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Some Things You Might Not Know About Bronze Statues

Bronze statues are found in almost every city in the world. Whether the statues are inside museums and art galleries or displayed publicly outside, you will find that this is a fascinating and exquisite art form. Many cities even have some of their best public landmarks made from bronze. These statues are also perfect for outdoor and indoor decoration in your home.

There are quite a few statues that have notoriety the world over. Some of the more famous bronze statues are the Jete in Westminster London, Richard the Lionheart in London, and Eros Bendato in Krakow, Poland.

Making this type of statue is highly skilled work, so there are really just a handful of sculptors that work exclusively in bronze around the world. There are even less who have made large scale statues. There are a few different ways that sculptors make bronze statues, including investment casting, sand casting, and centrifugal casting. All of these processes can take months or years to complete a single bronze statue of a relatively large size.

In order to prepare for a large casting, such as an outdoor statue, an artist will work with many different small scale model castings first. This is how the proportions of the statue are determined. Throughout the process, the models get larger and larger to work on the final details on the statue. A full scale model may even be made before the bronze is cast so that everyone will be able to see exactly what the finished products will look like.

Bronze statues for indoor and outdoor decoration are more popular than some may think. There are many different styles, shapes, and sizes of statues for the home. In many cases, you can get a lovely statue for your home for just a few hundred dollars. And there are more than just statues that are made from bronze. You can also find fountains, mailboxes, tables, benches, and urns. Picking out any of these will make your home lovely and look more elegant.

Bronze is a durable metal and will withstand all weather conditions. You will be able to see that ten or fifteen years down the road, your outdoor sculpture or table will look just like the day that you bought it. This is why many people are finding that bronze is a great look for their outdoor decor.

Having your own statue is just like being in your very own art gallery. You will have peace and tranquility with one of your favorite scenes depicted in bronze. For those who want to spend a lot more money, you can also have your own bronze sculpture cast. This is the perfect way to commemorate a special occasion for you or your family.

So if you have always admired bronze, just remember the time and effort that it takes to make just once medium sized sculpture. You will be inspired by all of the effort that goes into just one detailed sculpture.

Jordan Mcpelt is a professional author who specializes in Bronze Statues and Bronze Sculptures. For more information on Bronze Statues please visit http://www.garyleeprice.com

Some Information About Renaissance Art

The Renaissance is widely considered by many to have been a historic age, this period of time came after the Middle Ages but before the Reformation in historic hindsight, but the Italian Renaissance of the 15th century is connected with the absorption of knowledge by Western influences.

Especially the various realms of mathematics from the origins of Hindu India, the importance of living well in the present through humanism, and the explosion of knowledge brought about by the invention of printing that allowed many to understand the world around them.

As for the art of the time, the Renaissance boasted many of the most important artists to have been culled from the public consciousness; such as
Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, and Michelangelo, and has come to represent a golden era of time in which many people found themselves enlightened as to the state of world affairs and their own internal issues as well. Much of the art to come out of the Renaissance has been described as being the turning point for a large amount changes in the way things worked, and much of this is due to the previously mentioned artists and their now priceless
works.

The Renaissance has seemed to donate quite a bit to our culture as it now stands, even though a new age of Renaissance has yet to be really hinted at, and much has collected throughout the years to show the validity within this age of progression in all avenues of interest. It is the Renaissance that
has propelled the many ages to follow into their current state, with much praise being accrued to the many pioneers which pushed this age to a close,
but their impact is felt in the architecture and artwork of our time through the striking ways in which they moved everything forward by leaps and
bounds.

Much to come from the years within the Renaissance, whether it would be philosophically or in the aesthetics that claim to hold sway in the multitude of artistic pursuits to have arisen, but from there it has only been elaborated upon. Creating an established amount of history from which to draw upon, and it is these things which man claims to call art which seems to have truly revolutionized the world in which we live and strive every day.

There are many things out there today that we have come acknowledge as fitting into the categories encompassing the realm of art, these areas in particular range the gamut from paintings and sketches to sculpture and architecture, but all these things have the common central idea of expressing an artists interpretations of the world both within and without.

For art products and information visit Madigans.info or to view a selection of art related articles and information and culture and society articles and information visit Articles.net.au - Your source for free Articles, Information and Website Content.

Is Graffiti An Urban Art Form?

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.

How to Create Your Own Photo Mosaics

Photo mosaics are rising in popularity all over the world. You have probably seen one somewhere such as in your child’s school, your local library, a medical office or elsewhere. They are beautiful, large photo mosaics that will catch everyone and anyone’s eye. You just can’t take your eyes off of these wonderful photos. There is so much to look at and so much to discover in a photo mosaic.

So, What is a Photo Mosaic?

A photo mosaic can also be known as a Photomosaic. This is a type of imaging art that is completely unique from the rest. A photo mosaic is usually made from a digital photograph ‘ this would be the best type of image to use. You could also use another type of picture, but for the sake of this article, we will focus on creating photo mosaics from a digital photograph.

To begin, the photograph needs to be divided into equal rectangular sections, as small as you want them to be. They should be small enough to create a great visual effect, but not too small so that someone looking at the finished project could not see them. They also should not be too large, because then it would look a little odd and probably not create your desired look.

Every one of those rectangular divisions will be replaced by another image with normal colors. When you look at the image at a distance (let’s say you are using a digital photograph of your favorite cat to create a photo mosaic) you would only see the cat. However, you might notice that the photograph’s resolution is a little off, or that something seems to be different about this photograph. When you stand close to the photo mosaic you will notice that there are many different photographs infused within the photo itself. How interesting!

You can use many kind of photos for the mosaic part of the digital photograph you want to. For example, in your favorite cat’s photo mosaic you could use many different photos of your cat to make up your photo mosaic of your cat. So, when you see it from a distance, you will see a large photo of your favorite cat. However, when you look closer you will see many different photos of your cat doing other things in the equal rectangular sections!

Who Invented the Art of Photo Mosaics?

There is no real known inventor, but one man that is believed to be the inventor of photo mosaics. His name is Joseph Francis, and he created a photo mosaic in 1993 while working for R/Greenberg Associates in Manhattan. He made a poster known as the ‘Live From Bell Labs’ created a lot of talk. He created the photo mosaic from a photo of a face. However, his photo mosaic was inspired by an artist by the name of Chuck Close.

How Can You Make Your Own Photo Mosaic?

You can create your own photo mosaics to decorate your home, give as gifts and more. You will need some certain supplies to make a photo mosaic.

Supplies -

A digital camera
Appropriate software
Good color printer
Your one photograph
The other photos you will be using as the smaller images.

There are quite a few different kinds of software that have been created to help you create your own digital photo mosaic.

Here are some software to choose from -

For Windows:

AndreaMosaic

Imosaic

PhotoMosaic

PicToBrick

For Mac:

MacOsaix

PicToBrick

For Online:

Mosaicr

Mosaickr

There is a lot of software to choose from when looking for something to help you create a photo mosaic. However, if you know that you are going to be creating a lot of photo mosaics, you might want to have a company take care of all of it for you. They should be able to print and mail it for you, as well.

Decorate your home and wow your guests! Give one as a gift and be remembered. Your own digital photo mosaics will probably be very personal to you, and you will be able to enjoy them for a long time. If you are going to give one as a gift, it will also likely be personal and dear to the person you are giving it to. Photo mosaics can be a way to easily decorate your home that will add a personal touch to your walls. It will definitely be quite the conversation piece when you have guests, friends or family over to visit.

Get your own Photo Mosaic designed on our Photo Mosaics website.

Does Aura Exist in Digital Art

Ever since Walter Benjamin published his essay “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” scholars have debated whether mechanically reproduced art can have “aura” as Benjamin discussed this concept. The debate has now included digital art and cybernetic systems, but the question has remained the same. Can a work of art not produced by human hands, but by a machine have the same quality or atmosphere as conventional works?

Referring to Benjamin’s own definitions regarding “aura”, one can argue that it is possible for “aura” to be present even in digitally produced art, if the artist is aware of the spatial concerns necessary to meet Benjamin’s expectations. Using as an example the artifacts of Mariko Mori, a Japanese-American multimedia artist, the presence of contemporary “aura” is examined in terms of technique, installation, and metaphorical qualities of digitally-created art, as the artist appears sensitive and aware of the importance of space and the viewers’ perceptions and experience.

Mariko Mori is a former fashion designer and model who decided to turn to artistic photography, video, and performance arts. As a multimedia artist, Mori’s solo exhibitions in U.S., Italy and Japan have gained world-wide recognition, as she manages to take her playful imagery to a new level of literalness, while her dexterity and creativity with innovative technologies have resulted in spectacular forms of art. Her appeal is mainly due to the fact that Mariko Mori has managed to combine Western ideals of feminism and Japanese pop culture and express surreal thoughts on the subject. By creating her complex artifacts, nearly life-size installations of video, photography, sculpture, and sometimes even fragrances combinations, she links Eastern spirituality with modern technology, connecting the ancient Asian past with the global world of today.

Mariko Mori’s large photographs and video installations present futuristic scenes that meditate on the profusion of artifice in contemporary culture and extract elements of Eastern spiritual thought and art, to express optimism for life in the next millennium. Mori always stars in her own creations and usually presents herself as a computer-fabricated pop star who explores the hybrid nature of individual identity and its relation to private fantasies and global culture. Cyborgs and avatars are mostly featured in Mori’s works, coupled with a healthy portrayal of the incorporation of modern technology in daily life.

