still want that "Watercolor" look to your work. You lay down your marks as you would with a colored pencil only when you apply water, your marks instantly dissolve creating colorful washes

Pens & Inks - Pen and ink has been around for centuries and at one point in time was one of the most common drawing mediums. Drawing in ink is rather challenging and intimidating to artists because of its permanence. Inks are impossible to erase bit this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Each line you put down adds to the expressive nature of this medium. There are many different pens available and the only way to know which one you are comfortable with is to test various pens and inks out. You have your Nib style pens which are essentially a holder which accepts various nibs of different sizes and shapes. Then there are technical pens which are available in various sizes. These pens provide the means to create consistent lines no matter the force of pressure. Other pens include felt tip, roller ball, sketching pens, fountain and reed pens.

Chalk - Chalk is one the oldest drawing mediums in existence today. Today chalks are created by mixing limestone, pigments, water and a binding medium. There are a variety of chalks available to today's artists. Conte crayons are a very popular type of chalk. Conte crayons are hard and less prone to breaking. Drawing chalks are also quite popular and are quite similar in appearance and texture to pastels.

Charcoal - Charcoal is made from charred willow and is a very versatile medium. Like chalk, it is also a very old medium that has been in existence for hundreds of years. Charcoal is a very expressive medium and produces rick, dark lines. Like graphite, charcoal is also sold in various grades from hard to soft and is available in different sizes.

Pastels - Pastels can sometimes be difficult to classify as certain pastels like soft and oil pastels, can be applied in an almost painterly fashion. However, because they cannot be mixed in the same way that paint can, and are therefore classified as drawing mediums. Pastels come in a variety of different formats. Some of the more popular are soft pastels and oil pastels but they also come in pencil, crayon and water soluble varieties.

DRAWING ACCESSORIES

Sharpeners - There are a variety of different ways to keep your pencils or drawing mediums sharpened. Always try to keep your pencils sharpened to a fine point. You will get a cleaner, more direct line that way. The best kind of sharpener is really a matter of personal preference. Manual sharpeners are believed to be a better choice as there is more control and less waste making them more economical. If not used properly, an electric sharpener can devour your pencils. A sharp craft knife is sometimes used and creates a longer point to work with.

Erasers - Erasers are available in a variety of different shapes and materials. One of the most widely used and most effective erasers is the kneaded eraser. A kneaded eraser is almost like silly putty and can be molded into any shape making it an excellent tool for erasing small areas of a drawing and a kneaded eraser does not leave marks or unwanted residue.

Fixatives - Fixatives are used to create a protective seal over the drawing surface to prevent the work from smudging. Fixatives can be used during the drawing process to protect each layer as you go or when a drawing is completed to create a permanent protective layer. Not all artists use fixatives as some feel they can ruin a drawing. It is really a personal preference that is always debated.

Tortillions - Tortillions are blending tools made of tightly rolled pointed paper. They are very similar in appearance to pencils. The paper can be peeled away as the surface of the tortillion becomes soiled by the drawing medium. Tortillions are used for blending purposes. ?
By : Ralph Serpe

read more “An Introduction to Drawing Mediums and Accessories”

Today s Wall Art Sculptures Make Old Sculpture Styles New Again

In some ways, sculptures are like three dimensional paintings. While paintings can provide us with lovely portraits to view, sculptures are like paintings that some to life. The depth of sculptures, such as wall art sculptures, creates a truly realistic work of art. To appreciate sculptures today fully, it is important to have an understanding about their development throughout history.

Before humans began creating written accounts of history, they created sculptures. This included ancient civilizations in Egypt and various regions throughout Mesopotamia. Interestingly, the first sculptures were not merely works of art, as ancient peoples also used them in religious ceremonies. Sculptors used complex methods and styles, which produced outstanding works of art that had literal and figurative meanings.

Sculptures also flourished in ancient Asian regions, such as China, India, and Japan.

