Saul Williams – a True Rap Pioneer

Author: Andrew Regan

Saul Williams, born in Newburgh, New York in 1974, is an American rap artist, writer and actor known for his eclectic blend of poetry and hip-hop. He is also known for his role as Ray Joshua in the independent film 'Slam', which won the Grand Jury Prize for a Dramatic Film at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival.


Unlike most mainstream rap artists, who at least claim to have lived a former life of sin before turning to rap, Saul entered the world of music after pursuing an academic career. After graduating from Morehouse College with a B.A. in Philosophy, Williams went on obtain a Master's Degree in acting from New York University. While at NYU he found himself at the centre of the New York cafe poetry scene, where he would hone his poetry reading skills and in 1996 he won the title of Nuyorican Poets Cafe's Grand Slam Champion. Fame on the spoken-word circuit led him onto the lead role in the 1998 feature film 'Slam', and eventually to blend his oratory skills with his love of rap music.


After releasing a string of EPs, he released his debut album, 'Amethyst Rock Star', produced by Rick Rubin, to critical acclaim in 2001. Labelled everything from prog-hop to aggressive, urban chanting, Williams breathed fresh air into an increasingly stale and clichéd genre. After touring in support of the album, he released his eponymous follow-up in 2004, which attracted attention of Nine Inch Nails front man, Trent Reznor, who would select Williams to be NIN’s support band while touring Europe on the 2005 'With Teeth' tour. He also supported the Mars Volta and played Lollapalooza in 2006, bringing his music to a wider audience.


His friendship with Trent Reznor led to an agreement that Reznor would produce Williams' next album, 'The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!' Released last November, it is only available at niggytardust.com, where users can download mid-quality mp3s (192 kbps) of the album for free, or, if they choose to, pay $5 via credit card to support Williams directly and choose between mid-quality mp3s, high-quality mp3s (320 kbps) and lossless FLAC files.


Reznor posted on the Nine Inch Nails homepage that as of the beginning of this year, close to 155,000 people had downloaded the record, and of those, 28,322, or just over 18% had chosen to pay for it. Out of those paying, 3220 chose mid-quality mp3s, 19,764 chose high-quality mp3s and 5338 chose FLAC.


Though these figures aren’t enough to warrant a Platinum certification, the business model gives fans an impetus to do the right thing by giving them a hassle-free way to show support for Williams, with no restrictions like DRM placed on the music, and as such, it can be seen as a success, especially considering his last album sold 33,897 copies in the three years since its release.


Whether this way of releasing music will become a trend is yet to be seen, but the fact is that more people have listened to Saul than ever before, and hopefully this year will see him receive the mainstream recognition he rightly deserves.

Article Source:www.articlesbase.com

About the Author:
Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.

Top Six Sources of Tattoo Design Ideas

Author: Reese Lanter

A tattoo is something that you would have to keep forever. This is why it is of utmost importance to find the exact design that you would want to be permanently stuck with. After all there is nothing like the misery or regret a person could feel over a bad design. To help you make your decision, you should seriously consider these top sources of tattoo design ideas.



Tattoo Artists
The best source of design for tattoos is of course, a tattoo artist. An artist who has been doing his trade for quite sometime and has a wide base of satisfied customers would know first hand about good designs and tattoo design ideas that would specifically fit you.


Tattoo artists can help you understand the meaning of a design, and you can easily discuss with them the design that best suits your personality. You can even give an artist your idea and leave the designing to him. The downside to this is that different artists have different opinions and you often have to do a lot of leg work and design book flipping to find the best artist and design



Online Galleries
The best tattoo designs can also be found on online galleries. There are lots of free and paid galleries to choose from. These galleries contain thousands of designs conveniently arranged in categories with new designs regularly coming in. The best thing about searching online for tattoo design ideas is that you can simply browse in the comfort of your own home. For a fee, you can print a design that you like and take it to an artist. If you do not have an artist yet, some galleries will offer you a directory of tattoo artists near your place.



Forums
Ideas are simply limitless in forums. There are numerous independent or gallery attached tattoo forums to choose from. In these forums you can upload your designs and ask forum members to give their opinion about it. You can also comment on the designs of others and maybe even get some inspiration from the member uploaded designs. This is a great way to interact and ask real average people like you their unbiased opinion.



Printed Material
Who says you need to restrict your tattoo design ideas on catalogs and galleries. Look through an assortment of books printed material for possible tattoo design ideas. You can flip through your favorite comic books or even look in science, astrology, psychology, archeology, sociology and anthropology books.



Other People
Close friends and family members who also love tattoos can also offer you some tattoo design ideas or can give their honest opinion about a design that you are considering. Aside from these people, you could also simply observe what other people have and form a judgment on which designs look great and which one look horrible.



Your Own Creativity
One other top source of tattoo design ideas is your own creativity. You can mix and match designs or you can answer some questions to arrive at a good design. What are you interested in? What inspires you? What is your life long passion? What do you love the most?



Article Source: www.articlesbase.com

About the Author:
Find your tattoo design ideas from one source. Search for cool tattoo ideas online that matches your personality.

