Good Graduation Gift

Choosing a good graduation gift for a young man or woman who has distinctive tastes and ideas can be tough. What you should first decide is whether the gift should be one that they need or something that they want. Personally, I always prefer to give something that is wanted because from my own perspective I would rather get a gift that I would just love to have but would not buy for myself whereas something that I really need would somehow be bought.

Next thing you have to think of is your budget. What is the maximum amount that can be spent on the gift? If you can afford it and the graduate is someone close to you, splashing on a laptop computer or the latest cell phone would be a very welcome gift indeed. Although the young of today are bound to have both these items, designs of products such as computers and mobile phones are updated regularly, and you can bet your last dollar that your graduate will be over the moon with such a gift. More on the same lines are a small fridge, a DVD player or microwave oven which would come in very handy when they really start life on their own.

A graduate who loves photography can be presented with a state of the art camera which can be bought at a very reasonable price these days. Something less pricy for a music lover can be an iPod or an MP3 player which are items that are never far away from the young of today. While gifts of clothes are always appreciated by young ladies, be warned; they might not quite like what you buy and your gift item would most probably lie hidden at the back of her wardrobe never seeing the light of day. If you really want to give a gift of clothes, it is always better to present a fashion conscious young lady a clothing gift card which will definitely be very much appreciated.

I am not quite sure whether young men of today carry brief cases; if they do, a smart looking briefcase in genuine leather with his name engraved would not go amiss. A stylish leather wallet with some money in it is also a great gift for today's 'man about town" who unfortunately is always broke. A young man would also find a printer useful if he's at present using his friend's printer for day to day work and this is exactly the type of thing that the young of today will never spend their own money on. Another good graduate gift is a web cam through which he or she can keep in touch with all the relatives and friends she will be leaving when she moves away. Now this is one gift that can be considered needed as well as wanted and a good web cam can be bought without having to break the bank either.

Source : Ezinearticles

Tips on Presenting a Retirement Gift

Presenting an engraved gift at a retirement party is a great way to show gratitude for years of service. An engraved gift will be a treasured keep sake the retiree will display proudly for years to come.

This is a great opportunity to not only show the person leaving there hard work is appreciated. It is also a time to impress upon those still in your employ that there efforts are appreciated as well. Presenting the engraved retirement gift with dignity and honor will give the remaining employees the sense that the company really does care about their employees.

The gift should be presented at an event such as a retirement party or dinner. The recipient's family and friends should be invited as well as a substantial number of staff. Especially those that worked closely with them. After Dinner a number of the upper management staff should say a few words on the retires behalf. These talks should be brief and include some appropriate humor or stories which those in attendance would appreciate. The event should come to an end with the presentation of the engraved retirement gift. The retiree should then have the opportunity to say a few words. This will make for a very memorial and special event.

The gift itself could be anything form a company award trophy, plaque, crystal bowl, clock, watch, engraved photo or silver tray. The store's online have a large assortment of gifts and awards. It should be laser engraved using state of the art technology to insure a sharp clear impression.

The engraving should include the recipients name, title and date of retirement. You can also include the company name or logo and other information as space will allow. Logos and art work should be supplied to the engraving shop in the jpg format. You can sometimes save money and time by ordering from an online trophy store. If you do this make sure to allow enough time for production and shipping.

Follow these simple guidelines and you are sure to have an event that will show the appreciation and recognition the retiree deserves.

Source : Ezinearticles

How to Choose Weddings and Bridesmaid Gifts

The bridal party will come together by default members such as Father of the Bride, and the chosen few such as the ushers, best man, and bridesmaids.

When it comes to buying thank you gifts there are no rules set in stone. However, there are a few traditions which you may or may not choose to follow.

Typically the matron of maid of honor will receive the more expensive gift to mark the fact that she has extra roles and responsibilities. All the other bridesmaids usually receive a gift of around the same price range to each other.

Some gifts are chosen to fall in line with the theme of the wedding. The theme may be based around many things including color schemes.

Traditional and easy to buy gifts, which meet most budgets and are easy to organize is flowers. Flowers can be purchased in bouquets, arrangements in vases, posies, various color schemes, and using flowers which have traditional meanings. The potential drawbacks of gifting with flowers is that they are not very personal to each bridesmaid.

At the higher end of the average budget are expensive dream gifts that each bridesmaid really wishes for. The bride will know this simply because she is close to her bridesmaids. Examples include designer shoes, boxed with amazing presentation of bows and streamers, and a personalised handmade tag to complete the work of art.

Gifts which are personalised to each lady make special keepsakes which can be treasured forever as a memory of the special day and of course the lead up to it. This type of gift can be personalised in many ways.

Metal gifts made from silver, gold, steel, pewter can be engraved with text and photographs.

Crystal and glass gifts may be laser engraved to a premium quality using computerized technology and include text and pictures.

Labels can be printed on gifts such as pink champagne or speciality wines.

Clothing can be printed onto to make fun and special gifts. For example personalized slippers being given as practical gifts for a spa weekend is very popular.

Other gifts which can be personalized and are easily available are handbag mirrors, silver trinket boxes, crystal glass paperweights and candle holders, and many more.

Before buying the gifts it is advisable to review in your mind the personality of each bridesmaid and her personal interests. This way you are optimizing the chance of each bridesmaid loving her thank you present.

The beauty of personalised gifts is that using the wonderful technology of the internet one can find an online store, check reviews from other customers, order everything in one go, meet the budgets set and be safe in the knowledge that all bridesmaids gifts are organized and ready to present in time for the wedding day.

Its a great idea to browse bridal magazines for ideas and chat with other brides-to-be on forums and social networking websites. You will find ideas of gifts, and reviews of gifts and online ordering websites.

Source : Ezinearticles

Advice For Finding Necktie As A Gift

It used to be that males hated it if people got neckties, no matter what the occasion was. This has started to shift, with the desire for distinctive looks, and materials; and today you could obtain quite a few distinctive designs, even for silk ties. The price for silk has even come down greatly, and you could grasp a good silk tie for just around $20 at a lot of places.

While gifting neckties, you have quite a few distinctive choices. There are several rules that you should adhere by though, to be sure that your gift is going to be treasured, and used on a regular basis. One is that you should often stay with silk ties, it demonstrates that you value the one you are getting for. Rather than getting a tie that you like, find one that they like. How do you figure out what they prefer? Well the number one thing to think about is what their passion are, what kinds of favorite songs they love, if they have a loved pet, or what type of groups they are affiliated with, like the World Wildlife Federation, for example.

The number one thing you should seriously do while searching for silk ties and neckties usually is to go online. Online websites are likely to have the widest and best options, more than almost any retail shop you could choose locally. There are an large quantity of websites to select from. You could find just about whatever you could think of online while it comes to choose a tie. There are sites that provide a extensive assortment of creatures ties which have tasteful prints of bears, deer, wolves, plus quite a few others. There are sites that are dedicated to animal ties, in addition to endangered varieties. Certain of these endangered varieties sites basically contribute a percentage of the earnings to help saving wild life.

For music lovers, you could find all sorts of distinctive music correlated neckties. There are quite a few distinctive sorts of Beatles silk ties for example, several that have the fab four silk screened on the material. Other people have small submarines from the Yellow Submarine album. You could find Bob Marley, AC/DC, Aerosmith, and Van Halen. If you aren't positive precisely what type of music they are interested in, there are basic ties with notes on them, or piano keys.

For more unique and distinct tastes, there are other neckties to select from. There are silk ties with paintings from Picasso, Rembrandt, and even Salvador Dali. If the man in your life rides motorcycles, there are quite a few distinctive sorts of Harley Davidson ties to select from too. You could buy HD ties from their recognized web based shop, or from other sites. There exists even a small assortment of tie dye designs, for the tie dye lover.

Source : Ezinearticles

Gift Ideas for Aquarians

Are you gearing up to celebrate the birthday of your loved one but don't know what to do? Looking for a unique gift but running short of good ideas? Or simply running short on time to check out the gift stores? Well, there's hope yet for you. For here are a set of innovative ideas that can help you to find the perfect birthday gift for your dear one.

Depending on the zodiac sign of a person, there are a wide range of birthday gifts available in the market. Unique and wonderful, these gifts are designed keeping in mind the specific personality traits of each sun-sign, thus maximizing the chances of being liked by the receiver. So if the birthday of your dear one falls anytime between the 20th of January and the 19th of February, you can easily look for an Aquarian zodiac gift. The gift will possibly find better favour with your partner, and you too will be able to say you care without racking your mind over the issue.

It is necessary to have a look at the different personality traits of an Aquarian to select an ideal birthday gift. According to astrologers, some of the most common characteristics of an Aquarian are individualism, objectivity, playfulness, spontaneity, progressiveness and career mindedness. However, wide differences do exist from person to person, and between men and women. But mostly, one can be sure to please an Aquarian with an original and unexpected gift, presented with a dash of humor.

For Aquarius men interested in outdoor sports, one may choose anything between a sweat shirt to a sports watch, or some cool adventure gear like a backpack, tent or a sleeping bag. Golf clubs and sports gear can also be a favorite with many. However, those appreciating art would prefer to have gifts like sketches and paintings, music CDs, romantic games or classic literature. Aquarian males are also fond of technology, and you can be sure to please them with some cool gizmos like iPhones, notepads, digital cameras and the like.

