Art Fun Cheap

When I describe my teaching method for drawing as a “directed drawing” exercise I sometimes get the comment that directed drawing stifles creativity. Another comment is that “directed drawing only encourages the student to mimic the teacher”. Not only do I disagree with these comments but I would go so far as to say that, in most things that we learn as children, we learn as a result of direction and mimicking our teacher, parent or siblings. [Read more →]

What Laughter Does

They say laughter is the best medicine. After all, there’s no better feeling than laughing your heart out at something that’s really funny. What’s more, the funny things tend to stimulate your brain and make you think more actively. That’s because humor and laughter also take a certain level of intelligence. However, with all the jokes getting old these days, it might just be a little harder to find something that’s comical enough to make you laugh or even just smile. So how about trying out something new by learning to have fun with visual stimulation? [Read more →]

Art cars gathered in Providence, RI. Image via Wikipedia

Recently I wrote about how to keep your art car rolling for as long as possible. Here are a few more thoughts on creating art cars, especially about safety, using the right materials, and making sure your vehicle will be street legal when you are done.

Decorating  just any old car you happen to have access to may not be the best idea. Why put hundreds of hours and possibly thousands of dollars into an automobile that simply cannot be kept running for very long?

Before you decide to either buy an old car to turn into an art car or use one you have, be sure to have a good mechanic check it out. A car may run OK now but have serious problems that could cost you thousands of dollars to fix in the near future. For many people that could mean the end of their art car project.

In How to Keep Your Art Car Rolling I wrote about how to find a good repair shop in Houston, where I live. I’m not sure it was clear that the website I mentioned can help you find a good automobile repair shop anywhere. [Read more →]

Image by L. Marie via Flickr

I live just a few blocks from the Art Car Museum in Houston, TX. There are art car parades and events several times a year, so you often see art cars on the streets.

Art cars range from simple and cheaply decorated to elaborately modified and expensive. One of my favorites is a little jeep, decorated as if for use in a safari theme park—with a life-size baby giraffe on the roof.

Another favorite is a giant metal armadillo, created by a local metal sculptor, with headlights for eyes. The armadillo art car is huge. It is so completely covered by the silvery metal sculpture that you cannot even get a glimpse of the vehicle itself. There is no telling how the driver gets inside.

Making art cars is popular in my part of town. In my neighborhood you see art cars parked in driveways, in front of the grocery store, at restaurants, and so on. Most are old cars that have been hand-decorated by one or two people in their spare time.

The first art car I ever saw was just an old car with random plastic, glass, and metal objects glued all over it, inside and out. It was funky and wonderful. It looked as though years had been spent decorating it. [Read more →]

Image via Wikipedia

All of us have been gifted by the almighty with some kind of creativity. Some people may be good in painting, some in cooking, some people are talented writers and poets and so on. Crafting is something that showcases your creativity and nurtures your talent, especially of your children.

There are many easy craft ideas, which may be helpful not only enhancing your child’s creativity but in many other ways, as it gives you an opportunity to spend time with your child and get involved with him. This will make them involved as home craft ideas are always very interesting.

If you run short of the ideas, there is a plethora of websites having thousands of home craft ideas.  You can use them as it is or modify them as per your choice.  Children need support from their parents to complete any craft project and when the project is completed it enhances their confidence and gives them a sense of accomplishment.

While selecting a craft project for your child, you must consider his interest and age. It may as simple as making a ship using matchsticks, or making different masks from chart papers and so on. Making handmade greeting cards on various occasions also is a good idea of showcasing your talent and saving money at the same time. [Read more →]

Image via Wikipedia

Face Painting Your Little Goblin for Halloween

Boo! Did I scare you? Well I think it’s scary that it’s almost that time of year when all our little ghosts, goblins and princesses will be roaming the streets.

As parents of young children we may be making choices for our kids about Halloween and trick-or-treating. One thing that remains constant from year to year is the wonderment and joy of dressing up in costume!

A growing trend nationwide along with homemade costumes is the use of face paint to complete a costume. In fact some costumes can’t be done any other way.

So what kind do you use? With all the recalls dealing with paint and increased cases of allergies, which paint is really safe to use?’

Unfortunately the answer isn’t completely black and white. We humans have a varying level of sensitivity to cosmetics and chemicals; we see this in the mom who can’t wear certain moisturizers, children who can’t use bubble bath and entire offices that ban fragrances because of severe allergies. [Read more →]

1. Keep your paint in a workable state. Acrylics dry super fast, it’s important that you only squeeze out a little bit of paint at a time. You may want to invest in a small water bottle so that you can regularly moisten your paint when it’s out of the tube.

2. Be sure to blot your brushes. It is recommended to keep a paper towel or cloth next to you as you are painting. Get into the habit of regularly wiping and rinsing your brushes after each use. This helps to prevent wear on the brush’s ferrule and ultimately fights against paper blotches.