Buying Art - What to Look For

By: wendyh



If you don't love art, and are simply considering buying art as an investment, the best advice is to find something else to invest in. Collecting and buying art should be a labor of love, not a cold-hearted financial calculation.

When buying art there are many factors that a serious art collector should look at in order to get the best deal. In no particular order they are:

1. Know Your budget

No matter how much you like an art piece, don't put yourself in enormous debt to acquire it. If you can't afford it, so be it. Just let it go and wait for something to show up that fits your budget. No art collector in the world gets every piece he is attracted to.

2. Know Your Art Dealers

Once you know what kind of art you like, find the galleries that sell it. Introduce yourself to the gallery owners. Form a relationship with them. Let them know what types of art pieces you're interested in. Then when they get a new piece or art in, your name will be near the top of the list of people that they notify. This is an excellent way to get first crack at art pieces that normal people will never see, because they simply are never put up for sale.

Developing relationships with reputable art dealers also helps to protect you from scams. You can have faith that the art pieces you get are original pieces and not simply knock-offs.

Also, if you come to love the work of a particular artist, you may find that his or her work is carried primarily through a particular dealer. All the more reason to become friendly with as many art dealers as you can.

3. Know Your Own Tastes

Never buy something just because an "art expert" tells you that it is a beautiful, classic piece of art. If the art piece means nothing to you, it's not worth you buying it. Unless you're a professional trader, the art piece you buy is going to be something that you own and look at for years. So choose art that speaks to you. And to do that, you need to know what you like and what you don't like.

An important secondary benefit of knowing your taste is it gives you the ability to clearly state your desires to art dealers that you work with to help build your collection.

4. Negotiate the Price

Just because an art piece has a price tag on it does not mean that you have to pay that price. Art prices are not set in stone. Don't be afraid of dickering with dealers. In most cases it's even expected.

5. Insure Your Art

There are few things more devastating than losing your art treasures through fire or theft. But the financial losses can possibly even be worse.

Whenever you buy a piece of collectible art, call your insurance broker and make sure she includes it on your policy. If you have a good homeowners policy, it will probably already provide general coverage. But if you have art pieces that are documented collectible items, you want to definitely ensure that this is noted on your policy - even if you have to buy an additional rider for it.

It's also important to note that insurance will not only cover things like fire and theft, as mentioned above. It will also cover things like water damage, breakage, moving, and so on.

Now go out and start collecting. Good luck and much success in your art buying.

Wendy Hermann is a senior writer for nativearttraders writing about Inuit art gallery - buy Inuit art

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Art Collecting With an Art Consultant

By: wendyh

Do you love art but dont have confidence in your ability to choose and negotiate fine art pieces? If so, you may want to acquire the services of an art consultant. With an art consultant at your side, you can find art collecting not only simple, but easy and fun as well.

What does an art consultant do? An art consultant can help you through the entire art selection process - from choosing a theme to negotiating the price,.having the artwork framed, and choosing where the art piece should be located. Shell let you be her guide and provide you with an art collection that is as expensive or inexpensive as your budget allows.

There are basically two types of art consultants. The first type of art consultant is one who focus on homeowners or individual art buyers. The second type works with corporate clients.

What can an art consultant help you with? First of all, she can help you to find paintings. A good art consultant will also be knowledgeable about current prices and can negotiate fair prices for you. She can be invaluable in documenting the value of your art pieces and giving you replacement value advice for your insurance needs. She can help determine the authenticity of the art and help you avoid getting stuck with imitations or frauds.

She can also review your existing art pieces and either look for new pieces to complement them or advise you on the best ways to liquidate them if together you decide that they no longer fit with your art acquisition strategy.

Not only will the art consultant assist you in finding the perfect artwork for your home. She will also, at your request, provide custom framing and professional installation.

An art consultant can also teach you about the subtleties of art buying and selling and eventually give you the confidence to appraise artwork on your own.

And finally, if and when you are ready to sell your art - a knowledgeable art consultant will advise you on its current worth and help you to get its fair market value in the marketplace.

So what should you look for in an art consultant?

The primary attribute you should look for is experience. But not just any experience. Experience in the type of art that you want to acquire. For example, if you have a keen interest in Inuit or Native American art, youll want to find an art consultant who is knowledgeable in that field. In this case, an expert in French Renaissance art will not serve you well.

In addition to having experience with the type of art that attracts you, she should also have experience in that period of art. Knowledge of current Native American art does not automatically translate to having knowledge of 17th century Native American art.

If you love art, and dont know much about it, using an art consultant can be a nice shortcut to acquiring lovely art pieces without having to attend art school and acquire a degree in art.

Wendy Hermann is a writer and blogger for www.nativearttraders.com/inuit-art-sculpture.htm which specializes in Inuit art sculpture and gallery. Please visit our site to find unique, one of a kind art pieces.

The Bayeux Tapestry: Recreating the Norman Conquest

By: David Burr

One of the most intriguing and impressive tapestry works to emerge from the Middle Ages is that of the colossal Bayeux Tapestry. Depicting the events leading up to the infamous Battle of Hastings in which William the Conqueror invaded England on Oct. 14, 1066, the tapestry is more than 70 meters long and currently resides in a museum specifically designed for the piece in Normandy, France.

