Traditional Chinese Art - Chinese Paintings

For itself of Chinese painting, it is an extremely difficult art. Present skill of Chinese painting can be exactly summarized with two words "brush and ink". "Brush and ink" in Chinese painting is just the most significant means to form abstract present of Chinese Painting. Two words of "brush and ink" should have three explanations nowadays. The first one is the names of tool materials of Chinese painting (ink-wash painting), which just refers to the brush and the ink. The second one is it is the general name of traditional present skill of Chinese painting (using brush and ink). The third one is it not only refers to accumulated experience and traditional essence, but also includes a variety of present skills developed, enriched and innovated based on traditional skills of using brush and ink.

Tool materials of Chinese brush and ink have very complex functions of application: Use the brush's center, side, loosed, free or adverse part with skills of rapidness, slowness, lifting, pressing, pausing and transiting. Use strong, light, dry, wet, withered or moist ink with skills of amass-ink, splash-ink, cleave-ink and lodge-ink. With the skill of using water, there are endless skills. These infinite skills present various visional types, such as large or small, thick or light, long or short, square or round, transverse or upright, wind or straight, light or weight, numerous or simple, void or real, motive or quiet, light or thick, gathering or dismissing, open or close, slow or quick, strong or weak, serious or free, young or old, simple or colorful, quiet or busy, vigorous or charming, bright or dark and grant or elegant. With the present style of general line, unique sculpt skill of using brush and ink in Chinese painting is built.

In Chinese painting, both nice and fluent traditional Chinese realistic painting with its excellent and unique present to characters, grasses, flowers, birds, mountains and water and natural vigorous traditional Chinese freehand painting with its powerful romantic charm not only come from internal artistic spirit of artists, but also spring from brush, rice paper and Chinese ink. Chinese painting will show its gloss with its unique character forever.

Artistic Chinese Creations.com http://www.ArtisticChineseCreations.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melody_Wu

5 Ways Art Can Save You Money in a Recessive Economy

Art is synonymous in our minds with luxury and expensive tastes, but I beg to differ from this image of art. I have been an artist for many decades now and have afforded art as a loving companion by my side in good times and bad

This article is to give very basic ideas on how including art in your life in the current times of economic recession can help to save your money and provide stress relief. Whether you live alone or have to sustain the costs of a family there are many ways in which you can use art to provide quality time for yourself as well as your loved ones and also reduce costs

Tip no. 1 - Creative entertainment instead of expensive pastimes

The most common way to spend weekends outside is either watching a movie or sharing a meal with friends and family at a good restaurant, this can average a good deal of money per outing.If you convert even one such weekend outing into an art project you will add to your savings.

Families can spend quality time together to paint projects like a canvas painting made with hand prints of the entire family on one canvas with every member of the family picking a color of their choice. Friends can do the same to create a masterpiece to match the decor in your home. In any case the resulting masterpiece (or not) can always be refined/refinished by coming up with a few ideas together. This results in spending time creating your own entertainment instead of passively sitting in front of a screen and is also much cheaper in cost

Tip No. 2 - Make instead of buy

Every time I buy a greeting card I regret not having made one instead. Simple stamped images that are easy to fill in can result in beautiful handmade cards that are appreciated by the receiver.You (and your family) will spend time in creating original artworks that will not only provide quality time but also save on buying cards. You can get several ideas for making cards on the internet that can be extended to kids and adults alike

Tip No. 3 - Recycle

Recycle older items with art instead of buying new. How many times have you looked at a pair of jeans or a top that is almost new but you don't know what made you buy it? Or an item that you have used and are now bored with. Collect all such items from your closet and decide to have a 'Refinishing Day' with friends, ask them to do the same with their clothes. Sit down together with each garment and come up with simple ideas on how it can be given a new look with a little fabric paint and a few embellishments. The result will be a few pleasurably spent hours and a new wardrobe. You can extend the ideas to many more objects like handbags etc, Double savings and more fun!

Tip No. 4 - Create gifts instead of buying

Create gifts and gift bags and you won't have to spend a bundle on every occasion. You can create many unique gifts like hand painted mugs, candles, painted birdhouses, aprons, tote bags planters etc.

There are many ready to finish gift items available in Art stores that can be finished into beautiful gifts. This is an opportunity to nurture your own creativity and also make someone feel special. Hand made gifts are very special and endearing to those who receive them. My friends no longer accept store bought gifts from me; they always insist that I give them something that I have created or recycled with art. My gifts are treated as unique and always given a special place in their home. This is a result of the tradition that I have created over time of making small art objects for my friends and it is a great tradition

Tip No. 5 - Nurture a culture of art in your household

Educate yourself about different ways in which art can find a place in your home and spread this art awareness to your kids. You will be amazed at the different and numerous ideas that kids come up with to recycle objects and create gifts once their creative instincts are awakened. Keep basic art supplies available in your home so that quick little impromptu projects can be finished in whenever time permits

Art can be a great savior of money and a stress reliever in the current times of tight budgets and uncertain job scenarios if you make it a part of your everyday lives. It gives a constructive direction to your mind and helps to nudge you to think positively in a negative environment. The habit of art if inculcated into children can help to equip them to live in good and bad times with the same alacrity.

For more info email at anudarbha@paintandcraft.com

An artist by choice and a market researcher by profession, I love all things creative that set you free and liberate your soul. Please visit my art related websites http://www.paintandcraft.com and http://www.artseden.com to know more

I also teach art to kids and blog at http://www.kidsartclasses.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anu_Darbha

Understanding Art - The Six Elements

I have always been and will continue to be a proponent of purchasing art based upon your emotional response to it! What it says to you and how it makes you feel should be primary in your decision-making process. However, the more practical approach to buying art is found in a basic understanding of the six elements of art. These fundamental aspects will help you determine whether your purchase makes good sense in terms of "how good the art... REALLY is":

Element #1 - Line: This is the most basic element which provides order and movement to the viewer's eye. Lines vary in length, width and texture. They can be vertical, horizontal, diagonal, curved or zigzag. But most importantly they create emotional responses. For example, vertical lines suggest stability and strength, while diagonal ones express action and movement. Both can have a dramatic affect on the viewer's perspective of where the subject matter is... and where it is going.

Element #2 - Shape: Shapes suggest character and the setting is often determined by whether the shape is simple or complex. There are two types of shapes.....organic and geometric. Organic shapes tend to be irregular and often represent natural objects such as trees and humans. They typically convey a sense of spontaneity and unpredictability. On the other hand, geometric shapes create order and are usually non-natural objects such as buildings and houses. They tend to be exact, complex and stable.

Element #3 - Space: Space can best be described as the visual illusion that invites the viewer into the picture. Space is defined by the shapes and forms found within the artwork. The shapes and forms comprise the positive space while the empty space around those objects comprise the negative space. Space can be deep or shallow, flat or dimensional.

Element #4 - Value: This element characterizes the lightness or darkness of any color. A color to which black has been added is called a shade and has a darker value while a color to which white has been added is called a tint and has a lighter value. Paintings that use only one color and the subsequent shades and tints of that color are called monochromatic. It is the value of color that creates the contrasts between the elements of art.

Element #5 - Color: Color is produced when light strikes an object and reflects back into your eye. There is so much to discuss relative to color such as hue, intensity, primary, secondary and tertiary colors but suffice it to say that color creates the mood, setting and theme of art. Colors can be warm or cool and create an array of emotional responses in the environment in which they are placed. And an artist's use of color is central to the message being conveyed.

Element #6 - Texture: Texture is defined as the surface quality or feel of a piece of art. Texture can be tactile ( that is physically felt ) or visual thus giving the illusion of texture. An artist will choose the medium ( oil, acrylic, pastel, etc. ) and the surface ( canvas, wood, paper, etc. ) to create the desired texture. Texturing possibilities are as endless as the materials being used.

Good art incorporates all of these elements in harmony thus giving adequate attention to each. So whether you are buying art for your home or office, try evaluating it based upon these six elements. They should provide you with enough information to make the right decision that will ultimately bring pleasure to your life for years to come!

Ken Eidenmiller is the owner and director of Artful Living LLC a virtual art gallery founded in 2004. An artist himself, Ken personally selects each reproduction that comprises the more than 750 items found online. Whether you are looking for hand-painted oils or embellished giclees, you can choose from a wide selection of unique and quality reproduction art at...... http://www.ArtfulLivingGallery.com

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How To Draw Flames

When you master and know how to draw flames you will find that you will be able to move on to draw bigger and better things. Learning how to draw flames is quite easy. The first thing to do is to take a match and light it look how the flame moves in the wind take note of the shape and color and take your pencil in your hand.

First you need to decide on the shape of the flame at this stage you don't need to worry about the details just the shape of the flame you have in your head. Most people when learning how to draw flames go for the S shaped flame to get them going as this is the easiest to draw. The S shaped flame will be the outer shell of your drawing.

Once you have your shape the next thing you need to do when learning how to draw flames is get the design of the flame in your head the design is what your going to put inside your S shaped shell. Now you could go a lot of different ways with this. You could for instance just put a smaller version of the actual S shaped flame inside or you might want to put lots of smaller flames in your main shell all with different shapes and sizes its really up to the artist.

Next thing to do when learning how to draw flames is to put colour into your drawing. This will really bring your flames to life once again strike a match and take a look at the colour of the flame the tip of the flame and its core are usually blue and the further out you look you will see the color red and orange on the outside. At this stage you really do just need to use a bit of your imagination.

I cannot stress this enough. When your just starting to learn how to draw flames you must use you imagination as much as possible. Picture in your mine the flame you just saw and memorise the way it moved and take note of its color. Like I said before once you know how to draw flames you can then go on to learn more and go on to draw bigger things like fireballs and flames with faces to put a bit of fun into your art.

The important this to remember is to put as much imagination into your flames as possible. If you would like to learn how to draw just about anything in record time I have found and used my self this grate little website you can click the link here: http://www.learntodraw.biz

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Mckenna

Nude Art

Scandalous! Shocking! Without modesty! Nudity has been portrayed without shame throughout history and has been met with varying criticism depending on the time and culture.

Early Nude Art

Ever since early cave paintings the natural human form has been portrayed in its full unclothed glory. This was just how the artists saw his fellow people, and depending on the region, people wore very little anyway. Since then societies have presented the nude form in paintings, drawing, photography, and any other media. This either demonstrates humanity's strong sexual nature, or just a propensity for making aesthetically pleasing artwork, or perhaps a combination of the two.

Perhaps no society was more naked in its art than Pompeii. This ancient Roman city would meet its doom at the wrath of Mount Vesuvius when the volcano erupted and wreaked havoc on the city below. The city would be covered and ruined by the lava flow but an 18th century find would uncover remnants of a forgotten world, including the remains of many of its inhabitants exactly how they met their fiery demise.

The society shows no sign of bashfulness in its many frescoes and surviving statues. In them you'll find depicted sexual acts, more sex, sex, and just plenty of nudity. Being an ancient Roman city, they often depicted gods and goddesses in their art. The most risque probably being Priapus, the god of fertility. Also of interest are the many statues from early Pompeii, which today may raise a few eyebrows. These are no Michelangelo's "David," if you know what I mean.

Erotica

Further through art history, namely long after the invention of oil painting and when art drifted away from a dominant religious tone, nudity was a common thing. Retouching on the ancient themes, pederasty in Roman mythology in paintings and sculpture, carnal love, and in general sexuality (sometimes not so delicate) were painted time and again. This was perceived usually as good taste. Of course, that wasn't always the general consensus.

In Michelangelo's career, he painted the human form realistically and without apologies. The subtle homo-erotic tones of the Sistene's ceiling probably went straight over the head of the pope and any other religious leader for that matter. The musculature of the male form painted in detail and the poses of the many male figures probably would have been omitted from a religious painting. The olives resembling certain parts of anatomy were perhaps there as a joke or subtle reference.

In the case of Caravaggio, his pubescent cupid displayed in "Amor Vincet Omnia" or Love Conquers All , would in these days be met with hostility, and the artist considered a pedophile. But in those days, the nude form young and old was nothing to shy from, and the boy was simply another model paid to pose. Caravaggio's painting is characteristic of his work, steering clear of the idealized subjects, instead showing a common street boy, crooked teeth and all.

Much modern debate has come over Amor's primary owner keeping the painting behind a curtain. While some say that he was embarrassed of the supposed eroticism and kept it hidden, others say that covering a painting is meant to keep it as a piece de resistance, to be uncovered only after the rest of the artwork was shown, as the best of show.

Borderline Pornography

It probably wasn't until the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe, particularly Victorian times of the 19th century when nudity in art started to seem inappropriate. In an age when even in the summer one must cover themselves with layer upon layer, and sexual matters altogether were strictly taboo, its no wonder the paintings were more G rated. This isn't to say that the subtle was absent. Take the Fragonard painting The Swing. It was also called "The Happy Accidents of the Swing." Humorously showing a glimpse up a dress, an unquestionable infidelity, and a cupid statue with a "hush" gesture all show this French painting's sexual symbolism.

Tame by today's standards, The Swing was quite sultry in its day. Going further into the beginning of the nineteenth century, Goya would make a breakthrough in erotic art and paint the first showing of pubic hair. Take "The Naked Maja" which was the complement to the Clothed Maja. Both paintings are wrapped in mystery, as to who the model is and who the intended recipient, but most people conjecture Fransisco was romantically involved with the sitter. Either way, it would get the artist into much trouble. It even got him fired from a lucrative court position, as a result of the Spanish Inquisition deeming the painting obscene.

Later we continue to have scandals resulting from a repressed mass of people. This John Singer Sargent painting called "Madame X" was originally painted with one shoulder strap off and on her arm. Mothers cover your children's eyes, they'll be scarred for life! Sargent later had to repaint the strap in it's correct position, to appease the prudish public.

In the nineteenth century, the "Father of American Painting" Thomas Eakins would be in hot water for removing the loincloth of a nude model in an art class. One of the girls promptly told her parents of such a horrible thing, which would lead to Eakins' removal from professorship at the Pennsylvania Academy. Eakins wasn't ashamed of the naked human body and frequently shot many nude photos, even posing nude himself on the other end of the camera as well. His paintings sometimes had nudity in them as well.

Subtle Undertones?

Modern photography is rife with naked forms ranging from the sexually charged to the artistic erotica. Modern advertisement also has subliminal sexual undertones for its psychological value, portraying people in borderline explicit poses and gestures in an effort to maximize effectiveness. Sex sells!

Speaking of sex selling, the paintings of Rembrandt van Rijn have been known to contain subliminal messages to reach the subconscious. The Dutch word for sex has been found in the underpaintings of several works written in large, barely visible letters. The painting of the Militia of Captain Cocq could possibly have a deep subconscious image. The shadow of a hand on the other man's crotch? Captain who? Interesting.

Modern and Contemporary Nudity

Painting in the modern day, especially at art schools involves the female nude for a variety of reasons. Besides its classical and/or romantic value, the female body is generally a good subject to paint for its curves and contours, giving the student valuable practice in form and shape. One may say that society has come a long way since Fragonard's Swing painting. But at the same time it is not that probable that a painting of a school teacher skinny dipping with his students would be generally accepted, at least not in modern America.

So times change, as well as views on sexuality, nudity, and the human body. Each society and culture has its own views, and inside each has subcultures with differing views and values, such as nudist camps. It also matters which part of the world you're from, as a nudist beach in France is more the norm than a nudist beach in New Jersey.

No matter what day and age, boys will be boys and seek the naked drawings in art books, erotically charged paintings will turn us on, subtle sexual undertones may touch our subconscious and we will always have nude paintings on our walls for whatever the perceived value.

Dan Kretschmer keeps a daily blog at http://www.vincesear.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Kretschmer

Madhubani Paintings

The history of ethnic paintings in India can be traced back to the Bhimbatka Caves, where some of the earliest paintings of India are found. But when it comes to ethnic 'tribal' paintings of India the names which top the list are Warli paintings and Madhubani paintings.

Madhubani paintings, also known as Godhna, Maithili and Chitra figure paintings, originated out of the humble domestic rituals in Madhubani district of Bihar. Chiefly prevailing in Madhubani district, it also diffused to the adjacent districts of Jetwarpur, Ranti, Rasidpur, Bacchi, Rajangarh, etc.

As per the belief of the people of Madhubani that Gods visit each house in the morning to bless them with luck and prosperity, Madhubani paintings started as a welcome painting on the walls, doors and floors for the Gods. Till the 1960s it was a purely a decorative art. But the Bihar famine of 1964-65 took its toil on the people of Madhubani and they had to shift from agriculture to other forms livelihood. And with that started the commercialization of the Maithili paintings; it shifted from walls and floors to paper, satin, sarees, dupattas, etc, without deviating from its original themes, the themes of religion and mythology. Most of the people of Madhubani now depend on these paintings for their daily necessities.

A paste of cow dung and mud is applied on the walls and floors to give a perfect black background on which pictures are drawn with white rice paste; bright vegetable colors are then applied on the figures making them more vibrant. A great number of Madhubani painters still apply a thin layer of cow dung and mud paste on their canvases to give a more authentic look and also because it helps in proper absorption of color.

Essentially practiced by the women folk, Madhubani is an exclusively feminine school of folk painting. As a respite from their daily home-engineering they portrayed their visions, beliefs, customs and creativity with abstract figures, mostly in linear patterns. This school, however, is not confined to the feminine genre now, as the number of male painters is increasing with each passing day.

Thematically, Madhubani paintings are mostly based on religion and mythology. The religious themes are branched into two types - little tradition and great tradition. In the paintings of little tradition, Gods like Raja Salesh, Buddheshwar, Jutki Malini, Reshma, and the likes occurs in abundance. Great tradition is a tribute to the Hindu Gods like Krishna-Radha, Shiva-Parvati, Ganesha, Maa Durga, and the likes. Nevertheless, natural scenes of villages, everyday life, flora and fauna which are so much a part of life of this school of painters, also entered the domain of Godhna paintings.

The attributes characterizing almost all Madhubani paintings are :-

? Use of bold natural and artificial colors.

? A double line border with simple geometric designs or with ornate floral patterns on it.

? Symbols, lines and patterns supporting the main theme.

? Abstract-like figures, of deities or human.

? The faces of the figures has large bulging eyes and a jolting nose emerging out of the forehead.

Madhubani painting is an emblematic expression of day-to-day experiences and beliefs. As such, symbolism, simplicity and beauty hold them together in a single school of traditional art. The symbols that these Maithili painters use have their specific meanings as, for instance, fish symbolize fertility, procreation and good luck, peacocks are associated with romantic love and religion, serpents are the divine protectors.

The treatment of colour in the Indian folk art form of Madhubani painting brings it somewhat close to the Impressionistic school and the Post-Impressionistic school of painting. To some extent their theme of trivial daily activities and nature are also shared by the Godhna painters.

Characterized by vibrant use of color, underlying symbolism and traditional geometric patterns supporting the main theme, the Indian folk art form of Madhubani succeeded in creating a place for itself in the international house of fame and is now recognized world wide. The Government of India is also paying its tribute by starting training programs educating people on Madhubani paintings.

Madhubani Paintings - An Indian folk art form ethnic to the core with International recognition.

indianhandicrafts.co.in Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arundhati_Mahanata

Types of Graffiti Art

Modern day Graffiti art is closely associated with the Hip Hop Culture. It started out with names like TAKI 183 and JULIO 204 who wrote their tag names all over New York to more accomplished artists that have shown their work in respected art galleries. But, for those loyal to the art of graffiti, it is the pieces found on the streets and public walls that remain as the purest form of the art. Street Graffiti have various well known styles. The styles may be a result of time constraints or as a way of marking territory. The style of the artwork itself greatly affects the look and feel of the piece, these include styles like: Wildstyle, Blockbuster, Throw-ups and Fill-Ins and Pieces.

A "Piece" is a form of Graffiti art that has a very elaborate design. These pieces tend to take time, therefore there are fewer pieces created illegally in public places because the artist runs the risk of being caught in the act of making it. Most graffiti art "pieces" can now be found in dedicated galleries. Of course, there are always the brave few that still plaster their work on public and private walls. Graffiti tributes are also known as "pieces". Tributes pay homage to 'greats' who have passed away. In the past we have seen tributes to the Big L, Tupac, Mother Teresa and others all over New York when they died.

Throw-Ups and Fill- In are graffiti that are done quickly, sacrificing detailed style for time. This is the most common form of graffiti that can be found. It is often made in only one or three contrasting colors and the letterings are in bubble or block form. The letters are often outlined with the boldest color available to the artists. Compared to Wildstyle, throw-ups and fill-ins are often easier to read because the designs are less complex.

Wildstyle is a form of graffiti art that sports all sorts of arrows, interlocking letters and points. For the untrained graffiti eye, Wildstyle pieces are often hard to read because the letters tend to blend in into one another and result in what looks like a jumble and wordless mix. Wildstyle Graffiti art is often found in various places around bustling cities like New York, New Jersey and San Francisco.

