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Is Photography Really Art?

December 2, 2020 Comments Off

I was curious to find out what were some questions that are on peoples minds about photography. I have found that, “is photography really art,” is one of the most commonly asked questions. Is there a yes or no answer to this commonly asked question?
One widely accepted definition of art is the expression of creativity, imagination or both.
Isn’t everything you can see, hear and touch art? Music, furniture, landscapes, homes, toilets, people? Someone must have used their imagination to create those things right? Why is a colorful painting considered art but dried spilled paint may not be? The Mona Lisa, she is considered to be art by so many people but how about this picture of my grandmother. Is she considered art to you? She is to me.
Almost anything or anyone can be photographed. If you were to take a picture of a plain old pencil just lying on your desk would that be considered art too? You would have been creative enough to snap a picture of that pencil, who is to say it is not art?
As you can read there is no real answers in this article about this commonly asked question, just more questions.I can only ask you to think about what art really is to you. You are the only one who can define what art is in your eyes.
To me art is everything, even the very first thing I see when I wake up each morning. My perfectly white ceiling is simple and bright. The hardwood floor that I walk on to go and get my breakfast on has so much personality in each plank of wood that I step on. Our refrigerator is black and shiny which matches so well with the black, shiny microwave that is in our kitchen. These things please my eyes so they must be considered art to me.
My daughter Lily’s is the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen, Is she art? I created her with my body I think she is. She is the worlds best piece of art in my eyes. Is your child, mother or best friend yours?
On thing is certain, photography is a photographers tool to capture things that they see as art. Photography can display visions that are beautiful, interesting, creative, colorful, happy, sad, frustrating, big, small, pretty or ugly, perfect or weird, funny or serious, important or useless.
So is photography really art? There is no yes or no answer only the right answer for you.…

Play The Guitar Easily With These Simple Learning Tips

June 19, 2020 Comments Off

If you have ever been truly moved by music made by a skilled guitarist, you are not alone. The great sound a guitar can make really has inspired quite a few people all over the world. Read on to learn how to become a guitarist yourself and follow your dreams.

Don’t ever feel like you need to learn everything at the same time. When you take it slow and are patient, success will follow. If you use the guitar each and every day, you will slowly start to learn the skills that you need for more complex playing.

Look for a good guitar teacher. Though many people have taught themselves guitar, just as you can, you might want someone objective to watch you play. Good teachers will help improve your style and technique. You can ask questions too, which will help out.

Musical notation as well as guitar tabs are important. Musical theory will help you to understand the scales and how the various chords operate. Learn the strings as well as what the notes are called. This expertise can help you when playing riffs and melodies.

Try to build calluses on your fingertips if you are working on learning the guitar. With calluses, you will not feel the pain of strumming the strings quite so much. It will take you some time to build your callouses, but practicing frequently will help build them faster. There are products available that help them develop.

Before learning to play guitar, try to learn and memorize its parts. This helps as you start playing because you will know more about the scales, chords and strings.

Use a metronome. Keeping time is a real challenge for novice players. Metronomes are able to help you make sure you’re on the beat properly. You’ll be able to keep the beat by yourself if you practice enough.

When you make the commitment to learn the guitar, you must practice. You will never achieve anything worthwhile if you are unwilling to work hard. For this reason, you need to practice a minimum of 30 minutes per day, five to seven days a week.

Start slow. Though you may have a desire to master that high pace song that requires quick fingering, you must learn the song, first. Once you have learned all the notes, you can begin working on your speed. If you only concern yourself with the speed, you’ll continue to make mistakes. Slowly become a master of the song and gradually increase your speed from there.

Finger strengthening exercises are very important. Some chords need you to do something fancy with your hands, and you can only do this if you’re in control of your guitar’s strings. Learning some techniques and practicing with finger exercises can help strengthen your hands.

There are millions who love guitar music. Regardless of the style of music, the guitar creates a song that simply sounds pleasing to the ear. Keep these tips handy as you learn to play and amaze everyone with your new skills.…

Learning Guitar: Comprehensive Knowledge You Just Have To Have

May 10, 2020 Comments Off

Do you long to play your favorite songs on a guitar? Yes? Well, there’s not reason why you can’t. It is possible to pick up the guitar and learn to play, regardless of your age. Use the following advice and get started today.

Learn all the basics. When you were young, you learned to walk well before you learned to run. You might want to play a beloved song to start with, but you need a foundation first. Also, determine where your fingers should reside on the guitar. Practice chords and scales. You need to own these prior to taking the next step with anything else.