Aquarius women, on the other hand, are likely to appreciate gifts that are vintage and unique. Individuality is the keyword when it comes to choosing a gift for an Aquarius woman, so you can get anything from a vintage candle-stand to a piece of unusual clothing for her birthday. Unique looking clutches, ancient scarfs and shawls, an artistic jewelry box or simply a zodiac engraved coffee mug are likely to find favour with Aquarius women.

On the whole, one must be careful to keep in mind the various personality traits of an Aquarian to choose the perfect gift for a birthday. Aquarius people, being highly individualistic, defy all set rules in terms of their liking and choice.


Source : Ezinearticles

5 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas For Couples - Make Wine and More

Take the stress out of Valentine's Day. These following unique gift ideas are great for couples, for what can be a lifetime of memories. Great ideas include:

1. Make Artisan Pearl Jewelry

Believe it or not, gifts that you make have a more lasting impact. Seek out your local bead or jewelry store for a jewelry making class. Gentlemen, you can learn how to make your partner a hand-made artisan necklace, pearl beads are generally available. Ladies, you will have the opportunity to understand how to make jewelry that more closely matches your style. Call your bead or jewelry store in advance to save a spot for two. Classes for this gift idea for couples fills quickly.

Time required: approximately 2 hours

2. Spa Day

A relaxing way to spend Valentine's Day is to enjoy a nice massage. Why just give your loved one a massage when you both can have one at the same time. Most resorts or day spas will have special packages for Valentine's Day, particularly for couples. Schedule the session around 3PM and it will be the perfect beginning to dinner out.

Time required: approximately 1 to 2 hours

3. Dessert Cooking Class

Cooking for that special person is a nice gesture. To make the meal more memorable, though, a gift idea for couples is to try a cooking class. Most classes are just an hour or two. More importantly, someone else does the dishes. And since it is Valentine's Day, try a class where you can bake a sweet and tasty treat. Contact your local gourmet grocery store for a class schedule. Some classes fill quickly, so be sure to call ahead to make a reservation.

Time required: approximately 2 hours

4. Mosaic Art

Do you like smashed things? Try a mosaic art class where you take colorful, smashed pieces of tile and decorate things like picture frames, vases, or tabletops. For Valentine's Day, you could take a photo of yourselves, decorate the frame with white, red, and rose colored tile pieces to commemorate the occasion. Make two, and you both can take one to work. Make a reservation in advance to secure a spot.

Time required: approximately 2 hours

5. Bottle Wine

Have you ever dreamed of being a winemaker and having your own private label wine? Now you can. Many wine shops allow you to bottle your own wine. First, sample wines from around the world. After choosing a wine that you both like, you will go through the crafting process. The wine shop will keep your craft for about 60 days, allowing your wine to ferment. Then, you go back to bottle, cork, seal, and actually print and apply your own custom label. In the end, you both will have about 30 bottles of your own wine, allowing you to enjoy and remember Valentine's Day for many months to come. Be sure to call ahead to schedule a time.

Source : Ezinearticles

Top Tips to Buy a Murano Chandelier

Everyone dreams to make their home elegant and incomparable. Have you ever heard of chandeliers from Murano. Murano chandeliers are real piece of art which can beautify your room in an elegant manner.

Murano glass has been used from ancient times. It has a history of thousand years. This glass was manufactured in a special way and the technique of manufacturing is passed down from generation to generation. Nowadays Murano chandelier are not same as before as the techniques has been refined continuously.

Murano chandelier is not only an object of lighting but it is a perfect work of art. This chandelier is a result of long creative process. The technique used in creating these chandeliers is completely unique and unrepeatable. The most important thing is that Murano chandeliers are completely hand made. So when ever you are buying a chandelier, keep in mind that you are buying a piece of art created by master artisans with utmost care and passion. The purest form of glass is blended with best natural colors. Ancient murano glass is not only used to make chandeliers but also appliqués, flambeaux and ceiling lamps.

If you are planning to buy a chandelier then there are many things which should be considered. It is very important to buy a right kind of chandelier. The chandelier which you are planning to buy should match the interior design of your room. Perfect chandelier can completely change the look and feel of your room.

Nowadays you don't have to visit Italy for buying a high quality chandelier. Internet shopping is getting more and more popular and there are many reasons for it`s increasing popularity. Internet shopping allows you to compare the price and quality of the product offered by different online stores. Every type of lighting object can be bought through internet shopping. There are many sellers who deal with Murano chandeliers. But your job is to choose one of the best online sellers. The website of the seller should be secure and authentic.

There are many more things which should be decided before buying this elegant piece of art. It is a smart idea to spend some time on the internet. Try to do some research and try to find all the information regarding the chandelier you are planning to buy. You should have a discussion with your interior designer. He can help you to decide the size, shape and color of the chandelier according to the interiors of your house.

Have you planned your budget? One should always plan his budget before doing any type of online shopping. A proper pre planned budget can help you a lot in making the best possible. In this way you save your time as well as money.

Source : Ezinearticles

7 Personalised Valentines Day Gifts For Boyfriends

1 - Canvas Prints

Pick a single picture and have it printed on top quality canvas. You can also add a personal text message to the back of the canvas in order to convey your feelings without covering any of the picture. Choose a photo of the two of you together or a romantic place that you've visited. Because the choice of photo rests solely with you, it means you can let your imagination go wild in creating the most personal and unique gift for Valentines Day.

2 - Montage Of Love

Canvas prints also offer a number of other options, as well as the single photo. As well as being able to convert colour pictures to black and white or sepia pictures you can also have a Montage of Love created using a few of your best pictures. This will not only be a heartfelt present for your boyfriend but will also be a talking point and a truly cherished gift for years to come.

3 - Fun Pop Art Prints

Alternatively you could have a picture converted into a pop art version. Pop art prints are very colourful and fun, and work especially well with photos of individuals or couples making them the ideal choice for Valentines Day. Once again, you can add a Valentines greeting to the back of the frame and all canvas prints can be printed in a range of sizes up to several metres in length so are perfect for any wall space in any room.

4 - Customised Laptop Bag

Laptop bags are an essential item for many people and are especially useful for those that travel or use a laptop for work. Customising a laptop bag with a picture or text caption is another fun and unique way to create an incredible Valentines Day gift that will live long in the memory as well as the house, office, and the car.

5 - Customised Wash Bags

Laptop bags are just one in a wide range of bags that can be customised in this way. Wash bags, carry alls, shopping bags, and others can be personalised with photos. They are another great use of pop art conversions and you can even add text that is printed in graffiti style in order to make a beautiful and fun gift.

6 - Love Puzzle

Have a picture printed on jigsaw board and then cut to create a Love Puzzle or Valentines Puzzle. The puzzle comes with its own presentation tin, which can either include a picture of the finished design or an alternative message so that the recipient has to finish the puzzle to get that message.

7 - Photo Cubes

A photo cube is a comfortable and great looking item that is practical and ideal for lounging around. The firm cube shaped cushion is covered with your design so you can pick different pictures for every face of the cube or you can have the same design printed on every side. The choice of design is yours so you can make it look exactly how you want it to.

Source : Ezinearticles

How to Buy an Art Case - A Beginner's Guide

Whenever you plan to purchase an art case for yourself, it is important to have a clear picture in your mind of what you want because if you end up with a cover that won't come of any help to you, then it will as good as not having one! In market you will find a wide variety ranging from color, texture, design and even price. Due to aggressive competition in the market, every seller is providing with cases that are so multifunctional and efficient that they are hard to resist! However, we cannot purchase everything we like in the market. Can we?

Gone are the days when such covers were just meant to hold your papers or drawings! Today you will find cases in market that are of great quality and yet very affordable to purchase. The focus today is not on "how much can they hold?" but it is on "What else can they hold?" Earlier the only ones available were made up of either plastic or paper. Today, a whole lot of variety can be found among them. They are not diverse just in their make but also in their functionality.

Hence while purchasing any case, you have to consider your requirements and accordingly choose your type. However it is recommended to do your own research before going to the shop. That will help in giving a clear idea of how different they are from one another. It is important to consider your likes, dislikes, budget, lifestyle and usage before making a purchase. Because some cases are especially meant for certain conditions only. For example, if you prefer to take your cover while traveling it would be advisable to go for a metal case which is durable and waterproof. It also comes with a latch instead of a zipper. If a professional look is preferred than portfolio covers are best suited. They have a formal look in them.

Cheap portfolios are also available in form of plastic and paper covers that does the basic job of protecting and storing your work. They can simply help in protecting your work from dust and also keep it organized and presentable at the same time. Buying is not a problem as they are widely available at all the stationeries and even at luggage showrooms. You can also get them online through internet using various websites.

In sum, most art cases are inexpensive and a great way to keep your work handy and make it convenient while traveling with your papers or drawings. These cases are a great way even to be given as gifts. They also come in designs and colors which are exclusively made for men and women. Buying an art case may not be a big decision but it surely can affect your working life. A right cover will not only make your work easy but also your life convenient!

Source : Ezinearticles

Why is Exquiste Russian Silver and Enamel Inlay Popular?

Russian artwork has surpassed all cultures around the world throughout history when it comes to handcrafting silver with fine enamel inlay work of the exquisite work is reflected in the silversmith's art work. The legacy of Russian artist and silversmiths has been carried over more than two hundred years and the contribution is carried over even today, with elegant brightly colored enamel work done against the metallic shine of silver.

