Is Graffiti Art?

You can travel almost anywhere in the world, and you will probably see graffiti. Although graffiti art is usually more common in big cities, the reality is that it can occur in almost any community, big or small.

The problem with graffiti art is the question of whether it's really art, or just plain vandalism. This isn't always an easy question to answer, simply because there are so many different types of graffiti. Some is simply a monochrome collection of letters, known as a tag, with little artistic merit. Because it's quick to produce and small, it is one of the most widespread and prevalent forms of graffiti.

Although tagging is the most common type of graffiti, there are bigger, more accomplished examples that appear on larger spaces, such as walls. These are often multicolored and complex in design, and so start to push the boundary of whether they should really be defined as graffiti art.

If it wasn't for the fact that most graffiti is placed on private property without the owner's permission, then it might be more recognized as a legitimate form of art. Most graffiti art, however, is only an annoyance to the property owner, who is more likely to paint over it or remove it than applaud its artistic merit.

Many solutions have been put into practice around the world, with varying degrees of success. Paints have been developed that basically cause graffiti paint to dissolve when applied, or else make it quick and easy to remove. Community groups and government departments coordinate graffiti removal teams.

In some places you can't buy spray paint unless you're over 18. Cans of spray paint are locked away in display cases. In a nearby area the local council employs someone to go around and repaint any fences defaced by graffiti. A friend of mine has had his fence repainted 7 times at least, and it took him a while to find out why it was happening! Certainly the amount of graffiti in my local area has dropped substantially in the last year or two, so it appears these methods are working to a great extent.

But is removing the graffiti doing a disservice to the artistic community? Maybe if some of the people behind the graffiti art were taken in hand and trained, they could use their artistic skills in more productive ways. It hardly makes sense to encourage these artists to deface public property, and so commit a crime. But perhaps there are other ways to cooperate with the graffiti artists rather than just opposing them. Graffiti artists can create sanctioned murals for private property owners and get paid for it.

Maybe we need to start at a very basic level, and find a way to encourage the creation of graffiti art on paper or canvas, rather than walls. After all, who would remember Monet or Picasso if they'd created their masterpieces on walls, only to have them painted over the next day? Finding a solution to such a complex situation is never going to be easy, but as more graffiti art is being recognized in galleries around the world, we do need to try.

Steve Dolan loves art in various forms and mediums. Find out more about graffiti as an art form at Graffiti and Urban Art and if you have art that needs framing visit Picture Frames.

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By Steve Dolan

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Face Painting Ideas - Top 7 Tips To Improve Face Painting Success For Beginners

Have you been inspired by some of the stunning face painting ideas around? Do you want to learn how to face paint? It really is such fun to do and a great way to give pleasure to others.

Here are my top tips to improve face painting success for beginners.

Tip 1: you cannot learn to face paint by merely reading a book or watching a video. You have to get the paints, brushes and sponges out and practice often.

Tip 2: it's best to practice on an adult or older child. Young children have a very low attention span. It's not easy to face paint if the child is fidgeting about.

Tip 3: apply thin layers of face paint. A thick layer can cake and crack, spoiling the design.

Tip 4: always allow one layer to dry before applying the next layer.

Tip 5: use a make up pencil to lightly draw the outlines of shapes.

Tip 6: avoid symmetrical face painting designs such as butterflies until you are more experienced. Animals make good face painting ideas for beginners as it is not necessary to have both sides on the animal face matching perfectly.

Tip 7: even a beginner can create amazing face painting ideas. Simply supplement your basic face painting skills by using temporary tattoos and stamps. They come in a huge range of designs including lizard, snake, spider and butterfly. Only use ones specifically designed for faces.

Bonus Tip: if a face painting idea turns out really well then take a photograph of your creation so you can start building up your very own collection of face painting ideas.

Learn how to paint over 50 face painting ideas with a step-by-step guide

Learn face painting techniques including creating a fur effect for animals.

Find out the about the best brushes and paints for face painting.

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By Penny Crane

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Free Face Painting Idea

Free Face Painting Ideas

Here are some excellent free face painting ideas that will make you a smash hit at your next party or event!

When face painting, don’t stop with the face, include body painting also. This is always a hit. Kids go crazy for body painting. This is great to do because it makes the kids feel like they are wearing a costume and they really have fun with the character that they have been painted as. Whether it be a king or a witch, this idea is a “no fail” when it comes to pleasing youngsters. And don’t worry about the time this may take. Just keep it simple, short, and sweet and it’s a snap!

Another of the free face painting ideas is for you to try mixing and using makeup with your face painting. Taking some cosmetic makeup and combining it with face painting is an awesome idea. You can use blush to create rosy cheeks on a princess or eye liner pencil to create whiskers on a cat. Using makeup creatively and in combination with face painting can save you time and effort. Beginners may also find this easier than using paint on certain designs. Simply test out and experiment with different cosmetics to find what works best for you.

An entirely new and incredible dimension to add to your face painting routine that has been tried and tested is the use of stick-on-jewels. What’s great about stick-on-jewels is that they are simple and incredibly effective. Kids love them and it escalates the look of any face painting from amateur to pro. They are also very simple to use. Just remove the paper backing and apply to the desired area. This is one of the best and most effective of the free face painting ideas.

Try to use costumes with your face painting for an incredible combination that delights every time! Finding simple costumes is the key to this favorite of all the free face painting ideas. You don’t have to go all out and spend a lot of money. That’s not necessary at all.

Some costume ideas:

• A simple black cape for a vampire.

• A paper crown for a king

• Paper bunny ears for a rabbit

• A paper or plastic tiara for a princess

• Stripes painted on t-shirts to look like a zebra or tiger

• Or an old sock or stocking stuffed with tissues, magazine pages, or newspaper to look like a tail for a monkey, lion, or tiger.

And the last of the free face painting ideas is for you to use good old glitter! It’s simple, cheap, and incredibly easy. You can find glitter gel, glitter powders, and glitter dust that all work well (you just need to decide which one works best for you). Just as the stick-on-jewelry can improve the look of your face painting, glitter can make your painting look highly professional.

There are endless free face painting ideas, you just need to be creative, use your imagination, and most importantly, have fun and enjoy your art!

Face painting can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of hard work. And finding face painting ideas that haven’t already been done many times before is very difficult. So unless you can take time out of your busy schedule to register for a face painting class (if there is even one available in your area) you should visit http://www.FacePaintingUniversity.com today, to discover a treasure trove of face painting ideas!

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By Jay Wilson

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How to Graffiti

Graffiti is often associated with gangs, guns and crime. But it's important to understand why. Graffiti is used by gangs in Mexico, L.A. and other large cities the world over. It's used to mark gang territory in specific areas. Often gangs will spray their tags over an enemies tag to provoke violence and retaliation. As such, graffiti has built up a bad reputation and has come to be associated with the more negative aspects of culture and society.

