Collecting Enesco

Collecting Enesco  My friends and I have been collecting Enesco for several years. We actively attend art auctions and bid on everything Enesco! We have a lot of fun finding pieces we don’t already have and winning them. I think collecting Enesco is fun. I really like the Mary Moo Moo plates. They came in a collection of eight plates from a series called Home is Where the Herd is. I’ve had a hard time finding a complete set at an art auction, but I have found several single plates. I started collecting Enesco right after I was married. I went to an art auction with my sister-in-law and she pointed out some items that she was collecting. The experience I had with her that day really made an impression on me. I went to an art auction several months after the first one I attended and bought my first piece of Enesco. I got my start collecting Enesco with just one plate. I bought an Enesco plate that said Cookies are for Sharing. I have displayed it in my kitchen ever since. I am still lacking an Enesco plate that says Cream of the Crop. It is hard to believe that I’ve been actively collecting Enesco for so long and have been unable to locate this plate. I have duplicates and triplicates of several of the plates. Each art auction I attend, I am hopeful that I will find the plate I need to complete that set. My best friend has been collecting Enesco ever since she had a baby a few years ago. She decided on a teddy bear design for the nursery and I gave her a shower gift of several Cherished Teddies figurines for decorating with. She found more of the figurines at an art auction she went to with me and has been unstoppable ever since. Precious Moments figurines have never been something that I particularly liked. My friend’s daughter loves them. She started collecting Enesco Precious Moments figurines after we took her with us to an art auction that had a small lot of them. She spends significantly less on her collection than the rest of us do, but I think she’ll catch up. My husband’s birthday is on Halloween. He has started collecting Enesco Halloween statues. I bought him one statue at an art auction several years for his birthday and he totally fell in love with the work of Jim Shore. The first Enesco statue that my husband found for himself was at an art auction we attended together while on vacation. He found the statue called Grim Reaper absolutely irresistible. I have to agree, the detail work is positively spooky! He has been searching for other pieces, but does not pursue collecting Enesco very actively. My husband went golfing last weekend while I attended an art auction. Collecting Enesco is my passion and I rarely pass up items that I really like. I found a piece for me that added to my Moo Moo plate collection and I found a Headless Horseman for my husband’s collection. The next piece that my husband has indicated that he wants to find at an art auction is the Jim Shore piece called Witch on a Pumpkin. I know that collecting Enesco can be addictive and it is nice that he has decided which pieces he really wants. I agree with my husband and really like the folk art that Jim Shore does.

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Buying Paintings: Minimalism

 Buying Paintings: Minimalism Though I could enjoy speaking on the topic of art for sometime, I found myself without a way to truly understand the differing values in the ways of thought that permeate this grouping of human experience, and found myself looking to sources over the Internet to further my knowledge to utilize the information gathered to purchase paintings. I have always been interested in the passions evoked by the series of artists and movements that proliferate what we have come to know as the history of art. Reflecting on this notion of life’s passing interaction whether Romanticist, Surrealist, or Minimalist in nature. Speaking on Minimalism now, the ideas that made this movement unique relied heavily upon the work being stripped down to the barest fundamental aspects, and laying bare those integral parts of self-expression. Many pieces of work other than visual art has been affected by these ideals of minimalism, and acted outside of this particular aesthetic appeal, creating new ways to interpret literature and even lifestyles. As far as painting goes, however, the minimalist paintings will typically use limited color schemes and simple geometric designs. Minimalist sculpture is focused on the materials used. Some of the phases commonly agreed on about this movement are each notable for how they have progressed the overall conception of minimalism as a movement. A distillation in forms was the first phase, with contributors claiming in order to create a universal language of art that masses were meant to understand easily, and seemed poised to support the rapid industrialization for particular settings of the time. Searching for a purity of form, and paving the way for the abstractions to come later on, allowing for the second more notable phase to reach its’ crescendo afterwards. Much of the formats for commercial artwork we see today have had a great deal of background in this movement of visual art, allowing us to understand on a fundamental level what the message is that the work is trying to convey, and a large amount of the signs and signals we find today relies heavily upon these ideals to translate a universal meaning to the general populace. We can easily see the progression of minimalism in these examples of the world over, and it almost as ingrained into our society now as much as we care to see. A minimalist painting will typically use a very limited amount of colors and have a very simplistic geometric design. Minimalism in sculpture, on the other hand, is much more concerned with the materials used. Many people believe that minimalism in generally is about geometric shapes, but this interpretation depends widely on the branch of art as well as the interpreter. But the simplest way to describe minimalism is that the less that is in the painting or work of art, the better it is. Minimalism is all about drawing attention to the few objects and colors of the composition. In this way minimalism shows us that less is better, for the eye is not drawn away by this of that filler or extra objects. Minimalism is about starting with nothing and then carefully applying the few objects and colors that will define the piece as a whole. Minimalism is still one of the major parts of contemporary art, but it is used I conjunction with other styles and flairs from other art movements to form new types of minimalism.

