My Art World

Mosaic is the art of creating images with small pieces of tile. It has been around for centuries. Mosaic art can be used to add pizazz to picture frames, tabletops and backsplashes, to name a few.

Arranging mosaic tiles into an image can be a science. Artists have used mathematical equations in order to create intricate patterns. These days detailed works are often designed on a computer first and produced with the use of computer- aided drafting programs. The tiles can be glued onto a variety of surfaces including wood, plaster, concrete, glass and metal.

Preparation of the surface is very important to ensure the work remains intact. The method the tiles are arranged will also play an important role in the integrity of the piece. The direct method involves gluing the tiles directly onto the surface, following the under drawing as a guide. The work can be visible as it is made, allowing the artist total visual control. The disadvantage of the direct method is that it must be done at the desired surface, which can be tedious for those working on walls and ceilings. In addition, evenness of the surface is more difficult to control with this method.

The indirect method allows the work to be transferred from one place to another. The tiles are placed face down on a paper backing then later transferred to the surface. This method results in a smooth surface and is good for large projects.

The double direct method is the most complicated. The tiles are placed on a medium such as a fiberglass mesh and then covered again with another layer which makes this method ideal for works that require major transportation.

Anyone can enjoy creating mosaic art because the supplies are fairly basic. Artists can find a variety of tiles from those who sell wholesale mosaic tiles for low prices. Grout can be purchased from any home improvement store and is easily dyed to match the work. Stepping stones and coasters are good projects for the beginner artist. More advanced enthusiasts can create beautiful table tops and floor pieces. The extra ambitious can challenge themselves by using mosaic tile art for their backsplashes in their bathrooms and kitchens.

Children can also enjoy mosaic tile art. Fun kits are sold with basic instructions that are easy to follow. Kids will enjoy putting their personal spin on name plaques and picture frames. Mosaic art is fun and relaxing. People of all ages can enjoy creating artistic, personal works. Because of the individuality of each small tile, mosaics are like snowflakes-no two are the same. Colorful, patterned tiles broken into small pieces can make a piece full of detail. Creating images requires a person to break an image down to tiny segments. Get started with mosaics today and open yourself up to a whole new way to look at the world.

Source : ezinearticles.com

When it comes to your fine art photos or paintings, there are few hard-and-fast rules when it comes to picture frames. However, there is a definite procedure for mounting any piece of visual art or valuable document, you’ll need the proper framing and matting supplies in addition to your photo frames. The easiest way to go is perhaps to purchase complete picture framing kits, which include everything you’ll need in addition to picture frames.

The fact is that improper framing can be worse than simply sticking a photo or painting up on the wall with tacks. Picture frames are actually a form of archival storage, and must be done properly in order preserve the artifact effectively, whether it’s a photo, painting or precious document. The choice of custom picture frames itself is important as well; photography frames as well as those for paintings and other documents should complement, not detract from the artifact, and should be appropriate for the décor of the room in which it is to be displayed.

The framing and matting supplies you’ll need in addition to picture frames themselves include a good supply of mat board. Mount board is what your photo of painting is actually attached to, preferable using photo corners or adhesive hinging tissue. The matting separates your picture from the glazing – the clear glass or acrylic that is placed over the picture itself – keeping the surface of the picture from coming in contact with it. Otherwise, there would be the risk of moisture condensation and substantial damage to the framed artifact would result.

You’ll need the proper tools in addition to your picture framing kits; a professional mat board cutter is a good investment. Other than that, you’ll need a good straight edge with some kind of measurement, a t-square, and a fair amount of patience, as there some skill involved.

Outside of the guidelines referred to above, the choice of picture frames depends largely on your own personal taste and preferences. Wood is a popular choice, as they offer warmth and luster that is appropriate for most types of décor and are available in many different styles as part of picture framing kits as well as stand-alone custom picture frames. On the other hand, metal frames in muted and subdued colors are relatively inexpensive and are unobtrusive; they tend not to detract from the artifact itself.

Whether you choose metal picture frames or wood ones, it’s important to use good quality framing and matting supplies that have been treated with an alkaline neutralizing agent so as to protect the artifact from acidity. Pay attention to the hanging, mounting and matting, and the picture frames will serve their intended functions well for many years.

Source : ezinearticles.com

By now, you probably have hundreds of photos stored in your computer — none of which have been printed yet. If you want a fast portrait or design image for a canvas art printing project, all you need to do is choose the picture or pictures you want to see enlarged, and open your Photoshop or Picasa program to easily turn your digital image into instant art.

