Make Old World Walls

Old World decorating styles like Tuscan or French country have several defining features, including stone-textured walls. In Europe, these walls were created from actual stone and plaster, but for modern homeowners, these materials aren't always feasible. However, that doesn't mean you can't have the same look. Making faux textured walls in the Old World style is quite simple. It requires a bit of paper, some glue and a few coats of paint.

Instructions

1. Prepare the brown paper. You want the kind that resembles the paper from which brown paper bags are made. To prepare the paper, tear off the edges so that the paper will have "jagged" edges. Tear it with your hands instead of cutting it with scissors. Leave some pieces with one flat edge to use at the corners of the walls and ceiling.

2. Crinkle up the paper. Wrinkle it into a ball. The wrinkling creates the texture for the walls. You'll probably have to really work hard to wrinkle the paper quite a bit since brown bag paper tends to be quite thick. Unwrinkle the paper and smooth it out with your hands. Do this with all the sheets.

3. Make the sponge brushes damp. Squeeze out all the excess water. You don't want the brushes to be too wet, because it'll ruin the paper. However, you do want them wet enough to work with the glue.

4. Add glue to the wall using a sponge roller; this won't leave brush hairs in the glue.

5. Apply the wrinkled paper to the glue.

6. Smooth out the paper with your brush. Allow some of the wrinkles to remain in the paper, because this gives the wall its textured look.

7. Add more paper to the wall and allow it to overlap some of the edges of the piece you just applied. Do this with all of them. Repeat the smoothing process with all of them as well.

8. Let the glue dry according to the instructions on the bottle.

9. Apply the base coat of paint. Use the lighter color for this, because you want it to look like rock peeking through the paint.

10. Allow the paint to dry according to the can's instructions.

11. Mix up the darker colored paint with the glaze --- about half and half.

12. Dab the glazed paint on with an old towel and then wipe away the excess. Do this a number of times until you get the look you desire.

What Does Graphic Designing Involve

According to The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), graphic design "is a creative process that combines art and technology to communicate ideas." Using imagery and type, designers take a client's message and present it in such a way that the audience can easily access and understand the message.

Elements

All graphic design projects make use of images and type. Imagery can take on many forms including photography, illustration, paintings and drawings. Type involves not only the chosen typeface, or font, but also includes the words themselves. Connecting the words and images to tell stories is the main purpose of graphic design.

Tools

Depending on the message and purpose of the project, designers can use a variety of tools to complete the project. Most printed design projects are created on a computer using software packages such as Adobe InDesign for page layout and Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for photo manipulation and image creation. These projects are then printed. Video projects utilize video cameras, audio equipment and editing software, while web design projects rely on image creation software and computer code. Based on the imagery selected, designers may use cameras or create artwork by hand using any number of artist mediums.

Education

Those seeking education in graphic design can obtain an undergraduate degree from a college or university or trade school, a masters degree from a university or on the job training. Aside from the technical skills necessary to use the graphic design software and hardware, successful designers need to understand a multitude of topics and theories including form and structure, composition, visual metaphor, signs and symbols and persuade and inform people.

Applications

The art of graphic design can be seen almost anywhere. Designers work on projects ranging from every day things such as the design of your cereal box or the artwork on your t-shirt to the way-finding system at a major amusement park. Graphic design projects span from tiny business cards to large billboards and from the logo on your toothbrush to the designs on the side of airplanes.

Make My Walls Inside Look Like A Log Cabin

Log siding can create a cabin look in any room.

You can have the rustic look of log cabin walls even if you don't live in such a house. Interior log siding are panels of rounded wood connected using a simple tongue-and-groove system that give any room that cozy log cabin feeling.

Instructions

1. Measure your room and cut all logs to the necessary dimensions. The vertical corner logs should be one inch shorter than the height of the ceiling, while each piece of siding needs to be short enough to fit between two corner logs when installed.

2. Screw a vertical log into each corner, positioning them with half an inch of space both above and below. Drive the screws in close to the parallel wall, so the horizontal siding will obscure them when installed.

3. Nail half inch wood shims at the base of the wall and slide the foundation log into position on top of them, tongue-side pointing upward. Use a stud-finder to locate your wall's wood studs and screw the log to them, positioning the screws near the bottom edge of the log. Drive nails diagonally through the top of the log and into the studs at regular intervals for added stability.

4. Slide the next log into place, fitting its slot over the tongue of the foundation log and covering the lower log's nails. Use a block to tap it until it fits tightly if you have trouble sliding it down all the way. Nail this log along the top as well, positioning the nails to match the wall's studs.

5. Continue adding logs, one on top of the other, until you reach the ceiling. If your wall is wider than the logs are long, cut a second log to length of the gap and slide it into place, tapping it down with a block. Slide it over slightly with a chisel inserted between the end of the log and the corner, tightening the seam between the two logs. Follow the same process for all other walls.

Make My Photos Into Art Prints

If you hang a lot of photos in your home, the decor may start to get boring after a while. You can shake things up a bit by altering the appearance of your photos, so that they resemble art prints. Creating art-like prints from your photographs can be done using the filters available in graphic design programs, like Photoshop. Once you have altered your photos, you can print them so that they look like a poster or a painting.

Instructions

1. Open Photoshop or a similar graphics program on your computer. Go to the "File" menu, click "Open" and browse for a photo that you would like to turn into an art print on the computer's hard drive. When you locate the photo, click on the file name and press the "Open" button to open the image in Photoshop.

2. Crop the image so that it cuts out any distracting objects in the background and has a more in attention-grabbing look. To crop, select the "Crop Tool" from the toolbar, left-click on the photo and hold the button down while dragging a box around the part of the photo that you want to use. Release the button on the mouse to make the box appear and click on the "Crop Tool" on the toolbar again. Click the "Crop" button in the confirmation popup that appears.

3. Change the lighting of the photo by using Photoshop's lighting tools. The lighting tools are found under the "Image" menu and "Adjustments." There are numerous lighting tools available, such as "Brightness/Contrast," "Shadow/Highlight" and "Exposure." These tools work in the same basic way. By changing the levels, you can turn the lighting level of the image up or down.

