I am not very good at keeping a scrapbook together. I love the idea, and I do love to do them, but I simply do not have the time to do them as I wish I could. I like to commemorate special times and vacations though, and I always take a lot of photos when we go away. Instead of worrying about getting things into a scrapbook, I decided to start using collage picture frames to hold my memories. This has worked out well for me, and I am glad that I have decided that this is the way to go.
I buy large collage picture frames each time I have a new adventure that I wish to remember in detail. I choose among the pictures for the very best ones, and those are the ones I print out on my computer, or have done at the local photo shop. I put them in the collage picture frames, and then I also add anything else that might help us remember. This might be something like ticket stubs, or any other keepsake from the vacation. It’s not possible to do with for every small trip we take, but I always do it for the very special occasions.
The one problem I do have is space. I have my collage picture frames hanging in my bedroom, but I am running out of space. Until I have a larger home with an office to hang them in, I am going to have to be very choosy about what pictures and events I wish to have in collage picture frames. They can be overwhelming in a small space. However, they are a quick and easy way to remember the important moments, and they are always right there when you want to look at them without having to dig out the scrapbook.
The best thing about collage picture frames is that they are easy to find, and they come in a lot of different styles. It’s rather simple to find one that will reflect the style of your home and blend in well with your décor. They also range in price, so you don’t have to spend a lot to get a decent one. They are easy to fill, and you don’t have to have a lot of time to put one together. They can also be found with plastic instead of glass if you are worried about breakage.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Ancient Greek Statues
I have always loved ancient art, but particularly ancient Greek statues and vases. As an American, living in a time where excess is the chief aesthetic, it is inspiring to see an art that revels in proportion instead of extremes. Ancient Greek statues often try to portray themes of beauty in the body, but they do not do it by overstating everything. An ancient Greek statue of a man will not be pumped up to huge proportions. A depiction of a goddess figure will not have ridiculous curves that would be out of place in any place but Los Angeles. They strive to make things look right – beautiful in a simple, human way.
Of course, like most people, real ancient Greek art is out of reach for me. There are fewer and fewer ancient Greek statues, and most of them are fragmentary. Many of the originals are worth millions of dollars, and if you even live near Museum with a good display of Greek ancient statues in it, you can count yourself lucky. That doesn't mean that ancient Greek art is out of reach, however. There are collectible figurines, posters, photos, and other depictions that are available to everyone. From decorative urns and garden ornaments to museum quality pieces inspired by the original artwork of the ancient Greeks, there's quite a bit to choose from.
You have to be careful, however, because not all of the ancient Greek statues are of the same quality. The rule is buyer beware. This doesn't matter to all collectors. Some people are just looking for something that they find artistically inspiring. If this is you, look wherever your eye is drawn. If an ancient Greek statue replica appeals to you, by all means pick it up. For those of us who are more into historical authenticity, however, it can be a little harder to choose. My advice is to look at as much into Greek artwork as you can to get a feel for how it should appear. Sometimes, it is hard to judge quality until you have seen quite a few examples.
Of course, if you are drawn to ancient artifacts you might consider getting something else. Ancient Roman coins, for example, are great collectors items. Many of them are fairly affordable, and they let you have a piece of antiquity for yourself. Best of all, they can make a great conversation starter if you leave them on the mantelpiece or coffee table where they can be seen.
Of course, like most people, real ancient Greek art is out of reach for me. There are fewer and fewer ancient Greek statues, and most of them are fragmentary. Many of the originals are worth millions of dollars, and if you even live near Museum with a good display of Greek ancient statues in it, you can count yourself lucky. That doesn't mean that ancient Greek art is out of reach, however. There are collectible figurines, posters, photos, and other depictions that are available to everyone. From decorative urns and garden ornaments to museum quality pieces inspired by the original artwork of the ancient Greeks, there's quite a bit to choose from.