"Blockbusters" are large graffiti pieces that have been created to cover entire walls with the intention of blocking other artists from using the same wall. The design is often simple and done quickly. Another form of Graffiti that is similar to Blockbuster is "Rollers". Rollers are Graffiti styles that involve blocking out an entire wall with a single color. This is considered to be lazy graffiti writing. "Stickers" are also used in creating graffiti and is one of the quickest ways to post graffiti on the wall. Like "rollers", "stickers" are also considered to be a form of laziness on the part of the artist. But, more and more artists are coming up with elaborately designed stickers that combat even the most detailed pieces designed. Stencils are also commonly used in graffiti art. They provide the artist with a way to create presentable pieces without compromising time.

Art Prints and Photos on Canvas are available to buy from GetCanvas.co.uk. Benedict is a freelance article writer for Dolphin Promotions SEO Company.

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Outsider Art - Is It Really Art

What actually is art? Give me ten people and I'll give you ten different definitions of the word. What it means to you is as unique to you as your fingerprints. But who's to say what qualifies as art, or fine art? What distinguishes the art of Jean Michel Basquiat from Rembrandt van Rijn? Besides the time differences, each artist's art have been met with different types of criticism. Was one art, and the other just crummy art? Who's to say?

What we can say though is there is an unmistakable mainstream art circuit with art dealers and galleries, critics and fine artists with or without their MFA's. Sometimes this crowd can be quite pretentious and judges art in its own way, usually following the natural cycles of fads and trends. What's hip today may be tomorrow's old news. That's just how it is.

But true art and artistry can be found everywhere. Wherever there is creativity there is art. You don't need to hang around in posh upper class galleries and drink expensive wine to be a real artist.

Jean Dubuffet and Art Brut

"Art Brut" in French literally means "rough" or "raw" art. This was translated to "Outsider Art" in English. It was started by the painter and sculptor Jean Dubuffet to describe art that is outside of the official art culture. He knew the value of art which normally doesn't hang on gallery walls but nonetheless should be recognized and not necessarily written off as lesser art.

Dubuffet mainly focused on the art of the mentally ill in insane asylums. One particularly noteworthy example was Adolf Wolfli. As a mental patient diagnosed with psychosis, he was an extremely prolific artist creating epic novels of 45 volumes with over 25,000 pages and 1600 illustrations. With minimal resources he would slowly create work after work with only one pencil and two sheets of paper a week at his disposal. This meant drawing on tiny bits of paper, using small stubs of pencils, and anything he could find or beg off of people to get his work done.

Wolfli's work was often characterized as "schizophrenic art" with obsessive symmetry, ornamental patterns, reduced depth. Every piece of the paper is covered, leaving no white or empty space. Another similar work is by the psychiatric patient Friederich Schroder, who drew the "Swan Doll's Dance of Death." With a perfect mirror symmetry down the middle, the drawing shows a monster with a grotesque smile wearing a crown and holding his arms curving downward with birds' heads for hands, combining animal with man.

Naive and Primitive Artists

Dubuffet was working with the mentally ill artists, while "Outsider Art" outside of France was known to be a much more general term. It included not just the psychotic art, but also naive, self-taught, and primitive art as well. On the American scene in the early to mid twentieth century we had Grandma Moses, the renowned folk artist painting such countryside favorites as "This Old Checkered House in Winter" which was the subject of many paintings, one of which was appraised on "Antiques Roadshow" in 2004 for $60,000. Several of her paintings have appeared on Hallmark holiday cards.

Earlier we have Horace Pippin, born in my local area in West Chester in 1888, who painted "Giving Thanks" and "Domino Players." Even earlier in France, there was Henri Rousseau, with his dream-like representations of jungles and jungle animals.

All of these artists could have been considered Naive painters because they were self-taught and their paintings possessed a child-like quality to them. This doesn't mean all Naive painters had no formal education, but as it relates to Outsider Art it generally does. In modern times there is no stigma attached to this genre of art.

Children's Art

I talked about how children learn art in my article Learning Art. The way we learn as we grow up and experiment with art starts out with an expression close to ancient societies' art. For example, in ancient Egyptian wall paintings you will find people in a row side by side with no overlap. Children would express the same type of thing when they draw people in a crowd next to each other in a row instead of showing any signs of overlap. The way they see it, if someone's arm looks as if it disappears into the back of another person, this makes no visual sense. You wouldn't really see a person's arm actually going inside someone else, so why would one draw it that way.

The same is true for people in buildings. When a child draws a person inside a building, they wouldn't show a face looking out from a window, because this would mean there is simply a floating head in a window sill. If anything their art was more true to reality, than to aesthetics and perspective.

One funny recent story which raises the question of the authority of art dealers is a woman selling her son's scribble paintings as priceless works of modern art. She didn't tell the dealers her son was 6 or 7 years old and the paintings were more or less doodles. Nonetheless the dealers saw the "genius" of them and bought them top dollar.

If anything is to be learned from children and from child-like naive paintings is that art can be appreciated for art's sake. It doesn't have to be perfect and it certainly does not need the approval of avant garde art experts. Art can be found in the small crafts of Christmas Kitsche statues, the scribbles of prisoners and psychiatric patients and even the finger paintings of gorillas. Art should be appreciated for what it is, and what's its attempting to be.

Whether it's good art, bad art, crummy art, children's art, "Outsider Art" is still art.

Dan Kretschmer keeps a daily blog at http://www.vincesear.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Kretschmer

Making It in Oil When You Discover the Right Artists

What matters about the price of a painting is that you have the money and don't mind spending it on what may be a work of art. Liking the painting is reason enough to buy it - this says absolutely nothing about where you're going to put it in your home or office, where it fits in your collection if you've got one, or whether you hope it will appreciate in value. Looking at it pleases you and, as a person of some means, you don't mind indulging your whims or your serious intentions.

The reader will note that I have not resorted to rocket science to answer the questions about paying a high price for the painting or whether its worth what you're about to shell out. A gratuitous aside - look for super-talented American artists; in Europe, with the value of the dollar dropping like a stone - you'd really better be sure of the value of the piece because you're going to pay a great deal for liking it.

As for knowing whether your purchase is going to appreciate in coming years, I can only wish you luck. Somehow I doubt that those people who helped to turn early Thomas Kincaids into an art empire had any idea they were building up a fortune in oil paintings. Nor did those Russians who happened along a road in France while Van Gogh was painting a haystack or Gauguin was working alongside him during their brief time together. They paid a pittance for paintings that are now immortal and shared with visitors to the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. They knew only they were buying into a new turn in art called Impressionism.

It's a bit harder to answer whether you will always like what you've bought. Generally speaking, I think the more universal the subject is the more likely it will retain your interest. If you liked a haystack in 1875 it is unlikely that you will change your mind about it twenty-five or more years later. On the other hand a picture of your girl or boy friend might not captivate you many years after the sitting. But it might because a rather nebulous factor called "artistry" enters into the equation.

The space available here does not permit an extensive study of the word or concept of artistry. Let me really cop out and say that artistry is why we look at a Titian, a Michelangelo, an El Greco, a Rembrandt, a Delacroix, a Manet, a Renoir, a Picasso and so many more artists decades to centuries after they painted and still see something timeless and glorious. Individual taste, of course, enters into one's estimation of an artist. I, for instance, freely admit that I cannot imagine myself seeking out a coffee-table collection of Kincaid paintings for inspiration. On the other hand any Van Gogh painting fills me with wonder no matter how many times I look at it.

Permit me another personal aside. The French used to display the Impressionists in the Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris. You entered the museum in such a way as to be struck by the utter magnificence of the genius all around you. Everywhere you turned there was a painting so beautiful that it almost took the breath away. Was I influenced by having been told in advance that I was going to see a collection of some of the greatest oil paintings ever put on canvas? I cannot answer that question with any certainty. What I can say without fear of exaggeration is that seeing those famous paintings all about me was one of the most singularly beautiful moments of my life. I doubt that taste, artistry, or anything else influenced me. I believe that it was a purely emotional response to overwhelming beauty.

When I think about what some of the early purchasers of many of these masterpieces paid for them, I can only think how extraordinarily lucky they were. It is in sheer envy that one realizes how many of these great works are not in the world's great museums but are housed in private collections, hidden from a world of art lovers not fortunate enough to be ultra wealthy.

"Uniqueness" is another quality that I would mention as a factor in determining whether a painting might achieve greatness. Here again uniqueness might be in the eye of the beholder. Let me again give a simplistic definition of what I mean when I use the word "unique" - whether in a piece of music, a sculpture, a building, or a painting, it's like no other that has come before it. Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Michelangelo's Pieta, Frank Lloyd Wright's houses, or Da Vinci's Mona Lisa are indisputably one of a kind, never emulated, never equalled.

This is not to say that we no longer encounter artistry, universality, and uniqueness. Since true greatness is rare, finding these qualities in a painter is most unusual - not impossible since genius is usually random, but you don't happen upon it every day. Early in 2007 my wife and I became exceptionally excited over the discovery of Laura Mostaghel, an American painter working out of her studio in Florida. Ms. Mostaghel was already becoming known in the circles of the rich and famous; many of her clients are household names. We are very pleased that Laura permits us to feature her entire catalog of works - oils, watercolors, vases, jewelry pins, tiles, and ceramic boxes.

We are flattered that our taste seems to be contagious. The discovery of the works of Laura Mostaghel has visibly grown since our introduction to them. Elsewhere in Ezinearticles.com I have written extensively about Laura's work and why they will fill an art lover with joy and gladness. Look at her work - all of it - at http:theglobalconnoisseur.com.

Robert D. Forst, Ph.D, is an avid art, opera, and classical music enthusiast who has lived all over the world always seeking to acquire a cultivated taste in art, crystal, and paintings that is reflected in our e-commerce store. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and expertise as a contributing editor at http://www.theglobalconnoisseur.com - a site that offers information concerning original oil paintings and watercolors, Romanian Crystal, Limited Edition Romanian Vases, one-of-a-kind hand-painted ceramic vases and boxes, and a great deal more. He and co-owner and spouse, Nhora Lucia, research the Internet in a conscientous effort to offer the lowest prices available for the stock offered in their catalog. Our special connection with the world-famous painter, Laura Mostaghel, allows us to offer her entire catalog at the same prices as those found at her Florida studio.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Forst

How To Become A Successful Artist

Painting is something I have done all my life from the age of 4, when my parents handed me some crayons and some paper and encouraged me to draw. I remember how I loved it even then. Here are my tips for any aspiring artist.

Step 1 - Be Passionate!

This passion from such a young age meant I found that I was able to paint and draw from life and get my proportions and perspective very accurate.

Step 2 - Practice, Practice, Practice!

I would paint and draw anything and everything on a daily basis. I saw it as fun, but it meant that I was able to hone my skills as the months went by. As a result I won my first commission at 15, and went on to make a living from painting as soon as I left school.

Step 3 - Get to know your subject as much as possible

I like to really spend time understanding the temperament and individual nature of each person or animal that I paint. Once this is captured, the painting just flows. I intuit the psychology of my clients first, which then allows me to portray the inner beauty of their personality. I am inspired to capture the moments that allow them to re-live magic memories for years to come. I love receiving phone calls from my clients telling me how they are still moved by a commission, often many years after completion.

Step 4 - Dream Big

Be fascinated by the magic that life has to offer, especially regarding synchronicity. As Donald Trump once said 'If you are going to dream, you might as well dream big'. Thrive on proving that you can, when others cast doubt.

Step 5 - Model the Masters

Read books about the Masters. Study their work, Visit as many galleries as you can and get inspired. In your imagination ask for the great Masters advice, and await an answer. I told my parents that I was going to be a famous artist from the age of 5, and acted 'as if', and in my mind I continue to stretch the boundaries of my success.

Step 6 - Visualise

At the age of 15, I was an accomplished Event rider, and devoured many books on the subject. My 'bible' however was one book which taught visualisation techniques, how to win a desired outcome, and how to focus on the positive. Several of these techniques I subsequently used to massive success in many areas. In fact I was one of the few riders that never fell from her horse, due to a focusing technique taught in the book!

I once had the task of teaching a team of four eleven year olds on some distinctly untalented ponies. For seven whole days leading up to the event, I worked full time with my group of young charges. During the week the team changed theirs and their ponies' names to adopt the names of some of the world class riders and horses of the day. As they modeled these people they amazed themselves with their new found abilities, and shocked their parents when the team took first prize in the competition.

I have subsequently used visualisation techniques in my artistic life, regularly following the examples of painters such as Sargent, Velasquez, Munnings, Constable, and Michelangelo, when I paint. The results are incredible, but it does take practice, and an open mind.

Step 7 - Broaden Your Horizons

When I was 18, I remember constantly dreaming about what it meant to be a true artist, living in Italy, and being part of a group of amazing painters leading a bohemian and magical lifestyle, traveling the world painting. Within 18 months this had become a reality, even more than I had ever dreamed. I won the opportunity to paint at the Charles Cecil school in Florence. I soaked up everything I could possibly learn and within 6 months, ended up as one of the teachers. I would recommend anyone to do some travelling and spent time in Italy, France or India or for that matter anywhere that inspires you.

Step 8 - Welcome the opportunity to overcome challenges and problems.

Let's be straight here. Life isn't plain sailing, and no job or vocation isn't without its challenges (even if you're the most passionate person in the world). During my early 30's I painted the Philosopher. It was at a time that other parts of her life were experiencing challenges that I did not understand. I felt that I was losing my identity, and yet produced probably one of my best pieces, which at the time was called 'Me, Myself and I' I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and had to deal with all of the problems that came with depression. On the canvas seemed the only place where I knew who I was, and in fact often I used to say 'reality does not exist... except on the canvas'. It took several years to manage my condition, and eventually turned to anti-depressants, which I gave up after attending a Tony Robbins seminar.

Later in my life I discovered that the lead paints I had been using for years were poisoning me and that my health had been severely compromised. I had to go on a major detoxification regime, change my diet dramatically, and started focusing on my health. The turnaround took some time, but I am now healthier and happier than I have ever been, and this continues to this very day. I don't regret those days though as they have helped me grow and become the person that I am. One day you may have painters block (I get it regularly!), but this is just another opportunity to push through your comfort zone and break through to a whole new level. Sometimes you just have to take the day off and go do something else to inspire you.

Step 9 - Build Rapport with Your Clients

All my recent projects have brought home just how much I use psychology in my everyday life, especially my rapport skills in gaining not only a strong insight into the characters of my clients, but helping them to maintain a pose showing them at their higher self. Often, when they see the finished result it can be quite emotional as they connect with the reflection of themselves.

Step 10 - Enjoy the Process

Remember that what you strive for everyday, is never quite as much fun as the journey there. Each day take time out to reflect on what has been great that day and what you have learned. Cultivate a CANI attitude - Constant and Never -ending Improvement!

My Other Painting Tips:

# Paint from life as often as possible.
# Sketch as much as possible and build up a body of sketch books
# Trust your eye
# Use good quality paints
# Experiment with making your own canvases
# Look at paintings by the masters and artists who inspire you
# Stand up when you paint
# Use bold brush strokes where possible
# Be bold and adventurous and enjoy what you do.
# Make time to do all of the above!

http://www.hazelmorgan.com

Classically trained and multi skilled portrait artist & equestrian artist, Hazel Morgan's commissions take her all over the world.

With a client list that includes several Royal households across Europe and the Middle East, Hazel is firmly established as one of today's leading portrait and equestrian artists.

One recent overseas assignment took her to Kentucky, where she painted three large paintings for HRH Prince Khalid bin Abdullah depicting his favourite brood mares, including Banks Hill and Zenda. Her last equestrian commissions were painting both Sinndar and Dalakhani for HRH The Aga Khan.

While Equestrian art and Portraits are her primary focus, Hazel is equally well known as an exceptionally talented hound and dog specialist.

Hazel, not only has the ability to paint what she sees, but is able to reach into the soul of her subject, painting each horse as if it were her own, each person as if she had known them for years.

Her work captures precious moments in time creating a legacy for future generations.

As Hazel says "I am able to capture moments that allow people to relive magic memories for years to come. I love receiving phone calls from my clients telling me how they are still moved by a commission, often many years after it was completed."

http://www.hazelmorgan.com
art@hazelmorgan.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hazel_Morgan

American Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast

American impressionist Edward Henry Potthast was born on June 10th, 1857 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He first showed his artistic side when he was very young and would mix his watercolors to come up with some of the most beautiful, vibrant colors. At an early age his family sent him off to design school. It was there that he met Thomas Satterwhite Noble, a portrait painter who helped Potthast develop his passion for oil painting.

When Edward turned 16 he began an apprenticeship at a lithographic firm. Lithography was the perfect job to further nurture his passion for mixing paints and inks and he continued lithography until he was 39.

In his late twenties, Edward went off to Munich to study painting. Like many artist before him, it was his time in Europe that he was able to develop his own style and establish a name for himself. When he returned to the United States in 1895, he settled down in New York and opened a studio.

By this time, Edward Potthast had become a full-time artist and no longer needed the lithography job to survive. He was living comfortably in his New York studio and was able to paint all day, everyday. Because he lived in the city, many of his subjects were picnics in Central Park and sunny beach days on Long Island.

He especially enjoyed painting children being children, for he had never married or had children of his own. He would depict them swimming in the summer surf on a New England beach or rolling down a grassy hill. Paintings like this were what brought the impressionist era to life.

When Edward Potthast died on March 9th, 1927 he had an established career as an artist and had paintings hanging in museums all over the United States.

Crizza
For more information, or if you have an Edward Potthast piece of artwork you would like to sell, please visit our web site http://www.newportart.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Crizza_Reyes

Parents and Teachers Love Free Coloring Pages

It doesn't matter if you're looking for an after school activity. Or you simply want to add a little extra fun to your child's birthday party - free coloring pages are what you are looking for. What kid doesn't like to color their favorite super hero, or she-ro to keep things politically correct.

Thanks to the Internet you can run to your computer and print out several free coloring pages in a matter of minutes. This will result in hours of fun and educational entertainment for your children. Coloring pages also encourages our child's artistic creativity. Wait there is still more to coloring than meets the eye. Teaching your child to enjoy coloring pages also encourages a multitude of development skills such as coordination, and decision-making as well as how to follow through and complete their coloring pages.

You would think that after your child has completed their masterpiece that would be the end. Well it's not over yet! Teaching your little one(s) to actually search for their own coloring pages introduces children to the Internet. By teaching them to do so your little one will develop hand eye coordination by using the keyboard and mouse. Their skills on how to search for the information that they are looking for will prove to be invaluable in latter years. Before long I'm sure your child will start to teach you a thing or two about the Internet that you didn't know.

FREE COLORING PAGES FOR PARTIES

Coloring pages are also a great party activity for your child's birthday party. You can use your free coloring pages to have a coloring contest where of course everyone wins a prize as another fun activity.

Keep in mind that these are coloring pages that you can keep in your kid's scrapbook forever. This simple activity will become something that can be passed down from generation to generation.

CUT DOWN ON ARGUMENTS

I normally print out free coloring pages for my nephew - no problem right? Then I was asked to baby sit a few other little ones one evening. I passed out a coloring page to each of them along with a huge bucket of crayons. I was then off to watch an episode of Monk.

After about three minutes the fight was on. I ran into the family room as if the house was on fire. The children were arguing over one particular coloring page. Normally this would have been another disaster. Imagine if I only had the traditional coloring book. This would have turned into a huge crying fest.

Thanks to the Internet I zipped into the computer room and simply printed out several more of the same coloring pages and saved the day. I even made it back in time to see Monk work his magic and solve the case once again.

Tim Beachum highly recommends one of the Internet's best http://www.PrintThenColor.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Ra_Beachum

Sketch a Car Using Pencil

Have you ever wanted to sketch your dream car? Basically, there are two types of drawings that you can create. A two dimensional drawing of a car, or a three dimensional one.

Before we get started, I'm just going to assume here that you know the basic techniques of drawing as taught in the MyArtPassion.com Home Study Course. The course is not free, but there are free drawing lessons available on the website.

Since some of the materials are readily available, I'm not going to go through them here. What I'm going to do, will be to have a brief discussion on the approach that we should adopt when we're trying to draw a car. Let's get started.

First, pick the car that you want to draw. Depending on your skill level, pick something that you're comfortable drawing. Generally speaking, shadows and reflections on the body of the car creates complicated shapes. And if you're not comfortable, or you don't have the time, you may want to avoid choosing something that's complicated to draw. You can choose a reference image from your favourite car website.

Once you've chosen your reference subject and image, it's now time to start working on your sketch. Remember the two types of sketch? A two-dimensional sketch is easier to draw. You don't have to worry about highlights, shadows, foreshortening and all those drawing techniques. But you do have to get your measurements right. Try drawing the car from the front, side, and back for practice. Once you feel more confident, you can try drawing a three dimensional car.