Art on canvas

Canvas is closely associated with visual art. Canvas artworks can serve as instant accents at home or in office spaces. But artworks nowadays, especially the classic ones come, with a hefty price. The good news is that modern times have also given modern-slash-novel ways to come up with your own masterpieces using your own creative genius (with reinforcement), and these are made possible by digital canvas art printing.

A few clicks on your mouse using common image editing programs like Photoshop CS3 and Picasa are enough to help you come up with prints you only used to see in magazines, books and museums. Now, you can engage in a project and see results you would be proud enough to print and hang.

Quick Effects

Lined up below are some tricks you can use in for your canvas print.

From Photoshop, open the image file you need and then go to the ‘Filter’ menu drop down list and pick the effect. In Picasa, the image files in your computer are automatically collected so you can simply browse through the program’s image library.

1. Artistic

Photoshop has loads of options for this one. You can convert your digital photo into a watercolor artwork or one that looks like a colored pencil or palette knife creation. Sketches are also a handy category as it comes with charcoal effects, among others, to give a nice play of shadow and light in the image.

2. Distorted

The degree of distortion to be done on the image can be adjusted so the image becomes artistically manipulated and not damaged-looking. Among the distortion functions are ‘glass’ and ‘ocean ripple’.

3. Texture

Photoshop also lets you play with the illusion of texture with the use of the ‘texturizer’, ‘rough pastels’ and ‘water paper’.

4. Color

Photoshop offers more options than Picasa in terms of more complex alterations like ‘glowing edges’ and ‘neon glow’. However, the latter has easy steps to convert colored images to sepia or black and white. Picasa also has a feature called ‘focal B&W’ that lets you highlight a specific portion of an image by changing the color of the whole picture to black and white, while retaining the original color of that portion.

5. Soften

There are a number of blurring options to create a soft and old effect like Photoshop’s ‘radial blur’ which makes the image hazy in a circular direction, and Picasa’s ‘soft focus’ which gives the image a vintage look.

If you can’t decide on which image to print, you can make a collage. Picasa, specifically, offers a really neat and easy way to create this. Just add the pictures you want to include on the canvas print and then choose the collage format that suits your taste. You can go for mosaic, contact prints, or even a group of pictures just randomly piled. You have the option to use full-bleed, white-bordered or Polaroid-looking pictures.

Try experimenting with these different effects and make sure that you save your file in jpeg, eps, tiff or pdf format before sending the images for canvas art printing.

Source : ezinearticles.com

Contemporary Chinese Painting – The History
China has a lot to boast about when it comes to art and culture. The traditional Chinese paintings offer a clear picture of the periods they belong to. Great philosophers, religious figures, teachers, and political leaders have always inspired Chinese artists. However, with modern technology securing its place even in the genre of Chinese Art, there is a lot that stands altered about Contemporary Chinese Art, also called Chinese Avant-Garde Art. The relatively newer forms of Chinese Art, dating back to 1980s, are largely influenced by the ‘New Culture Movement,’ which not only adopted Western techniques, but also employed Socialist Realism.

The Details
The subjects for Contemporary Chinese Paintings are varied. The artists have ventured into painting everything, including common people, animals under the sea, portraits, and the day-to-day activities of people. Contemporary Chinese painters use ink, watercolors, and oil paints for their artwork. One of the commonest features of the Chinese style of painting is the free hand use of the brush. Painters dexterously transfer their ideas onto the canvas, while letting their sense of expression take command of their talent. Not being limited to the ink and brush methodology, they bring into use the technical help to reform and recreate old style ink shades. Therefore, Contemporary Chinese artists are quite open to experimentation and make use of modern tools in the course of their work. They employ multimedia installations and technical sketching in their paintings.

The Artists
Ai Weiwei, Cai Guoqiang, Cai Xin, Fang Lijun, Huang Yan, Huang Yong Ping, Kong Bai Ji, Lu Shengzhong, Ma Liuming, Ma Qingyun, Song Dong, Li Wei, Christine Wang, Wang Guangyi, Wang Qingsong, Wenda Gu, Xu Bing, Yang Zhichao, Zhan Wang, Zhang Dali, Zhang Xiaogang, Zhang Huan, Zhu Yu, Yan Lei, Ma Kelu, Ding Fang, Shang Yang, and Zhang Yue.

