Pixel Paint Scrapblog – Scrapbooking Tips and Ideas

A lot of people adore original art. But here appears a question: can original art considered to be a good investment, especially, if today’s economic situation is taken onto consideration? And the answer is obvious – historically, collecting original art has proven to be a good investment, both aesthetically and monetarily.

It will be very useful for you know, especially in the case if you are considering an original painting buying, that the value of the art will not appreciate ‘overnight’. There is a need to explain that that it may take years for your painting to increase a lot enough in value in order to make it a good investment for you. Of course, you might not want to sell it right away anyway if the painting is something you really enjoy and it brings you pleasure.

There is a rather interesting fact to mention that a lot of companies are beginning to discover that the placement of original fine art, in the workplace, actually improves the productivity of their employees because this provides them with an aesthetically pleasing working environment and you will probably agree that it is very important for a good mood and, as a result, for a good work all day long.

It should be also pointed out that over the years fine art has out performed the S&P 500 as a long term investment, considering the record sales at many fine art auction houses.

Now, let’s talk a bit about the other question that you might wonder about. What are the risks involved? So, as it is known, original art is a long term investment and it simply means that there are no guarantees that the market will be just right when you are ready to cash in on your investment and that is the reason why you will need to insure your art, not only against fire and water damage, but also against theft. As a matter of fact it is vital to be sure that you have photograph documents of your collection, as well as any appraisals, original sales receipts and other documentation that verifies the value of your art.

To conclude it all it should be said that like anything else in life, your best gauge of whether or not you think original art might be a good investment would be to go with your instinct. So in the case that it is something that gives you anxiety, you might want to rethink the venture and if you look at a piece of original art and find that it makes you happy and it’s something you would appreciate over the years, go for it. Keep in mind the simple truth that original art is a good investment as long as you realize the usual period of time that goes with its appreciation.

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In this age where valuable free time is so difficult, where do we find relaxation, peace or solitude from the busy life of today with all it’s trials and tribulations. People use this time in different ways but I am convinced that many opt for some sort of peace and tranquility.

As a contemporary artist that loves nature, I often head to the country to admire the beautiful landscapes, mountains, trees, lakes, flowers, birds etc. The effect they have on me is calming. The rare beauty of this stirs my emotions. Often I capture these emotions on camera, so that the memory remains with me.

The colours in the country are inspiring – either in winter or summer. I appreciate the starkness of winter when the trees are stripped empty, the first snows and of course the pattern that frost makes, whether on the window panes, cars,etc…. Maybe the colours are at their Sunday best in the autumn.

Fascinating too are the tumbling leaves and falling twigs as they appear to dance like an Autumn Concerto. The reds, browns, golden yellow and the leaves partly disintegrated are really something together with the conkers dropping at your feet.

I have spent an enjoyable time in County Kerry where the landscapes are naturally rugged which is impressive to the eye of a contemporary painter. If you head on towards Dingle the natural flow of the waterfalls at Muckross Pass takes your breath away. The early morning mists as well are something to behold.

Different things grab peoples emotions, personally I am quite happy to stroll along a deserted beach at any season of the year. Observe the birds, watch the sun refecting on the water, or the flow of the tide as it comes in and moves out. Even see children playing, running in and out of the water, making sandcastles, or dogs roaming free off the leash. One thing is for sure, possibly one of the finest things to capture is the early morning sunrise or the evening sunset in all its glory. This is beauty at it’s finest.

Spring too, is an beautiful season when you see the first delicate buds appearing on trees, hedges and bushes. Snowdrops and tender Celandiles working their way up through the ground.
Easter on towards May brings the gorgeous array of nodding Bluebells which are abound in plenty of our local woods and forests mingling amongst the Buttercups and Ferns.

Then we are into the colourful surprise of summer. At this time the trees are ready to be appreciated. Flowers are in full bloom creating eye catching displays which warm our spirits. Hues and patches of fragile tones which warm the soul, to very bright and passionate colours which knock our socks off.

Skylines too are inspiring. The cloud formations are always interesting with their delicate and also very strong tints. Red skies are relaxing, relating to you that the next day is going to be golden.

Is it any surprise then people enjoy painting Landscapes? You have all the inspiration you could possibly need. As you can gather you are surrounded by subjects. Whether you catch them on camera first, or do them from memory. Pick up you paint and seize the day!

This article was written by Anna Meenaghan of http://annameenaghanart.com

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Andrew Sinclair was Born in 1961 in Poole, Dorset, he finished a Fine art foundation course in Bournemouth & Poole College of Art and then went on to study in different areas of art. He became a studio manager in moulding and casting which developed into him gaining commissions for a variety of pieces that revealed the skill and flexibility of this brilliant sculptor.