A three dimensional car gives you more room to express yourself. Also, it present new challenges that'll help you sharpen your skills as an artist. The most challenging part is to get the proportions of the car right. Once you're able to nail that, you're halfway there. The techniques for nailing proportions have also been discussed in the Home Study Course.

When you have the shape and form of the car on paper, start working on the details. Do not worry so much about shades and blending when you start. Give the car more form by darkening the lines and refining the details. Cars often have many small parts that need attention. This require time. So pay attention to these details.

In the final stages of the sketch, do your shading and blending and make sure you bring out the highlights (reflective areas of the car body). Finish off the sketch with a sharp pencil and remove all unwanted lines.

Darren Chow is the founder and developer of MyArtPassion.com, an online website with free drawing lessons, home study courses, and other drawing related resources. For more free resources like the one you've just read, please visit MyArtPassion.com for free online drawing lessons.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_WK_Chow

The Era of The Emerging Artist

"Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Assume for a moment that emerging artists are akin to value stocks. Like any true value stock, the work of emerging artists is often overlooked, and their worth and prospects underestimated. However, just as Warren Buffet will search out quality companies with distinctive attributes, art lovers can unearth emerging artists whose work is thoughtful, topical and passionately committed to a sense of relevance to modern life. And while the majority of investors fail to perceive value stocks' improving prospects until after the greatest gains have already been made, the opportunity to discover the value of emerging artists exists now.

The art market continues to expand at an unprecedented pace. 2007 marked the first time in history that total worldwide sales for Christie's and Sotheby's hit $10 billion. In November, Christie's posted its second highest total for sales of Post-war and Contemporary art at $325 million, second that is to the $385 million tallied in May. Notably, 93% of the works sold, and a dozen artists set records. Meanwhile, Sotheby's sold $316 million at its November sale of Contemporary Art, the highest auction total ever posted by the firm. Sotheby's sold 91% of its lots.

CREATIVITY ENGENDERS CHANGE

Art is attracting a new breed of buyer. At Sotheby's June sale of Contemporary Art, over 20% of buyers were participating for the first time. Around the world, young, urban and increasingly affluent professionals are choosing art as an accessible means by which to obtain a hallmark of their culture, while demonstrating their individuality and increasing their wealth.

The reasons for art's broadening appeal are varied, but beyond the worldwide expansion of wealth, what's taking place is a fundamental shift in the understanding that creativity engenders change. Whether it be municipal or county governments, educators, or art lovers, there is a new respect for the way that art and music inculcate culture, define generations, and influence the lexicon. When asked to characterize a decade, our responses most often include references to art and music. Art can and often does provide society with forward momentum.

RELEVANCE RULES

Despite their unquestioned quality and finite inventory, sales results of the Old Masters haven't kept pace with those of the Contemporary and Modern art markets. Even Contemporary furniture outsells older fare at sales and auctions. Growth in the value of Modern Art has outstripped every other category of art at auction. According to Art Market Research, prices for Contemporary Art have quadrupled since 1995 while results for Old Masters have significantly underperformed. For the period between June 2006 and June 2007, Old Masters posted gains of 7.6% vs. 44.3% for Modern Art and 55.3% for Contemporary Art, according to the Hiscox Art Market Research Index. And Sotheby's sale of 304 lots during its sale of Old Masters in December, while yielding strong year-over-year results, nonetheless pale in comparison to Contemporary Art results.

Two economists at NYU's Stern School of Business, Jiangping Mei and Michael Moses, have developed one of the most respected art indices. Their work centers around an examination of the auction results of over 11,000 sales transactions. Interestingly, in research reported in the magazine Registered Rep, they found that in over 4,500 cases it was not the most expensive paintings which provided the most return for investors, but those at the lower end of the pricing scale.

PROFIT POTENTIAL IS GREATEST AMONG EMERGING ARTISTS

As society grows more comfortable with the idea of art as a legitimate investment vehicle, the necessity of appropriately guaging the potential posed by emerging artists versus the few known, hot commodities increases. Emerging artists lack the price premium, and therefore the risk, of the more established, "growth" artists. Notwithstanding his works' aesthetic appeal, the time to have bought Damien Hirst was when he was relatively unrecognized, or in investment parlance, when there was actually alpha relative to the art market.

Like any other inefficient market, the opportunity exists in the art market to realize outsized gains via active management of a portfolio. When it comes to value investments, the greatest gain is always realized by buying the stock whose price is the furthest below its intrinsic value. As a group, emerging artists fit squarely in the value camp, with equally strong prospects. Why assume that a tiny minority of artists, blessed with the impremateur of a small pool of art dealers, would produce the only art worthy of collectors attention and investment?

EMERGING ARTISTS CUT OUT THE MIDDLEMEN

A healthy byproduct of the clamor for art has been a movement toward a more direct-to-consumer experience among artists. In the past, an artist would often spend many years selling their work through galleries before gaining entry into the auction world. However, the current market allows many to bypass the high-cost (50% commission) gallery experience altogether as demand for their work pulls them directly to auction. There's less of a need for a dealer or gallery owner to telegraph an artists' worth, as intrinsic value virtually sells itself. As a result, lower commission rates paid by artists, and the ability to view work in an objective context both earlier and less expensively via the auction setting, creates a win-win for the artist and the art lover.

Capucine Price is a former investment manager with a specialization in small capitalization value stocks, most recently with the Chicago-based investment firm William Blair & Co., LLC. She is the co-owner of the online art auction gallery CapucinesBoulevard.com. Inspired by Monet's 'Boulevard des Capucines', the gallery is the best way to shop thousands of pieces of original artwork from talented artists worldwide through their art galleries online.

Capucine Price
http://www.CapucinesBoulevard.com
Email: Support@CapucinesBoulevard.com

http://www.originalfineartgalleryonline.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/capucinesblvd

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How To Draw A Good Portrait

Drawing portraits can be exceedingly challenging for many art students. But why are portraits so hard to draw? After all, portraits are essentially the same as all other drawings, and are made up of basic shapes and forms. The key lies being able to execute proportions with exact precision.

When you take a closer look at a portrait, you'll observe that there are thousands of combinations possible for portraits. For example, there are noses with many different shapes and sizes. There are eyes with different shapes and colors. There are lips with different thickness and there are all sorts of little details (like eyebags etc.) that are different. This makes it difficult for the artist to apply a fixed formula when drawing portraits.

The same technique for drawing a fixed object, or for drawing still life, can be used again and again. The basic shapes and forms of a table or a chair is easy to duplicate.

But when you put together a combination of all kinds of different features on a face, it's a whole different set of challenge. The nose is too small, the lips are too thick, the eyes look all funny, etc. You get into all sorts of funny problems that you can don't get whether drawing other stuff. That's why drawing portraits can be such a challenge to many art students.

The way around this is to strengthen the drawing foundation. That means drawing by applying sound drawing principles instead of just following rigid formulas. If the artist can get the proportions right, the likeness of the person will emerge. There's no need for other complicated techniques. The artist just have to focus on getting the proportions right.

The other area of concern is that many art students do not have the maturity to make sound decisions about the portraits they are drawing. Note that drawing is not the same as photographing. The drawing need not be exactly the same as the subject. There is room for the artist to make decisions on how the drawing will eventually turn out.

Therefore, a good portraitist will always bear in mind the background and the essence of the subject that he or she is drawing. For instance, if the artist is drawing a business person, he may want to capture the shrewd look on the face. Or if he's drawing a model, he may want the drawing to look Hollywood style.

These are simple decisions, yet they have such a profound impact on the portraits. So good artists must use their judgment to make such decisions.

Darren Chow is the founder and developer of MyArtPassion.com, an online website that offers free drawing lessons, home study courses, and other drawing related resources. For more free resources like the one you've just read, please visit MyArtPassion.com for free online drawing lessons.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_WK_Chow

Fantasy Art Warrior Women-Pictures of Cats-Drawings of Scorpions-Paint Them With Oils

As far as oil painting goes it's not as scary as some people think. If you want to create the visions that are in your head, be it fantasy art warrior women, pictures of cats, drawings of scorpions, or if you hope to one day obtain landscapes still life portrait commissions, whimsical angel drawings, you might want to consider oil painting as your goal. It is to me, the most respected medium.

It's true! Painting with oils may seem way scary, but it isn't at all really!

Lots of people get stuck into doing acrylics, watercolors or feel content to just draw. That is fine of course, those mediums are great, but oil painting need not be excluded because you think it is too hard.

I confess! When I first started painting with oils? I felt it was just so overwhelming to begin.

One thing I would do to get over fear of painting, and this is not exclusive to oils, is be a Jackson Pollack for the day. You can still slather on the paint to create pictures of cats, drawings of scorpions or fantasy fairies, just be loose about it. No pressure for realism.

Turn on your favorite music, pump up the volume and get ready for an art dance, or should we call it a dance of learning to play with art?

First find a piece of plywood lying around, or anything really. Search out some old house paint or go to the hardware store and buy some of their sale stuff.. just a few colors is fine. It does not have to be a major expense, in fact, that is the point, in order to free yourself up, it needs to be as little expense as possible. Find some old junk.. old jewelry, even Christmas wrapping paper or weird things you come across. Next take it all outside and PLAY! Just PLAY.. no pressure for anything to turn out. Dump stuff on the plywood and be a Pollack for the day. Let it dry and then go back and play again over the same piece, building up a patina effect. Metallic paints are great for this too!

OK, so after that you should feel a certain sense of freedom about painting. Now lets try some oils on canvas! How fun! (Yup no grumbling, this is gonna be fun.)

When oils are thinned down with turpentine they have a lot more ease. You can make it all really sloshiy (my word for messy) and PLAYFUL! That doesn't mean you only use thinned down oils but just think about that and use it as you will. Start out thin and end with thick.

First paint a background on as large a canvas as you can. The larger the better. I find that if you paint a small work it is actually more scary. You tend to tighten up and fret more. When the canvas is big you KNOW you have to really get in there and paint or it will take you forever. There is freedom to it.

Try 'sketching' with your sloshy colors and oil paints. Starting with your darkest colors 'slather' on your base, be it fantasy art warrior women, images taken from female photography, or lords of the middle ages PLAY. Then let it sit for a day or two. Go back after some drying time and add your medium toned colors, then let that sit.. give yourself a rest for a fresh look at your progress as well as some drying time. Lastly add your lights and highlights.

Cover it up and be a touchy artist! Don't let anyone see your work and/or let them lend comment. Others might sway your confidence because they cannot possibly see what is inside your heart and the end result. You may not either but the FEELING is there.. only worry about the feeling. Matisse said to feel the colors. Play with the colors as you create to one day produce fantasy art warrior women, pictures of lambs or landscapes still life portrait commissions is that is your goal. Learn to Play! This is what will set you free to paint by instinct rather than rules.

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ABOUT Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

I paint and sculpt female fantasy art and map fairy tale adventures. I dream of beautiful women on canvas and art of exotic women.

I have illustrated for Hay House Inc.,"Women Who Do Too Much" CARDS, taken from Anne Wilson Schaef's book. I also illustrated for Neil Davidson, who was considered for the Pulitzer Prize in feature writing, and several other publications. My paintings are collected worldwide.

Giclee canvas art work, greeting cards and posters are available for sale on my website:

http://www.kathysart.com

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FBI's Top Ten Art Crimes

The FBI's Art Crime Team has announced a list of Top Ten Art Crimes, criminal cases that represent thefts of an estimate $600 million in stolen art which is considered priceless in terms of cultural value.

According to the FBI, these are the Top Ten Art Crimes:

• Iraqi Looted and Stolen Artifacts

• The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Theft

• The Swedish National Museum Theft

• Theft of Munch's The Scream

• Theft of the Cellini Salt Cellar (pictured)

• Theft of Caravaggio's Nativity with San Lorenzo and San Francisco

• Theft of the Davidoff-Morini Stradivarius

• The Van Gogh Museum Robbery

• Theft of Cezanne's View of Auvers-sur-Oise

• Theft of Da Vinci's Madonna of the Yarnwinder

The announcement of the Top Ten list coincides with an overall restructuring of the Art Theft Program web site. FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker, Criminal Investigative Division, said the new web site initiative will enhance investigation and recovery of art pieces, and help to bring responsible individuals to justice.

"What is notable with these thefts is their value to world cultural heritage . Disseminating information about these crimes through the web site will bring them to the attention of the broadest possible public. We hope this encourages people with information to submit it to the tip line," said Swecker.

The Art Crime Team was established in November of 2004. Since that time, the ACT has been involved in the recovery of more than 100 items of art and cultural property, valued at more than $40 million.

Source: FBI News Release

Pencil Drawing Lesson

The first question you should be asking yourself is, "What is it that you are going to draw". Choosing and deciding on the subject can make or break your pencil drawing.

I suggest choosing something that you're comfortable drawing (that means taking your skill level into consideration) and the subject should be something that you're interested in drawing. Also take into consideration the amount of time that you're going to spend on your drawing.

If you don't have the time, try not to choose a subject that's too ambitious. Two things may happen here. You'll either get bored with the drawing due to lack of interest, or you run out of time and so the drawing is left unfinished.

Try to avoid these mistakes.

Once you have decided on your subject, it's time to start your drawing. Prepare the following tools: (1) a range of pencils from 2B - 8B, (2) ordinary drawing paper, and (3) kneaded eraser.

You need a range of pencils because that will help you in achieving the many different tones of shades that's so crucial to your drawing. In a monochrome drawing, that's the only thing that'll help you describe shapes, contours, dimension and depth.

And if you're wondering if the paper matters in a pencil drawing, the answer is yes. If you're more particular about the surface that you're going to draw on, note that there's two types of drawing paper that you'll commonly come across.

The first type is cold pressed drawing paper (also commonly known as NOT paper). This type of paper has a textured surface and is commonly used with watercolors. However, you can use it for any drawing or painting if you feel it's appropriate.

The second type of paper is hot pressed drawing paper. This is the opposite of NOT paper. Its surface is smooth, making it the ideal drawing surface for pencil drawings. That's because it's easier to blend on a smooth surface. Experiment with both types of paper to see which type you prefer. I would recommend smooth surface drawing paper.

The kneaded eraser is a soft eraser that you can pinch and mold into any shape. It's dust free and commonly used to aid in creating highlights in a drawing by using it to pick up lead on the paper.

And there's one more tool that will help you but it's optional. It's called a paper stump or a tortillion. A tortillion is used for blending and spreading lead around on the paper. It creates a more consistently blend than fingers.

Yes, you can use your fingers if you want but I like to keep mine clean. Besides, tortillions are very affordable.

Once you have these tools ready, you're set to go.

Darren Chow is the founder and developer of MyArtPassion.com an online website that offers free drawing lessons, home study courses, and other drawing related resources. For more free resources like the one you've just read, please visit MyArtPassion.com for free online drawing lessons

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Yes We Can - Barack Obama Music Video

Stephen Wiltshire draws Tokyo from memory

Stephen Wiltshire - Guy Can Draw Detailed City Just By Looking At It Once

What Is Contemporary Art Auction

The world of modern art is changing. Just visit a contemporary art auction for a clue. Unknown artists find the value of their works quadrupling within years. Chinese and Indian artists are finding greater audiences, and wealthy patrons of the arts aren't just paying thousands - they're paying millions.

Traditionally, an artist's older works garnered higher bids and more frenzied requests. However, painters like Brice Marden are changing the status quo with a whole collection of recent, sought-after work.

The top 10 contemporary artists, whose works sold for over $5 million at auction, are as follows: Lucian Freud, Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons, Brice Marden, Bruce Nauman, Robert Rauschenberg, Gerhard Richter, Richard Serra, Frank Stella, and Cy Twombly. Other artists (in the $1 - $4 million range) to look out for include: Chuck Close, David Hockney, Ellsworth Kelly, Anselm Kiefer, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Ryman, and Wayne Thiebaud.

Jasper Johns, one of the highest paid modern artists, can't seem to keep up with the demand. He paints two projects each month (which will sell for no less than $1 million), but the waiting list is still long. Entertainment giant David Geffen paid $40 million for "Gray Numbers" a few years back and New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art allegedly paid over $20 million for "White Flag."

John's colorful paintings touch upon Americana themes -- with lots of flags, maps and targets - with subtle messages that affect every onlooker differently. If a collector is fortunate enough to find a Jasper Johns in an art auction house, then there's no telling how much it'll sell for.

One can't help but wonder about what accounts for the noticeable trend towards modern art? Most of the buyers (42%) at the Sotheby's contemporary art auction continue to be Europeans, with the US trailing at 19%, and Asia / Middle Eastern sales at 12%.

It seems that the high price of the pound is hurting many Americans more than the credit crunch, but London's weekend auctions saw many advances from interested Indian and Chinese buyers looking for a piece of cultural heritage. For instance, two bidders fought over Yue Minjun's "Execution" for six minutes, which finally sold for a record breaking $2.93 million. Likewise, one of Putu Sutawijaya's paintings ("Silent Road") sold for $350,000 (11 times its estimated price) at the Borobudur Auction!

The art world is changing from the traditional swanky event, complete with fine wine, cheese and fashionable attire - to one of sitting behind the computer screen, credit card in hand. While it may seem impersonal to some, it's advantageous to others, who have the ability to hop between sites, checking the fair prices for the particular work they've got their eye on. After browsing online catalogues, art lovers can get a good idea of what's available in the up-to-date marketplace, and then make the best purchase later at a contemporary art auction.

Enrich your knowledge further about contemporary art auction from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our fine art auctions blog where a free gift awaits you.

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Nail Art

Nail art is the most versatile and latest fashion statement today. As many other art forms, nail art also requires wild imaginations and creativity. This wild imagination and creativity gives way to plethora of unique and enduring designs and patterns.

Since mankind, women have been decorating themselves with various different ornaments, dresses or painting their nails with henna or juices of barks of trees. With the passage of time and changing scenario of fashion more and more forms of nail decorations came into limelight and since then women are enjoying experimenting their nails. It's truly been said that beautiful and well-groomed nails reflect one's inner personality and mood. People have now become possessive and concern about their nail appearance.

Nail decoration has an age old history, traced back to 3000 B.C. This period witnesses the first nail polish that was originated in China. Various other ingredients like gum Arabic, gelatin and bees wax were used to create varnishes and lacquers for nail paints. Further with the advances in science and technology, many other forms of nail art with added quality, finish and beautiful colors came into existence.

The modern age has given way to various nail products to make nails rocking, beautiful and colorful. An array of nail paints with sleek, flashy and trendy shades and a variety of textures and embellishments are flooding the Indian markets today. The Indian fashion market with various artistic, creative and innovative nail accessories has carved a niche n the platform of cosmetology. The available nail accessories range from simple dots, geometric patterns, funky stickers, tattoos, abstracts, to stencil art, French manicure, portraits, swarovskis and endless other options.

Using multitude of designs and patterns, one can jazz up their outfit and add spice to their look. There are many recognized nail technicians who produce the most attractive and glamorous nail designs ranging from nail polish and acrylic nail art to French manicure and toe nail art. Many people also use assorted nail decorations to add glamour and extra appeal to the nails. These include colored acrylic, glitter nails, gels, airbrushed, 3d nails, water marbling, nail stickers, nail jewelry, crushed shells, stencils and rhinestones.

There are multitudes of nail accessories. The most popular among them are as follows:

• Nail Stripes: To apply these strips gently peel off and lay the stripe across the nail.

• Stars and Dots: These attractive and beautiful accessories are available in the form of nail stickers or nail polish.

• Nail Stickers: To apply one just needs to remove the sticker and place it securely on the nails.

• Water Marbling: This is one of the most demanding arts among today's women. Fill a cup with water and add desired colors of paint to the water, creating a marble design with a toothpick or pin. Then dip nails into the water and after a few minutes remove nails from water and clean off excess polish.

Today, with the blend of various nail accessories, nail decoration have become the most integral part of the fashion industry, attaining a new dimension in the industry.

http://www.nailart.co.in/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennie_Gandhi

The Mona Lisa By Leonardo Da Vinci

The Mona Lisa, by Leonardo Da Vinci is not only one of the most important paintings ever created, it was one of the most important to Leonardo himself, a work he spent more than four years on and carried with him everywhere he went for the remainder of his life. The Importance of the Mona Lisa to Leonardo has caused great deals of speculation as to why he might have painted it and what the painting might be depicting.

When was the Mona Lisa Painted and Why?

The original Mona Lisa was painted in 1503 by Leonardo Da Vinci in his home in Italy. Vasari, the famous Italian biographer, wrote that it was a commission for Francesco del Giacondo and his wife Lisa Ghirardi, the model. Ghirardi would have been a 24 year old recent bride about to give birth to her second child at the time. Other scholars have made connections between Leonardo's father and Francesco as friends and that Leonardo's father might have commissioned the painting himself as a gift.

