Fun Girl's Night Out Painting Parties

What better way to spend an evening, than with your close friends socializing and painting on your favorite drink glasses. All you need to do is to invite your friends and fix a few of your favorite cocktails. You might even want to have a few great drink recipes prepared to fill those lovely glasses once the paint dries. You can even choose to paint pilsner beer glasses and there would not be a need for the drink recipes to be made. You know your friends, let them decide what their beverage of choice is and paint glasses to accommodate what they like.

This is an easy project that can be completed within a few hours. You really do not need to have a lot of room for the painting to be done. It really is not that messy either. It is actually pretty easy to keep the paint contained. Only a small amount of paint is needed to paint the glasses with.

The glasses are painted with acrylic enamel paint. It dries to the touch quickly and can be helped with this process by using a heat gun or blow dryer. The paint cures within 21 days if air dried, or it may be baked at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. The choice is yours. You decide if you have the time to allow the glasses to dry for 1 hour prior to baking them. You will need to add the preheating time to the baking time. Normally allow 50 minutes from preheating to the glasses being finished. Place them in the oven cold and remove them once completely cooled.

After the class is finished, you will walk away with the knowledge to paint other glasses and continue on creating lovely art. These glasses will make great entertaining pieces for your guests and even wonderful gift giving ideas for future occasions. Do not be afraid, just jump in and have fun with your friends!

Amy

Author: Amy

About the author:
I am a decorative painter and One Stroke Certified Instructor. I own The Painted House and More. I have over 16 years of painting experience. I paint on many surfaces from walls to wine glasses.

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How to Paint a Realistic Landscape by Using Texture

Have you every wanted to just touch a work of art in a museum or at someone's home? Texture in a painting makes it most appealing emotionally and visually. Texture can be added to an acrylic painting in a couple of different ways.

One of the easiest ways to add texture is to add sand to the acrylic paint as you work. Objects in the background probably will not have much detail, and you should be careful to not add to much texture to background items. But as you work forward, you could start adding thicker paint and even add some sand to it to create realism. If you are painting in a tall foreground tree for example, apply very thick paint with a palette knife in strokes leaving roughness to indicate bark. Paint in land with thick paint that you have added some sand to. You can create a dramatic effect and make a specific subject poop out by only adding texture to it.

Another way to add texture to your work is by using an acrylic heavy gel and acrylic modeling paste. To use this method, you would sketch out the painting first. After the sketch is done, decide which objects you want to stand out. Mix equal amounts of the acrylic heavy gel and modeling paste. Now apply the mixture with a small palette knife to your painting based on your sketch. Following principles for depth, keep the back ground, and middle ground with less texture than the foreground. Let the texture dry completely and you are ready to paint.

Remember, no matter what subject or landscape you are painting it is easy to add texture and drama by adding thick paint, sand or modeling paste to your work. Maybe the next irresistible touchable works of art will be the ones that you created.

Author: Julie Shoemaker

About the author:
Julie Shoemaker is an avid painter and hobbyist who regularly gives paintings as gifts to family and friends. To read more articles like the one here, and to see more free art tips, tricks and techniques and free step by step lessons Click Here to View my Work and Learn Painting Techniques or visit http://www.IamPainting.org

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The Riddle of the Rocks

FOR an art lover, a visit to an art gallery is usually an occasion of interest and delight. But even in large cities art galleries are few and far between. Southern Africa, however, can boast of literally hundreds of ancient art galleries. They have captivated interest and brought delight to countless artists, archaeologists and sightseers.

We are referring to the Bushman rock paintings. When the visitors gaze in fascination at a rock face covered with these pictures of people and animals, they ask themselves: Was the artist just doodling, or was he trying to convey a message? And, beside a gurgling stream hundreds of miles from the sea, why and how did an artist make a nearly perfect drawing of a dolphin?

Looking for the Answers

Seeking answers to such questions and 'motivated by the inevitability of the disappearance of these pictures,' teams of archaeologists and artists such as the Frobenius expedition with artists from Germany, and Harald Pager from Austria, have worked against time to copy and record as many of the drawings as possible. The French archaeologist Abb� Henri Breuil was among the world-renowned researchers who, after having investigated European primitive art, particularly that of Spain and France, turned attention to the work of the Bushman artists of Africa. The investigators found the African field to be as full of unanswered questions as any area they had previously investigated. Finding solutions to the many problems became so absorbing that, in some instances, the researchers never returned home. Deciphering the riddle of the rocks became their dominating interest and lifework.

On the other hand, looking for an answer to these questions has sent many an armchair archaeologist to the nearest library. Here we can review the theories and findings of the experts without having to scramble up mountains, crawl into caves or trek through bush and sand in search of ancient works of art.

Man's Desire for Self-Expression

Rock art has been described as the lingua franca of the so-called 'Stone Age'--the vehicle by which thoughts, ideas, even religious beliefs, were conveyed in the supposed absence of the written word. Almost every country has its archaeological sites that testify to man's innate desire from earliest times to express himself artistically, or to make some sort of record of his life and daily activities. These ancient records range from the sophisticated inscriptions that appear in Egyptian tombs to the more primitive rock paintings found in caves throughout parts of Europe, America and Africa.