The ancient Greeks further developed sculptures by making them vertical and self supporting. During the classical and Hellenistic time periods of Greek art, sculptures would create their artistic vision of an ideal human body. The works of the Greeks were so outstanding that they influenced art in Europe for hundreds of years. The ancient Romans virtually duplicated the Greeks sculptures, and then further developed them. They did this by making their sculptures representations of a particular person, rather than of a general human form. Some of today s wall art sculptures honor the tradition of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures.

During the Romanesque and Gothic periods, sculptures in Europe became vital components of religious structures. In fact, sometimes a single cathedral included thousands of sculptures that represented something or told a story! During the Romanesque period, churches throughout countries such as France, Germany and Spain, included amazing sculptures. Meanwhile, much of the sculptures during the Gothic period were created namelessly, though individual Italian sculptures became famous during the 1200s.

Next, several Italian sculptures became renowned during the Renaissance period. The hub of the sculptors art existed in Florence. That is where the top sculptures found customers in the public, private, and religious sectors. Several master sculptors created their masterpieces in Florence, with some of the most renowned aritsts being:

Cellini
Della Robbia (family)
Donatello
Ghiberti
Michelangelo
Pollaiuolo (brothers)

In addition, Renaissance sculptures also flourished in other European regions, such as modern day Belgium, France, and Germany. Today s wall art sculptures have preserved many of the styles that sculptors produced during this period.

During the period after the Renaissance era, different types of sculptures thrived in different regions. In France, secular and formal art thrived during the 1500s and 1600s. Meanwhile, the Italian sculptor Bernini epitomized the high baroque period, through his ability to create original, detailed, and exciting sculptures. On the other hand, sculptors such as France s Puget more steadily created Baroque works than other sculptors did during that time. Today, various wall art sculptures also resemble these sculptors masterpieces.

The history of sculptures is both long and complex. Today s wall art sculptures provide home decorators with both traditional and contemporary designs, some of which make old sculpture styles new again!
By : Alyssa Davis

read more “Today s Wall Art Sculptures Make Old Sculpture Styles New Again”

How to Make Your Own Artwork

People, at least once in their life, think about what it would feel like to make something unique and made from the heart. Usually, people seek help from professionals especially if they want to make it as perfect as possible. There are also those that take the risk and try to make whatever they can. If you want to create a metal artwork, you must seek sculptors or artisans since they know how to make this.

For starters, you can sketch your design on a piece of paper so that the artisan will know how to start the project. Before getting hands on experience, observe how the person makes the artwork. You might have to carry out this too when the need arises. More so, ask questions so that you can fully understand what it is like to make the artwork. Listen attentively to what he will teach and tell you because you will do most of the work. He will only be there to guide you and correct the wrong procedures that you are doing.

After that crash course about metal artwork, you still have to prep your materials. If you will use fire, make sure that the source is already ready to use. You must also ensure that the other materials like the metals, alloys and the likes are also within arm s reach. Instruments such as tongs, scissors and others are also important because it will spare your hands from too much work and pain. You have to remember that if the artisan does not provide your materials, it is your duty to buy and find them. You can ask the help of others for you to get the best of the best materials for your artwork.

Once you get everything prepared, it is now time to start creating the artwork itself. Let the artisan start it for you so that you will be able to know what will come next. If you are uncertain, it is always good to ask for help. Trying to pretend that you already know what to do might end up only in disaster. Accepting one s flaws and shortcomings is one of the things people need to practice. Not everyone can tell the other person that he is not knowledgeable about something.