4. Open the Photoshop "Filters" features to use filters to give the image an artistic appearance. To get to the filters, go to the "Filter" menu, hover over "Artistic" and choose any filter from the list of options. Once inside the "Filters" window, you will be able to choose any of the "Artistic" filters.

5. Try out filters on your photograph until you find one that gives the photo the look that you are trying to achieve. To view what a filter does to the photograph, click on the name of the filter in the filter pane. The photo in the left picture pane will change accordingly.

6. Adjust the size of the brush strokes, the level of texture and other aspects of the filter in the right hand pane of the filter window. Monitor the changes to the photo in the left pane. Once you have made your selections, click "OK" for the filter to take effect and to return to the main screen of Photoshop.

7. Save the altered photo as a new picture file. Go to the "File" menu and select "Save as." Select a folder for the file to save in, enter a name for the file and click "Save."

8. Print the altered photo on high-quality gloss paper or have the photo printed onto canvas. High-quality gloss paper will give the image a fine art poster appearance, while canvas prints mimic paintings.

Make My Own Cartoon Face

Drawing your own cartoon face can be fun and easy.

The challenge of cartooning is often underestimated by individuals until they decide to try to create a cartoon face themselves. Often a beginning artist feels overwhelmed by the task of simplifying the human body and exaggerating facial features. Without proper guidance, making your own cartoon face can seem impossible. The best way to overcome this hurdle is to break down the process using the principles of figure drawing. Once you master these fundamentals, you can create cartoon faces with ease.

Instructions

Study Cartooning

1. Review your reference picture of a cartoon character. (You can find a reference picture by following a link in the resource section below.) Use a picture that employs a drawing style that appeals to you. Note how the artist simplifies the character's body, such as the eyes, facial outline and clothing. Also note where the style exaggerates body features such as eye size, nose shape and facial expression.

2. Using your reference picture as a guide, practice drawing the outlines of faces. Do not try to create a finished picture. Instead, focus on becoming comfortable drawing in a simplified cartoon style. Work quickly and do not erase any mistakes you make.

3. Sketch facial details individually, such as the eyes, nose and mouth. Practice simplifying each detail in different ways to develop your cartoon style. Work quickly and continue to practice until you feel ready to create your own cartoon face.

Make Your Cartoon Face

4. Create the rough draft of your character's face. Draw a circle to create the basic shape of the head. Using a pencil, draw a vertical line down the center of the circle to map out the facial features. Draw a line extending from the bottom of the head to create the neck. Map the placement of the eyes by sketching a horizontal line across the vertical guideline.

5. Draw the basic outline of the face using your rough draft as a guide. Start by developing the shape of the character's chin and skull. Extend the shape of the chin away from your circle. Draw the chin large and long for a traditional cartoon look, or small and more simplified for a modern look. Draw the shape of the character's neck. Lightly sketch the outline of the character's hair, keeping the strands thick and simple.

6. Sketch the facial features of your character. Draw the eyes along the horizontal line you created earlier. Keep the shape and detail of the eyes as simple as possible. Sketch a small U-shaped line below the eyes to create the nose. Draw the character's mouth, making it large for a cartoon effect. Add ears on the sides of the character's head if visible.

7. Erase the markings of your rough draft. Shade in the pupils of the eyes with a pencil. If the mouth is open, shade it as well, omitting the basic shape of the tongue. Add some detail into the character's hair using curved lines along the bangs. Review your drawing and correct any mistakes you find.

8. Ink your drawing by tracing over the lines with a black pen. Keep the outline of the character's face thicker than the lines used for inner details. Work slowly and correct any other mistakes you find before inking. Erase all your pencil markings for a clean look. Add shading to your drawing using a cross-hatching method with the pen.

Make Music With A Blade Of Grass

You can make music with almost anything, even a blade of grass. Blowing on a blade of grass between your thumbs almost sounds like a trumpet. You can make music by altering how tight the grass is stretched between your thumbs and thereby altering the pitch. The following steps will show you make music with a blade of grass.

Instructions

1. Search for a strong, wide, thick blade of grass. It must be at least as long as your forefinger and not have any tears or holes in it. Pluck the piece of grass carefully from the ground as close to the root as you can.

2. Hold up your left hand in a loose fist with your thumb pointing upward. Your thumbnail must be turned toward you.

3. Put your right hand up next to your left hand with the blade of grass flat along the right side of the thumb.

4. Bring your hands together and hold the grass between your thumbs. There should be a gap between the first and second joints of your thumbs where the grass is not touching either the right or left thumb.

5. Maneuver the grass so that it is stretched tightly in the gap between your thumbs and put this area to your mouth so the gap is against your lips.

6. Pucker your lips as if you were going to blow out a candle and blow hard into this gap. You will be able to hear the loud sound the grass makes if you do it correctly.

7. Make different pitches by flexing your thumbs to make music. The tighter the grass is stretched, the higher the pitch it makes.

Make Money Writing Catalog Entries

Freelance writers have so many opportunities available to them. One such opportunity is writing catalog entries. This is a specialized field in commercial copywriting. It isn’t easy to break into, but once the freelancer has “arrived,” they usually have a lucrative career writing catalog entries. Follow these steps and you will be on your way to making money writing catalog entries.

Instructions

Make Money Writing Catalog Entries

1. Research the markets. Chances are you won’t be hired for Sears or J.C. Penny’s off the bat, so look in your local area. Contact the local Chamber of Commerce and ask about the businesses in the area that use catalogs. They may need entries for the catalog of local businesses they have. Check your junk mail. You may have received a local catalog you could potentially write for. Don’t forget catalogs written specifically for the internet.

2. Read many catalogs. This can not be stressed enough. Read every catalog you can get your hands on. Know how the entries are written. Look for similarities in the entries. Take notes. Write down what you like and don’t like about the entries, as well as what you remember about the entries. Pay attention to the concise, yet descriptive language used. Be prepared to write in the same way.

3. Create a portfolio. Select your best work and compile it in a portfolio. It isn’t necessary for your work to be published or even purchased. “Fake it ‘til you make.” As long as it is your work, your words, it doesn’t matter to potential clients if you have or haven’t sold it. All they care about is if you can write the copy they expect and need.