You have to be careful, however, because not all of the ancient Greek statues are of the same quality. The rule is buyer beware. This doesn't matter to all collectors. Some people are just looking for something that they find artistically inspiring. If this is you, look wherever your eye is drawn. If an ancient Greek statue replica appeals to you, by all means pick it up. For those of us who are more into historical authenticity, however, it can be a little harder to choose. My advice is to look at as much into Greek artwork as you can to get a feel for how it should appear. Sometimes, it is hard to judge quality until you have seen quite a few examples.
Of course, if you are drawn to ancient artifacts you might consider getting something else. Ancient Roman coins, for example, are great collectors items. Many of them are fairly affordable, and they let you have a piece of antiquity for yourself. Best of all, they can make a great conversation starter if you leave them on the mantelpiece or coffee table where they can be seen.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
HOW TO FIND THE BEST DIGITAL CAMERA
It seems that every month, if not every week, different manufacturers are coming up with the latest digital cameras to entice potential clients. And it's just not working for us!
After spending sizeable amount of time at the mall figuring out which is the best digital camera for us, we finally have enough money to buy for that eye-popping, 7 mega pixel, 10x digital zoom, potable, candy colored, up to 512MB expandable memory of super hi-speed SD memory card and not to mention very portable, (that will be the envy of almost everyone we know). We march to the mall armed with our life savings and lotsa pride in ourselves, when we pass by a new display - an eight mega pixel, up to 1G expandable memory, with built it mic and stereo surround, video playback capable, with 22 scenic modes kind-of-camera. And we sigh because the producer of this amazing gadget claims that this is the best digital camera yet out in the market. And so as we always want to have the best, armed with our life savings and a few credit cards, we buy the "best digital camera." But then again, that doesn't last too long, after two months or so, there's another "best digital camera."
And so it confuses us. What makes a digital camera, the best digital camera?
Well, there are certain factors to consider when looking for the "best digital camera" for us.
MEGAPIXELS. One of the most important features of digital camera to make it into the best digital camera category is its mega pixel property. The higher the mega pixels the better the actual photograph will come out. A mega pixel is equivalent to one million pixels. The resolution of your image is based upon the mega pixel property of your camera. This means that as you enlarge the picture, you would get more detail and less blurry colors.
LCD SIZE. The best digital camera will always have a large LCD to help you frame your subject without having to squint to the viewfinder. This is also helpful when reviewing your images, some cameras enable touch up and editing features with its LCD. A 1.5-inch display is average, a 2-inch LCD display is good, but the best LCD size would be 2.5 inches or higher.
ZOOM. Most digital cameras have both digital and optical zoom. A higher optical zoom is always better than a higher digital zoom. Digital cameras are usually furnished with optical of between 3x to 10x. The better the optical zoom, the higher it climbs up to the best digital camera category.
MEMORY CARD. Always make sure that your memory card is the right one for your digital camera. There are different types of memory card like the xD, SD, Flash card and the likes. And these types of memory cards go with certain types of digital cameras. of course memory storage is also up there in choosing the best digital cameras. Choose the size of memory that you need, if you're a photo junkie, you might need more than 32MB. Memory cards can go up to 1G.
The key point to find the best digital camera is to find one that will best fit you and your lifestyle. Don't just buy the latest or the one that claims they are the best digital cameras out in the market. You wouldn't want to buy a DSLR and use it with your home activities or family outing and have to lug it around?! Or you don't want to buy the latest point and shoot camera when you're serious about being a professional photographer. (Of course, you can use this for starters, but if you're not a novice photographer anymore, you wouldn't want to get this kind of camera.)
Actually, the best digital camera is the one that you will enjoy and use. Not the type that you'll just leave rotting in its box or after a few weeks of usage or so, up there in the attic.