Discover ways to keep yourself motivated. Make a long-term dream for yourself, but also keep short-term goals in mind. Practice with a friend if you can. When you have stuck to your daily practice schedule for one week, give yourself a reward. Keep in mind that real skill takes real practice.

A simple tip: purchase a guitar if you’ve made the decision to learn the instrument. It will be hard to practice if you do not. Also, you have to keep the guitar in tune. Otherwise, you won’t hear the right note coming out of the right string.

Make sure to learn music notation as well as guitar tabs. Learning about music theory can assist you with understanding the how the chords and scales work. Learn the note name of each individual string, as well as the note for each fret along the strings. This will improve your riffs and melodies.

Make sure you enjoy your guitar practice. This is something you desire to do, not something you need to do. Don’t turn it into a stressful activity that you dread. If you do so, you can frustrate or bore yourself enough to give up on the practice. You should play and practice on pieces you wish to play.

As you begin to learn to play your guitar, be sure to learn the names and positions of all of its parts. You’ll need this knowledge to speak the language. It’ll help you learn as many course books expect that you’ve got those basics down. When you do this you’ll be a musician that’s intelligent and good at what they do.

You must understand the parts of the guitar before you plan on playing it well. This will help as you begin to play, as you will need to know the instrument well as you begin to learn chords, scales and the names of the strings.

You may get sore fingertips before they develop calluses. Use an electric guitar to combat this. Newbies find steel-string acoustic models to cause the most pain. It might feel good to soak your fingers in alcohol, but avoid hazardous substances like turpentine.

People young and old alike can learn to play a guitar. It’s an excellent instrument to learn regardless of your age or skill level. Plus, there are lots of styles of music it can play, from folk music to rock and roll. Use these suggestions to begin exploring a whole new side of musical enjoyment.…

Want To Rock? Try These Guitar Tips And Tricks

March 9, 2020 Comments Off

Learning guitar is something that many people want to do. Unfortunately, few people put this wish into action. This article can help you break through that barrier. The following tips are great for beginning the process of learning to play guitar.

Don’t think you have to figure out all there is to know at one time. You will succeed by going slowly and deliberately. If you use the guitar each and every day, you will slowly start to learn the skills that you need for more complex playing.

Try to learn from a teacher. Someone who has experience can improve your playing ability a lot. Great teachers can assess your style and provide useful pointers. You’ll also be able to ask an expert some questions.

Keep yourself motivated. You should create both short-term and long-term goals for your guitar playing. If someone you know plays, join up with them for a music session every now and again. Set up a rewards system that rewards you when you practice daily for one week. Remember that nothing worth doing is easy.

Enjoy yourself while you are practicing your guitar. Remember that you’re learning it for fun. Do not make it something you find stressful. If you do, you may grow tired of it and stop practicing altogether. Play the songs that you find to be the most fun.

As you start out learning the guitar, find an well-made instrument that you can buy and practice on. Some music stores rent instruments. If you’re not sure that you will stick with playing the guitar, renting may be a good option for you. Using a good guitar can help you achieve great sounds when bettering yours skills.

Toughening your fingertips is necessary if you play the guitar. If you do not get calluses, playing will be painful. It will take time to accumulate callouses, but they will grow as you practice. You can also purchase products that expedite this process.

As a beginner on the guitar, it is important to become familiar with the names of all the different parts of the guitar. It is much easier to understand tutorials and instruction manuals if you know the terminology. That way, you will transform yourself into a truly knowledgeable musician.

Your fingertips will get sore with constant practice. It might hurt less to use nylon strings or an electric guitar. Avoid steel-string guitars, as they tend to hurt the most. Soaking your fingers in rubbing alcohol can help soothe the pain.

When learning songs, you should try playing them in different keys. This helps you get used to certain chords. It is also a way to get more acquainted with the music. You will become a much stronger, well-rounded musician.

How that you have learned a few key tips, you can start using them to learn the guitar. You won’t become a rock star overnight, but you can get a jump on the basics. Keep the above advice in mind when learning how to play the guitar.…

Arts and Entertainment – Getting Your Man to Appreciate Theater

February 2, 2020 Comments Off

If you ask a person what comes to mind when they think about Broadway theatre, they are likely to say is goes hand in hand with images of New York City and its Theater District. New York is certainly the mecca of all things Broadway. However, many major cities and metro regions across the United States have ornate play houses that host the hottest Broadway plays. It used to be that to see quality arts you had to be in New York City, but no more. Opera, ballet, musicals, productions and the works are seen across the country, making it more accessible to fans of Broadway… and their husbands.

