Beautiful Older Women Galleries - Art Is Who I Am - Do I Fit In?

Beautiful older women galleries
do I fit in?
I line my paintings in a hallway
see them there
anywhere
does magic come their way?
Have I met the master of my own heart?

My gothic angel art
my whimsical angels of crystal
a pegasus I did ride here.
I see beginnings
the gate that leads me to survival
knowing my own being.
My lessons are in the doing.
Art is who I am.

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I set out to meet the day
creativity reaches for me
rainbows or storm
I cannot tell as yet.
Fine art paintings
reproduction of my heart.
The sun is showing its head
I smile on past accomplishments.
Art is who I am.

It is a toss up
will my frailties trump me
will I bend
will I fly like a pegasus?
will I swim like a mermaid?
I lean toward opportunities
beautiful older women
and their galleries of age
timeless and ageless.
The Universe does smile on them
and hand them notes in the hallway.
I patiently wait for mine.
Art is who I am.

There is a darkness in me
late at night
still.
I paint by candles
ablaze by my own passion.
Gothic angels
whimsical angels
and older woman
I guess I am all of them.
Art is who I am.

I can be anything
still
it is never too late!
Fine art
painting reproductions
not my aim
I search to find my inner being.
An artist's brush full of paint
colors new and brilliant
I become everything new.
Art is who I am.

Beautiful Older Women Galleries - Art Is Who I Am - Do I Fit In?

ABOUT Kathy Ostman-Magnusen I paint and sculpt female fantasy art and map faery tale adventures. I dream of beautiful women on canvas and art of exotic women. I have illustrated for Hay House Inc.,"Women Who Do Too Much" CARDS taken from Anne Wilson Schaef's book. I also illustrated for Neil Davidson, who was considered for the Pulitzer Prize in feature writing, and several other publications. My paintings are collected worldwide.

Giclee canvas art work, greeting cards and posters are available for sale on my website: http://www.kathysart.com Sign up for my mailing list for FREE ART GIFTS: Drawings of whimsical angel pictures, legends of mermaids and fairies in art. Tiny angels whisper fantasy art for shrink art, or coloring pages. Also a "Letter From the Tooth Fairy". Ya just never know when you might need one! New free magical gifts are in my newsletter along with stories, poems and good thoughts. Check out my new Squidoo too! Fantasy Art Woman|Beautiful Women Goddess Art http://www.squidoo.com/kathysart/

Facts About Pop Art Paintings History

Pop art is an art form first introduced in Great Britain, towards the end of the 1950s. It was brought about by artists who wanted to take the stuffiness out of 'abstract expressionism', and bridge the gap between art and the public. This they did by including everyday objects like flags and soup cans in their paintings.

The birth of pop art was to ridicule the monotony that a section of artists associated with abstract expressionism. At the point of time, both the American as well as the British society was recuperating after the World War II, and these artists took potshots at the materialism all around and included objects like Coke cans and comic strips in the paintings. Artist Jasper Johns used the American flag to a large extent, Roy Lichtenstein gave prominence to comic strips, and Andy Warhol made soup cans famous, while stuffed animals were Robert Rauschenberg's choice of object. These artists included everyday objects in their paintings to make them more appealing to the common man. Art before that was largely confined to the high echelons of society, and the abstract art form was not understood by the layman. Pop artists changed all that by replacing the monotony of art with humor and relevance to daily life.

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Pop art did receive its fair share of criticism, as art critics though it was a cheap effort to popularize everyday objects as symbols of art. American society, on the other hand, welcomed pop art with open arms, making it what it is today.

Facts About Pop Art Paintings History

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in history and education industry. He also offers top quality articles like:
D Day History, Strawberry Shortcake History

What is Folk Art?

Folk art is not art as most people would think. You would not find it in the galleries of New York. You find it in people's homes, garages, and attics. The best way to describe folk art is to say it is the craftsmanship of people from a local area which depicts the everyday life and times they shared. From the weather vane on the barn to the handcrafted rag dolls the children played with, that is something you can not put a price on.

Traditional, high end art is produced by a talented painter or sculptor whose personality or life may be depicted in the piece. This was not created by a named artist but by ordinary people who needed certain things. These items were used everyday. They were created to make life simpler or more enjoyable. The people who created them would never have dreamed of selling them at some upscale auction house. The items were passed out to family and friends. There was no price tag.