4. Market yourself. Contact those companies with catalogs. Knock on doors. Mail, fax and email your resume and writing samples to those companies. Leave your business cards wherever you think they might be found by someone needing catalog entries written for them.

5. Set your price. This is not easy. Catalog entries can earn anywhere from $50 to $150 per entry or $200 to $650 per catalog page. Of course, this depends on your area and the size of business your are pitching your services to. Research the prices in your area and set your prices accordingly. Expect to be paid less if the business is small or if you have little experience writing catalog entries.

6. Write the catalog entries. Give the client what they want. Clear, concise, and descriptive copy is what they are looking for. It must be crisp and fresh, without empty adjectives and adverbs. It should appeal to as many of the five senses as possible. Short, to the point, memorable, original and engaging are the best ways to describe the best catalog entries.

Make Money As A Freelance Makeup Artist

Being a freelance makeup artist isn't easy. This is meant to be a basic guide for what you need to get started and make money. Good luck!

Instructions

Build Your Portfolio

1. Find a professional photographer who you can work with on a regular basis--even if it's for free. If they are shooting quality work, your work will look better. Polaroids and digital snapshots will not work when you have to show your book or website to potential clients.

2. Only work with quality models. If you want to nothing but high fashion, then you should find high-fashion models to work with. If you want to do commercial work, then you should find commercial models to work with. If you want to bridal makeup, then you should find brides to model for you. Just because your best friend down the street is beautiful does not mean that she will represent the type of image you need for your portfolio.

3. Make sure your images are presented professionally. You could spend some money on a website, get a leather-bound portfolio or, if you are on a budget, create a web gallery. Just make sure it looks clean and professional.

Have Your Own Makeup Kit

4. Unless you plan on working at department stores forever, you going to have to invest in your kit. No one will have a makeup kit waiting for you when you walk into a photo shoot.

5. Be prepared. You will need foundations, concealers, eye shadows and blushers in every color. At many photo shoots, you'll need to tools to cover up a tattoo or birthmark. You need to have everything with you at all times.

6. Keep it clean and stay organized. Your makeup kit represents you as a makeup artist. If people see you have dirty brushes and missing color palettes, your career could be threatened. Your reputation is what is going to get more work.

Network, Network, Network

7. Check Craigslist, talk to artist reps, talk to photographers, talk to producers, make friends with modeling agents and go to industry parties. The more friends you have in your line of work, the better connected you'll be.

8. Follow up with people. When you update your portfolio, send out an email to all of your contacts. If someone gives you a card and tells you about a potential gig, call them the next day. Be aggressive.

9. Make friends with other makeup artists. I don't know how many times I've gotten work from an overbooked friend, and vice versa.

Many people think of other makeup artist as competition, but they have been big help to me.

Draw A Mouse Head

Drawing a mouse can be accomplished with simple shapes, making it one of the easiest subjects an artist can attempt. Using basic shapes, a simple mouse head can be drawn in less than two minutes, making it an ideal subject for artists who need something easy to doodle to pass the time.

Instructions

1. Draw a triangle with the single point facing toward the bottom of your page. Keep the lines light so you can erase them later on. Draw a small circle that slightly overlaps the bottom tip of the triangle. These two shapes form the head and nose of the mouse.

2. Draw two circles, each one overlapping the upper points of the triangle. These are going to be the mouse's ears. Draw a smaller oval inside each of these ovals to create the insides of the ears.

3. Draw two small circles on the face of the triangle, side by side at about the center point of the triangle. These are going to be the eyes of your mouse.

4. Erase the straight edges of your triangle and replace them with more rounded lines. The lines should occupy the same space occupied by the triangle. Your goal is to round the mouse's head out slightly, giving it a more realistic appearance.

5. Draw six horizontal lines, three on each side of the nose. These are the mouse's whiskers. Draw the lines so they extend away from the sides of the mouse's head. There's no set length, just as long as they are clearly definable as whiskers.

6. Color the eyes black and the nose and insides of the ears pink, then color the rest of your mouse gray. Use colored pencils or marker.

Make Mixed Media Original Art Collages

Art collages can use most any mixed media.

Make mixed media original art collages for original art to enjoy or share. If you're a collector of fabric, trinkets, paper, ticket stubs or old skeleton keys, you have the makings for original art collages. Original mixed media art collages can be a fun project to make with a child. Or create a one-of-a-kind piece of wall art for a friend using special elements that are meaningful to each of you.

Instructions

1. Gather the supplies to make an original mixed media art collage. No two original art collages are the same so gather as much stuff as you have and begin setting up designs that are appealing.

2. Select the base, which is the foundation of the art collage. The layering and techniques involved will dictate what type of base to use. For a tactile, chunky layered look, a stiff, solid base like a painting canvas or book cover are good options. To decoupage directly onto the base, a piece of glass can work.

3. Begin adding the largest pieces to the base. This might be fabric or a large piece of paper. Adhere the pieces securely, by stapling, sewing or gluing. Decide if you need to add embellishments to the large piece; that is, sew items to fabric before gluing the fabric to the base. Do any of this before affixing the large pieces to the base.

4. Add embellishments. This can involve sewing on buttons or other trinkets, painting an image on paper, embroidering an image or words on fabric. This step is where you can get creative.

5. Add the finishing touches. If painting, after the paint is dry, a light wash over the top with a muted brownish color can give an antique look to art collages. Sprinkling glitter over certain areas is another option to finished mixed media pieces.

Make Mixed Media Art

Using mixed media in art means using more than one type of art supply, such as paint and ink, paint and pastels, pastels and ink, and so on. You can even use various small items such as buttons, leaves and beads. The wonderful thing about mixed media art is that there are absolutely no boundaries; you can throw anything together to create something.

Instructions

1. Begin with a clean canvas. Canvas is sturdy enough to hold any attached items and can withstand any amount of paint or other wet media that you wish to use.