From the beautiful pieces of silver art such as candy dishes, alcohol bottles to jewelry pieces like bracelets and earrings. The mark of 84 karat on Russian silver on all genuine silver articles satiates even the most skeptical of all. The multi colored fine enamel inlay on beautiful hand crafted objects exemplify the art of magnificent uniqueness seen only in hands of traditional Russian artists. The handcrafted silver and enamel inlay objects are seen with a beautiful gilt coating inside with the brightly colored exterior.

The interesting art of enameling on metals could be traced back to the era of the 15th and 16th Russia, which was the perfect location as the regions of Orient and the West amalgamated so, art originated which was unique and exquisite. The peak period in the history of Russian art was highlighted by the development of Cloisonné technique that was related to the craft of overlaying of enamel. The Oriental or Eastern style of Cloisonné has fine wireworks or Filigree that separated each pocket and could be individually filled with bright colored natural vitreous enamel. While the Russian technique involved enamel layering on flat surfaces, while creating metal pockets for enamel to fill in. The process of layering and drying in alternate steps helps create the semi transparent look.

The Champleve technique is another innovative method of enamel inlay which is done by creating etching and scratching lines on the metal surface and later filling it with various colored liquid enamel which turns glossy when dry. All these three techniques were used by the Russian craftsmen to create brilliant enamel inlay work with translucent shine.

Source : Ezinearticles

Electronic Gadgets - Valentines Gifts For Men

One of the best valentines gift for men is to get electronic gadgets for him. Get him the electronic gadget he want. Every man will be interested in at least one type of electronic devices, be it mobile phone, HD TVs or computers. Show him how much you love him by getting the right electronic gifts for him.

Mobile Phones

Is he talking constantly talking about the latest phone technologies to you? Or is it about the latest blackberry model that has just been released. Get him the model he desires with your picture as the wallpaper.

Other than purchasing a phone for him as a present for him, get the same one for yourself. Declare to the world that both of you are using the same couple phone and allow yourself to MMS him or video call him whenever you desired.

Notebooks, Net book as Valentine's Day Gifts
With the arrival of net books, the prices of notebooks have started to drop. Is he a mobile warrior who is constantly on the move? Get him a light and portable notebook or net book. This allows him to check his mails yet reduce the weight he have to carry around. Instead of a big chunky laptop, he now carry a light net book to reduce the stress on his shoulders.

Camcorder and Camera
Everyone loves being praised for taking beautiful photographs. Have your man been giving out praises and not receiving them? A camcorder and camera is a must for every man in the family.

Take shots and record memorable videos on your overseas trip. Recall the beautiful memories you have on your trip. Allow him to take shots of your baby's smiling. An precious item that is a necessity for men to have.

Speakers and Home Theater System for him

After a hard day of work, it is time to relax. Relaxation is an important daily event in a man's life. Watching movies with a superb sound system is an enjoyable process in our lives.

High Definitions TV

With a home Theater system, get him a HD TV if he is missing it. Men are visual creatures. With a high-def TV offering state of the art displays, you can be sure that this is a valentine gift for him that will bring a satisfaction to him.

There are a lot more different types of electronics appliances which you can buy as valentine's gifts for men. However, i have choose some of the practical ones are useful to us, man, as we are practical people.

Source : Ezinearticles

Betty Boop Figurines - How to Find and Value Them

Betty Boop Figurines - Beautiful Art and Valuable Investment

Collectibles have long been a popular pursuit for fans of television shows, cartoons, movies and comic strips. Collecting memorabilia from these forms of entertainment makes for a fun, exciting and frequently profitable pastime for many fans.

Even once the obsession or fascination with a particular show or character passes, a collection can often be sold off to fund the latest intrigue or to provide some extra and much needed cash. In this article we'll explore this phenomenon with a stocking clad sex symbol who has been with us since he 1930's.

Background Of The Sultry Songstress

Ever since she first appeared on movie screens on August 9, 1930, the diminutive Betty stole the hearts of fans worldwide. Created by animator Myron "Grim" Natwick, her popularity has endured now for over 80 years, and it is clear that she has become and will remain an enduring icon and sex symbol for a long time to come.

Combining the best qualities of two 1920's icons - screen siren Clara Bow and sultry singer Helen Kane - Betty won fans through her rare combination of outrageous sex appeal and a sincerely huge heart.

Her popularity crossed over from the big screen to the homes and hearths of collectors everywhere as fans clamored for a chance to take Betty home with them in the form of a wide range of Betty Boop merchandise.

One of the most collectible categories of these products is Betty Boop Figurines.

Why Are Betty Boop Figurines So Popular?

While many forms of Betty Boop Memorabilia have proved worthy of collecting, including plates, mouse pads, signs, music boxes and cookie jars, one of the most enduring incarnations is the Betty Boop Figurine.

Our guess is that figurines have gained so much in popularity and collectability because they present Betty in all of her three dimensional glory.

Rare Figurines date back to the 1930's when Betty was at the height of her popularity. Committed collectors search far and wide for these rarities which can be very hard to find.

While these almost century old figurines can bring a dear price for those who find and deal in them, Betty Boop statues can be enjoyed by collectors of much more modest means, making Betty within reach of any collector's budget.

This affordability combined with Betty's natural appeal have made her one of the most popular collectibles with a rabid and avid fan base.

Where Can You Find Betty Boop Figurines?

It's not hard to find these figurines. They abound online, at Amazon, eBay and myriad specialty shops. You can also usually find these collectibles in vintage and curio shops.

They are generally affordably priced commonly ranging from $15 on the low end to $40 or more on the high end.

There are also a few "special edition" collectibles available such as the "Calendar Girl" series. Special editions are typically all are hand brush paint, with certificates of authenticity.

Source : Ezinearticles

Looking For Original Art Explanations, How Much Do You Know About Figurine Art?

Figurines are small pieces of sculpture that don't require an entire room to do them justice. A whatnot will hold one exquisite bone china figurine or an entire collection, painted and glazed just so to reach a lifelike appearance. Perhaps an early childhood memory stirs when you have your own figurine collection, because you remember your family's shelves filled with small fragile shapes that you 'couldn't touch!' At that time of your development, you could see the bright colors of a clown figurine and naturally wanted to finger his scintillating costume. Now that you're older, you appreciate the delicacy of a figurine's craftsmanship and can be trusted to 'touch' and hold your own bits of glazed or forged wonders as you savor your own collection.

When your artistic taste developed, you discovered that china was not the only medium for figurine art. There were patinas to be enjoyed on brass pieces and hand-carved wooden statuettes, along with other shapes, figurative or abstract. The one thing that they all have in common is their small scale, representative of the subject in a miniature form. Figurines claim our imagination almost in the way of dolls or stuffed animals, tinier forms of humans or creatures that we can place in a tableau whichever way we like. We can make them off-center on the knickknack shelf, we can perch them on its edge, we can shift their scales from extremely miniature to a hand's span all the way up to a fairly large one-foot dimension. The one thing that we cannot do is ignore them when they are in a room, because of their eye-catching quality. We feel the need to arrange them according to scale, or color, or theme. It wouldn't do to have a languorous reclining nymph next to the clown statuette. We discover our own sense of order when we arrange figurines.

If you want to truly add to your knowledge of figurines, you will want to learn about different sorts of clays and firing techniques, similar to acquiring the techniques of throwing a clay pot and preparing it for the kiln. This knowledge can add to your enjoyment of your collection, nearly as much as learning about the famous styling houses for figurines, such as Royal Doulton, Lladro and Hummel. Each season, the designers for figurines bring forth their offerings of poses and characters, worked in bone china or porcelain or bisque.

How the figurine has its color decoration applied translates to a more refined knowledge of the crafting of these delicate little pieces of art. For instance, cobalt and copper may be applied under the glaze on a figurine, or enamels used once the glazing is complete. Celadon ware contains an iron in its glaze to give it its distinctive look. And if you desire the elegant look of porcelain, know that porcelain is fired at a higher degree than earthenware to make the body of the piece non-porous. Firing also imputes a greater sheen to the finished piece, as vitrification occurs at the high temperature and the outer glaze turns to a glassy shine. When you consider the fine craftsmanship which goes into turning out an exquisite figurine, you will treasure your collection even more. It shows off your personality like nothing else does.

Source : Ezinearticles

7 Themes for Children Scrapbooking Based on Seasons at School

Children at age of five to six are very passion in drawing, art and craft. You can get them involve in scrapbooking to express their interest of crafting. Here I share my seven secret tips for your children scrapbooking ideas.

#1 New Year Family Scrapbooking

January is beginning of the year. You can arrange to do family scrapbooking related to new year with your children. If your child love scrapbooking, this is good theme to train their creativity in scrapbooking.

#2 Friendship Scrapbooking

Every children have their own good friends, including my daughter. Take a few candid photos of your child and his or her good friend, then create a friendship theme or scrapbooking.

#3 Easter Scrapbooking

Easter day is the good celebration day for children to do craft related to this even.You can organize a craft gathering activity, with all your children and friends to have an egg painting session, take some candid photos of the activity, and use it to create an Easter scrapbooking.

#4 Mother Day and Father Day Scrapbooking

Mother and father day is celebration of wonderful mother who has been work their life for their children. It is very meaningful for your child to create a mother and father day scrapbooking, at the same time your child learn about the family value and respect to parents.