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Quilts are a popular form of folk art. The seamstress was making a bed cover for her family. If she was adept with her needle, there may have been detailed embroidery done on the piece or appliqué work depicting scenes from the area. Some of the quilts were made for special occasions such as the wedding quilt. The rings symbolized the union of the two getting married. These handcrafted quilts and blankets are in great demand in today's market.

The tradition of folk art continues to this day. People are still creating things to make their lives easier or more comfortable. Toys are created for the children. Some pieces are created for the sheer beauty of it, like wood carvings. Local craftsmen who are proud of their heritage are picking up the tradition and starting to teach the younger ones how to do things, like basket weaving or tin smithing.

There are festivals all across the country celebrating the heritage of different regions. Many local craftsmen set up displays to show off their handy work and creations. Some offer these items for sale to the visitors. Many of these festivals are held in the fall. This is traditionally when the lives of these true artisans would slow down. The planting and growing being over, this was the time when the harvest would start to be enjoyed. With more time on their hands many people would turn to their craft to past the time.

The American Folk Art Museum located in New York City has many exhibits from all over the country. There are paintings which depict the lives of the artists. There are many quilts on display. Some are of a simple design and others are intricately detailed. Visitors can view pottery and tin pieces made in the 18th and 19th century. Certain markings made on the pieces have allowed the artisan to be traced through the years. It is interesting to see the styles each master craftsman used to create their works. Toys and painted board games are on display to see what the children of the times played with.

Folk art is a reflection of the past history of America. It shows the history of this nation. Every piece is a part of the heritage of the United States.

What is Folk Art?

Visit RogersGardens.com to browse their fine selection of folk art [http://www.rogersgardens.com/Folk-Art.asp], including Vaillancourt folk art, and folk art designs from Christopher Radko [http://www.rogersgardens.com/Christopher-Radko-Ornaments.asp].

Learning How To Become A Tattoo Artist

With the tattoo industry becoming more popular, the potential for making a career out of tattooing is opening up for a lot of people. If you are one of the individuals who can see themselves working as a tattoo artist, then there are some things you need to know first. In this article you will learn how to become a tattoo artist.

Learning how to become a tattoo artist isn't easy. And it isn't for everyone. If you don't have some raw artistic talent, then it probably isn't the job for you. But if you're artistic side is one of your strongest, then you just might have what it takes. The first step is to exercise your artistic skill. Books, classes and fellow artists can help you do this. Once you've put in the time you need in order to be the best artist on paper, put together a portfolio of your work. This is essentially a collection of your art put together in a professional looking way to show to potential employers.

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The next step in learning how to become a tattoo artist is getting an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is like an internship, where you work for someone for free and learn from them as you go. Apprenticing will give you valuable knowledge about the tattoo business. You can get an apprenticeship by networking. Ask your friends and their friends if they know of one available. You can also approach tattoo parlor owners with your portfolio to ask them about becoming an apprentice.

There is no formal ending to an apprenticeship. It ends when the teacher, or shop owner decides that the apprentice is ready and prepared to tattoo professionally. Sometimes a contract is signed at the beginning of the apprenticeship. Other times, the teacher might hire you as an employee. Now that you have learned how to become a tattoo artist, you will be free to look for a job elsewhere, or even open your own tattoo parlor.

Learning how to become a tattoo artist is like many other professions, it's never really over. As time goes on, you'll learn new techniques and processes from employers, co-workers, workshops, conventions and even employees. As a tattoo artist, you should always be open to learning and developing your skill. This is the best way to become and remain successful in the business.

Learning How To Become A Tattoo Artist

From needles, ink and tattoo machines [http://www.tattooandpiercingsupplies.com] to body piercing jewelry and equipment, we can provide you with all the info as well as current industy news and new products. Beginning with tattoo equipment, it's important to research the types of equipment that are out there and the pros and cons to using each type. Tattoo guns, needles, tubes, tattoo starter kits [http://www.tattooandpiercingsupplies.com/tattoo_starter_kits.html], machines, and inks are all key to starting a studio, shop, parlor or business. The guns and machines are usually hand crafted or homemade. As for the inks, it is crucial to carry a wide variety of colors so you as the artists can create rich and unique designs. More information: Caring for a new tattoo [http://www.tattooandpiercingsupplies.com/tattooaftercare.html].