2. Dip a paintbrush into any paint of your choice and glide it across the canvas. You can paint something specific, such as a landscape, or create abstract and non-objective designs, such as splatters or strange shapes. You can use any type of paint that you'd like, but in mixed media it's a good idea to stick to acrylic or watercolor paints because oil paints take a very long time to dry and sometimes don't mix well with other media. Allow the paint to dry.

3. Add extra details to the painting by using pastels, inks or permanent markers. Use the ink and markers to outline parts of the painting to make them stand out. Use the pastels to add extra color or blending to the piece.

4. Glue any small items that you'd like to the art piece. You can create a border using the small items or just use them as simple embellishments to accent certain parts of the art piece. If you'd like to add a photo or paper printout, glue it to the canvas and use a medium to blend it into the painting. For example, dab some paint around the perimeter of the photo or scribble over the photo with the pastels to make it match the rest of the piece.

5. Allow the piece to completely dry before hanging it up or using it elsewhere.

Make Metal Mesh For Modeling

An abstract wire shape

Crafting wire comes in many gauges with the versatility of movement ranging from pliable to firm. This makes it ideal for many arts and crafts projects. Also known as picture or florist's wire, it can be used to make jewelry, aid in costuming and make the framework for a variety of models. A wire frame model is an ideal foundation piece that can be covered with clay, paper mache or fabric.

Instructions

1. Select your type of wire. Lower gauges are going to be sturdier, but harder to bend and shape. A 22-24 gauge wire is ideal to start with, unless you're using a particularly heavy material to cover your model.

2. Unwrap some wire from the spool, using your fingers to bend and shape it into your desired model. Use multiple pieces to add to your structure.

3. Wire with loops

Make small loops in your wire to thread other wire through. This will keep your model sturdy.

4. Add wire mesh to the larger gaps between the supports, if needed.

5. Cut the wire from the spool with wire cutters once the wire mesh model is complete. Cover with whatever material you choose.

Make Limited Edition Photographic Prints

Create limited edition prints to make them more valuable.

Creating a group of limited edition photographs will increase the amount of sales possible for one photograph. If you want to produce a collection of prints, it is important to have a good amount of prints made. But if you are a well-known photographer, it may be best to stick to a lower number so that the profit on each print will be higher. The more the print is available, the less valuable it will be to the art collector.

Instructions

1. Locate a good print shop that will print your photograph in a high quality manner. To find a high quality print shop, read reviews, ask friends and ask specific questions. Things such as equipment, service and price may be factors in your overall choice. If you are printing your own photograph in a darkroom, disregard.

2. Determine the number of prints you want your limited collection to have. Anywhere from one to 200 prints are considered fine art photography.

3. Sign each print. Use any kind of writing tool that you are comfortable with. Traditionally, this will be done in the bottom right hand corner. A signed print will add value.

4. Number each print. If you have chosen to have 100 printed, number them 1/100 which translates to one out of 100 printed. Continue this for each print.

Learn The Modern Art Of Protest

The modern art of protest is the art of getting attention. There's no point protesting something if no one else knows you are doing it. If you get enough people on your side, you could provoke change with your protest. Therefore, publicity in this modern era of media saturation is essential. Follow these steps to learn the modern art of protest.

Instructions

1. Focus on your target audience. Convincing people who already support you is a waste of time. Trying to change those diametrically opposed to you is pointless. Figure out who hasn't made up their mind yet but could be swayed to your side. Their support can help you get what you want.

2. Come up with an attention grabbing idea. PETA always gets on the news because they do outrageous things like having naked women go out in public to protest fur coats. The modern art of protest is all about media friendly events. Anything you decide to do should stop traffic. Otherwise the media wont care.

3. Organize your supporters. Gather together others who believe as you do. Enlist them to help you in your protest. Email, chat rooms and phone trees can all help you recruit followers.

4. Schedule your protest for the greatest impact. If your protest takes place on a busy news day it is less likely to be covered by the media. Late mornings and early afternoons on weekends tend to be the slowest time for news. Consider scheduling your protest then. If your protest would make a great live shot on the TV news then do it during the local morning news from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. or afternoon broadcasts from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

5. Advertise your intentions. Write out a media release and be sure every media outlet in town gets it. Both email and regular mail copies to everyone. Follow up with phone calls the day before the protest. The media release should be straight forward and simple. State your intentions and details of who, what, where and when. Contact people and their phone numbers should be prominent in the media release.

6. Be media friendly. During your event have designated people looking for reporters. Approach them and ask if they need any elements for their story. Provide easy access to people to interview, video opportunities and information. Have a focused message. Do not try to tell them everything. Keep your argument simple and straight forward.

7. Follow up. Watch the news and read the newspaper to see how much buzz you created. Put pressure on those whom you are protesting and let them know you will do it again if your demands are not met. If you make progress approach the media with a story about your results. If little changed protest again. This time top yourself and come up with something even more memorable.

Involuntary Muscles In The Human Body

The human heart is an involuntary muscle.

Your nervous system automatically controls involuntary muscles in your body. These muscles can stretch and maintain tension over long periods. They save you from the time-consuming regulation of your breathing, digestion, blood circulation and your heart. There are two kinds of involuntary muscles: visceral and cardiac. Smooth muscle tissue makes up these muscles and the cells have a spindle shape, no striations and a central nucleus.

The Heart

Cardiac muscle, found only in the heart, can stretch like visceral muscle and contract like skeletal muscle. Short single contractions give it its name: twitch muscle. The autonomic nervous system controls the contractions through electrical impulses. The heart pumps blood which delivers the proteins, enzymes, nutrients and other needed substances throughout the body, insuring life.

Internal Organs

You find visceral involuntary muscles in the digestive tract, respiratory passages, urinary and genital ducts, bladder, gallbladder and walls of the blood vessels. They contract more slowly than skeletal muscle with smooth, wavelike movements called peristalsis. For example, when you swallow food, the visceral muscles in the esophageal wall slide the food down to the stomach where muscles work with enzymes and stomach acids to break food down and gradually transfer it into the small intestine. The small intestine absorbs nutrients and peristalsis keeps the food moving through to the large intestine. There, the muscles in the walls move it to the rectum as the body reabsorbs water from it.