Inspired by the Buddhist concept that all things in the universe are interconnected, Mariko Mori believes that art shares with electronic technology, religion and even fashion photography, the ability to give form to our dreams, fantasies and desires. In order to demonstrate better her beliefs she uses space as if it was a tangible material. If now one concentrates on the spatial properties of aura, that it has a unique presence in space through time, electronic media and digital artists through different approaches can meet this requirement. Artists, like Mariko Mori, who can create a unique spatial environment for work that is mechanically reproduced or digitally produced are actually able to “transmit” aura through their work. In other words, an artist can create aura through a digital media by using space. Thus, an artist can contradict Benjamin’s theory about mechanically reproduced art, by simply following his own definition.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Arts, Beauty, and Jewelary

How To Take Care Of Your Fresh Tattoos

The first thing you need to is remove the bandage/saran wrap from your tattoo after about an hour. Your new tattoo is a wound and it needs to breathe so it can heal.

Wash the tattoo using your fingertips using a mild antibacterial soap. Remove all traces of blood since this can cause scabbing. Do not scrub the tattoo with a washcloth during the healing period. Always pat the tattoo dry with a clean soft cloth or let it air dry. Apply a thin coat of ointment to the tattoo. Tattoo Goo, , A&D Ointment and Aquaphor are all very great. Only use enough to make it shine and work it in well. Remove all the excess ointment with a paper towel. You only need enough to keep the tattoo moist to keep it from scabbing. You do not need to re-bandage your tattoo.

You should re-apply ointment whenever the tattoo is starting to feel dry or stiff. Typically three to five times per day for three or four days then switch to a moisturizer such as Keri, Lubriderm, Jergens, or Vaseline Intensive care. Do not use lotions that contain color, fragrance or sparkles until the healing is complete.

If you don’t keep it moist it will form a thick scab that may crack when you move. When this kind of scab is formed the ink sits within it and slowly heals into the skin. When the tattoo is kept moist it doesn’t have a chance to form a scab but does form a thin membrane to protect the tattoo while it heals. Do not peelor pick at your tattoo, you will pull the ink out. It is normal to see small flakes of colored skin falling off during the healing stage.

You must keep your tattoo clean, but long showers or baths should be avoided for 2 weeks. Prolonged soaking can loosen any scabs that may have formed, or will soak through the soft tissue and cause some of your ink to leak out.

Try not to scratch or pick at the tattoo. It will get itchy and a good alternative that I found worked well was to slap it or spray it with rubbing alcohol.

The sun is bad for your tattoo, even if you’ve had it for a long time. Wait until it is fully healed before you go back in the sun make sure you put on a high quality sunblock. Do not apply sunblock while the tattoo is healing though. The tattoo is under your skin, and your tan will form above it. If you get too dark, some colors may not show as brightly as they used to. Over time, excessive exposure to the sun will cause your tattoo to fade.

To get more information about tattoos and where to find the hottest tattoos that no one else has, Go take a look at Justin Oickle’s Tattoos and design tatto ideas.

The Power of Dreams

When I look back at my life and see how it has changed in the last ten years, I, for one, can see the power in poetry (and the enormous power that is released when someone follows their dreams). Ten years ago, I was the typically lost 35 year old. I had a young family to raise and was struggling to hold down a high-powered job in the logistics industry.

The pay was good and I worked very hard. I’d come home at night very weary but I still had trouble sleeping. My addictions (to gambling, nicotine and alcohol) were increasing in magnitude and my soul was becoming less than happy with the direction my life was taking.

Sure, I had the nice house, attractive wife and beautiful children, high-paying job, good holidays and everything else that goes with a “successful” career. But I was not happy. In truth, I was stressed to buggery and on Monday mornings my heart was heavy. Friday nights I felt better but the week had taken it’s toll and it was not until Sunday afternoon that I started to feel “normal” once again, but then the whole weekly cycle would start all over again … And then things started to change, and all it took was one poem.

At school I found writing poetry remarkably easy. I was always quite creative growing up but I think most kids are. As you know, no one can make a living out of poetry :o) so that is why I found a career in logistics.

As a consequence I did not write again for 20 years. At a management course we were encouraged to get in touch with our artistic side.

That inspired “What If?” a few months later, the rest followed. For me, this period demonstrated the absolute life changing power of poetry.

For the record, this was it, a questioning look at those middle-aged tremors that I was experiencing.

What If ?

What if my hair falls out
and I end up bald as a coot?
What if I do not make budget
and he hires a smarter suit?

What if I get so fat,
I can no longer touch my toes?
What if my wife left me,
for a younger man she chose?

What if my boy is gay
and likes the look of a bum?
What if my girl is also that way
and never becomes a Mum?

What if I saw my doctor?
And he said “You have got the big C”,
and what if I was run over,
walking out of his surgery?

What if they pressed the button,
on every mortal soul?
What if there was hell on earth,
when Bush played his final role?

What if there is no heaven
and it’s all been a big bluff?
What if there is a heaven
and I was not good enough?

What if it’s all been for nothing,
but to procreate?
Well, I have had such a lovely time,
I will just put my trust in fate …

A few months prior to writing this I’d put myself on a leadership course, where I had learned many skills to get me through my increasingly hectic days. They included time and stress management, negotiation, team building etc. Most importantly, in a revealing couple of days they got us to question ourselves, and I mean really question ourselves. Who are you? Where are you going? What are you really good at? What are your artistic leanings?

It was that last question that reawakened the poet and artist within me. I remembered at school being quite handy at putting a rhyme or two together, but once the homework assignment had finished I quickly put the poetic pen down. In truth, I did not pick it up for another twenty years and ‘What If?’ was the result. To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised with the result but I had no idea I had taken the stopper out of the bottle, the bottle that contained over 1,000 poems (written in the next 10 years).

I showed that poem to a few friends and family and was surprised by the encouragement I received. So much so, that I started to get the pen out more often and probably had about 30 poems down by the end of that first year. They were generally about life. I’d pick up a few ideas and then start to create a story poem around it. But as most budding poets can experience (sooner or later) I found that I was running out of things to say.

Call it writer’s block, call it lack of inspiration, call it what you will, it stopped me writing. It was at this time I was the least productive (at least in terms of writing) and I got on with my corporate life.

A Soldiers Fortune “…

At the end of a Summers day,
all too soon, the bugler sadly blows,
it is a mournful tune, it’s too sad and hopelessly, it is a melody that everybody knows.

The notes hang on in the air so still,
as the tears roll down a caring face,
for they too wish they were born for a different reason,
they too wish they were born in another place.

And the memory of the tune lives on,
and like a brave soldier, it can never truly die,
but it too leaves an empty feeling,
and a simple wish for a time gone by …”

A couple of job changes led me to a quieter backwater, more money and less stress. I thought I’d got it made but there was still this restlessness within me, I guess my soul was still speaking (but I was not listening). I’d still occasionally write but there was no real drive. No need. But I was still restless within.

In 1997 I started to recognize the power that the Internet was gathering and I thought this was something I should know about. So I purchased a book “How to build a web-site in less than 24 hours” and THREE MONTHS later I had my first (very shaky) web-site built. For no other reason than to populate the site with some sort of content I started to put my poems on the web. Of course, I expected thousands of visitors to come by and find me (and I did not really know what to expect after that). But reality is so often different to wild expectation.

After a couple of months and some serious cobwebs on my hit counter I realized I still had a lot to learn. However, my dreams were starting to unfold because I had found two things that I really enjoyed doing. One, I really enjoyed writing poetry.

Two, I also liked being involved with the web. However, there appeared no possible pathway from a lucrative corporate job (with big bills and an even bigger mortgage) to becoming someone who really enjoyed his day to day existence, doing what he loved. Still, who knows the power of dreams?

Dreams create thought, thought generates action, action creates dreams. If you do not dream, you can’t create them, or to take a line from a Harry Chapin song: “If you only dream when you’re asleep, how on earth can those dreams come true?” So, with no genuine long-term objectives, I started to research what is called “Search Engine Positioning” or in layman’s terms; “how do you get to the top of the results when someone types in “anniversary poem” into Google?” I figured that if I could find some answers here then at least I could get some visitors to my site.

At about the same time I also struck on the idea of writing poems for other people. I’d already written a few for friends and family for their weddings and birthdays so I thought the idea at least had some merit. Of course, I had no intention of charging for my services but I thought I would at least ask them to pledge something to their favourite charity. The other purely selfish motive here was to get my site listed on the “Free” sites, those sites (which were very popular in the early days of the Internet) who offered links to sites where you could get things for “free”.

Miracle Child “…

There was definitely a presence in that room,
and maybe you had an unseen helping hand,
but it was your presence of mind that saved the day, when things did not exactly go as planned.

January 8th will always be a magical day,
because you not only saved a son, we gained a lifelong friend,
and I will be eternally grateful to you,
until my journey’s end.

And the photo of you and Tyler,
tells the story without the need of narration;
Tyler looking at you with gratitude,
and what can only be described as admiration.

