It’s Not Too Early to Make Your Christmas Gifts
The yuletide is almost upon us and it’s time to start thinking about those special gifts for all your loved ones and friends. Some people start shopping for gifts at the beginning of the year just to avoid the Christmas rush. Of course there are those who wait until the eleventh hour to do their shopping; but it’s never too early to start thinking about presents for all those special people in your life.
Presents under the Tree
When Christmas rolls around we all start thinking about Christmas gift ideas. Often times we also start thinking about how far in debt we may go to make all those Christmas wishes come true! When you begin planning your Christmas list, why not think about something a little different and creative this year, like a homemade gift instead of something store-bought? There are so many things one can do to create a truly memorable gift that will be remembered for years to come; but how to get started?
Simple is Often Best
I’m sure we have all had a Christmas fruitcake made by our aunt Ginny that sometimes spends the entire year in the tin it came in and never gets eaten. But there are so many other things one can make besides food items that will be a big hit come Christmas day. You can start simple by maybe making your own Christmas cards. There are so many software programs out there which make creating cards super easy. If you’re handy at sewing, you can put some things together which won’t cost an arm and a leg and bring big smiles. A visit to the local arts and crafts store will give you some great ideas to start your Christmas gift factory!
Figure Studies from Football
Who were some of the greatest running backs of all time? The patterns they run, the fluidity with which they move; they way they spin and dodge—it all combines for some of not only the most entertaining moments of the game but for a true study of art as it relates to form and the body in motion.
The #1 Running Running Back
Small wonder that when you talk about the greatest RB’s of all NFL history the distinction of being #1 probably had everything to do with how many Detroit Lions Tickets used to sell in past seasons. Barry Sanders was beauty in motion. The Hall of Famer retired too early for fans but none too early for the player himself who complained of burnout. But while he played he was a sight to behold. His body movements and lines were in and of themselves an art form. Of course Mr. Sanders isn’t the only one on the list of the greatest.
Let’s Look at the Other Top 9
The (in his heyday) Houston Oiler Earl Campbell brings up the rear of the list but with only 10 to choose from—that’s not half bad. The rest are as follows listed with the team with which they had their biggest years: # 9—Buffalo Bills O.J. Simpson; #8—L.A. Raiders Bo Jackson; #7—St. Louis Rams Marshall Faulk; #6—Minnesota Vikings Adrian Peterson; #5—L.A. Rams Eric Dickerson; #4—San Diego Chargers LaDainian Tomlinson; #3—Cleveland Browns Jim Brown; and at the #2 best running back in NFL history we have none other than the Chicago Bears’ Walter Payton.
Each and every one of these individual’s performances did, in their own right, combine through the years to define the position of NFL running back as we know it today. And as rough and tumble as professional football can be these men have taken a simple game of ‘catch me if you can’ and transformed it into a flowing work of art.
What Constitutes Success For a Budding Artist?
It’s not easy to make it as an artist in today’s unique world. In fact, most of the artists today are struggling and out of work. If you are an artist, be realistic about your earning probability. Here are some guidelines to give you perspective on success that you can obtain.
Paying the Bills
Although every artist would like to be rich, this is rarely the case for most artists. Instead, successful artists are usually the ones who have managed to pay the bills. They are not worried about taking out payday loans online. Instead, they have developed a decent cash flow that allows them to pay for their rent, food, car, and other necessities. You may not be rich. However, if you can pay your expenses, you are doing well as an artist.
A Following
Next, work to develop a following as an artist. Some artists think that it’s good not to be respected in their own time. And while this may be true for some of today’s famous artists, they would have probably enjoyed a little respect when they were alive. Part of success comes from the “slap on the back” or that little compliment here and there. It’s nice to be told that you are good at what you do. If you are an artist, you don’t want to wait until you die for this acclaim to grow.
Unique
Finally, all successful artists are unique. If you have managed to create something unique for the world to see, you can call yourself a successful artist. Many artists spend too much time copying others. This is not art. Anyone can copy something good. However, few can create something different. This should be your goal as an artist. With a little effort you will succeed.
Good luck on your trek to success as an artist.
Advertising Your Art
Are you an aspiring artist? If so, you have unique talents to offer to the world. Many people rely on artists daily. However, finding these people can take work. They might not show up on your doorstep. And you probably don’t have the money to hire advertising agencies Washington dc either. Fortunately, there are several ways you can advertise your own art and self-promote.