3. Use a painting easel to support your unfinished paintings. Look for other types such as French easels that may come included with an canvas carrier and extra room for supplies. When it comes to an easel, do your research and choose the one that is perfect for your artistic flow.

4. Improve your flow and keep your colors vibrant. You may want to use a flow-improver medium rather than simply water while painting. This increases your color flow with minimal loss of color opacity.

5. Use painter’s tape to support your hard edges. Without damaging an existing layer, you can place tape in areas where you want to make sharp lines or avoid painting overall. These tapes do not stick permanently to your artwork and they don’t leave behind any residue.

6. Experiment with your paints. If you are working in mass medias, you can use acrylic paints as an adhesive material. There is no need in wasting glues or time, if you are working on a collage you can use your wet paint as glue.

The other things to keep in mind when using acrylic paints is both blending and glazing. You want to make sure to mix your colors as soon as you squeeze them from the tube. Likewise, while glazing you should do it layer by layer and avoid any buildup. Of course pre-planning is highly recommended. If you know you will be painting with acrylics be sure to invest in the proper acrylics, stay-wet palettes, towels and containers, and of course the appropriate painting easel.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/acrylic-painting-tips-for-starters-1580256.html

Latex paint is a pretty basic term that includes all water-based paint. The binder which is mixed into latex paints is what gives it the strength and flexibility it is known for. Most times used for exterior and home painting, latex paints are used in a variety of different ways. Acrylic latex paints are the most durable in this category making it the most used and most valuable type of latex paint.

Acrylic latex house paints come in several different formulations. It is available as both an exterior and interior product. It can be purchased in a number of different sheens as well. This includes matte, low sheen, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss. It is highly used to exterior walls and panels as well as trim. Typically, this type of paint is applied with a brush, rollers, or airless sprayer. Of course, art easels are not necessary for these types of projects but painters tape and a ladder is often needed in conjunction with latex painting.

Latex paint does not actually have latex in it which makes it a healthier option for most people. Acrylic latex paints do have acrylic in them. Sometimes they are mixed with acrylic enamel which suits woodwork and trim on bathrooms and kitchens very well. These are ideal for moisture thick areas because they can withstand humidity and frequent cleaning like a champion. Enamel paints usually have a semi-gloss, satin, or high gloss finish. When blended with a quality glaze, walls will dry to a rich, translucent beauty that lasts for years on end.

Because of its fast drying time latex acrylic paints are often times used for fine arts and crafts. They are the most popular choice when it comes to painting canvases, furniture, and murals. Please note that latex paints are not suitable for flat surfaces with irregularities, ceilings, bathroom floors, or pools. For these types of applications, you will want to choose an epoxy or oil-based paint.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/common-uses-for-latex-acrylic-paints-1556069.html

The publisher’s website promises the following: “Learn to Draw and Paint Like a pro in just 14 days with MyArtPassion Drawing Method. You will soon be able draw or paint anything you want at will”.

Who Will Benefit Most From This Drawing and Painting ebook?

This drawing and painting course is primarily for experienced beginners that are frustrated by a lack of progress. This course is probably not for a rank beginner because it does not begin with basic sketching techniques. Also, it is probably going to be somewhat difficult to follow for children under 10 or 12 years old.

About The Instructor

Darren Chow describes himself as a self taught artist with no formal art education. He spent much of his youth drawing in school when everyone else was making notes. “When I feel bored, I draw. When I feel frustrated about anything, I draw. I just love drawing“.

The Physical Parts

There are no physical parts to this course. Instead it is downloaded as a series of PDF files to your computer from the internet. The ebook files can either be read directly on your computer screen or they can be printed and read from hardcopies. [Read more →]

Image by urbanartcore.eu via Flickr

Artistic painting lesson videos have certainly gained prominence in recent years because of their convenience, availability and low cost. But, are they any better or worse than the typical way of learning painting from a live local instructor in a classroom? This article will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches while giving some insight into the process of learning art.

The older and more traditional way to learn painting, short of going through a university program, has been to find a weekly class with a local artist turned instructor. The lesson topics are often narrowly focused due to time constraints. They might concentrate on one technique, medium and subject. A series of classes could revolve around impressionism, oil painting and outdoor scenes for example.

The Disadvantages of a Live Local Instructor

This type of program does not necessarily have the luxury of enough time to teach a novice student all of the theory, techniques, styles and media needed to produce a well trained and well rounded artist. The pace of live lessons are often dictated by the slowest students in the class.

It is almost like playing the lottery when it comes to finding a local instructor that has enough experience and teaching ability to present a balanced education. In the absolute worse case scenario you may learn to produce only a few specific paintings while just mimicking the instructor.

It is usually more expensive and less convenient to pack all of your supplies and drive to a classroom then it is to stay at your home studio and learn from a video instructor.

The Advantages of a Live Local Instructor

Instructor feedback can be important. Sometimes, while learning a new skill, we may be doing something wrong and not realize it. Other times a student may just get stuck and need a few suggestions to get moving again. [Read more →]