Art Style, Movements and Influence Of Western Art

Art is always and everywhere the secret confession, and at the same time the immortal movement of its time – Karl Marx Since ancient age to modern art we have come across multiple art styles & movements. Most of them were new creation or transformation of one or other styles. Efforts by individual, group or brotherhood and schools lined up multiple art style in art history. This is my attempt to bring to light foremost & known art styles, movements and influence. If everything is not covered; its reference will be left for details.

If it is topic of art history then the most coined term would be an art style that covers the period of European history at the close of the middle ages and the rise of the modern world. An art style which born in 14th century and lived up to 17th century. An art movement which was later broken down in more than eight regional forms of development by historians. That means "rebirth" and was characterized by a radical development in the arts, medicine, politics and sciences in Europe.

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That’s none other than Renaissance!! That was time in which individual expression and worldly experience became two of the main themes. Renaissance is Italian origin and later it was known as one of the most known European Art Movements. By region – Renaissance was identified by own regional movement in Italy, England, German, Northern Europe, French, Netherlands, Poland and Spain. By period it is known as Early Renaissance, High Renaissance, Harlem Renaissance and Northern Renaissance. The word Renaissance is now often used to describe other historical and cultural moments (e.g. the Carolingian Renaissance, the Byzantine Renaissances).

Leonardo da Vinci was the model Renaissance man representing the humanistic values of the period in his art, science and writing. Michelangelo and Raphael were also vital figures in this movement, producing works regarded for centuries as embodying the classical notion of perfection. Renaissance architects included Alberti, Brunelleschi and Bramante.

Renaissance Classicism sowed two different movements— Mannerism and the Baroque. Mannerism was a reaction against the idealist perfection of Classicism. The appeal of Baroque style curved deliberately from the amusing and intellectual qualities of 16th century Mannerist art to an intuitive appeal aimed at the senses. Baroque employed an iconography that was direct, simple, obvious, and dramatic.

Baroque art drew on certain broad and heroic tendencies in Annibale Carracci and his circle, and found inspiration in other artists such as Correggio, Caravaggio, and Federico Barocci nowadays sometimes termed 'proto-Baroque'. Although Baroque was antiquated in many centers by the Rococo style, beginning in France in the late 1720s, more than ever for interiors, paintings and the decorative arts, Baroque architecture remained a practical style until the arrival of ascetic Neoclassicism in the later 18th century. Ingres, Canova, and Jacques-Louis David are among the best-known neoclassicists.

Neoclassicism was nothing but a reaction against both the surviving Baroque and Rococo styles, and as a desire to return to the perceived "purity" of the arts of Rome & Ancient Greek. Neoclassicism was also solitary representation of the American Renaissance movement. As Mannerism discarded Classicism, Romanticism too refused the ideas of the Enlightenment and the aesthetic of the Neoclassicists. Romanticism movement turned world’s attention toward landscape and nature as well as the human figure and the supremacy of natural order above mankind's will. Hudson River School was highly influenced by Romanticism.

However Neoclassicism sustained to be a foremost vigor in Academic Art through the 19th century and beyond. Academic Art was a relentless antithesis to Romanticism or Gothic revival.

In 19th Century, after impacts of industrialization - Poverty, squalor, and desperation were to be the fortune of the new working class. Where Romanticism was optimism towards mankind; situation put art looking towards reality giving chance to Realism. Social Realism, Magic Realism, Photo Realism and Contemporary Realism are newer forms of Realism. Related movements were the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and Arts and Crafts Movement.

Neo-classical movement rejected the extreme romanticism of Dada (that hunted the discovery of authentic reality through the abolition of traditional culture and aesthetic forms), in favor of control, religion and a dyed-in-the-wool political programme. Dada ignored aesthetics. Dada became an influential movement in modern art. It also influenced Surrealism, Pop Art and Fluxus.

Realism’s concept of seeing world by human eye gave birth to Impressionism. Use of bright color improving more visibility (as opposed to Academic art) and strokes that were mixed in viewer's eyes were key features of impressionism. The Group of Seven was strongly influenced by European Impressionism of the late Nineteenth Century.

Fauvism & Post-Impressionism followed Impressionism. Later Fauvism; modern art started shaping self in multiple new forms including Cubism, Expressionism, Abstract Art, Dada, Abstract Expressionism , Futurism, Naïve art, Op Art, Surrealism, Minimalism, Pop Art and other. Modern art and its forms itself needs separate discussion.

After its transformation of several forms; painting is yet breathing in ‘Contemporary Art’ and ‘Post Modern Art’.