The greatest concentration of ancient rock paintings in the world is in Africa, south of the Zambezi River. Whereas the rock art of Europe lies hidden deep in caves requiring artificial lighting, the rock paintings of southern Africa are to be found in sun-drenched cliff caves and on almost any kind of rock face that has the slightest protective overhang. There are over 2,000 known sites in South Africa, besides those of Rhodesia, Botswana, Swaziland and South-West Africa. One area, the Ndedema Gorge in South Africa's Drakensberg Mountains, has 16 sites containing 3,000 paintings. The indication is that this rock shelter, hidden in the gorge, was the home of Bushmen for quite a long period. This gave the artists plenty of time to indulge their tastes in interior decoration, so much so that some murals cover very large areas and contain a multitude of both animal and human figures.

Who Were the Artists?

Although the exact identity of the artists remains a subject for debate, the works of art are generally known as Bushman paintings. The aboriginal Bushmen once were the sole human inhabitants of South Africa, and they preceded, apparently by many centuries, the Negroid types that later migrated down into southern Africa. The Bushmen were short in stature, with skin of a yellowish tinge. Because of the similarity of their skull types, they have been associated with the Pygmy skulls found from Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope. The Bushman's most notable physical feature was the extremely fat buttock, found in both men and women.

An early Arabic description dating from about 1150 of the Common Era describes these primitive inhabitants of southern Africa and says that their 'speech resembles whistling.' This could have been a reference to the language clicks, which many present-day black tribes retain as an inheritance due to the mingling of the early Negroid migrants with the little Bushmen.

In spite of such unusual speech, the Bushmen have shown by their rock paintings that they had keen powers of observation, a sense of humor, and a more sophisticated existence than researchers had realized. Nevertheless, these little people lived a simple life. Apart from game hunted with their bows and arrows, their diet included seeds, berries, roots, insects and reptiles. Being nomads, they lived in caves and shelters under rock ledges. Right there, in their primitive homes, they made the delicate paintings that are a record of their way of life. The early British researcher G. W. Stow was the first to realize that these works of art were a series of pages from the history book of South Africa.

What Do the Pictures Say?

Unlike the rock art of Europe, which concentrates on aspects of the hunt, the African artists showed great interest in man and recorded his activities of daily life--some tragic, others humorous. The Bushmen engaged in hunting, fishing and dancing, and played primitive musical instruments. They held religious ceremonies and, yes, they got drunk, too. Although the artists' observations of animal and insect life were outstanding, they excelled in portraying human activity. Hunting scenes are numerous, since the search for food took up most of a family man's working day. The women usually are depicted carrying the digging sticks with which they searched for food. But occasionally they also joined in the dance.

At times the artist treated his subject in a somewhat lighthearted way, and one such scene shows the elated hunter giving a sign of victory as he flings his arms wide open and presents to his fat wife the rewards of his working day--three dead buck. Another picture depicts a successful hunter about to cut into the soft underbelly of a dead eland. Why, the hunter's toes are curled up in anticipation and large drops of saliva are dripping from his hungry mouth!

Sometimes tragedy made the rock 'headlines.' A scene from the Matopos in Rhodesia shows the unhappy end of a lion hunt with one arm of the vanquished hunter lying in front of a fearsome-looking lioness. Another drawing depicts a murder being committed. The victim is having his head smashed in by a stone-wielding assailant, while a second foe shoots arrows into him. We wonder, Was the artist one of the attackers, or merely a 'rock reporter' recording the day's events? There is also the ever-present question, How many years have passed since any of these scenes were painted?

Difficulties of Accurate Dating

Among the problems that have prevented accurate dating is the fact that none of the wall paintings is covered by datable deposits. Besides this, some pictures have been superimposed on others, and where primitive implements can be recognized, they have a time range of up to thousands of years. The earliest date Dr. E. Denninger ascertained for a painting in the Ndedema site is within 200 years either way of 1150�C.E. or about 350 years before the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama rounded the Cape. Later paintings showing ships, horses and wagons can be dated historically with the arrival of the white settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Author: Flor Ayag

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5 Minutes to Understand Digital Photography

Have you heard of, 'There is more than meets the eye?'
We use our eyes to view things in our environment. However, through time, man has devised ways on how to preserve the things normally seen and thus treasured, whether these are beautiful or not, and one of which is by using cameras.

The images that are captured by cameras can make our eyes see things that have happened before. Moreover, it enables the heart to wish for beautiful things to happen in the future.
These days, the biggest sellers in the camera market are the so-called digital SLR cameras. These are the modern gadgets that can trigger our creativity and seats of emotion.
Though relatively new, most people choose digital SLRs because it can be easily manipulated. However, having these cameras does not completely guarantee that the every captured image is great and perfect.

Following are some point-by-point guidelines that should be considered to maximize the expense of your digital cameras:

1. Simplicity

Zoom in to capture the part you want to emphasize. Thus, irrelevant objects or areas can be taken away or just allow them to soften.