The Business Value
In today’s world, the market for Contemporary Chinese paintings has emerged as one of the most popular and fastest-growing art industries worldwide. Owing to their vibrant color schemes and life-like representations, the artworks attract millions of buyers globally. It has been reported in the 2006 issue of the ‘Voice of America’ that Contemporary Chinese art has managed to sell at record prices both, in the international and domestic markets. Few of the largest fine art auction houses have claimed that Contemporary Chinese Art has long been selling like hot cakes since quite some time now. A scenario like this has rapidly transformed the world of the Contemporary Asian Art in general, by turning it into one of the most dynamic sectors in the international market. In fact, some experts also fear that the market for Modern Chinese Art might even be overheating.

Statistics therefore, reveal that the future of Contemporary Chinese Paintings is very bright. Through these exquisite works, people not only get to see the illustrations from the Chinese culture, but they also get a glimpse of the brilliant adroitness of Chinese artists.

Source : ezinearticles.com

The way canvas art is regarded and presented is definitely fascinating. One wields the urge to peer at it, whether it is work in the process of production or completed. They are certainly remarkable as much as mind blowing as they are. These kinds of magnificent work seemingly explode from blank canvases and the canvas prints vary mightily in what they project. As some canvas art creates a sense of overt warmth, others draw a spine chilling effect, while in others there is a calming seclusion kind of sensation.

There has risen a contemporary style making use of canvas prints and wholesome arts of canvas with real photographs. This gives you a chance to have a printed photo on to any canvas. At the moment, this is the trend and it is rather fashionable, while you have a chance to make it even more personalized. It is a kind of photo design that hardly disappoints.

With the photo montage, there is a combination of so many distinct photos into a sole image. These are then printed on a canvas as much as they could be added to more different photo items. These canvas art sizes vary a lot, from small, customizable ones to rather large canvases. With photo montage, you are able to create one of the most lasting photo impressions in the eyes of anybody setting eyes on it, while it makes one of the most appealing kinds of wall art with a personalized touch.

With photo wall paper, you also have a personalization level, as much as large scale and grander as it is. Any type of picture or photo can easily be printed upon wallpaper, perhaps satin, which is then applied as a form of wall art just like standard wallpaper. The use of high quality type of material makes sure you have a strong and durable piece, meaning you can put it in any place with high traffic, such as the hall. It does not fall short of offering incredible image levels and color reproductions just like other wall art representations. The image hardly needs to fill an entire wall, although it makes a great way to make an additional wall feature in any room of your home.

There are more personalized canvas art with wall photo art prints, photo wallpaper and photo montages. Among all this however, photo wallpaper has one of the best looks and quality. With canvas prints photos, you certainly have a chance to have your own photo printed onto a genuine choice canvas while it is stretched over a museum or gallery grade frame. In this canvas art, the reproduced picture is one of the best you have ever had. Once you hung it on a room wall, it does personalize a room but also adds lots of color. You can even match the kind of décor your room has. Apart from the use of photos, you can also make use of other images and pictures.

Source : ezinearticles.com

Just like any other type of picture, fine art nature photography is meant to communicate. Good nature photos will communicate well and put your subjects in the light you prefer. Composition is extremely important if you want to get a good result. Here’s a look at some of the most important basic fine art nature photography techniques, and how to use them. Remember – an amateur can take a great photo once in a while, but it takes practice to do it on purpose!

Composition in photography refers to how the visual elements are arranged. Photographers do this using color, line, tone, texture, depth, perspective, lighting and many other elements. While it can be pretty scary to think about all of them when you take a photo, it’s possible to simplify this issue. Just look through the camera viewfinder and ask yourself a few questions. What’s the message of the photo, and what’s the best way to communicate it? If you figure these out, most of the other factors will fall into place.

Fine art nature photography is just more successful when you have a clear message. That doesn’t mean you need to make all your photos allegories or political statements. These messages are usually pretty simple, and often hard to articulate. But nearly every good photograph has one. You just have to think about it.

Remember to keep things simple as you compose, especially when you’re just starting out with fine art nature photography. Don’t try to get lots of subjects into a photo – just one will do. Some professionals actually look at scenes in terms of what they can remove and still keep a good composition. Just finetune through the viewfinder until you’ve removed as many distractions as possible.

Make sure you remember to be patient. Good composition isn’t instantaneous, though experienced photographers may make it look like it is. Some nature photos take up to ten minutes to compose. While some photography does require quick pointing and shooting, it’s best to slow down as much as the subject will allow.

