“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs
Lifting is a technique used to create a special textural effect resembling that of the dragging stroke. It is used in painting, by placing a sheet of cloth or paper on top of the paint while still wet, then lifted away, taking splotches of paint with it, altering the surface.
An introduction to possibilities There is a video circulating online, produced by an airline company. It is a Christmas holiday promotion with deeper meaning. The company set up an almost life size video screen at the passenger terminal, at their check-in area. The customers were asked to scan their tickets which then activated a Santa, who asked one question. “What do you want for Christmas?” Everyone booked on the flight was asked; children, parents and grandparents. The answers were as varied as the people. A toy train, a ticket home for Christmas, socks and underwear and a large screen TV. Everyone laughed and had a nice time while they waited to board their flight. What these people didn’t know was that the airline had a huge staff in the destination city that was out purchasing these gifts. After arrival, the passengers waited patiently in the baggage claim area. When the carousel started to turn, instead of their luggage, out came the gifts. Every passenger got exactly what they asked for, including the large screen TV. I have to tell you, the expression on the guys face who had asked for socks and underwear, was priceless. You could see his disbelief and frustration. He was kicking himself for not asking for what he really wanted. He was limited by his imagination and his belief system. He asked for what he knew he needed and what he thought he would get, but he never asked for what he wanted. The little boy didn’t have any trouble asking for the train he wanted. He didn’t limit himself. That’s what he wanted, so he asked. He was delighted when his package arrived. As you can well imagine, so were the people who asked for the large screen TV and the woman who asked for a ticket home for the holidays. Tears of joy filled the eyes of some, accompanied by huge smiles from all. What would you have asked for? I would ask for a the new 15” Mac Book pro and Creative Suite software. I can almost hear my mothers voice saying something like, “That’s never going to happen” or “Be realistic” or “Do you really think you deserve that?” This is what most of us are taught. Lower your expectations, so you aren’t disappointed. We are taught to be ‘realistic’ and ‘you only get the reward you deserve’. We are taught to under value our worth. We are taught not to be greedy or selfish. We are taught our dreams are worthless. With good intentions, teachers and parents taught us to keep our feet firmly planted on the ground. This is inherited through generations. They were taught it, as their parents were before them and passed it on to us, but they are wrong. We all deserve every bit of happiness and rewards that there are. We just have to believe it, focus on it and it will happen. Maybe not tomorrow or the next day, but it will happen. Believing this was a constant struggle for me and sometimes I fell into the trap, feeling hopeless. I was stuck, frozen in place, held back by beliefs from others, like most of us are. I learned how to break free from the ice pack and express what I wanted. When I did, I felt joy and excitement. I believed I could make it work, no matter the odds. I’ve done it time and time again and will continue to do so. I just have to hold on to that feeling. I didn’t expect anyone to ‘get it’ for me. I didn’t know how I would ‘get it’. I would ask because that’s what I wanted. It’s not “what I think I can get, it’s what I want.” I firmly believed that I deserved it, just as much as anyone else. We are all children of the same universe. If I spoke my dream out loud to a friend, they would ask “How are you going to do that?” Sometimes I would have a plan, but usually I didn’t. I would simply answer “I don’t know, but I’m going to do it anyway.” I knew it would happen because I was excited. The people in the video didn’t know they were going to get what they asked for, but they asked. So now the question is, are you going to ask for socks and underwear or a large screen TV? Are you brave enough to speak your truth without limitations and ask for what you want? What will you do with your next painting, short story, video or business idea? Will you limit what you do or offer because you don’t know how your going to achieve it? Are you afraid to ask because you don’t want to be disappointed if it doesn’t show up? Perhaps you don’t know how to ask. Do you know what you really want? A surprising number of us have no clue about what we want, but are very clear on what we don’t want. What do you really want? Way down deep, the secret you dare not speak. It’s time to give it a voice. I’m not saying this is all going to happen right away. Your not going to open the door and find a red pony standing there. It doesn’t work like that, but it can happen. So start dreaming now. Start a dream list. Don’t limit your imagination or worry about how you are going to get it. Imagine that you are holding a book with everything that you could ever possibly want, in it. Every page has something new and exciting. Some things make your heart beat faster, and you get excited. Write it down. Other things give you absolute joy when you think of them, write them down. Go into your deepest