Interestingly enough, the tapestry is not actually a tapestry at all, but an embroidered linen that was stitched, not woven, from eight colors of woolen thread. The fact that the piece has survived for more than 900 years is not only a testament to its remarkable appeal, but an acknowledgment of its invaluable status as the only significant remaining historical relic representing the early Norman periods in England.

Origins and Aesthetics of the Bayeux Tapestry
Although nothing is known for certain about the exact origins of the tapestry, historians believe it was commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux (the half brother of William the Conqueror) around the time of 1070. The piece was believed to have been put on display in the Church of Notre Dame in Bayeux, where it remained for another 700 years. The earliest known reference to this incredibly complex work of art was recorded in a Cathedral inventory taken in 1476.

The embroidery was originally constructed from eight different sections of linen, which were then joined together to create its full length. The piece essentially looks like a giant comic strip composed of approximately 32 scenes that experts have divided into roughly 13 sections. These sections tell the story of the events leading up to the William’s defeat of England’s King Harold, with the final scenes depicting the Battle of Hastings itself. There is also evidence that the tapestry was even longer at one point, possibly by as many as seven or eight meters.

Almost Lost to History
During the French Revolution in the late 1700s the people of Bayeux used cloth to cover their ammunition wagons. When a shortage of cloth occurred the Bayeux Tapestry was cut up and used for this purpose until one man, Lambert Leonard Leforestier, noticed what was happening to the relic and put a stop to it by replacing the tapestry with other cloth. The citizenry of Bayeux eventually formed a fine arts council to protect its historical treasures.

Apparently Napoleon had the piece transported to Paris at one point as he considered the tapestry an inspiration for an attack he had planned on England. But the attack never happened, and the piece was eventually returned to the people of Bayeux.

The piece has been removed from public display at various points in history and hidden in a number of locations within France for safekeeping, most notably during the Franco-Prussian War and the First and Second World Wars. It has also undergone several restorative processes throughout the years and it remains on display at Bayeux to this day.

Depictions of the Tale
When viewing the Bayeux Tapestry, one gets the sense that much more is behind the meaning of the stylized images than initially meets the eye. On the surface, we see a tale of courage, alliances, passion, power, and conquest. But the underlying ideas and subtle nuances of each scene may in part explain why the appeal of the tapestry has endured throughout the ages and lent itself well to a wide-ranging host of philosophical interpretations.

Reproductions of the tapestry have frequently focused on specific highlights of the Norman Conquest. These snapshots not only serve to personify the work as a whole but each element manages to tell a story in itself. As such, each of these individual portrayals, while only denoting a small section of the massive embroidery, are capable of standing alone as a compelling and potent artistic work in their own right.

For example, a scene entitled William Sets Sail delivers an absorbing portrait on the tactical and strategic approaches to war, while at the same time providing a glimpse into the psychological aspects by way of facial expressions and individual poses. The scene is a reenactment of William beginning the journey to wage battle with King Harold in an effort to capture the English throne.

In another scene, entitled William Attacks, we witness the chaos and turmoil associated with the conflict. The inherent pride and nationalism of men aggressively fighting for a cause -- combined with the consequent slaughter and bloodshed – ultimately provide for a riveting reflection of our own humanity.

A Timeless Work of Art
The Bayeux Tapestry has managed to captivate audiences over the course of hundreds of years. The intricate depictions of the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings, while representing a mere sliver of human history, have taken on a significance far greater than the events in the story itself for many artistic scholars. The embroidery allows us to understand the complexities of human nature, war, absolution and honor, while at the same time perhaps posing even more questions that the work itself is capable of answering.

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David Burr writes on a number of subjects for the Tapestry House including the Bayeux Tapestry. www.thetapestryhouse.com/products/list/medieval-bayeux.html

Top 10 Arts Culinary School – Tips & Info

By: Anabell Amaretto

Top 10 Arts Culinary School is all about the most excellent arts cooking school located in USA. Arts Culinary Schools (ACS) are the places, where people learn the cooking art. It is considered as the one of the mounting industry with an extensive range of employment opportunities. With large job opportunities, many people are now moving towards cooking arts as their profession. Generally, cuisine needs much knowledge and innovation that necessitates appropriate education and training. At many ACS, the programs are broken down into specific arenas, depending upon the seeker’s interest. The attractiveness of these schools is that, students can change their destinations time to time, so as to append more knowledge.

Another great benefit of these culinary schools is that, students who graduate get a greater response anywhere in the world. In each city, there are always requirements for people with good culinary arts.

Some Significant Arts Culinary Schools:

The most excellent chefs' schools provide the finest amenities, trainer, cuisine service functions, job placement aids, diplomas and other hands-on sessions. In addition, they offer certifications which are esteemed and approved all over the world. Hence, it is necessary to choose a good reputable arts culinary school for more beneficial career prospect. Students can confirm the ratings and rankings of ACSs in the US from bureaus such as U.S News, World Report or Princeton Review. As per the survey conducted by this bureau, the top ten best ACSs in the United States are The French Culinary Institute of New York City, The Culinary Institute of America, Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute, New England Culinary Institute, Johnson & Wales University, L’Academie de Cuisine, California Culinary Academy, George Brown Chef School, Tante Marie’s Cooking School and Kendall College.