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Buying Watercolor Paintings

Buying Watercolor Paintings I’ve been buying watercolor paintings for decorating jobs. I’ve found some really nice pieces on eBay. I recently bought a watercolor painting by an artist named Y. Gianni. The painting was produced in 1890 and depicted an Italian village. It was very vivid and pleasing to look at. I was trying to find just the right watercolor painting for a client when I came across one by an artist named William B. Gillette. The colors were pastel, ranging from soft greens, browns, blues, purples and peach. The scene was that of a pebble beach and crashing waves. The hills on one side gave the beach a feeling of privacy. It really spoke to me and my client loved it. There was a cabin that I was decorating for a discerning client that needed one more piece of art to complete the look I was going for. I found a wonderful watercolor painting that fit just right. It had a lot of mossy green colors and there was a lake with a lake house. The artist turned out to be Charles Dickens Wader. He is a well known artist from New York. I have a client that collects art from Romeo Tabuena. I was fortunate to find two watercolors that the owners had purchased directly from Tabuena in the fifties when they lived in San Miguel. The owner settled with me for an even thousand dollars. My client was thrilled. A lawyer friend of mine hired me to redecorate his office. I had a lot of fun putting in things that reflected his interests and tastes. He loves polo and I found a wonderful watercolor painting of two polo players on horses. My friend liked the paintings and they have become a conversation piece in the new office. My friend’s dad liked the office I decorated so much that he commissioned me to redecorate his office. He is a hunter and I found a really nice watercolor painting of several mallard ducks flying above a marsh. The painting was done by Jim Killen and he has painted for Ducks Unlimited. His work is well known and respected. My friend’s father really liked the find and proudly hung it in his reception area. I was really unsure where I was going to find suitable art for the program director’s office at a local radio station. When I went to visit with him for a consultation, his office was absolutely stark. I like watercolor paintings and that is my first choice for buying art. I found a fantastic watercolor painting of Bob Marley surrounded by sunflowers. It was awesome and perfect for this job. There is a musician that I was working for a couple of years ago that wanted their studio decorated with paintings from the artist Raoul Dufy. Raoul Dufy made a whole series of paintings called Hommage to Mozart. I was able to purchase three watercolor paintings in this series. I have always been on the lookout for more paintings to purchase for this client. A friend of mine asked me to find a watercolor painting to give to her mother. I found one by Henry H. Parker that was of cattle in landscape. The frame was what caught my eye at first because it is heavy gilt. It would never hang in my house, but it looked great at my friend’s mother’s house.   Blog: of art and craft-hobbies Website Stores http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/ http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/shop/ group Art Studio of Lewis Baber , Post and Sell your ART. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Magikaljourneys?ref=seller-platform-mcnavArt Two Old Guys Folk Art Share this:http://Gallery-Wall-Art.com