I want to thank you Doctor Mattson,
for not only your remarkable daring,
but I want to thank you for being the man that you are, personable, loving and very caring …”

As luck would have it (or was it destiny, that powerful force that gets unleashed when someone follows their dreams?) I got accepted by one of the most popular free sites on the web. I was literally flooded with “orders” overnight. I’ll always remember that feeling, SOMEONE wants my work. It did not matter that I was not being paid, because all those people gave me the one thing that I needed - PRACTICE. Over time, I also built confidence in my ability as a poet.

Now when I look back at some of that early work, I must admit it was not very good. But I was learning my trade, customers got something for nothing (I never had a system to make sure they followed through with their pledge) and things had started to happen. Now, I was not following a grand plan and I was trying to fit all this in while holding down a 60-70 hour a week job and still trying to make time for family and friends. That was a strain, but nevertheless, I still felt I was on the right path.

It has taken a tremendous amount of hard work and determination. In truth, there a lot of good and great poets out there but, sadly, poetry is rarely commercially valued. It takes more than just words to get recognized. In my case, it was just effort. Lots of it. There was also a degree of stubbornness involved, especially when my friends and family told me it couldn’t be done.

I used that pessimism as “wind in my sails”. There were also some key moments when I thought it was all too hard and I was about to give up. It was then that someone came along and said the right thing and that got me going again. There are a few people who I owe particular thanks to and they know who they are. Never underestimate the power of commitment too, it seems at times I have had some “unseen” helping hands.

Allen Jesson writes for several sites including vintage engagement rings and superb resouces for your anniversary gift and unique gifts.

How the Paint Color Chart Impresses People That View Your Work

Experience has taught us that certain combinations of colors, whether in nature or art, affect the eye and mind agreeably, while others give offense. We call the former “harmonies,” the latter “discords.”

Just as numerous attempts have been made to discover the laws of light and of color vision, and to invent practical systems of color measurement and notation, great effort has been expended in trying to ferret out the reasons why some combinations of color are pleasing and others are not, and to devise laws to insure harmonious color employment. We have finally learned, however, that even if it were possible to grasp all such reasons, workable laws guaranteeing immunity against chromatic discord still could not be devised.

In view of the contrary claims of some writers, we offer the following arguments to substantiate our statement.

First, as we have demonstrated, colors change in effect according to their environment, each hue being modified by those adjacent to it. Color harmony is not merely a matter of selection, therefore, but also of arrangement a fact not nearly as commonly recognized as it should be. A color scheme extremely pleasing to the average person can become, in rearrangement, positively disturbing. Arrangement obviously cannot be controlled wholly by rule at least in representational paintings.

Area, like arrangement, influences color appearances, as we have seen. Harmonious schemes can often be made discordant, or at least uninteresting, simply by increasing or decreasing certain color areas. Of course, the reverse is also true. It is easy to see that a small spot of vivid red, which delightfully reinforces, through contrast, a large area of bright green, might, if sufficiently expanded, rival the green, causing a disturbing division of interest. But there are no arbitrary rules to be followed with regard to area and color harmony.

Nor are there definite laws governing the use of such phenomena when alternating bands of complementary colors were viewed from a certain distance. Yet effects such as this are capable of making some schemes disagreeable and others pleasing or telling.

Texture, although not a quality of color, is another influence that can seldom be ignored. In architecture and decoration, for example, materials harmonious in color often show textural inconsistency or discord. A mere coating of varnish, changing dull woodwork to shiny, can be enough to upset a scheme completely. Even in painting pictures, textural harmony is almost as important as color harmony the two are closely wedded yet there are no clear cut laws.

Color fitness or suitability must also be considered, as must that ever present matter of personal taste. After all, who is to say which colors harmonize and which do not? We have all seen that changing fashions can have a considerable effect on the average person`s ideas of what colors are or are not attractive and suitable for particular purposes, especially in relation to women`s clothing and interior decoration. There are also, as we are all aware, attitudes toward particular colors and color combinations that stem from temperament, national traditions, climate, environment and other unpredictable factors.

This should be enough to warn the student against the exaggerated statements of writers who claim or imply that their methods or systems of obtaining color harmony are infallible or universally applicable. Printed laws and clever devices designed to reveal color schemes can certainly be of help, but only in a very limited way.

Do You Know What A Color Manual For Artists Is? -

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Discover The Secrets To Making Model Ships That Look Like The Real Thing!

If you are looking for a new hobby or are a nautical enthusiast, you may consider making model sailboats. But how do you get started on such an endeavor? Following are things to keep in mind while you research this past time.

Unlike most hobbies, ship model making requires few expensive tools. Almost every household, no matter how small, harbors the beginnings of a fine model maker`s tool kit. The rest can be made, improvised and bought as the work progresses.

Most important of all tools to the maker of ship models is his knife. It may be anything from an inexpensive pocketknife to a high grade wood carver`s tool. Price and handle style are unimportant as long as its blade is sharp and strong and comfortable in your hand.

Now that you have the tools, you are ready to get started. When you have obtained the plans for your ship model, your first job will be to construct the hull.

If your model is to be a replica of the original, its hull, above all things, must be carefully shaped according to the accurate hull lines given in the drawings. To do this in the quickest and easiest way, you must follow some standard method of procedure.

Simplest of all standard methods of model hull construction is the “bread and butter method of lifts. This particular method gets its name from the fact that lifts of wood, cut approximately to the various horizontal sections of the hull, are placed one on top of the other and glued together. When first assembled, the side of a glued up “bread and butter hull resembles a series of narrow steps.

Once the “bread and butter lifts of your hull have been assembled, you are ready for the roughing and final shaping. However, do not pass over the cutting of your lifts lightly. The more accurate you are in cutting them to the exact lines of your plans, the easier it will be to get the finished effect that is necessary if your model hull is to look real.

Of course, it all depends on how much time you want to spend making your model sailboats as to how much detail you add.

You can get down to the smallest detail if you have the patience to do so. You can leave your model as a non working piece of art or go all the way and make it a fully functioning model sailboat, complete with rigging and pulleys. It is your model sailboat and you should enjoy making it.

After you have finished construction on the model sailboat, you will want to decorate and finish it. In applying the decorations and finishing touches to a model, the craftsman should be guided by the type, nationality and period of the ship. If your plans do not give the exact coloring, look up a historical description of the vessel.

To obtain a weathered effect on the sails, they can be dipped in coffee or tea or they can be painted or sprayed with a thin stain or lacquer. On models of very old ships, some model makers feel that it gives the rigging a touch of realism to slit the mainsail and neatly “repair the damage with a needle and thread. Such forms of decoration must be subtle, however, or they will ruin the entire effect of the model.

Discover The Secrets To Making Model Ships That Look Like The Real Thing! You`ll Swear That Someone Has Shrunk The Actual Ship -

FREE For A Limited Time -
http://www.modelsailboat.org

Five Proven Art Festival Showing Strategies for Artists Selling Their Work

So you’ve always wondered what it would be like to be an artist and show and sell your work around the country at weekend art shows. Here are some tips that can increase your chances of succeeding.

1. Visit the Art Shows First -
You may not always have the luxury of visiting each and every art show before you apply for acceptance. After all, if you visit before applying, you’ll have to wait another year to participate (if you are accepted) and most of us are not that patient.

However, when you can visit the show first and talk to participating artists, you will get a feel for whether or not this is a show in which you wish to participate.

Be up front with the artists that you talk with and ask a few questions. Most will be happy to answer your questions if they sense your honesty and sincerity and you don’t distract them from those who visit their booth. After all, they are there to show and sell their work, not to act as your show researcher.

With their permission, ask how long they have been doing these types of shows? Is this considered a good show? Was it hard to get in? Is the fee reasonable? How is the attendance? Are the show hours long enough, too long, or just right? Was the set-up and take down schedule suitable? What do you like about this particular show? What do you not like about it? Do you plan to return next year?

There are a number of other questions that could be asked, but please respect the artist’s time.

Some events that bill themselves as art shows or even arts and craft shows end up with a lot of questionable “art” booths that are not really art at all. If the “art” show has more than it’s share of artists who make foam rubber alligators on a coat hanger or rubber band gun crafters, it’s probably not that high quality of art show. That is not to say that there is not a place for these products.

There are many large festivals that attract huge crowds that have all kinds of vendors from artists and crafters to cosmetic salespeople to sausage-on-a-stick vendors. Don’t knock these venues, just be aware that you will encounter a lot of folks at these events who may have little or no interest in your art. The good thing is that you will encounter a lot of folks and sometimes that’s what it takes to find a few gems who will make your efforts worthwhile. I have experienced successes at both types of venues and I have come up short on occasion, as well.

On the other hand, a juried event will elevate the level of quality work that is shown, which should attract an audience that has a greater appreciation for art. It may reduce the number of attendees, but those who do attend may be a more “qualified” audience. By qualified, I mean that they not only have a greater appreciation for art, but hopefully the means to purchase it if they like it.

Once you have determined that you want to participate in a particular show or festival, here is what I think is vital to your success both as an artist and as a businessperson.

2. Have a Consistent Body of Work -
Even though you may be good at every artwork you ever produce, your audience of potential purchasers/collectors will likely identify you with a particular subject, a color, a style, a medium, a method of presentation, etc. Show a lot of whatever you enjoy doing the most and a lot of what seems to be connecting with folks the most.

