How Are Art Editions Numbered?

Posted February 9th, 2011 by admin

How many are there? Is one of the most common questions concerning etchings, woodcuts and other graphic art. Prior to the end of the 19th Century, the concept of an edition size or keeping track of the number of impressions did not exist. So no one knows how many etchings Rembrandt, Durer or Whistler printed. If they had a customer for a work of art, they printed one. The wood or metal would also start to break down during the printing process, so this also limited the number of pieces. You can only guess at the rarity of the art by how frequently you see it in the market place.

Towards the end of the 19th Century, about the same time that artists started to hand sign their prints, the concept of an edition started to emerge. Artist started to limit the edition in order to assure the public of the quality of each piece and to declare the rarity of the art. In the beginning, there was no formal or accepted way of numbers. Some artists would just write the next number in a sequence but this does not give an edition size. Others would note the total size of the edition without sequence numbers. Finally an accepted notation of numbering emerged; the sequence number is first then a slash with the edition number below. Before and sometimes during the printing of the edition, the artist will pull a small number of impressions in order to view the quality of the printing. If these impressions are of the same quality as the edition, then the artist signs them and designates these impressions as an artist proof. There is no difference in the value or quality of an artist proof and the edition. Epreuve d’Artiste is the French notation for artist proof. Hors de Commerce means apart from the commercial edition and usually indicates that the print was given to a dealer or friend without the artist receiving compensation. Again, there is no difference in value when these make their way to the market place.

That being said, there are artists and dealers that will charge more for lower numbers or artist proofs. The idea that supports this is that the first prints are better in quality since the plate has not started to wear down. This idea only works if you know for sure that the artist actually numbers the edition in the exact order that he pulls them. I know one artist that numbers his entire edition as A/P. This valuation theory does not survive in the secondary market where the quality and condition of the art takes priority.

How to Frame for Your Artwork

Posted February 9th, 2011 by admin

So you’ve commissioned a portrait and it has arrived after a few months of anxiously waiting for it. It is absolutely gorgeous – you love it and think it was well worth the wait. As promised, it has arrived without a frame so that you can frame it to suit your décor but you aren’t sure what type of frame you want. There are so many to choose from.

How to frame your artwork – you have all these questions running through your head.

• What type of frame will go with your décor?
• What type of frame will go well with the portrait?
• Should you get it with or without matting?
• What color frame should you get?
• Should you get a thick frame or a thin frame?
• Would a thick frame take away from the portrait?
• Do you want a wooden art frame or a metal art frame?
• Should you pick an ornate frame or a plain frame?

My advice – don’t fret it. Everyone has a different style. There is no one way to framing your artwork, what’s more important is what you like, what you think will go well with your décor and your style.

You are the one that has to like the portrait. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks as it is your portrait, not there’s.

So, go with what you like.

Pick a color that you like. One that you think will go with your style. One that you think will match your décor.

If you think matting will go with the portrait, go for it. If you think you will like it without matting, then don’t get matting.

The frame should be whatever thickness that you think will match your style and décor. Either way, I’m sure it’ll look fabulous.

The bottom line is, this is your portrait. This is your home. This is your style. And you are the one that has to like the portrait.

In the end, you’ll be happy with the final result and you’ll be happy to show the pet portrait off to family and friends. It doesn’t matter if they like it or not – only you need to like it.

How to frame your artwork doesn’t need to be a chore, it doesn’t need to be complicated – it should be something that you enjoy and something you should be proud of when finished.

Setting Up a Professional-Looking Online Portfolio

Posted February 9th, 2011 by admin

Do you want to represent yourself and your collection of work to a wide audience? Then consider making an online portfolio. Whether you are an artist or designer who’s just starting out or have been in the industry for a long time, you online portfolio will help represent your image and your skills.