#5 Country National Day Scrapbooking

This is a good theme for children to be aware of the country they live and cultivate their love to the country they born. There are a lot of ideas on this theme, such as cultural, tourist attraction locations, life style of the country and a simple flag can be design as national day scrapbooking.

#6 Earth Day Scrapbooking

Earth is the planet we stay, it is critical to let our children aware of how to protect our earth. Earth day scrapbooking is a good theme for children age of 5 to 6 to understand how to be environmental friendly in their daily life.

#7 School Sports Day Scrapbooking

Children like sports a lot! One of the good idea is get your child to do gymnastics scrapbooking, if your child love gymnastics. You can find your own theme that apply to your children interest in other sport activities.

Once your toddlers done, you may put them to their album scrapbooking. Hope you like above themes!

Source : Ezinearticles

Craft Ideas For Kids - Kids and Pasta

Pasta is not just for tomato sauce. My kids loved pasta for many different art projects. Next time you find a sale on pasta grab several varieties. Here are just a few ideas of what kids can make with pasta.

Photo frames - We use either the bow pasta or the shell pasta. Start with thick cardboard. I tend to use white so that we can add any color we want. Your frame can either be circular or square. Cut out the frame, this is the actual full size you'll want at the end. Then cut out the middle to fit the size of the photo you want to put in there.

Now decide if you want to spray paint the pasta or use food coloring. Gold metallic spray paint looks great. We have also made various colors of pasta and made rainbow frames.

If you want to turn your frame into a magnet, add some magnetic tape to the back.

Necklaces and Bracelets - Penne pasta and macaroni noodles make wonderful necklaces and bracelets. I suggest fishing line. It just doesn't break. As with the frames, you can use multiple colors of pasta by adding food dye or you can spray paint the pasta, allow to dry and then string the pasta onto your fishing line.

Decorative Jars - Save empty jars. Then fill the far with an assortment of shapes and colors of pasta. These jars make pretty decorations for bathrooms, bedrooms or even end tables.

Pipe Cleaner Figurines - Grab a pipe cleaner. Now arrange pasta on the pipe cleaner to create people and animals. Mix and match shapes and sizes and then bend to create almost anything.

Self Portraits - Use spaghetti and linguini. Boil just until soft. Then press the pasta onto construction paper into a self portrait. You can also create landscape scenes using the soft long noodles.

These are just a few ideas of how to use pasta to create great art projects made by kids.

Source : Ezinearticles

3 Easy Preschool Christian Easter Crafts

These preschool christian Easter crafts make the story of the resurrection of Jesus come to life. Celebrate Easter with crafts like Jesus is risen cup, the tomb craft as well as a scratch cross.

Preschool Christian Easter Crafts 1 - Jesus Is Risen Cup

Materials:
Plastic cup
Soil
Seed
Paint
Paint brushes
Small tongue depresses
Ribbon
Newspaper
Glue

Directions:
Prepare the surface area, by placing newspaper down on the tables. Using a clean dry plastic cup, let the children decorate the cup using paint. Painting on different patterns etc. While the paint is drying, paint the two small tongue depressors with red paint. Allow to dry and glue together to form a cross.

Once the cup is completely dry, using the ribbon, tie around the cup and end with a bow. This is where it get a little dirty, place the soil into the cups about three quarters of the way up. Each child now plants their seed into the soil.

Explain to the children the symbolism of this preschool christian Easter crafts:
The bow of the ribbon, reminds us of Jesus "free" gift of salvation. The red cross symbolizes the blood that was shed for our sins, so that we are completely washed clean and are forgiven. The seed that is put under the ground, symbolizes that Jesus died and was buried, but as they see the plant grow and come out of the ground, they will be reminded of the new life that they have received. this is a wonderful visual preschool christian Easter crafts that the little ones seem to understand.

Preschool Christian Easter Crafts 2 - Scratch Cross

Materials:
Wax crayons
Poster card
Pencil
Pair of scissors
Ribbon
Hole Punch

Directions:
Draw a cross on poster card. Have the children cut out the cross. Let them color the cross in (using wax crayons) different patterns, using different colors, the more color the better. Now they need to color over the patterns with black wax crayon, the entire cross needs to be black, so that you cannot see the color underneath.

Take a pencil and start scratching the name Jesus onto the cross. This can be done across the width of the cross. Allow the children to scratch with the pencil and make other patterns and shapes around the name Jesus. Punch a hole at the top of the cross and place a ribbon through it, so that they can hang this preschool christian Easter crafts up at home.

Preschool Christian Easter Crafts 3 - The Tomb Craft

Materials:
One Paper plate per child
Paint brush
Brown and Black Paint
Newspaper
Brown paper bag
Pair of scissors
Glue
Greeting cards with angles on them / template of an angle

Directions:
Prepare the area for this preschool christian Easter crafts, by covering the tables in newspaper. Cut the paper plate in half, right down the middle. Paint the one half of the paper plate brown and the other black. Cut a rounded doorway in the middle of the front paper plate (brown one) using a pair or of scissors.

Cut out an angle from a greeting card or a template. Stick the angle onto the bottom middle of the black paper plate. i.e. you should be able to see the angle through the doorway that was cut out from the other paper plate. Now carefully stick the two halves together, with the brown side in the front and the black side at the back. So that the angle is seen through the doorway. It should stand on the flat middle part of the plate, with the curved side on top.

Source : Ezinearticles

Make a Statement With Finest of Table Wares

Here is an important ingredient for tasty food. It is not the obvious spice or herb or some magic ingredient in the recipe. Not even the type of food you make. This time it is the tableware you serve the food in. Cooking lip-smacking food might be a tough job but it is presentation that counts in the ultimate high your guests are going to get from the food.

Serving the food in a Jasper Conran Wedgewood piece is the finest treat you can offer your guest, or for that matter even yourself. Established way back in 1759, this British pottery firm has now become a luxury brand name today in pottery and tableware. Wedgewood launched its first collection in collaboration with designer Jasper Conran in 2001, from where started the finest of bone china collection of products under the label Jasper Conran Wedgewood.

The items commonly found under this label are:

• Tableware and crockery: Available in a range of gilded designs, Chinese and Venetian paintings, classic and contemporary mix on bone china cups, saucers, plates, dishes, kettles etc.
• Prestige Collection: Several high-end decorative products including grandfather clocks, exquisite figurines, vases, pottery and bone china items.
• Gift items: Includes mugs, tableware accessories, candle stands, commemorative pieces and the like.

The several techniques involved in making the exquisite Wedgewood pieces are:

1. Hand painting
2. Gilding
3. Piercing
4. Powdering
5. Figurative work
6. Dicing
7. Ornamenting
8. Enamelling

Similarly, WMF cutlery is another German luxury brand selling a varied rage of products in cookware and tableware. As opposed to Wedgewood, VMF is essentially sells metal wares. The items available include:

• Cutlery: Including silver ware, special pieces, exclusive baby items in cutlery etc.
• Cookware: Pressure Cooker, knife sets, kitchen tool, pans, spice mills etc.
• Lifestyle items: Baskets, candle stands, bread bins, trays, vases, water cans, butter dishes, egg cups etc.
• Bar and wine accessories: Decanters, crock screws, glasses, cocktail shakers, jugs, openers, bar sets etc.
• Tea and Coffee sets: Cups, saucers, accessories, tea/coffee tins etc.

Another popular name in the same business is that of Villeroy and Boch tableware. This French company was established way back in the 1748. it specializes in porcelain products. The range specializes in crockery, cutlery, lifestyle products and other accessories in tableware and home furnishing.

Source : Ezinearticles

Easy Halloween Costumes

Making your own easy Halloween costumes is a great way save money, while having a lot of fun at the same time. With just a little imagination and a few simple supplies that you probably already have on hand, you can be sure you'll have a one of a kind masterpiece this Halloween.

Devilled Egg Costume

For either kids or adults, try the simple, but cute devilled egg costume. Using a pair of plastic "devil horns," an easy to make pitchfork, a few pieces of felt, and a red sweat suit, you can have a fun costume that doesn't cost a lot of money or a great deal of time to make.

The basics you'll need are:

Red clothing

White and yellow felt, or heavy colored paper

Devil horns and pitchfork

Double-sided tape

Instead of buying them, you can always make your own horns using construction paper, a regular hair band, and some glue. It's also rather easy to make a pitchfork using a cardboard tube from a roll of wrapping paper and covering it with either black electrical tape or aluminium foil. The fork part can be made from either the aluminium, or from cardboard or construction paper.

The extras:

Red construction paper

Gift wrap tube

Tape

Glue

Aluminium foil or electrical tape

What to do:

Simply cut out the white and yellow felt or paper into the shape of an egg, and affix it on the front of the red shirt using the double-sided tape or fabric glue if you're using felt. Accessorize with red pants, the horns and pitchfork and you've got a devilled egg.

Sunflower Costume

What you'll need:

Yellow clothing

Craft foam

Cardboard

Green and yellow acrylic or other non-toxic paint

Make-up or face paint

Green ribbon or yarn

What to do:

Attach the craft foam or cardboard to the yarn or ribbon after painting yellow and cutting into petal shaped pieces. Yellow petals can also be made out of construction paper and easily wrapped around the yarn, although they will need to be smaller than if you were using craft foam.