A bunch of random paintings of various subject matter with no distinctive style or color pallet in cheap mis-matched frames will not likely hold a potential buyer’s attention for long, even if the paintings are good. A hodge-podge of sculptures that look like they were made by ten different sculptors will not likely enhance your reputation. This randomness does not help to identify what you are all about.

I’m not advocating that you never try anything new or experimental, but you must make your art memorable to gain any kind of following. Consistency is the key. Look at the work of some of the more successful artists that you admire. What ties their work together and identifies it as their own? Subject matter or theme, style (the way they paint or sculpt), choice of colors used, size, framing? Any and all of these characteristics may apply. Don’t copy their work, but learn from it.

If you are doing work that connects with an audience, folks will seek you out to buy your art, even after the show is over. It’s happened to me many times.

3. Have Varying Price Points -
Whether you choose to show only originals, or limited editions, or a combination is often dictated by the show guidelines. Sometimes, it is entirely up to you. If you have a body of work that connects with viewers, it obviously would be desirable to sell some of it.

If you limit your offerings to large, expensive (whatever that means to you) original works, your potential market will be smaller and you will eliminate a number of folks who, otherwise, might like to purchase. That may be OK if your work is selling for the prices you want on a regular basis.

However, my experience is that having artworks at several price levels makes it possible for purchasers/collectors to enjoy ownership of some of my art in the “now” until they are ready to move up to more collectable, thus more expensive and profitable, pieces.

This might be achieved through offering a number of sizes of original works, offering print or sculpture editions in two or more sizes, having some limited editions and some less expensive open editions, or even offering gift type products such as note cards or calendars with your art reproduced on it (if the show allows it).

While it’s true that some will never purchase anything of significance, others may use this as a stepping stone to begin their collection of your work to whatever extent they can afford.

Your job after that purchase is to keep these lower end purchasers (as well as all of your purchasers) informed about you and your art through mail outs, newsletter, website, newspaper or magazine articles, or however you can to let them know you appreciate their business and look forward to seeing them someday own some of your better art pieces.

They are more apt to desire to own more of your art when you show your appreciation for their purchase and they know more about you and your progress as an artist.

4. Have a Clean and Attractive Display Booth -
There are a few generally accepted artist booth set-ups that are used at most quality shows. The standard size booth is often a 10×10, so many canopies, or tents, are made to this size. EZ Up, Flourish, ShowOff, and a few others seem to be the most popular.

As your inventory and sales increase, you can always add on for a double booth space, when available. Though some brands of tents come in a myriad of colors, a white top is recommended.

Some shows won’t accept anything else. Choose the one that suits your budget and make sure it has adequate sidewalls and leg weights in the event of inclimate weather. If you show long enough, you will experience inclimate weather.

The actual racks that you hang your work on or use as a background might be metal grid type panels such as those made by Graphic Display Systems, or carpeted type panels such as those made by Pro Panels, or mesh netting made by Flourish.

Get what you can afford and upgrade as sales allow.
An indoor/outdoor carpet or other ground covering is a nice added touch if it enhances your booth and does not distract from your art.

Have a focal point in your booth, a “whopper,” a signature piece, or something that stops the show attendees in their tracks so that they will want to come in and see what your art is all about.

I hang a matted and framed 24×36 limited edition of my signature piece above a custom made credenza (that is on wheels, but the wheels are camouflaged) right in the middle of the back wall of my booth.

This popular image is what I am most identified with as it has become my best selling print. Since I have started doing this, I have seldom failed to sell one of these framed prints. The credenza also tastefully displays very small pieces such as note cards, hand painted tiles, and a guestbook for addresses and e- mail addresses (my favorite way to contact folks).

Inside the drawers of the credenza are my change (keep adequate change), sales tickets, credit card forms (in my opinion you must accept credit cards for higher end items), tape, string, insect repellant, business cards and brochures, and extra hang tags for my framed pieces. Underneath are unframed prints ready to replenish my print rack when one is sold.

All of my work that is hanging is framed (with the exception of an occasional gallery wrap canvas) in similar style frames with brass nameplates to enhance the value and identify the title of that piece. All unframed prints are sleeved in clear bags that have an adhesive flap to seal them and placed in a browse rack.

Have a tool box to contain such items as pliers, hammer, nylon connectors, wire, duct tape, clamps, small broom and other miscellaneous items that you may need over the course of the show.

Once you have shown a few times, you will get an idea of what items are useful. Keep this and anything else that might distract from your art out of sight as much as possible.

5. Give Your Potential Customers Room -
I have noticed that more people will actually come inside my booth exhibit and look longer if I stay outside my booth until I sense an interest in my work. I try to be very attentive, but I will only approach a visitor when I sense some kind of interest, however slight.

Do not block your entrance by positioning yourself and your staff or friends and family where no one can walk in and look around. Even if there are two of you and each is sitting at the side near the front of your booth, there seems to be an invisible barrier through which visitors will not pass.

I have seen other ideas of where the artist(s) position themselves to encourage better “booth visitation,” and in a larger booth than 10×10 I could see where sitting over to the side at the back of the booth might work well.

However, in my own personal booth I don’t want my face to compete with my art. At this point, I am only incidental to the art.

I created the art and I answer any questions and take the money. Otherwise, I don’t want to get in the way. Yes, I want the customer to remember me, but I first want them to see my art. When you make a sale of any significance, follow up with a handwritten thank you note.

Showing and selling your work at outdoor art festivals is hard work often accompanied by some expensive lessons. However, when you finally make that connection with folks who like your work and are willing to part with their money to own some of it, the rewards can be great, both financially and artistically.

Neil Lemons represents Texas Artists Industries, an eight year-old professional fine art painting company. For more information, visit http://www.atexasstateofmind.com.

Welding and Metalwork: Strength And Function

Welding is the process of getting metal surfaces to join together by using high heat to melt them together. Vices are often used to hold the pieces of metal until they have molded together. Welded metal is very strong and it is often hard to tell if two pieces of metal have been welded together. This process of welding is used in industry all the time. It is much stronger than solder or other joining techniques.

There are many types of welding. Forged welding was used by blacksmiths to put two pieces of metal together. They would get the metal hot and use a hammer to make it go together. This is believed to be the first type of welding ever used. Arc welding is commonly used today for construction and in home workshops. This type of welding uses a power source to make an electric arc.

Spot welding is a form or resistance welding. This is commonly used in businesses and on sheet metal. This type of welding allows you to weld a particular spot that other types of welding can’t get done without getting the entire surface area hot.

The type of welding you will use depends on many factors. The important thing is for the weld to be amazingly strong. Factors to consider include the amount of heat needed to get the materials hot enough, the design of the material, and the design of the joint. It is important to test the strength of the weld. Not all metals hold a weld very well. Steel and sheet metal work best.

Since you will be working with heat and often with metals that have sharp edges, it is very important that you wear heavy gloves and eye protection when you are welding. You should also wear long sleeved clothing to prevent burns. You should only use welding equipment after being properly trained in how to operate it.

Metalwork is the art of making various objects out of metal. Most metalworkers are also called machinists. They make pieces of structures or machine parts also called metalworking. This is quite a complicated job that requires patience, precision, and some concrete math skills in geometry. Luckily most machine shops have computers that will do most of the calculations for you.

There are many types of skills a metalworker needs to have to be able to design all of the various structures and machine parts needed. Milling is the process of removing the unneeded edges of a piece. Turning involves using a lathe that spins; the metalworker gets to shape the metal as it spins. Cutting involves using various tools depending on the cut you want and the type of metal you are working with. Drilling is the process of creating holes in the various machine parts. Grinding will help remove sharp edges giving the machine piece a smooth finish.

Depending on the reason why you are creating the metalwork, it may be necessary to use casting methods. Welding is commonly in metal working as well. This is a trade that requires you to have various skills with tools and knowledge of how those tools can be used on various types of metals.

It is important to be safe doing metalwork as well. The metal used is often scrap metal that was discarded so wear gloves to protect against sharp edges. Make sure you know how to properly use the metalworking tools. You should always wear eye protection to prevent getting pieces of metal in your eyes. Metalworking fluids should only be used in a well ventilated area with gloves to prevent a reaction to your skin. Stop working with metalwork fluids if you develop bronchitis, asthma, or respiratory problems. To prevent them, consider wearing a respiratory mask.

Get Perforated Sheets for your metalworking projects.

Does Postmodernism Exist Still in Architecture

What is architecture? What do we mean by Post-Modernism? Does Postmodernism still exist in architectural design? As Jameson suggests, “Postmodernism, by definition resists definition”. If then postmodernism is difficult to be defined, on what principles can we judge if postmodernism in architecture is over?

Charles Jencks, among many architectural theorists, attempted to explain how postmodernism has shaped 21st Century’s architectural creations. The words, syntax, metaphor, and semantics of architecture are part of what make architecture postmodern. Regionalism, historicism, new urbanism, these are flavors of the postmodern. Whereas Moore, Hedjuk, Yamashita, Tigerman, and Graves (to mention a few) are categorized as postmodern, in which group do contemporary architects like Santiago Calatrava belong?

Satiago Calatrava, Valencia’s favorite son, a man who has merged architecture and engineering into designs and has occasionally transcended the limitations of both, uses an advanced postmodern vocabulary. But, are his manifestations considered postmodern, or something else? Graceful bridges, train stations, museums are mainly characterized by a white structure and the use of glass. Structures that often appear in motion and, as of late, often actually move.