The Diaphragm

This dome-shaped muscle has the striated appearance of skeletal muscle but acts like both voluntary (skeletal) and involuntary muscle. It separates the abdomen from the chest cavity. When the doctor says to take a deep breath, you inhale and the diaphragm contracts downward to allow air to fill the lungs. When you exhale, it relaxes, compressing the lungs. You can control your breathing. However, you don't need to think about it. The autonomic nervous system also controls it and the diaphragm.

The Uterus

In women, the uterus or womb is a small, hollow, pear-shaped organ located in the lower central abdomen. Visceral involuntary muscle forms one layer of its wall. Hormones play a role in controlling uterine wall muscle. At the end of a woman's menstrual cycle, if an egg has not been fertilized, the uterus needs to shed its thickened inner lining. Decreasing levels of the hormones progesterone and estradiol signal the uterine wall muscles to contract. The contractions expel the uterine wall's inner lining. A pituitary hormone called oxytocin may give the signal to the uterus to begin labor to push a baby into the vaginal canal during birth.

Make Kids Arts & Crafts That Teach Artists' Styles

Ways for Kids to Make Art That Teaches Artists' Styles

Use kids arts & crafts activities to teach them about classic artists' style. While having fun with art projects there are many ways for kids to make art that has purpose and teaches them about famous artists. Use this project as one way to expose children to famous artists and teach them that artists have different styles. You do not need to be an expert on art styles. Utilize online resources about famous artists to assist you in showing them the different styles artists use. Fun and unique art pieces result from this kids arts & crafts activity for any age.

Instructions

1. Begin this kids arts & crafts project by exposing them to different styles of artists using books, exhibits and online resources. Some famous artists with both distinct styles and particularly familiar works include, Surrealist Salvador Dali ("The Persistence of Memory"), Realist Leonardo DaVinci ("Mona Lisa"), Impressionist Claude Monet ("Lily Pond"), Fauvist Henri Matisse ("The Snail"), Pointilist Paul Seurat ("Circus"), Pop Artist Andy Warhol ("Campbell's Soup Can"), Post Impressionist Vincent VanGogh ("Starry Night") and Cubist Pablo Picasso ("Dora Maar Au Chat"). Help children to become familiar with these artists, their different styles and famous works.

2. Have children choose two works of art, in different styles, that they like. Often kids arts & crafts activities have very rigid directions. Boost imagination and higher level thinking by finding ways for kids to make imaginative choices about art. Ask them a "What if..." question in the form of "What if the artist ___________ created that picture instead of artist _________? How do you think it would look?" For example, if your child chooses Picasso's "Dora Maar Au Chat" and DaVinci's "Mona Lisa," ask the question "What if Picasso had painted the "Mona Lisa" instead of DaVinci. Can you create what you think Picasso's "Mona Lisa" would look like?"

3. At this point in the project, let their imaginations run wild. Use any kids arts & crafts supplies that you have on hand. Any media works for this project. Force yourself not to find ways for kids to make their picture. Allow them to use their imaginations and combine media if they wish. Surprisingly wonderful creations immerge from this project when adults step aside.

Spot Fake Autographs

Obtain as much information about an autograph as possible, such as the date and circumstances of the signing.

Fake autographs are often applied to memorabilia, antiques and other merchandise to make the item appear more valuable than it is. Thankfully, spotting fake autographs is a simple task once you're aware of a few key identifiers.

Instructions

Identifying Fake Autographs

1. Feel the signature by running the pad of your thumb or forefinger over the area. Fake autographs are often stamped or otherwise mechanically reproduced. The lines of the autograph should be slightly indented. If the autograph is flat, then it may have been printed on. If you can feel the texture of ink laying atop the paper, ink may have been added atop a printed autograph. This technique will not work on non-paper materials such as fabric.

2. Turn the signature upside down and compare it to an authentic signature. Minor imperfections and slight differences between the two will be more readily visible at an unusual angle, and may provide evidence of falsification.

3. Look closely at the ink of the signature through a magnifying glass. If the signature was stamped, you may be able to identify the lines of the stamp. If the signature was printed, the ink may appear unnaturally smooth. Particularly old inks may have small spots where they have discolored.

4. Continue looking through the magnifying glass. If there are any very fine wobbles or inconsistencies throughout the signature, the signature may have been reproduced with an auto pen. Most people sign their signature in one continuous movement which does not produce such faults.

5. Hold the signature up to the light. If the signature's ink is too light, seems to have had equal pressure throughout or glows a purple or silver color, it is likely a fake. Many stamping inks will seem purple when seen against a light, and photographs that were signed as a negative, rather than as the actual photograph itself, will seem silvery.

Make Inferences About Characters While Reading

Understanding characters in a book you read is an essential part of enjoying the story. As a reader, you come to love or hate well-written characters when you get to know them. Characters you are ambivalent about are typically not well-written. Readers learn about characters in the books they read by drawing conclusions based on the actions and words of the characters. If the author has done his job, making these inferences about characters should not be difficult.

Instructions

1. Write notes about the characters if you're reading a book that has many different characters. You may not be able to make a lot of inferences in the beginning. Keeping notes about each character can help you keep them apart in your mind and will help you remember things you've learned about them as you progress through the story and gather more information about them.

2. Examine the words characters use and the way they use them. This might allow you to make inferences about a character's educational background and upbringing. Examine their actions. This might allow you to make inferences about whether or not a character is strong or weak, honest or dishonest. Example: "Mickey looked inside the wallet he'd found on the ground. He came across the thick stack of bills and ran his fingers over them, whistling his appreciation, then he looked around to make sure he was alone." A reader may be able to infer that Mickey is less than honest and a bit opportunistic from this passage. Although it hasn't been said, Mickey's actions suggest he is considering taking the money.

3. Write down everything you know about a character at the beginning of the book and everything you know about that character by the end of the book. Ask yourself if the character has changed. Ask yourself what the character may have learned during the course of the story and how that makes the character different. Use everything you've learned about the character to write a short profile about each character's traits. An exercise like this can help you better understand the characters in the books you read.

