Have you ever been to an art museum and looked at an abstract painting? Did you find yourself asking what was this artist thinking when he created this abstract painting? What on earth is an abstract painting? Maybe you are just wondering where the art of abstract painting came from. If you find yourself asking these questions then perhaps it is time you learn about the beauty of an abstract paining.The art of abstract painting began a very long time ago. Artists began this art several hundred years ago. In fact, you have probably seen some of the more famous abstract paintings before. You may recall a famous abstract painting created by Van Gogh. Picasso also had an abstract painting or two as well. Modigliani is also known for his abstract painting work. Because of these artists, and many others, the art of abstract painting has gained popularity in the modern world.Now what exactly is an abstract painting? An abstract painting is defined in many ways. First off, an abstract painting does not depict reality like traditional paintings. In the beginning, most art was depicting a photographic or realistic expression of someone or something. But an abstract painting does not do this. The definition of an abstract painting is that an abstract painting does not depict objects in the natural world. Rather, an abstract painting uses colors and shapes in a non-representing and nonobjective manner. It can be of anyone, anything, or just nothing at all.You can easily see this when you look at an abstract painting. An abstract painting has bold, bright, and vivid colors. An abstract painting also has many biometric shapes that are used with the bold colors to make the artwork stand out. It is both strange and beautiful to look at an abstract painting.In the 1940’s a movement called “Abstract Expressionism” was started. This movement was started to show the freedom of an artist’s expression and to push the art of abstract painting. It was started in New York in a school that also called it “Action Painting.” This school was one of the first American schools that declared its independence from the European style of artwork. They liked to think of their art as a form of spiritual and intellectual art. This then further pushed the art of abstract painting.Now that you know the history of the art of abstract painting you may come to understand it better. It is important to appreciate all forms of art, including the odd art of an abstract painting. You may find yourself wanting to get a piece of this artwork for yourself. It is truly an interesting thing to look at.
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Ever walk through a craft fair and say,
Crafting with young children really isn’t about creating something in particular. Most young children don’t have the foresight to see what a project is going to be.For young children it’s more important that they have the opportunity to play and experiment with art. Kids need to use as many of their senses as possible to get the most out of crafting. This allow them to try new sensory experiences, as well as learn causal relationships.These are my 10 favorite crafts for little kids based on all that AND the ‘fun factor.’1. Finger painting: Finger painting is a wonderful activity for kids. It lets them ‘feel’ the craft as well as be creative. You don’t have to have finger paints to do this activity with kids. You can finger paint with homemade paint, watercolors or even mud. You can also experiment with addingother things to the paint such as sand or glitter.2. Yarn Painting: Dip pieces of string or yarn into paint and then drag it across the paper to paint with it. It’s a good experience to paint with something other than a brush and you can just throw the yarn away when finished.3. Q-Tip Painting: Use Q-tips to create a painting. There are lots of ways to use a Q-tip - scrub, dot, or use it like a brush. It’s a good coordination exercise because Q-tips are small around, but it also provides a lot of interest for the child.4. Glue Art: Draw squiggle lines on a piece of paper or let the child use their finger to make random glue spots or patterns on a piece of paper. Experiment with adding different objects to the glue. Sand, glitter, cotton, yarn, feathers, and tissue paper all work well.5. Salt Dough Sculpture: Make a batch of salt dough and turn the kids loose with it. You don’t have to worry about them eating it (it’s safe and tastes terrible) and clean up is easier than play dough. If you want to keep their creations, let them dry overnight and then paint them the next day.6. Toe Painting: If it’s a warm summer day, put on the swimsuits, put some finger paint into pie tins, lay out large sheets of poster paper, and let them ‘paint’ all afternoon. They will have a ball and all you have to do is hose them off when they are done (that’s my kids’ favorite part actually!)7. Found Object Art: This project is always a sure thing because kids love to ‘discover’ things. Let your child gather up leaves, sticks, flowers, etc. and then glue them onto a piece of paper. When they are done, let them tell you about their collection.8. Peanut Pictures: Every kid loves to play with packing peanuts — but it makes such a mess. Let them create pictures with them instead. Kids can draw on them, glue them to a sheet of paper, or glue the peanuts to each other to make a sculpture. The kids will love it!9. Sticker Play: Turn your child loose with a bunch of stickers, markers, and a sheet of paper and let them create. It’s good for little ones to work on their coordination, and it’s fun!10. Stamping: Kids love to use any kind of stamps. My favorites are the self-inking stamps or the double-sided markers with the stamps on one end. This may sound like pure play, but is also teaches young children cause and effect.