It doesn't have to be so. In my town, for example, one primary school started a small, low-budget project and allowed all the children 'Graffiti' over the walls of the school and neighbouring park. Not only did this create an amazing piece of art at virtually no cost, but the children felt proud of their work. Instead of vandalizing the school they now wished to protect and preserve their creation and as such a small sense of community was built up. This is the inverse of what most people generally conceive graffiti to be about. Instead of being destructive vandalism and degradative to the community, in this case it did the complete opposite.

That said, I hope I have opened your mind up enough to warrant your interest of how to graffiti. This article isn't about the arguements concerning vandalism, nor to highlight its many comical, religious and often political uses, nor the controversies. No, this article is to urge you to learn how to graffiti. In doing so you open your mind up to the world of graffiti and its many branches and history (Yes, graffiti has a history!) Here are some simple steps to get you to begin learning just how to graffiti.

How to graffiti step 1 - Observation
In learning how to graffiti as in learning any new concept is all about observation. Find existing graffiti and copy it somehow. The best and most fun way to do this is take a walk around your city. If you live in a small town or village, take a trip into a city and spend the day hunting for street art. You're guaranteed to find some in most larger towns. Take photos and draw sketches while you're there. This will give you some basic hands on, up-close experience. You can also obtain some great resources while learning how to graffiti online. Google images and other sites have large lists of some of the larger and cooler looking works as well as the basic stuff.

How to graffiti step 2 - Experimentation and Creativity
The next step is experimentation. 9 out of 10 graffiti artists started out with their tag. A tag is just a way of identifying yourself amongst the vast array of other artists out there. Usually it'll be your nickname or a variation of it. Using the photos/sketches and downloaded images you've collected, experiment with applying those styles to your tag. Use marker or pencil on paper at first until you've got the hang of it. Once you have some basic sketches you feel comfortable repeating, you can think about taking it further.

How to graffiti step 3 - Taking it further
If you're serious about graffiti as a hobby or maybe even a profession then you'll want to stock up on supplies and information. Get yourself a couple of books on the subject to copy and learn from. Shell out some cash for canvas, paints, card-boards, a respirator (very important) and of course spray-paints! Practice, practice, practice! This is a luxury alot of people don't have because of the expense. But by buying cheap or discount paints and using your own spray system you'll elimate much of the cost. This will allow you to practice on selected canvases and in certain areas.

Eventually you'll want to take it onto the street. While some will advocate graffiti in public places illegally, this really isn't a wise idea. There are often places in major cities specifically for graffiti artists to experiment and practice their work. Search for such things in your local area. If you can't find any then don't worry. There are MANY ways to get your work out there legally. Often, after you have established yourself and have a means of proving your work, people and businesses will want to hire you for projects. Keep in mind that they wont hire you if you have a criminal record!

Hopefully these 3 initial steps will encourage then help you get started learning how to graffiti and in doing so open you up to a fantastic yet misunderstood art form.

Article by Sean Brown of HowToGraffiti, a blog which includes resources and tips on learning how to graffiti

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By Sean Brown

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Types of Graffiti Art

Modern day Graffiti art is closely associated with the Hip Hop Culture. It started out with names like TAKI 183 and JULIO 204 who wrote their tag names all over New York to more accomplished artists that have shown their work in respected art galleries. But, for those loyal to the art of graffiti, it is the pieces found on the streets and public walls that remain as the purest form of the art. Street Graffiti have various well known styles. The styles may be a result of time constraints or as a way of marking territory. The style of the artwork itself greatly affects the look and feel of the piece, these include styles like: Wildstyle, Blockbuster, Throw-ups and Fill-Ins and Pieces.

A "Piece" is a form of Graffiti art that has a very elaborate design. These pieces tend to take time, therefore there are fewer pieces created illegally in public places because the artist runs the risk of being caught in the act of making it. Most graffiti art "pieces" can now be found in dedicated galleries. Of course, there are always the brave few that still plaster their work on public and private walls. Graffiti tributes are also known as "pieces". Tributes pay homage to 'greats' who have passed away. In the past we have seen tributes to the Big L, Tupac, Mother Teresa and others all over New York when they died.

Throw-Ups and Fill- In are graffiti that are done quickly, sacrificing detailed style for time. This is the most common form of graffiti that can be found. It is often made in only one or three contrasting colors and the letterings are in bubble or block form. The letters are often outlined with the boldest color available to the artists. Compared to Wildstyle, throw-ups and fill-ins are often easier to read because the designs are less complex.

Wildstyle is a form of graffiti art that sports all sorts of arrows, interlocking letters and points. For the untrained graffiti eye, Wildstyle pieces are often hard to read because the letters tend to blend in into one another and result in what looks like a jumble and wordless mix. Wildstyle Graffiti art is often found in various places around bustling cities like New York, New Jersey and San Francisco.

"Blockbusters" are large graffiti pieces that have been created to cover entire walls with the intention of blocking other artists from using the same wall. The design is often simple and done quickly. Another form of Graffiti that is similar to Blockbuster is "Rollers". Rollers are Graffiti styles that involve blocking out an entire wall with a single color. This is considered to be lazy graffiti writing. "Stickers" are also used in creating graffiti and is one of the quickest ways to post graffiti on the wall. Like "rollers", "stickers" are also considered to be a form of laziness on the part of the artist. But, more and more artists are coming up with elaborately designed stickers that combat even the most detailed pieces designed. Stencils are also commonly used in graffiti art. They provide the artist with a way to create presentable pieces without compromising time.

Art Prints and Photos on Canvas are available to buy from GetCanvas.co.uk. Benedict is a freelance article writer for Dolphin Promotions SEO Company.

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By Benedict Hunter

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Portrait Painting - Turning Family Photos Into Family Heirlooms

If you are a person who loves to capture memorable times with photographs, then a portrait painting may be something that you might want to consider. Portrait paining involves taking your favorite photographs and turning them into beautiful works of art. If you have family photographs, photos of your kids, your pets, or special celebratory occasions such as a wedding, then you can have these created into a beautiful oil portrait. The primary purpose of a portrait painting is to capture special moments in a very memorable way.

Professional artists working by free-hand, are able to turn any special photograph that you have, into a unique, special and beautiful portrait. These pictures are made to look life like and the detailing is great. The process of taking a photo and creating a portrait is actually quite easy. You choose your designated picture and give it to an art house that specializes in portrait painting and an artist will turn that picture into a gorgeous oil portrait. You will be allowed to take a look at the portrait, if you require any changes then these can be made until the portrait is just the way that you want it.

Oils paintings are used in some of the world's most beautiful paintings and demand highly skilled artistry to create them. Portrait painting also allows for a high level of detail. In fact, many individuals might even have a problem telling the difference between a real photograph and a painting. Oil paintings allow the heart of the subject to really shine through.