Source : Ezinearticles

Treasure Hunt - Birthday Parties

People always seem to be looking for a reason to have a party. We have parties for Weddings, Anniversaries, Baby showers, Halloween, Christmas, almost any occasion. Sometimes we have parties for no reason at all, except the opportunity for friends and family to get together in some kind of festive atmosphere.

The parties that are given and attended most often throughout the year are Birthday parties. Everyone either hosts or attends at least several every year. As a result, they are always looking for party ideas that could make their party a little different and unique.

Adult birthday parties might consist of a meal and cocktails, conversation and birthday cake, and ultimately, the opening of the gifts.

Birthdays for children have a wider range of activities and games. Pin the tail on the donkey, clowns and ponies, or piñatas and balloons. After all, keeping a dozen or so children occupied for several hours can be a daunting task. Children's parties, like adult parties also culminate with the traditional birthday cake and then the much anticipated opening of the presents.

This art is about a new and different approach to the standard gift giving party. You could make your party a Treasure Hunt! This idea can be used with equally great results for adult or children's parties. Why just sit the person of the day down and hand them gifts, when you could have so much more fun making them find them with clues?

All through out history, people have been looking for ways to make their parties unique and fun by incorporating hunts to add an aspect of difference and action. Easter egg hunts and scavenger hunts are just two successful examples of turning a regular occasion into something more appealing and adding a sense of anticipation for the final result, which in this case is the actual finding of the gifts. At a Treasure Hunt party, this sense of anticipation is carried over to all the guests, because they have an opportunity for participation that isn't available in the typical gift giving process.

Treasure Hunts also have an ice breaking effect at a party because the actions involved help to alleviate any possible discomfort of having people come together in a situation where they may not know each other well enough for conversation alone to carry the day.

You may have considered this type of party, but thought that it might be too difficult to set up. It's a lot of work writing clues, hiding gifts, and coming up with a plan that takes you from beginning to end smoothly. I can tell you from experience, that it's worth the time you spend to make your special occasion memorable. It can be any occasion, or no occasion at all. Maybe you have a spouse, teenager, or co-worker that is constantly leaving things where they don't belong. You can hide anything, anytime, from anyone, and make a point by making them find their things with clues. This is what memories are made of, and your friends and family will be talking about it for years down the road. Make sure to videotape your party. You won't regret it.

Source : Ezinearticles

Fun Easter Activities For Kids

The lead up to Easter is an exciting time for kids so you may want some fun Easter activities to keep them busy, happy and settled in this exciting time. There are loads of activities that you do with kids that are not only fun but are also educational. When you choose Easter activities for kids at home or at school, you may as well choose something that will not just let them have fun but it will also help them to learn and grow.

There are many, many worthwhile craft Easter activities for kids of all ages. Design an Easter card or get creative with eggs. Try painting eggs, dyeing eggs or even making picture with crushed dyed, crushed egg shells. Decorating egg shapes is also a great Easter activity for kids of all ages. Just cut out an egg shape from card and the kids can cover it with bands of bright, colorful, crumpled pieces of paper. Kids can also be encouraged to decorate an egg shape with bands of patterns and to keep the patterns symmetrical.

One of the few craft activities that I remember doing myself as a child was actually done after Easter as we needed the beautiful, foil paper that the Easter eggs are wrapped in. We glued pieces of paper all over a jar to cover the outside of the entire jar. We then varnished it when it was dry and the result was a really beautiful jar that could be used for any purpose. This special Easter activity for kids to do after Easter is wonderful way to encourage recycling of jars and Easter egg wrappers.

Once you have tried some craft with the kids there are also loads of puzzles and games that can be tried. Why not make your own Easter board game? The kids can enjoy making the game board and inventing the game and then afterwards they can enjoy actually playing the game. This Easter activity will also bring out their creative side.

Easter Bingo is another fun Easter activity for kids to play again and again. They can make their own bingo cards with Easter words and then play Easter bingo with the cards. The caller can have all of the words on small cards and draw them out one by one.

Next try an Easter puzzle. One that is really simple is to organize is an Easter Bunny Word Scramble. Use the words 'Easter Bunny' or the word 'Chocolate'.

Give each person a pencil and paper and have them write either 'Easter Bunny' or 'Chocolate'. They then write down as many words as they can think of that can be made using the letters contained in the words 'Easter bunny' or 'Chocolate'.

A prize is given to the person who comes up with the most words and also to the person who has the longest word. Off course the best prize for this game is a Chocolate Easter Egg or Easter Bunny!

Another great Easter puzzle is to make your own word search filled with Easter words. The kids can also practice their spelling skills by playing Hangman with Easter words. You might like to change the Hangman to something with an Easter theme like a bunny or an Easter basket.

Well I hope this has given you loads and loads of ideas for Easter Activities for kids. Happy Easter!

Source : Ezinearticles

Why Do We Celebrate Easter?

Easter is an ancient holiday that is celebrated in many countries. For Christians, it is the commemoration of the death and rebirth of Jesus Christ. However, Easter has deep roots and traditions that go back well before Christianity (which is 2000 years old).

The word Easter comes from Eostre, the ancient Germanic goddess of spring (popular from the 6th century BC). Eostre found a colorful bird that was too injured to be able to fly again, so she turned it into a rabbit. Amazingly, the rabbit kept the ability to lay eggs. To say thank you, the rabbit gave Eostre a basket of her colorful eggs as a gift. In kind, followers of Eostre honored spring with gifts of colorful bird eggs. This tradition spread throughout Europe and did not change until the mid 1800's when European manufacturers began to produce chocolate eggs. The chocolate was very popular and the custom evolved, so that today it is common to give baskets of chocolate Easter eggs. Migrants to the United States, Australia and other countries brought the folk tale and tradition with them.

If you look even further back than the legend of Eostre, you can find plenty evidence of ancient cultures decorating and giving eggs in Spring. For more than 3000 years, the Chinese have been painting eggs red for spring festivals, the Zorastrians (Middle East - 2500 years ago) offered colored eggs on their New Year's Eve which is at the start of spring, and the Druids (Western Europe - 6000 years ago) used them in ceremonies held on the spring equinox (when day and night are of equal length). Incredibly, a large stash of 60, 000 year old ostrich egg shells found at Diepkloof Rock Shelter in South Africa had detailed patterns scratched onto them.

Today, Easter is celebrated in many countries, in many ways.

- In Eastern Europe people use wax and dye to create detailed designs on hard-boiled eggs.
- In the Netherlands and Germany Easter fires are lit at sunset on Easter Sunday.
- In Bermuda kites are flown.
- In Nordic countries, the Easter holiday is associated with murder mysteries. Major TV stations run crime and detective marathons and publishing houses release novels just before Easter.
- In Finland, Sweden and Denmark small children dress as witches and go door-to-door collecting chocolate eggs.
- In Switzerland (the land of cuckoo clocks) the cuckoo brings the eggs.
- In Westphalia (a region of Germany) a fox brings the eggs.
- In the United Kingdom egg knocking competitions are held. Competitors line up and knock eggs together. If an egg is cracked the competitor is out.
- In the United States of America, an Easter Party for children is hosted by the President. A highlight of this event is the egg rolling race.

Source : Ezinearticles

Light Painting With Photography

The whole basis of photography is the reaction between light and a light-sensitive material, such as film. While most people rely on this reaction solely for capturing memories of times they shared with friends and families, others utilize photography as a form of art. One intriguing type of art photography is light painting.

Light painting was made famous by Man Ray, the avant-garde American photographer who called the technique "space writing." Now, light painting is popular in a variety of different fields, such as wedding photography. You might have seen a picture of a bride and groom drawing a heart in the air with the light from a firework sparkler.

On the other hand, you might have accidentally participated in light painting. If you take pictures in darkened areas without the flash on, sometimes cameras will automatically lengthen shutter time. Thus, if you move or bump the camera while the shutter is open, you may notice any sources of light to be oddly streaked in the same pattern as your movement. This is unintentional light painting.

Light painting is basically smearing the appearance of a light source across your photo, whether film or digital. As the light traces its way across your viewing screen, it also forms a streak across your picture. When you control this movement, you can can create interesting shapes and images from the light, which will stand out from the darker background.

When you are looking to perform light painting, there are a few things that you can do for set up. First, you will probably have to change a couple settings on your camera. Make sure that your flash is off; otherwise, it can spoil the brightened effect. Additionally, you may have to lengthen the amount of time that your shutter is open by slowing its speed. This will give you enough time to form the shape that you want out of the light.

Of course, you need to choose a darkened area so that your source of light will show up. You also need to pick what the main light source will be. This may be a flashlight that someone is waving, or a solitary light that you will turn into a streak by moving your camera. If you want to capture an image of moving light, you should consider putting your camera on a tripod or other stationary object so that your accidental movements do not throw off the trace of light. If you want to make a stationary light seem like it is moving, you can move your camera in the same pattern that you wish to appear in light on your film.

Source : ezinearticles

The German Romantic Landscape Painter - Caspar David Friedrich

Nineteenth century, German 'Romantic' landscape painter, Caspar David Friedrich was born on September 5, 1774, in Greifswald, to candle-maker, Adolf Gottlieb Friedrich and Sophie Dorothea Bechly. By the age of thirteen, Caspar had lost his mother, sister, and brother.