Just try to have fun while making your very own metal artwork. Despite the sore arms and legs, try to keep in mind that after you made this, you will feel truly proud of yourself. You must also be thankful for the artisan who helped you out in completing this task. Surely, this is an experience worth remembering so make every second count. Do not think about how many more hours you have to make this or the money you spent for the materials. The newfound knowledge and the artwork are two things priceless. No one can put a value on this one of a kind experience that you undergone. More so, you can now tell your friends about this road less taken. This is something worth cherishing forever.
By : Alyssa Davis

read more “How to Make Your Own Artwork”

Japanese Animation Programs to be a Success in the UK

Japanese animation and art has taken by storm several countries that didn't have a different outlook as far as animation goes, the quality and freshness of Japanese animation has tapped into untapped audiences across global networks because of the fact that their work appeals to not only the young and teenagers but several of their programs actually cater to older audiences between 18 and 30 years of age.

Programs such as Bakugan appeal to a younger audience who love "special effects" powers and exciting plots which Is similar to the target audience of animations made in the US however the freshness of the drawings and the animation style make all the difference as the use of shadows and character body lines is completely different and original in the way they do so.

Older audiences tend to go for shows that are not so predictable and this is where Japanese animation really becomes huge, animations such as Monster, Spice and Wolf and yes even Clannad have grabbed the attention of those who once were fan of the famous Dragon Ball Z.

Internet forums confirm just how popular Japanese animation is amongst young and older viewers who not only enjoy the freshness of the drawings and animations but the stories which are told series after series are completely unique, for instance, Spice and Wolf is unlike anything you have seen and it caters to older audiences because it deals a lot with business concepts such as international trade, the monetary system and the way merchants try to influence their business environment through free trade.

I bet you were not expecting something like that from a title such as "Spice and Wolf" did you? - To add some uniqueness and variety the female character (wolf) is really smart and cunning and is able to take the series to a whole different level.

Series such as Clannad are high-school based so they appeal to those in high school and even those in college, the comedic situation the characters find themselves in is completely unique and the plot lead the way to an even greater story (the after story) in which a shocking truth about life is to be revealed to the characters of the series. This animation takes the characters and the viewers from a traditional high school setting all the way into adulthood and show them the happy and sad times of life in a very realistic story.

As you see Japanese animation is absolutely unique and is not entirely based in sci-fi fights and power blasts but it can be very deep and meaningful which is why such series are expected to be a total hit in the UK and most likely other parts of the World.
by: genwright

read more “Japanese Animation Programs to be a Success in the UK”

5 Steps To Better Music Production and Recording - Mixing

You need to ensure that all of the songs you record will be playing back at the appropriate volume for the listener. To start with, set your monitor level. The better way to do this is to first listen to a song you are genuinely familiar with. Be sure it is a zero peaking song. Have it at the level it's suppose to be at. An enjoyable listening level. Once youre at this stage, don't change the monitor levels but instead adjust the master track of the song you are working on. It is suppose to sound at a suitable level for listening. Then check the meter levels to make sure they're not on over-load. If it is on over-load then consider placing a limit rather than turning the level down. Make a note of the level setting that's on the monitor. You'll have this in future to refer to.

Try to remember that it is not how high you get the volume to, but the quality of the volume that will make the recording a success. Ideally, it would be to show the level of the instrument that it is meant to go to not beyond it's means. Technology is a wonderful tool but it doesnt beat common sense and instinct.

Remember that you don't need to record at the max volume. Various people will argue then why is it necessary to have a 16 bit dynamic range it you are not going to use it. A come back to that remark would be why bother trying to record the cabasa at exactly 16 bits when its never going to represent more than twelve bits anyways.

Several other issues of not wanting to have the sound cranked up to max is in the event you have to use a favorite. These're not exactly user friendly when having to be utilized at low level. But if you record at logical and practical levels you could avoid extra time consuming concerns such as these.

You can end up with numerous large mixing problems if you are utilizing an analogue mixing desk long with some thing like hi-hat recorded at max, on digital multi-track. If numerous of the items are constantly peaking at 0 then when turned off, you'll still hear them in the background. This's in reference to items like hi-hats, cabasas or cymbals for instance

In this case, you should not be surprised to find every of that electrical leakage being reverb on the hi hat, as just one cause. Items like bass drum and snare drum are meant to be played loudly but not the top kit items or the quiet instruments.