One of the world’s biggest cuisine and chef education institutions is Culinary Institute of America. These ACSs provide several programs including sommelier, garde manager, saucier, sous-chef, pastry-chef and executive chef. These programs are based entirely on the knowledge level that includes 1st level for basic innovation, 2nd level for much experienced cuisines and 3rd level for expert cooking.

Miscellaneous:

It is advisable to remember that, these top ten ACSs cost very much and necessitate dedication and hard-work from students. Graduates from these ACSs get a job prospect of working with the world’s famous hotel and restaurant groups and eventually, begin their own line of work.

The culinary industry does not stick to a 9 to 5 schedule, 5 days a week. The load time in the culinary industry is the weekend evening hours. If you should become a successful master chef, you must be available and at your best during the culinary industry's peak hours. Serving a fine meal for dinner is one of the main goals, and this often makes life difficult for those with families or loved ones. In order to become a successful chef, you must be able to work around such obstacles and resign yourself to living outside of the weekend. Now, that you realize you can stand the heat, and you want in to the kitchen. A formal culinary education is a must if you want to make cooking your career, and a top cooking school is just the place to start.

About The Author
Annabell Amaretto is a successful writer and webmaster at The World of Culinary Arts new and exciting weblog where she provide information how to Discover The Best Culinary Arts Schools.
www.arts-culinary-school.com

Ten Tips for Arranging Oil Paintings

By: Amitai Sasson


xpress your creativity, and add sophistication to your wall - mix framed oil paintings in creative ways. Like fine ingredients in a fabulous meal, individual works of art can be combined to produce tantalizing wall decor arrangements.

The following is a list of ten well-established practices for assembling great displays that turn your ordinary wall into something special...

1.Balance - No matter what desired effect you wish your art to convey, successful art displays all have one thing in common: a cohesive balance of order, color and scale.

2.Offset large art with small. Grouping small works of art together with a single large art piece brings to life the arrangement.

3.Pay attention to the spacing between objects. The spacing should be even among all the pieces. Leave a bigger gap between oil paintings to let each piece be appreciated on its own. For a collage, the unity of the works is key, group the paintings closer together.

4.Experiment with balance. Play around with different combinations

of small and large works of art. As long as it's symmetrical and well aligned you can just go with what you like best.

5.Unity - A display can be made up of very different elements; an arrangement can still work as long as there's a unifying thread, an idea that relates the works to each other.

6.Choose a subject, theme or color. Subjects such as Nature or Travel are highly popular these days. It can be any theme as long as it links the paintings to each other. I like to create groupings by artists, group four Van Gogh paintings or three Mark Rothko art reproductions together transcends the power of their art and brings to life their unique styles and techniques.

7.Use matching frames. Matching frames are a must in linking the different art pieces together in a smooth, cohesive way.

8.Impact - Balance and unity are always important, but for a display to truly knock them off their feet, it needs to have an impact. Experiment with the arrangement, and look for ways to create drama in your display.

9.Odd numbers of framed oil paintings create the most pleasing effect. Start off by placing the central piece at eye level or slightly above on the wall, and then expand your display outward from there.

10.Use wall ledges. Ledges provide a blank canvas where you can layer the artwork so that one frame slightly overlaps the other. This technique puts the focus on the display as a whole, rather than on any individual work of art.

These ten tips are just a few guidelines that you should keep in mind in preparation on your next decorating endeavor. Hope these tips help you out to create fabulous wall arrangements that will bring light and beauty into your homes.

Article Source: http://freearticalepro.com


Amitai Sasson, of OverstockArt.com is a renowned world traveler on a mission to seek out the beauty and passion of the art world. As an avid enthusiast of art and oil paintings , he contributes greatly to the industry with his writing. Read more on our blog today!

Turn a Wall Into a Work of Art

A beautiful home can be livened up by not just paintings but creative thinking. An artful home is a place that oozes with the owner's personality and breathes life into the inanimate objects lying around. The artistic possibilities are endless and project a sense of style and elegance to anyone living or visiting that home.

Turning a wall into a work of art is one way to do this. Wall Art can be a number of things. Pictures, paintings, pressed flowers, bits of lace from the veil and a pair of gloves worn by the bride framed nicely in the shadow box style would provide a lasting tribute that may be treasured down through generations.

A christening dress and baby shoes preserve a first event in the life of your child. Enclosed in a deep frame with a glass cover to keep out dust, these items will last forever. Other ideas of wall art can be old maps, antique documents, and interesting fabric swatches can all become wall art. Think of the beautiful handmade lace, quilts, and embroidery that could be framed or hung to become wall art.

Here are a couple of things you can do to enhance your wall art:

1. Size of the room: The advantage with using art is the creation of illusion. You can either make a large room look fuller or a small room look larger. The decorations can be anywhere from murals to mirrors

2. Colors of the walls: Take note of the colors of your walls. If it is pale or in muted shades you can liven it up with bright colors like oranges, reds and earthy browns

3. Rented houses: If you are living in a rented home, make sure you buy art that has self adhesive. This is especially for renters whose owners forbid the tenants bore holes into their walls.