After spending sizeable amount of time at the mall figuring out which is the best digital camera for us, we finally have enough money to buy for that eye-popping, 7 mega pixel, 10x digital zoom, potable, candy colored, up to 512MB expandable memory of super hi-speed SD memory card and not to mention very portable, (that will be the envy of almost everyone we know). We march to the mall armed with our life savings and lotsa pride in ourselves, when we pass by a new display - an eight mega pixel, up to 1G expandable memory, with built it mic and stereo surround, video playback capable, with 22 scenic modes kind-of-camera. And we sigh because the producer of this amazing gadget claims that this is the best digital camera yet out in the market. And so as we always want to have the best, armed with our life savings and a few credit cards, we buy the "best digital camera." But then again, that doesn't last too long, after two months or so, there's another "best digital camera."
And so it confuses us. What makes a digital camera, the best digital camera?
Well, there are certain factors to consider when looking for the "best digital camera" for us.
MEGAPIXELS. One of the most important features of digital camera to make it into the best digital camera category is its mega pixel property. The higher the mega pixels the better the actual photograph will come out. A mega pixel is equivalent to one million pixels. The resolution of your image is based upon the mega pixel property of your camera. This means that as you enlarge the picture, you would get more detail and less blurry colors.
LCD SIZE. The best digital camera will always have a large LCD to help you frame your subject without having to squint to the viewfinder. This is also helpful when reviewing your images, some cameras enable touch up and editing features with its LCD. A 1.5-inch display is average, a 2-inch LCD display is good, but the best LCD size would be 2.5 inches or higher.
ZOOM. Most digital cameras have both digital and optical zoom. A higher optical zoom is always better than a higher digital zoom. Digital cameras are usually furnished with optical of between 3x to 10x. The better the optical zoom, the higher it climbs up to the best digital camera category.
MEMORY CARD. Always make sure that your memory card is the right one for your digital camera. There are different types of memory card like the xD, SD, Flash card and the likes. And these types of memory cards go with certain types of digital cameras. of course memory storage is also up there in choosing the best digital cameras. Choose the size of memory that you need, if you're a photo junkie, you might need more than 32MB. Memory cards can go up to 1G.
The key point to find the best digital camera is to find one that will best fit you and your lifestyle. Don't just buy the latest or the one that claims they are the best digital cameras out in the market. You wouldn't want to buy a DSLR and use it with your home activities or family outing and have to lug it around?! Or you don't want to buy the latest point and shoot camera when you're serious about being a professional photographer. (Of course, you can use this for starters, but if you're not a novice photographer anymore, you wouldn't want to get this kind of camera.)
Actually, the best digital camera is the one that you will enjoy and use. Not the type that you'll just leave rotting in its box or after a few weeks of usage or so, up there in the attic.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Water Color Painting
There are many types of painting you can do, and many artists will tell you that they prefer one type of painting over another. Though there are many people, like my father, that prefer to work with oils, there are some that love the look and style of water color painting. These are often softer colors, and can give a beautiful style to a scene that might look brash with oil paints.
The great thing about water color painting is that there is a little more room for error. This is a great way to introduce a young artist to the world of painting strokes and color mixing. Water color painting can be the easiest and hardest type of painting to do. There are some simple tricks you can learn to do this style of painting, and if you want to take a few lessons, you will find that you might just have a talent for the medium. You will find that you can make bold painting by using a little water, or you can go with a soft pastel look by watering your colors down a little more.
Before you can begin water color painting, you have to get the right supplies. Water colors are relatively inexpensive, and you can buy just about any type of canvas you wish to use. In fact, you can buy heavy stock paper for water color painting, and you may find that this is the perfect way to learn how to paint without wasting a lot of money on expensive canvas. You can find great supplies at a local craft or art supply store in your area. You may also find these supplies online, and you may find that you get a better price that way. If you have the bug and think you may be painting for a long time to come, you should buy in bulk to save a huge chunk of change.
If you like the look of water color painting, you can buy them for your home. You may be able to tackle this on your own if you like to create. You may be surprised that even the most inept artwork can have a special look when framed and hung on the wall in your home. Make sure you incorporate some of the colors in your home décor into your water color painting and you may find it to be a great accent in any room.