What are the important things to consider when making an online portfolio? Well, you need to make sure that it faithfully represents you and your work. How do you accomplish this? By planning carefully and investing some time and effort. Your goal is to make your portfolio look impressive and professional without losing your personal touch. A professional-looking portfolio that captures your personality can get you noticed and make you stand out from the rest of talented individuals in your field. You can accomplish this by following the tips below:

• Start with a plan. Consider your goals for making an online portfolio, the people who are going to view it and their purpose for doing so. Showcasing your works is your main goal but other than that, what to do intend to accomplish? Is it for future employment or collaboration? Is it to attract potential buyers or are you promoting your studio in general? Your portfolio should also reflect your primary strengths and your objectives as a designer or artist. Write down your plans so you won’t lose track of your purpose.

• Get inspiration from other online portfolios. Consider the ones that you admire. What captivates you to those portfolios? What makes them unique and pleasant to view? Then conduct some research on how to make your own portfolio different from those that are already set up online.

• Lay out your portfolio’s overall structure. Create a rough draft on a sheet of paper. Outline each page with titles and categories based on work you want to present. Consider adding a short biography, a blog, a guest book and social media bookmarks for easy sharing to social media networks. Once you are done with your outline, you must have a clear vision of how your visitors will navigate your portfolio site.

• Carefully choose the pieces of art or design works that you want to showcase in your portfolio. Include as many images as possible, selecting the ones that best represent your style and sensibilities.

• Prepare all the elements of your portfolio – the images of your works, your short bio, list of past and current clients, contact details and other relevant stuff – for the benefit of your Web designer. Enlisting the aid of a professional Web designer is essential in creating your presence in the Internet. Make sure that the designer has the ability to capture your unique vision and image as a designer or artist.

• After reviewing his or her qualifications, coordinate well with your designer. Carefully explain your specifications and expectation about your online portfolio. Have an open mind if the designer has some inputs to share. It could add something special to your portfolio.

As an artist or designer, your online portfolio serves as your business card. By making your works available in the Internet you are providing a way for art lovers and design enthusiasts to easily find you.

Art is full of different masterpieces, from paintings to sculptures, movies to photographic pieces. As often, you’ll find pieces that represent many types of art. This is what’s called mixed media art. It involves the combination of art fields to create something totally new and distinct. Throughout modern art history, there have been a number of different professional artists who’ve worked in the realm of mixed media and who have produced intelligent and inspiring pieces.

David Smith came into this world in the year 1906 in Decatur, Indiana. After shortly attending college at Ohio University, the University of Notre Dame, and George Washington University, he transferred to The Big Apple in 1926, where he studied painting full time at the Art Students League. In the 1930s he started to concentrate on sculpture, making welded constructions by utilizing discovered materials and solid metal. Smith moved completely to Bolton Landing, in upstate New York, in 1940. Important displays of his sculptures, paintings as well as drawings have been shown around the world since the 50s, such as current retrospectives at the Sezon Museum of Art, Tokyo (1994); MNCA, Reina Sofia, Madrid (1996); and Storm King Art Center, New York (1997-1999). A centennial retrospective organized by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (2006) went to the Centre Pompidou, Paris, and Tate Modern, London (2006-2007).

Abstract art is a force to be reckoned with, but you either connect with it or you don’t. Habib Ayat’s acrylic and mixed media images made that sentimental link through their bright hues and powerful forms. Given birth to in Tunisia, Habib has often been inspired by his Mediterranean roots. The vibrant hues of that region, from blue rooftops to white walls to green olive leaves, have stuffed his creative world with brightness. Right now he resides in Jersey City, New Jersey, in a hotbed of emerging art activity. Even though he was raised in the countryside, he is now enthralled with urban forms and hues.

Sally Mankus is actually a mixed media artist coming from Florida, USA. She uses many different mediums like digital, sculpture, installations and also mixed media. What exactly help to make her work very exciting is the non-traditional methods she has learned which include removing rust, carbon as well as markings from charred areas (primarily bake wear) which in turn becomes embedded into an acrylic ‘skin’. These kinds of ‘skins are adaptable and she also adds image transfers, paint and discovered items to produce extraordinary results.