4. Lighting: Based on which way, your home is situated, some rooms may have more light and some rooms may be darker. Use of muted lighting for romantic weekends and bright lights for play days for children can be achieved by use of lamps and shades

Wall art is easy to buy and can be bought online and is affordable. You can buy unframed prints of many famous artists ranging from a Picasso line drawing of a dog, to a Dougall autumn tapestry. Michael O'Toole's Mediterranean scene is also a bargain. Emerging artists are the latest rage. Ken Bailey's Boston's Best Creme Pie is a whimsical dog print that will make you smile and could be the focus for many animal posters.

Even better, online art galleries cater and encourage new and independent artists advertising their own work of art. These works of art can be bought directly and securely online. These galleries showcase and support talent, eliminates the middleman and you get a better deal. Whatever your budget, there are classic wall art offerings available. The offerings are so economical that you could even design seasonal themes and change the wall art 3 or 4 times each year. Many come in more than one size, and can be framed to suit your decor.

When relocating, it is comforting to have familiar wall art hanging in the new home. If you are young and have few events to treasure yet, borrow some of those from others. For instance, buy wall art at an antiques store that features old time photographs of family groupings. The frames alone are works of art many times. Also, look at ways your own photograph could be made into a canvas wall art painting.

When we buy wall art, we are creating a home atmosphere that nourishes us whenever we are present. It is important to select those things that evoke emotions in us. Whether restful, exciting or interesting, our wall art is important.

Article Source: www.articopia.com

About the Author

Kathy Austin is a search engine consultant for an online gallery. Buy wall art from Red Bubble. Red Bubble sells high-quality framed prints, mounted prints and more. Sign up free, visit Red Bubble, www.redbubble.com.

My Secret Life as an Art Dealer or the Origins of the Poor Getty's Museum of Fine Arts

I think it was the original old man Getty that said some find oil and others don't. As you probably know the Getty Museum in Los Angeles has one of the finest collections of art in the world. The 1930's, 1940's and 1950's were great decades for the nouveau riche to splurge on dirt cheap European art. Getty bought boatloads of some of the best. Actually art everywhere back then was cheap.

And it is on that end of the spectrum that I collect and play the market. The cheap side that is, not exactly the Getty side. Some find cheap good art and others don't. Actually it is a totally neglected end of the market and one that although not lucrative can almost make one feel like a poor Getty, if there is such a thing. That's why locally our house is known as the Poor Getty's Museum, dubbed such after a trip to the real thing in LA.

As a weekend pack mule, truck driver, errand boy, stand tender and other task doer for my wife's collectibles stand, I found myself constantly at yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores, antiques shows, locker auctions, estate sales, bankruptcy sales and liquidation sales.

Her total justification for this torture was it kept me away from meaningless activities like ball games and beer. Needless to say I quickly became fed up with the absolute mountains of stuff and junk my better half insisted on putting me through.

As a survival mechanism I needed to find a way to cope and not have a Miminsky. Being the wheeler dealer that she is, she would constantly be spying the neighbor's wares looking for bargains. 'Find some art' she would say. So I did. I brought her junk and bad prints and reprints and one day a nice acrylic and she smiled. 'Finally', she beamed.

Bingo! My career in art was off. Rather than standing around looking like I was waiting for my nachos, I was out scouring wherever we were for art. Skyview, Alameda, San Juan Bautista, De Anza, Alemany...we did them all.

My first lesson was to determine what a print is and what is an oil, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, pen, etc. Now those of you that are experts may snicker but throughout my years of buying paintings I have seen a number of 'experts' stumped on this very issue. Unless you're an experienced dealer you need to get an eyepiece to see if it's an original or a print. I know. I bought a number of them that weren't original and have since learned real dealers make the same mistake.

The hunter of fine art has to realize that for every good painting there were dozens of bad ones. If the painting had skill that conveyed an appeal, then the painting would have value based on what is commonly called its 'design'. A skilled painting could be worth good money even if the artist was not listed or even known. I would usually pay five or ten dollars for these paintings. Sometimes fifteen or twenty but no more. My only rule was I had to like it.

At first I dealt with traditional art; art about objects that would be considered traditional. Landscapes, portraits, people...sometimes painted with incredible skill. One day in a thrift store I found four paintings by a Californian named G. Fisher. He's had a few listings and did a number of paintings up and down the California coast. At two bucks apiece I have more than gotten my money's worth.

The paintings are acrylics of Big Sur and Monterey from the 1950's and are probably worth $100-200 each. Not bad. But right now fifties paintings are going gangbusters and shooting up...so in 10 years the price may triple. But for now they adorn my Poor Getty's Museum.

In art don't be surprised if you find one thing leading to another. Occasionally, though not very often, I came across modern art. I especially like the collages. Sometimes the collage components are works of art themselves. The effects can be rather dramatic, especially if the artist is skilled.

What I have found is that modern art in general, and collages and three dimensional works in particular, are often ignored by collectors and dealers. The most valuable of mine might be worth three or four hundred dollars. Probably what Getty paid for his Del Grecos and Renoirs.

There is one drawback to my method. If you take the Poor Getty's route for your own museum be prepared for it to be a long term project. Many is the day when I found nothing. But some days I would find two or three originals and was I on top of the world. I could rotate my stock on the living room wall and pretend I was one of those few in the world that could find oil and trek to Europe to buy boatloads of big time art.