Don’t ignore any part of the scene. Fill the frame with interesting, on-message areas. Zoom or get closer to the subject to keep it from becoming hard to see. Don’t forget about the verticals, either – most people take primarily horizontal photos. But trees and mountains are important, too! You can find lines nearly anywhere – recognizing them allows you to use them to make your pictures better, instead of letting them interfere.

While good fine art nature photography may take practice, you’ll be surprised what a little care and do to improve your photos. Just try it out and see!

Source : ezinearticles.com

It’s so easy these days to simply grab a camera or cell phone and snap a picture of whatever catches your eye. You may have thousands of photos just lying around. And that doesn’t count all of your other artwork like paintings and prints. So what is a person to do with all of these treasures that could never be parted with? There are many creative ways to hang and display art, and this article is full of such ideas. It will be hard to pick just a few!

The general rule of thumb for hanging objects on the wall is to hang them at eye level. They will simply be more pleasing to look at if you don’t have to look way up or down to see them. If you are hanging pieces in a group, think of all of them as one big picture. In these cases it may be easier to cut out scraps of paper the same size as your art and position them on the floor before actually going for the hammer. (Incidentally, odd numbered groupings always look the best.) Another important consideration is size – make sure the scale of your art matches the size of the wall and furniture. Lastly you will want to consider lighting. While objects and pictures do not need to be spotlighted, often times the art will be even more appealing if you focus a beam of light on it. Now that we have the basics of hanging art pieces we can talk about ways to arrange them. Here are some ideas:

Ways to Arrange Your Art on the Wall:

1. Hang several pictures in a row, either horizontally or vertically. You could have just three or as many as you need to fill up your wall. It’s a good way to keep your eyes moving around the room, too.

2. You can also offset them. Take two or more pictures and hang one. Then step the other one down by a few inches. It is sort of like hanging them on a diagonal.

3. Place four similarly shaped objects in a square to create a box shape. If you have six or more you could always do a rectangle.

4. Try placing art in a collage on your wall. Find several different objects such as paintings, photos, and architectural art and mix them up in a pleasing way. Keep them fairly close together and remember the rule of three.

5. Hang photos above a staircase. Echo the shape of your stairs by staggering the items up the wall like a set of steps.

6. Arrange your art in themes. If you have a bunch of botanicals, group them all together instead of placing them separately in different parts of your home.

Ways to Hang and Frame Your Art:

7. Frame your ordinary pictures in a unique way. For example, you could use silk flowers or evergreen garland to surround the piece. Simply glue them to the existing frame and hang.

8. Hang photos or pictures from ribbon or wire. You could even hang multiples together the same way by hanging a rod on the wall and stringing the photos from it on ribbon.

9. Arrange art around a doorway or window. Start at the bottom and go up one side, over the top, and down the other. The pieces should be small and not too busy if you do this.

10. Group pictures together in a collage or one of the other suggested shapes. Then take a piece of molding and build a frame big enough to surround the whole group and hang it on the wall around the pieces. Or you could just use paint and create a faux frame on the wall.

11. Do you have a landscape picture of the beach or countryside? Consider buying some inexpensive plastic shutters and putting them on either side of the item for a window effect.

Ways to Arrange Artwork on Furniture:

12. Look through every room in your house and see where you might be able to sit some pictures. Tops of cabinets and dressers work well, as do desks, the top of your TV, or even near the jacuzzi in the master bathroom.

13. Do you have a space between your kitchen cabinets and the ceiling? This is a perfect spot to display some small art.

14. Got a fireplace? Try putting some photos or paintings on the mantle – don’t hang them above, just sit them on top. Enhance the photo with a couple of well-chosen accessories.

15. If you have a curio cabinet that is not really being used for curios, you can always put art inside instead.

16. Do you own a piano? The top of an upright, or even a grand piano, is a great place for art items.

17. If your piece of art is relatively large, try sitting it on the floor. Lean it against a wall out of the way of kids, pets, and heavy traffic and watch the smiles you are sure to get.

18. Hang up a shelf, set your pictures on top and lean them against the wall. It is a nice change from hanging them by a nail.

19. If your décor will allow, put up some chair rail picture molding. Like regular chair rails, this is installed at around three feet from the ground and is basically a very small shelf that circles your room. Lean art and photos up against the wall and let your treasures surround you.