The great thing about water color painting is that there is a little more room for error. This is a great way to introduce a young artist to the world of painting strokes and color mixing. Water color painting can be the easiest and hardest type of painting to do. There are some simple tricks you can learn to do this style of painting, and if you want to take a few lessons, you will find that you might just have a talent for the medium. You will find that you can make bold painting by using a little water, or you can go with a soft pastel look by watering your colors down a little more.
Before you can begin water color painting, you have to get the right supplies. Water colors are relatively inexpensive, and you can buy just about any type of canvas you wish to use. In fact, you can buy heavy stock paper for water color painting, and you may find that this is the perfect way to learn how to paint without wasting a lot of money on expensive canvas. You can find great supplies at a local craft or art supply store in your area. You may also find these supplies online, and you may find that you get a better price that way. If you have the bug and think you may be painting for a long time to come, you should buy in bulk to save a huge chunk of change.
If you like the look of water color painting, you can buy them for your home. You may be able to tackle this on your own if you like to create. You may be surprised that even the most inept artwork can have a special look when framed and hung on the wall in your home. Make sure you incorporate some of the colors in your home décor into your water color painting and you may find it to be a great accent in any room.
Ancient Greek Statues
I have always loved ancient art, but particularly ancient Greek statues and vases. As an American, living in a time where excess is the chief aesthetic, it is inspiring to see an art that revels in proportion instead of extremes. Ancient Greek statues often try to portray themes of beauty in the body, but they do not do it by overstating everything. An ancient Greek statue of a man will not be pumped up to huge proportions. A depiction of a goddess figure will not have ridiculous curves that would be out of place in any place but Los Angeles. They strive to make things look right – beautiful in a simple, human way.
Of course, like most people, real ancient Greek art is out of reach for me. There are fewer and fewer ancient Greek statues, and most of them are fragmentary. Many of the originals are worth millions of dollars, and if you even live near Museum with a good display of Greek ancient statues in it, you can count yourself lucky. That doesn't mean that ancient Greek art is out of reach, however. There are collectible figurines, posters, photos, and other depictions that are available to everyone. From decorative urns and garden ornaments to museum quality pieces inspired by the original artwork of the ancient Greeks, there's quite a bit to choose from.
You have to be careful, however, because not all of the ancient Greek statues are of the same quality. The rule is buyer beware. This doesn't matter to all collectors. Some people are just looking for something that they find artistically inspiring. If this is you, look wherever your eye is drawn. If an ancient Greek statue replica appeals to you, by all means pick it up. For those of us who are more into historical authenticity, however, it can be a little harder to choose. My advice is to look at as much into Greek artwork as you can to get a feel for how it should appear. Sometimes, it is hard to judge quality until you have seen quite a few examples.
Of course, if you are drawn to ancient artifacts you might consider getting something else. Ancient Roman coins, for example, are great collectors items. Many of them are fairly affordable, and they let you have a piece of antiquity for yourself. Best of all, they can make a great conversation starter if you leave them on the mantelpiece or coffee table where they can be seen
Of course, like most people, real ancient Greek art is out of reach for me. There are fewer and fewer ancient Greek statues, and most of them are fragmentary. Many of the originals are worth millions of dollars, and if you even live near Museum with a good display of Greek ancient statues in it, you can count yourself lucky. That doesn't mean that ancient Greek art is out of reach, however. There are collectible figurines, posters, photos, and other depictions that are available to everyone. From decorative urns and garden ornaments to museum quality pieces inspired by the original artwork of the ancient Greeks, there's quite a bit to choose from.
You have to be careful, however, because not all of the ancient Greek statues are of the same quality. The rule is buyer beware. This doesn't matter to all collectors. Some people are just looking for something that they find artistically inspiring. If this is you, look wherever your eye is drawn. If an ancient Greek statue replica appeals to you, by all means pick it up. For those of us who are more into historical authenticity, however, it can be a little harder to choose. My advice is to look at as much into Greek artwork as you can to get a feel for how it should appear. Sometimes, it is hard to judge quality until you have seen quite a few examples.