Well, maybe not oil and maybe not big time art. I don't even carry a listings guide. I always buy what I like and I like the cheap, good Poor Getty's art the best...

Why be uncivilized?

Article Source: www.articopia.com

About the Author

Jack D. Deal is an avid art collector and the owner of Deal Business Consulting. Related articlesmay be found at www.jddeal.com and www.freeandinquiringmind.typepad.com

Theatre Play Involving Teens

Author: Sushil Kumar Singh Raghav

Some of the most popular plays that teens want to be in, help produce, and work on are The Wizard of Oz, Grease, Lil' Abner, The Helen Keller Story, Beauty and the Beast, and Phantom of the Opera. These are great plays and the characters can be played by teens and the characters themselves are also teens. Wizard of Oz and Lil' Abner are huge productions with a lot of characters.


This can be great with a large school where there are a lot of teens that want to be in the play. You also have plenty of singing and dancing and some of the greatest songs ever for the students to sing. I think what makes this play so great is that that teens even now have seen the movie and everyone wants the chance to sing the songs and do the dances that go along with the Wizard of Oz. Lil' Abner is another large play with lots of singing and dancing.


There are some very funny and strange characters in this play and the songs are wonderful and easy to learn. This is another great play where lots of teens that want to be involved can be and it brings in the family and friends to see the productions. Next, is Grease and with the recently released High School Musical that has come, Grease has become more popular than ever. Grease is a fun and lively play that all teens want to be a part of for the fun and energy that the play offers. The characters are great with girls wanting to be Sandra Dee or Rizo and the guys wanting to Zuko.


The play is timeless even though it is set in 1950's, it's still a favorite among teens and adults. The Helen Keller Story is wonderful because it is based off of Helen Keller herself and there is so much for teens to learn from the story and stretch their acting capabilities. Needing a student to be blind and for there to be crying and many emotions happening. Lastly, there is Beauty and the Beast and The Phantom of the Opera. These two are huge productions that have been done all over the world.


They have some of the most beautiful songs and were written and composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber. These are the type of plays that if can be done in high school every teen who wants to act and even those who had never thought of it before, want to be a part of the play. All of these plays are wonderful introductions to theater and plays, between the music, dancing, and singing, these are the plays that teen want to be in and be a part of.

Article Source: www.articlesbase.com

About the Author:
Author’s bio:

Teenagers are really more meticulous these days. This is why TeenWants (teenwants.com) hopes to bring teens all around the world together and let them experience everything positive and enriching. Sushil Kumar Singh Raghav writes for TeenWants.com. TeenWants.com is the place for games, video, music, shopping, fitness, entertainment and even job opportunities for teens. Check out TeenWants.com for prizes and games as well!

Revival of a Culture Being Forgotten

Author: Daniel Tang

While other young adults make their way through high school and college, Brian Nieh, Regina Dong, and Serena Liang spend 14 hours a day training, studying, and dancing with the Divine Performing Arts, a New York based troupe of classical dancers and musicians.


Many of the 100+ performers that make up Divine Performing Arts are young Chinese artists who have lived most, if not all, of their lives outside of China. But despite their western upbringings, they have come to be seen as the torchbearers of traditional Chinese culture.


The genuine traditional arts of China have nearly perished under the last six decades of communist rule, and these performers see it as their mission, having grown up in a free society, to bring the true spirit of their people back to life.


During the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, in particular, China’s 5,000-year-old culture was decimated. Buddhist and Daoist monasteries were destroyed, and traditional arts and music were shunned as relics of the feudal era. Even Confucianism, which had long been the moral philosophy at the heart of Chinese culture, was attacked and replaced with the glorification of violence.


“I didn’t understand Chinese culture before, but if you think about, who does? It is hard for anyone, even the people in China, to know anymore. So we are digging it up and letting the world get to know it,” says 19-year-old Brian Nieh.


“Having grown up in America, being born here, my dad would try to teach me about Chinese culture and read me classical stories,” says Nieh. “But once I joined Divine Performing Arts I realized I didn’t know anything. In preparing for the different dances we learn about Chinese culture, and then the audience learns through us.”


At first glance, it seems strange that American-born teenagers could even properly perform traditional Chinese dances, much less be at the forefront of a movement to revitalize a profound, ancient culture. They grew up on MTV and skateboarding, not Confucianism and ballet, but they somehow beautifully balance this dialectic life of ancient Buddhist principles and texting their friends on their cell phones.


Rediscovering the essence of traditional Chinese arts requires more than just learning the old moves and designing classic costumes, according to Nieh. “You have live a more traditional life, spiritually and morally. It has to come from within.”


“People from communist china have the best techniques and are the most flexible, but their dances are deviated. It’s not about who has the best abilities. We are trying to communicate with the audience. That’s the energy of our group together. The audience is looking at the whole group so we just try to contribute to the group,” states Nieh’s fellow dancer Serena Liang.