2. Rule of thirds

When capturing a moving object, it is advisable to capture them moving into the imaginary tic-tac-toe frame from one of the two sides.
3. Shapes and lines

Capture a straight line at an angle by moving five to ten feet away to the side to capture at an angle.

4. Vantage point

To add significance or emphasis to an object, take a picture at a lower vantage point. Increasing the height away from the object can reduce its significance.

5. Balance

Pick out the dominant objects and arrange them so that they complement each other. However, unbalanced or asymmetrical objects are often more visually stimulating than balanced objects.

6. Framing

You can use the frames of your windows to capture an outdoor scene. You can also use doors and walls of a building to capture a person a walking person.

7. Indoor photographs

You can use natural lighting when you are taking candid shots so that the subjects will not be bothered by the flash coming out of the camera.

8. Camera adjustments

The aperture allows light to enter. You must learn how to adjust this properly and appropriately so that images will not appear as either very bright or very dim. Lowering the shutter speed allows the image to be more exposed to light. You must learn the proper length of exposure so that images will not appear as blurry.

8. ISO speeds

Digital cameras have ISO speeds ranging from 100 to 800. The higher the ISO, the higher the camera's sensitivity to light's exposure. Be sure to master using this element along with the camera's aperture and shutter speeds.

9. Lens/Filters

There are digital cameras that allow additional lenses to be attached to the main lens, or the lenses can be completely interchangeable. Lenses can be categorized as follows:

a. macro lens - allows you to get closer to objects like insects and flowers.

b. wide-angle lens - used for capturing landmarks, and large and wide sceneries

c. telephoto lens - allows longer zooms that let you get close to objects that are rather unsafe

Filters, on the other hand are used to:

a. soften the effect of the image

b. provide blurring on the edges for portraits that have sensitive moods

c. add light flares for the image to be more dramatic

d. to reduce glare so that pictures appear more saturated, crisp, and vivid.

However, if you still want to improve on the images that you have taken, the following list of software can allow touch-ups:
� Adobe Photoshop

� Apple's iPhoto

� Corel Paint Shop Pro

� Google Picasa

� Lview

Once you have understood and mastered the important points on digital photography and capturing pictures, you will soon realize that the keys in getting great pictures are: 'Even a simple aim and shoot camera' and 'Creative ME.'

Author: Kevin A

About the author:
Aura Backdrops is a supplier of the highest quality muslin backdrops,digital photography backgrounds,scenic backdrops , fantasy cloth and portrait backdrops since 2004, and is dedicated to provide you with the customer service you deserve. Our high quality photography backdrops and backgrounds will give you the professional look that your studio, portrait and photography needs.

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Canvas Stretchers: What are their Different Types

Canvas stretchers are a must for each work of art involving painting. These tools are responsible for keeping the canvas taut and smooth, allowing the painter to use the surface as he/she sees fit. Because canvas stretchers literally shape the canvas, it comes in a variety of forms and sizes. Some of the types of canvas stretchers you can expect to find include:

Rectangular canvas stretchers


Paintings are commonly created using rectangular frames, thus necessitating the need for rectangular canvas stretchers. These stretchers come in many sizes, many of which are standardized especially if purchased from an art supplier.

Rectangular types of canvas stretchers can also be custom-made to the artist's specifications. This happens if the size preferred is not available as a standard size or if the painting is too large.

Oval or round canvas stretchers


These are the types of canvas stretchers that are frequently used for paintings depicting portraits or still life. Since not every subject for a painting can work well with an oval or round type of canvas stretcher, not many artists use these. However, they are still being made available by art supplies store and may be purchased in a variety of standard sizes.

Like rectangular canvas stretchers, however, oval and round canvas stretchers can also be custom-made, depending on the size required.

Custom stretcher bars


There are certain types of canvas stretchers that are not easily categorized as rectangular or round. These fall in the custom-made stretcher bar category, which means they can be made to order to follow the specifications provided by the artist.

Certain designs and built of canvas stretchers also categorize them as basic, standard or professional. The basic frame consists of the external frame while the standard and professional comes with a supporting cross-shaped frame in the middle. Professional canvas stretchers also tend to be thicker and more solidly built.

Materials


The most common material used for many types of canvas stretchers is wood. Look behind paintings and you'll find wooden stretcher bars. The type of wood used for this purpose varies but the most common material on the market is pine, specifically white pine. White pine is common, produces a clean, fair color and can be smoothed down to a nice finish. This helps prevent the roughness apparent in some types of woods and allows smoother stretching and attachment of the canvas.

There is another type of canvas stretcher that has also enjoyed some popularity with some artists and that is the aluminum stretcher bar. Aluminum is a very common material. It's soft enough to allow itself to be shaped into any form and tough enough to withstand any pressures during canvas stretching. Furthermore, it is recyclable and does not require cutting down a natural resource to produce - hence its popularity in some artists.

Author: Ilyn Quiambao

About the author:
Canvas Stretchers are like an artist's best friend. Choose them with care and find the quality bars and frames for you.