Michael Vincent Manalo is actually a digital mixed media artist brought into this world in the Philippines on the year 1986 to parents who have different blood lines: His father being having his roots from the United states and his mom having her origins from Spain. He makes his art by means of merging ideas that have been captured in his brain with scenarios that have been seized by his hand to make the living space that his subconscious tries to convey. Michael explains. He started drawing at the age of three, slowly developing his technique by using various mediums, like pencils, charcoal, pastels until he started painting which unfortunately led him to frustration. At the age of 21, nonetheless, he received his very first camera which in turn presented him a different way to communicate through his subconscious. A few months after experimenting with his camera, he then educated himself the art of photo-manipulation and within another month’s time, he started combining images as well as digital paint with the great ideas and feelings he’s got within himself.

Heat Forming of Steel Rings for Sculpture and Metal Art

Posted February 9th, 2011 by admin

So far in my art, I have mainly been doing brazing and arc welding of metals to make art. To expand my possibilities, I want to get more into metal forming. In this I benefit to two important ways. First, I will be making pieces that once I purchased at a higher price. Secondly, as I practice and fine tune my skills, I will see almost infinite possibilities forms and shape.

What I did today is I took 1/4″ square mild steel rod and wrapped it 3 or 4 times around a 2 inch diameter tube I have lying around. How I did this you might ask? First, I drilled a 5/16″ in the tube. Next, I took my square rod and inserted about a half-inch of it into a table vise. I lit my oxy-acetylene torch and proceeded to heat the rod as close to the vise as possible. I heated to bright orange heat which is between 1000 to 1100 celsius. I made a sharp bend in the rod away from me. This created a small L shaped toe at the end. I inserted this in the hole I drilled in the tube while the tube was secured in te vise. I played the torch flame on the rod until orange heat and grabbed the far end of the rod with my hand fully protected with leather welding gloves. With minimal force, I was easily able to wrap the rod around the tube at least three times.

Some things to keep in mind are that you want to leave several inches of straight rod as this will be your handle to remove your rings from the tube mandrel. Also try not to twist the rod while wrapping as when you go to cut your rings, you will have made yourself extra work to form them back straight and level.

Antique Vases and Garden Decor

Posted February 9th, 2011 by admin

The annual Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville is coming up in February at the Nashville Convention Center. This is a show with beautiful floral presentations and of fabulous antiques and decorative arts.

You will see antique vases, porcelain, silver, paintings, oriental rugs and more at the antique booths. The horticultural booths will have architectural elements for the home and garden. They will have furnishings, orchids, whimsical accessories and more. There will also be exhibition gardens designed by Nashville landscape professionals.

There will be more than 150 antique-selling booths and garden booths at the show. The show attracts thousands of attendees of all ages each year. Going to the show is a great way to get inspiration for decorating your home inside and out.

Two well-known experts in the fields of antiques, decorative arts and landscape design will be speaking at this event. New York-based interior designer Charlotte Moss will be one of the speakers. Charlotte has written seven books and has designed collections of china, fabric, carpet, decorative accessories and home fragrance. Sarah Champier will also be speaking at this event. She was the personal florist to Prince Charles for 11 years.

The Nashville Convention Center is in the heart of downtown Nashville Tennessee. Visitors to the Antiques and garden show may also want to visit some Nashville tourist attractions. The Country Music Hall of Fame and the Ryman Auditorium are both within walking distance from the Nashville Convention Center. There are also plenty of downtown Nashville restaurants for dining.

Wall Art Created From Your Photos

Posted February 9th, 2011 by admin

The ultimate way of displaying your much loved photographs is to transform them into wall art. They will transform your room and will make a personal statement for your and your family. Wall art prints also protect your photographs and you will have them for years to come. They will be admired by all and hold much sentimental value in your home. They can be an added decorative asset not only to your home but also your work place such as in an office area, waiting room or staff room. Canvas prints are also very eye catching and are ideal for advertising products using photographs.