The bottom line is to keep in mind to find the average levels. From there youve a couple of leverage to work with, either up or down as the situation or sound or instrument dictates. At the very end, youre going to end up with a superior piece of recording. After all music is every thing about sound.

read more “5 Steps To Better Music Production and Recording - Mixing”

Things to do on Sundays

Sundays have always been a bit of a funny day to me. A bit odd if you will. The one day of the week that feels a bit like the weekend, because it is, but also a bit like mid week. Sundays comes the inevitable feeling that tomorrow is Monday, which means back to work.

It is a tough day these Sunday What do you do? Do you relax and take advantage of your last day before you start humping it again, only so that you can make it to the next weekend? Or do you wake up and grab a hold of the day. It not like Saturday, a day you fully enjoy because you have the luxury of going hard all day then sleeping in on Sunday. Sunday is tricky.

Sunday is the day that the whole family does something together and we usually try and do something fun. I have always enjoyed going to street fairs, having a BBQ or going to the park for some free music. Getting through Sundays in NYC was great because there was always a free concert going on. I have seen James Brown get down, watched Garth Brooks with 100,000 other people as well as been part of a fantastic performance by Ozomatli.

One of my favorite things to do is to catch a day game at the local ballpark. Growing up we went to the Astrodome to watch Nolan Ryan and the gang play. As much as I loved the dome, and the Astros, there is something to be said about seeing a game with the roof open. After moving to New York I saw countless games at both Shea Stadium as well as Yankee Stadium. Being out in the sun, having a dog or two and a nice cold beverage is a fantastic way to spend the afternoon.

You can find great prices on baseball games throughout the summer. You can check local listings for specials being run for certain games or home stands. From towel giveaways, cooler giveaways and even the “bring your dog to the ballpark day there is always some sort of promotion going on.

The zoo is another place to go with the entire family. The cost for admittance is generally small and is always a great way to spend the day with family. A lot of times you can pack a lunch stroll around and find a place to sit down and relax for a break.

During the summer there are always a slew of festivals going on all over the city. Music festivals that come to town such as the Jazz Fest in Houston and New Orleans and the Reggae Fest in Houston and Long beach have always been well worth the money. This month in Houston the iFest is going on which celebrates a different country each year and has lots of great music and dancing as well as good food. iFest seems more like an experience in people than a music festival. I attended two years ago and loved it. So if you happen through H-town this month you should check it out.

So much happens during the summer really just a matter of doing a bit of research to find something you like. A great resource for events is Sarah Gish’s Summer book. She sends weekly emails of great new events in the Houston area, which are all kid friendly. The Houston Press in Houston has a pretty good weekly listing of events.

If in Los Angeles you should drop by Eye Spy LA (eyespyla.com). Eye Spy is a fantastic resource for what happening in Los Angeles. They also send out a weekly newsletter to keep you up to date and in the know on the latest things about town. There is also a listing of cheap (in price not value) events going on that range from Roller Derby Tickets to MLB tickets and much more. All of the event tickets offered here are half price or better and the list is constantly being updated.

It amazing to me just how much goes on outside in the summer in Houston. With a huge array of outdoor summer concerts you would never believe that you were in the Humidity capital of the south. Heat or not, don't miss out on these great events.

I would recommend checking out Pegasus News if traveling to the Dallas Fort Worth area. They have a very comprehensive list of events going on all over town. Others worth checking out are the Dallas Observer and Fort Worth Weekly, which are both printed once a week.

Other notable websites to find great events to fill your Sunday afternoon are yelp.com, zvents.com, stubdog.com and eventful.com. None of these sites require registration and all are extremely easy to navigate.

So good luck on filling your Sundays with something interesting.
http://www.articlecube.com

read more “Things to do on Sundays”