Yes, that’s right, their husbands. To be sure, not all husbands or men are fanatically against attending Broadway plays, in fact we all enjoy it equally. It does seem, however, that stubborn men, and especially husbands, protest the most when it comes to accompanying their wives to a musical of any sort. At least, this is the stereotype or stigma that goes along with a ‘macho’ man. So, ladies, how can you convince, bribe, encourage or drag your man to a play and help him actually enjoy himself? Here are a few tips:

Find Some Action: Choose a drama or action infused production or play. Les Miserables is a great play with some war scenes, fighting, explosions and the works. With such intense action, he may not mind the musical aspect and in fact, he may find it adds to the experience. Ask him to think of it as the soundtrack to his favorite war movie.

Surprise Him: Make all the arrangements and include arts, entertainment and food and surprise him for the evening. Plan dinner or even a weekend getaway.

Make A Deal: Offer to do something he enjoys or give him some space to enjoy the things he loves in return for taking you out so that he sees this is a give-and-take deal.

Make It An Event: If he likes going to dinner and dancing, then get dressed up an have dinner, see the Broadway play and go dancing. Combining the evening with things you both enjoy will draw out the fun for both of you.

The More The Merrier: Invite your couple friends to join you. Your man will be more comfortable around a group of guys he knows and your gal friends will be excited to get out too.

Give A Little: The best relationships are those with two-way streets – meaning, if you’re asking him to give the arts a try, make an honest effort to enjoy things he does. Perhaps this means you don a football jersey and watch a game on Sunday, but who knows, you may get in to the spirit of the game and enjoy yourself. Showing him that you are meeting him in the middle will make him want to do the same for you.

These tips are geared towards the arts but can really be applied to anything you want to get your spouse interested in. The best way to encourage someone to enjoy the arts is to do just that – encourage them with positive reinforcement and never negative or nagging words. Encourage and discover with them which plays, productions or musicals they enjoy and what parts they love the most. Was it the music, the storyline, the special affects, set, props and wardrobe – all of these are magnificent when you are experiencing them from the audience of one of America’s fabulous theatres.…

Not Another Arts and Crafts Show?

December 30, 2019 Comments Off

Not ANOTHER Craft Show?
Craft Shows… So much fun to walk and gawk but work you say? No… Never! Although it may seem like a thorn prickling your creative side, Craft Shows are 100% beneficial and a great outlet for passing out business cards and putting your crafty little name out there.
You will need to find a Craft Show that is right for you. I have several questions handy when trying to locate the perfect Craft Show for my niche and personality:
1.) How big is the show? How many people did they have attend at previous shows?
2.) What are their entry fees? Do they have a flat fee for your booth or do you have to pay a percentage of sold items?
3.) How do they promote the art show?
4.) How many vendors do they usually have and how many are selling similar items to yours?
5.) Will your product blend in? Does it feel right? Follow your gut instinct.
Once you determine if this is the craft show for you then you will need to come up with a plan for how to set up your booth and how to display your craft items. I usually define my space with display boards. You can decorate these as you wish while outlining the areas of your booth.
Make sure your space is easily accessible to your customers and that they are free to move about in a comfortable position. Avoid overcrowding, this will make your customers feel tense and not want to stay and linger. I prefer a “Y” shaped design with my tables, although a “U” or “L’ shaped design would work as well. Don’t place too many items on your tables, you don’t want your customers overwhelmed and just give up and leave.
When placing your items on your tables for display, place them in a way that your customers can visualize the product as if it was in use. For example, light your candles and place them in a beautiful arrangement. If you are selling a vase, place flowers inside. If you are selling jewelry, invest in jewelry display busts, writs, etc. If it’s clothing, invest in a mannequin. If you are displaying baskets, place beautiful fruits or practical items such as magazines. Work with levels, everything lying flat can appear boring or drab. Make sure your table cloths are in colors that compliment your items and not drown them out, making visualization difficult.
Last, but not least, offer sale promotions. Sales such as buy 1, get 1 free. Pair like items for 2 for 2 specials. Offer coupons if customers purchase to keep them coming back. Always include your business card so that customers are able to become repeat customers with ease.
With a little hard work and some creative juices flowing, you can really have a successful craft show experience and gain a tremendous amount of exposure for your special products!…

Do-It-Yourself Graphic Design – A Huge Variety of Backgrounds For Business Cards

December 26, 2019 Comments Off

Online do-it-yourself graphic arts is on the rise for many reasons, but two are primary:

By doing your own graphics design, you can save 30% to 50% on the final cost of your printed materials.