However, none of these facts are sufficient to explaining why the painting held so much value to Leonardo during his life. There are numerous theories recently postulated (in the last 100 years or so) that hope to tackle this question and make sense of the life and work of the world's most important artist.

Other Models in the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci

With the outstanding theory being that the Mona Lisa is a painting of Lisa Ghirardi and other theories pointing to the possibility that it could be either Constanza d'Avalos or Isabella of Aragon, Duchess of Milan, the question of its importance is still not answered. While the revolutionary style and expression in the portrait have enthralled the art world since it was painted, it doesn't explain DaVinci's attachment.

A Self Portrait or His Mother?

There are further theories that the painting might have been a self-portrait, supported by the similarity of the painting to other self-portraits of DaVinci he painted and with other paintings that carry similar facial features. Another theory still postulates that he may have instilled some of the features of his mother in all of these paintings, making the Mona Lisa a portrait not of Lisa Ghirardi in detail, but of his mother Caterina.

The Importance of his Life's Work

Throughout his life, Leonardo was intrigued by almost everything under the sun. He had a habit of infusing his interests into numerous works, adding touches of his obsession with weather and topography into the Mona Lisa in the background to show humanity's culmination with nature. For that reason, his artwork was incredibly important to him, not only as art but as an expression of his life's work. With such a small painting, and four years of work put into it, it could just be that he kept it with him as a representative of that.

With so much time and energy put into his masterpiece, Leonardo may have simply been wary to part way s with it, unable to find a suitable buyer, or lost the commission after the painting was completed. Whatever reason he so loved it though, Mona Lisa by da Vinci is full of the kinds of mystery and importance that has endured for more than 500 years.

Colin Andrews is the Director of Aspect Art Ltd, an on-line exporter of the highest quality reproduction oil paintings, http://www.aspectart.com To view all of Leonardo's paintings on-line please visit http://www.aspectart.com/shp/Da-Vinci-Leonardo/

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What Makes A Good Pencil Sketch Drawing Tutorial

Are you having problems locating a good pencil sketch drawing tutorial? If you have, I hope this article will give you some insight as to why good pencil sketch tutorials are so hard to come by.

You see, all good pencil sketch tutorials should contain two very important criteria. The first criteria that a good drawing tutorial should fulfill is that it has to be written by an artist. If it's a pencil sketch tutorial, it's best that a pencil artist writes the tutorial.

That's because only the artists themselves have a true understanding of the problems and challenges of pencil sketching. And those are exactly the same problems that you're facing, and now you're hoping that someone has found the solutions to those problems and can help you with them.

The second criteria of a good drawing tutorial is that the tutorial should be written by someone who knows how to communicate and train effectively. Training effectively means having the ability to identify key problem areas and putting the solution across to the reader in an easy to understand manner.

Of course, that's over simplifying the job of the trainer. An excellent trainer knows how to clarify the problems, open up the reader, and inject humor when necessary so that by the end of the tutorial, the reader not just understand the tutorial, but knows how to go about solving his or her own problems.

Now that's easy to say in words. In reality, not many art trainers are highly competent. That's why we so often hear art students complaining about how they're not receiving enough instructions from their art teachers. I'm sure their art teachers are more than qualified to teach their students. After all, they all have strong port folios to show that they have the skills and ability to draw and paint exceedingly well. That's why they're given the job. So what went wrong?

First, we have to understand that not all excellent artists are excellent trainers. They may have the best drawing skills in the world but when it comes to training, many artists lack the appropriate exposure. So they ramble on and on, thinking that they're teaching, but in fact, they're just rambling.

Once you understand this, you'll be able to tell the better teachers apart from the good ones (there are no bad teachers by the way). You can use the very same information to help you filter out the better pencil sketch tutorials from the good ones. Consciously choose to read or listen to someone with both the art skills, and the ability to train. That's where you'll find all the best pencil sketch drawing tutorials.

Darren WK Chow is the founder and developer of MyArtPassion.com, an online website that offers free drawing lessons, home study courses, and other drawing related resources. For more free resources like the one you've just read, please visit MyArtPassion.com for free online drawing lessons.


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Get The Best Art Deal With An Art Lawyer

It is an art lover who knows the real value of an art piece. In fact, it is an art lover who knows how to value and appreciate an art piece. Art is one such thing that has its appeal in whatever form it is. Any form of art can never go unnoticed by any art lover and given a chance, they make sure that they buy the art piece that they have liked. However, these days, forgery and fraudulence has become such a problem that even buying an original art piece can become a problem. Therefore, to buy an original art piece one should take the help of an art lawyer. An art lawyer is a professional who has knowledge about genuine art pieces and can help a seeker get an original art piece that he or she wants to buy. Moreover, if someone has already become the victim of buying a fake art piece, then also he or she can take the help of a lawyer to fight his case and get his money back.

An art lawyer is like other lawyers and has immense knowledge in genuine art pieces. Taking the help of an art lawyer not only helps you to buy an original art piece but he can also guide you in case if you have bought a fake art piece. Well, this is a normal scenario these days that many people sell fake art pieces claiming them to be the original piece. With the rise in the number of art dealers and vendors, it has definitely become difficult to find out which one is a fake art piece and which one is the original. Therefore, many people land up buying fake art pieces thinking them to be the original one and it is later that they realize that they have invested their money in a fake art piece. Therefore, in such situations, it is best to go through the legal way to get back the money and this can be done with the help of an art lawyer.

Moreover, an art lawyer can also help an art vendor get his money from a customer who has bought an art piece but has not paid the due money. In such cases also, the art dealer or the vendor can take the help of an art lawyer to fight a legal case against the customer and then to get the money that he deserves. Well, it is not at all difficult to find an art lawyer. The internet can be a good support in this case and you can easily get to know about an art lawyer through the internet. However, you should see his record of accomplishment to make sure that he can help you to get justice in the right way.

Therefore, now if you want to buy or sell an art piece and are worried about the fact of forgery and fraudulence, then you need not worry anymore, as an art lawyer can help you to solve all your problems.

Damyel Flower is an exprienced divorce lawyer.He has successfully handled many divorce cases.He gives advice to clients who are looking for Art lawyer,Divorce lawyer NYC,celebrity divorce lawyer.To hire services of a lawyer in New York and any legal advice visit www.mtllp.com.

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The Functional Art Of Terracotta

Terracotta, the first creative expression of civilization, man's first attempt at craftsmanship. Terracotta, a form of art that is considered magical in ancient India for its atavistic nature which incorporates five elements - earth, water, air, fire and ether.

Terracotta is basically a ceramic. Etymologically Italian, terracotta means "baked earth" or "fired earth". But the term 'terracotta' is also used to refer to the particulars made out of it. The craft of terra cotta involves using clay to prepare reddish brown unglazed earthenware firing it through a very high temperature. The reddish brown color is basically because of the presence of iron. Other colors include yellow, grey and pink.

The history of sculptor and pottery started with terracotta. From the petty earthen pot for the trivialities of daily use to the idols they worship, terra cotta occupied an important place in the lives of the people of ancient India, without which life would come to a stand-still for them. In the Indian sub continent terracotta art bears testimony to the varied and ancient traditions of its practice over five millennia. Harrappa and Mohenjodaro civilization bears the evidences of the antiquity of the craft terracotta.

But the domain of the craft of terracotta is not confined only to India. The art of terracotta has defined a culture for generations in Imprunetta of Italy where the craft is still blooming. Beginning in the 15th century and continuing through the 18th, Italian sculptors raised terra cotta to a status of indomitable fame in the house of European creative art. The terracotta stuff handcrafted by them has the exquisity and antique traditions respecting the cultural and professional continuity of the art.

Among other countries making extensive use of the art of terracotta are China, England, France, America and Africa (west). The Terracotta Army of China (the terra cotta soldiers), the Abduction of Hippodameia (from Greek mythology) in France, and the two buildings of Victorian Birmingham in England bear testimonial of this antique art of terra cotta.

The craft of terracotta in India is an epitome of religious expression conveyed through clay. Molded clay is converted to masks and murals capturing the sculptor's imagination. Nevertheless, always existing outside the rigid rules of the constituted Hindu canons governing artistic expression, the art of terracotta enjoys enormous freedom in terms of imagination and conception which lead to the parturition of a wide variety of sculptures with the tag of 'beauty and ethnicity' attached to it, for good. In the world scenario, the most famous terracotta sculptures are those of the Terracotta Warriors in China.

The basic features which are still holding the millions of years old craft of terra cotta and which lead to its flourishing success yet are the simplicity of the process and its eco-friendliness. The simpler process of creating a finished product and the reusable mold-making techniques places it on a higher position to bronze sculpture. As compared to the stone works like marble, terracotta products are far lighter. Hence, terracotta bells and terracotta clocks could be easily put anywhere as compared to the marble ones.

A village in India without a potter creating miracles of terracotta would be a long search, may be a never-ending one. Products for daily use, decorative items like murals, masks, clocks, bells, tiles, pots, molded bricks, sculptures in temples...the range of terracotta products is a wide one. The fable of rich Mother Earth, imparts the medium, terracotta, with such a high degree of mouldability and adaptability that beauty of form, color and texture varies across the length and breadth of the country, and across the world.

The mask culture dating back to the pre-historic rock paintings of 3000 B.C. has traveled down the ages and is still alive in the form of terra cotta masks. Tribal terracotta masks still form a part of their community celebrations. Handmade terra cotta masks depict myriad expression. Decorative small terracotta bells and clocks, terra cotta masks and murals, placed anywhere, or mounted in beveled glass, make an interesting statement in itself.

The presence of terracotta tiles gives an earthy and countryside look, and adds simplicity with elegance to the interiors, used wheresoever. Terra cotta tiles can be used in the foyer, living room, family room, terrace, balcony, corridors......any place where you want the earthy feeling, the feeling of the five basic elements of life. Terra cotta tiles can be used as paintings or wall hangings. A terracotta tile mounted to a simple creamy background, focused with good yellow lighting can create magical effect.

Terracotta murals are a rage now. Making an attractive visual focal point in a room, terra cotta murals can adorn both exteriors and interiors. Adding a terra cotta mural to our living room, where we can entertain friends can be a fantastic idea to earn compliments!

Also known as 'waterproof ceramic', terracotta springs from earth, air, water and fire, the elements comprising the universe. Its antiquity, its beauty, its adaptability and its simplicity earned terra cotta the famous tag of the "Lyric of Handicraft".

indianhandicrafts.co.in Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keshav_Kaushik

The Most Expensive Art in The World

Have you ever considered how much that piece of art in your home may be worth? Do you have an original piece of art by a little know artist or are you lucky enough to have an original piece of art by a popular artist? The art world is often falling over themselves when a popular piece is placed on the market and eager collectors are very quick to bring out their checkbooks in order to obtain this rare art piece for their collections. Here are the top 10 most expensive pieces of art recorded to date in descending order. Prepare to be amazed.

Please note: The prices quoted are take into consideration inflation from the original recorded auctions or private sales and is priced in millions USD. This list provides estimated prices only and is not intended to be an accurate record of art sales. This article is used to illustrate art worth in broad terms.

10. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II by Gustav Klimt - $89.1 Million
Adele Bloch-Bauer II was painted in 1912 by Gustav Klimt. Adele Bloch-Bauer was the wife of Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, a rich industrialist of the time, who was a keen sponsor the arts and supported Gustav Klimt's work. Adele Bloch-Bauer was the only model ever to be painted twice by Gustav Klimt. This item was part of a set of two and Adele also appeared in the much more famous "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I".

9. Portrait de l'artiste sans barbe by Vincent van Gogh - $90.1 Million
One of the many self portraits Vincent Van Gogh created, this particular version is the most recognizable and popular. Painted in 1889, this piece created massive waves of excitement when it was placed at auction at Christie's, New York. Christie's only estimated this piece would sell for around $20 Million.

8. Dora Maar au Chat by Pablo Picasso - $97 Million
Dora Maar au Chat commonly known as Dora Maar with Cat was created in 1941 by Pablo Picasso. This wonderful work by Picasso features his Croatian mistress, Dora Maar, seated on a chair with a small black cat perched on her shoulders. As was often seen with his work, he uses wide swaths of contrasting color to draw out the subject.

7. Irises by Vincent Van Gogh - $97.5 Million
Irises is one of the most widely known pieces painted by Vincent van Gogh. This piece was one of his early works while he was at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France and was painted in the last year before his death in 1890. This item is currently on view at the Getty Museum in California.

6. Garçon à la pipe by Pablo Picasso - $113.4 Million
Currently owned by the John Hay Whitney's estate, it sold for $104.1 million at an auction in New York's Sotheby's in 2004. Sotheby's originally estimated a pre-sale price of $70 million. Many of the worlds art experts stated that the painting's high sale price has much more to do with the popularity of the artist than with the historical importance of the painting itself.

5. Bal au moulin de la Galette, Montmartre by Pierre-Auguste Renoir - $122.8 Million
Commonly known as Le Moulin de la Galette, this painting by the famous French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir was painted in 1876 at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Bal au Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre is a smaller version of an impressionist painting Renoir painted with the same title.

4. Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh - $129.7 Million
Once more, Vincent van Gogh appears on our list with one of the most expensive works of art of all time. This portrait of Gachet was created just outside Paris in 1890, and depicts his then doctor, Paul Gachet. Gachet, who took care of Vincent during the artist's last months. Gachet was an amateur artist and formed a good friendship with Van Gogh.

3. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt - $137.6 Million
The partner to the previously mentioned piece of art. This is the first portrait of Adel Bloch-Bauer Klimt and was painted in 1907. According to reports, it was sold in June 2006 for $135 million to Ronald Lauder for his gallery in New York City. At that time it set a record as the most expensive painting ever sold.

2. Woman III by Willem de Kooning - $140.2 Million
Abstract expressionist painter Willem de Kooning painted this print in 1953 and this fantastic piece is one of 6 paintings by Kooning in which the central theme was a woman. Woman III was sold by David Geffen in November 2006 to the billionaire Steven A. Cohen for a reported $137.5 Million.

1. No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock - $142.7 Million
At Last, we come to the most expensive art to date, No. 5,1948 by the artist Jackson Pollock. This abstract art, painted in 1948, was created on a 8 x 4 feet sheet of fiberboard, with large amounts of thick brown and yellow paint drizzled on top of it, forming a chaotic nest-like appearance. This work of art was sold by David Geffen in 2006 for $140 Million making it the most expensive piece of art ever sold.

So, as you can see, there is some incredibly expensive pieces of art out there being sold. Certainly, you are asking yourself "What about other pieces of older art?" All of these wondrous pieces of art in this list were painted after 1800. Any art prior to this date is usually in the hands of museums throughout the world. The Mona Lisa, for example, was insured in 1962 for approximately $100 Million. Taking into consideration the rate of inflation it is fair to assume that its current worth would be around $670 Million today. However, you are unlikely to ever see this majestic smile in Christie's or Sotheby's anytime soon.

If you have been inspired by these items and would like to see more. Amazingly you do not have to pay anywhere near these prices if you would like a copy of these items on your wall! You can discover wonderful reproductions of each of these items in many sizes, formats and mediums on our Arteblanche.com website. We have one of the world's largest inventories of art from the popular artists in this list to unknown artists and cover every aspect and work of art imaginable. We hope you have found this article informative and as inspiring as we did in writing this.

Sean Donahoe is the CEO and founder of ArteBlanche.com, one of the internet's leading art suppliers, which he runs with his wife Tamara. Arteblanche.com has a massive inventory of high-quality art poster prints, fine jacquard weave tapestries and highly-collectible and officially-licensed magazine covers from Rolling Stone Magazine, Time Magazine and Life Magazine, as well as many older and vintage magazines. From the most popular art and artists to the hard-to-find items, ArteBlanche has it all and it's ready for you now.

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List of Most Famous Paintings

Painting has been a hobby as well as vocation since very old times. This art evolved to great levels since the inception. Many techniques and styles assimilated into this art making it more lovable to masses. Painters experimented with different themes, styles, textures, media but few of the experiments were accepted by the art lovers. Different cults in painting were established as a result of these experiments. And these processes produced so many talented painters. These talented painters became the masters of the art in very short time. Though all the works which these painters made were exceptional in look, technique and accuracy but there are only a few works that have touched the hearts of the masses and left an indelible impact on the art lovers. These works have been liked by the people of all periods and are immensely famous.

Great works are thousands but greatest are few. Greatest works are revered by the masses as well as the exponents of art. Monalisa is an immortal art work made by Leonardo da Vinci. Monalisa has intrigued millions with her captivating smile. The Melting Watches of Salvador Dali is another hugely famous art work. The list is really long. Famous paintings made in several different styles, media and time period are many and most of the times striking the judgment of the viewer as to which is the greatest of all.

Some of the most famous paintings have been made by great painters of all times. Here list is given of famous paintings:

Ajanta Murals (Made by the painters under Vakataka Kings in India)
The Starry Night (Van Gogh)
The Last Supper and Monalisa (Leonardo da Vinci)
Madonna and Child
The Last Judgment (Michelangelo)
Impression, Sunrise (Monet)
The Old Guitarist (Picasso)
The Persistence of Memory (Dali)

To get information on famous paintings and painters please visit Ethnic Paintings

Rajneesh Dubey is Content Coordinator for http://ethnicpaintings.com. This website gives you comprehensive informations on painting history, development, trends, popular painting styles, great painters, famous paintings, painting galleries and museums, painting tips, painting classes. In other words, this website is a treat to painting freaks.

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Creating Cute Art

Creating cute works of art can be a very difficult goal because the creation of cute art is attempt to create specific emotional reactions, which requires solid draftsmanship, and a real understanding of what is cute. Generally we all know what's cute when we see it, however this does not mean that we have understanding of what makes something cute.

Ham Luske one of the nine old men of Disney showed the other Disney artists as they strove for realism that cute is often made easier through simplicity, by having less lines, less external anatomy one would have an easier time of drawing a cute picture. Cute in this case is a reduction and a rounding of what is normally seen.

For Ham Luske also pointed to the rounding of forms as a means of reducing lines and creating cuter pictures, this is what Fred Moore did in order to perfect many of Disney's cute characters including Mickey. Indeed if you examine many of the greatest creators of cute art you will notice that the forms of their characters are very rounded Samuel Butcher's work for example creates cute pictures by making his forms rounded and less detailed. His work is of special interest because it translates well to three dimensional objects. It is often difficult to have drawings translate well into such objects, as shown by the attempts and failures to make Curious George a 3D animation. Part of the difficulties those attempting this ran into was flow. Cute art flows together its lines and shapes form well into one another and compose with each other better then other objects.

Another important aspect of cuteness comes from compacting baby elephants are fairly large, yet many consider them to be incredibly cute. What makes a baby elephant cute is both the knowledge that they are a baby, and in visual terms that they are compacted much more then older elephants. Examining the proportions of a child we will see that these being more compacted in nature helps other compacted things to gain cuteness through association.

In this case then such compactedness is in association with other things, a baby giraffe for example is cute though less compact then many other creatures. However knowing what a giraffe looks like allows us to judge the cuteness of the baby giraffe based on the older giraffes. Further the giraffes flow and method of composition is fairly nice. Emotion and mental associations are however a big part of what makes us think of things as being cute. This is way artists such as Ezra Jack Keats create such wonderfully cute drawings, because their art though not necessarily in keeping with many of the rules so far established as cute have an emotional quality, the are sentimental, reminding us of our childhood, or of childhood in general.

Ty Hulse is a creator of cute art and nursery art for the site Kayart.net Cute Art, and Baby Room Décor. This site is dedicated to helping expand the appreciation for works of cute art and to help artists who sell such art. Currently the site is featuring Cute Dragons. It also has numerous articles on Nursery Decoration ideas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ty_Hulse

Making Some Extra Money With your Digital Photos

Are you an amateur photographer? Do you enjoy taking digital photos? Do you have good quality digital photos to share with others? You can do that and also make some extra money from it. This article will show you how you can enjoy sharing your photography work and also get some cash at the same time.

This article is not about turning you into a professional photographer or about making your digital photos your main source of income. It will show you how you can share your digital photos with others and also make some extra cash at the same time. This money should be considered as extra income usually a good source of cash to invest back into your digital photography hobby maybe to buy a new camera, lenses, batteries or anything else that you need.

Photo stock websites: Photo stock websites are becoming more and more popular. Photo stock sites provide a market place for photographers to show off their work while others can view that work and buy it for a price usually set by the photographers. Some photo stock websites allow you to define the exact rights that you grant to the buyer so you can better protect your work. When users buy your digital photos you get a commission out of that money. There are many flavors of photo stock websites examples of two are: www.photostockplus.com and www.smugmug.com.