Clay Pot Crafts: Make a Bell for the Porch

Clay Pot Crafts: Make a Bell for the Porch Clay pot crafts are a cute way to make home decorations. In clay pot crafts, clay flower pots can be crafted into a variety of decorative things that appeal to gardeners. Usually, the crafter begins with new pots. The pots are often decorated with paint as well as being tied together with rope or cord to create things. Pots for clay pot crafts can be purchased in many different sizes, from tiny ones not more than 2 inches in diameter, to huge ones over a foot across. For a beginning project, start with smaller pots. The beginner should also choose clay pot crafts that don't use too many pots in too elaborate a design. An example of a good craft for someone new at clay pot crafts is to make a bell from two clay pots. Buy one pot that is about five or six inches in diameter, and another that is very small. You will use the small one as the clapper for the bell. You will also need some decorative cord, two large wooden beads, and paint in desired colors. You may also wish to purchase some glue-on jewels to decorate the bell. The bell makes a nice decoration for a front porch. Cut the cord two feet (60 cm.) long. Fold the end over 3 inches (8 cm.) and tie in an overhand knot, making a loop. This loop is for hanging the bell from a hook or a nail. Now turn the larger clay pot upside-down. Pass the loose end of the cord down through the hole in the pot. Lay the pot on its side and slide one of the large wooden beads up the cord until it is about 10 inches (25 cm.) from the loose end. Now tie the cord around the bead so that the bead cannot slip from its position on the cord. If you have done this correctly, you can lift the pot by the loop. In clay pot crafts, the beads must be large enough to stop the cord from going through the hole in the bottom of the pot. On the loose end of the cord, you are going to attach the small pot in the same way. Slide the small pot up the cord to make it easier to tie the other large wooden bead on the end of the cord. Now when you lift the entire arrangement by the loop, the smaller pot should hang freely inside the larger pot, making a pleasant sound when it claps against the larger pot. Decorate the outside of the larger pot with paint as desired. You may like to paint it in black and white patches for a Holstein cow theme. You may also like to decorate the top of the bell with silk or dried flowers and greenery and a ribbon bow. For a variation on this craft, make three of the bells and hang them from a horizontal piece of driftwood or other interesting piece of natural wood. When making hanging clay pot crafts, always make sure the beads are large enough and are tied tightly in place, because the clay pots will break if they fall to the ground. Other clay pot crafts include making a large doll or scarecrow of nested pots strung together and painted. The doll can sit on a chair or a step of the front porch. Paint his face to look like a scarecrow, a jack-o-lantern, a gnome, or a child. Clay pot crafts are especially suited to being displayed outside. http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/ http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/shop/ group Art Studio of Lewis Baber , Post and Sell your ART. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Magikaljourneys?ref=seller-platform-mcnavArt Two Old Guys Folk Art Share this:http://Gallery-Wall-Art.com

Learn To Draw Comics

Learn To Draw Comics Movies, Anime, cartoons, and 3D animations, these are modern day entertainment that people could choose from if they are bored or something like it. A lot of people have overlooked the original and classic form of entertainment back when still pictures were the hit. What are these? Comics of course! Comics used to be the number one form of entertainment, back when TV did not exist yet. Reading comics is like having your own printed out movie. If you have a unique kind of sense of humor, and you like drawing, why not learn to draw comics? This would be very easy and fun at the same time! Here are some of the things you should consider if you want to start your own comic strip. What’s The Theme Of Your Comic Strip? Before you go on drawing in little boxes, determine first the type of comic strip that you want. Do you want a satiric comic? What’s the main theme? Is it about teenage life? Is it about married life? How about school life? Who are your intended readers? Is it about a super hero? Factors like these are important. Go ahead and brainstorm. If you are having a hard time on picking out a theme, get some inspiration with your surroundings. Observe people that you encounter daily or randomly. Try to come up with something new, fresh, interesting yet everyone could relate to. This would be a good basis of your whole comic strip. Have Some Characters You should also be equipped with a character line up. Have a main character and a couple of supporting characters. Map out the personality of each. Create their profiles, so that they could be unique from each other, yet you have had determined a working relationship for all of them. You do not really have to create a long list of characters. Just be ready with your main and a couple of staple characters. You can always add a new character to the gang in the future once you have a new idea for it. Now, practice drawing your characters. Draw them in different kinds of facial expressions and actions. Find A Setting You should also decide on a specific setting. Would it be during the Jurassic age ala Flintstones? Would you want it to be in a high school, just like Archie? Do you want to have your own imaginary city like Gotham city in the Batman comics? It all depends on your imagination. Once you have all these things settled out, that is the only time that you can start drawing. Draw Your Panel The panel refers to the number of boxes you are going to have in one strip. You can have three or four boxes for short strips that usually showcase only one scene or you can have hundreds that cover many pages that usually showcase a whole storyline. You can start out with short ones, just like the ones you see on your newspaper’s comic page. Have a plot for the scenes along with the dialogues you have in mind. Start plotting how you are going to fit your characters in the boxes, and then draw them. Put dialogue bubbles or boxes and write down their lines or thoughts. Once you are content with your drawing, put it into ink and erase sketch marks. Add some color if you want to, and you’re done! Website Stores http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/ http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/shop/ group Art Studio of Lewis Baber , Post and Sell your ART. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Magikaljourneys?ref=seller-platform-mcnavArt Two Old Guys Folk Art Share this:http://Gallery-Wall-Art.com http://wall-art-gallery.com facebook.com/groups/wallartgallerywallartgallery@groups.facebook.com