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Sometimes your leather goods need a little help and you’ve got the urge to dye or paint it. With dye it’s pretty straight forward, but if you want to paint it there’s a little more involved to make it look good.Whenever you are attempting a project like this, always test it out on a scrap piece first. When using different pigments, be sure to let one dry before adding the next color.What to UseUse water-based acrylic paints designed for leather because they are more flexible than ordinary acrylics. If painting the entire surface of the leather, check to see if your leather goods are vegetable-dyed, as they absorb the paint better than leather goods tanned by other methods.Not sure if the leather goods are vegetable-dyed? Test a scrap piece to see how well it absorbs the paint.What to DoBegin by cleaning the leather goods, using a solution of one ounce of leather bleach to one pint of water, applying the solution with a soft brush or wool dauber. You can also lightly sponge the leather with water prior to painting in order to ensure a more even absorption of color. Don’t soaked it, just get it damp.Applying the PaintYou can paint over a large area of the leather goods or just a small part for highlighting effects. If you want to do the former, paint over the leather first with a water-diluted solution of the paint. In this way, you’ll prepare the surface of the leather goods to receive the undiluted paint.Use one part paint and one part water, and apply in broad, even strokes with a wool dauber. Add more water if the leather is not absorbing the solution, and more paint if the color is not showing sufficiently. Two coats of the solution should be applied, leaving sufficient time between coats for the paint to be absorbed but for the leather to still be somewhat damp and not dry. Try this out first on a scrap piece of leather and take your time.Applying Undiluted PaintNow it
You’re finally off to the stone yard/ showroom to pick out your stone. But, what exactly are you looking for? How do you know which stone is a good stone? Here’s a quick guide to help you find that perfect stone!One of the first things you are going to want to do is check the surface of the stone. Some stones polish smooth while others have dimples, pitting, or fissures running through them. Run your hands over the stone and use a flashlight to check the character of the stone. Being a natural product, fissures and dimples aren’t a bad thing. They are characteristics of the stone. But, is it a characteristic you like?Also under good light, check for fractures or deep long lines and scratches that are running through the stone. These may weaken the stone or cause it to break. Sometimes fissures can be cut around. If you have any questions on a particular stone, call your fabricator and get his opinion.Look for blemishes in the stone. Strange swirls or large masses may be an eyesore to you and a selling point to me. Look over the entire slab and choose a stone based on what is visually appealing to you.Your fabricator will have let you know how many slabs you need. If you need more than one, make sure the slabs have consecutive numbers. This just tells you that the slabs are from the same block in the same quarry. Slabs from differentareas in the same quarry can vary dramatically. Once you choose your stone, you have the slab(s) put on hold. It’s a good idea to have them hold an extra slab or two for you. Make sure you are VERY CLEAR at the showroom about the slabs you want held.You may want to find out how expensive the stone is. Most showrooms will not give you exact pricing but they will tell you if it’s in the high or low range. The blue stones are absolutely beautiful and tend to be in the high range. Any uniques also tend to be priced higher. Bring along your cell phone with your fabricators number so you can get the price per square foot on a particular stone.So, which stone is the best stone? It’s simply the stone with the perfect color, pattern, price, and characteristics for you.
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Soapstone is soft and warm to the touch. I’s smooth, slippery, and silky. It is a traditional and old fashioned natural stone. The look is warm and inviting. Charming, rustic, and rich looking yet versatile enough to fit comfortably within the modern home. Soapstone has been used for centuries in our homes. It’s also the countertop of choice in our science labs. This is a simple and subtle stone which conveys grounding and harmony. It truly emits old world charm.Soapstone is a siliceous natural stone which consists mainly of talc and chlorite. There are actually two types of soapstone. The artistic soapstone which is used for carvings and sculptures contains a higher talc content. The other type of soapstone, also known as steatite, is used for architectural purposes. Soapstone is used for countertops, sinks, and vanities. Architectural soapstone contains a lesser amount of talc. The more talc the stone contains, the softer the stone.Since it is a siliceous stone, it is unaffected by acids such as wine, lemons, and vinegar. Special cleaners aren’t required either. Any household cleaner will do. This is a very dense stone. Soapstone weighs an average of 20 lbs. per square foot! It is a non-porous stone and will not absorb liquids and stains like other natural stones will.It is also heat resistant. Setting a hot pot of noodles on your soapstone countertop won’t scorch or burn it. In fact, some cookware is made of soapstone.If you should put in a soapstone counter top, you wouldn’t want to cut on it. Soapstone is very soft. It’s so soft it can be almost be scratched with a fingernail. Over time, the edges will soften and you’ll start to see small nicks, scratches, and indentations. If you like the aged antique look, the patina of this natural stone might be perfect for you. It will age gradually and gracefully. If you don’t care for all the small nicks and scratches, a little mineral oil or a light sanding will smooth out the stone.So, what is soapstone used for? It has a variety of uses. It’s best known for it’s heat retention. Soapstone is used extensively for fireplace hearths, wood stoves, masonry fireplaces, fireplace liners, and pizza ovens. It’s also used for sinks, countertops, island tops, sills, flooring, and shower stalls. It’s used for mixing bowls, carvings, sculptures, benches, and planters. It comes in slabs (large pieces/blocks of stone) or tiles. This is a soft stone which is very easy to carve and work with. Let your imagination flow…..The colors of soapstone are rich and beautiful. They convey calmness. From ash gray to smoky blue-grays to a rich charcoal black. Some stones have flecks of green and blue and contrasting veins twisting throughout the stone. Mineral oil is used to enhance and deepen the color. The stone color becomes more dramatic. Mineral oil also helps to darken the stone evenly and bring out the natural beauty of the stone. The use of mineral oil isn’t mandatory. Soapstone will eventually take on its own patina with time and use. It will darken with age. Usually it takes about a year to realize the full depth of color of your soapstone.It is available in a honed or matte finish. Since it is a soft stone, a polished or shiny finish is unavailable.Soapstone will last many lifetimes if treated with care. It will develop it’s own unique patina based on you and your lifestyle. It is a soft stone, softer than other natural stones. But, it doesn’t burn, it isn’t porous, it won’t stain, and acids won’t etch it. Soapstone care is also minimal. If you want to achieve a traditional rustic look, soapstone may be your answer.
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