Your own photo gallery site: Putting a website together is relatively easy using some free commercial tools. For example you can easily set a photo album web site using tools from Yahoo. On your website you can allow users to browse and download full resolution digital photos for free or you can sell the high resolution versions of the digital photos. Implementing a shopping cart and collecting money is easily done using checkout tools from companies like PayPal, Yahoo and Google. Another option is to make money by placing advertisement on your site for example by using Google Adsense. Advertisement however will only generate noticeable revenues if you can attract a high number of visitors to your site. If your digital photos are unique and interesting you might be able to do just that. Another option is to create a dedicated Blog website or to add a Blog to your digital photos website. You can easily do that with tools such as Blogger and Typepad. In the Blog you can present your digital photos and also write some interesting descriptions of how you took them, what is unique about them and anything else that might trigger the visitors' interest. Tell your friends and family about your site and post information about it in forums and chat boards.

Work for hire: This is a more conservative and traditional option. You can offer your photography services by posting ads in local classifieds website or newspaper. If you have your own site you can also offer your services through that site or add a link to the site on your ads to allow potential customers to view your work. Make sure that you are candid and up front with your potential customers about what you do, your work and your experience. They should understand that you are an amateur photographer and view your work to decide if you are a good fit for their needs. To get a sense of how much to charge contact other local photographers and get quotes for their services. If you have never done photography for hire before it is a good advice to start with jobs that are not very important to the clients and that can be done again if the results are not satisfactory. For example shooting digital photos of a wedding is probably not a good idea to start with. Taking digital photos of someone's car is a better option.

Coffee shops and galleries: It became trendy for coffee shops to hang local photographers or artists work on their walls. This is a win-win offering for them they get free decoration for the shop and also allow customer to buy work that they like. The coffee shop gets a commission of each sale. Although this option requires more work and upfront financial investment it can be a lot of fun and a good way to connect with the local community. Walk around and find a few coffee shops or galleries that you would like to have your work at. Print and frame a few of your best photos and go back to those shops. Show your work and convince them to showcase it. It is best to start with just a few prints to minimize the risk.

These were just a few options to make some cash from your digital photos. There are other options and with some creativity you can find your own original ones. One thing to remember though is to make sure that you have the rights to sell your photos and that you are legally covered when showcasing them, selling them or working for hire taking photos for others. For example copyright laws change from state to state and country to country and you should make sure you have the rights for your digital photos.
http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/making-some-extra-money-with-your-digital-photos-76629.html

Master the Art of Digital Photography

Digital Photography is all the rage when it comes to taking pictures. Unlike convential cameras, the 35mm variety, you are able to view pictures immediately after you take them, decide whether or not you want to keep them and so much more. Also unlike 35mm cameras, digital cameras give you the ability to store your photos on a memory card, giving you the potential of taking literally hundreds of photos without running out of film.

The biggest advantage of digital is its flexibility. You will no longer need to carry separate cameras to shoot in black and white or color. Most digital cameras come with a knob or digital menu that allow you to choose how you want the picture to be taken. Additionally, digital is the only format that allows duplication with no loss of quality.

Digital photographs can be easily shared through email, jump drives and through the internet with onlin photo galleries where you can send share links to friends that allows them to view the photos or a slide show. I personally use Kodak Gallery.

In this article I want to give you digital photography enthusiasts some tips on making your experience as an amateur (who knows maybe some pros also) digital photographer even better.

If you are into digital photography, acquaint yourself with a product called Adobe Photoshop. You may have already heard of it, but for those who haven`t this is a powerful piece of software that allows you to edit your photos to your wildest imagination. To give you an example, you can make pictures more clear, and add words. These are just a few of the basic items you get with Photoshop. With the release of Photoshop Lightroom you now have a professional photo management system for your digital photographs. According to Rob Schoeben of Apple Computers Inc., "the Photoshop Lightroom is about pulling the beauty out of image. The new program helps users to browse and manage images."

With any type of camera you will need a good lense. Without going into specific brands here are a couple of tips. Zoom lenses used in most digital cameras are insufficient for nature photography. Prime lenses offer the highest optical quality to digital photographers and Super zoom cameras are perfect to capture a sporting event.

As with all hobbies and other subjects you can find a variety of tutorials and books on digital photographty. Some include, "The Perfect Picture," by Bryan E. Peterson which offers beginners a strong foundation from exposure to composition on DVD format, "SureShot System" is another DVD course from Big Picture Enterprises. The short course "Fundamentals of Digital Photography: Getting the Most Out of Your Digital SLR" includes audio CDs.

The power of technology has lent itself to make digital photography a wonderful and enjoyable hobby for all. With these tips and further educating yourself on the matter, you can snap (or is it record?) your favorite photo and make it look like a pro took it, in no time.

http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/master-the-art-of-digital-photography-243825.html

How to Draw Cartoon Dogs - An Easy Tutorial

There are various ways to draw a dog. Here I will describe one procedure which is easy and can be used by people with different skill levels from beginner to intermediate. You can use these instructions to draw the dog either on paper or on your computer. You will find the required diagrams for this tutorial at URL given bellow.

Draw four circular shapes position and them vertically as shown in the diagram. The top most shape will form the head of the dog. The one bellow it will be the snout of the dog. And the lowest two are for the dog's body. Draw the ears on the top most shape as shown in the figure. Two small circles and will form the eyes of the dog. Place two half circles around the eyes these will be eye brows of you cartoon dog.

Now make another small circle concentric to the circle for the snout this is the tip of the dog's nose. You can check the figure to see the placement of it.

Now draw the legs. Your dog will be in sitting position so the front legs will be straight whereas the hind legs will be folded. Once you are done with these steps add some details like the neck and mouth.

Lastly erase the construction lines that are not part of the cartoon dog's body. For making the drawing beautiful you should be drawing the construction line with 2H pencil applying as little pressure as possible. Once you finish your work and erase the construction lines you can redraw your dog with deep lines. You can also use inking pen to ink your drawing. Proper inking will make your dog livelier.

Find the dog drawing tutorial's diagrams here http://pwrinfo.com/cartoon-drawing-course/dog-drawing-tutorial.htm And don't forget to check the complete cartoon drawing course

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tapan_Sarkar

Learn To Draw Simple Stuff First

What is going wrong with my drawing?... Why Can't I draw?

Here are 2 questions that are asked by people who think they can't draw.

Do you know something... "Yes, you can draw"

And, what's more you can draw anything you want to draw... Landscapes, Portraits, Cars, Cats and Dogs. Its easy when you know how... But first learn to draw. Learn to draw 'simple' before you try complicated stuff.

Watch a professional artist draw a portrait... An artist puts in the simple framework first with light pencil marks. Then the artist looks again at the subject in front to make sure that everything is right. Only when satisfied does the artist move on towards the finished drawing

A professional artist is careful about preparing properly before working towards a finished drawing. "So, how can you expect to learn to draw without equal care?"

The artist makes simple marks to learn about the subject... To get the idea of form. To understand the function of the object. To feel the sensation of texture.

"Do you really think you can learn to draw expertly without keeping it simple first?"

Imagine you have a bowl of fruit on a table... 2 Apples, 1 Pear, a Bunch of Grapes and a Banana. You want to draw a picture. It is a simple still-life study. But, you will make a mess of it unless you see...

1. The Apples are almost circular
2. The Pear is 'Pear-shaped'
3. The Grapes are round but smaller than the apple
4. The Banana is long and curved
5. The top edge of the circular bowl looks like an oval (a squashed circle)
6. The straight lines of the edges of the table sides seem to want to join somewhere in the distance

All of this is obvious to you... Yet, unless you see the key words in the list you can't start to draw well. The key words are... Circular, Pear-shaped, Round, Curved, Oval and Straight lines.

Here's a 3- part challenge for you before you try to draw anything... Learn how to draw lines... Practice drawing circles... Discover how to sketch with curves.

Even if your lines aren't perfectly straight your drawing will improve. Even if your circles aren't exactly round your drawings will become better. And, when your curves are drawn loosely and freely your own individual drawing style will be released.

Transform your drawing skills... Learn to draw simple stuff first... Draw Lines, Circles, Arcs and Curves.

Get your Free Drawing Lesson and discover how simple lines and circles help you create a Moonscape Drawing.

Michael Dale is the author of 1- Color Is Best (the quick and easy way to learn to paint watercolor) and 3- Colors Are All You Need (mix any color you want fast using only 3 colors). Contact http://www.Paint-And-Draw.com to find out more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Dale

5 Drafting Tables Perfect For The Drawing Artist And Businessman

Finding a quality drafting table to suit your needs can make a huge difference in the quality of your work. You want to go with something that is comfortable, easy to adjust to, and fits with how you need to use it. Here are 5 different drafting tables to consider when looking on the market.

1. Professional drafting table
Professional drafting tables are ideal for professional architects, engineers, artists, drafters, and everything in between. These tables will offer you professional features and a sturdy construction for stability. Because of the well build design, you can expect these tables to last you for many years. At the same time, you can expect to pay for many years worth of use with a hefty bill.

2. Folding drafting table
As you may have guessed, folding drafting tables do coincidently fold up. The bonus to this is that you can easily move your table wherever you wish to work. This can be convenient for artists who are on the go and want to work on the site. They are rather light for easy transportation. The downside to these tables is that they are not very sturdy and typically do not last longer than a few years depending on the usage you put into it.

3. Wood drafting table
Wood drafting tables are the traditional and contemporary design that people think of. There are many different brands and kinds of wood that are used to create these tables giving you a number of different choices. Another option is to have these tables custom built for you so that you can have a mounting system for your computer. The sky is the limit with wood tables.

4. Four-post design
A four-post design offers the highest stability and strength in a drafting table that you will find. And what is great about a four-post design is that you get incredible stability at a reasonable price. These designs are the perfect addition to your office, home, or for school. While they will not last quite as long as a professional table and do not have as many features, this is toward the top of the list with drafting tables.

5. Artist table
If you are an artist, you are well aware of the need to find a drafting table that tilts 90 degrees. Because of the need to draw and paint at different angles, having a table specifically for artists is essential. These tables are also known as a tilt top artist table. With these tables, you have the ability to use as a horizontal work surface as well as a large art easel.

The options are endless when it comes to shopping for drawing tables. The five listed above are certainly the most common tables purchased, but there are plenty more you can find. This list will help you get started, though, on your quest for finding the perfect drawing table.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on a drafting table and a used drafting table at http://www.draftingtablesupply.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Thornburrow

How to Draw Fantasy Creatures

Drawing fantasy creatures takes some skills that go beyond the normal realm of drawing because you can’t find a subject to pose for you – unless you live in an enchanted forest! So you are faced with not only the task of learning how to draw you are also faced with the challenge of tapping into your imagination and then putting this down on paper. Here are some solid tips that will help you imagine and draw better fantasy creatures.

How to Tap into your Imagination


Doodling and drawing with a free style is the best way to get your creativity and imagination flowing. The process to follow is to simply draw quick sketches and then modify them as things start to appear. It goes something like this: Draw a roughly human shaped head then start to add a body to it but don’t consciously make it a human body, vary your lines and see where it goes. You will be surprised by what happens. Your eye will start to see things in a different way and you will create some fantastic creatures. These should only be quick sketches and you should draw lots of them – fill the sheet of paper and see where the drawings go. This is a great way to come up with the initial idea for a new fantasy creature.
Changing the shape of existing creatures and animals – Many of the most familiar fantasy creatures are variations of familiar animals. A Unicorn is a variation of a horse and a Dragon is a variation of a Dinosaur. Think of other creatures and doodle their rough shape while thinking up variations. What would a cat look like if it had scales instead of fur? Or how about a Giraffe with short legs?
The Power of Combining Animals – this is a very powerful way to create new fantasy creatures and Greek Mythology is loaded with this kind of beast. A Centaur is half man and half horse; and a mermaid is half woman and half fish. The possibilities are endless and when you are doodling out ideas don’t limit yourself to just upper and lower body combinations. Try combining limbs, torsos, heads, hands, feet or anything else that strikes you.
The creative power of distortion – Often times fantasy creatures are distortions of humans or other animals. Think of your drawing as a lump of clay that you can mold into any shape. Distort the arms, legs, torso, head or anything else. This will reap some great results. If you draw a human that is very skinny with an oversized head you are heading toward something goblin-like. And if you draw a human that is very thick and stocky you might be heading toward a Troll or Ogre.
Here are a couple of unusual ways to tap into your imagination and create unusual fantasy creatures. Try making an unusual sound then try to draw the creature or beast that would make that sound. Or write out a description in words for your beast then try to draw it. These two techniques bring other parts of your brain into the process not just your hand-eye coordination.

The Mechanics of How to Draw Better Fantasy Creatures


Everything relates to human anatomy – If you practice drawing people you will get much better at drawing fantasy creatures. The same basic rules of musculature and skeletal understructure apply to all biological creatures – even made up ones. Remember: Skin or fur is something that covers muscles and bones but don’t completely hide it. The bones and muscles show through. So draw more people and your fantasy creatures will improve.
Draw more existing creatures - Fantasy creatures are almost always variations of creatures and animals that already exist. If you want to draw a dragon you should think about and look at pictures of dinosaurs and large lizards. If you want to draw a unicorn you should use a horse as your model. And there are many variations on the human form. If you want to draw a dwarf, an elf or a goblin you can use the human form as a perfect starting point. The important thing to remember is that the more horses you draw the better your unicorns will be and the more dinosaurs you draw the better your dragons will be. And the best thing about this is that you can easily find pictures of horses and dinosaurs to look at while you draw.
Use your drawing tools for more expression – When drawing a creature you have to think of its disposition. Is it a gentle creature or a mean creature? Use your pencil in a way that expresses this. Dark, bold and sharp lines are usually better when drawing angry or scary creatures and soft lines are usually better for gentle, mythical creatures. This is something that is often overlooked but it is very important. You are using your pencil in a way that goes beyond just drawing lines. And this applies to a whole spectrum of techniques including short lines, long lines, choppy lines and even shading.
Don’t hesitate to look at and copy other peoples work. Carefully looking at other fantasy work will improve your work dramatically. When doing a copy you are forced to see things you wouldn’t normally see and this is a great way to learn how to do it yourself. – Just don’t claim the creature as your own.
Keep a sketch and doodle book and work in it often. This is something that works real well for me because looking over many pages of doodles you have done in the past will often inspire new ideas for drawings of creatures.
Drawing fantasy creatures is a challenging yet rewarding hobby. It has the dual benefit of improving your ability to draw while cultivating your creativity and imagination. With a bit of practice and an understanding of these basic tips you will be drawing some amazing fantasy creatures in no time at all.

Will Kalif is a writer and artist of fantasy. If you would like to learn more about drawing fantasy and medieval creations check out his free fantasy art school at:The Fantasy Art School


Or you can visit his site devoted to fantasy, creativity, and all things medieval on the web at: Storm The Castle.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_Kalif

How To Draw People - How To Use Gesture When Drawing People

When you are learning how to draw the human figure, it helps bring your drawing to life when you use gesture correctly. People's gestures are very dynamic and showing their gestures are key when draw the human figure.

Imagine for a moment that the body is 3 blocks; one block for the skull; one block for the rib cage and one block for the hips. These blocks can be positioned any way you want and then once the gesture is established, the arms and legs have very few options left for them to be placed in... In other words, once you find your gesture, your drawing is almost done. In a drawing with good gesture, you should be able to draw a line down the center of your figure.

That line should twist with the angle of the shoulders, hips and skull, so that the line has an "S" shaped curve to it. Once the 3 blocks are positioned so that the "S" is established, the next step is to be concerned with the direction the 3 blocks are facing. The 3 blocks should not be facing the same direction. Try drawing 3 blocks all facing the same direction and see how flat the drawing looks.

Now draw the head and hips facing the same way and the rib cage facing a different direction. Notice how dynamic and round the gesture feels once you have drawn it with those angles.

A really good example of this principle is Michelangelo’s "David". There are no two points on this figure that are parallel, for example, shoulders, hips, hands, feet, etc. The head, chest and hips are facing slightly different directions in this sculpture.

Creating a good "S" curve is the first step in any drawing or sculpture. All of your anatomy will be subservient to the gesture. For example, if your gesture indicates one hip lower than another, then one leg is going to be straight and one has to be bent.

The bottom line with gesture is, if you start a drawing with the “S” shaped curve, you have a good base to start a figure from.

Adam Reeder is a professional artist who is currently working on a masters degree at The San Francisco Academy of Art University. Visit his website at http://www.adamreeder.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Reeder

Digitizer Tablets for Digital Drawing

If you want to drawing freehand images directly onto your computer, then you need a digitizer tablet. It functions like a touch screen commonly used for tablet PCs except that it has a blank screen and is more sensitive to pressure. You can directly draw on the tablet with a puck and stylus, a pointing device that has over 16 control buttons for adjusting the image attributes of your drawing. Your drawing won't appear on the tablet itself, but it will appear on the computer screen.

Digitizer tablet models – Which is better?

Digitizer tablets have different models and most of them are able to draw thicker lines when you increase your stroke pressure. There are also high-end tablets capable of drawing features that are more realistic, with paint splatters and ink drips.

1. Command size digitizer tablets – Commonly used for diagrams, freehand drawings and graphic design, they can be installed on your desktop or placed on your lap. Sizes ranges from 4x5 to 12x12 inches (the smaller are handheld).

2. Tracing size digitizer tablets - This is for bigger drawings like architectural plans, blueprints, and large posters. Its size ranges from 24x36 to 36x60 inches and they can be mounted on stands, hung on walls, or rolled up.

What to check
Buying a digitizer tablet may seem hard at first, but there are really only two things you should look for.

1. Screen format – Ensure that the tablet can match the aspect ratio of your monitor. Most of them are designed for common 4:3 monitors, but they can distort your images when used with newer ones. Look for one that can support wide-screen or dual monitors if you have such a monitor.

2. Footprint – If you want better resolution, it is advisable to choose a digitizer tablet with bigger relative footprint.
Complete information / Compare digitizer tablets
A complete Guide to DIGITIZER TABLETS is available in Picky Guide, one of the fastest growing online magazines giving free consumer advice and product information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johan_Friedman

Caricature Drawing and a Better Retirement

What began as a hobby has become a full-time obsession. I refuse to refer to drawing as a "job",that would defeat the original purose of what I do.It began as a search for some part-time way ofaugmenting Social Security. I needed enough additionalincome to keep the wolves away and facilitate my beingable to focus exclusively on art; the fullfillment of a life-long dream.For the past three years I have been making thetransition from my previous life as a mental healthcounselor to that of a semi-retired caricature artist.It has been one heck of a trip, but well worth thetime and effort.I feel very comfortable saying to one and all thatI have now made it to where I had always wished andhoped I could someday be.

My list of art clientsnumbers into many hundreds and include not only ordersfrom nearly every State in the Union, but also from adozen foreign countries as well. I have divested myselfof the stressful routine of being a full-time counselor,working in a busy community-based mental health facility. There are no more staff meetings, schedules or mountains of paperwork to deal with. I now spend my daysat home in my studio,listening to vintage rock'n roll music and creating caricatures from photos people send me.

I'm not getting rich, but I am comfortable and, more importantly, much more at ease with myself and the world. I have succeeded in making retirement a truly"golden" experience that has rejuvenated my spirit andreplentished my hope for the future.I strongly encourage anyone who is comtemplating what to do with themselves in their later years, those who do not necessarily see themselves fishing or playing golf until they're planted, to consider a similar course. Turn your hobby or latent passion into a means to a happier, more productive retirement.For me, it was art and caricature drawing. Whatever it is you've always wished you could do, remember: If not now, when?
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/caricature-drawing-and-a-better-retirement-162403.html

Doodling for the Drawing Challenged

Do you like the look of doodling on scrapbook layouts but you are hopeless at driving a pencil? Me too. My doodles do not have that graceful free flowing look that I admire in the magazines. More like the drunken rambling of an inebriated spider with a Texta tied to his leg.

Here’s a tip that you might find useful.

Find a piece of fabric or clothing that incorporates something in its design that you could use as a doodle on your layout. Lay a sheet of acetate (the sort used for overhead presentations in offices) over the fabric and with a permanent marker pen, trace the part of the design you want to use for your your doodle.

Let the ink dry properly, then cut around the outside of your tracing. The great part of this is that you don’t need to cut right up to the edge of your tracing or in the tricky little loops and curls because the acetate will be transparent on your layout so you will only see the doodle.

You can attach your doodle to your layout either by carefully applying a glue stick under the pen marks (so you won’t see it from the front) or by incorporating brads into your design and using them to hold your doodle in place. And, unlike with doodles done directly onto the layout, you can play around with the positioning.

You can find things to create your doodles from all over the place. I have made them from such things as part of the design of a tray cloth that my Mother embroidered many years ago. I just used the parts of the design that suited me. I didn’t slavishly try to trace all the design as that would have been too busy.