Because the skill level required to work with oil based paints is high, having one created is often very costly for the average person. However, there are various companies online that can create an oil portrait for you very affordably. Oil paintings make great gifts for family or friends.

Photographs allow for memorable moments to be frozen in time. Pictures are a great to collect and look through with your loved ones. They act as a time capsule in which your loved ones can look back on lovingly, and share memories.

Paintings, on the other hand, are able to be a passed down from generation to generation and displayed proudly in your or a loved ones' home. Portrait painting is a great way to turn a common photograph into an uncommon piece of art.

If you are interested in learning more about portrait painting you can find great information at GuaranteedPortraits.com.

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By Michelle Manning

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How To Teach Yourself How To Paint

Okay, so you want to paint and you have some artistic talent. You do not know how to begin pursuing your artistic painting dreams, but would love to see your paintings on canvas and making you money. The first thing you need to do to be a quality painter is to draw. You can go to your local bookstore or order some books online that can teach you how to draw like a professional. With much practice and a few dollars spent on quality pencils and drawing tablets, you can learn shading, perspective, vanishing points, angles etc that will help you in your painting.

You have mastered drawing well enough to become a painter. The reason you need to be able to draw well before putting paint to canvas is that if you draw well enough on a canvas, you can simply color in your drawings with paint, like you used to color in coloring books with crayons. Alright, so you are now ready to begin painting. Quality brushes and paints are important. There are some things you will need to buy. You need a few different size brushes, various acrylic paints, especially the primary colors from which you can mix and make all the other colors. A large tube of white is also important as is black, but you can make your own black by mixing red, green, blue, all together. Acrylic paints are the easiest paints to work with and that is why a beginning painter needs to master acrylics before learning watercolor or oils. Acrylic paints are easily mixed with water and you will need either a glass or a small bucket to hold water in for cleaning your brushes and keeping your acrylic paints wet because acrylic paints dry quickly. You will also need a pallet, but a paper plate with aluminum foil over it works fantastically.

All you need to do to paint your first painting is to draw on your canvas with your pencils whatever you want to paint, then color in your sketch with your acrylic paints. You can try mixing your paints together with water to acquire the desired color and thickness on your canvas. It is also a good idea, to do an under-painting, which is a painting below another layer of painting which you can apply with glaze or simply a lighter shade of acrylic. The under-painting will give your paintings more of a professional look. It is also good to outline your paintings either with the opposite color on the color wheel for extra artistic effect or to simply outline your paintings in a darker color such as black. That choice is up to you. You may also order acrylic painting books or buy them from your local bookstore. These books will give you the rest of the necessary information to be a good acrylic painter and once you have mastered acrylics you can do the same with watercolor and oils in the future. Also, always be on the lookout for local artists who are willing to share their expertise or conduct classes to teach you.

In conclusion, you can learn to paint well without spending much money on courses or a bachelor's degree. Learn to draw and learn to paint with acrylic paints and you will be well on your way toward achieving your artistic dreams. All you need to do to make money from your paintings is to place them on online art auctions. Then people can bid on your work and you can have some extra income, and who knows, if you are very talented, maybe it can be the only income you need.

For quality keyword articles that will save you time and money, please visit Edward Carr's website at http://www.freewebs.com/edwardcarr

Here you may contact me regarding your ghostwriting needs as well as for any other writing purposes.

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By Edward Carr

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Coloring Page and Coloring Pages

Art is one of the most fascinating domains of the culture because the people were always interesting in discovering and creating beautiful things. The paintings represent the arts creation which appeared from antiquity when the people tried to draw different sceneries or personalities from their perspective. Have you ever imagine that you can find thousands of paintings, drawings and portraits in a single place? On www.edupics.com you will have access to many wonderful images from different domains and we are sure you will be delighted by what you will see.

Art is one of the most fascinating domains of the culture because the people were always interesting in discovering and creating beautiful things. The paintings represent the arts creation which appeared from antiquity when the people tried to draw different sceneries or personalities from their perspective. Have you ever imagine that you can find thousands of paintings, drawings and portraits in a single place? On www.edupics.com you will have access to many wonderful images from different domains and we are sure you will be delighted by what you will see.

I am sure that you have never thought that you can create a special coloring book for you child using the coloring pages you want. Fortunately, the internet is one of the most important discovering which revolutionized the educational, communicational and IT technology and today, this special and unique network is a huge database of information, images and sounds. We are sure that if you are fascinated by colors you will be delighted by the large offer of online coloring pages you will discover on www.edupics.com.

If you want to have full access of downloading, coloring and even creating your own albums using the images you most like, the first thing you should do is creating your own account. After you will log on you will have access to download all the coloring pages you want. There are thirty eight main categories which also contain other sub categories which will definitely fascinate you. If you don’t want to create an account you will also have access to several coloring pages and we are sure you will have a lot of fun coloring the images you will select. You have just let your imagination free and to put in practice all the ideas that you have.

Can you imagine that on this site there are big chances to find a coloring page with your favorite artist? Or maybe there is a star you dislike and we are sure you will have a lot of fun coloring his or her face and clothes with the colors you like. The site also offers you a wonderful idea for a special and unique present – an album with your favorite coloring pages which were colored by you for your best friend, for your parents or grandparents. If you want to teach your child to color without making any stains in his room and having his hands always clean www.edupics.com is the favorite alternative for helping him to practice his hobby. Encourage your child to color as many coloring pages he likes, recommend him to use as different colors, help him with advices and do never forget to congratulate him for what he is doing. You will be surprised by the easy and the fast way through which his creativity and originality will be developed. And, if you want to make him a wonderful surprise, you can also download all the coloring pages he made and to print him in a special album.

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by ken

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What You Need to Know About Face Painting Children

Face painting children is probably one of the most challenging yet rewarding tasks out there. Despite being a tiresome task especially for overly enthusiastic kids who can't wait to see the finish product, face painting children can help you gain patience and skill in doing the artwork quickly.

Face painting children is probably one of the most challenging yet rewarding tasks out there. Despite being a tiresome task especially for overly enthusiastic kids who can't wait to see the finish product, face painting children can help you gain patience and skill in doing the artwork quickly.

In face painting children, major considerations should be identified in order to avoid the possibility of accidents and allergic reactions.



If you are face painting children, in a party, make sure that before you begin with any session, you were able to inform the parents first about the whole thing. This is like asking for permission if they would allow their child to have their face painted during the event. By briefly talking to the parents, you can also ask if the child has allergic reactions to chemicals or if they have skin allergies. Make sure that you don't face paint a child that has open wounds, cuts, or rashes on the face or in any part of his or her body. This will lessen the possibility of developing infection and more complicated skin condition.