Their altruistic approach to life and dance comes from what is known in Chinese culture as “Xiu Lian,” or self-cultivation, an ancient concept describing the process of refining one’s character through Buddhism or Taoism. The performers at Divine Performing Arts say the only way to convey beauty and purity in their performances is to develop it from within themselves by stressing honesty, compassion, and leading virtuous lives.


“Everything comes from cultivation,” says Regina Dong about how she is able to convincingly depict heavenly maidens and Bodhisattvas on stage. “We cultivate to reach their level, learn about them, look at paintings and statues, and try to be in the same state as how we imagine them to be.


“We have to dance with a pure heart in order to accurately portray a Buddha or Bodhisattva,” she says.


Serena says she quietly went into the audience once to watch a part of the show that didn’t require her to be on stage. “The synchronization of the dancers with each other, with their heart and body, they cooperate, you can see their hearts are not for themselves. It was a very pure moment, just watching my friends performing so perfectly.”

Article Source: www.articlesbase.com

About the Author:
Daniel Tang is an independent writer covering cultural events and human rights issues and has an interest in preserving cultural and spiritual tradition. For more info about the NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular in your area, please visit:
HolidayWonders.net
BestChineseShows.com

Different Types of Oil Paintings Support

Author: vijay

An oil painting support is any kind of surface to which oil paint could be applied to. There are huge varieties of different surfaces, which artists use to paint on. Everything from certain woods, canvas, and as well metals could be used as a supports for oil painting. Following are the various types of oil painting supports that will help you decide the best for your style of oil painting.


Linen
Linen is generally created from the fibers of the flax plant. The fibers are then developed into yarns or threads that are then made into canvas. The fibers of the flax plant are huge and moderately strong and make for an extremely attractive and hard-wearing oil painting support. Paintings carried out on this surface have endured the test of time. It is for this reason that linen canvas is a preferred amongst expert oil painters. There are assortments of different linen canvases accessible in the market, from rolled canvas to pre-stretch. It comes prepared for acrylic and oils, or you could get it unprimed as well.


Cotton
Cotton canvas is the most admired support for starter oil painters. It is a comparatively strong material and much reasonable than linen. It has an extremely even and perfunctory weave. If you are actually worried about the sturdiness of cotton, then purchase a profound grade cotton canvas and try widening it yourself. Cotton canvas is obtainable in rolls or pre-stretched, primed or unprimed.


Canvas pads
For those artists who might be on a tight budget but yet desire a good quality surface for oil paintings, then canvas pads are a superior choice. Canvas pads come in a range of various sizes and are amazing for starters interested in oil painting reproduction. Canvas pads are grand for practice also or doing studies. Make sure you get a heavy weight canvas pad compatible to hold oil paint.


Wood panels
The first known oil paintings were shaped on wood panels made of oak or poplar. The wood was actually covered with a consistent ground made of animal skin paste and chalk. The ground was then elegant smooth to generate a surface appropriate for oil paint.


Your choice of oil painting support actually relies up on your style of painting. Experiment with the different types of oil painting supports accessible in the market and have fun. You would ultimately find one that works best for you.

Article Source: /www.articlesbase.com/

About the Author:
Vijay is a Copywriter of Art paintings. He written many articles in various topics. For more information visit: Oil paintings for sale contact him at 1artclubpainting@gmail.com

Art Museums Around the World

Author: Amit

Museums collect and care for objects of scientific, artistic, or historical importance and make them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Large museums are located in major cities throughout the world and more local ones exist in small cities.


At Saatchi Gallery you can see the List of Main Art Museums around the World few of those are given as below.


The Museum Of Modern Art - New York
The Museum of Modern Art is dedicated to being the foremost museum of modern art in the world. The rich and varied collection constitutes one of the most comprehensive and panoramic views of modern art. The Museum Archives contains primary source material related to the history of Museum of Modern Art and contemporary art.


National Gallery – London
The National Gallery houses some of the most famous and familiar paintings in the world, in a building that is an internationally recognised landmark.


The Metropolitan Museum - New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world's largest and finest art museums. Its collections include more than two million works of art spanning 5,000 years of world culture, from pre-history to the present and from every part of the globe.


Tate Modern – London
Tate Modern is the national gallery of international modern art. Located in London, it is one of the family of four Tate galleries which display selections from the Tate Collection. The Collection comprises the national collection of British art and of international modern art from the year 1500 to the present day


National Gallery of Art, Washington - Washington DC
The National Gallery of Art, one of the world's preeminent museums, was created for the people of the United States of America by a joint resolution of Congress accepting the gift of financier, public servant, and art collector Andrew W. Mellon in 1937.


Guggenheim Museum - New York
The Foundation realizes this mission through exceptional exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and publications, and strives to engage and educate an increasingly diverse international audience through its unique network of museums and cultural partnerships.


Los Angeles County Museum of Art - Los Angeles
Established in 1910 as part of the Los Angeles Museum of History, Art and Science,
Experience European masterpieces, cutting-edge contemporary art, an extensive collection of American art from the United States and Latin America.

Article Source: /www.articlesbase.com/

About the Author:
Museums collect and care for objects of scientific, artistic, or historical importance and make them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Large museums are located in major cities throughout the world and more local ones exist in small cities.

At Saatchi Gallery you can see the List of Main Art Museums around the World few of those are given as below.