His artistic career began with his coaching under Johann Gottfried Quistrop, a friend of the 'Romantic' poet, Ludwig Theobul Kosegarten. Ludwig introduced Friedrich to 'Romanticism' and willed him to develop his own faculty of analyzing picturesque landscapes. Ludwig, himself fascinated by 'Megaliths' in architecture, encouraged Friedrich to give place to local 'Megaliths' as his artistic themes. From 1794 to 1798, the painter studied at the Academy of Copenhagan, concentrating solely on understanding the intricacies of 'landscape painting.'

In 1798, Friedrich migrated to the German center of the 'Romantic Movement' in Dresden. Here he met painter Philipp Otto Runge and poets, Novalis & Ludwig Tieck. In addition, here, Friedrich forayed into printmaking with etchings and woodcuts, which were exclusively designed for some very close friends of his. In 1805, the artist won a prize for two of his 'Sepia' drawings, "Procession at Dawn" and "Fisher-Folk by the Sea," at a Weimar Competition.

Friedrich's first major painting, "The Cross in the Mountains (1807)," an altarpiece panel, depicted a crucified Christ in the midst of natural surroundings. This painting became trendsetter, as for the first time an altarpiece carried landscapes. Another work of his, "Abbey under Oak Trees (1809-10)," centered on a death scene, was donated to the Berlin Academy in 1810. During this period, 'Mysticism' encircled Caspar David's style of painting, with a smooth blending of 'Realism' and 'Romanticism'. In his 'allegorical' landscape paintings, inconsequential figures seem contemplative, enamored by the vastness of nature, and transfixed in its enigma. In his dramatic painting, "Monk by the Sea (1809)," a lonely figure is portrayed, exposed to the echoing sounds of the vast sea.

In 1816, Friedrich entered the Dresden Academy, and held the post of an Assistant Professor in 1824. On January 21, 1818, he married Caroline Bommer, after which his paintings began exhibiting a transition towards a more 'figurative' style. This change was a direct result of the change in Caspar's personal circumstances, where he started attaching greater importance to human life and relationships.

Friedrich's career as a painter flourished under the patronage of Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich and poet Vasily Zhukovsky. During his later years, his paintings came under criticism for being too bleak and devoid of emotions. Due to this, his popularity took a beating. His works during this period were representative of mainly, ship and harbor scenes, while some of them dealt with the human lifecycle. His melancholy mood, prevalent around this time, was symbolized in his paintings, where he often delved in the themes of the threshold between life and death.

In 1835, Caspar David suffered a stroke, which left him incapacitated to paint further. He died five years later on May 7, 1840. He was an exception of his times, his works touching the innate romantic strings in the heart of the onlooker. Throughout, he considered himself an interpreter of the nature's glory. Caspar David Friedrich's most magnificent works include "Old Heroes' Graves (1812)," "The Cross Beside The Baltic (1815)," "Moonrise Over The Sea (1822)," "Graveyard Under Snow (1826)," "The Oak Tree in the Snow (1829)," and "Seashore by Moonlight (1835-36)."

Source : ezinearticles

Selecting the Best Frame For Landscape Paintings

If real estate agents have the phrase "location, location, location" etched in their mind as they look at properties, then art collectors and enthusiasts should have "presentation, presentation, presentation" in theirs. Indeed, presenting the piece of art the guests and visitors is one of the areas where otherwise good art collectors and newcomers to the art world tend to stumble. There's an assumption among newcomers to art that a painting, especially one that's within the landscape paintings family, does not need a special frame. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth -- the difference between landscape paintings that are unframed or with poorly selected frames and ones that have appropriate frames and mats are quite visible. Given how many times the subject of picking out frames comes up in discussion, it makes sense that people are naturally curious about such an important subject.

At the heart of selecting the best frame for landscape paintings lies one key concept: patience. The root problem of poorly selected frames is often a lack of patience during the selection process. In other words, you can't rush picking a frame for landscape paintings. Given that landscape paintings tend to have no "movement" visible, it's even more important to highlight and showcase their great qualities even more than you would for other types of paintings.

The good news is that getting a good frame can be broken down into a series of steps that can be followed each and every time in order to get the results that you deserve.

Remember that selecting a frame is all about selecting something that will complement the art it surrounds, not be the star of the show. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is that they go for a frame that totally overshadows the art, making it look very tacky and out of place. If the frame is too fancy, it can send the wrong message altogether -- you want to convey an air of modesty while staying elegant, rather than calling to much attention to the cost of the frame.

On the other hand, that is not to say that you should select a "cheap" frame for your landscape paintings. Most of the dissatisfaction that people experience with art frames comes from getting something that isn't of high quality. If it looks like the frame will be flimsy, it's not a good frame. Budget will definitely play a role in what frame you end up getting -- after all, virtually no one has an unlimited budget. If you want to make sure that you preserve your budget and not go over, you will want to filter out any frame that goes over the upper limit of your budget you have for the trip.

Overall, buying the best frame for a landscape painting will boil down to selecting something that truly complements the artwork and really brings it to life. That's going to be different for every landscape painting, so you'll definitely want to take your time -- patience is truly a virtue!

Source : ezinearticles

Online Drawings - Draw Your Heart Out

If you are an artistic person and are fond of drawing, then you will surely enjoy the budding concept of online drawings. Online drawings have really gained some popularity over time since they have given a chance to so many people to give their imagination and creativity a chance to be materialized.

Online drawing over the internet offers many types of drawings that can be undertaken by artists and people who want to create an opportunity of fun and entertainment for themselves. You are given the option of so many drawings on the website. For example, you can draw your favorite cartoon character, some scenic beauty or some great portrait with the most developed tools and techniques that are available at these online drawing websites.

Drawing your favorite sketches and cartoon characters is one of the most unique features that are offered by online drawing. You can use your imagination and creativity to give numerous expressions to these cartoon characters and make the funniest caricatures as well. You can make the most complicated cartoon characters of all and give the perfection that they need. Online sketches and cartoon characters actually give you most fantastic of all the ideas of developing and creating expressions on them and you can use the online drawings mechanism for that purpose. The various options of shading, coloring and giving different appearances to the character actually make it look so funny and entertaining.

Online drawings are not only popular amongst teenagers but also adults and aging people who really enjoy such items of creativity and expression. Moreover, all these drawing forums give you tutorial and help sessions that help you understand the various techniques of drawing with software tools. You can also join various communities and groups in these online forums where you can chat with like-minded friends and individuals who can share their tips and tricks of online drawing with you.

With the great software of online drawings, you can create a variety of pictures and portraits that will give you the feel of how artistic you are as a person. All these drawing and sketching websites are for free and you don't have to pay any registration fee to get registered with them. If you end up developing this entire concept as a hobby, you actually gain higher levels of experience with the drawing software and you can even install advanced level software into your PC for better practice. By getting the hang of such a technique, you can do so much with pictures, portraits and play around with creative ideas making your life full of enjoyable amusement.

So get going with drawing anything that you wish and fill your life with the artistic way of living and enjoying yourself. You can really draw your heart out with the option of drawing anything that you want.

Source : ezinearticles

Romanticism - Artists Painting Love and Romance

n the field of art the word 'Romanticism' has a specific meaning. It conveys the concept of showing sentimentality on one hand; and on another it refers to the lack of idealism or reality that confines the artistic passion. For artists falling under the category of romanticism, the expression was the paramount element. They wanted freedom of expression, and they did it ignoring the social norms and the rules set by convention. Leaving every obstacle aside and trying to reclaim the artistic freedom, the romanticism artists filled their canvases with free play of emotion and imagination.

The artists known as the romantic painters were fantastic lovers of the nature. In addition to their unmatched genius, these artists possessed passion for the artistic depiction. While painting persons romantic artists take look very minutely to the factors like the struggled the person had faced and the mood they generally remained occupied.

The subjects the artists followed in the romanticism movement of art were varied, but they have reserved their heart for the human nature and the aspects of men and women that would reveal his or her personality. Some of them had painted subjects showing culture and their ethnic origins; and some have chosen to paint. The following are some of the artists whom we can brand as the artists of romanticism era.

The romanticism artists would not only look at the methods of paintings, they would try painting emotions through the brushes loaded with their artistic prowess. The play of boundless emotion would be the base, a romantic artist would consider as primary goal. The realistic approach or following of the rules set by convention were not vital for these artists. They saw how the figure could be showing emotions and how far the basic elements like emotions were revealed on canvas.

The artists following the tradition of romantic paintings have done very well in the field of figurative painting. Most of the figurative artists experience that the beauty is beyond the figure of a model. This leads an artist to infuse his or her ideas of beauty to ascribe to the model first; and then to paint the same on a canvas. This is the reason why the eyes of viewers looking at such painting would find something 'body plus' in it. A figurative painting by a romanticism painter is not the photocopy of a model that sits before the artist. These artists add the element of beauty through their artistic endeavours.

Source : ezinearticles

Abstract Oil Paintings - Easy to Start, Easy to Do!

Abstract oil painting is an easy gateway to the world of oil paintings for a budding artist. In abstract art, the novice artist does not have to paint anything complicated. In fact, just a few geometric shapes properly placed together with some color thrown in, and the artist is on the path to creating a true masterpiece. Abstract art is such a subjective art style, due to the simple fact that even if a viewer does not know exactly the message the artist was trying to convey through the painting, the person can still form his/her own idea and feelings regarding the work of art. That is the true beauty of abstract oil paintings.