After making sure that you have no problems with the child's skin, you should start getting the prepared materials to be used. In face painting children, it is very important to use safe materials because their skin is more sensitive compared to adults. In choosing paints for kids, make sure that you use only water-based watercolors that can be easily wiped off or cleansed with water and little gentle soap. To avoid any allergic reactions, always use face paints that have passed under FDA's standard for cosmetics. Never ever use acrylic paints because these will only cause allergies and even skin disorder when used in large amounts especially in sensitive areas of the face and other parts of the body.

Aside from using safe paints, one thing you need to know about face painting children is that you must have lots of handy brushes and sponges that you can use. It is best to designate a brush for each color to lessen the chances of cleaning it. You must also have enough water supplies in convenient water bottle so you can dab the brush or sponge once they need cleaning. Brushes should have soft bristles while sponges should not peel when wet.

What appeals to children:

Children truly enjoy face painting sessions because they are fascinated with the transformation they go through once the face painting session is done. One major consideration in face painting kids is the design that will be used. As the face painter, you must know what the designs that will appeal to kids and what are the face paint designs appropriate for their age.

When it comes to face paint designs, majority of kids would want to copy the latest character from a current movie or a television show. Face paint designs of superheroes or the most popular cartoon character are preferred because it brings familiarity to them. If you would want your designs to appeal to kids, make sure that they are inspired from popular characters.

Keep in mind that little girls would love to have face paint designs that are based on fantasy such as flower princesses and fairies, cute insects such as butterflies and ladybugs, friendly animals such as bunny rabbits and cats, and naughty female characters such as witches. These designs should come in colorful and vibrant colors and should be accentuated with something that shimmers such as glitters.

In face painting little boys, the most popular selection would include superheroes such as Batman, Superman, and Spiderman and scary characters such as monster, skull, pirate, tribal person as well animals like lion, tiger and dogs. When face painting boys, it is best to use subtle tones and colors. For them, the scarier they look like, the better because they will scare people, especially little girls. They also prefer dark colors and accents such as fake blood or gel skins to make the face paint scarier.

In face painting children, always use simple designs because they are fidgety when you ask them to sit down for a long time. Try to face paint as quickly as possible to avoid them from getting bored and ruining the entire session. Also, have a handy mirror at your side so you can ask them to see their reflection after you're finish with the face painting.

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by Philadelphia

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How To Become A Successful Artist

Painting is something I have done all my life from the age of 4, when my parents handed me some crayons and some paper and encouraged me to draw. I remember how I loved it even then. Here are my tips for any aspiring artist.

Step 1 - Be Passionate!

This passion from such a young age meant I found that I was able to paint and draw from life and get my proportions and perspective very accurate.

Step 2 - Practice, Practice, Practice!

I would paint and draw anything and everything on a daily basis. I saw it as fun, but it meant that I was able to hone my skills as the months went by. As a result I won my first commission at 15, and went on to make a living from painting as soon as I left school.

Step 3 - Get to know your subject as much as possible

I like to really spend time understanding the temperament and individual nature of each person or animal that I paint. Once this is captured, the painting just flows. I intuit the psychology of my clients first, which then allows me to portray the inner beauty of their personality. I am inspired to capture the moments that allow them to re-live magic memories for years to come. I love receiving phone calls from my clients telling me how they are still moved by a commission, often many years after completion.

Step 4 - Dream Big

Be fascinated by the magic that life has to offer, especially regarding synchronicity. As Donald Trump once said 'If you are going to dream, you might as well dream big'. Thrive on proving that you can, when others cast doubt.

Step 5 - Model the Masters

Read books about the Masters. Study their work, Visit as many galleries as you can and get inspired. In your imagination ask for the great Masters advice, and await an answer. I told my parents that I was going to be a famous artist from the age of 5, and acted 'as if', and in my mind I continue to stretch the boundaries of my success.

Step 6 - Visualise

At the age of 15, I was an accomplished Event rider, and devoured many books on the subject. My 'bible' however was one book which taught visualisation techniques, how to win a desired outcome, and how to focus on the positive. Several of these techniques I subsequently used to massive success in many areas. In fact I was one of the few riders that never fell from her horse, due to a focusing technique taught in the book!

I once had the task of teaching a team of four eleven year olds on some distinctly untalented ponies. For seven whole days leading up to the event, I worked full time with my group of young charges. During the week the team changed theirs and their ponies' names to adopt the names of some of the world class riders and horses of the day. As they modeled these people they amazed themselves with their new found abilities, and shocked their parents when the team took first prize in the competition.

I have subsequently used visualisation techniques in my artistic life, regularly following the examples of painters such as Sargent, Velasquez, Munnings, Constable, and Michelangelo, when I paint. The results are incredible, but it does take practice, and an open mind.

Step 7 - Broaden Your Horizons

When I was 18, I remember constantly dreaming about what it meant to be a true artist, living in Italy, and being part of a group of amazing painters leading a bohemian and magical lifestyle, traveling the world painting. Within 18 months this had become a reality, even more than I had ever dreamed. I won the opportunity to paint at the Charles Cecil school in Florence. I soaked up everything I could possibly learn and within 6 months, ended up as one of the teachers. I would recommend anyone to do some travelling and spent time in Italy, France or India or for that matter anywhere that inspires you.

Step 8 - Welcome the opportunity to overcome challenges and problems.

Let's be straight here. Life isn't plain sailing, and no job or vocation isn't without its challenges (even if you're the most passionate person in the world). During my early 30's I painted the Philosopher. It was at a time that other parts of her life were experiencing challenges that I did not understand. I felt that I was losing my identity, and yet produced probably one of my best pieces, which at the time was called 'Me, Myself and I' I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and had to deal with all of the problems that came with depression. On the canvas seemed the only place where I knew who I was, and in fact often I used to say 'reality does not exist... except on the canvas'. It took several years to manage my condition, and eventually turned to anti-depressants, which I gave up after attending a Tony Robbins seminar.

Later in my life I discovered that the lead paints I had been using for years were poisoning me and that my health had been severely compromised. I had to go on a major detoxification regime, change my diet dramatically, and started focusing on my health. The turnaround took some time, but I am now healthier and happier than I have ever been, and this continues to this very day. I don't regret those days though as they have helped me grow and become the person that I am. One day you may have painters block (I get it regularly!), but this is just another opportunity to push through your comfort zone and break through to a whole new level. Sometimes you just have to take the day off and go do something else to inspire you.

Step 9 - Build Rapport with Your Clients

All my recent projects have brought home just how much I use psychology in my everyday life, especially my rapport skills in gaining not only a strong insight into the characters of my clients, but helping them to maintain a pose showing them at their higher self. Often, when they see the finished result it can be quite emotional as they connect with the reflection of themselves.

Step 10 - Enjoy the Process

Remember that what you strive for everyday, is never quite as much fun as the journey there. Each day take time out to reflect on what has been great that day and what you have learned. Cultivate a CANI attitude - Constant and Never -ending Improvement!