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One Stroke Brushes

There are a variety of different types of brushes to choose from when you are working on your painting projects. Even within the One Stroke family, there are different brushes to be used based on the surface you are painting on. The differences are in the bristles and may vary from hard to soft bristles. They are distinguished by the different colored handles and the fabric brushes even have a green stripe on the tip of the bristles.

The brushes for Glass and Ceramics are soft. This allows them to hold the paint nicely in the brush, while moving smoothly over the slick surface. They also keep the brush strokes from being as noticeable as they might be with a regular brush.

The fabric brush bristles are harder and hold up well while painting on fabric. This is a little trickier since the paint does not flow as easily on this type of surface. The One Stroke Fabric brushes will assist you in creating a beautiful final project that you will be proud to wear.

It does not matter if you are painting on glass or fabric, the brushes in this line hold up very well to frequent use. They rarely lose their bristles. What you may find after several uses is the bristles losing their shape. If you take care of them properly and reshape them after using, you will extend their life. They are reasonably priced which makes them practical to use on your decorative painting projects.

Author: Amy

About the author:
I am a decorative painter and the owner of The Painted House and More. I have over 16 years of painting experience. I paint on many surfaces which range from walls to wine glasses.

Article source: Free Painting Articles.

Bring in novelty this New Year by Gifting Decorative Boxes

The decorative boxes have always been integral parts of the Christmas tradition. These can be gifted to relatives of all age groups - starting from 8 to 80. These decorative boxes serve a number of purposes. These are used for purposes of storing important things like collectibles and stamps for examples.
The decorative boxes are mostly made out of either metal or wood, even though steel is mostly used. They are very vibrant and feature excellent arrangement of colors and graphics, which are done tastefully. Since these decorative boxes are colorful they are huge hits with the children and people who are outgoing.
Most of the decorative boxes that are available nowadays are lunch boxes. However, there are other variations available as well. There are certain jewelry boxes that can be used to keep away important family jewelry or other accessories that one might have received from their near and dear ones.
There are certain decorative boxes that serve as treasure boxes. The treasure boxes can be used for keeping some important documents at one place. These are normally thought of as classier alternatives to files and folders where documents are kept more often than not.
There are certain decorative boxes that are used only for the purpose of gifting. These are available at reasonably economic prices and can be gifted on every occasion like birthday or Valentine's Day for example.
There is a special category of decorative box that is used for keeping bottles. These are primarily handmade and are carved out of wood. These boxes incorporate classy designs that give them a separate appeal. These are capable of accommodating a bottle. These can be used for giving gifts as well.
Some of the new decorative boxes that have occupied leading position in the market are Sterilite 90-qt. Ultra Latch Wheeled Box - White, WONDER WOMAN Comic Book Metal LUNCH BOX, Whitney Design ML-5664 Woven-Straw Rectangular-Shaped Basket with Lid, Wizard Of Oz Dome Tin Lunch Box, Prince and Princess Treasure Box, Fairy Princess Music Jewelry box, Whitney Design ML-6161 Bamboo Rectangular-Shaped Storage Chest with Hinged Lid, Carved Wooden Box, Holiday Print Shirt Boxes, Egypt Ancient Egyptian Isis Treasure Box, Celestial Treasure Box, Peanuts Snoopy Its Hero Time Snoopy Flying Ace Dome Tin Lunch Box, Japanese Yosegi Puzzle Box 4 Sun 14 Moves, Padded White Gift Boxes, Belleek Nadine Trinket Box and Wooden Hand Made Calico Art Wine Gift Box. Get more details about decorative boxes at

Author: amberiandreuje

About the author:
Amberi
Trusted online store of wide range of Decorative Boxes, Handmade Decorative Gift Boxes
For more Details about Wooden decorative boxes please log on to
Decorative Boxes


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Gemini Zodiac Sign Tattoo Characteristics

Gemini belongs to the rationalists air sings, and to the changing zodiac sings group. In this group the sings transfer energy from place to place, and the group members tend to change themselves and change their habits.

Gemini sign is the third in the zodiac. Gemini zodiac sing is controlled by the planet mercury, the emissary from Greek mythology, that always in some kind of a mission. Communication issue is very important for the Gemini. It's a sign that always have to move energy, physical or verbal. Gemini zodiac sign brain is working and working hard, but his thoughts not always focused. Gemini is always busy in gather information and passes it to others, to make more room for� new information. Maybe because of that Gemini zodiac sign is consider being a very intelligent zodiac sign, that learns new thing as fast as lightning, and implementing them very quickly.

Gemini zodiac sign also well known in his ability to learn languages and new ways of expressions. There is no wonder that his favorite necessity is words, and the more the merrier. Geminis are also champions in the art of persuasion, and consider being the best salesman, of themselves as well. Their main problem is that they are getting bored really quickly. If it is hard for you to interest them - then maybe you should not even try to, from the first place.