Andrew Sinclair is the driving force and guide behind his very successful Chiltern based Ridgeway Sculpture Design Studio, which has created some fantastic works of art. And is consistently being used by individuals that want work that is second to none in quality and craftsmanship knowing that any piece that is created by Andrew Sinclair and his team will be fantastic.

Andrew Sinclair ARBS has a massive amount of skill that he uses when a fresh creative brief is put in front of him. Andrew Sinclair has a commited and personal take to his constantly building list of high end clients and his understanding and interpretation of the new briefs ensures that the clients are always happy. Having such discerning clients has ensured that Andrew has been provided with the opportunity to build some astounding and prestigious works.

Andrew Sinclair’s sculptures can be seen in country homes, on city desks, ocean liners and in public spaces. Each of these pieces whether they be a Portrait Sculpture of Winston Churchill, a Figurative Sculpture of Liberty or a surrealist sculpture of Moodius Centuarus have such movement to them that Andrew Sinclair must be praised for his skill.

His team of moulders and casters ensure that every new project that is brought into Ridgeway Studio is lovingly brought into existence using the large bank of their accumulated knowledge to make sure the sculpture goes according to plan. Andrew Sinclair’s team also work with other sculptors producing their works to the highest of standards with a complete service for resin bronze, marble resin, metal effect and stone effect casts.

There are an huge number of patinations that can be applied to the sculptures, and the team have massive amounts of experience applying just the right finish to every individual piece. Many sculptors also find it beneficial working with Ridgeway Studio for the added services of armature supply and enlargement work. Andrew Sinclair has produced some fantastic works in the past, I look forward to seeing what marvellous pieces he works to life in the months ahead.

To create interesting fluid portraits that breathe life you must understand the effect of the spine on the skull and shoulders.

To generate a relaxed feeling in your portraits quite often you will need to draw the skull slanted. Most people when they are at ease will view with their skull slightly slanted. In this article we will point out what to look for and how to tackle the slanted skull.

In the slanted skull view the subject will show a clear change of direction from the action of the torso to the tilt of the skull. Also take note of where the shoulders are. The subject’s shoulders will approximately be aligned with the bottom of the nose.

With this information in mind, the first step is to measure the angle of the skull’s tilt (from the bottom of the chin to the top of the skull) before drawing the arabesque. To do this hold up your pencil (or a knitting needle) at arm’s length, looking through one eye, and adjust the angle of the held pencil so that it relates to the angle of the tilt. Keeping your arm straight and locked you can now transpose this angle onto the sketch.

Now that the angle of the tilt is found you can sketch the arabesque and verify the height/width proportion.

The axis of the features is vertical to the tilted facial angle. A common tendency while sketching is to straighten out the features so that they are horizontal to the paper. Be aware of this and ever on-guard because this tendency is subtle and is constantly trying to sneak into the sketch.

It is not a suggested practice to position all of the features at this time. It is actually more correct to first fix the brow line and the bottom of the nose and work from there.

When the skull is tilted you should also be conscious of the effect that gravity has on the face. The flesh, in particular on the underside of the jaw, will be somewhat pulled down. This effect is quite subtle but for those of you who are expert portraitists you should catch this in your original arabesque. If you are a beginner just file this information away for future reference.

Take note, too, of the neck. The major visible neck muscle is stretched out. Its companion is shortened. This opposing muscle action is referred to as abduction/adduction. This action of the neck always renders a beautiful effect.

Once the arabesque is situated and you are satisfied with its accuracy relative to size and shape you can render the features and block-in the chief big darks and lights. Keep the value simple. The more complex the lighting arrangement, the more this applies.

The tonal arrangements are worked further, but are still a bit crude and unresolved. The chief concern is the overall light effect.

There are a few items to keep in mind as you prepare to finish the sketch:

1. Determine how far you should carry the sketch. You can get a good effect if you give the shoulders and upper torso an unresolved quality. Remember, sketches are not meant to resemble photographs.

2. As you gain a better understanding of the facial structure the tendency exists to draw what you know rather than what is actually there. So make sure you always pause to observe the life model or the subject in the photograph.

In closing, the tilted skull view is special in that the features will be centered on a tilted axis and that the stress in the shoulders will be different from one side to the other. Also the changeover from the torso and shoulders to the skull should be carefully observed.

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Art presents itself in many shapes and forms today – to me it is always interesting and gratifying to appreciate other peoples art. You don´t necessarily have to enjoy it personally to accept the hard work that has gone into it and the thought behind it.

As a contemporary artist myself – I find it gives you freedom to express your inner workings.

If I had a bad day it most likely reflects in my paintings appearing more dramatic. On the other hand I also find it calming to paint seasoned skies.