Reference:

Art History Style Study References

Blog On Art History, Style & Artists [http://historyofart.wordpress.com]

Art Style, Movements and Influence Of Western Art

Art & Painting

Read More About Known Artists

The How to on Creating Lariat Art

In 1998, a friend who team ropes, gave me a basket made from his used lariats. I had never seen anything like it. It was great! You could put a plant, pens, or the five remotes that sat on top of my TV in it. After receiving this basket, I was determined to create my own lariat items.

I have used many ways to hold the rope together, such as hot glue and a propane torch. I can tell you the best way is with a soldering iron. An iron with a wide tip, and heats up to 750 degrees is the best. You do not want the iron too hot; it will unravel your rope, especially if you have a real crisp one. With 750 degrees, the rope melts gradually and you can work with it better. Oh, and you might want to purchase welding gloves, sometimes your hand will slip and well, it hurts!

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One lariat is usually 32 to 35 feet long. I can make a small basket with one lariat. Dimensions are about 8 inches diameter x 6-7 inches high. At one end of the rope there is a hondo, at the other end, a tassel. Take either end to start with, make a loop and where the rope meets take your soldering iron and seal the seam. You are basically melting the rope together and it creates it's own glue. There is smoke produced, so I recommend doing this outside for the smoke is a bit toxic. You can repeat your melting in a couple inch intervals or one continuous line. You will notice that with inch intervals it creates a pattern down your basket, which is nice. When you get a few loops into your basket, try to judge the amount of rope it will take to make the bottom of your basket. You will want to save a foot or so of the end of the lariat to add to the top of your basket. You connect the tassel into the hondo for a complete look.

Then, get creative! Add conchos, feathers or make a design on the outside with your soldering iron. The possibilities are endless. Experiment with shapes as well. Of course they will be roundish, just because of the natural bend in the rope, but you can start small at the top of your basket and widen out or start wide and end narrow, like a vase.

The How to on Creating Lariat Art

Elizabeth Sahd has been working from home since 2004. She can be reached at macwestern@hotmail.com or Gettin' A Little Western

Easy Nail Art Method! - Nail Art Stickers

Every once in a while, the nail art world is floored by the introduction of a wholly new product. Nail art stickers are one of only a few unusual occasions in which one product wholly rescripts the story of an industry. The variety of available designs is constantly flourishing, meaning that new designs get introduced speedily. And this means that there is an increasingly large assortment of nail art sticker designs to select from. You've got all kinds of stickers now available: metallic stickers, 3D stickers, you name it. Even rhinestone stickers are becoming quite common.

The best part is that, using nail art stickers is a really simple technique. There's absolutely no reason to refrain from adding it to your repertory.

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The learning curve is very low. Even nail artists who are in their primary week of developing should have no worry utilizing them efficaciously. These stickers make it possible for you to attain a level of elaborateness that might be hard or inconceivable to create using a freehand technique. This causes nail art stickers to be an excellent tool for initiates who are still honing their skills.

Children and teenagers are the clients are the most likely to ask for this technique. I dare you to try to get them to divert their eyes from wonders. Truly! Stickers are appropriate for any type of nails, but the larger stickers tend to work best on fake nails. If you want to use stickers on natural nails, it's best to move towards the tinier stickers. These will often have a better chance of remaining in place.

Don't mistake what I'm saying notwithstanding, nail art stickers aren't just kid's stuff. While they can be implemented simply by themselves, they also constitute great additions to more complicated designs using gel, the Konad technique, free hand, or rhinestones. There are genuinely no limits in what you might accomplish with them! You can really merge as many of these techniques as you'd like. Any reason not to?

Even if you choose to compose patterns entirely out of stickers, you will still have quite a bit of variety to work with. After all, there is a throng of forms to choose from. Your nail art clients never run out of choices.

Stickers usually come in large sheets stored in special resealable plastic bags. These bags keep the stickers fresh and usable making it easy for them to be stashed away and used whenever you want to. This also causes them to be very simple to store. So, even for mobile nail care technicians, it's simple to take nail art stickers with you wherever you wander.

Now don't be shy! It's time for you to try these out. Don't be stressed out! It's simple!

Easy Nail Art Method! - Nail Art Stickers

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12 Free Things to Do in Orlando, Florida and Still Have Fun

Orlando, Florida is a top vacation destination for families all across America. There are amazing things to do in Orlando, such as Disney World and Gatorland, but there are also plenty of freethings to do in Orlando that are great ways to spend your vacation time.