Gemini zodiac sign tattoos are getting very popular these days. It is a new trend that increasing. It may be for the great feature it has or for the easy, good looking designs that you can obtain. To make your own original Gemini zodiac sign tattoo you can combine some great elements that relates to Gemini sign. Suck as planet mercury, using colors silver, grey, orange and green. Combining the air element with the flowers marigold, orchid or rose, and the gem stone agate.

But before you decide on the Gemini zodiac tattoos you want, or you just want to get some more inspirations for other cool ideas. You might want to check out some of the best tattoos galleries on line. The really professional ones have thousands of different designs in hundreds different categories. And they all include professionally made tattoos. So before you go out there to get your tattoo, don't forget to check out some other sources before - after all you going to have your tattoos for the rest of your life.

Author: Oded Levy

About the author:
Before you make a hasty decision about what kind of tattoo to get' you should
first check out the best tattoos directories online here
Gemini tattoos

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A Closer Look at Famous Works of Art

MILLIONS of tourists flock to Italian churches every year. Some are devout believers; others are just interested visitors. Whatever their point of view, they may be quite surprised if they listen and look carefully when viewing some of the most famous works of art.

My wife, Barbara, and I took part in an organized tour of three of the most well-known Italian cities, Rome, Florence and Venice, and we took our four-year-old son, John, along with us.

Rome

Our first stop was at Rome, a city that is truly fascinating for anyone interested in art and what it reveals about the history of religion.

Although we had already visited several large European cities, none of them could rival Rome for its wealth of ancient monuments, including forums, triumphal arches, its famous Colosseum, the aqueducts and Roman baths. During the whole tour we were looked after by the same guide, a man about 50 years of age named Carlo. Though small in stature, he soon commanded our attention.

On the morning of the first day, Carlo gave us a summary of Roman history, and at a certain point he asked: Did you know that Rome is often called the City of Obelisks? Nobody did. In fact, some of those present were not sure what an obelisk was.

After having explained that they are Egyptian monuments in the form of tapered four-sided stone pillars topped by a pointed pyramid shape, our guide observed: No other city in the world has as many obelisks as Rome. Sure enough, soon afterward the first one came into sight and Carlo continued his commentary: We are now in the square of St.�John Lateran. This is one of the 13 Roman obelisks still standing, but once there were many more. This one was erected on its present site by Pope Sixtus�V in 1588.

What did obelisks represent in Egypt? Barbara asked.

They were fetishes of the sun-god. Pliny the Elder, an ancient Roman writer, claimed they represented rays of sunlight. They were erected in temples and alongside altars, and the priests made offerings to the gods in front of them because they were even believed to personify various divinities.

How high is this one and how much does it weigh? some of our companions wanted to know.

It is the highest in the world, measuring exactly 105 feet 6 inches [32�m] and weighing 455 tons, our guide replied without batting an eyelid.

But what about that cross on the top? I could not resist asking.

Carlo responded: Oh, that's nothing to be surprised about. The popes saw to it that the cross and other symbols were put on pagan monuments because they thought this was a way of making Christianity triumph over paganism. Sixtus�V was particularly keen on this sort of thing.

I asked: It was rather a strange alliance, don't you think?

It certainly was. Soon you will be seeing an even more evident example of what you call a 'strange alliance,' he replied. He was beginning to take a liking to Barbara and me because our questions gave him a chance to demonstrate his wide knowledge.

The next day, on our visit to the historic city center, we saw what he meant. That is Trajan's Column over there, Carlo said, pointing to a white marble column 125 feet [38�m] high. It was erected to commemorate Trajan's military campaigns, but Pope Sixtus�V had the emperor's statue removed and put one of St.�Peter in its place. Soon afterward we visited another square containing a very similar column. This one was erected in honor of Marcus Aurelius, but if you look at the statue on the top you will see that it portrays the apostle Paul. The statue of the emperor was replaced by order of the same pope in his efforts to 'Christianize' pagan Rome.

In a moment we will be visiting one of the best preserved of our ancient monuments, Carlo said later on. When we pulled up in a nearby square, he showed us a typical pagan temple construction. This is the Pantheon. It was built between 27 and 25�B.C. As you can see, it is laid out in a circular plan behind the facade. The dome is visible from here, but you will get a better view from the inside. It has a diameter of 142 feet [43�m] and is the largest masonry dome in the world. It was not until this century that larger ones were built, thanks to the introduction of reinforced concrete. The temple was originally dedicated to the worship of the pantheon of pagan gods. Then, during the Renaissance, Pope Urban�VIII ordered the porch to be stripped of its bronze covering. Part of the metal was melted down to make the canopy over the papal altar in St.�Peter's and the rest was used for the cannons at Castel Sant'Angelo.

As we walked inside, Barbara and I expected to find ourselves in a museum or something similar, but not .�.�.

Ah! I forgot to tell you .�.�. , Carlo hastened to add when he saw the surprised expressions on our faces, after the Byzantine emperor Phocas gave the building to Pope Boniface�IV in 609�A.D., the Pantheon was transformed into a church dedicated to the cult of the Madonna and the Martyrs. As you can see, it is still in use as a place of worship. It is the burial place of the famous painter Raphael and contains the tombs of a number of Italian kings who fought for Italian independence.