The term “postmodernism” was first used in reference to architecture as early as 1947 spurring a fruitful debate among architects that has not yet disappeared. Postmodernism in its regional/vernacular forms reflects neighborhood culture. In this way, it can function as a tool in class struggle. Jameson argued that postmodernism is a reaction to the forces of “creative destruction.” But it can be a tool for those powers as well. “Creative destruction,” the wiping out of physical memory of a place is what probably causes the phenomenon Jameson refers to as the “accelerated rate of change”. The end of the assembly line, created by the instant flexibility of computer technology, means that in this post-Fordist world we can all have a unique, neighborhood specific thing, as well as having the same thing.

All of these arguments are original and all of them can be successfully applied for the analysis of different contemporary cultural phenomena; some of these theories are better for the explanations of particular architectural phenomena, some for others. However, it would be wise for one to examine them all together in all their different perspectives as they can become a helpful tool for understanding the social and cultural phenomena that emerged from the second half of the Twentieth century on and still affect contemporary architects and their designs.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Arts, Family, and Gardening

Why Folk Art Is So Popular Today

I have loved folk art paintings since I was a child. I spent a lot of time with my grandmother and her house was full of them. One of my favorites that she had was done by John Roeder. Maybe it’s because I spent a lot of time playing in my tree house, that the trees in the picture appealed to me so much. When she died, she left me the painting and it hangs in a place of honor over my fireplace mantle.

One of my favorite paintings was done in 1962 by Bill Dodge. It’s called First Trolley to Van Nuys and shows the center of a town filled with people. It is done in vibrant colors and also depicts the buildings in the market like an ice cream parlor and the Hotel Van Nuys.

Another painting that I admire is called Howard in 1944. It was painted in 1988 by Reverend Howard Finster and is done in enamel. I don’t know whose smile is bigger, the one in the painting or the one on my face every time I look at it.

There is a subcategory of folk art paintings that depict the world of black Americans. I have a friend who collects these and I found one of a woman reclining in a hammock. She looked so relaxed, that I could imagine what it felt like to lie there myself. I personally don’t have any of these in my collection, since I like to collect pieces that I can relate to. Still, they are a joy to behold.

One of the most famous American artists is Thomas Chambers. I don’t particularly care for his art. I saw a painting he did of a fishing scene but I chose not to buy it.

There is a water scene that I really like painted in 1940. It’s of a swamp house on a bayou and has a Louisiana feel to it. It’s called Alligator Fisher and I’m thinking about getting because it reminds me of my cajun heritage, most of my family is from Louisiana.

The painting that has touched me the most features a sad little girl and is called A Letter From My Mother. It’s a beautiful painting but it’s just too depressing to hang anywhere. I’ll find someone to give it to.

My sister also shares my love for folk art. It’s pretty funny to me that when we were growing up, she’d cry because she wasn’t allowed to play football with the boys and I used to tease her relentlessly and pull her pigtails whenever I got the chance. Now we’re very close. She favors animal prints, and I found one that depicts leopards and gave it to her for her birthday. It’s too bad my parents didn’t let her play football with us. If she could kick the ball they way she liked to kick me in the knee, I’d see to it she played for my team every time.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Art Prints at http://www.fineartfulgifts.com

What Do I Need to Know About Tattoos?

Are you thinking about getting a tattoo? With the rising popularity of tattoos in North America, chances are that at one time or another you have considered getting a tattoo. Before getting a tattoo, however, it is important to fully understand the process so you can assess the risks and make sure that you end up with a tattoo that you will be happy with for years to come.

What is a Tattoo?

You of course know what a tattoo is, that is why you want to get one. You may not be sure how a tattoo is created, however. Despite what it looks like, a tattoo is not drawn onto your skin. Instead, a tattoo is created by using an electric tattoo machine to inject pigments under your skin. The fact that you are having implements put under your skin means that getting a tattoo can be risky.

Making Sure Your Tattoo is Safe

You can be exposed to a number of health risks when getting a tattoo because the process involves breaking your skin. This leads to two possible problems: infectious diseases and allergic reactions.

The most significant risk in getting a tattoo is catching a blood-borne infection such as tetanus or hepatitis, or even HIV, in the worst situations. You run the risk of becoming infected if an instrument is used on you that had residue blood on it from a previous patron who carries a blood-borne infectious disease. While the potential of contracting a fatal disease just to get a tattoo may seem scary, in reality the risk of catching an infectious disease can be largely minimized in professional tattoo parlours. This is done primarily through the exclusive use of single-use tools. This means that blood will not be passed between patrons.

A less significant risk is that the trace metal elements in the tattoo pigments, particularly in red and green pigments, will cause an allergic reaction. While obviously not as serious as contracting a communicable disease, having an allergic reaction to the tattoo pigment can cause the skin around the tattoo to swell up and become itchy, and even to start to ooze fluids in more serious reactions. While allergic reactions are rare, if you have sensitive skin and are concerned about a potential reaction, have your tattoo artist to first do a spot test to ensure that you are not allergic to any particular pigment.

Finding a Good Tattoo Artisit

The most important step in finding a good tattoo artist is to look through their portfolio and make sure that their style and skill is up to your standards. You will have this tattoo for a while, so you need to be comfortable that your tattoo artist can create something you will be happy with. For a safety reasons, it is important to make sure that you only use tattoo artists that are fully licensed in your jurisdiction. Because they are licensed, they will likely have gone through a series of courses on the importance of cleanliness and hygiene. Do not, however, just rely on their license. Make sure that their studio is professional and clean. If they have a messy workspace, they will probably not be as concerned about cleanliness as they should be.

Are Tattoos Forever?

While tattoos will fade over time, this is a very drawn out process that cannot be relied on to quickly remove a tattoo. That means, in order to avoid embarrassment, make sure you only get a tattoo that you will be happy having for the rest of your life. Of course, in egregious situations, a laser treatment can be used to accelerate the natural fading process. This process, however, is not perfect, requires repeated visits to the technician, and in rare situations can even cause permanent scarring. Which is all to say that it is easier to make sure you will be happy with your tattoo before you get it.

Steve Dolan has always been intrigued by tattoos. To find out more click Tattoos and Body Art For family fun try Face Painting

Learn All the Secrets of Belly Dancing

The word belly dance, is a western name for an Arabic style of dancing. In Arabic countries it is simply called oriental dance and some American enthusiasts call it Middle Eastern Dance.

Belly dancing is a form of dance that is not so widely acknowledged in America and other countries, but there is still a large following in the vast ethnic sector. There is a lot of debate in the community as to the exact origin of belly dancing. Some believe it descended from early Egyptian dances, others say it is derived from religious dances and some say it comes from the migration of the Roma people, with Indian origins. No matter where it comes from, the fact remains that it is an exquisite form of dance and its popularity and following grows every year.

Belly dancing is a great way to increase fitness. It is a very active and energetic style of dance, which elevates the heart rate and increases cardio vascular ability, so one of the many benefits of this form of dance is to elevate fitness level, and burn fat. It also helps to stretch the muscles, and limber the joints up so that the participant becomes more nimble and agile. With these two health related factors, it shows us that it’s a great hobby for those with a few extra years on the clock to keep them young and vital, and also just for the general health of people of all ages.

This style of dance can be tailored to suit anyone’s personal abilities, so that it is not overly strenuous on the cardio vascular system, or on the stretch in the muscles. The fat loss aspect is something that belly dancing has actually been manipulated for. Some fitness experts have used belly dancing in personal training regimes to help a client lose weight effectively. This is possible because it is a fun activity, so the client will be happy to perform a certain amount of belly dancing practice each day to work towards their fitness and weight goals.

Males in belly dancing are not very common however there are some males in this form of dance that are very masterful at the art. Even though they are amazing in their performance, they are sometimes not looked upon with much respect in the belly dancing community, as it was an art created by women, and was not intended for men to perform. This topic is one of much debate with the introduction of women’s rights, why shouldn’t men be able to do the same things women can do, and so on.

All these factors make belly dancing an ideal activity for anyone of any skill level or age. It is both fun and good for physical fitness, so there is a number of positive’s and no negatives. Give it a try!

If you want to know more about Belly Dancing, including free information, reviews and much more, then please visit www.BellyDancingMastery.com

It Takes an Iron Resolve to Make an Independent Film Production Happen

Commitment is an independent filmmaker’s most valuable resource. Without a lot of money to grease the wheels of production, a low budget film producer must rely on creativity and determination to get their films made. If a person wants to get their film made badly enough, there is not much in this world that can stop it from happening.

Making a film on your own with your own money is a very daunting task. It can also be very rewarding. When you decide to take on the awesome responsibility of writing, directing, and producing your own independent film, you better know what you are getting into beforehand. Once you set the ball in motion, there is no going back. You either succeed and your film makes to the film festival circuit (which is a major accomplishment in and of itself), or you crash and burn halfway through the film production process and your film vision never sees the light of day.

The next time you watch a movie I suggest that you pay particular attention to the credits at the end of the film. Take a look at how many names scroll across the screen and this will give you an idea of how much work goes into the making of a motion picture. Then take away all of the names on the screen and picture your name in front of every credit for every job and this will give you an idea of how much work YOU will have to do to make your own movie.