Orlando is known for its first class attractions, but there are also plenty of natural attractions for visitors to explore. Directly located in central Florida, Orlando has the great advantage of being immersed in both beautiful natural surroundings as well as fantastic waters on each side. Orlando's great setting provides plenty of Free things to do too!

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1. Lake Eola Park: This downtown Orlando centerpiece offers 43 acres for exploration and recreation, including fountains, a walking path, playgrounds, swans to feed and swan shaped paddle boats and gondolas (for a slight fee.)
2. Harry P. Leu Gardens: Admission is free on Mondays. Guests can enjoy three miles of walkways, rose gardens, a butterfly garden, ancient oak trees, and more.
   
3. Ocala National Forest: A great place to experience natural Florida. The Florida Trail is a popular hike, where you can view hardwood forests, swamps, springs, and prairies. You can also canoe, picnic, hike and more.
   
4. Kelly Park: This park offers over 248 acres of outdoor fun and excitement! A crystal clear spring is the focus of this park, with water sports, including tubing, and rock climbing available!
   Orlando's rich history also makes its museums a can't miss experience. Plus, they're open Free to the public
5. Cornell Fine Arts Museum: This museum showcases over 6,000 art pieces ranging from the Renaissance to the Baroque period. Art lovers of all ages will not want to miss one of the oldest collections in all of Florida.
6. Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art: Home to the most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany. There is also an extensive American Pottery collection, as well as 19th and 20th century paintings collection. Admission is free on Fridays.
7. Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida: An informative center dedicated to remembering the millions if people that were lost during the rule of Nazi Germany.
8. Fort Christmas Historical Museum & Park: Visit the full size replica of Fort Christmas, including seven restored pioneer homes and showing pioneer life from the 1870s through the 1930s. Key themes are homesteading, cattle, citrus, hunting, fishing and trapping. There are even more free things to do in Orlando, Florida!
9. Downtown Disney Marketplace: Explore the World of Disney store, which is an experience in and of itself. Also visit the Lego Imagination Center, where your kids can enjoy the free Lego building stations and nearby playground.
10. Disney's Boardwalk: Stroll along Disney's boardwalk for a charming step back in time, complete with water views and street entertainers.
11. The Town of Celebration: Visit this Disney-made town where you can adrmire the gorgeous houses, well-groomed yards and magic of Disney living. Depending on when you visit, you may see machine generated snow or falling leaves.
12. Old Town: On Saturday nights a free rock-n-roll concert and a parade of 300 vintage cars are offered.

A visit to gorgeous Orlando, Florida is the perfect way to get away with your family. Although there are amazing deals like Cheap Disney World Tickets, there are also plenty of FREE things to do in Orlando that are great ways to spend your vacation time. And best of all, many of the great Orlando experiences are fun, free and unforgettable.

12 Free Things to Do in Orlando, Florida and Still Have Fun

What Your Body Features Say About You

For many years of candid anecdote exchanges, many people believed that the features of the different parts of the body provide clues to the personality of the person. Some say that these are pure myth while others claim they are true. According to the Chinese art of body reading, the physical attributes of a person reveal his character, disposition, attitude towards life and even his hopes and dreams in the future. Whether these body tales are real or not, it is still worth finding out - just for fun. Check them out for yourself to see if they match with your personality.

Eyes

• Deep Set - you're casual, easy-going and quiet
• Protruding - you love to talk...and talk and talk
• Large - you're friendly, open and warm-hearted
• Small- you're direct but not particularly outgoing
• Crossed - you are very patient

Eye Color

• Brown or black - you're warm and cuddly
• Gray - you get high marks in the smarts department
• Blue - you are downright friendly
• Green - you have a tendency to be deceitful but you are sexy

Hair

• Fine and straight hair - you are sensitive and cultured
• Thick and wavy hair - you are strong-willed and have high principles in life
• Dandruff-prone - you're frequently stressed

Ears

• Small - you're unusually observant and attentive
• Big - you're a good listener and an achiever
• Flappy (sticking out from the sides of your head) - you're apt to be a conformist
• Flat against your head - you're a person wth tremendous tact, a true diplomat

Nose

• Small - you're thoughtful and endearing
• Big - you're hardworking and energetic
• Long - you're cautious
• Short - you're an excellent worker, with your nose to the grindstone
• Flat and broad - high-tempered but very patient