A great many other Roman churches have been built over pagan temples and often existing structures were reutilized. He began to reel off a list of these: St.�Mary's was built over a temple dedicated to Minerva, the church of St.�Lorenzo in Miranda was formerly dedicated to a deified imperial couple. .�.�.�

The morning of the third and last day was set aside for a visit to the Vatican. We made our way to St.�Peter's Square, enclosed by the magnificent colonnades, which give it such an imposing atmosphere. Our group gathered around a large obelisk in the very center of the square. Carlo seemed to know all there was to know about these Egyptian monuments.

Look at it carefully, he said, and you will see there are no inscriptions on it. Emperor Caligula had it brought to Rome and it was erected on this site by Pope Sixtus�V. It is said that the transport and erection of this monument was a very difficult and costly operation. In fact, it took 900 workers four months to complete. In view of the difficulties involved and fearing the slightest distraction, the pope decreed that anyone making a noise while the operation was under way would be punished by receiving the death sentence.

As we entered the colossal basilica, glittering gold and splashes of red velvet met our eyes. Around us were the works of many of the greatest artists of past centuries.

How ever much is all this worth? a young boy asked.

Obviously, it is impossible to calculate the value of everything it contains. However, I can tell you this: By order of Pope Julius�II, the basilica built in the days of Emperor Constantine was demolished and begun to be rebuilt as it is now. The popes financed the construction by selling so many indulgences as to arouse a wave of indignation that is said to have accelerated the Protestant Reformation.

Over to our right we saw the famous Piet� by Michelangelo, representing the dead Christ laid across the knees of his mother, Mary. After having drawn our attention to the pervading mildness and dignity expressed by the statue, Carlo guided us toward another one in bronze. A number of people already were in front of it; some of them awaiting their turn to go forward to kiss its right foot. When there was room, we managed to get nearer.

Look, Mummy! Daddy, can you see? John cried. They're kissing its foot! In fact, we saw that the toes of the statue were almost worn smooth! Over the centuries, the lips of millions of faithful worshipers have worn part of the toes away, our guide explained. The statue represents St.�Peter, but its origins are obscure. According to tradition, it was made from a melted-down statue of Jove. Recent opinion has it that the statue dates back to the 13th century.

During the afternoon, we visited parks, monuments and squares. Our overall impression was that Rome is indeed a beautiful city, with its characteristic dark-red buildings and its gardens where lofty umbrella-shaped pine trees seem to be etched against the sky.

Later, as we traveled on to Florence, we talked about the many beautiful things we had seen in Rome and the singular mixture of sacred and profane, which cannot fail to strike the attentive observer.

Author: Flor Ayag

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Showcase Your Home With Canvas Picture

Are you looking for a perfect way to showcase your home? Then it is time you think of canvas picture showcase. Canvas of some great photos or special photos in your home always makes great wall mountings. Put your favourite photo on canvas and tuck it up in your living room. Pictures on canvas have an artistic texture to offer and there is some authenticity which is added to your room. Whether it is for your sitting room or office waiting room, conference room or any place, canvas pictures add a different kind of charm to the whole vicinity.

The quality of canvas picture is always high and you have the rich colour texture, options of having a genuine hand painted look which is not possible on paper prints. Though both are done digitally, canvas soaks the ink and it naturally displays the sweetness of pictures. Today digital printing of photos on canvas is done for museums, art galleries, and other places. They use the best printers and ink quality to retain the lustre and shine for long time. If you wish you can have the same quality of canvas picture in your home. All you have to do is order them with a photo you wish to see on canvas.

Canvas picture is an impressive way to gift someone dear on some special occasion. You can think of gifting your wedding photos on canvas to your wife on your wedding anniversary. This would be a great surprise to her. Your child grows up but is always the kid for you. Keep the innocent look alive forever on canvas. Order a great canvas picture of your baby at his/her best pose and keep alive the memories forever. The art of canvas picture is that it can turn an ordinary photo to a great portrait without any difficulty. The different styles of photos on canvas are as follows - Colourising, Photo Realistic Style, Light Brush Stroke Style, Collage, Restoration, Covert to Black and White, Sepia style, Gallery wrapping style, and to name a few. Like photo canvas types, there are different types of frame styles too.

You should order canvas picture from those services which provide guarantee of the canvases. The guarantee is for colour and lasting. They must give a good wrap similar to museum wrap to prevent it from damage. The service which offers protection from UV rays to prevent discolouration of the canvas and other facilities is the right one for you. Get the unique decorative items for you home today and see how canvas pictures hung on wall add extra fascination to interior decorations.

Author: Alastair Harle

About the author:
Alastair is a very well known author who writes articles on Photos Printed On Canvas, Canvas Art & Photos On Canvas.

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Glass Paintings a Beautiful Art of Bygone Era

Glass painting is a very popular art form. It is executed on the glass sheets with oil and hard resin or with water color and gum on glass sheets. Glass painting is a folk art tradition which flourished from the 15th to the 18th century in Europe and North America. The technique of painting on glass flourished in India in the 18th century under the influence of the Chinese artists who lived and worked for the nobility and royalty.