desires, the ones you have had forever, but have put aside because you didn’t think you could get them. Write them down. It could be developing a new skill or style of painting. It could be the house of your dreams. Write it down, describe it in detail. If you are a fan of a certain artist, look at her work and ask what you are attracted to. Is it the subject, the style, the technique? How does your work compare? How can you incorporate the things you love about this artists work, into yours? If you are a writer, musician or someone who wants to start their own business, do the same thing. Figure out what you admire, what you want to achieve, what gets you excited. Then write it down because this is what you really want. Begin your journey today. And for now at least, keep it your secret if you think you might appear selfish, greedy or foolish. This will help you be honest with yourself. Truth sets you free and truth heals, so start listening to your truth first. But more about that later. "The agencies committed multiple violations under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act: specifically for altering Copyright Management Information and for adding false and misleading CMI." On the day of the Haitian earthquake Daniel Morel, a professional photographer, posted images on Twitter. AFP and Getty then WILLFULLY infringed Daniel's copyright by incorrectly crediting another photographer, and then Getty Images sold these images to the world through their world wide distribution network. The courts made a landmark decision stating that just because they were posted on Twitter does not allow anyone to steal and profit from them. Daniel's copyright was infringed and he was awarded $150,000 per image for a total of 1.2 million dollars. Thanks to Daniel Morel and his entire team, for holding strong and putting your faith in the justice system. For more information read the coverage Jeremy Nicholl at www.epuk.org Photographers and artists, know your rights, read agreements before posting on social media. And watch out for each other. If you see someone using an image by someone you know, tell them. They will do the same for you. Together we can stand strong. Creative people need a community where they feel like they belong. A group of like-minded individuals who live a similar life style, with similar views of the world.
The best advice ever given to me, came in two steps. 1) Know who you are first. The real you. This is essential before you can move forward. 2) Find your tribe, a group you don't have to explain to. People who will accept you for who you are and will love that you are doing what you do. By Paul J Easton Are you familiar with canvas printing? Do you know that a simple photograph or image can be turned into a beautiful work of art? Canvas printing is a great way to transform an image into a beautiful centrepiece or wall mural. It is a process of putting images into large canvas for display and decoration purposes. Many may consider this process difficult but it is far from the truth. Canvas printing is very easy and has plenty of benefits. The following are the advantages of canvas printing: 1. DIY canvas prints is a simple process that saves time and money. You don't have to spend time looking for a trustworthy service provider. You just need to follow simple instructions then you can finally change that old photo framed hanging on your living room. Aside from that, it will save you from spending a huge amount of money over original work of art that costs thousands of bucks. 2. Putting photo on canvas preserves the quality of image. It also adds vibrancy, vividness and life. Even a simple image can be customized and turn into a very beautiful piece of art. Some of your favourite pictures can be made into a collage, wall murals or a classic black and white image. 3. Canvas printing makes it possible to reproduce an original painting into almost any dimension and different sizes. Your favourite memories captured in a photo can be reproduced and displayed anywhere in the house. 4. It helps preserve memories. If you want to keep that special photo of your whole family during a holiday, a wedding, a birthday party or first picture of the newborn baby in the family, then putting them on canvas can preserve it for a long time. After 10 or 15 years, those photos you keep will fade and become indiscernible. Those special moments captured can be lost forever. Good thing that a good quality canvas print can keep your photos and can even add decades of life into that image. 5. Photos on canvas are one of the best gifts you can give to families and friends. Printing someone's picture into a canvas then giving it to them as gift is a really nice gesture. The gift will be highly appreciated and you will be remembered. Knowing that you spend too much thought and effort in giving the gift will bring so much happiness. In conclusion, putting your favourite photo on canvas is one of the best things you can do in order to preserve that image for a lifetime. Try Photo4Canvas for Canvas Printing. This is one of the most famous service providers in New Zealand. They have been helping Kiwis to put digital Prints on to large quality canvases for many years. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_J_Easton
As artists we all know that we need to develop a unique style. Something that makes your work stand out from all the competition out there. But what if you have an eclectic body of work?