How to Make a Greeting Card

 How to Make a Greeting Card Making your own greeting cards can be both fun and rewarding. Many people cherish home-made greeting cards because they are a true expression of yourself and the person you are making it for. The first step in making a greeting card is to determine who you are making the greeting card for. What interests does the person have? What is the person's hobbies? Is the person your friend, family member, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent, parent, husband, wife, or significant other? The next step to making a greeting card is to decide if you want a funny greeting card or a sentimental greeting card. If you want a funny greeting card, you will want cut outs of cartoons, or you might want to draw your own cartoons. If you want a sentimental greeting card, you might gather cutouts of flower pictures. If you want a Christian greeting card, you might cut out some pictures of crosses or bibles. If you can draw your own, that's even better. But not everyone is an artist! You also need to decide why you are sending the greeting card. Is it for a birthday, anniversary, thank you, sympathy, holiday, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, or other occasion? Maybe the greeting card is just because you care. If you want to send a birthday card, a picture of a birthday cake might be best. Or a picture of a flag for Independence Day greeting card would be nice. The next thing you have to do is write the copy for your greeting card. You can choose a poem you like or one that you know the person getting the greeting card will like. You could also write your own poem. You should remember though, that when you copy someone else's poetry onto your card, you cannot sell the card. Copyright laws forbid you to sell someone else's work without permission. But for the purposes of just making a greeting card for a loved one, copying a favorite poem, saying, or scripture is more than acceptable. Now that you know what you will put on the greeting card, who it is for, and why you are sending it, the next step is to gather all the materials you will need to put the greeting card together. You will want to gather cut outs of any pictures you want to include, as well as scissors, paste or glue stick, construction paper, crayons or markers, a pencil for outlining (in case you make mistakes), and don't forget your creativity! You may also want some lace, ribbon, doilies, pretty material scraps, paints, and other items. The most important thing to remember when creating your own greeting card is that the sky is the limit! There is no right or wrong way to make a greeting card. The only thing limiting your greeting card possibilities is your own creative mind! So break out those old magazines, poetry books, comic books, and cartoon strips, get those creative juices flowing, and make the best greeting card ever! Your loved one is sure to enjoy your hard work, effort, and how much you care showed by your handmade greeting card for years to come! Website Stores http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/  http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/shop/ group Art Studio of Lewis Baber , Post and Sell your ART.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/Magikaljourneys?ref=seller-platform-mcnavArt Two Old Guys Folk Art Share this:http://Gallery-Wall-Art.com http://wall-art-gallery.com facebook.com/groups/wallartgallerywallartgallery@groups.facebook.com  https:// wall-art-gallery.com  