A variety of different themed photographs can be used as long as they are of a high quality photograph. Photographs can be embellished to enable them to look highly effective on the canvas. Gorgeous scenes from nature or even city skylines make fantastic wall art. Black and white, coloured or single hues can all be used when transferring photos on to canvas. For me, the best to use are personal ones of your family. I have photo canvas prints of my family all around my house, some of which are in black and white and others in full colour. They give me so much pleasure to look at and are admired by all visitors to my home. I am so proud of them and they provide me with such happy memories constantly.

I also use wall art to give to others as presents. They are always delightfully accepted and make a long lasting and treasured gift. I have given away photo canvas prints of scenic views which have a connection with the person receiving the gift, family members and even pets which have proved to be a great hit with my friends. If you have some wonderful photos on your digital camera don’t leave them there or on your lap top just stored away, choose your favourites to make a personalized gift to someone. It will give them so much pleasure for years to come and they will aways talk about it for a long time afterwards. I am trawling through my own collection of photos at the moment to make photo on canvas for a birthday, anniversary and wedding present. I know they will be much appreciated and displayed in prominent positions.

Using wall art is a great way to transform your pictures into artwork. Photos are printed on top quality canvas using UV pigment inks and inkjet printers. To protect canvas images from moisture and scratch, high quality protective quoting is used to cover them.

Many people like canvas prints due to the durability and portability offered by canvases. Photos on canvas create a long lasting impression on the minds of people. Photo to Canvas have several usage such as you can use them to decorate any type of wall. Wall art can be presented as gifts on any occasion. Photo canvas printing is the best way to transform a photo into a masterpiece.

Handbags are very popular especially in UK and women love handbags. You can make your handbag unique by printing a photo on the side of handbag. Now you can give this handbag to someone special on any important occasion. This is really a great personalized gifts and it’s a fabulous way to use digital photographs.

The Art of Sales

Posted February 9th, 2011 by admin

Many people who are self-employed, whether manufacturing or a service provider, knows the importance of making sales, or in other words, the necessity of communicating to prospective clients why they should purchase a particular product or service. Sales crucial elements of all businesses, and absolutely important to the survival of businesses. Not everyone has the knack of selling a product. People can show many sides to their personalities, honest, overtalkative, but all that really matters, is that they make good contact communicate well with the customer, and that they have the client’s respect. I have witnessed fifty sellers set off on a regular basis selling door to door and usually within a few days there are only three or four sellers that are continuously selling the products. Everyone was given the same product, so why should this be..? Several out of fifty people have the ability to talk to others in a positive manner. The client must above all have an interest in the product, and next, which is very important, the seller must be felt a honest person, someone that the client can understand and relate to. If any of these feelings are not present then the sale will fail.

Simple laws apply, treat others as you wish to be treated. Respect an individual’s ideas and opinions.Have respect for other people’s ways of life. To go into selling with a ‘something for nothing’ attitude is most definitely a non starter. It seems to me that financial institutions are for ever struggling to create a better image and customer relations. I have heard criticism many times because of the way a person has been treated at a bank. The usual complaint is that there is a lack of respect for the customer and that they have been treated as a number rather than a caring human individual. I am sure we all have a several incidents we could tell along these lines.

Repeat business should never be overlooked. If all your customers place two orders, the turnover would be twice as much. A basic piece of information, but one that a lot of people overlook. It is always better to make sure your client is completely happy with their purchase and its price, as under those conditions you can be assured that should they require another purchase, you will be their first call. So the basic rules are quite simple, a good quality product at the best price and delivered with politeness and professionalism. Selling techniques tend to vary from one country to another. I notice that in England a keen sales person will ‘bend over backwards’ to make the sale. That may involve calling in the evening or on a Sunday, nothing is too much bother to make that sale. France however seems to adopt a different approach. When the sign ‘Ferme’ is hung on the shop window for lunch, it is very unusual that you can persuade the retailer to serve you. In reality you must wait for two hours until lunch is finished or go elsewhere.

Tattoos and Their Removals

Posted February 8th, 2011 by admin

A tattoo is a mark that is made by inserting ink into the dermis layer of the skin to decorate it or for other reasons. Unlike in human beings for tattoos are used, among other reasons, decoration, in animals, they are used primarily for identification or branding.