Websites and Blogs
Many graphic artists advertise their art on websites or blogs. This is a great way to get recognition. What blogs or websites do you know that are popular? Chances are you have a friend or two with a popular one. Volunteer to update their design. Ask for an advertisement on their homepage to recognize you. A small button with your name and logo is sufficient. It will help individuals identify who designed the site. Plus, it is a great resource for them if they need web design. This is great exposure for you – especially if the site gets a lot of traffic.
Clothing
Another advertising option is clothing. You can do a lot of unique things with clothing. Design a hat, t-shirt, or even shoes. Let your friends wear these items. When they wear them, they will be promoting you directly. They will become your brand ambassador. When people ask about their clothes, they can tell their friends about this great artist they know. This is a simple and effective way to advertise. Just make sure you put your best work into this project.
Art Show
Finally, consider displaying your art at a local art show. Many cities and art galleries often display art from local artists. Ask around and find out who would be willing to display your work. This way you do not have to pay a high gallery fee to get exposure. And, you never know, you might even sell a few pieces at the same time.
Be creative when it comes to advertising your art. Remember, you have a great service to offer. The trick is to find the people in need of your work. They are out there. With effective advertising you can find them.
Use Your Artists Eye to Design a Halloween Costume
Creating a Halloween costume can be challenging if you're not sure what you want to be. Instead of racking your brain trying to think of what you should be, here are some tips on how to find your inner-artist, and design a Halloween costume with flair.
Meld costume ideas & raid your closet
What's great about making your own costume is that you save money and also create a costume that nobody else has. One of the easiest things you can do is combine two costume ideas into one singular costume, like an Olympic runner who's running for president (you get the idea). A lot of humor can be had when you use this method. Also, try randomly throwing different things together that you have in your closet, wacky accessories, sunglasses, vintage clothing, strange jewelry, an old hat you never wear, anything that could be used as an inspiration piece for 'character.'
Look to the mass media
Another way to use your artistic skills when creating a fantastic Halloween costume as select the mass media for inspiration. What were your favorite books or movies this past year? Any characters from recent popular shows can also provide great inspiration for a costume. When choosing a character from a book, TV show or movie that you'd like to emulate, make sure they're not too far from your own physical appearance, as it can be pretty difficult to create a costume when you're that far from the real thing (or maybe that's the point, to be funny, and in that case go for it). Another idea is to choose a character that's not as popular if you'd like your costume to be more unique.
Halloween is one of the best times of the year to really let your creative juices flow.
Creating an Artful Presentation
Want to add a little bit of class and that extra pizzazz to your presentation? Consider the use of Printed Vellum Paper or using that type of paper for inserts or a cover for your presentation. It adds just that little bit of class to something that might be ordinarily thought of as boring and unsophisticated.
Overlays With Tracing Paper
Pie charts are a big deal when it comes to presentations. In fact almost any kind of chart can help someone get a point across. Tracing paper, actually vellum paper, can be used as overlays to show the progress or decline of a chart. Rather than having to turn pages or look at several different charts; simply by flipping a see through page of vellum paper with the altered picture on it over the original picture can be extremely advantageous. As thin as this type of paper is you can probably create two or three overlays and still be able to see the original picture on the bottom piece of paper. Vellum paper can also be used to separate categories of pages in your presentation. It simply gives it a little bit of added class and pizzazz. Thin sheets of vellum paper are frequently placed between the pages of cards as well to give them a little class.
Versatile And Stable
Vellum paper can be drawn on by hand or used in a printer with either colored or black ink. Businesses that still rely on hand drawn blueprints and such for drafting drawings of buildings and other plans use it. Vellum paper comes in sheets, blocks, rolls and can have isometric lines, be gridded, or plain. And because images do not distort and the paper is not easily torn and is extremely stable (and is the perfect paper to hold ink) and used in drawings or pages run off of a printer.
Of course different online sources have different prices for their vellum paper but as a guideline here are some prices that I found on line: a 50 pack of 8 ½ by 11 inch of birch translucent vellum paper-$8.31; colors tend to run just a little bit higher; if you’re looking to buy in bulk you can pick up the same sheets of paper in a 500 pack for the price of approximately $67.03.