Starting A Hobby In Art Collectibles

 If you look at some of the items that are popularly collected by hobbyists around the world, you will be surprised at how outrageous some of the items are. Toothpicks? Napkins? These things are given away for free at restaurants, why would anyone want to collect them? The truth is that some people are simply enthralled by the thought of collecting certain items. You surely realize by now that these items can be literally anything. However, one of the more traditional and widely acceptable hobbies is to collect art. Collectible art is very popular, and anyone can get into the hobby. All it takes is an appreciation for art, and the willingness to find additions to your new collection. Some people think that paintings are the only form of collectible art that is widely bought and sold. This is not the case at all. Collectible art can come in many different forms, from rugs to miniature wood carvings. Anything that is hand-crafted and beautiful in some way can be considered art, and is fair game for an art collection. If you are reading this, you probably have some specific form of art in mind. This is good and will give you a direction to start in, but you should always keep an open mind and look for other types of art that will expand your horizons and allow you to gain a wider variety of incredible items to add to your collection. As you view different art, you will probably start to notice particular artists who always stand out to you. This is a natural occurrence, and almost any art collector will eventually start to lean towards a certain artist who they appreciate above the rest. It could be one of the famous master artists, or even a local college kid trying to scrape by. Many art collectors will also gravitate towards certain themes or types of art. This is not a necessity by any means, but it will give your art collection a sense of unison. Some think of art collectors as people who have thousands of dollars to spend on paintings by famous artists. The truth is that you don’t need to invest any major amounts of money in order to get some beautiful, original art. The college student that I mentioned before exists in every town. You will never have a lack of “starving artists” to buy paintings from. Most of the best talent goes unappreciated, and by buying from amateur artists you could be buying an original work from the next famous painter. You can find paintings anywhere in the world. If you are taking a vacation to an exotic location, you can almost always find vendors selling paintings. In a place like India, you can buy paintings for just a few dollars. Usually they are very unique and different from anything you will see from western artists. So whenever you travel, be sure to take the opportunity to see if there are any local artists who you would like to support. It will diversify your collection, and make it more interesting in general. You may also have an interesting story behind each painting. Once you start to see more and more additions to your personal collectible art gallery, you will begin to realize what a rewarding and fun hobby art collecting is. Not only does it allow you to appreciate some of the beautiful creations of artists, it also gives you some great decorations for your home. So what are you waiting for? Art collectibles are widely available from many different sources, and if you are really passionate about the subject then you should get started today. Find out about some local artists, and attend galleries or art festivals where you can see literally hundreds of artistic items on sale. Every item you see has the potential to be the first addition to your collection.




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Claude Monet-Impressionist painting

Claude Monet-Impressionist painting Claude Monet Biography DescriptionOscar-Claude Monet was a French painter, a founder of French  and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein air landscape painting. Wikipedia Born: November 14, 1840, Rue Laffitte, Paris, France Died: December 5, 1926, Giverny, France Known for: Painter Movement: Impressionism Spouse: Alice Hoschedé (m. 1892–1911), Camille Doncieux (m. 1870–1879) Education: Académie Suisse (1859–1860), École Nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts


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Start an Art Collectible Hobby and Beautify Your Home

Start an Art Collectible Hobby and Beautify Your Home Collecting is a fun hobby, and one of the most interesting things to collect are art collectibles. Many different items can be painted with artwork and become an art collectible. Hobby enthusiasts collect such things as saw blades, and wooden eggs which have had artwork painted on. People even collect designer rugs as art. Another art collectible hobby is collecting limited edition plates, thimbles, Christmas ornaments, and figurines produced by such companies as Bradford Exchange. And of course, many people collect fine art paintings. The person with an art collectible hobby will probably find his or her own favorite artists whose works they appreciate. They can choose to focus on one particular artist, either past or present, or they can choose from the works of many artists. On the other hand, they may collect art and art objects around a theme they enjoy, such as cigars, wild animals, or piano music. One may think of an art collector as a rich person who has the money to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on an original Van Gogh. A person of more modest means can collect art too, however. Post cards are a good place to start. Most art museum gift shops offer high quality, glossy postcards printed with some of their more notable acquisitions. By buying those cards one really appreciates, anyone can have an art collection. Ebay is a good source of art collectibles whatever type of art or collectible you fancy. In fact, if you are just starting out, the choices and options can be overwhelming! Just remember that you can sell your own belongings as well as buying those of others. This should make the impact on the budget a little less powerful. Other ideas for inexpensively collecting art collectibles are scouring flea markets, thrift shops, and garage sales. You never know what treasure someone else may be getting rid of. One nice thing about art collectibles is that artists can be found in every part of the world. The art collector should scout the local art shows, museums, and artist's hangouts to find out just what sort of talent can be had less expensively and close to home. Because of the local flavor of some artwork, art collectibles make good travel souvenirs. For instance, the artist Linda Barnicott specializes in paintings of scenes, buildings, and landmarks found around Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Similarly, collectors can find local artist almost everywhere. An art collectible hobby will keep you interested in life and give you a home filled with art masterpieces as well. If you enjoy pretty and interesting things around you, consider starting an art collectible hobby today.   Website Stores http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/ http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/shop/ group Art Studio of Lewis Baber , Post and Sell your ART. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Magikaljourneys?ref=seller-platform-mcnavArt Two Old Guys Folk Art   Share this: http://Gallery-Wall-Art.com