Research shows that buyers like to know that what they purchase will be instantly recognizable. But which style to choose? Some artists find it much easier to show their different styles under different names. A separate brand. Just like the big companies. Each product has its own brand, logo, marketing and advertising. Since the first Nuit Blanche in Paris in 2002, the concept has spread to the four corners of the planet, winning over new cities every year. Toronto is no exception. From her inaugural event in 2006, it has grown and taken over the streets around the city, closing down sections of King Street and Bay Street, (among others) to allow viewers to engage and explore. I started my nights journey in the West end of Toronto at Gallery 1313. From there I walked to the Gladstone and was delighted with the sounds of the band Lemon Bucket Orkestra, They gave way to The Drake, the Twist Art Gallery, and No Show Gallery, where artist Mike Harris exhibited limited edition prints from his series based on The Lord of the Rings. Some displays called for active participation, asking people to paint or write, . . . to express, while others wanted you to buy. Most just wanted an audience. I finally got a street car that was calling my name, and it took me into the heart of the city. With a very slow journey down Queen Street to Bay I arrived at Nathan Philips Square to view 'Forever Bicycles', a three-story tall installation by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. It was well worth the journey, captivating the audience as they explored. From there my slow wanderings home offered many more delights, but I didn't even come close to seeing all of the art. Next year a plan and a map will have me starting with my first 'must see' and working my way back from there. Nuit blanche isn't just about the art it's also about the experience of being out on a warm October evening, surrounded by thousands who are there to enjoy the same things you are. From restaurants to balloon sellers, everyone got into the excitement, which seemed to build through the night. The streets were filled with people discussing what they saw, with a level of enthusiasm that is seldom expressed. This is my second Nuit blanche this year. In August, while in Charlottetown, Leona Arsenault and I explored that cities event with the same expectation of delight. Although a much smaller event, it generated that same enthusiasm and initiated discussions as we went from exhibit to exhibit. People stopping us as our journey progressed to tell us about a display they didn't want us to miss. Art does this to people, opening up dialogues without judgements, allowing people to express what is in their heart. If your city offers a similar event, then it's a not to be missed. Put on your best walking shoes, and get out there. First Published Aug 7, 2013 9:09 AM Whenever I get an opportunity to visit a used book store I always take it. I'm currently in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island taking in the wonderful art galleries and crafts shops. The work here is exceptional and second to none. I highly recommend a visit to the island. While walking down Queen Street I found a wonderful used book store called The Book Emporium. My focus is on old out of print books, especially ones on techniques that offer lost insights. One such bit of information is as true today as it was when the old masters created their exceptional art. This method was taught to me while I was in art school and I felt it was worth repeating. We often forget our earliest lessons. 1. Always use the simplest ingredients possible. Use the best quality and make sure the purity is beyond doubt. 2. Use as little dryer as possible. 3. Begin a picture 'lean' and finish 'fat'. Less oil in the first layer, the less danger of cracking. 4. Two thin coats are usually better than one thick. 5. Be sure your paint is completely dry before painting over it. The under coat will contract as the drying process occurs and crack the top coat. 6. If the paint does not take or stick well, rub the surface with a fine sandpaper or other substance to roughen it to create a tooth. 7. Never use more medium or liquid than is necessary. The colors will stay fresh and luminous when left alone. When fully dry, protect the colors with a quality varnish. First Published
May 22, 2013 4:58 PM A technique artists use for creating a broken or mottled effect with water paint or ink, often revealing traces of the paper or underpainting. The technique is accomplished by holding the brush at such an angle that its side lies almost flat against the paper, or by drawing it rapidly across the surface, as one might a pen stroke. In oil painting, a similar broken effect is called a dragging stroke or scuffing. |
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