Graphic Design History

Graphic design is the art of creating print media, video and web graphics in the electronic or traditional media. Graphic design is the inherent grandchild to art history. Without the imagery of the masters behind the designer, they are nothing more than a typist with glue in their hands. Design starts back in the prehistoric era and continues through its digital grandchild of graphic design today.

B.C.

In the ancient and prehistoric worlds, graphic design was shown by way of pictographs and symbols. Hieroglyphics is another form of ancient design.

Second Through 15th Centuries

Paper was discovered in China by Ts'ai Lun, and Pi Sheng invented movable type in 1045 so designs and words could be placed and printed in specific creative order. The 15th century brought the first illustrated book by Albrecht Pfister, with Roman type being reinvented by Nicolas Jenson in 1470.

16th Through 18th Centuries

The first foundry for type was opened in1530 by Claude Garamond as he sold fonts to printers. In 1722, Caslon Old Style was founded, and the font was later used in the Declaration of Independence.

19th Century

The first cast-iron printing press was invented by Lord Stanhope in 1800, allowing for larger paper sizes and less labor. William Morris of design fame opened his first art decorating firm in 1861, while in 1880, the first halftone screen was founded, allowing design to blossom on many levels.

1900 to 1935

Bauhaus School of Modern Design was opened in 1919 and is the foundation of all graphic design in the current era. Stanley Morrison invented the New Times Roman font in 1932 for "The Times" of London.

Mid-20th to Early 21st Centuries

"Print" magazine was produced in 1940, and more fonts were discovered throughout the rest of the century. In 1984, Apple released the Mac, allowing for the introduction of bitmap graphics. To this day, graphic designers prefer the performance and software capabilities of a Mac over PC. Design software was introduced in 1985 by Aldus and Adobe, and desktop publishing came about in 1990.

Make Images Ready For Screen Printing

Screen printing is often used to customize T-shirts.

Screen printing uses a photo-sensitive emulsion to block certain areas of the screen and allow ink to be pushed through the open areas to print an image. The preparation of these screens can vary slightly based on preference and brand of emulsion used, but the basic process is the same. Once the screen has been created, it is placed over the substrate, ink is added, and a hard squeegee is used to force the ink through the screen.

Instructions

1. Select a single color image. Screen printing processes can only print one color at a time. Print this image onto a transparency sheet using black ink.

2. Secure the transparency sheet to the emulsion screen using clear tape.

3. Expose the transparency side of the screen to the light box's ultra violet light until developed. Times may vary, so check the packaging from your emulsion screen to determine the proper exposure time.

4. Remove the transparency. Place the emulsion under cool running water. The unexposed areas of the emulsion will begin to wash away as the image emerges.

5. Encourage this process gently with your fingers if necessary. Allow the screen to dry completely before printing.

Old World Paint Techniques

The term "old world" may be confusing to some. It does not officially describe any specific period of art history, so this particular classification can refer to just about anything premodern. The important thing to remember is that until the modern art period, paintings from the Western world were predominantly realistic in their portrayal of their subjects or were of a religious or mythological nature.

When trying to imitate the styles of any particular period, do your research first. Spend time studying, drawing what you see and reading about the paintings of that time period.

Ancient Art

Most ancient art available today is in the form of pottery and sculpture, but some ancient frescoes and paintings on wood and ceramics still exist. A key element to remember when you imitate the painting style of ancient masters is that they often used egg temperas, not oil paint. Their paintings were typically flat in appearance, and blending colors was tricky. Furthermore, the subjects in ancient paintings were somewhat stylized.

To imitate ancient styles, pick a subject that is grounded in ancient mythology. Use a flat background, and create a stylized, almost cartoonish portrayal of your subjects.

Medieval Art

Medieval art is nearly always religious in nature. Flat color still predominated because of the use of tempera paints and gold-leaf adornments. Linear perspective as it exists today was not discovered until the 15th century, so attempts to create depth and perspective were often distorted. Another quirky habit of medieval painters: They often proportioned children like small adults.

To imitate traditional medieval paintings, choose religious subjects. Paintings should be flat and somewhat stylized. Employ heavy use of symbolism.

Renaissance and Baroque Art

During the renaissance, oil paints became standard. They allowed artists to blend colors easily and create natural-looking shadows. With the discovery of linear perspective, paintings became highly realistic. Subjects were often secular or taken from the mythology of antiquity. Renaissance art and baroque art are often similar in appearance, but baroque art tends to involve more artistic flourishes and embellishments.

To imitate renaissance and baroque painting styles, paint your subjects highly realistically, with accurate use of linear perspective. Oil paints on canvas are appropriate.

Make Homemade Goop Kids Easy Craft Idea

"I'm bored." If that sounds all too familiar, consider a fun way to keep the kids busy: an easy craft project to make goop. Invest less than two bucks and five minutes of your time, and the kids will be singing your praises. So grab the supplies and entertain them with homemade goop. This slick, slimy putty will entertain folks aged 5 to 40.

Instructions

1. Assemble the ingredients in your kitchen.

2. Pour the cornstarch into the mixing bowl. Have the kids sift with their fingers. (Although this is an easy craft activity, keep napkins or a towel close by in case of spills.)

3. Pour the glue into the bowl. Mix well.

4. Mix water, food coloring and borax in a separate bowl. Mix until dissolved. If the food coloring stains fingers, use a little vinegar to remove it.

5. Pour the two mixtures together. Stir for three minutes, even after you see the homemade goop forming. This is to make sure it's mixed all the way through. Let the kids help with this part.

The Differences Between Traditional & Modern Art

Even artists working in traditional mediums like painting can create modern masterpieces.

Those not coming from a background in the arts often have difficulty realizing the profound differences between traditional and modern art. While many of these differences are rooted in the social circumstances under which art has been historically produced, there are also differences that you can discern by simply looking at the two types of art.

Subject Matter and "The Shock of the New"

Art critic Robert Hughes has described the affect of the avant-garde on the viewing public as "the shock of the new." While this is difficult to understand from a contemporary perspective, wherein new art is nearly always expected to be shocking (to the extent that the shock factor and its ready assimilation into universal acceptance almost makes it seem banal), there was a time when painting a naked woman in a non-religious context, surrounded by a group of men, seriously offended the public morale. This was the affect of Manet's legendary painting, "The Luncheon on the Grass," when it was first exhibited in Paris in 1863.