Other sources I have used are: the embroidered pocket on jeans, part of the design from my kitchen tablecloth, patterned shirts,bedlinen, etc.

You can use the doodle you create as a stand alone embellishment or you can add flowers or ribbons to it to dress it up a bit. It looks just great and is so flexible and easy to apply to your layout you'll want to use this technique over and over again.

Karen Bellamy is a digital as well as a traditional scrapbooker from Australia. She writes the Scraps of Mind blog which she describes as:
A feast of Scrapbooking information and tutorials for both the Digital Scrapbooker and the Traditional Paper Scrapbooker. Seasoned with Antiques & Collectibles, Music inspired, and Blog Presentation articles to add some extra spice. All served up with a light hearted and fun style.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Bellamy

Figuring Drawing: Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to hone your figuring drawing skills is to practice. Even if you are primarily interested in landscape painting, you should be able to depict incidental figures to give a feeling of life to the subject. The figure is a foil to a landscape, and if it is not executed convincingly it can destroy the effect of an otherwise good canvas.

Life drawing should be a part of your training, and, if possible, should be acquired in an art school. However, you can learn to draw the figure well by sketching people at every opportunity. Sketch people in the subway, in the park, at home, at play. Draw at all times.

Observe how people walk, sit, and stand; notice their gestures. You will discover that you can often identify someone you know at a distance by the way his head rests on his shoulders, and you will see the different postures of the old and the young. Make notes on how clothes are draped on a person, and how wrinkles form in a sleeve when the arm is bent, raised, and hanging at the side.

The drawings do not have to be large - from 2 to 6 inches will do. They will probably have to be small if you are trying to capture any action. Indicate the line of action first and then draw the figure around it. Some of your early attempts may resemble scribbling, but get the action.

Obtain a small sketchpad that can fit into your pocket or purse and carry it with you at all times. Fill the pages with sketches, using a pencil, a fountain pen, or the newer felt-tip pen. If you use a pencil, don't use an eraser. You are not out to collect neat pads of figure drawings. If the line is not right redraw a corrected heavier line over it.

The advantage of using a pen is that it leads to a more direct handling. But do not be concerned about technical handling of the pen. Put the lines down as you feel them. Observe how the shape of a suit or a dress is affected by the figure.

In time your pads will contain a collection of both action sketches and studies of form. As these pads are filled you will develop your figure drawing and acquire enough knowledge to place a single figure or a group of figures convincingly in your composition.

While constant sketching will increase your powers of observation and general facility in handling incidental figures, some time should be spent learning at least the rudiments of anatomy. Study bone and muscle structure, so that you acquire knowledge of how it affects the figure. It is not essential to know all of the anatomical designations, but you should be able to identify and know the function of the main bones and muscles. You should know the relative proportions of the male and female figure. Most important is to know the working of the movable masses, that is, the head, the rib cage (chest), and the pelvis.

There is no substitute for drawing the figure from life, but you can get a great deal of help from wooden or plastic manikins, which are for sale at most art shops. They can be studied to advantage by checking with an anatomy book in arranging the various positions.
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/figuring-drawing-practice-makes-perfect-151099.html

An Introduction to Drawing and Painting With Pastels

Pastels are a wonderful medium to work with. If you are used to painting in wet mediums like oils and acrylics then you should give pastels a try. They are a very refreshing and enjoyable approach to creating art. This article will introduce you to the various pastel mediums that are available as well as touch on a few pastel panting and drawing techniques that you can incorporate into your next work of art.

SOFT PASTELS

Soft pastels are probably the most popular of the various pastel mediums. Artists love the soft texture and the ability to paint on the colors which allows more freedom and usage of various techniques. Soft pastels can cover large areas and are well suited for blending. By varying the pressure, soft pastels can be applied in very light layers or impastos.

Because soft pastels are so delicate they can break easily so proper storage is important. Do not toss your soft pastels in a loose box or drawer. They must be stored in a cushioned box or tray for protection.

With excessive use, your pastels will become dirty by picking up other colors. This will eventually make it difficult to recognize your colors. You should get used to keeping your pastels clean by wiping them with a tissue every now and again.

PASTEL CRAYONS

Pastel crayons are of medium hardness. They are a cross between soft pastels and hard pastels. They give you the ability to work with painting techniques associated with soft pastels, as well as give you the ability to create sharp lines. They are available in a variety of colors and are quite popular for outdoor drawing because of their durability.

PASTEL PENCILS Pastel pencils are similar to pastel crayons only they are encased in wood. They are perfect for doing detailed line work and can also be used for blending.

WATER SOLUBLE PASTELS

These wonderful pencils are noticeably different in consistency having a sort of waxy feel to them. They can be used as either a wet or dry medium. A wide range of effects can be achieved with these pencils because of the ability to use water. You can cover wide areas of your paper by creating lines and then transforming them into colorful washes.

OIL PASTELS

Oil pastels are also noticeably different in consistency as the pigment is bound using oil rather than gum. From your very first stroke you will instantly notice the rich deep tone that these pastels produce. Oil pastels are fragile and very sensitive to temperature. Try your very best to keep the wrapper on your oil pastels as you work or your hands will get quite dirty. Just like oil paints, you can use turpentine with your oil pastels if desired.

PASTEL TECHNIQUES

Blending The characteristics of pastels make them differ in some ways when compared to other painting mediums like oils and acrylics. Unlike oil and acrylics which can be mixed on a palette, pastels must be mixed directly on the support (unless you are using the dry wash technique as described below). One such way to mix pastels is by using the blending technique. Blending is when two or more colors are combined by rubbing the colors into one another with your fingers or other blending tools. There are a number of tools available for blending and are discussed below.

Kneaded Eraser

You can purchase a kneaded eraser in any art store. Kneaded erasers are soft and pliable and can be made into any shape. Soften a kneaded eraser into a point and it can be used as an effective blending tool.

Brushes

A variety of paint brushes can be used to move and blend the pastels on your support. Both soft and hard brushes can be used depending on the pastel medium you are using and the desired result.

Tortillon

The tortillon is a great tool to have available for softening edges. When it gets dirty or worn down, you simply unwind the paper to reveal a fresh point.

Cotton Swab

This is another great little tool to have available. It is also great for softening edges and for getting into those smaller areas of your work.

DRY WASH TECHNIQUE

The dry wash technique is best suited for laying out large areas of color. This technique is great for landscape paintings when you need to block in large areas of sky. For this technique you will first need to scrape or crush a pastel into a powder. Then with a soft brush, cloth or other suitable tool, pick up some of the powder and apply it to your support and work it in. You can achieve a variety of different effects with this technique. You can mix different powdered pastel colors together first on your palette, or you can overlay individual layers of color on your support.

I hope you enjoyed this article on pastels. For more free pastel painting & drawing techniques visit our main site: http://www.creativespotlite.com and our art instruction blog: http://www.artinstructionblog.com today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ralph_Serpe

Cartoon Drawing Tips For Kids

Cartoons are fun. Well almost. If you are like me you certainly love to watch cartoon figures. But drawing cartoons is another story particularly if you are not aware of the basics.

If the thought of creating beautiful cartoon characters gives you high, read on, here you will find some tips that you can readily use to improve your skills and reduce the time taken to create beautiful cartoon characters.

There are certain things that are same for every style of drawing, be it realistic drawing or cartoony, now we will go quickly through the basics before getting specific to cartoony style.

1. Select your tools wisely. Clean your hands before starting your drawing. The paper you use for your work should be of good quality. Low grade, off colored paper will make your drawing look pale. Your first sketch should be made with light lines and for finalizing you should use deep-colored and prominent lines --so choose your pencils carefully.

2. Many times beginners find drawing a smooth line difficult. Remember drawing smooth lines will be easier if you do not support your hand on your wrist like we are used to do while writing. Doodling and drawing some circular shapes just before you start will also help you to draw smoothly.

3. Learn to draw facial features and hand carefully. Hands are more difficult. Experts often judge a person’s drawing ability from how well he can draw human hands. So practice drawing hands with care.

4. Study about basic forms and proportions of human body. Learn about basics of human anatomy and various ratios of human figures.

As a cartoon creator you will have certain liberties, you do not need to bind yourself with strict body proportions rules. You can draw four fingered (Thumb + Three) hand that makes your work a bit easier.

But one challenge you will face while drawing cartoons --cartoon characters needs to be more expressive and certainly you have to create this expressiveness with some lines drawn with your pencil.

Keep in mind that three areas of human face that play major role to express emotions are

1. Eyelids (wide open, half closed, almost fully closed etc.),

2. Eyebrows (raised, normal, crooked etc.) and

3. Lips (forming downward bow, upward bow etc.).

Other than these you can also use, hair (properly combed or ruffled), garments (well kept or torn) to create characters that tells a story.

Hope you find this tips useful. Coupled with some practice these tips will help you to take your cartoon drawing skills to a new level. Enjoy the fun of drawing beautiful and expressive cartoon characters.

To know more about drawing expressive cartoon face check cartoon face drawing tutorial at http://pwrinfo.com/cartoon-drawing-course/cartoon-drawing-tutorials.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tapan_Sarkar

Introduction to Pencil Drawing Supplies and Techniques

Drawing is a wonderful art form in itself, but it is also an excellent exercise for other forms of art, like painting for instance. Learning how to draw will truly open your mind to your surroundings enabling you to really see what is before you.

How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

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Choosing your drawing supplies

There are a variety of different drawing tools available for todays artists and what you choose to work with is based on your own preference. It comes to down to experimentation. You have to work with a number of different things before you find the tools that fit your style of drawing.

Don't go out and spend a ton of money on your drawing supplies in the beginning. You can really get started with a beginner pencil set and some newsprint paper. When you become more experienced, you can then venture out and spend money on better supplies.

Graphite pencils - Graphite pencils range in hardness and are labeled from 9H to 9B. The H pencils are the hardest. The higher the number in front of the H the lighter the mark. The B pencils are softest. The higher the number in front of the B the darker the mark. The H pencils are generally used for detailed lines where the B pencils will produce rich dark lines great for bold expressive drawings.

Charcoal Pencils - Charcoal pencils also come in a range of hardness and are labeled either from H to B like graphite, or simply as "soft", "medium" or "hard". They have a noticeably different feel to them and produce a rich dark line. Charcoal pencils tend to wear pretty fast because of their softness.

Blending Tortillions - Tightly wound stumps of paper with a point used to blend in your drawings.

Erasers - You may want to have a few different types of erasers on hand to fit every occasion.

Kneaded Eraser - A soft pliable eraser that can be kneaded into any shape to pick up and remove pencil and charcoal. May not be the best for erasing smaller details. The SANFORD Kneaded Rubber Erasers are very popular.

Eraser Pencil - These are wonderful for getting into small areas of your drawings. They can also be sharpened like ordinary pencils.

Fixatives - Fixatives protect your drawings from being smudged or ruined. There are two types of fixatives: permanent and workable. Permanent fixatives are used on a finished drawing to protect, where a workable fixative is used during the drawing process as you are working. Use great care while working with fixatives by only using in a well ventilated area. When spraying the fixative, make sure you do not spray any one section for too long and only spray a light mist standing about 3 feet away from the drawing. You should probably experiment on a few practice drawings first to determine if a fixative is right for you. There appears to be a difference of opinion amongst artists when it comes to fixatives. Some artists love to work with them and swear by them, while others feel they may actually alter the quality of a drawing. Again, you have to experiment yourself to see if fixatives are a good choice for you.

Paper - In the beginning, for the purpose of practice, you may want to consider purchasing some inexpensive newsprint paper. You should be able to get this at any local art store or online. When you are ready to purchase a more expensive grade paper, choose something that will work best with the medium you use. Paper comes in a variety of different textures from smooth to rough, often referred to as its "tooth". A really smooth paper may not work well for some mediums as the surface lacks texture, and will not grab certain drawing mediums very well. If the paper is too rough, the medium may simply slide across the surface. You have to experiment with different papers to find the one you are most comfortable with. Strathmore Brand makes excellent paper that is very popular amongst artists.

Horse Hair Drafting Brush - You should be able to purchase a horse hair drafting brush at any local art supply store or online store. This is a really helpful tool for brushing away unwanted eraser scraps from your drawing.

Basic Drawing Techniques:

There are two basic ways to approach a drawing: linear and tonal. The linear approach to a drawing focuses on line and outlines of shapes. In tonal drawing, you make use of gradations to indicate the various planes of your subject.

You should try to avoid smudging and blending in the beginning so that you force yourself to use your pencil more to achieve value in your drawings.

Avoid looking at your drawing too often. Make sure you are constantly focusing on the subject and only glancing at your drawing. By doing so, you won't constantly judge your drawing, or think something is wrong or out of place. Focus on the subject and draw what you see.

Never throw out any of your drawings. Keep a neat portfolio of everything you draw. This is an excellent way to see your progress over time.

Holding the pencil - Hold your pencil in a way that is most comfortable for you. Some hold the pencil just as you would hold a pen or pencil if you were writing. Others hold a pencil with the pencil between the thumb and index finger, with the rest of the pencil resting under the palm of your hand. Whichever method you use for holding your pencil, make certain that you do not hold the pencil too tightly.

Contour Drawing - This very basic technique is simply drawing the outline of your subject without any shading to indicate form.

Blind Contour Drawing - Similar to contour drawing, only you do not look at the paper. The point of this exercise is to force you to better observe what it is you are drawing. You should have no concern over the outcome of your drawing so it is important not to peek.

Hatching - This drawing technique uses a series of parallel lines drawn close together, in the same direction, which gives the appearance of value.

Crosshatching - Similar to hatching only you draw multiple layers of hatch lines at different angles that overlap one another.

Tonal or Value Drawing - In this approach to drawing we are indicating the various changes of light and shade in our picture without the use of strong edges and lines.

Upside Down Drawing - Drawing upside down is a wonderful exercise to awaken the right side of your brain. When you turn an image upside down, you are making it somewhat abstract and unrecognizable. This forces you to draw what you see as opposed to relying on your memory to draw something.

Negative Drawing Technique - This technique teaches you how to properly see the "white" or "negative" space in your picture. This is the area that surrounds your subject or "positive" space. Instead of drawing out the positive part of the drawing with line, you draw in the shapes that surround the positive part of your drawing.

Dry Wash Technique - This technique works quite well if you want to cover large areas of your drawing. It creates a nice soft tone. You begin by adding marks with a pencil or apply some graphite powder to the desired area on your paper. Then using a tissue or soft cloth pick up some of the graphite and gently rub it across the paper, almost as if you were painting.

For more drawing tips & techniques head over to http://www.creativespotlite.com/drawing-lessons.htm today.

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Advantages of Oil Paints and Painting

Painting artists have been using oil paints for hundreds of years. Actually, they have been seen from as early as 13th century in England, where they used oil paints for simple decoration. In the early years, however, many artists preferred to use paints called tempera instead on using oil paints as they were able to dry faster than oil paint. In the 15th century, Flemish artists came up with the idea of mixing oil paint and tempera. Nevertheless, it was not until the 17th century that pure oil paints became a more usual art medium.

Oil painting dries slowly than any other forms of paint because they are made of small particles of pigments that are balanced in a drying oil. While some of the artists might find this slow drying quality troublesome, most artists believe oil paints to be a required type of art media that must be taught to every art student. This is partly because of the many oil painting reproduction, which have been developed using oil paints.

There are several advantages of using oil paints, aside from its robust quality. Oil paints could as well be left open for a long duration. In fact, oil paints could regularly be left opened to air for up to several weeks without drying. This characteristic makes it possible for an artist to work on a painting over different sessions with no fear of the painting drying up too early. Of course, this attribute could be seemed at as a disadvantage by some artists, because it takes few weeks for the project to be completed and the slow drying process could make it difficult to move on to the next stage of the project.

Oil paints are as well outstanding for blending with surrounding paint. When blended on canvas, oil paints are able of creating artistic brush strokes and other blends, which are not possible with other forms of paint. For some artists, though, this advantage to oil paints could be viewed as a disadvantage, as it is possible to by chance blend colors while painting that were not meant to be blended.

Vijay Kanth is a seo copywriter having more than 3 years of experience in this field who is currently working for the site 1artclub.com. For further information on oil paintings and art reproduction and Solvents please visit http://www.1artclub.com or contact me through mail: 1artclubpainting@gmail.com

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Why Every Artist Needs a Blog and How to Create an Artist Blog

As an artist, the key to selling more artwork is maximizing its exposure. The internet is an increasingly popular tool for promoting original art, and if done properly, can be quite profitable.

One of the most effective (and free!) online marketing tools for artists is the blog. Artist blogs provide an easy way to display your art, discuss your creative process, post exhibition announcements and more. Best of all, blogs require no working knowledge of HTML and the search engines love their dynamic content.





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What is a blog and how will it sell my art?

A "blog" is a web-based diary or journal. The author of a blog, also known as a "Blogger", publishes content on a regular basis about a focused topic. These regular postings typically provide a "community" feel by allowing site visitors to post feedback to your journal entries. This mode of communication can deepen relationships with potential art buyers, leading to increased sales.

Blogs also have the ability to archive all of your previous posts, dynamically creating an individual page for each journal entry. The feature is great for art buyers using search engines to find original art. For example, if you have a blog post describing a painting that you just completed of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset and an art buyer in Florida goes to Google and searches for "painting of Golden Gate Bridge at sunset", there is a very good chance that your blog entry will appear pretty high in the rankings. Cha Ching!!

Many artists have felt the pain of email marketing losing its effect due to spam filters, junk email overloads and virus paranoia. Blogs provide a new way to communicate with clients, fans and industry professionals. This trend can support your email marketing efforts by allowing blog subscription options for site visitors so that they are notified whenever your blog is updated along with providing a permanent place on the web for all of your postings as opposed to newsletter emails that are typically deleted.

How to start a blog

Blog Publishing Tools

To begin, visit some of these free blogging sites, all offering unique template options that even an artist can appreciate, image uploads and syndication ability.

Blogger.com (Simple to set up and multiple authoring ability) MSN Spaces (Create your own mini site, with an exceptional blogging feature) Live Journal (Requires a bit of ‘blogging knowledge' to get it set up) Blog Drive

If you're interesting in reviewing additional blog features, these sites require a small monthly fee to maintain.

Typepad (starts at $4.95/month)

Tripod Blogs (starts at $4.95/month)

Note to artists with MySpace accounts: MySpace provides members personal blogs, but it is important to know that MySpace blogs are not currently listed in search engines, which as noted above, is one of the main reasons to get a blog. While MySpace works to remedy this issue, it is recommended that you blog using a tool that is accessible to search engine spiders.

Decide on a title for your blog

The title of your blog should be brief and to the point. You can get creative with your language in the blog description / tag line. A focused title will help with higher search engine rankings and make it clear to visitors what the blog is about.

For example, the title for ThePauper.com blog is "Diary of a Pauper". The blog description is "Rants and raves about the careers and lives of starving artists." The title is concise, stating exactly what it is, while the description is a bit more creative.

Blog theme

It's important to establish yourself as a professional working artist if you want to use your blog as a vehicle to sell your art. Blog theme involves the layout and color of the page, quality of the artwork images displayed and verbiage used for blog postings. Select your blog template carefully and make a habit to review your blog from the perspective of a potential client. Is the page visually appealing? Do the images of your artwork provide a link to an extra large version to see detail? Does your content have a consistent theme? Here's a good example of a working blog by mix engineer, Ken Lewis: http://protoolsmixing. com/blog.html The content theme is exceptionally consistent, plus the colors and page layout match his website.

What to write

What's beautiful about blogs is that there are no rules on what to write, but if you want to attract and keep an audience, you might consider some of these suggestions.

Keep your posts creative and interesting. Move and inspire your readers by being completely honest about your creative process.

Use keywords in your blog title and post. Using the example mentioned earlier - if your post is about a Golden Gate Bridge painting, be sure to use that exact phrase in the title and body of your blog. Think about what people might type into search engines to find your content and then use those keywords in your blog. This technique will help increase the ranking of your web page on search engines.

Post daily, or at least twice a week. If you publish blog entries frequently, you will see more return visitors, subscriptions to your blog and comments from site visitors.

Proofread and preview your blog entries before posting. Some blog HTML editors have a way of creating weird symbols out of certain characters and a quick spell-check never hurts. (Note: be sure to create your blog entries using Word or some other text editor. Many blogging tools tend to "time out" after a certain amount of time and you could potentially lose hours of work.)

Publish your blog Finally! Your blog looks great and has unique content. Now, depending on the blogging tool that you selected, follow the steps to publish it to the World Wide Web. Test the live URL that now houses your blog. If all of your graphics appear correctly and the copy is flawless, then you want to make sure that you promote your blog on your personal website, in your email signature and by word of mouth.