When I first graduated from film school I hit the ground running. I landed a decent job as the Director and Animator on an independent film that had Pat Boone’s name attached to it. I was hired to film clay animation stories about The Bible. I worked on that job for about four months and was paid fairly well for my efforts. I decided that the best thing I could do with the money I saved was to make another film. I would take the knowledge and money I gained and use it for my own benefit. I decided to make my own movie with the idea in mind that I would enter it in on the film festival circuit and hopefully win some awards. If that happened it would almost certainly be a boost for my fledgling film career.

I wrote a script for a short film that involved a combination of clay animation and live action, and I was ready to make a film. My plan was to use all of my knowledge and talent and do almost all the work. For the parts that I could not do myself I would hire friends and business associates at a substantially discounted rate. These people agreed to work for cheap in return for a little creative control, a credit for their demo reel, and possibly exposure if the film does well at any major film festivals. I only had to hire them for the filming of the live action scenes and for some of the post production work (like sound design, mixing, foley sound effects, etc…). The animation I would do entirely on my own.

I contacted a couple of friends of mine that managed camera and sound equipment rental houses. They set me up with a 16mm camera package and a DAT (digital audio tape) package to rent at discounted prices. I rented these packages on a weekend (to get the extra 2 days for free) and I started filming the live action part of my film right away.

I worked extremely hard that first weekend. I basically filmed most of the time with only about two to three hours of sleep each day. When I was not filming/acting/directing, I was setting up lights, moving furniture, making meals for everyone, setting up props, distributing and apply makeup, rehearsing with actors, fixing costumes, and performing script rewrites on the set, to name only a few things. By the time Monday morning rolled around, I was mentally and physically exhausted, but I still had to bring back the camera and sound equipment packages by 10:00 am or I would be charged for another day of rental. You do not have that luxury to just sleep in and not worry about it when you are making an independent film on a shoestring budget. There is no rest for the weary when you are making your own movie. Time is money, and you do not have a lot of either one of these resources.

I returned the camera and sound equipment packages just in time on Monday morning. Then I went straight to the film lab and dropped off my film. I then made an appointment for the following week (the soonest date I could get) to see my dailies (developed film), and counted the days until the day of my appointment arrived.

I arrived at the film lab a half hour early for my appointment to see my dailies. As I sat in the lobby waiting for my big moment, I began to get very nervous. Unnerving thoughts began to fill my head. What if one of the rolls of film somehow got damaged in the lab? Maybe the machine that develops the film broke when my film was running through it and all of my film rolls are scratched? What if the cameraman I hired was not as good as his demo reel implied and all my rolls are under or over exposed? What if the guy who took my film at the front desk of the film lab is a disgruntled filmmaker who only took that job so he can ruin other people’s film when they hand it over to him? What if there was a mishap in the film vault involving fire sprinklers and all my rolls of film got ruined? Of course, all of these are irrational thoughts, but nonetheless they are the kind of thoughts that go through the mind of an independent filmmaker as they are quietly waiting in the lobby of a film lab facility prior to their appointment to see the fruits of their efforts.

As it turned out, everything was fine. My dailies looked great and that only inspired me to keep the ball rolling with my film project. I put every ounce of effort that my body and soul possessed into that project, and it paid off. That film (Mike And The Magic Lamp) won several awards at several film contests that year (1998) including a Silver Award at the Houston Worldfest in the same category that had seen past winners with such names as Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone, and Quentin Tarantino. It was a perfect springboard for my film career. I have made several films since then and all of them have led to bigger and better projects. My latest film is a ninety minute science fiction love story. I already have a couple of distribution offers for this film, and I have yet to enter it in a single film festival. I should be able to make a very decent profit if it does well on the film festival circuit, and I owe it all to my iron resolve to make my film career dream a reality. Where my budget was lacking, my determination picked up the slack.

Copyright 2006. Michael P. Connelly

Michael P. Connelly is an Author and Filmmaker who travels the world making low budget independent films and writing about his enriching exeriences.
His latest book can be purchased at:
http://www.makealowbudgetmovie.com
For photos or additional info send an email to:
measeburl@aol.com

Cute Tattoo Designs for Women and Current Trends in Women’s Tattoos!

The whole field of tattoos for women is growing at a tremendous rate. If you think back even 20 years ago tattoos for women were not all that popular and most of the women getting them were keeping them covered up. However times have definitely changed and tattoo designs have really advanced at a tremendous rate. Today’s tattoo have more brilliant colors and are a far cry from your grandfathers Hawaiian girl tattoo on his forearm.

It used to be that women would get an occasional rose or name tattoos on their breast or some well hidden spot. However with current fashion trends there are tons of cute tattoo designs for women out there are women are now getting tattoos at an amazing rate.
Women’s tattoo designs and placement have also changed with this new growth. No longer are women getting simple tattoos that they keep well hidden. Women are now getting cute tattoo designs done and placing them in more visible places.

Some of the most popular items to get tattoos of are:

1. Shooting Star Tattoos
2. Butterfly Tattoos
3. Unicorn Tattoos
4. Angel Tattoos
5. Fairy Tattoos
6. Dragonfly tattoos
7. Flower design tattoos

The most popular places for women to get tattoos done are:

1. lower back tattoo (especially popular recently with the whole hip hugger jeans)
2. ankle tattoos
3. front side of the hips (again hip hugger jeans have made this more popular)
4. butt cheek left or right
5. Belly button area

Another thing that this trend of women getting tattoos is that women often seek out custom tattoo designs. They don’t go to the local parlor and just by a tattoo flash design that is on display there. Women seem to spend a great deal more time contemplating the tattoos that they want done and tend to have more requirements about what they want. Therefore women tend to get custom tattoo designs. This allows them to get the exact look and feel they want and a custom designed tattoo is also fit to the location on the persons body so that it fits well.

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Dolphin Tattoos: What is the Symbolism Behind Them.

Lotus flowers are amazing and have strong symbolic ties to many Asian religions especially throughout India. The lotus flower starts as a small flower down at the bottom of a pond in the mud and muck. It slowly grows up towards the waters surface continually moving towards the light. Once it come to the surface of the water the lotus flower begins to blossom and turn into a beautiful flower.

Within Hinduism and Buddhism the lotus flower has become a symbol for awakening to the spiritual reality of life. The meaning varies slightly between the two religions of course but essentially both religious traditions place importance on the lotus flower.
In modern times the meaning of a lotus flower tattoo ties into it’s religious symbolism and meaning. Most tattoo enthusiast feel that the a lotus tattoo represent life in general. As the lotus flower grows up from the mud into a object of great beauty people also grow and change into something more beautiful (hopefully!). So the symbol represent the struggle of life at its most basic form.

Lotus flower tattoos are also popular for people who have gone through a hard time and are now coming out of it. Like the flower they have been at the bottom in the muddy, yucky dirty bottom of the pond but have risen above this to display an object of beauty or al ife of beauty as the case might be. Thus a lotus flower tattoo or blossom can also represent a hard time in life that has been overcome.

Lotus flower and peonies are also two flowers that are very popular among Japanese tattoo artists and they make a great compliment to Koi Fish tattoos. Ironically enough the two koi fish and lotus flowers can often be found in the same pond in front of a temple. The Koi fish is a symbol typically for strength and individualism.

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Why Get a Custom Tattoo Design Done by a Professional Tattoo Artist?

You might have noticed that in the past year or two that everywhere you go things can now be customized to suit the consumer. For example I was purchasing a sandwich the other day at a local sub shop. They first asked how long, then it was what kind of bread, what kind of cheese, what kind of mayo and on and on the list went.

Well, this has become a major trend in marketing that truly benefits the consumer. You no longer have to pay top dollar and just get whatever you get. Now you can get things exactly like what you want.

This marketing trend has also become one of the biggest trends in the world of tattoos since sliced bread. The old fashioned way to get a tattoo done we all know too well. You go to the local parlor and look at the beautiful tattoo flash or designs on the wall and you pick one. It was basically like ordering at MacDonald. I will take a number #2 combo the Celtic Butterfly with a side or shooting star tattoos extra large.

Well, like MacDonalds frequently does the tattoo world has really improved and almost reinvented itself in the last few years. This growth is still taking place even now. You see the days of getting a tattoo done in the above mentioned way are starting to disappear. It didn’t allow for individuality or self expression. The old fashioned way lead to a lot of people getting the same tattoos and for cheap. Well, just like many people go out and buy a stock car and then start tweaking it all out to fit their needs or a computer that is tweaked to fit there needs you can now do the same things with tattoo designs.

You can come up with a concept for a tattoo that you want done. Then you can go online and post a job for a bunch of freelance tattoo artists to bid on. You then view some samples of their work and pick a custom tattoo designer or artist to do the work for you. They will then work with you and flesh out the rough idea that you had into a complete custom tattoo design.
This way of getting tattoo designs has some definite advantages over the old fashioned way.

No longer will you have the same popular tattoo that thousands of others probably have.

You can get the design sized to fit exactly the location on your body that you want it.

Now you can customize the color, shape, design, and even initial concept for your design. It is truly like tricking out a car or a computer you can get things exactly like how you want them.

So this new way of getting tattoos done has started to revolutionize the whole world of tattoo and tattoo design. It is getting harder and harder to sell pre-made designs and the growth of custom tattoo designs is significantly increasing.