Of course, if you are drawn to ancient artifacts you might consider getting something else. Ancient Roman coins, for example, are great collectors items. Many of them are fairly affordable, and they let you have a piece of antiquity for yourself. Best of all, they can make a great conversation starter if you leave them on the mantelpiece or coffee table where they can be seen
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Art Projects
Art is an important means of expression. Some people say that this need is what separates us from the animals. Most people do art projects from elementary school, learning about shape, texture and color. Parents proudly put their efforts on the wall or go into school to see their achievements. These paintings etc. help to develop the imagination and build confidence. It's a great way for kids to learn about the world around them. Larger, communal work also teaches them the value of working in a team.
Unfortunately, most people leave art behind, as they get older. They become the audience for the professional artists. Very often, art projects are done as public art. Installing art in public spaces often causes controversy. Tastes vary so much and some people resent art, which has been funded with public money. Likes and dislikes change with generations too. The abstract, concrete sculptures of the 1960s have largely fallen out of favor. The best public art is the sort that won't look outdated in the future. Usually, once art projects are introduced, a town is stuck with them.
Trafalgar Square in London was the focus of an interesting exercise recently. It commissioned artists to make sculptures, which stood on temporary plinths. The exhibits kept changing, so everyone saw something they liked and didn't have to live permanently with something that they despised.
In America, one of the most prolific artists to use public space is Claes Oldenburg. His trademark is to sculpt everyday objects and present them on a huge scale. His art projects include a giant button, a lipstick and a pair of binoculars. Anthony Gormley is famous in the UK for his public art, namely the Angel of the North. This huge structure stands on a hill near a major road, its wings outstretched as if to welcome motorists on their way into Newcastle. People can park their cars and walk up to the base of the sculpture to see it in close up.
Sculpture Trails and Sculpture Parks are also popular. Some of them are designed to entertain children and encourage them to have fun with art projects. One trail in the UK is in a forest and all the art is made from wood materials. This includes xylophones and percussion instruments, which the public is allowed to hit. It's good to have art outside the normal environment of a gallery. Hands on art is great too, reminding us of the liberation we felt when we messed about with paint and bits of clay all those years ago at school.
Unfortunately, most people leave art behind, as they get older. They become the audience for the professional artists. Very often, art projects are done as public art. Installing art in public spaces often causes controversy. Tastes vary so much and some people resent art, which has been funded with public money. Likes and dislikes change with generations too. The abstract, concrete sculptures of the 1960s have largely fallen out of favor. The best public art is the sort that won't look outdated in the future. Usually, once art projects are introduced, a town is stuck with them.
Trafalgar Square in London was the focus of an interesting exercise recently. It commissioned artists to make sculptures, which stood on temporary plinths. The exhibits kept changing, so everyone saw something they liked and didn't have to live permanently with something that they despised.
In America, one of the most prolific artists to use public space is Claes Oldenburg. His trademark is to sculpt everyday objects and present them on a huge scale. His art projects include a giant button, a lipstick and a pair of binoculars. Anthony Gormley is famous in the UK for his public art, namely the Angel of the North. This huge structure stands on a hill near a major road, its wings outstretched as if to welcome motorists on their way into Newcastle. People can park their cars and walk up to the base of the sculpture to see it in close up.
Sculpture Trails and Sculpture Parks are also popular. Some of them are designed to entertain children and encourage them to have fun with art projects. One trail in the UK is in a forest and all the art is made from wood materials. This includes xylophones and percussion instruments, which the public is allowed to hit. It's good to have art outside the normal environment of a gallery. Hands on art is great too, reminding us of the liberation we felt when we messed about with paint and bits of clay all those years ago at school.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
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