20. If you are simply looking for a unique way to display your photos on a table, try a vignette. For example, gather three portrait photos, a couple of your favorite landscape paintings, a tall candlestick and some greenery and arrange them on the tabletop. It will make them seem more important if you group the items together.

Unique Places to Display Art:

21. Hang three or four large pictures in a square or rectangle above your bed for an instant and unique headboard.

22. If the artwork is weather-resistant or can be made to withstand the elements, try hanging a piece or two outside. The front door makes a bold statement when adorned with a favorite piece of art.

23. Do you have one of those bath and shower combos that don’t quite reach to the ceiling? If you have a picture that can withstand the steam and heat of the shower (behind glass or enclosed in a metal frame for example), hang it in this blank area to add interest.

24. Another idea for those heat and steam resistant pieces is to hang them above the stove as a backsplash. Just be sure you can wipe them clean.

25. If you have one of those big sterile bathroom mirrors you can always hang a photo in front of it to make it more appealing. Take a piece that will match the décor in your bath, find a complementary ribbon, and hang it in the center of the mirror (from the wall above). This will add interest while still leaving plenty of mirror to use.

Things to Make That Will Display Your Photos:

26. Take three large pieces of wood, hinge them together accordion style, cover them with fabric, and use them as a room divider screen. Hang photos, pictures and all kinds of other art on your “new wall”.

27. Using the same idea, construct a small screen for in front of your fireplace. It is a great spot to hang seasonal art for the summer when the fireplace is not in use. Just be careful to use flame retardant materials near working fireplaces.

28. Create a coffee table to display your photos. Purchase a table that fits with your décor, or use the one you already have, and get a piece of glass cut to the size of the table top. Arrange your photos on the table, then lay the glass on top for a unique, useful and waterproof art gallery.

29. If you have a picture or painting that is around 16 by 20 inches, make it into a side table. Attach the art to a piece of wood cut to the same size, then add legs you can buy at any home improvement store. Paint if you wish. Make sure you have the top covered in glass or Plexiglas, and you have an instant side table.

30. Create a shelf out of art. Take a piece of art or a special photo and get a flat frame to put it in. Nail a small piece of wood that is the same width as the frame and a couple of inches deep to the bottom. Paint it the same color as the frame, hang the photo on your wall, and you are ready to accessorize with a small bud vase, miniature collectables, or even spices in the kitchen.

Source : ezinearticles.com

Art gallery owners spend a great deal of time framing pieces of artwork to be displayed during shows. For a gallery owner, doing this job yourself can save you a great deal of money, and will ensure that your artwork looks the way you desire. All manner of different framing and matting supplies can be purchased from online fine art photography picture frame suppliers, who offer not only the picture frames you need but all of the accessories, including mat and mount board, glazing, picture corners and hinging tape, as well as hanging apparatus, so that your gallery will look beautiful.

If your gallery has a particular focus, such as fine art photographs, you will likely select frames that are made of thin yet durable anodized black metal. Particularly for black and white photography, you will want a thin frame along with a wide white mat board. If everything on display is framed in a consistent way in terms of framing and matting supplies, then the focus will truly be on the artwork. It also helps to make the room look less busy, and visitors will find it a more restful environment for viewing the art. Also, if you are using the same type and style of frames and mat board, you can save additionally by purchasing the framing and matting supplies that you use most often in bulk quantities.

Each picture, in addition to photo framing supplies such as the frame and mat board, will also need a mount board. These photo framing supplies can be made of conservation quality foamcore, which is lightweight yet very strong.

You will also need framing and matting supplies to attach the artwork to the mountboard. In this case, you could choose from hinging tape or picture corner photo framing supplies. Hinging tape art framing supplies allows you to connect the mat to the mount board, and sandwich the photo in between them. This leaves the artwork more free in the frame, and helps to prevent wrinkling of the artwork’s surface due to changes in room temperature. Other art framing supplies you could use for this purpose are picture corners. These framing and matting supplies go on the corners of your artwork and are attached to the mountboard with adhesive on the back of them. The picture corner art framing supplies are quick and easy to use, and are a popular choice in photo framing supplies for galleries.

Glazing art framing-supplies come in two styles. Those are glass and acrylic. While glass is durable, acrylic is lightweight, so you will need to decide which you prefer in art framing supplies.

Your final photo framing supplies needed are the hanging apparatus for each picture. These can be made of wire or metal, depending on the size of the artwork.

You can select from dozens of framing choices by looking at online frame supplier’s websites to see what is available.

Source : ezinearticles.com