My Other Painting Tips:

# Paint from life as often as possible.
# Sketch as much as possible and build up a body of sketch books
# Trust your eye
# Use good quality paints
# Experiment with making your own canvases
# Look at paintings by the masters and artists who inspire you
# Stand up when you paint
# Use bold brush strokes where possible
# Be bold and adventurous and enjoy what you do.
# Make time to do all of the above!

http://www.hazelmorgan.com

Classically trained and multi skilled portrait artist & equestrian artist, Hazel Morgan's commissions take her all over the world.

With a client list that includes several Royal households across Europe and the Middle East, Hazel is firmly established as one of today's leading portrait and equestrian artists.

One recent overseas assignment took her to Kentucky, where she painted three large paintings for HRH Prince Khalid bin Abdullah depicting his favourite brood mares, including Banks Hill and Zenda. Her last equestrian commissions were painting both Sinndar and Dalakhani for HRH The Aga Khan.

While Equestrian art and Portraits are her primary focus, Hazel is equally well known as an exceptionally talented hound and dog specialist.

Hazel, not only has the ability to paint what she sees, but is able to reach into the soul of her subject, painting each horse as if it were her own, each person as if she had known them for years.

Her work captures precious moments in time creating a legacy for future generations.

As Hazel says "I am able to capture moments that allow people to relive magic memories for years to come. I love receiving phone calls from my clients telling me how they are still moved by a commission, often many years after it was completed."

http://www.hazelmorgan.com
art@hazelmorgan.com

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By Hazel Morgan

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Must Knows in How to Hold A Pencil When Drawing and Sketching

How to Hold Your Pencil When Drawing and Sketching

When learning to draw, sometimes it's difficult to know what techniques are available to artists, which ones you should use, and which ones you should not use. How to hold a pencil seems to be trivial in nature but can make a huge difference in your drawings and sketches.

In this article you will learn a few different ways to hold the pencil and how to adopt them into your drawing practices. This is important because most people don't realize that there are more ways than one to grip a pencil when drawing and sketching. They generally pick it up like they were taught in school for writing. But writing and drawing are a lot different. So the way you hold your pencil should be different as well. A lot of problems such as hatched lines and unsteadiness originate from holding the pencil incorrectly.

The first grip is the basic tripod grip. It is the technique that they teach young children in school. It's probably the same one that you use for writing. You grip the pencil with the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger to form a tripod or triangle. This tripod is usually supported by your ring finger and pinky fingers. The grip allows the pencil to be controlled when making fine strokes and is great when applying fine details.

The fingers are in control of the pencil when using the tripod grip. It's also nice when doing the finer details because your hand can rest on the page as it lays these in.

Sometimes smudging can be a problem, but no fear, just lay down a sheet of paper to keep your drawing free from the smudges.

The problems of this grip are that it is a frustrating way to draw. A flowing line is impossible to do this way, your hatching and cross-hatching isn't done correctly and the lines become curved, the pencil pressure is off, and it's not the most comfortable.

The position that is closely related to this position is called the extended tripod grip. It is essentially the same as the basic tripod grip with the exception that the tripod is formed further up on the pencil. This benefits the artist because only a small movement of the fingers can produce greater movement of the pencil tip. One thing to remember with this is to not squeeze it too tightly.

The technique that a lot of artists use is called the overhand grip. This grip is where the pencil is held almost as if you were holding a bow for a violin. Your hand goes over the pencil and is held lightly against the fingers and the flat of your thumb.

This overhand grip is ideal for sketching with the side of the pencil and is the preferred grip among artists. It doesn't need a propped arm and the limitations are only your arm span. Not nearly as many limitations as the other grips have.

This overhand grip produces flowing, sweeping lines and is great for sketching, hatching, cross-hatching, value work, with the side of the lead. It is a huge preference for academic drawing. It's great when using a drawing surface such as an easel. One common rule in whichever grip you choose to use and whatever works for you is to never, ever choke the pencil tip. This is never a good thing to do for artists.

Just remember to use a grip that you are comfortable. There are many variations of these grips and do what you are comfortable with and you will see your drawings come alive.

by: Todd Harris

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http://www.articlecity.com/articles/hobbies/article_949.shtml

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Free Art Instruction - Portrait Painting Tips & Techniques

Being able to capture the likeness of a human being on canvas, using paint, is certainly a sought after accomplishment for many new painters. It can also be somewhat challenging. This article will cover some of the more basic portrait painting tips & techniques and help lessen some of the confusion many beginners face. With practice, you will soon be painting portraits like the masters.

If at all possible, I highly recommend you paint your portraits using a live model as opposed to a photograph. There is simply no substitution for painting from life.

Painting a successful portrait is all about how you observe the subject. You want to study the subject as a whole. Study the bone structure and try to see shapes and planes. Do not try and paint every little detail exactly as you see it.

For beginners, it is probably best to start out with a lighting effect where light and shadow are in high contrast. This will make for a much easier painting.

Focus on one section at a time. Finish each section before moving on to the next.

Keep the darks of your portrait at a thin consistency while your lights should be painted on thickly.

Many beginners struggle with mixing flesh tones. I know I did when I first started painting. Remember that skin comes in a variety of colors & textures, so there is no specific formula for mixing flesh tones in portrait painting. You will have to experiment and practice, until you find the right color mixtures for any particular subject. Never purchase any pre-mixed flesh colors. When mixing your colors be careful not to over mix, which can deaden a color.

Try and repeat the colors and values in your painting to create balance.

When painting hair, don't try and paint every individual strand of hair. Look at the hair as one object and then paint the lights and darks. Paint the hair in the direction of the shape of the head.

The muzzle area of the face (the space between the nose and mouth) is generally the same color as the flesh but cooler.

When painting backgrounds, don't make them too detailed or busy. If you do, you will draw focus away from your portrait.

Add bits of color where the shadow meets the light in your portraits.

Fleshier parts of the face are generally warm and bonier parts of the face, like the chin for instance, are generally cool in color.

The white in the eye is not white. To get an accurate color for the white in the eye you can take the subjects basic flesh color and then lighten it with a gray made from black and white.

I hope these portrait painting tips & techniques have helped. Portrait painting can be difficult, possibly even frustrating in the beginning. Never give up and keep practicing. You will get the hang of it.

by: Ralph Serpe

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http://www.articlecity.com/articles/hobbies/article_580.shtml

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Quick Tips On How to Draw a Realistic Face

There are many artists who struggle with drawing a face and having it actually look like the person you are drawing. These tips should help you to achieve a more realistic outcome and have your drawings come to life.

The first tip is probably the most important. When you are drawing, draw from a good source or reference. For instance make sure that your photo is a really high quality. Make sure that the photo is big and clear, and not a lot of different lighting sources. Choose a subject that is interesting to you. If you want, a good idea is to draw something of one of the masters, like Beugereau.