The average person has become computer aware to the point that most people can do their own design and end up with a very professional this in mind, many large trade printing companies are making the software required to do on line graphics available to their printing customers and resellers. With this growth, there is also considerable capital expenditure going into, not only the software, but other requirements like appealing backgrounds. The backgrounds are sized and laid out according to the printed media they support, and are categorized for the wide number of businesses or trades they represent.

For example, we recently went to one of the DIY Graphics sites and reviewed the available backgrounds for business cards. There were 25 separate categories of backgrounds for business cards with anywhere from 20 to 100 individual backgrounds in each category. Following are examples of the categories:

Abstracts – Colorful tie-died backgrounds that fit nicely into more creative professions like writing or designs

Animals – Variety of pets and farm animals for grooming or pet retail businesses

Babies – Ideal for announcing a new addition to the family or advertising handmade baby wear.

Beauty – Appealing backgrounds for stylists, skin specialists, nail technicians and more.

Business – A broad category of many backgrounds that range from office settings to business people shaking hands to creative representations of a single world of business.

Colorful – This category provides bright and contrasting colors with the goal of catching the eye. This category would apply to paint businesses, art stores, art schools and more.

Construction – Specific to the construction industry, this category offers many backgrounds showing different phases of construction, including design, earth moving, building, etc.

Fashion – Trendy and colorful, these are great for fashion design or retail.

Floral – Flower arrangements, flower gardens and more that are ideal for the floral business.

Food – Mouth watering and focused on restaurants, cooking schools, chefs or catering.

Jewelry – Great backgrounds for the jewelry retail, jewelry consignment, or jewelry design.

Landmarks – Used to professionally promote tourism, politics or initiatives of many kinds.

Scenery – Several options for these, including therapy, relaxation skills, meditation, etc.

Law and Justice – Designed for attorneys, judges and government offices.

Medical – These are directed towards doctors, nurses, hospital administration, medical supplies and more.

Nature – Great backgrounds for environmental businesses, recycling, all natural products, etc.

Real Estate – Apply to residential or commercial real estate.

Sport – For sports teams, coaches, trainers, schools, training camps, etc.

Technology – Can be used for people involved in internet marketing, hi tech sells, web sites, search engine optimization and more.

Transportation – Wide variety of cars, trucks, vintage cars, futuristic cars which could be used for car salesmen, mechanics, parts houses, etc.

Travel – Exotic locations, sunsets, palm trees, around the swimming pool and more. Great backgrounds for travel agents, tour guides or any other tourism types of businesses.

Wedding – Bride and Grooms in many different settings before the wedding, during the wedding, after the wedding, leaving the wedding, etc. Good for wedding planners, conference centers, hotels and above are just a few examples of the many categories and backgrounds available to the do-it-yourself graphic artist for business cards. The main message to convey is that there are not many trades, businesses, vocations or events that DIY Graphic Artist could not find an appropriate, professional background for.…

How To Make A Mosaic Frame

August 10, 2019 Comments Off

Have you been looking for some quality time to spend with your family that involves imagination, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment? Parents are always looking for new ways to connect with their children and teach them something new. Why not create something that’s unique, and original from simple items that may be lying around your home?
Here is a simple, yet fun project that doesn’t take long at all to create. And what you will gain from such a simple project is priceless!
Here’s what you’ll need:
1. Flat-faced wood frame
2. Piece of mirror approximately the size of the frame
3. Tile adhesive
4. Mastic Putty
5. Spatula
6. Gray and silver artist’s acrylic paint
7. Artist’s brush
8. Safety glasses
9. Pillowcase Hammer
10. Work gloves
NOTE: Wear protective glasses when breaking the mirror, also edges of mirror are sharp so work gloves are recommended.
Instructions:
Step 1. Place the mirror inside a pillowcase. Carefully hit the mirror to produce irregular pieces about 1″-2″ in size.
Step 2. Apply tile adhesive to the frame, one section at a time, and lay down mirror pieces, leaving a small space around each for putty. Let dry overnight.
Step 3. Follow the directions on the package of the mastic putty, you will need to knead it well before opening the package. Roll the putty into long lines to make it easier to maneuver around the mirror edges. Fill in the spaces snuggly with putty.
Step 4. Once all the spaces have been filled, paint can be applied even while the putty is still wet. Mix a little gray and silver paint together and paint the putty to replicate the leading in a glass window. It may take as long as a week or two to dry thoroughly. Be sure to keep it in a dry place, as humidity impedes drying.
I found that this project was simple and very fun, I hope that you have the same experience. This is one project that you can surely reflect on!…