How to craft a Bonnet

How to Craft a Bonnet To create a porcelain doll bonnet, first determine the size of your doll head. Once you have the size you will need materials. You can use wire to mould your bonnet if it is less than 10 inches. You can use any type of material you choose to make your bonnet, including batiste. The materials you will need are 6 inches of fabric (white), such as the batiste. You will need a couple of edge laces, say around 2 ½ yards and ½ inches of lace edge. Gather 36 inches of smooth craft wire. You will need 28 inches of dual side rayon fabric, such as satin ribbons and a set of wire cutters, and pliers with a long muzzle. Once you gather your materials, you can start your methods in creating your bonnet. You will need art paper to create your patterns. Once you finish you will carve two sou’ westers: (i.e. bonnets) you should have two rows of lace, which one is on top and the other. Once you have your patterns make a wavy edge forming the scallop near the lace edge and continue to the middle of your bonnet. Stitch together the right side and form a straight-line stitch to lace the edges in order and to connect to the edges of the neck and the edges at the top. To show lace when the bonnet is turned, the lace should jut out over your seams at the finish of your hat. Now, use your lining and place it over your sou’ wester and begin stitching it collectively over the prior stitch lines to the edges of the neck and edge of the crown. Leave open your ends, turn your bonnet at the inner recesses, and out so that the lace shows at the crown edges and neck, and then press. Use your pattern and stitch along the lines. You want to create a cover for the wire. Next, sew one more edge of lace underneath the hat on the left side and continue to the right. Stitch in the direction of your line and cover near the edges of your crown. Stitch your wavy lines at the crown into the lace and continue to the outer edges. Now you will need to cut the ends of your hat. Use your wire cutters and cut along the lines of your wire so that it fits 11 inches of the edges of your crown. The last edge of your crown will need 8 ½ inches of wire. The center should be 7 ½ inches and the edges of the neck should be 7 inches. About ¼ inch, curve the ends of your wire. Next, weave your wire into the covers evenly at one finish of your untreated edges. Bend the wire ¼ inch with your pliers and another quarter over until the wire is secured. Pull up your fabric at the edges of the crown, including the other crown edge and add your wire to the center and at the edges of the neck wire. The wire will extend to the other finish area, which you will need to trim the curved ends once you check to make sure that the area is balance. You want to avoid allowing the wire to ride to the cover. Next, bend the wires ¼ inch twice and secure your ends. You want to even your decorative fabric edgings, which once your bonnet is completed you can trim your ribbon, creating dual 14 inch lengthwise cuts and fix your ribbon to the side of the hat. If you would like additional designs, such as the rose-shaped badge (Rosette) you will need to use rose grubs and embroider them onto the ribbons.



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How to Craft Basket Flowers

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How to Craft Basket Flowers We have walked through the steps of creating the May basket, now it is time to craft your flowers. We have added handles, basket, etc, to your quilt, which at this time you should have created six blocks to make your basket. How to create flowers: We are quilting flowers. On the left side of your fabric, you will have invented pink squares. You can trace your pattern to start your project. Trace at least one flower (Choice), use your outside solid lines, and repeat your steps to create the foliage, or leaves. Use the variety of green patterns and use the yellow narrow pieces to create the center of your flower. You can design roses if you like. Use a variety of greens, red, pink, white, etc, if you intend to create roses and petals. Along the lines, you have marked, cut the fabric strips sewn onto your fabric, the shaped patterns that form your design, cutting only near the lines. Use freezer paper and turn it over so that you reveal the side that does not have a shine. You want to create a starting line for the six centers of your flowers, and the flowers also. Once you mark the 12 parts, mark the leaves (12), marking them inside the dash lines. Now you are ready to cut your shapes. You will need an iron and board. Use your hot press, or iron to press the flowers on your paper, pressing in the middle of your flowers on the left side and in the middle. You want the glossy paper turned in the direction of your fabric flower at this point. Do the same with the center of the flowers and foliage. Next, collect your yellow filament/thread and tone it with the center of your flower. If the colors do not match, try another shade of yellow. Run lines of stitches into your cloth, which encloses the ring of the freezer paper. You want to congregate your material around this ring, so pull your filament up at the end. Now, tie your thread, press the ring, and use your starch bottle, spraying the region. Do the same for the center of your flowers. Next, use your variety of green filaments that match your leaves and collect the allowances at the seam. (1/4 inch) Collect around the foliage and streamlines of stitches along your fabric, about the enclosed region of your ring that is designed on the freezer paper. You want to collect your textile about the ring. Pull your filament/thread up at the finish and tie it, pressing the ring. Again, spray with starch. When you congregate your allowances at the flower seams, snip the inner points of the flower corolla/petals where the flower collectively forms a ring. You will need to collect your thread that matches the color of your petals, such as pink. Just as you collected the edges of your leaves, do the same for your corollas. Once you finish running stitch lines in your fabric, which you have enclosed freezer paper about the ring, you will need to gather your material about the ring. Next, pull your strands of thread up at the finish. Next, bind your filament and then press the ring. Press, and spray the region with fabric starch. Now seam your allowances, i.e. snip the central points of the leaves, flower center, etc where the flower collectively forms a ring. Press and starch to complete your crafting task:   [gallery ids="137,133" type="rectangular"] Now you are ready to assemble the top of your quilt. After you assemble, you can move to finish your craft. Website Stores http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/ http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/shop/ group Art Studio of Lewis Baber , Post and Sell your ART. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Magikaljourneys?ref=seller-platform-mcnavArt Two Old Guys Folk Art   Share this: http://Gallery-Wall-Art.com  