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Think Before You Ink? You Won’t Regret It.

This article is really a result of a growing trend that I have witnessed for cover up tattoos. It seems like ever day I see someone looking for a new custom tattoo design to cover up some old in k they had done. Getting rid of an old tattoo that you no longer like is not so easy. Your only two options are painful and expensive laser removal or a cover up design.

Unfortunately most people can not afford the laser removal and honestly most cover up tattoos are big, black, and can even draw more attention to itself.
So honestly the best option is to think before you ink. This is going to become our new motto. Unfortunately there are tons of people out there that do not think before getting a tattoo and later end up regretting them.

Top 5 reasons people state for wanting to get rid of a tattoo.

1. Got the tattoo while out with friends drunk.
2. I was young when I got it.
3. It really was not the design I wanted.
4. It is too common and doesn’t speak to me anymore.
5. The symbol is wrong or I did not know what it stood for.

These are so common that we have come across people that are getting cover up tattoos for all of the above reasons. Recently with the growing trend of Japanese Kanji tattoos many people are paying good money for these only to find later they don’t mean what they were originally told. Also they often don’t translate well. For example getting something like “Bling” or “Pimp” translated to Japanese just does not work. There is no kanji for these words.

It is vitally important that you spend some time coming up with an original tattoo idea. Do some research on the symbolism behind the tattoo design and think about what you want it to say. Then have a professional tattoo artist do the design for you. Take the time to look at the design maybe mull over it for a few days. You can even have a tattoo artists do the work with a sharpie first and spend some time thinking about it.

Tattoos are expensive and custom tattoo can cost even more. However the artwork will be original and unique and it will speak to you more then some flash design off the wall in your local tattoo shop. Actually if you think of it custom tattoos can be a big savings. It is more expensive to get a cover up done or go through laser removal. So spend some time thinking about your tattoo and do some research on the design. It is way better then regretting the design for the rest of your life.

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Creativity is King in the World of Independent Film Production

A creative mind is a low budget filmmaker’s most valuable tool. It all starts with an original thought; from there it is all about nurturing that thought until it grows to be a brilliant idea. After that it is a matter of getting that idea made into a movie using every ounce of energy and resources you can possibly muster up.

Most of the successful films that are showing at film festivals these days are movies that were made at a fraction of the cost that it takes to make a major Hollywood studio film. Advances in technology have made it so that just about anyone can make a movie. Film cameras, video cameras, sound recording equipment, and just about any other kind of equipment that one needs to make a movie can be purchased at very affordable prices these days. The equipment that is available these days can provide a very low budget movie with a production value that looks like James Cameron had something to do with the project. This professional look coupled with a unique story can help any film’s chances at being accepted into film festivals like Houston Worldfest, Cannes, Toronto Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, etc…

Try as they might, the major Hollywood film studios will never have a monopoly on creativity. They spend millions of dollars on marketing research in an effort to figure out just what it is that the film-going audiences of the world look for when they go to the movies. Despite all of this effort, they still have not come up with a formula. The tastes of people who go to the movies are as hard to predict as an earthquake is, for the pattern changes all the time. Because of this fact, the door is left wide open for the creative types of the world to enter the game. All they need to do is come up with a unique idea that they can transform into a movie, enter their film in festivals like Sundance and then let the judges decide. While the big studios have tried to take over the film festival circuit in recent years, it is still the little guys with the small, yet creative films that are King in that realm.

It does not cost as much as you would think to make a movie that can be entered in contests like the Sundance Film Festival. Sony is about to release a line of High Definition camcorders that are perfect for anyone who wants to make movies on a shoestring budget. While movies made with these cameras will not be shot on “film” (like movies have been since the beginning), they will (almost) look like they were. These new cameras will be able to give a high quality image that is comparable to the image that film provides. The two camcorders are the PDW-F330 and the PDW-F350, and they offer all sorts of film production features that even the most film-loyal professional filmmaker must respect. Both cameras offer true 24P recording in both SD and HD, interval recording, and slow shutter recording to name a few. The F350 model also offers true variable frame rate recording capabilities which are also referred to as the “slow motion/fast motion” features. Features like these are very valuable to anyone making a low budget movie for it allows them to include motion effects in their films without the use of an expensive film camera or a high priced film lab. Both of these cameras will be on the market in March of 2006. The F350 will cost about twenty five thousand, while the F330 model will only cost about sixteen thousand dollars. A PDW-F30 deck will be available in June for about nine thousand. These are small prices to pay to be a self-sufficient independent filmmaker.

A low budget filmmaker can invest in a relatively low-cost HD camcorder and deck and have everything they need to make as many movies as their mind and body can crank out. All they will need after that is a creative mind, a few thousand dollars, a few ambitious friends for their actors and crew, some script writing software like Final Draft, and an iron resolve to make a movie. They do not have to worry about the high costs of film stock, film processing, or film-to-DVD transfers. All they will need is their camera and a $30 disc (23.3GB) and they will be set to film an entire movie. Buying discs for a camera is a lot cheaper than buying film and all the financial baggage that comes with it.

Once they shoot their movie with one of these cameras, a low budget filmmaker can go right to their computer with the disc and start editing it using one of the many affordable editing programs that are available these days such as Final Cut Pro. They can do all of the post production work for their movie on their home computer, as long as they are willing to shoulder a mother load of work responsibilities.

Technology has allowed independent filmmakers to bypass many expensive steps in the filmmaking process. Instead of paying a bunch of people hundreds of dollars an hour for film services that are only available in cities like Hollywood and New York, they can now do all of these steps in the comfort of their own home on their own computer.

For anyone who has ever had a dream of making their own movie, there is no better time than now to make it happen. The playing field has been leveled in terms of technology, but you still need a creative story to get anywhere on the film festival circuit. The affordable equipment can get you on the field, but you must bring a good game to win. A creative mind is your best player in this game, so if you have that part taken care of you are halfway to making your film vision a reality. Nurture your creative idea until it becomes a unique script and then dedicate your life to making this script into a movie. If your idea is as good as you think it is you will do quite well on the film festival circuit. If this happens it could lead to a decent distribution deal for your movie. If you stick with it and continue to make films you may even find that you have made yourself a career as a professional artist who makes independent films, and that dreams really can become reality.

Copyright 2006. Michael P. Connelly

Michael P. Connelly is an Author, Artist, and Filmmaker who has traveled the world in search of adventures and enriching experiences that provide a great deal of good writing material.
For more author or book info visit:
http://www.makealowbudgetmovie.com

How 80’s Video Games Influence Art Today

The nostalgia of the 80’s has been simmering in the fashion world for several years. It is perhaps not a surprise that the pop culture of the 80’s is also rearing its head in the art world.

We have seen graffiti, which was once considered a vulgar expression of inner-city youth, become a tool for marketers and embraced as a creative outlet for urban artists.

This was made apparent on a recent episode of ‘The Apprentice’, Donald Trump’s reality program aimed to select a candidate from a group of smart, resourceful and business minded men and women. One of the tasks given to them on the series included creating an advertisement for a new game. They were to create a graffiti inspired advertisement on the side of a building to be used as a billboard.

Well, if Donald Trump has given his approval

Speaking of games, another big hit in the 80’s was video games - Pac Man, Mario Brothers and others were played by most teens at one time or another. These teens are now adults looking back with a hint of nostalgia at their youth, despite the fact that it was only 15-20 years ago. But technology changes quickly and so these icons of the 80’s are now being featured in art galleries like Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight in Hollywood.

The gallery features pieces that take a contemporary look at video games and is possibly helping to create a new genre in the field.

A painting depicting Pac Man as over-the-hill and on a drip of pellets went for $3000 according to a Reuters press release.

The artist, Greg Simkins, claimed he started out by painting graffiti in back alleys before working with canvas. And he’s not the only one bringing this strange combination of video and art to the public.

So what should we expect in the next five years? Well, for the art world change is always good, although often criticized in its formative years. So we may have to wait and see if ‘video-game art’ will make a solid stand in the art community. What we do know is that the original game players are now coming into their 40’s and anyone under that age will have grown up with video games as a part of their childhood, just as ‘I Love Lucy’ was a part of another generations’. Because of that, the images will likely have an emotional pull and impact on new and existing collectors today.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses. For fine artful gifts go to fine artful gifts go to http://www.fineartfulgifts.com

Four Things You Absolutely Need to Know before Buying an Oil Painting Reproduction

You’ve decided to invest in a beautiful oil painting reproduction. You have an idea of the type of painting you’d like, but you’re still unsure about making the purchase. This anxiety is normal when considering a reproduction purchase for the first time. Knowing the right questions to ask will enable you to make a wise purchase.

Unlike machine-generated copies, oil reproductions are hand-painted replicas of original paintings, which are created by an actual skilled artist. You’re naturally concerned about getting great quality. Here are four things you should know before buying an oil painting reproduction.

Know Your Artist

The artist is key to getting a fine reproduction that matches the original. You’ll want an artist who is both talented and trained. Talent only is not enough. Any good artist can throw together a reproduction that’s similar to an original, but formal training is usually necessary to be able to match originals precisely. The artist must be able to study the original artist’s hand strokes, style, etc. to get a true grasp on how to recreate the painting. It’s best to buy from a company that specializes in reproductions and has experienced artists available at all times.