The Beginning

The art of abstract painting had its roots started by eminent late 19th century painters like Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, and other master artists. Abstract artists relied on complex geometrical shapes and rich, vibrant colors to express their ideas on canvas. Artists of this era followed a style in which their paintings do not generally resemble the actual models or subject matter. There are exceptions, of course, like Vincent Van Gogh's drawings, which resembled the base models to some extent, but were differently colored to express the artist's feelings.

Getting Started

Once an artist decides to create an abstract painting using oil on canvas, he/she only needs to let their imagination run wild. The artist is free to play around with shapes and colors to his/her heart's content. But the paintings do need to be colored vividly in order to showcase the essence of the oil painting to the viewer. The outline of the oil painting is also crucial and the artist should not change the main outline of the oil painting once it has been created.

Moving On

Once the few initial oil paintings have been successfully created and the artist feels that he/she has acquired enough skill and confidence, moving on to more complex artwork is easy. The process is very emotionally rewarding to the artist, as he/she looks at the finished canvas and sees a work of art that expresses his/her own feelings depicted by complex shapes and a kaleidoscope of colors.

Getting Rewarded

Skilled abstract artists can make a comfortable living by selling their own works to collectors or art enthusiasts. Many professional artists are quite successful by selling their oil paintings through online art galleries or art shops.

Abstract art can be an emotionally and financially rewarding hobby. Artists with little or no experience in creating art can easily take up abstract art painting as their way of expressing their inner self. All it takes is a little imagination, and some patience.

Source : ezinearticles

Classicism and Its Mystic Magic

Neo-Classicism - The Concept

Neo-Classicism is the tag given to a distinct Western Classical Artistic talents and cultural movements, evident in different art genres, such as decorative, literary, musical, visual art, theatre, etc. Neo-Classicism, a European style beginning in 1765 AD, was very prominent in the eighteenth & nineteenth centuries, and had Ancient Roman, Greek, & Renaissance Classist influences. In essence, Neo-Classicism was a creative counter to Baroque and Rococo. A painting that has gained the 'Canonic' status represents Neo-Classicism. The standard of the artwork is very high and a typical Neo-Classical painter tries to give a new feel to the art forms, while exhibiting the complete control of an expression. Today, architecture is the frontrunner of Neo-Classicism, with the US and Britain being the key builders.

Neo-Classicist Examples

o The French painter Jacques Louis David (1748-1825) was the first successful Neo-Classical artist, who derived his themes from the Medieval History and the great French Revolution. His "The Death of Socrates" (1787), one of the iconic Neo-Classicist works is presently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
o Jean August Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) succeeded him. Artists worldwide loved Ingres' famous artworks, including "La Comtesse d'Haussonville portrait." The touch of romance and subtle Eroticism are also demonstrated in his paintings, the "The Turkish Bath" and "The Virgin of the Host."
o Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873), a highly acclaimed English Victorian Neo-Classicist painter's art works are housed in many prestigious museums and galleries in the US and the UK. His Neo-Classical masterpiece, the "Duchess of Abercorn and her Daughter" (1834), is housed in the Shugborough Hall, Staffordshire, UK. "There's No Place Like Home" is a lovely painting of a dog reclining near the heart, which presently graces the Victoria and Albert Museum of London.
o August Anton Tischbein (1801- 1877), a German Neo-Classicist's Trieste (1858), is currently housed in the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, Spain.

Neo-Classicism - The Details

Most of such Neo-Classical Western Paintings were oil on canvas works and subtle colors were used to portray strong emotions. Initially, Neo-Classical Paintings were all about fixed, ideal, and solemn tones. Later, with the arrival of the Romantic Movement in France, Neo-Classist paintings gave vent to personal expressions and inert sensuality. The Neo-Classical style can also be seen in the seventeenth century furniture and decorative artworks. Neo-Classicism was the pulse of the art forms during the seventeenth and eighteenth century, but it called for great discipline and intellectual approach towards depicting intense human emotions, activities, or historic scenes.

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Monet Paintings - Famous Claude Monet Art

Claude Monet, one of the founder members of Impressionist art, and someone who also played a key role in maintaining Paris' standing as the world's art city is someone who deserves great scrutiny for the work he achieved during his long and illustrious career. In this article we discuss a few of his most important contributions to French art and leave resources at the end for those wishing to learn more about this incredible artist.

For much of his career Monet loved to travel around Europe and use local scenes as his subjects for his impressionist landscape paintings. As time grew on Monet spent most of his time in his beloved garden that he constructed in France as a perfect venue for his paintings. Impressionist art often requires painting during a small window of opportunity during the day, where lighting and weather are exactly as required. By setting up this beautiful garden in Giverny, Monet was more flexible with his opportunities to paint, and also had perfect control over his subjects, be it his Japanese-style bridge or the water lilies and other flowers that adorned his garden.

Monet's early career was what landed him his reputation and style from which he built upon in later life. Some of his key works from the 1860s to 1880s include Le déjeuner sur l'herbe, Jardin à Sainte-Adresse, Poppies Blooming, Woman with a Parasol & Rue Montorgueil. Monet then went on to create some his best known series of works, with series of Haystacks, Poplars, and some set in Venice and London following. His most famous sets of artworks were to follow upon the construction of his garden in Giverny, where Water Lilies, Nympheas & his Japanese bridge were portrayed in his most famous set of art works, even surpassing his earlier Impression, Sunrise which had given this new art movement, of which he was so important, its very name.

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Spiritual Painting Journey - Art as Meditation

When you see a clear river you're less afraid to go out into its deep waters. It's peaceful. You stay in it longer, and you even let your feet touch its bottom. Like a crystal clear river, a clear mind is the key to being at peace and living in the present moment. A mind filled with the murkiness of worry and haste is a confused and overloaded mind that will increase stress, lower productivity and lead the way to unhappiness and ill health. I have found that by painting intuitively, not only do I clear my mind, but I receive spiritual healing seated deep within my heart.

There are many ways to slow down and release our worries, to exist in the present moment and be at one with the creative flow. In other words, there are many ways to meditate. Meditation is a journey inward. When the mind dissolves and is free of all thoughts there is a connection at the heart of our spirit; there is a childlike joy in existing. This feeling of contentment helps us cope with the busyness of life and bonds us with a pure ocean of peace.

Whether we know it or not, all of us have meditated before. Maybe not in the eastern Yogic sense, but we have all silenced the mind perhaps by listening to gentle music, lying on the beach, or immersing ourselves in the stillness of a hobby. Being that I am an artist, I've retreated to the quiet places of painting and drawing pretty much my whole life. Sometimes, without any idea of what I would paint, I would allow my intuition to choose colors and begin forming free flowing lines that were both a connection of my spirit and a creative journey of intuitive oneness. It wasn't until the past few years that I consciously became aware of my art as a form of meditation and connection to God.

And you don't have to be an artist to practice intuitive art. Anyone can take part in using art as meditation. And if you do, over time you will find within the confines of the peace that you receive there is a spiritual connection in your act of creativity which is tied to God the Creator. After all, we are ourselves a creation with a will to create, and when we explore this gift we are living in acceptance, we are taking the time to remove our "self" to unfold a journey within the higher realms of light and love. When you feel this sense of well-being that God is within you and around you, like a proud father smiling at his son or daughter, you know that anything that brings you together must be right. You also know that the simple intuitive painting that you just embarked on, was really a spiritual and creative journey to happiness, to love, the place where God resides.

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Persian Miniature - Art of Heart and History

During 15th century, the miniature paintings in contemporary Persia and Turkey were characterized by a forcefulness and realism. It was unlike their predecessors. At this time some of the masters of miniature paintings had begun putting their signatures on their works. It was the time of master painter Bihzad, (1440-1514). His style was more dramatic and intense than his contemporaries. He chose individuals, their characters, and their affairs of everyday life as subject matter of his miniature paintings. The liveliness embedded in each character painted in the frames of Bihzad is quite artistic.

Though the Miniature painting was a prominent art since 13th century, it was on peak during 15th and 16th centuries. In Persia during the last years of fourteenth century, there had emerged a school of miniature painting known as Shiraz. During this period the artists used brilliant colours. Their landscapes were elegantly painted. One novel feature of perception is visible in the paintings of this period, depicting freely drawn birds, flowers in margins, and figures and their faces shown clearly. This painting style illustrates realistic turn of the art of painting in Persia.

The Shiraz School of later 14th century Persia is distinguished by its brilliance of coloring and presence of gorgeous landscapes; by the frequent inclusion of freely drawn bird and flower motifs in the margins; and by faces and figures with rounded contours. These faces had fine lines, narrow eyes, and rather characteristic sideways glances. A newly applied technique of vertical perspective is evident wherein the figures and objects are shown one over another. However the paintings of the ponds and carpets still were painted as flat figures.

The symbolic decorative basis of Persian painting is fully apparent in the paintings of 15th century. The flowers bask in the brilliance of daylight while the stars shine in sky. It was masterly combination of the style of realism with symbolism. The artists were completely unbounded by practicality of naturalism, yet the approach of theory remained completely comprehensible.

Miniatures of this period many a time utilized a new aide for producing perspective: the inclusion of hills and other natural elements in the background. Scenes were frequently staged on what appears to be the edge of a precipice, with horizon indicated by a sudden drop in landscape. Figures in extreme background look as if they are climbing up an inevitable hill behind, their heads and shoulders appearing over the imaginary horizon. This is the real beauty of paintings done by master painter Bihzad.

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Have Fun With Your Children - Take Them To The Museum!