Abstract Art As Therapy

Abstract Art As Therapy
Summary:
Abstract art is not just a mixture of colourful meaningless patterns and arbitrary shapes.
There is, I believe, a definate therapeutic value to be found in most of the enigmatic marks made by the very different styles available today. What appears to be the most important decision to make is a very careful consideration of the specific audience in conjunction with the choosing of the appropriate artwork. This is not something to be taken lightly or quickly. This can cover ...
Article Body:
Abstract art is not just a mixture of colourful meaningless patterns and arbitrary shapes.
There is, I believe, a definate therapeutic value to be found in most of the enigmatic marks made by the very different styles available today. What appears to be the most important decision to make is a very careful consideration of the specific audience in conjunction with the choosing of the appropriate artwork. This is not something to be taken lightly or quickly. This can cover anybody within the wide spectrum of individual audiences: a busy boardroom environment or a single office or room where quick thinking, fast reactions, and serious decision making is required; or a worker who returns from a hard days work simply wanting to be visually massaged by an easily observed enigma; or even the space inwhich the desperate and mostly misunderstood person who is gradually loosing their tentative hold on the sense of reality. There is a tremendous variety of possibilities.
Here are some suggested associations from one artists point of view:
Colour plays an obvious healing and therapeutic role to be found in a carefully selected crafted piece, and so colour-field work, which is growing in popularity, first conceived by artists like Mark Rothko and Ellsworth Kelly with their vast areas of empty colour space, might add a general feeling of peace and quiet to an otherwise noisy and hectic environment. With there being very few variations within such a large image a gentle sense of immersion into abstract stillness can slow down any fretful or irratic thinking, and even assist with the adrenal challenge of a creative.
Indefinate shapes or patterns by the likes of Jackson Pollock, Peter Lanyon, and Howard Hodgkin (again, similar works inspired by these very different abstract styles can be seen in many exhibitions, shops and galleries), show a very positive association, and may perhaps persuade a mind filled with illogical thoughts to pause, simply take in the apparent spontenaiety, and then take a different direction. Hodgkin style works in particular can be seen as puzzle like canvases inwhich the observer has no real point of reference so is free to "start" anywhere upon the picture. And because there are very few defined areas sometimes the observer inevitably finds themself either regarding the piece with little emotion, and therefore can freely make a comment - positive or not.
Let us not deny, however, the fact that many an image that has the potential to provoke a negative response can also be of great value to the observer who might actually benefit from seeing such a challenging picture that bears such a bad association. Better there on the wall than here inside the head. In this case the classic associations of red for blood and danger, black for death and sin, brown for decay and illness, along with dramatic lines and movements found in a painting are equally valuable stimulii if revealed within the appropriate environment. This comes back to my point made at the beginning - when choosing a picture, very careful consideration must be taken in order to find that one work of art which speaks directly to the very deepest parts of the observer.
Website Stores

http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/

http://art-and-craft-hobbies.com/shop/

group Art Studio of Lewis Baber , Post and Sell your ART.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Magikaljourneys?ref=seller-platform-mcnavArt
Two Old Guys Folk Art
Share this: http://Gallery-Wall-Art.com

http://Gallery-Wall-Art.com