Using the tools you already have to spread the word while testing your dedication to frequent posting is the best way to get started. Part 2 of will unveil tons of ways to promote your blog online

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Caricature Drawing and a Better Retirement

What began as a hobby has become a full-time obsession. I refuse to
refer to drawing as a "job", that would defeat the original purose
of what I do. It began as a search for some part-time way of
augmenting Social Security. I needed enough additional
income to keep the wolves away and facilitate my being
able to focus exclusively on art; the fullfillment of
a life-long dream.

For the past three years I have been making the
transition from my previous life as a mental health
counselor to that of a semi-retired caricature artist.
It has been one heck of a trip, but well worth the
time and effort.

I feel very comfortable saying to one and all that
I have now made it to where I had always wished and
hoped I could someday be. My list of art clients
numbers into many hundreds and include not only orders
from nearly every State in the Union, but also from a
dozen foreign countries as well. I have divested myself
of the stressful routine of being a full-time counselor,
working in a busy community-based mental health facility.
There are no more staff meetings, schedules or mountains
of paperwork to deal with. I now spend my days at home in
my studio,listening to vintage rock'n roll music and
creating caricatures from photos people send me.
I'm not getting rich, but I am comfortable and, more importantly,
much more at ease with myself and the world. I have succeeded
in making retirement a truly "golden" experience that has rejuvenated
my spirit and replentished my hope for the future.

I strongly encourage anyone who is comtemplating what to do with themselves in their later years, those who do not necessarily see themselves fishing or playing golf until they're planted, to consider a similar course. Turn your hobby or latent passion into a means to a happier, more productive retirement.For me, it was art and caricature drawing. Whatever it is you've always wished you could do, remember: If not now, when?





How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

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Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

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http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/caricature-drawing-and-a-better-retirement-162403.html

Flipstart Micro Laptop Drawing Close to Release

After years in development, the FlipStart 1.0 is nearing its debut. This will be a computer so small that it might tempt those who need more functionality that a handheld or smartphone can offer but don’t want to carry around a full-size laptop.

This device will have the typical clamshell shape of a laptop, but will be 5.9 inches wide, 4.5 inches tall, and 1.6 inches thick and weigh just 1.8 pounds (with extended battery). It will be bigger and heaver than some of its competition, like the Sony Vaio UX180P or OQO’s model 02, but has a larger screen and keyboard.





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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

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Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

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In addition to its 5.6-inch, SVGA primary display, it will have a 1.9-inch external screen that can show information from Microsoft Outlook, including the user’s email, calendar, and contacts.

The FlipStart 1.0 will use a 1.1 GHz Intel Pentium M processor to run Windows XP Professional, and Windows Vista Business will be available as an option. It will also sport an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator.

This PC will have 512 MB of RAM and a 30 GB hard drive.

For wireless connectivity, it will include Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth and the 3G cellular-wireless standard EV-DO.

It will also have two USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet port, and a VGA port.

The FlipStart 1.0 is scheduled for release later this month, and it is expected to cost $2,000. More information is available on the FlipStart Labs web site.
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-promotion-articles/flipstart-micro-laptop-drawing-close-to-release-122307.html

Types Of Drawing Charcoal

When it comes to drawing and sketching there are many instruments that you can use to get your imagination onto a sheet of paper. One of the most commonly used mediums by artists is the drawing charcoal. Drawing charcoal is easily accessible, can create the lightest of grays to the rich darkest of blacks and is very easy to work with. Its popularly seems to be steadily growing over the years as more and more artists realize its unique quality to enhance the visual presentation of many of their sketches and drawings. Compared to that of the pencil, drawing charcoal is arguably more visually stimulating. Plus people will tend to take you more seriously as an artist, since drawing charcoal is used by some of the most renowned artists from all over the world.





How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

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Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

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Before using drawing charcoal for your artistic endeavors, you must be aware that there are a few different types of charcoals to choose from. The first is the drawing charcoal pencil. The drawing charcoal pencil is merely tightly compressed pieces of charcoal wrapped in a plastic or a timber like material. Charcoal can be flaky and powdery, so if you decide to use a charcoal pencil without its plastic or timber like wrappings, you may end up with dirty hands.

The charcoal pencil is also very easy to sharpen, which is very important for the finest details of your drawings. Another of type of drawing charcoal is the Willow and vine charcoal. The Willow and vine charcoal is generally unwrapped and can produce shades from pale gray to a deep black. This utensil is great for the everyday sketches. One of the most noticeable traits of the Willow and vine charcoal is that it tends to smudge. Hard charcoal is a strong, tough sketching tool used primarily for extremely fine lines. You may be want to use hard charcoal on strong, thick paper. Charcoal is general is very affordable. So the try them all out until you find the on that fits your needs the best.

If you would like to get earn serious income online from your sketches and drawings visit: http://www.thestephansmith.com/GetPaidToDraw.html

Drawing inspiration

New comic book celebrates feats of Langley-based team

Gary Kingston
Vancouver Sun





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As comic book superheroes, Svein Tuft and the rest of the pro cyclists with the Langley-based Symmetrics team had to be drawn a bit larger than life.

Still, when Tuft saw himself in the new comic/press kit looking more muscular than your typical lean, lithe road racer, he had to laugh.

"We're all a bunch of sissies really," he cracked.

Hardly. Sissies don't win the inaugural U.S. Open in Virginia, as the 30-year-old Tuft did on NBC in April. Nor do they lead the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Americas point standings as Tuft currently does, a standing that could well help get Canada three spots in the men's road race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Tuft and the rest of the Symmetrics team are taking a break from UCI racing to return home for B.C. Superweek, the eight-races-in-10-days extravaganza that starts tonight with the Tour de White Rock's hill climb and includes four criterium, including Wednesday's Tour de Gastown and two road races.

It will be during Superweek that Symmetrics will give wide distribution to the unique comic book, believed to be a first for a pro cycling team. The idea came about earlier this spring when Symmetrics public relations man, Matt Hansen, editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics DB Pro line, and Symmetrics boss Kevin Cunningham were kicking around ideas about how to promote the five-year-old team.

"We needed a paper press kit, but those things are just so boring, so lame," said Hansen. "We said let's make something fresh, something that essentially tells a story, points out our sponsors, our values and what the team is all about."

The result is a 16-page kid friendly comic, whose story line involves three team riders -- Tuft, Andrew Pinfold and Andrew Randell -- being late to a photo shoot and sees them riding their Norco bikes and eating Power Bars -- both team sponsors -- while riding by the buildings of other sponsors, including major backer Coast Capital Savings.

The 15,000 copies will be distributed at all Superweek events, at select bike stores in the Lower Mainland and at Coast Capital offices.

"It's real first class," says Cunningham, who admits some people were skeptical at first.

"When we talked to all our sponsors and told them we had this idea, it was like we had come from another planet. But when they saw it, they all thought it was cool.

"One of our goals is to take our team brand and not just have the cycling community know who we are, but get our brand out in the general public. We're an all-Canadian team that is trying to produce the very best Canadian athletes, trying to produce Olympic athletes."

The terrific art work was pencilled by Brazilian Eduardo, who Hansen says is a big sports fan and who loved drawing cyclists for the first time.

In addition to the story line, the book contains biographical information on all the riders.

"I was skeptical at first, but the more I thought about it, I thought it was a really good idea, especially for kids," said Tuft. "It's something that really works at their level and our sport needs so much more exposure as far as families getting involved."

Cam Evans, the Tsawwassen resident who won the national road racing championship in Quebec on Wednesday and who will be out to defend his Tour de White Rock hill climb title tonight, says he loves the look of the comic. "Maybe for the next one, I can be part of the story line."

With all the negatives surrounding cycling the last couple of years because of the Tour de France doping scandals, the Symmetrics people feel the comic will help paint the sport in a more positive light and create, for kids in particular, some role models.

"These guys are superheroes at the end of the day," says Hansen. "In his civvies, Svein Tuft is just a regular dude, a Peter Parker [Spider-Man] if you will. But when he puts the racing suit on, he becomes this extraordinary person, a role model with extraordinary powers."

gkingston@png.canwest.com
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sports/story.html?id=cefb7c33-18bf-41f2-974c-1053ab677aed

National Drawing and Coloring Contest Launches to Help Raise Awareness for Pediatric GERD

Third Annual Kids Create. Parents Relate. National Drawing and Coloring Contest Launches to Help Raise Awareness for Pediatric GERD



Contest Winners will be Awarded Educational Scholarships and Art Supplies

LAKE FOREST, Ill., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Sometimes pictures really do
speak a thousand words, especially when it comes to children. It can be
difficult for some children to describe in words how they feel, but through
drawing and artwork they may be able to show their parents how they feel.
The third annual Kids Create. Parents Relate. National Drawing and Coloring
Contest for Tummy Aches is based on the idea that it may be easier for kids
to communicate how they feel through drawing rather than words. The contest
invites children to draw or color how they feel when experiencing frequent
stomachaches or other possible symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD).
Prevacid(R) (lansoprazole) and the Pediatric Adolescent
Gastroesophageal Reflux Association (PAGER) created the Kids Create.
Parents Relate. National Drawing and Coloring Contest in 2005 to help
educate parents and healthcare professionals about pediatric GERD and to
help children communicate health issues to their parents.
"It can be difficult for many parents to recognize the symptoms of
pediatric GERD," said pediatric gastroenterologist Suzanne P. Nelson, M.D.,
M.P.H. of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. "The Kids
Create. Parents Relate. National Drawing and Coloring Contest gives
parents, children and healthcare providers a tool to help facilitate
communication about pediatric GERD. Raising awareness about the symptoms of
pediatric GERD, a common yet frequently overlooked condition in children,
is extremely important."
The Kids Create. Parents Relate. National Drawing and Coloring Contest
entry forms are available to download by visiting http://www.prevakids.com.
Children will have the opportunity to submit their original drawings that
depict their experience with pediatric GERD. The deadline for entry is
September 25, 2007. In addition to the educational prizes, the 12 winners'
artwork will also be featured in the Kids Create. Parents Relate. calendar
and included on http://www.prevakids.com through 2008.
Since the contest launched in 2005, more than 700 children have
submitted original paintings, sketches and drawings that embodied their
physical symptoms of pediatric GERD. Sixteen children were awarded more
than $70,000 in educational scholarships and art supplies for their school
or non profit organization of their choice.
There are many causes of stomachaches; sometimes they are not serious
and sometimes they are. The most frequent symptom of pediatric GERD is
stomachache, and its physical symptoms can be very painful. It can occur
when there is a weakness in the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing
stomach acid to flow up into the esophagus. Other symptoms can include
nausea and vomiting, belching, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, heartburn
and weight loss. If you think your child might have GERD, speak with his or
her physician. Only a doctor can diagnose pediatric GERD and determine what
treatments are best.
This year, 12 winners will be chosen from two age categories (six from
age three to nine and six from age 10 to 15). Two first-place winners will
receive a $10,000 educational scholarship and $1,500 in art supplies
donated to the school or non profit organization of his or her choice. Two
second-place winners will receive a $2,500 educational scholarship and
$1,000 in art supplies. Two third-place winners will receive a $1,000
educational scholarship and $500 in art supplies. Six participants will
receive honorable mentions, three from each age group, and will each
receive a $500 educational scholarship and $250 in art supplies.
"The response from children and parents over the past two years has
been wonderful, and we expect to get an even greater response this year,"
said Beth Anderson, director for the PAGER Association. "We found that
parents really appreciate the opportunity to communicate with their
children about their symptoms; and children like being able to express
themselves artistically. We are very excited to build upon the success of
this program by continuing our partnership with Prevacid."

Drawing Tips - Top 10 Mistakes Beginners Make

Common Drawing Errors and How to Fix Them
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephan_Smith

Learning to draw is a gradual process, and like any skill, everyone makes mistakes along the way. Unfortunately, drawing is often self-taught, which means you continue making mistakes much longer than when a teacher is available to point you in the right direction. Here are the 10 most common mistakes beginners make when they learn to draw. Some big, some small, all fixable. Check and see whether these errors crop up in your drawings, and get some tips on fixing them.

1. Drawing With a Hard Pencil.
If you have no very dark shadows and the whole picture is rather pale, check your pencil. Are you using a Number2 (HB) pencil? These are too hard to draw with (though they are handy for light shading). Get a B, 2B and 4B for darker values. Read more about pencil grades.

2. Portraits from Flash Photography.
This is the major cause of beginner drawing problems. Using flash photography flattens the features, giving you nothing to work with. When the person is facing you, it is very hard to see the modeling of the face, as the perspective vanishes behind their head, and add a cheesy snapshot grin and you make life very hard! Have the person turning slightly to one side so you can model their face, with natural lighting to give good skintones, and a natural expression to show their real personality.
3. Incorrect Head Proportions.
Because of the way we focus on a person's features, we usually draw them too big and squash the rest of the head. Learn about the correct head proportions

4. Twisted Features.
Because we are used to looking at a person straight-on, we naturally try to make their features look level when we draw them. If their head is on an angle, this results in strange distortions in the picture. Sketch guidelines first to ensure that the features are on the same angle as the rest of the face.

5. Pet Drawings from Human Eye Level
When you take a photograph standing up, you are looking down at your pet. They have to look up, and you end up with their head seeming much bigger than their body, and a rather odd expression on their face. Have someone distract them so they aren't staring down the lens, and squat down so the camera is at their head level, and you'll get a much better reference photo.

6. Being Afraid of Black.
Often when shading, the shadows don't go past dark gray. If your value range is restricted to in some cases half what it ought to be, you are limiting the modelling and depth in your drawing. Put a piece of black paper at the corner of your drawing, and don't be afraid to go dark. Really dark. Improve your range of tone.

7. Outlining in Value Drawings
When value drawing, you are creating an illusion with areas of tonal value. When you use a hard drawn line to define an edge, you disrupt this illusion. Let edges be defined by two different areas of tonal value meeting. Read more about Value Drawing.

8. Drawing on the Wrong Paper.
If your drawing is pale, it might be the paper. Some cheap papers have a sheen on the surface that is too smooth to grab the particles off the pencil. A thick notepad has too much 'give' under the pencil to allow you to apply enough pressure. Try a basic photocopy/office paper, or check the art store for cheap sketch paper. Place a piece of card under a couple of sheets to give a firmer surface. If you are trying to do even shading, some sketch papers can be too coarse, giving an uneven texture. Try a hot-pressed Bristol board or similar smooth drawing paper. Find out more about paper

9. Scribbled Foliage
Don't use circular scribbles to draw foliage. Use more convex shaped scumbling - like crescent shapes and scribbly calligraphic marks - to draw the shadows in and around clusters of foliage, and your trees will look much more realistic.

10. Wiry, Pencil-Line Hair and Grass
If you draw every hair or blade of grass as a pencil line, you'll end up with a horrible, wiry, unnatural mess. Use feathery pencil-strokes to draw the shadows and dark foliage behind areas of grass - just like drawing short hair in this drawing hair tutorial.







How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

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Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

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New Writers Needed

We’re looking for more new writers for our Blogging Network. If you love writing or blogging, I’d like to chat with you.

A couple notes:
• Please send me a writing sample.
• Experience blogging isn’t required, I will train you.
• Some positions are paid, and some aren’t. Please specify in your email whether or not you’ll work for free.

Send an email to williamcoit@yahoo.com .

How to Draw A Dragon

Introduction
Dragons are cool. You know that, that's why you want to draw one. Luckily, it's a lot easier than it looks. Grab a pencil and let's draw a dragon.


Steps
1Step One
Draw a right triangle. Make it big with the right angle in the top right. Make the left side a little longer than the right side and have the hypotenuse (longest side) facing downwards. Don't go all the way to the edge of the page, have the triangle centered in the page. This is his face.

2Step Two
Draw a lower jaw. Simply add another obtuse triangle attached to the bottom of the face. It should share a point with your right triangle, the point on the right where the hypotenuse and the shorter line meet. The longest line of your obtuse triangle should be on the bottom.

3Step Three
Draw the nose. This will be a tiny little equilateral triangle near the end, but not touching the tip of the big right triangle.

4Step Four
Draw an ear. Make this a pointy triangle on the right side of the right triangle. You should have a triangle on each side of your original triangle now. You should be able to make out the shape of your dragon.

5Step Five
Draw an eye. Start with a semicircle inside the big triangle, about an inch away from the ear. Now put a slit for the eye, down the middle of the semicircle. To complete the eye, draw a straight line to close off the semicircle.

6Step Six
Add a ridge in the face. This is hard to explain, but it will look cool. From the top of the eye, draw a very shallow curve with the open side facing upwards. Make your curve stretch all the way to just under the nose.

7Step Seven
Add a nostril. Simply draw a circle at the end of your face ridge.

8Step Eight
Add a ridge above the eye. This will just be a slight bump on the triangle right above the eye.

9Step Nine
Give him some teeth, triangles, of course, inside the mouth. Two jagged ones on the top are fine, but if you think he needs more feel free to deck him out with hundreds of flesh-tearing fangs.

10Step Ten
Draw his neck. This should be one simple curve from just below the ear. Make it almost a semicircle. The second curve will be more S-shaped and will start from the bottom of his jaw.

11Step Eleven
Add some triangles along the back of his head. Make them in line with the ear but smaller. This is like a triceratops face with a collar of spikes.

12Step Twelve
Draw flames. That is, if your dragon breathes fire (not all do). These are wavy lines coming from the mouth.

13Step Thirteen
You're done! Well, almost. If you are an advanced artist, you can go back and round out some of the triangles and make it seem more realistic. You can also add shading. Add scales on the neck and make his eye more detailed.





How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

Click Here!

Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

Click Here!

How to Draw A Car

Step by step instructions on how to draw a car. Click Below

http://www.cartooncritters.com/drawcar.htm



Link to article on How To Draw
http://www.ehow.com/how_2032597_draw.html





How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

Click Here!

Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

Click Here!

Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

Click Here!

How To Draw Anime Style Art

If you're an anime fan, and you're interested in learning how to draw like those artists we love so much, you're not alone. No one can magically give you the skills you need to draw, but at least we can give you some pointers. We have some basic tutorials on anime (or manga) style art from two different artists; work through both and see what works for you! Click Below to Continue
http://animeworld.com/howtodraw/index.html


Step By Step Instructions - How To Draw Anime
http://www.ehow.com/how_156225_draw-anime.html






How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

Click Here!

Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

Click Here!

Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

Click Here!

Drawing From Experience

How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

Click Here!

Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

Click Here!

Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

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Drawing from experience

Kissimmee artist Arlene Conow says her artworks interpret the moods and complexity of life.

Sara Sheckler

Although Arlene Conow draws with charcoal and charcoal pencils, creating surrealistic faces and people, she says her children Kathleen and Brendan are her greatest works of art.

"They are my masterpieces," Conow said.

Conow, who lives with Kathleen, 10, and Brendan, 4, in Kissimmee, calls the style of her art "very free and abstract."

"My style is the reflection, or I could call it the evolution, of what I love the most, which is sculpture," she said.

Several of her drawings are on exhibit at Kissimmee's City Hall.

Conow, 37, was born in Puerto Rico and lived there through high school. Before settling in Kissimmee in 2004 she lived in the United States Virgin Islands and Pembroke Pines.

For the past two years Conow has worked nearly nonstop on her art, but she began drawing about 23 years ago.

"I have been drawing because I had a house, and what a shame to have other people work on my walls when everyone knows I am an artist," she said.

Conow attended Escuela Central de Artes Visuales, an art school in Puerto Rico, from 1984 to 1988. Students there were able to take classes in a variety of media until they reached 10th grade. At that point an art major must be chosen.

For Conow, that was sculpture. "Then afterward, I just practiced and did some more work on my own, and tried different styles, to where I am now," she said.

One day she decided to put down on paper events that had transpired in her life that day.

"Not as words but as drawings, things I remembered or comments from people -- whatever stayed in my head. I drew it my way," she said.

Conow, a member of the Osceola Center for the Arts, prefers to work with earth colors, so her drawings showcase browns, reds and grays.

Her subjects vary.

"Some are simple and some are very complicated. My drawings are like moods: They express happiness, curiosity, laughter, envy or love. Some drawings have a lot of symbolism and some are just what they are. I see them as interpretations of life," she said.

One of her creations is called "The Gossiper."

"It is about how we all like to sometimes share a little bit more than other people really need to know; you can see it in the big lips and the eyes are like coming out because it wants to see more than is out there," she said.

Whatever the subject, Conow connects deeply with her drawings.

"I love all of my work. They all say something different."

Comic Drawing - Drawing a Dream

How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

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Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

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Check Out the Video
http://www.whptv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=124732@video.whptv.com


Reporter: Liz Collin

His work is already published daily in a local newspaper but a Lancaster County man hopes the internet will lead to an even bigger break for his comic strip.

Mike Witmer created "44 Union Avenue" about three years ago. It's named after the New Holland address where he grew up. Just recently his work was picked up by the online group GoComics.com.