If what you are drawing doesn't hold an interest for you, you won't do as good a job on it, you'll have less patience, lose interest and never finish. But again, make sure that your reference is high quality because if it's not, you'll end up with garbage.

Next, begin your drawing with your outline. Different artists use different methods for this. Also, time is a consideration, so whether you use a grid method or do it by eye, make sure you are accurate. Of course, the grid is going to be more accurate but time or environment may not allow for this method. Also, as you gain more experience you may go by the eye more often as well. Block in and remember that you don't want to add in the fine details yet. Don't get caught up in working on an eye and all of the lighting and shapes of the eye at this point. Avoid finer detail till later.

Then you can start to divide the light from the shadows, hitting the core shadow outline hard making a distinct value difference between light and shadow.

Then go over it with a towel or cotton balls. Never let your skin come in contact with the paper because your sin is made of oil and it will cause great ugliness to appear on your drawing! Instead use a piece of paper under your drawing hand to help you avoid this. Some artists use gloves made for drawing as well. Try and hit the shadow hard and then after you have gone over with a towel erase out some highlights and make the core shadow darker.

You can start darkening shadows make sure that you are using your referenc to figure out where these are exactly. You may have to do this several times till you establish the value you are after.

Not all of the shadows are going to be dark. Never forget where your light sources are coming from. This is extremely important. Look for where the shadows are falling in direct relation to where the light source is coming from.

Start adding the finer details to your drawing.

Blend in light spots and identify the highlights in your subjects hair. A very beginner mistake is to draw each and every strand of hair. Hair needs to be treated as a mass. Remember this and your hair will turn out more realistic than ever before.

Once you feel you are done, you are almost done. What? Well when you are working with graphite, it can be extremely messy and you may need to do some major clean up of smudges. Use a kneaded eraser to lift these.

Take your time with your drawings and you will begin to see that these techniques can be really beneficial. Anyone can learn to draw, it takes some patience and willingness.

by: Todd Harris

article source
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/hobbies/article_997.shtml

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Safety Tips When Face Painting Kids

Learning the art of face painting and keeping it safe for the kids isn't hard if you follow simple guidelines. Whether you explore this art at your children's birthday party, in a school related activity or in a kiosk at a local fair, you must always have the kid's safety in mind. Face painting is fun, easy and children of all ages love it. Here are some tips to safely transform faces into amazing artwork.

Cleanliness Germs and infections can be transmitted from one child to the other if you neglect any of these:

Always make sure to wash your hands between sessions.

Wear gloves and change them with every child.

Make sure your brushes and all material you use are disinfected, again, between every child.

Make sure your work station is kept free of anything that could contaminate your material.

Using The right Materials Never use paint that is not made for face painting. Always choose brands that are non-toxic and suitable for human skin. Rashes and allergic reactions could emerge if you don't use the right paints. Use quality glitter, sparkles or any other enhancement materials, because those too can cause irritations.

Be Organized Always have all the tools and materials you'll need at hand before starting any face painting design. This will not only prevent you from contaminating your gloves, or your hands if you don't use gloves, but will also ensure that the child you are attending too is not left to himself and risk getting hurt, by falling off the stool or by playing with some of your material or tools while you look for something.

Keep The Child Still And Under Surveillance At All Times Avoid having "distractions" that children will want to look at. If you have your designs on small posters, make sure the child being face painted doesn't see them when your working. A good way of keeping them still is by having a mirror so they can watch you do your thing. Sure, it's going to be less of a surprise when your done but they will appreciate seeing their faces evolve. And always have an eye on them. Never let yourself be distracted or led to tend to something else. Wait till your done.

Take Time Outs If you try and do too many in a row without taking a break or stretching, you will get tired, impatient and your art will suffer and accidents will happen. If you are relax, you have less chances of making mistakes and you will create beautiful faces. Make sure you are comfortable and have enough space to work.

Remember these simple tips and your sessions will be without any glitches. Both kids and parents will be happy and your children face painting designs will make them smile every time. Have Fun!

Beth Wilson http://www.its-all-about-the-kids.com
Make sure to have a look at these Children Face Painting Designs and get more Face Painting Tips and Resources

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By Beth Wilson

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Miniature Painting - Art Through the Ages

As an artist, Rebecca Latham as well as her mother, Karen, and sister, Bonnie, strive for detail in their painting. Studying with a Flemish master, they have developed their styles for painting extreme realism. Their works, both large and small, are painted “in miniature”.

Early Beginnings

Miniature painting is a traditional style of art that is very detailed, often referred to as painting or working “in miniature”. Because of their origins as illuminations, they are also painted to have as smooth of a surface as possible. (It is also suggested that miniature art may have been influenced by the medals of ancient Rome as well) Miniature art can be traced back to ancient Egyptian manuscripts on papyrus scrolls. Monks are also often highlighted for their contributions to early miniature painting with their beautifully illuminated manuscripts such as the Celtic Book of Kells and England's Lindisfarne Gospels (both of which measure around 9" x 12"). Some early manuscripts contain miniature paintings on their pages that depict beautiful arrangements of life sized flower arrangements on their borders. The history of miniature painting is also seen throughout the world in various other cultures.

Miniature painting began out of necessity for illustrating documents and manuscripts to aid those reading them during a time when many were not able to, before printing was invented. The miniature helped to convey the story and meaning of the written word. Therefore, the art of miniature painting is directly connected to the book arts. The various sized illuminations (pictures) were cut out of these books or documents so that they could be carried more easily. Later, developing from the carried miniature, portrait miniature artists were commissioned to paint small portraits – paintings that were used as we use wallet sized photographs today. These sizes of miniature paintings became popular with collectors and are often referred to as “hand held miniatures”. Portrait miniatures were painted in larger sizes as well, for example master miniaturist, Nicholas Hilliard, Peter Oliver, and Sir Charles William Ross all painted works that were of a larger size.

Sizes

Miniature painting is sometimes confused and assumed that the pieces must be small or depict subjects on a smaller scale to be considered miniature art, though this is not the case. It is helpful to keep in mind that the origins of the term "miniature" have nothing to do with a size. The word miniature comes from the terms 'minium' (used for the red lead paint used in illuminated manuscripts) and 'miniare' (Latin for 'to color with red lead').

Miniature painting is a style and technique of painting, and as such, a wall sized work could be painted “in miniature”. Authors of the Yale University Press publication, “The English Miniature” have stated that miniatures have been painted large and some works are even considered to be gigantic. Numerous faculty members of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London confirm that miniature paintings are not restricted to smallness. Larger sized miniature paintings are documented throughout history and are recognized today, though painting larger works in miniature is more difficult and time consuming than a smaller piece if the same attention to detail is observed. Miniature art is also unique in that it was and is often used on objects, such as the Russian lacquer boxes that are beautiful examples of Russian miniature painting.