Abstraction vs. Figuration

Whereas traditional painting and sculpture was nearly always based on the human figure or the landscape, modern art broke with this tradition in what is commonly referred to as abstract art. In abstraction, nothing that we are able to recognize from the real world appears in the painting or sculpture. Rather, the artist conjures shapes and designs from his imagination and projects them into his own visual space. One prominent example of abstract painting is Joan Miro's "La Leçon de Ski" (1966). A group of artists in New York in the 1940s and 1950s known as the Abstract Expressionists would take this even further by privileging the act of painting itself over the finished product. Jackson Pollock is perhaps the most famous member of this group.

Traditional vs. Nontraditional Media

Whereas art has traditionally been defined within the parameters of painting, drawing, sculpture and architecture, throughout the 20th century these limitations have been transcended through the development of new media such as video art, performance art, land art and installation art. Even traditional mediums like painting and sculpture have been significantly altered. Artists like Robert Rauschenberg and Dieter Roth would forgo traditional materials like oil paint and clay, instead using found objects, junk and store-bought materials in fashioning their paintings and sculptures---often creating curious artworks that belonged neither to the traditional categories of painting OR sculpture.

Art Nouveau Furniture Styles

Art nouveau furniture is ornate and curvy.

According to the National Gallery of Art, Art Nouveau rose up in Europe and America at the end of the 19th century. The movement, which lasted from 1890 to 1914, was a rejection of classic Victorian solid forms and lines drawn from historic architecture. Art Nouveau celebrates curves, the female form, insect and plant life in everything from stained glass to building facades and home accessories like silverware and candelabras. It was eventually supplanted by Art Deco's clean forms, simplicity and feeling of industrial power and speed. Though Art Nouveau lasted only a short time, the movement left us with several styles of furniture that are still collectible today.

American Art Nouveau

Louis Comfort Tiffany and Frank Lloyd Wright were key American artists in the Art Nouveau movement. Both designed furniture, though Tiffany was famous for stained glass and Wright for architecture. Tiffany produced one-of-a-kind furniture on commission, incorporating natural forms using glass, wood and metal, singly and together, to enhance a client's home. Wright, who came along toward the end of the movement, designed furniture to fit his architecture, mostly made of wood. His chairs, tables, desks, beds and benches bear his trademark straight lines, and though they are highly prized, they are not forgiving to the curves of the human body.

Jugendstil, or German Art Nouveau

Henry van der Velde and Victor Horta were leading German artists who created the Jugendstil style of Art Nouveau. Furniture designed by van der Velde is unmistakable for its use of organic forms in an abstract way. His chairs, sofas and tables have simple, spare, extremely elegant curves. Victor Horta used steel, iron and wood to achieve his own effect, and was among the first architects of the movement to design furniture specifically for his buildings. Buffets and tables usually had square straight lines break into a fantasy of curves and complicated inlaid woods in Horta's hands.

French Art Nouveau

Hector Guimard, Louis Majorelle and Rene Lalique were major figures in French Art Nouveau design. Lalique, though perhaps best known for glass, made stunning tables and chairs for every occasion, with tables having glass tops held up by fantastic curved bases that evoke the female form and species of plant life, from cacti to lotus. Guimard, also an architect, favored long, elegant lines in his high-backed chairs. His tables have impossibly thin and wildly curved wood that plays with negative space and supporting structure. Majorelle fills out the French contribution to Art Nouveau with his incredible tables and chairs that evoke plant and flower forms in metal worked into and onto wood.

Start Oil Painting On A Canvas

Portland Headlight, Maine, Oil Painting

Painting in oil can be rewarding, yet somewhat challenging. The paint is smooth to apply, rich in color and slow drying. You can apply the paint until you get the look you want. It can be a little intimidating to start a painting. It helps to completely cover the canvas before getting to the more detailed painting. Coating all that white surface makes the process easier. You are less distracted when there is color on the canvas.

Instructions

1. Sketch an outline of your subject with a pencil or No. 1 paintbrush dipped in a light brown color thinned with turpentine. It is important to keep buildings, still-life articles and scenery in proper perspective.

2. Lightly draw in your horizon line, which is important to the scenic painting. Note the horizon line in the lighthouse painting.

3. Choose your background color. Squeeze a quarter-sized dollop on your palette. Dip the brush tip into the background paint. Stroke the brush on the canvas. Using the painting as a guide, fill the sky with light blue paint, the rock area with light brown or gray.

4. Choose a color for your subject. Squeeze the paint the on palette. Dip the brush in paint, and staying within the outline, stroke paint on the canvas. In the lighthouse area, you would fill the area in with white.

5. Continue adding main colors until the canvas is covered. You are now ready to work in greater detail to finish your painting.

Make Hollow Beads

Keep your clay from sticking to the dowel by first covering the dowel in foil.

Make your own hollow clay beads for jewelry or craft projects in the comfort of your kitchen and with materials you already have on hand, plus the conditioned polymer clay. Make several batches of beads at once, and organize your dried beads on strands by color and size. Roll out pasta machine-flattened clay over raised molds to create textured, patterned beads. For a shiny finish instead of matte, cover your completed beads with a coat of polyurethane.

Instructions

1. Roll your wooden dowel into your foil piece, stopping with a ½-inch of the foil’s edge remaining. Line this edge with glue, and then continue rolling. Wipe off any glue oozing out from the edge.

2. Send the clay through your pasta machine. Lay it out over a piece of parchment paper. Cut out a long, thin strip of clay from one edge. Wrap it around the dowel. Cut off the excess left on the strip once you’ve completely encircled the dowel; now you know how long to make your bead strips.

3. Cut out enough bead strips to this length to make as many beads as you need; the width of the strips is up to you. Wrap the strips around the dowel. Lightly roll the dowel to smooth the strips and strengthen their seams.

4. Preheat the oven to the heat mentioned in your clay’s included directions. Balance your dowel over the edges of the shorter side of your baking dish. Bake your clay as long as instructed by your clay’s directions.