Unpainted areas of glass are coated with mercury, which provides a mirror background to the colored images. It creates a kind of illusion between the viewer and picture space. The colors seen through glass appear translucent, as they cannot be touched. It gives a jewel-like appearance which is magical.
Glass paintings have various themes:

Animal Glass Paintings
Mughal Glass Paintings-
Indian Epic Glass Paintings
Bird Glass Paintings
Designs and Patterns:
Glass paintings involve various design and patterns that are enticing and mesmerizing. It consists of various designs patterns that are exquisite. The various mediums, forms, imagery, subject matter, and symbolism are employed and adopted to create a glass painting. The visual format of a glass painting has expressive patterns of arrangement of lines, shapes, colors, tones, and textures. The usage of colors and shapes in a glass painting communicates a particular mood, and creates forces of both harmony and tension.
Process:
As the name suggest, Glass painting is done on clear glass. Glass painting is a unique art that requires immense skill. Painting on glass involves a process different from the procedure used when painting on opaque surfaces. It is extremely difficult and requires visual memory and fine detailing for the finishing and shading lines. The picture mounted with its unpainted side uppermost so it can be viewed through the glass.
Glass painting development:
Glass painting technique is spread extensively in western and southern India, across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Bengal. The town of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu is known for the craft of painting on glass. Often the glass paintings are referred to as the Thanjavur sacred icon paintings. To make devotional images of God and Goddesses, the glass paintings are decorated with gold leaf. The rich and bold colors are used giving a feeling of opulence. The paintings of the deities is placed within a formal frame depicting heavily fringed and tasselled curtains, chandeliers, glass lamps, winged angels, or heavy furniture.
Popular Glass Painters:
Glass painting is regarded as a fine art in northern Europe. Some of the popular glass painters in Europe are Willi Dirx, Ida Kerkovius, Lily Hildebrandt, Klee, Oskar Schlemmer, and Heinrich
Reverse glass painting:

Reverse painting on glass is an art form consisting of applying paint on a piece of glass and then viewing the image by turning the glass over and looking through the glass at the image. This art form has been flourishing for years. This style of painting is famous for the depiction of the Hindu deities especially in Southern India. It involves a large amount of Gold paint and uses colors like red and green for the gem stones adorning the deities, which provides real jewelry effect. Acrylic paint is the commonly used painting medium.
Stained glass painitng:
The term stained glass refers to the material of colored glass or the craft of working with it. It is applied to the windows of churches, cathedrals, and other significant buildings.
It is made in flat panels and used as windows, and also include three-dimensional structures and sculpture.

Author: amberi

About the author:
Amberi
is an experienced education and Art and entertainments consultant who has been in the industry for quite a few years. Working as a consultant, he also has written a number of articles on entertainments
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Glass Paintings


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The pictures Canvas prints and Photo canvas prints have a unique appearance.

Most printing facilities have with them canvases in varying sizes which are ready to be printed. These printing service providers can also custom design canvases in specified sizes upon client request. These photo prints are highly suited to be displayed on a wide variety of occasions including exhibitions and tradeshows. They are also ideal for displaying in art galleries, exhibition venues, museums, and public halls. Digital photo canvas printing can give you impressive prints that add to the beauty of any interior space.
The photo taken or picture painted can be printed on museum quality textured canvas; the final product has an enduring finish and is equivalent to a magnificent piece of long lasting artwork. These prints are ideal to create a stylish d�cor and can also be given away as perfect gifts for your dear ones. Picture prints can also be used for marketing a particular product or service.
Cheaper than commissioning a painting, yet as elegant and eye catching as any normal canvas painting, canvas prints are fast become a quick and effective way of making a statement, the best part is that canvas prints are available in a vast array of printed medium. From digitally printed canvas prints to the traditional yet impressive, off set printing based canvas prints, almost all major art works have been reproduced using canvas prints.

Before a canvas prints reach the beautiful and arty finish that you see, there are a few steps that are taken to ensure that the canvas you view is prim and perfect. Once the canvas and the method of printing is selected, the photograph is first analyzed to gauge the feasibility of the print, although almost all photographs and images, can be converted into canvas prints, however all professional canvas printers make sure that they let the customer know if there are going to be colour and quality variations. You should be prepared for minor colour and quality variations if you are told so by the printer.