Art is a very personal thing, what appeals to one person, others find feeble – the appeal is in the eye of the beholder. As a contemporary painter I find that these days there so many things classified as art which makes it more satisfying. As an idea take spray painting, some people do this but also use stencils. Myself I often really admire some of the spray gun graffiti scene. Very cunning youngsters do some amazing creations. Although many people would view this as vandalism.

Just look at pavement artists sketching out their pictures in chalk. This surely is a talent, but one that a great number of passers by can enjoy but yields the artist very little money. Many of us have been to Paris and the “Montmartre” area where the artists set their easels on the pavements doing quick caricatures much to everyone’s amazement and amusement.

More unusual perhaps are sand sculptures which feature in the Canary Islands and I am sure other places. They range from biblical scenes to dragons with real fire breathing out of there nostrils.

Mosaics too are greatly interesting and colourful as these designs can be used on plant pots, walls, gardens etc. and in oh so many ways.

Posters – somebody has to design them so they are thought provoking and catch the eye.

This is a great challenge for children too, who are encouraged to do posters for any number of things from road safety to recycling the environment. I love to see what sense can be made of driftwood collected along the beach. I think a special type of person is needed to do this with a very good imagination and creativity.

On this theme also amazing paper weights can be made from nice pebbles once they are cleaned, painted and varnished. It is also fun searching for the pebbles in all kinds of shapes and feeling how smooth they are when you run your fingers over them.

Designing and making your own cards not only brings pleasure to many, but also brings individuality to the recipient.

Papermache is another form of art I have never tried, but I really like the results that people manage to achieve. Decoupage in this day and age seems to be greatly popular, along with scrapbooking, felting, patch working and needlepoint.

There are so many forms of art there surely must be something to suit everyone. Help is at hand as there are many workshops running in many crafts stores as well as local schools. Art brings fulfilment to many people, creating it or enjoying the art of others – it also relaxes you and can make you a host of new friends, so enjoy !…

This article was written by Anna Meenaghan of http://annameenaghanart.com

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Art collecting is an extremely popular hobby today because more and more people are beginning to appreciate the finer things in life, as well as the talents that others want to share with the world! Art collecting is also perceived as an investment because the instability of economies around the world makes investing in various markets extremely risky. There are literally millions of dollars in the art industry as a result.

There are millions of art collectors around the world today, but there are ten top tips that each and every one of them should adhere to, regardless of experience. Beginners and experts alike should pay attention to these tips because they can help an individual infinitely enhance their collection, as well as ensuring that they have fantastic artwork lining their walls in the years to come!

1. Do not buy art if you do not like it! The whole point of art is that it enhances your life in some way. You should be proud to display it on the walls of your home or office, and not so ashamed that you have to hide it away. Buying art purely and simply because it is an investment in denying another individual with different tastes the opportunity to own a piece of artwork that he or she loves, so ensure that you only own art that you actually feel something for!

2. Before investing in any piece, whether it is another to add to your collection or your first piece of artwork, make sure that you do your research. Take a look around the local art galleries and visit as many as you possibly can before settling on one piece. The staff at most galleries will be happy to talk about art in general or individual pieces with you, and every single person that you talk to will teach you something new!

3. When visiting the galleries, be sure to ask whether they have a mailing list. Many of them will have either an email list or a snail mail list, or both, because they actively court business. Adding your name to those lists will ensure that you get to hear about special events that they have as well as openings, which again will help to enhance your art education.

4. Join some of the museums in your local area. Although museums do not offer art for sale, they often release magazine publications at least four times a year. The magazines will give you hints and tips on valuing your art as well as promoting local galleries and publishing interesting articles about collecting art.

5. Search the stands of your local newsagents or art magazines and subscribe. Again, they will publish articles on collecting art and also advertise lectures around the country that may be of interest to the art collector.

6. Do not forget to visit any non-profit art centres that happen to be in your town or city, as well as any art fairs that come within driving distance. There will often be art offered for sale as well as artists and experts that you can talk to that will happily help guide you through art collecting. This will give you access to information that is not available anywhere else!

7. Look up fellow art collectors. They may have joined local galleries and museums or attend the same lectures. Exchanging ideas and information can be a satisfying experience and help you to enhance your own collection.

8. Go to your local library and check out several books on art collecting. Any books on the subject will give you valuable information, hints and tips that can ensure that your collection will be infinitely better than if you went into collecting blind with little knowledge about art.

9. Find out when art critics publish columns in local and national newspapers and make sure that you read them. Although the critics’ columns only reflect their personal opinions, you will soon find a critic that you tend to agree with and can actually use his or her research to find new resources, exhibitions and galleries to tap into.

10. Use the Internet. There is a wealth of information out there just waiting to be accessed, and that information can really help you to build your knowledge base and collection. The Internet will also give you access to the galleries outside of your local area so you have a better market to browse!
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