Museums have so much to offer kids and parents nowadays, for some of you this article covers what you may already know. Yet, if you're not experienced with entertaining your children [or your nieces and nephews you may not realise that taking them to a museum is lots of fun!

First off, museum activities are mainly going to interest 3 and 4 year olds up to say, 9 to 10 years. Younger than three and the child will be happy with just about anything that can be safely "destroyed" and makes noise. Older than 10 and they're entering the pre-adolescent phase of being far to grown up to do anything so childish. Check the age rating and, if in doubt, contact the organisation as activities are often aimed at younger children and the older ones may get bored.

So, you live in an area saturated with museums, which should you choose from?

- Bus, train and tram museums are great if the kids can climb all over the vehicles. Go for ones that offer rides and have some green space for a picnic lunch.

- Don't restrict yourself to wheeled vehicles though, if you're near water, there may be a maritime museum. Near an air field? You may not be able to take the kids on an aeroplane ride, but there's usually an old plane that can be explored and an opportunity to pretend.

- Pick a museum that has an exhibition either aimed directly at kids or is featuring an area that really interests your kids. Vikings or Pirates, Forensic investigation, Egyptian mummies and, of course, dinosaurs, are all likely to capture the imagination of your young ones. There are plenty of exhibitions out there. Be flexible and prepared to think "outside the box".

- Kids love ice creams, cakes, and sweets. It's a fact of life. Check to see which museum offers "kid-friendly" eateries. By kid-friendly, I mean food and drink that's not too expensive, service that is near instant and space to spread out a little.

- Activities for kids can be as varied as making jewellery, interactive demonstrations and tracking down clues to solve a puzzle. They are nearly always related to the musuem's featured exhibition and are designed to hold childrens' interest for at least 30 minutes. Pick an activity you'll think your children might like or simply ask them which they prefer. Some museum's will have supervised groups where you can leave the children while you check out the exhibitions by yourself. This is ideal if you have an older child with you.

- Make getting there part of the adventure. If you would normally drive, consider riding the bus or train. If public transport isn't an option then come up with a drive that goes through areas of interest. Either mode of transport can also be tailored to allow a walk through a park or similar.

- Which brings us to the last point, are there parks near the museum? Botanical Gardens, interesting buildings, anything touristy at all? Allow time for a relaxing stroll either before or after your museum visit. Green space to run around in and a sculpture or rocks to climb over will release any pent-up energy before you go home and add to the whole experience.

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10 Birthday Party Themes You'll Love

If you're having a birthday party then maybe you'll want something a bit different this year. Why don't you think about some of the amazing birthday party themes you could have, and see which one appeals to you most?

Here are some ideas.

1. What about a 60s theme where you come dressed for the Summer of Love? With a laid back peaceful attitude and long wigs and cool clothes, you're sure to have a great time!

2. The 70s saw platform heels and sparkly over the top outfits and ambitious make up, and that was just the boys! Why not see whether you can outdo some of the glam rock stars of the era and have party you'll never forget?

3. The decade that taste forgot is often applied to the 80s. Why not relive, or experience this decade for the first time, with shoulder pads, leg warmers, power dressing and looking like a yuppie or a Sloane ranger. Will you be one of the Kids from Fame, or Wall Street?

4. What could be better than a James Bond birthday party theme? You'll never have a better excuse to get dressed up in your tux or evening gown, and act like a spy or a Bond girl. You might not have the cars or the gadgets, but you can enjoy a vodka martini. Shaken, not stirred!

5. You might be feeling lucky, so why not have a casino birthday party theme? With a croupier, and many gaming tables you can win big or lose your shirt. When so much depends on the roll of a dice, birthday parties are rarely this exciting!

6. If you're a fan of the celebrity, then what about a Hollywood birthday party theme? Your guests will come as their favourite celeb, and be treated to an evening of indulgence and luxurious pampering, so you'll feel just like a real celeb.

7. An ice sculpture birthday party theme might seem a bit ostentatious, but it will be a talking point and a fantastic way to get people talking. Why not serve drinks through the ice sculpture and see how long it takes before everyone is in the party spirit?

8. A tropical birthday party theme might see ambitious if you're more used to rain, but it can be a fantastic excuse to dress up in a hula skirt or beachwear, and will be one of the most memorable birthday parties you guests will ever attend.

9. Maybe you've got your own ideas for what you want at your party. You might have been to a few birthday parties and know exactly what you do and don't want for your own party. Why not be as ambitious or understated as you like, after all, it's your party!

10. If you're really struggling for ideas, or want help to arrange everything, then why not ask a party planner for help? They'll have plenty of experience and be able to assist you with everything from choosing the date and venue, to the entertainment and food.

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Cake Decorating Classes For Advanced Decorating Techniques

Whether you are a hobbyist or a professional, you will find a variety of advanced cake decorating classes, online or in the community. Why would you want to attend a cake decorating class? There are many different reasons. You can:

• Expand your repertoire of cake decorating techniques
• Work with others on a special project such as a wedding cake or 3D sculpture
• Increase your skill with a specific technique
• Learn from a professional instructor
• Tune into current trends, methods, recipes, and ingredients
• Meet other people with similar interests
• Learn about how to start a business.

Where Are Courses Offered?

Cake decorating classes are offered by large arts and crafts stores, food craft stores, small bakeries, large grocery stores, community centers, high schools, community colleges, and culinary schools. Courses are also offered on online. Online courses are easy to use and can be a convenient and affordable option.

What Types Of Courses Are Offered?

In depth courses last from several weeks to a year. They come as Master classes or professional training programs. Some programs offer professional certification recognized by local or national culinary associations. If you are in business or thinking about a business venture, having accreditation is an asset.

Shorter courses last a day or include several sessions. These programs focus on special projects or specific techniques, such as fondant, marzipan, string work, air brush, sculptures, and gum paste.

There are also a variety of online courses. These provide step-by-step video instruction, photo galleries, and email networking. When researching these courses use your favorite search engine to connect to individual cake decorating courses. Also look for online schools and online courses offered by community colleges. Some online programs offer personalized assessment and a certificate on completion.

A Cake Decorating Course Can Help Start a Business

Whether you are employed in the food industry or you are a home hobbyist, you may be dreaming about starting your own cake decorating business. Some courses will provide you with information about creating a business plan, purchasing and managing inventory, commercial equipment, storage, display, and transportation.

Key Benefits of Taking Cake Decorating Classes

When you enroll in a course you may have very specific goals in mind. Beyond these goals there are key benefits that you can gain from any program:

1. Connections with other professionals and enthusiasts
2. Encouragement and feedback
3. Creative cake decorating ideas and tips.

Cake decorating is a craft, an art, and a culinary activity. Your creations are made for everyday life and for celebrations. Taking cake decorating classes from time to time is a great way to energize your creativity; and to stay on top of current trends and appetites.

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Art Deco Posters - What to Collect?

Whether you just want something stylish to hang on your wall, or you are a serious collector, Art Deco posters represent the best in graphic design that we have seen this century.

The growth of consumerism, along with developments in printing techniques, meant that there was a flowering of the advertising industry in the 1920s and 1930s such as had never been seen before. Competition meant that graphic design became a profession in its own right, as manufacturers vied with each other for the most striking designs for their products.

It was before the days of television, and radio advertising was in its infancy. So the poster was the main means of expression for the ad men of the day.

Art Deco posters are the legacy that we have today from that outpouring of design talent. Poster designs from the era are more well-known today than many of the fine art paintings of the time.

Shipping Posters

Although everyone has seen the famous Art Deco poster of the SS Normandie, and many other shipping posters of the time, how many of us know the name of Cassandre, probably the best of the Art Deco poster designers. He concentrated on transport posters mainly, and created a whole new artistic genre, which was imitated by many other poster designers throughout the world. Cassandre's posters are highly collectable today and fetch many thousands of dollars.

Travel and Leisure

There was a great demand for leisure travel in the 1920s and 1930s, it was the age of the ocean liner, the train and the airplane. Everyone was fanatical about speed and in the 1930s, everything was streamlined. The travel and leisure posters of the day reflect that. Posters that really stand out from the period were commissioned by London Transport and the London Underground. London Zoo and other attractions also had memorable poster designs. Roger Broders designed many fabulous posters promoting the French riviera, and the playgrounds of the rich and famous. Many had sporting themes, such as skiing, golf, the beach or the ice rink.

Theatre and Jazz

The theatre and music hall also inspired a rich outpouring of posters. Josephine Baker was the muse of many an artist, but particularly Paul Colin who designed the famous Revue Negre and a large series of posters entitled "Le Tumulte Noir" inspired by a huge event "the Bal Negre" which 3000 Parisiens attended. The arrival in France of Jazz musicians from the USA in the 1920s meant that jazz was also an enormous influence on the graphic designers of the day, and there are many bold and stunning posters for jazz concerts.

Movies

Movies are another poster collecting area. Metropolis is probably the most iconic of the Art Deco posters inspired by the movies, though there are many more.

Beauty

Beauty products were a huge advertising area, as well as the more mundane toiletries - toothpaste and such. There are many attractive posters for perfumes, fashions, makeup and more that would be a great area for collecting. The pochoir print was a technique used particularly by the illustrators of fashion designs, and were hand coloured. These appeared in specialist magazines and were of excellent quality. These are a great area to collect as there are still many available and they are still very affordable, as well as being highly decorative.

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