Exhibitions

Today, there are miniature art societies in western society to help promote and preserve traditional miniature art and the “spirit of miniature”. Their exhibitions feature the hand held miniature paintings (or sculptures) and each exhibition has its own unique guidelines and rules for artists showing in their exhibit. Some of these rules limit the size of work to be no larger than a set square inch. Others limit the size of a subject, such at the 1/6th scale rule that a subject may not be painted larger than 1/6th of it's natural size, or the 2” rule, that an object in the painting may not exceed 2”. Scale rules were initially put in place as a guide for artists starting out in miniature art. There are also many framing restrictions for society miniature works as well. All of these rules are put into place by each show for their own individual and unique exhibitions, and do not define what miniature art is.

Artists painting miniatures throughout history were not restricted in their artwork by scale as their subjects were painted to any measurement or scale that the artist deemed pleasing to the eye and their patrons, for both manuscripts and other miniatures. Subjects that are naturally small in size, such as butterflies and insects, were painted life sized. Thus the 1/6th scale rule that is used by some shows and societies today unfortunately causes a bit of confusion to those new to the art form who commonly assume that is it a part of a mechanical criteria of the miniature's definition. The world's experts in miniatures do not recognize the rule as legitimate, and view those embracing it as unknowledgeable, and dismiss them.

The term "miniature", as it addresses miniature painting, is often confused with "miniaturize" and some miniature art exhibitions do not refer to miniature as it's initial meaning of techniques, but rather the size of the painting (miniaturized painting). They are two very separate descriptions.

Miniature painting is an art form that is very rich in history that continues today by artists from around the globe. The beautiful ornamental qualities of the miniature should be preserved whether it be the intricate large pieces, or intimate hand held works.

Many thanks to Joan Willies RMS, the Victoria & Albert Museum, & Patrick Noon.

Article Source
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/hobbies/article_1126.shtml

by: Rebecca Latham

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Beginner’s Acrylic Painting - Paper Painting Surfaces – What You Need to Know

Have you ever gone in to buy some paper for painting and been overwhelmed by the choice? You would think it would be a simple thing to buy a sheet of paper, wouldn't you? Well, it can be if you know what the different choices mean and how it can affect your finished painting.

Manufacturers have created a whole range of paper products for the artist. So many choices that unless you know what some of the terms mean it can be very confusing.

When you want your painting to last for a long time always go for acid-free. This is the type of paper used in archives.

The next thing is the surface texture of the paper, whether you want a fine texture or rough. You may be asking “How do I know? I just want something to paint on!”

The texture you choose will depend on your style of painting. If you like to have a lot of detail in your paintings you will need a smooth textured paper - in which case you want one that is ‘Hot Pressed’.

If you use a lot of watercolour (or watercolour style) washes then the paper you should choose will be ‘Not’. That means 'Not hot pressed'. It has a bit more texture than Hot pressed papers.

If you paint a lot of landscapes and/or like granulation (which happens when the colours separate while they dry) you will probably like using Cold pressed papers. These have the roughest texture.

Papers are sold in weights. This affects the thickness of the paper. Papers that are less than 300-lb or 640gsm (grams per square metre) will need to be stretched before painting. If you don’t stretch the paper it will buckle when wet making painting difficult and the paint will dry in the hollows giving a disappointing result.

Stretching paper needs to be done in advance and the paper allowed to dry before you use it. You will need a clean drawing board, some 1½ inch wide gum strip, and water to soak the paper in (the bath is handy for this).

Soak the paper in the water until it is saturated, this will take less than a minute. Place the paper onto the board and smooth it out from the centre to the edges.

Cut pieces of gum strip to fit the length and the width of the paper, plus a couple of inches. Dampen the gum strip and use it to stick the longer edges of the paper to the board, and then do the shorter edges. Smooth out the paper and the gum strip and leave it to dry naturally and on the horizontal. Do not place it near a heater!

If you just want to paint without needing to prepare the paper, there are pads of ready stretched paper that save you having to do this yourself. These pads have the paper glued around the edges and you paint on the top of the pad. Once you've finished the painting and it is completely dry, a knife is inserted at one of the edges and moved around the sides to cut through the glue and free the top layer.

It is a good investment to buy good quality paper. It is much easier to use, and gives a better result.

Next time you need to buy paper think about how you like to paint, and it will be much easier to decide on the type of paper to buy.

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http://www.articlecity.com/articles/hobbies/article_75.shtml

by: Catherine Calder

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Outline Drawing Using Grids to Better Visualizing

Whether you are a watercolorist creating portraits, pet portraits, landscapes and seascapes you need to start with a drawing. What a great way to utilize visualization while drawing is to use a grid. How hard is it to see all the detail lines, the small shadows and curves that make up a drawing. Famous masters like, Albrect Durer, Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo used grids to help them capture accurate details in their drawings.

When drawing you need to concentrate on the lines not the whole of the picture you are drawing. You can do this with anything that you would like to draw, maybe a picture in a magazine or an old photo you have and with digital cameras you could take any photo and turn it into an outline drawing. Let's use your hand as an example of a drawing you would like to do. Take a photo of your hand, now you want to do a black and white rendering of that photo. Are you looking at the photo of your hand wondering were to begin. Now comes the easy part. Let's draw it using a grid.

A grid can be of any size, or run in any direction, as long as it is made up of equal size spaces. When drawing a grid the best way is to have the grid made up of squares not rectangles. Take the photo and draw a grid over the top of the image of your hand, make sure that the squares are of equal size. Now on your drawing paper, draw another grid using the same number of grid squares that you have drawn over you photo of our hand. Make sure that you lightly draw the grid lines, allowing you to erase the lines when you have completed the drawing. The grid squares can be larger to create a larger scale of our hand or the squares can smaller then the original grid you drew over your photo. You must make sure the squares are equal in size.

As you start to recreate the photo by drawing it you need to focus on one square at a time. Reproducing the lines in the square you are working on. Make sure that the proportions, the lines, markings and the positioning of the lines and markings are the same as the grid on the photo. Focusing on only one square at a time you can define the details in your subject that you may have noticed with out the benefit of using a grid. The grid is allowing you to break down the subject into more visual and smaller portions, allowing you to capture a more accurate drawing then if you were free handing the drawing. If you have an area that is more detailed, you can subdivide the squares into several smaller reference lines, squares and/or triangles to allow you to see, visualize and draw the detailed area.

When you are sketching in each square of the subject, you need to draw lightly, so you can make corrections easily. When you have completed your sketch of the photo of your hand or another subject and you have it looking very realistic with details, shadows and definitions, you can go back over the correct lines to darken the subject.

Using a grid helps you train your eye to see what is really there.