Know the Techniques

Another important thing you should know about reproductions is how they’re created. What materials were used? What methods were used to put the painting together from start to finish? The entire process of creating a reproduction is important - not just the painting. The canvas, oils, brushes, lighting (while painting) each contribute to the finished work.

Know the Important Terms

Here are several terms you’ll need to be aware of when considering an art reproduction:

1. Canvas - Find out if the canvas used is of high quality.

2. Oils - The oils used should also be high quality for long-lasting beauty.

3. Stretching - When buying online, your painting might arrive rolled up and unframed. In this case, you or someone will need to stretch the painting onto stretcher bars (wooden bars attached to the back of the stretched painting) before framing. Check with local framing shops to see if they will do this for you.

4. Varnishing - Varnish protects your painting reproduction from light rays and humidity. Find out if the painting has been varnished, or if you will need to do it yourself. If you plan to do it yourself, you’ll have to wait about a year for the painting to dry completely. Varnishing is optional.

Know How to Care for Your Reproduction

If you find a great reproduction painting, you’ll want to care for it the right way. Before making your purchase, make sure you have a place to store or display the painting that’s away from direct sunlight and usually dry. Extreme sunlight or humidity can lead to flaking or cracking over time.

To clean your oil painting, use a soft cloth to dust the frame and a soft bristled brush to dust the actual painting. Feather dusters also work very well. Never apply moisture or chemicals to the painting.

Knowing how to choose a painting and what to expect will help you make an informed decision. The right oil reproduction painting is a prize to be treasured for a lifetime.

David De Groot helps art lovers around the world realize their dream of owning famous pieces of art. His web site offers affordable reproductions of some of the most extravagant paintings, each hand-painted by an experienced artist. Browse an amazing online gallery at http://www.myreproductions.com/

Locate and Secure Gorgeous Art Reproductions

Finding the perfect painting for your home decor is not always easy. If you’re an art lover, you probably have a difficult time choosing among the many great paintings available. Many art fans choose oil reproduction paintings instead of originals to get the painting they want at a reasonable price. Oil reproductions are beautiful hand-painted recreations of famous paintings from the past. But even when buying reproductions, choosing the right one can be tough.

Below are several factors to consider before purchasing an oil painting reproduction.

Where Will You Hang the Painting?

If you plan to hang the painting in your home, determine a location before making your purchase. Will it hang in the living area, dining area, near stairs, or in a hallway? Will the painting hang on a wall that’s free of other decor items or furnishings? How much space is available to hang the painting? Knowing this information up front will give you an idea of what style and size painting you’ll need.

Write a “Must Have” List Before Shopping

Before you begin your search for a painting, write a list of all the decor requirements it should meet. Here are some questions to get your wheels turning.

1. What color patterns dominate the room where it will hang?
2. Do you want the painting to create a certain mood in the room?
3. Will the painting need to complement other paintings or photos in the room?
4. What style frame will it need?

Choose by Artist

Perhaps you have a favorite artist, and you’re thinking of buying a reproduction of their work. There are many ways to find painting reproductions by your favorite artist. Internet technology makes searching for specific paintings easier than ever, and you can usually find what you’re looking for quickly. You can search online by artist or theme, or both. For example, search for ballet scenes by Edgar Degas by typing in search keywords about ballet along with the artist’s name.

Another way to find reproductions is to contact art reproduction companies using a directory until you find the painting you’re looking for. You might be able to order the painting by mail or online if it’s not available in your immediate area.

Never Sacrifice Quality

One primary reason art collectors and fans love art reproductions is the quality. Art reproductions aren’t merely copies or prints of the originals. Experienced artists use special skills to study and hand paint each reproduction the way the original artist created it. Look for excellent quality and close comparativeness to the original before buying a reproduction to get the finest possible painting.

Art reproductions will make a great addition to your art collection and home decor. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll enjoy your painting for years to come.

David De Groot helps art lovers around the world realize their dream of owning famous pieces of art. His web site offers affordable reproductions of some of the most extravagant paintings, each hand-painted by an experienced artist. Browse an amazing online gallery at http://www.myreproductions.com/

Low Budget Filmmakers Must Do Everything Required

So you say you have a burning desire to make a movie and you will do what ever it takes to get the job done? You fancy yourself and “independent” type and you want to reflect that in your art? Well, you better know what it takes before you decide to launch yourself into the world of independent filmmaking. If you do not know, your project may never see the light of day, or more importantly the light of a movie screen.

Making a low budget or “independent” film is a double edged sword. On the one side you have the freedom to express your art without corporate considerations, but on the other side you have the daunting task of doing almost every job yourself. From writing, producing, directing, and acting to providing travel arrangements, applying make-up, and fixing broken equipment, you cover the broad spectrum of chores and responsibilities. And that does not even cover the other responsibilities such as providing meals for everyone, rehearsals, etc… All you have to do is look at the long list of credits at the end of any movie in the theaters and you can see how much work it takes to make a motion picture.

While in the midst of making my last film Mike And The Magic Lamp I almost started to doubt whether I would ever finish it. I had been working on this movie for about two years straight doing every aspect of the film myself when I suddenly started to run out of energy. The continuous filming that I was doing combined with a heavy work schedule at my real job (Stage Manager of TV shows in Hollywood) was starting to get to me. I would have to prepare everything before a film shoot, and then do just about everything during the film shoots. Once in a while I would have a loyal friend help me with the awesome responsibilities of carrying equipment, setting it up, and then tearing everything down and putting it away each day, but you can only ask them to do so much if you are not paying them.

At one point during the filming of M&TML I passed out, fell off my director’s chair and hit my head on the corner of the set. I was mentally and physically exhausted while only halfway through the filmmaking process. The problem was that I was not yet creatively exhausted. The burning desire to make a movie and enter it in all the major film festivals was still alive, but the vessel (my body) that allows me to create was in need of a little R&R. I would take a day off here and there but it was always hard to rest when you have that little creative voice in your head bugging you to get your film finished so the world can enjoy your art. I was very lucky that I only suffered a minor head injury from that accident.

I finally finished the film Mike And The Magic Lamp after four long years of endless work that nearly put me in the hospital from exhaustion. The film went on to win the Silver Award at the Houston Worldfest in 1998 along with several other awards that year at major film festivals like the Santa Clarita International Film Festival. That film gave me recognition as an Independent Filmmaker and inspired me to pursue the path of making films on my own terms.

I pushed myself to the limits mentally and physically to get my movies made in the beginning of my career and it was just the springboard that I needed to get launched into the world of independent filmmaking. I may have doubted my body’s ability to keep up with my creative drive, but I some how managed to strike an agreement between the two and get my films finished. Before you take on the daunting task of making a movie almost completely by yourself, you have to ask yourself one thing; AM I REALLY COMMITTED to this idea? If you are not, then I suggest you find another outlet for your creativity. If you are committed, then pursue it with everything you have inside, but make sure you realize that your creative drive cares nothing about your health.

Copyright 2006. Michael P. Connelly

Michael P. Connelly is an Author and Filmmaker who travels the world making low budget independent films and writing about his enriching exeriences.

http://www.makeindependentfilms.com
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A Passion Swells Within My Soul

A passion swells within my soul. A deep feeling creeps over my emotions, sending chills of uncertainty over my life.

I want to reach you, find your heart and touch it. I am afraid.

I keep fighting the way I feel. Hoping it will go away. Knowing you do not feel the way I do. Knowing you will never change.

I want to reach you, find your heart and touch it. I am afraid.

My hand reaches out for yours. I need you to hold me. You are like a mother is to her child. A song is to a bird. You are my song.

I want to reach you, find your heart and touch it…I am afraid.

It’s surprising how when you accept people for what they are and who they are,
They become exactly what you had hoped they would be.

The sun sets softly against a summer sky;
The warmth of its’ glow rest gently on my brow.

The sweet scent of daffodils caress my sense;
Bringing memories of pleasant times and distant places.

The lingering sound of waves crashing relentlessly against granite rock;
Shatters a silence that echoes within me.

A billowy cloud nestles quietly against a blood stained sky;
Causing shivers of bewilderment to run through those who chance to observe its’ beauty.

A single silhouette casts a shadow, signaling that night is drawing near.

As the sun sets over the horizon, my thought are drawn to you;
Thoughts of special times in different places.

Capturing moments that are forever locked in my heart.
There to call up whenever I want to put a smile on my face and warmth in my heart.

I look forward to seeing you at the end of the day.
Thank you for being such a special person in my life.

A warm glow mingles in my soul;
Gently caressing my heart
I feel the powerful presence of a being over me.
I glance up and you are there.
I Feel the strength of you in me;
Easing the frailty of my life.
Eyes pierce the core of my deepest emotions;
I feel their touch wounding me slightly.
A hand on my silent flesh, burns, leaving it’s mark behind.
Icy words freeze my passion.
Strong sweet smells linger in the distance.

Somewhere in this world there’s got to be;
A little place just for me.
A little place where I can cook;
A little cranny or a nook.
But somewhere in this world there’s got to be.
A simple place just for me.

Copyright

Jaci Rae is the author of The Indie Guide to Music, Marketing and Money and Winning Points with the Woman in Your Life One Touchdown at a Time. Book Jaci for your next show: and hit contact button for her publicist.