Taekwondo a Path to Excellence by Doug Cook

August 4, 2019 Comments Off

“Taekwondo a path to excellence” by Doug Cook is an exceptional book for martial artists, not just those who practice taekwondo. The subtitle of this book is “Achieving Physical and Spiritual Enrichment Through Disciplined Practice,” and while Cook’s specific practice is the art of taekwondo from Korea, I believe much of what he writes is applicable to any martial art, regardless of style or country of origin. This is not a technique book, but rather a text that shares the author’s journey and how taekwondo positively impacted his life.
Through Cook’s journey, this book explores taekwondo and can stimulate others to explore their own martial art path. Yes, I do believe those who practice the Korean arts will enjoy this book the most. I personally do not do taekwondo, but my experiences with my chosen art of hapkido are similar, and when Cook wrote about his trips to Korea, it reminded me of my time in the Land of the Morning Calm. (Not to mention, it made me a bit homesick to return)
The book is divided into seven parts. Part One focuses on what taekwondo is. The author explains it as more than just striking and kicking, and I found myself agreeing with much, especially the importance of “Do.” The second part explains a bit of history of taekwondo, including a bit of Korean history. Part Three addresses becoming a steadfast practitioner of the art. I really liked this part and think most practitioners can relate the author’s message to their own practice, regardless of art. The fourth section of the book has some very good advice aimed at beginners. Since we are all beginners at some part of our art, this chapter is good for everyone, but especially those starting their journey. Part Five is more personal to the author regarding his students, colleagues, and experiences. I found it an inspiring chapter. Part Six is fairly short, but provides some wisdom regarding the economics of the martial arts, something anyone who wants to make their living by teaching must deal with. Finally, Part Seven, relays some of the experiences of the author on his training trips to Korea. Those practicing Korean arts that have not yet traveled to Korea may be inspired by this chapter to journey themselves to their art’s country of origin. As I mentioned, it made me think of my time there and made me yearn for my next visit.
This was an enjoyable well written book that prompted me to ponder my own journey in the martial arts. I think it is a valuable book for martial artists, especially those that practice taekwondo or other Korean arts. Definitely recommended reading for all taekwondo stylists.…

Get Started In Arts And Crafts With These Simple Tips

August 12, 2018 Comments Off

People around the world have enjoyed arts and crafts for centuries. All a person needs to get started is some tools and a little creativity. You can get involved with arts and crafts by just looking at the tips below.

There are lots of things that can be used in craft projects. For example, paper goods are great. From paper towel rolls to toilet paper rolls, there is a variety of items to make. You might also use magazines and newspapers. Try to think of ways you can incorporate items you would generally discard into your projects.

Try not to be critical of kids when they do arts and crafts. The main purpose of doing these projects is to encourage creativity. This will not be accomplished if you constantly nag and correct them about what they are trying to do.

Search for fabric and other arts and crafts supplies online. A lot of the time, you can compare prices and find coupons on the Internet much more easily than going from craft store to craft store. When you shop online, you can get exactly what you want from the comfort of your own home.

Get your kids involved with your next arts and crafts project. Kids love to play and learn, and a cool family project will do all that and more. It makes for an exceptional bonding experience between you and your little one. The child gets to learn from you, and you can have some smiles and laughs along the way!

Keeping your arts and crafts supplies organized can lead to a more pleasant experience when working on projects. Invest in good storage boxes, organizers and cases especially for smaller items. Supplies like beads and glitter can easily be spilled or lost. When you bring home new supplies, immediately transfer them into storage or organizational boxes.

Do what you can to make a craft work with what you already have at home. This isn’t always possible, but you should try it. It’s usually not worth running to the store to obtain the perfect paper, detail, trim, etc. You can diminish your enthusiasm for the project when you have to break to run errands.

To make a mosaic mirror that is stable without being too heavy, consider plywood as a backing material. Hardy board is waterproof, but unless you’re hanging the mirror near the shower, you don’t need a background with that much heft. A mirror of any size will need a colossal hook with a hardy board backing.

To keep your painting hobby from taking over an entire room, consider purchasing a collapsible easel. That way, when you are done working on your masterpiece for the day, the easel goes right into the closet, along with your canvas. That leaves your bedroom free for the rest of the day.

In conclusion, with some helpful advice, like what you just read, it’s simple to begin an arts and crafts project. Use the tips to help you create gadgets and pieces that delight you and everyone you know. The tips here are a great start and can help you in your crafting efforts.…