In olden days, tattoos used to be permanent, but due to the advancement in technology, where we have solutions to most of the problems and diseases, there are very many ways of removing them and this is done easily and efficiently. Being many methods, one cannot rightfully claim that is the best tattoo removal option. Some of these methods include:

Tattoo removal cream; there are many kinds of helpful lotions available in the markets which are used in the removal of tattoos. One can be comfortably sited at home and remove their tattoo by just applying one of these tattoo removal creams. The tattoo might not be completely gone after the first few applications but, with time and constant applications, it will fade away. One ought to make sure that they keep their bodies dry after applying the lotion to ensure that it works effectively.

Though this is one of the easiest methods of tattoo removal, it takes time. One also ought to be aware that some lotions contain chemicals that may harm their body and growth.

Laser removal; unlike using tattoo removal creams which take a long time to remove the tattoo, laser removal is one of the fastest and as well easy to perform tattoo removal techniques. This technique is safe and has little risk, though one may be harmed in some conditions, after the process has been done. This process involves targeting the ink in the tattoo through the use of vibrations, dividing it into very pieces and making it penetrate into the body where it is safely removed to the outside. This method saves time and money-making it one of the best if you can afford it.

Using acid or chemical peels; another way to remove a tattoo is through the use of acids or chemical peels which are best done by medical professionals though there are some home kits which have instructions that one is supposed to follow carefully. The acids that are used here include alpha hydroxyl acid peels, a jessner’s peel, beta hydroxyl acid peel, retinoic acid peels and trichloroacetic acid peels. One area of caution is that not all these chemical peels work well with dark-skinned individuals because they tend to leave a lightened patch on the area they were used.

Dermabrasion tattoo removal: This is a procedure where the upper skin is removed using sand so as to reach the color and in the process remove it also.

New Era For Body Art And Tattoo Designs

Posted February 8th, 2011 by admin

TV programs like LA Ink and Miami Ink have helped change the “stigma” about getting tattoos. Tattoo designs have moved along with progress and is now quite technical, you can use software programs to help with choosing your body art and there are thousands of templates to choose your Tattoo design from. You can choose your design, print it and take it to your local Tattoo artist – so simple.

Remember the day when only sailors, bikers and gang members wore tattoos, now that’s all changed. People are getting inked for all types of reasons, like the loss of a loved one to a life changing experience like religion. Then there’s the person who wants body art for no other reason than just because, and leaves it up to the artist to come up with a design. Artist seem to love this, allows them to show off there creativity and artistic talent.

Tattoo conventions are bigger than ever, with hundreds of artists under one roof and thousands of visitors coming through the doors for days, there’s no excuse not to find the style and design that suits you. There are as many woman artists as men, no longer a male dominated industry. Classic styles like Celtic Designs Tattoo’s are still popular some of the most common designs asked for are. Knots: The entwined patterns of the knot design represent the continuous cycle of life and death with no beginning and no end. There are times when the knot works form certain geometric shapes, like triangles and circles. When triangles and circles combine, it makes a trinity knot that symbolizes the mind, body and spirit.

Hearts: The Celtic heart is also know as the love knot tattoo. It basically represents the unity of souls. The Heart designs are popular for someone looking for a romantic design.

There are plenty more Celtic designs available like “Tree of Life” and “Maze”.

The styles that have seen the most growth is definitely “Custom Body Art Designs” The main reason custom designs have become so popular is because it’s unique, the chance of someone else having the same design is virtually zero. Going down to the beach and seeing someone with the same tattoo design as you is as bad as going to the party, or showing up on the red carpet and someone else has the same dress as you. Not cool.

Arms are still the most popular area to get a tattoo especially for guys. Some things to consider after you’ve decided to tattoo your arm will firstly be – where on the arm you want your tattoo and how big. You could go for a full sleeve which like the word says will cover your arm like a sleeve, within a sleeve you could have a number of different designs.