Witmer has loved to draw his whole life and his inspiration for his strip comes from his everyday life. He says his kids, work, and even a phrase will be enough to base a daily strip on.

Art - Artist, Defining the True Artist - Do you Have What it Takes?

How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

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Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

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There are musicians who are more than comfortable remaining anonymous. You know, happy to hide behind their guitars or keyboards and be sidemen to the stars of today or tomorrow. Then there are those that have grandiose aspirations of stardom, adoration and limelight. And then there are those who have a driving desire and need to say something original artistically, to express themselves and to communicate that expression to an audience, be it a small niche market or wider demographic.

Those falling into the first category can make a living, albeit fairly modest as a general rule. Those falling into the second category often live in a little bit of a dream world and, depending on their tenacity and 'smart' skills, usually end up disappointed because the focus is set on the destination rather than the journey. The third category usually reaps the rewards of the second category gaining all the success and limelight, but as a result of focusing on their art rather than the shallow and flighty end of the musician's world. These are usually the most fascinating people too, because they generally have a little mystery about them and because they actually possess what most entertainers really want; sincere and dedicated talent!

But there are also those that are in the early stages of artistic development who are still learning their craft, and open to influences. Possibly they will become great artists in the future, possibly not. It will be a question of choices and consequences, and doors opened and opportunities taken advantage of - or not. Life certainly will take you places.

But for those that do have aspirations of artistry and expression, then I firmly believe you must have qualities that others do not have. As an artist I believe one must stand out from the herd in order to be heard. It is so easy to make a record these days. One no longer needs to have the luxury of a recording contract in order to stand on a pedestal and say "I am an artist - buy my record!" With home studios costing one 16th of the price they did ten years ago and with software programs that do it all, you can churn out albums by the dozen if you put your mind to it. And many do.

However, just because you can, why would you? - is my question. Just for fun? OK, valid I suppose. But Isn't it better to spend that time and energy searching relentlessly for something unique and different? God knows record companies are releasing enough mediocrity by the hour. Even signed artists are now under the impression they have something to offer. Maybe they have, but for the most part I don't think so (as public reaction and their CD sales will attest!)

Perhaps I am being extremely unfair, but I think too many artists do not realize that they have a responsibility to say something profoundly unique, certainly if they expect any kind of career longevity. We live in a world where musicians spend their lives emulating their heroes; singers spend their lives emulating Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra and so on. Rock guitarists spend their lives emulating Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Paige, Jeff Beck and Eddie Van Halen. Jazz guitarists are proud emulators of Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Wes Montgomery. Saxophone players worship Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Michael Brecker. And so on...

Before I go on I have to say that emulating heroes is absolutely imperative in your formative years as musicians. You simply MUST listen to the greats, past and present. One has to have a strong grounding and musical knowledge and one simply cannot get there without listening. However, way too many 'artists' cannot get passed this stage. They need to have peer approval, have to know that other respected musicians around them recognize them and applaud their abilities. Often all this takes place subconsciously.

This 'peer approval' is a stage of development that is also important. Every musician goes through it at some point. It is absolutely natural, but I firmly believe that to become a great artist, you have to move beyond that stage and look inward. I always liken it those wedding band singers, who despite having an honorable and justifiable (and in some cases envious) career, they are all too often 'performing monkeys'. They are often fine vocalists but at the end of the day they are seeking approval and applause and not communicating or expressing anything artistic. They certainly know how to entertain but do they know how to intrigue? It's a huge gap. Nothing remotely subtle about it as far as I am concerned.

The real communicating artists seek unique expression. They are not interested anymore in sounding like their heroes. They have moved past that, now searching constantly, developing and refining their own unique voice. Look at any of the true giants of yesterday and today. Yes you can hear their references, but they also have their own strong identity. At some point during their development something bigger than them took over. The chances are they knew it at the time and took advantage of it and made an extra effort to really hone that uniqueness.

Finding that unique inner voice might not be as easy for some. I think it starts by recognizing your technical weaknesses. It is often those weaknesses that ultimately end up becoming your artistic strengths. Let's face it, if you were able to play the guitar technically perfect, at all speeds, meticulously so every note that came out was totally clean and audible, would this be ultimately interesting to an audience? Yes it might be very clever and impressive, but for how long could you listen to an album where every phrase felt like you were having your teeth drilled!!?

Wes Montgomery played with his thumb because he didn’t want to wake the neighbors, ultimately enabling him to become the greatest and most influential jazz guitarist of all time. BB King has about three licks in his entire blues repertoire. Does anyone NOT know BB King when they hear him? Thelonius Monk refused to conform to traditional piano techniques and musical ideas. He simply HAD to play music the way he heard it in his head. He made such a bold musical statement during his time that he is now emulated the world over and revered by the greatest musicians living today.

Technical shortcomings can be the very essence of your unique artistry. Now, should those shortcomings get in the way of what you need to say musically then those weaknesses might need to be turned around so they don't restrict what you hear in your head.

Remember, the true artist simply communicates from within. All other extraneous thoughts, influences and distractions need to fall by the wayside. The minute a lick or a phrase that your hero played or sung (and made famous) ends up on your record - watch out! You might be in trouble. Absolutely steal from your heroes, but just remember that real artistry is about what YOU have to say, not what your heroes have already said before, and have possibly said better.

Push yourself to the max and search for that truly unique quality within. After all, that next great talent we are all so desperately waiting for might just be you!

Individual Artist - Surviving as an Artist in a Rural Area

How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

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Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

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As an artist I find it hard to survive in a rural area where I live now. When I lived in Omaha I had shows just about every month. Now that I live in the small town of Hugo, Oklahoma I find it very difficult to get shows. When I am able to get shows, they are far away and are very few & far inbetween. I now find my best outlet to be the internet. It is not as much fun as it does not get me the reviews like when an artist deals straight with the public. I have also noticed that my art is not selling as good on the net as it had in person. In fact I find most of my sales are going thru EBay & the art is not bringing as much as it had from shows.

As far as getting gallery representation when you live in a rural area as I do now it is next to impossible. Most galleries only want you if you are close to them. When I was in Omaha I had 2 galleries represent me. But when I moved away from Omaha, they no longer wanted to represent me because I was going to be to faraway. Most galleries that claim to be looking for new artists usually won’t take artists that are not in their area. But if you talk to their employees you will find they always claim that, but in reality they have not taken any new artist in several years. Why they do this is beyond me! I have found when checking out a new gallery they are friendly until they find out you are an artist out of their area, then they seem to put on another face.

It seems it is harder for artist to sell their art, get gallery representation, or even get articles written about them nowadays than in the past. In the past art was something that was considered newsworthy and most newspapers were glad to print the articles and give reviews about shows. These days that is not so, it is very hard to get local newspapers to print much about art or artists. They claim that there is not a public interest no matter how good the story may be. National newspapers and newspapers from New York, Chicago, Atlanta and big cities as such usually still give reviews of art and artists.

To put it mildly, as an artist living in rural areas, promoting your art is difficult. It takes innovation and intestinal fortitude in order to be able to get recognition as an artist and to sell and promote it. But with the high cost of fuel and the high cost of shipping art it may now be that the only way to survive as an artist is the use of the internet with all its many connections and downfalls.

Art Lesson: Learn About Color Schemes for your Next Painting

How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

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Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

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Much research and experimentation has been done on color and how it can effect a persons mood and behavior. Certain colors can calm a person, while others can stimulate excitement or cheerfulness. That being said, you may want to think carefully on the type of color scheme you choose for your next painting. This article will talk about five different color schemes you can use to plan out your next painting. The tips in this article can be applied to any painting medium.

Painting is all about harmony. Harmony in a painting is when the arrangement of colors and objects are pleasing to the viewers eyes. As a painter you can either put too much into a painting or not enough. If your painting is too chaotic you may scare the viewer away. On the other hand, if your painting lacks something, it may be perceived as boring, and your viewer will not be engaged, so it's important to have balance in your color arrangements.

ANALOGOUS COLOR SCHEME

This color scheme uses colors that are next to one another on the color wheel. With an analogous color scheme, one color is usually the dominant one, while the others serve as an accent to the dominant color. You are limited in colors when using this scheme but that does not mean your paintings have to be boring. Just vary the intensity (how dull or bright a color is) and value (how light or dark a color is) to make your painting more interesting and pleasing to the eye. An example of three colors next to each other on the color wheel, that can be used in an analogous color scheme are orange, yellow and yellow-orange. Use only a few different colors with the analogous color scheme. If you add too many, you may destroy the harmony in your painting.

COMPLEMENTARY COLOR SCHEME

The complimentary color scheme is a good choice if you want strong contrast in your painting. Complimentary colors are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. Examples of complementary color schemes are reds with greens, oranges with blues and violets with yellows. You shouldn't feel limited when using this color scheme. For instance, instead of using plain orange, you could use colors on either side like red-orange and yellow orange. Instead of using plain blue, you could use combinations like blue-violet or blue green. You could also vary the intensity and values as well. It can be difficult to create balance with this color scheme. To avoid ruining harmony, choose one dominant color and use the complimentary color as accents. For instance in a yellow and violet complementary color scheme, you could make the main subject and background violets and accent remaining parts of the painting in yellows.

TRIADIC COLOR SCHEME

The triadic color scheme uses three colors that are evenly spaced or equidistant from one another on the color wheel. This scheme produces strong contrast but still retains harmony. This color combination is more challenging for beginners. You can get carried away by making all three colors too intense thereby destroying the balance in your painting. You should allow one color to dominate and use the two other colors to accent the rest of the painting.

MONOCHROMATIC COLOR SCHEME

This color scheme is probably the easiest for beginners to work with. The monochromatic color scheme uses variations in value and intensity of only one color. Beginners like this color scheme because they only need to create a value plan using one color, which makes things a lot easier. Your painting will not be as exciting as other schemes that utilize more than one color, but your painting will produce a peaceful and soothing effect.

SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY COLOR SCHEME

The split-complimentary color scheme uses three colors and is a twist on the complimentary color scheme. Instead of using the colors compliment, you will use the two colors adjacent to its compliment on the color wheel. For instance, Red, Yellow-Green and Blue-Green could be a split complimentary color scheme.

Don't let color theory intimidate or discourage you. Working with color in your paintings takes some getting used to. With time and practice you will begin to develop the eye of a good painter. A great way to learn more about the use of color in paintings is to view the art of experienced painters. Make some plans to head out to a museum or visit an online gallery. God Bless and Happy painting!

Drafting As An Art Of Technical Drawing

How to Become A Professional Artist and Get Paid for Drawing.

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Figure Drawing Secrets. How To Draw Figures And People For Any Artists.

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Art Lessons - How To Draw Faces, Paint Realistically, And Do Calligraphy - Presented By Bennecelli, The Acclaimed Artist!

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Drafting is also known as technical drawing, it is the method of creating drawing for architectures and engineering. A person who is skilled in this field is more popularly known as a draftsman.

The fundamentals of drafting are easy. To be able to draft something, a draftsman places a piece of paper (or other drawing material) on any surface that has straight sides and right angle corners (drafting table).

Another tool needed for drafting is a t-square. A t-square is a ruler-like tool that slides on a straight edge, making it easier for a draftsman to move his/her tool on the drafting table.

The t-square enables its users to draw parallel lines by moving this tool and running your pencils edge along its straight edge line.

T-squares can also be used to hold other drafting devices like a set of squares or triangles. This way, the right angle of the t-square plus the angle of the triangle can create a perfect straight and angled line onto your paper.

Modern day drafting tables now come equipped with parallel ruler supported by both sides of the table. This ruler can also slide through your drafting table, assuring you that parallel lines that you draw are going to turn out parallel.

Other drafting tools are used to create circles and curves. A primary tool used in drafting is the compass. This instrument is used to create simple circles in your drawing.

A French curve on the other hand, is a plastic curved ruler that helps create simple and complex curves for your project. For more intricate curves, a spline is a drafting tool that is made of an articulated metal covered in rubber to enable users to bend this tool in different curves.

The simplest drafting system needs to pay full attention to the placement of tools and the accuracy of the table. The most common mistake in drafting is to let the triangle push the top of the t-square slightly down. When this happens, it will throw off all the proper angles in your drawing.

Another common problem in the area of drafting is the difficulty in drawing two angled lines and making them meet at a point. Because this was such a tedious task, the introduction of the "drafting machine" came into the light of possibility.

This machine makes it possible for the draftsman to have a precise angle wherever part of the paper he wishes to draw at. He does this with the help of the pantograph.

A pantograph is a special mechanical tool connected to the drafting table that when used to draw, it moves in a fixed relation to every other element of itself. Also, one major advantage of the drafting machine enables the ability to modify angles, thus eliminating the use of triangles.

Drafting must seem easy to most people, but to be able to draft something, it requires a certain knowledge in engineering.

For a time, drafting was a sought after profession in the United States, considering that the draftsman was a very skilled at his craft. But because of the creation of the drafting machine, drafting has become fully automated and largely accelerated using computer aided design or CAD.

An innovation of CAD is the less recognized CADD or computer aided design and drafting. Although this may be the case, skilled draftsmen may still be of use to some who need routine changes to their drawings.

Drafting is an art common to architects, engineers, or machinist. Some of the uses of drafting are for birds eye view, elevations, plan view, isometric projections, cross sections and the like.

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As an onlooker, you may have often marveled at the stunning portraits or oil paintings, without really thinking too much about what goes into creating one. As all would agree, painting is an art, but quite a demanding one at that! It’s not just about putting right colors in the right places; it also involves a good deal of techniques and strategies, integral to a great painting. An artist would of course know, and an aspiring artist would be interested in knowing the tricks of the trade. Let’s sweep through some of the essentials of portrait painting.

The Basic Starters:

To start off with your painting, you would need the following equipment. So keep them handy.




Brushes of all size and types (synthetic or natural bristles)

Basic painting colors (at least one full set)

A color palette to mix the paints/colors

A drawing board or canvas

Painting mediums like linseed oil or turps



Remember that watercolor brushes do not work well in oil paintings. Big brushes are best for oil paints. So choose your brushes and your paint carefully to come up with the finest quality painting which would find its place in an art gallery.

Follow Examples:

If you thought you cannot follow the footsteps of famed artists, you’re wrong. On the contrary, it’s a good practice to start copying the masterpieces and then move on to creating your own. But copying just the 2D painting isn’t as much a help as trying to recreate the same painting by choosing the same 3D subject.

Sequence Your Painting:

Be it a pet portraits, a person or a landscape, in portrait painting, it’s very important to know where to start from. Old wisdom says ‘start from the eyes’. So be it. It’s best to draw the eyes first and then move on to develop the other features on the face in the correct ratio. But focus on one section at a time, before jumping on to the next.

The Golden Rules:

Most painters forget to spend sufficient time looking at the subject. It’s a golden rule to spend 60% of the time looking at it, 20% time looking at your canvas and the rest 20% looking at what you’re actually painting. Look deep and analyze your subject to bring out the best on your painting.

Another golden rule is to be confident. Think well and believe in your subject. An artist should never be deterred by the feeling that he/she would not be able to do justice to the subject.

So even if you are attempting a dog portraits, just enjoy doing it as you’d enjoy being with your dog. That makes the job much easier. Analyze its features, work your way outwards from the eyes, believe in yourself and bring the painting to life.

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Regardless of all the statements and talk about what is the oldest profession in the world, drafting is the only profession that historically can be documented.

Drafting can be defined as a descriptive way to deliver an idea through the use of illustrations and drawings that show in detail the process of turning the idea into reality. This process dates back to thousands of years ago when primitive drafters illustrated on the walls of caves the processes by which they lived, hunted, worshipped, and died.

Since that time, this process has changed little except for the drafting supplies and tools used to draw, paint, and preserve the illustrations. The greatest changes are noted during the Egyptian and Chinese Empires and the development of rice paper and the methods of presenting ideas. This was the beginning of drafting as we know it today. Other than the drafting tools and equipment used to make drawings more accurate and legible, very little changed until the creation of the modern electronic devices that we have used over the last 75 years. Drafting is the basis of everything that is usable.

Mathematics and science are the foundations from which drafters work. There is nothing manufactured or process carried out without the aid of drafting. Everything that a person can hold in their hand, feel, or touch has some type of drawing or illustration created for the production of that product. When most people think of drafting, they think of skyscrapers, beautiful homes, or maybe a complicated electronic device such as a computer.

There are almost 100 different work disciplines for drafters and designers. These include aerospace, highways, parks and recreation, electronic, nano-technology, medical, furniture, high-voltage electricity, automotive, and many more.

Think about all the equipment and gadgets used in hospitals. Consider all the tools that are used during surgery. Knee implants that are specifically designed to fit your body, or something as simple as a band-aid; are all manufactured by the aid of a drawing. Engineers, architects, scientists, doctors, physicists, and even composers used drafting to create these products.

All of the world's greatest inventions, thoughts, and improvements started as drawings. The drafter is that invisible person, who in reality, makes dreams come true. Contact the American Design and Drafting Association (ADDA) www.adda.org 731-627-0802 for additional information on how to become a drafter or to join the organization.

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The best way to hone your figuring drawing skills is to practice. Even if you are primarily interested in landscape painting, you should be able to depict incidental figures to give a feeling of life to the subject. The figure is a foil to a landscape, and if it is not executed convincingly it can destroy the effect of an otherwise good canvas.

Life drawing should be a part of your training, and, if possible, should be acquired in an art school. However, you can learn to draw the figure well by sketching people at every opportunity. Sketch people in the subway, in the park, at home, at play. Draw at all times.

Observe how people walk, sit, and stand; notice their gestures. You will discover that you can often identify someone you know at a distance by the way his head rests on his shoulders, and you will see the different postures of the old and the young. Make notes on how clothes are draped on a person, and how wrinkles form in a sleeve when the arm is bent, raised, and hanging at the side.

The drawings do not have to be large - from 2 to 6 inches will do. They will probably have to be small if you are trying to capture any action. Indicate the line of action first and then draw the figure around it. Some of your early attempts may resemble scribbling, but get the action.

Obtain a small sketchpad that can fit into your pocket or purse and carry it with you at all times. Fill the pages with sketches, using a pencil, a fountain pen, or the newer felt-tip pen. If you use a pencil, don't use an eraser. You are not out to collect neat pads of figure drawings. If the line is not right redraw a corrected heavier line over it.

The advantage of using a pen is that it leads to a more direct handling. But do not be concerned about technical handling of the pen. Put the lines down as you feel them. Observe how the shape of a suit or a dress is affected by the figure.

In time your pads will contain a collection of both action sketches and studies of form. As these pads are filled you will develop your figure drawing and acquire enough knowledge to place a single figure or a group of figures convincingly in your composition.

While constant sketching will increase your powers of observation and general facility in handling incidental figures, some time should be spent learning at least the rudiments of anatomy. Study bone and muscle structure, so that you acquire knowledge of how it affects the figure. It is not essential to know all of the anatomical designations, but you should be able to identify and know the function of the main bones and muscles. You should know the relative proportions of the male and female figure. Most important is to know the working of the movable masses, that is, the head, the rib cage (chest), and the pelvis.

There is no substitute for drawing the figure from life, but you can get a great deal of help from wooden or plastic manikins, which are for sale at most art shops. They can be studied to advantage by checking with an anatomy book in arranging the various positions.

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Drawing and Sketching

There are millions of people in many different countries all over the planet of love to draw. A good percentage of those people are quite talented and can create entire worlds on a single sheet of paper. The most common median used to portray the imaginations of these artists is the pencil, however many do use pens, and charcoal. These tools can be used to draw anything from the smallest of animals to aliens from the 4th dimension. Sadly, it's a pity to learn that almost 99.9% of these wonderful pieces of art are going unnoticed and not generating any revenue. Aware that great art usually takes a great deal of time and mental concentration to create, it confuses me why many are not getting paid for them.

Painting

Nothing draws the eye quite like a beautiful painting. There are so many ways to paint a picture, it would take me around 4 hours to explain them all. Though painting with standard paint is the most common form of painting, the two other types that I feel I am the most knowledgeable about is oil and water coloring. If you simply do a search for any oil or water coloring paintings, you will be blown away at their beauty. Though the well known artists make millions of dollars from each of their paintings, there is no reason why the millions of less established artists cannot make an income online from their paintings.

Photography

The saying goes "A picture is worth a thousands words". It can also be worth a thousand dollars or even more. There are hundreds of well know photographers getting paid untold amounts of money. What about the other hundred of thousands of aspiring photographers. I've personally seen countless photographs that have taken my breath away and I know they weren't taken by some professional photographer. There are tons of everyday photographers taking wonderful and astounding pictures. It's time you get paid for them.

Get Paid To Draw, Paint, And Take Pictures

I bet you're wondering how can you get paid to draw, paint and take pictures. Well it isn't difficult to start earn money from your art, simply look around the Internet. If you're thinking eBay or a similar auction site, I wouldn't depend to much on those sites.

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