Once the canvas print is printed, the next step is trimming the canvas and preparing it to be mounted, or as the technical term used is 'stretched'. Stretching is a specialized task and involves the mounting of the canvas on a wooden frame, and then setting it so that it emulates a canvas original and does not loose the charm and effect of a canvas painting. After the canvas is mounted and affixed to the wooden frame, the canvas is then finally made ready for delivery. Stretching is a specialized process, and is one of the major reasons, why people prefer leaving canvas prints to professionals. Stretching is usually included in the overall cost of buying a canvas print.
Printing photos on canvas is the latest trend in the printing industry. If you have a great passion for art and want to display beautiful pictures on your walls, then photo prints on canvas are the best option. Canvas photo prints can also be used for product promotion, advertisements and for tradeshow displays.
Only a photo canvas prints can make your memories come to life. When looking at your canvas photo, you'll feel as though you and Grandpa are on the lake again, hardly catching any fish, but having the time of your lives! Canvas photos are an artistic and endearing way to relive those magical moments caught on film.
Canvas photos are an easy and affordable memoriam. Begin by remembering those moments most special to you, and choosing photographs that capture these times. Perhaps a family vacation, holiday gathering, or anniversary party. Photo artists will then transfer your picture onto smooth canvas and wrap it seamlessly around a sturdy frame.
Photo canvas prints can be incorporated in so many touching ways. Display them during a memorial service, so that family and friends can recapture special moments. Invite everyone to pen their favorite memory on the back of the frame. Memories can include your loved one's witty anecdotes and advice, or clever quotations. Those present can also

Printing digital photos on canvas is one of the most popular means of enlarging photos digitally. Canvas is the ideal medium for enlarging and printing high resolution photos taken using digital cameras. Today, with high resolution digital scanning also being in the menu of most printing facilities, your original artworks, art reproductions and paintings can also be digitized and printed on canvas.

Author: Jahir chowdhury

About the author:
Printing picture on Canvas Prints is one of the best methods by which you can display your artistic skills most efficiently. Photo canvas prints also make cherished keepsakes for friends and family during the holidays, a birthday, an anniversary, or any other time you'd like to celebrate the life of those passed.

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India abstract paintings - history in visual records

For every action, we have an objective in our minds. The thoughts of an artist get portrayed objectively and from that we understand what the artist had in his mind. It can be landscape drawing, decorative painting, or human forms. In all these forms it is possible to decode the mind of the creator. But, one style which defies this theory is abstract painting and can be seen in some of the exquisite India abstract paintings.

Abstract painting

The figures in an abstract painting are incomplete and the details will be missing. Recognizable objects will be fewer and this is what is represented by Abstract painting. This style of painting has its origins in the Islamic Religion. Followers of Islam were prohibited from depicting human figures. Therefore, they adopted a painting form to connote humans indirectly. This is also considered a relatively difficult style of painting. Though Abstract paintings became popular only in the early parts of the 20th century, India abstract paintings have a deeper history. The Madhubani paintings are classic examples of India abstract Paintings

Madhubani Painting

Madhubani paintings took to the commercial world only around the 1960s. Until then, it was more a form of decorative art. The great famine in Bihar during 1964/65 compelled its people to look for alternative means of livelihood. The Maithili paintings were among the first to be commercialized. Mythology and religion were mostly the themes employed and in the 21st century, this art form is a source of livelihood to the whole Madhubani community. The background for a typical Madhubani painting uses a mix of cow dung and mud. Rice paste and vegetable colors make the pictures in this background vibrant. The modern Madhubani painter too often uses a cow dung layer with mud paste on the canvas to provide authenticity.

Author: Israr

About the author:
For More details about Indian Folk Paintings,Madhubani Folk Art Abstract Paintings, visit our site http://www.indiantextures.com/

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How to Paint a Realistic Landscape Using Color Saturation

You should consider color saturation when creating depth in a landscape painting. In general, the closer the object is to the foreground, the more colors or saturated it should be. Items farther away should be duller in color.

The term saturation is a measure of the amount of color being reflected from or not absorbed by an object. For example, if an object absorbs every color except blue, then that blue is considered highly saturated. The object will appear a darker or more vivid blue. When an object absorbs all of the colors including some of the blue it is considered to be partly or low saturation and will appear a dull blue.

Saturation is a natural phenomenon that can be observed by looking real landscapes. Trees along a distant horizon will appear dull compared to those that are closer. This is because light is being absorbed by particles in the air between you and the distant trees.
Just to explain this a little further and to give you a quick science lesson consider the white light beam. A beam of white light contains every color. Therefore, in terms of light, every color combined equals white. When an object appears to be white, it is because the object is reflecting every single color towards us. When an object appears to be the color blue is actually absorbing every color except for the blue, which it reflects. At the other extreme is an object that is black. This is absorbing all of the colors in the white light and reflecting none.When we view a daytime sky as blue it is because blues are being saturated or reflected back towards us. The length of the light wave also is important but getting a little technical for the purpose of this article.

Saturation is concerned with the intensity, or the brightness and dullness of color. A saturated color is bright. An unsaturated color is dull or low in intensity. To apply the concept of saturation to a landscape painting the artist should make sure that the items in the foreground of a painting are the brightest. Because light is being absorbed into particles in the air between the viewer and the background items the background items appear duller.

Understanding and applying the color saturation principals to your landscape paintings will add realism and depth to them.

Author: Julie Shoemaker

About the author:
Julie Shoemaker is an avid painter and hobbyist who regularly gives paintings as gifts to family and friends. To read more articles like the one here, and to see more free art tips, tricks and techniques and free step by step lessons Click Here to View my Work and Learn Painting Techniques or visit http://www.IamPainting.org

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