The Museum Of Modern Art - New York
The Museum of Modern Art is dedicated to being the foremost museum of modern art in the world. The rich and varied collection constitutes one of the most comprehensive and panoramic views of modern art. The Museum Archives contains primary source material related to the history of Museum of Modern Art and contemporary art.

National Gallery – London
The National Gallery houses some of the most famous and familiar paintings in the world, in a building that is an internationally recognised landmark.

The Metropolitan Museum - New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world's largest and finest art museums. Its collections include more than two million works of art spanning 5,000 years of world culture, from pre-history to the present and from every part of the globe.

Tate Modern – London
Tate Modern is the national gallery of international modern art. Located in London, it is one of the family of four Tate galleries which display selections from the Tate Collection. The Collection comprises the national collection of British art and of international modern art from the year 1500 to the present day

National Gallery of Art, Washington - Washington DC
The National Gallery of Art, one of the world's preeminent museums, was created for the people of the United States of America by a joint resolution of Congress accepting the gift of financier, public servant, and art collector Andrew W. Mellon in 1937.

Guggenheim Museum - New York
The Foundation realizes this mission through exceptional exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and publications, and strives to engage and educate an increasingly diverse international audience through its unique network of museums and cultural partnerships.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art - Los Angeles
Established in 1910 as part of the Los Angeles Museum of History, Art and Science,
Experience European masterpieces, cutting-edge contemporary art, an extensive collection of American art from the United States and Latin America.

The Top 20 Antiques and Collectibles Searches for 2007

Author: Phil Davies

Cleveland, Ohio - January 03, 2007 -- Kovels.com (http://www.kovels.com), the Web's largest free price guide for antiques and collectibles, today released its list of the top 20 searches for all of 2007. The Kovels' top 20 list is based on the results of millions of searches that took place on its website during the year 2007.


People use price guides for a number of reasons, the most common being that they are just trying to determine the value of a specific item that they own. If an Item is not listed on the top 20 list, it does not necessarily mean that it is unpopular or that there is not a demand for it. It only means that in 2007 there was less interest.


1. Jewelry
2. World War II
3. Stoves
4. Coca Cola
5. Furniture
6. Silverplate
7. Occupied Japan
8. Lighters
9. Knife
10. Paintings
11. Bottles
12. Capo Di Monte
13. Lladro
14. Planters Peanuts
15. Dolls
16. Toys
17. Royal Doulton
18. Clocks
19. Radios
20. McCoy

The Kovels' "Top 20" list of antiques and collectibles has been published since 2002 and is offered by Kovels.com as a service for collectors.


Accredited media interested in discussing the content of this release or any topics related to antiques and collectibles are encouraged to contact the Kovels at LLillis@kovels.com to schedule an interview.

Article Source: /www.articlesbase.com/

About the Author:
About the Kovels
Ralph and Terry Kovel are the authors of more than 95 books about collecting and antiques, including the best-selling annual price guide "Kovels' Antiques and Collectibles Price List." Hailed by Parade magazine as "the duke and duchess of the antiques world," the Kovels publish a monthly award-winning newsletter, Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles, and write a syndicated weekly newspaper column distributed to more than 150 newspapers. They appeared weekly on the HGTV program "Flea Market Finds with the Kovels." Their popular website with free price information is www.kovels.com. The Kovels' most recent books are "Kovels' American Collectibles, 1900 to 2000," published by Random House, and the newly re-designed Kovels' Antiques and Collectibles Price List 2008, with 2,500 photos and 42,000 actual prices, published by Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers. Both are available wherever books are sold and online at www.kovels.com

Painting

Author: Juan Richardson

Painting taken factually is the practice of applying color balanced in a vehicle (or medium) and a binding agent (a glue) to a surface (support) such as paper, canvas ,wood panel or a wall. On the other hand, when used in an creative sense it means the use of this activity in combination with drawing, composition and further artistic considerations in order to manifest the expressive and conceptual meaning of the practitioner. Painting is also used to state spiritual motifs and ideas; sites of this kind of painting range from artwork depicting legendary figures on pottery to The Sistine Chapel to the human body itself.



Colour is the essence of painting as sound is of music. Colour is highly subjective, but has apparent emotional effects, although these can differ from one civilization to the next. Black is associated with grief in the West, but elsewhere white may be. Some painters, theoreticians, writers and scientists, including Goethe, Kandinsky, Newton, have written their own colour theory. Furthermore the use of language is only a generalisation for a colour equivalent. The word "red", for example, can cover a wide range of variations on the unadulterated red of the spectrum. There is not a formalised register of different colours in the way that there is conformity on different notes in music, such as C or C#, although the Pantone system is widely used in the printing and design industry for this purpose.



Current artists have extended the practice of painting significantly to include, for example, collage. This began with Cubism and is not painting in strict sense. Some modern painters incorporate different materials such as sand, cement, straw or wood for their texture. Examples of this are the works of Jean Dubuffet or Anselm Kiefer.



Modern and contemporary art has moved away from the historic value of craft in favour of thought; this has led some to say that painting, as a serious art form, is dead, although this has not deterred the greater part of artists from continuing to practise it either as whole or part of their shirt.

Article Source: /www.articlesbase.com/

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