Let's review the use of the grid technique:

• It is simple and you will capture more detail when drawing complex subjects
• Grid can be of any size, run in any direction, but needs to be made up of equal size spaces and squares are usually the best to work with
• Use the same number of grid squares on our drawing paper as you have drawn over you subject
• Only draw one square at a time
• You can start our drawing by using any square
• Lightly draw so you can make corrections easily
• For detailed areas, subdivide one square into several smaller squares and/or triangles as grid reference lines

http://www.thefineartcafe.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Hackett

By Jan Hackett

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How to Draw The Perfect Eyes

Drawing eyes, can be the hardest part for an artist, when trying to capture the realism of the face. Whether it is a pet, a wild animal, a bird, or a human, its all in the eyes.

The eyes are called the "window to the soul" by many people, and when you are able to catch an emotion on paper, then you have succeeded in bringing your piece to life.

You have to break the eye down into little pieces and then work on them one by one and build it up in layers, starting with a rough background and then building up the layers.

This can be hard to achieve from books, or pattern instructions, actually some artists will do detailed paint by number kits, to get some ideas of building and drawing the perfect eye. As many paint by number kits are done from photographs.

Another way, is to watch someone else draw or paint the perfect eye. You learn from them, and then practice, and you will then begin to form your own ways of drawing and painting, just like you have with the rest of your piece.

This is a great idea, if you have the time and money to take lessons, and one on one lessons like that, can cost you quite a bit of money, if you go to a talented artist.

If like me, you will tend to paint landscapes, or distant people or crowds, to avoid having to do a close-up of a detailed face, but once you get it figured out, and practice you will love drawing eyes.

Another way, is to watch a video, this is a great idea, because you can watch it over and over and learn the tricks of drawing the perfect eyes....

http://www.make-crafts-for-cash.com/draweyes.html is a article and website by Diane Palmer, who has over 15 years in the crafts business.

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By Diane Palmer

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Learn How To Draw Cartoons Easily

Cartoons are fun to read or watch. If you aspire to being the next Walt Disney or even just want to draw something neat to liven up your blog, here's how to learn to draw cartoons.

1. Choose your medium

Are you going for single cartoons, cartoons strips like the Peanuts or are you getting ambitious and want to produce a full scale movie? Each of these will affect how you start out. And if you are just starting out, I'd suggest that you leave the movie until later!

2. Decide on your main character

Are they human or animal? Think of the features they will have. Quite often, cartoons exaggerate certain features and almost ignore other ones. They aren't photographs, so they have much more freedom to do this.

3. Start with a sketch

If you've ever seen a storyboard for a movie, you'll know that it just shows a rough outline of what is going to happen rather than full blown detail. If you're aiming to draw a cartoon strip, it's good to plan out what will happen in each of the three or four frames that will likely make up your final cartoon.

4. Work on your main character

Don't worry about getting things perfect. It's far better to draw something than to agonize over the exact positioning of every line. Check out an early Mickey Mouse cartoon or even an early episode of the Simpsons and compare them with more modern versions. You'll see the characters have developed over the years and, in the case of that famous mouse, are almost unrecognizable when you look at the early and newer versions side by side.

5. Add expression

A cheeky grin or some raised eyebrows go a long way to giving your new creation some character. Unless your main character is supposed to be completely expressionless and unmoving, it pays to give them emotions. If they're angry or scared, you can emphasize that in the next step.

6. Add color

Assuming you are going to display your cartoon on your website or print it off on your color printer, add some color to your drawing. This gives variety for people to look at and helps to bring the cartoon to life. Again, we're not talking reality here. So that purple dinosaur like the one in the Flintstones is fine!

7. Add shade

A few lines of shading go a long way in cartoons. Our minds will fill in the blanks, so there's no need to draw every hair on a hairy leg, just enough to give us some hints and let our imagination join the dots. This is surprisingly effective and will allow you to help your readers imaginations.

8. Add background

Like the shade, this doesn't need to be too detailed. An outline of a pyramid shape if your cartoon is visiting Egypt will do fine. There's no need to draw the complete Sphinx unless your storyline calls for it.

9. Add your caption

Cartoon characters can speak - even animals normally. Will your caption be in the form of a speech bubble or a line below the cartoon?

Learn more about how to draw cartoons and start to develop your skill as a cartoonist

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Johnson

By Trevor Johnson

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Popular Painting Styles

In painting world there are so many styles that are very popular. But before giving an account of different popular styles we need to know what the term "style" means. In fact, there is not any certain definition of "style". It may be understood in the aesthetic terms as what to paint or which physical technique implied in painting. Aesthetic movements like realism, romanticism and impressionism belong to this explanation of style. To further understand it, we may say that style is said to be the ways an artist paints and applies colors and texture. The perspective and the way in which an artist looks at the things visible and invisible characterize his or her style.

Scholarly discourse on style has given more technical term "movement" or "school" to which an artist can be associated with. Inclusion of an artist to certain school or movement may be done by the deliberate affiliation of the artist to such movement or by the art historians.

Some of the popular painting styles are discussed under following heads:

Constructivism: This movement had started in Russia in the wake of socialism. It was not purely an art but was a fusion of art and architecture. This movement was principal inspiration in raising many socialist establishments in Russia after the October revolution. Constructivism was on high in the period between 1919 to 1934. The chief proponents of this style of art were Alexander Rodcheckno, Liubov Popava, Vladimir Tatlin and Olga rozanova.

Fauvism: This is painting style in which proponents believed in the use of color as a massive emotional force. This style was marked by expression of feelings in colors with severe roughness and clumsiness. The use of simplified lines to expressively reveal the subject and theme of the painting was also used to be the attempt of the artists. They preferred spontaneity and freshness over the finish in any work of art. Pioneer of this art style was Gustave Moreau.

Classicism: This term refers to the paintings style employed by the ancient Roman and Greek painters. Classicism is characterized by the simplicity and adherence to the basic rules and principles. This art style is refined and elegant, disciplined by order and symmetry. Classicism is unique style which does not encourage self expression and individuality. Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Mantegna were the painters who tried to imitate this ancient style of art.

Besides, there are so many other styles and schools which are significant and have expressed different thoughts and subjects of the self and society in a unique way. Noteworthy of them are- abstract art, aboriginal art, aestheticism, art brut, art nouveau, baroque, Byzantine art, cubism, dada, dragging, encaustic, paintings, expressionism, gothic, impressionism, mannerism, marbling, minimalism, modernism, neoclassicism, orientalism, primitivism, ragging & stippling, realism, spattering, surrealism, symbolism, theorem paintings and wood graining.

Rajneesh Dubey is Content Coordinator for http://ethnicpaintings.com

This website gives you comprehensive informations on painting history, development, trends, popular painting styles, great painters, famous paintings, painting galleries and museums, painting tips, painting classes. In other words, this website is a treat to painting freaks.

To have more comprehensive idea about Popular Painting Styles please visit Ethnic Paintings

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By Rajneesh Dubey

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