Lips

• Full - you're sensuous and sexy
• Thin - you're considered reserved and refined
• Full on top, thin on bottom - you're warm and friendly
• Thin on top, full on bottom - you exude sensuality

Chin

• Small - you work hard
• Broad or long - you can roll with the punches
• Exceptionally broad - you're highly sensual
• Dimpled - playfulness is your strong suit
• Has a cleft - you're not afraid of change and adventure
• Pointed (down south) - you can be self-destructive

Fingers

• Short - you're quick and decisive
• Exceedingly short - you're such a quick thinker that you border on careless, never giving problems the attention they require
• Long - you're a planner and like to organize things
• Square - you're stubborn, a stick-to-your-guns type

Hands

• Soft - you're idealistic
• Clammy - you are very easygoing
• Limp - you are always on the go

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Copyright(c) 2005 Rachelle Arlin Credo. All rights reserved.

What Your Body Features Say About You

Rachelle Arlin Credo is an entrepreneur and relationship coach. She also works as an image consultant and part-time writer. Her literary works have been published in various magazines and online publications.

Understanding Art

Art is anything that people add to their 'output' which is
not functionally necessary and is other than the default
properties of that output. The word "art" has been derived
from the Latin word 'ars', which, loosely translated,
means "arrangement" or "to arrange". This is the only
universal definition of art, that whatever it is was at some
point arranged in some way. There are many other
colloquial uses of the word, all with some relation to its
etymological roots. This word comes from the Greek
technic meaning art.

Art and science are usually treated diagonally opposite to
each other. While science means some phenomenon
resulting in truth, which is universal and objective in
nature. In other words, science findings can be repeated
under the same set of circumstances anywhere in the
world at any given point of time. Same cannot be said of
art. Art, on the other hand is purely subjective in nature.
Take for example, a painting - while one calls it a
masterpiece, same feelings cannot be expected from
other individual.

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Art can roughly be divided into two, namely philosophical
art and aesthetic art. The philosophical type of art
involves human figures for some purposive actions. In
other words, philosophical art depicts human condition or
it is the conceptual frame of mind of the artist.

Aesthetic art, on the other hand, shows the perceived
frame of mind. Two examples will help illustrate these
two points of view - a Mona Lisa painting is philosophical
art, while a demon being killed by a super human is
aesthetic. These two categories are also called classical
and modern art respectively.

There are other ways of classifying art - major among
them being architecture, design, painting, music,
drawing, literature, performing art, etc. While these have
been (and still are) traditional forms of art performed by
human kind, newer forms of art have emerged with the
advent of technology. Some of the later era art forms are
games, animation, movie, computer art, shooting, etc.

Two of the most researched areas of interest to artists,
critiques and archeologists has been the art movement
(or art history) and art school.

An art movement is a typical style or tendency in art with
a specific common philosophy, followed by a group of
artists during a restricted period of time (ranging from a
few months to years or decades). Art school is any
educational institute offering education to its students on
various forms of art.

Birth of art gave rise to another group of individuals - art
critics. Art critics study and evaluate a piece of art. Its
main purpose is to rationalize the evaluation of art, and
ridding of any personal opinion affecting the work of art.
Art criticism today deploys systematic and formal
methods to evaluate the piece of art.

Museums are known to nurture and store work of arts
across the world. Early era museums were patronized by
the then kings and emperors. Today these are
maintained by governments or private trusts with or
without public money. Three major museum institutes are
British Museum, Museum of Modern Art, New York and
Galerie des Offices in France.

Understanding art in its totality is almost an impossible
task for a human being. There are over 3,600 terms in art
to be understood. And these are not definitive in nature.
Art is when you are free to redefine these.

Understanding Art

redi zartey is the owner of Art Diz [http://www.artdiz.com] which is a premier resource for art information. for more information, go to [http://www.artdiz.com]

30 Ways to Display Art and Photos

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

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

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Ways to Arrange Your Art on the Wall:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ways to Hang and Frame Your Art:

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

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

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

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

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

Ways to Arrange Artwork on Furniture:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unique Places to Display Art:

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

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

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

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

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

Things to Make That Will Display Your Photos:

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

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

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

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

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

30 Ways to Display Art and Photos

Jen Lange is a pencil portrait artist and creator of http://www.inspirationearth.com where she sells her work. She has a B.A. from a top Southern college and commissions drawings of people, pets, and much more.