5. Pull the beads off the dowel. Paint the beads with acrylic paint to finish your hollow bead project.

Make Hidden Pictures

What's hidden in the Mona Lisa?

Many artists enjoy sketching or painting hidden images within their larger works. The media has suggested often that the works of Leonardo da Vinci, including the Mona Lisa, contained hidden images and messages. This type of art is often referred to as camouflage art and gained wide attention with an artistic technique called Magic Eye, introduced in the 1990s, that incorporated hidden text and images within a larger artistic design that became apparent after staring at the image for several minutes. Learn how you can create hidden pictures within your sketches and paintings.

Instructions

1. Determine the medium you want to use to present your hidden image art. It works the same way whether you paint or sketch. The hidden images will need to be sketched in regardless of the medium you choose to work with. You'll build your main image around them.

2. Sketch your hidden image or images with pencil, very lightly. You can do several small images or one large image. Getting the hidden images placed on canvas or in your sketch pad is a crucial step because you will be building another image around them.

3. Sketch your larger image onto your canvas or in your sketch pad. Sketch it around your hidden image or images. As you sketch, consider ways to make elements of your larger image from some of the elements of your hidden image. Integrate the hidden image with the obvious image in such a way that they are connected but work independently as well. You don't want people who view your work to find the hidden images easily, but you don't want to make it impossible either.

4. Add paint or darker pencil shading to develop your main image around the hidden image. Keep in mind that you want the images to share colors, but use different shades for both the hidden and main images. If the colors in the hidden images are drastically different than the colors in the main image, your hidden images will stand out to much.

5. Blend your hidden images with your main image. Step back from your sketch or painting and look at it naturally. Determine if the hidden images are too easily seen. Keep in mind that you know where they are, so it will be easier for you to see them. You'll need to keep your focus on the main image and try to ignore the hidden images. The main image should pop off the canvas first. Hidden images are secondary and should only come into view as you stare at the art piece. Blend the edges with your fingers or by using a paint thinner to ensure that the lines between the main art and the hidden art make a smooth transition and aren't too hard.

Make Hair Color More Intense

Create intense hair color by first lightening your original shade.

Creating intense hair color requires much the same preparation as an artist looking to paint a new landscape. What is required is a blank canvas. When preparing to change your hair to a more intense color you first have to prepare your own blank canvas on you hair, which means lightening your existing color as much as possible.

Instructions

1. Bleach your existing hair color. Store-bought color kits contain both dye and peroxide bleach. By bleaching your hair before adding the dye, you can decide whether your hair is light enough or whether you need to reapply the bleach before adding your color.

2. Add the peroxide in a spray bottle of approximately 97 percent water and spray on your hair. Leave the mixture in your hair for 60 minutes before rinsing, or until the color has lightened as much as you want.

3. Mix the hair dye in the bottle that comes with your store-bought color kit and shampoo it into your hair. Shake the mixture for 10 to 15 seconds before using.

4. Apply the color mixture to your hair, beginning at the front and working it through to the back. Avoid getting the dye on your scalp, as it is sensitive following the bleaching procedure.

5. Leave the color mixture on your hair for the amount of time recommended on your store-bought color kit. After you reach the recommended time limit, wash the color mixture out of your hair. Store-bought color kits include a conditioner, which should also be applied and then rinsed from your hair after shampooing.

What Is Distortion Screen Printing

One method of screen printing is known as distortion screen printing. It is useful for printing an image onto a three-dimensional surface and requires the use of computer and mechanical technology.

Function

An image is first developed and printed onto a piece of plastic, which is heated so that it becomes malleable. This is then placed onto a mold that has the contours of the three-dimensional properties the final product will exhibit. A vacuum is then used to fit the print onto the form of the mold, creating the final product.

Considerations

It typically takes numerous attempts to get distortion printing right. The printed image is stretched and distorted so that when it fits onto a three-dimensional surface, the final product will have a crisp, clean image. After the first few attempts at a print, the image will have to be altered slightly to make up for any inconsistencies in the final product. This is done on a computer image-editing software, like Adobe Illustrator.

Use

Distortion printing is often used in advertising for in-store merchandise displays and point-of-purchase advertising. It's useful for making sturdy, graphically precise images on surfaces with raised lettering or an otherwise uneven texture.

Make Grim Reapers From Pvcs

Add the Grim Reaper to any Halloween scene, and make it scary.

Halloween is a spooky time of year, and people make the holiday spookier by decorating their lawn with ghouls, witches, graveyards and creatures. One creature that looks menacing in a Halloween scene is the Grim Reaper. Creating a Grim Reaper for a person's front lawn is simple and fast. You need no special skills to complete the task. Use the same body frame for making witches, ghosts and other assorted monsters by adding different costumes, hair and masks.

Instructions

1. Drive one of the 1 1/2 inch pipes one foot deep into the ground with the hammer. This creates the stand for the Grim Reaper.

2. Swab some of the PVC glue around one end of the 3-foot piece of 1 inch pipe. Stick the glued end of pipe into one of the openings on the PVC tee. Hold the pipe tightly into the tee for a minute before releasing the pressure. The glue, sometimes, pushes the fitting away from the pipe.

3. Stick the end of the pipe without the fitting into the pipe in the ground. This holds the pipe straight up in the air. Attach one of the 1-foot long pieces of 1 inch pipe to the right and left opening on the tee using the PVC glue. Hold the pieces in place for one minute.

4. Glue the third 1 foot piece of 1 inch PVC pipe to the opening on the tee facing. Hold it in place for one minute.

5. Thread the 12-2 wire through the pipe on the left coming out of the tee. Push it through the tee and out the pipe coming out of the right side of the tee. Pull the wire until there is two feet of wire coming out of the left and right side of the pipe.

6. Bend both pieces of wire, so they face down. Pull the black hooded robe over the top of the figure, then pull the wire pieces through the arms of the robe.

7. Remove about 4 inches of the outer coating on the left and right piece of wire in the hand area. Separate the four wires. Slide three of the one-inch long pieces of 1/2 inch PVC pipe onto each individual wire. Fold the excess wire over the bottom of the closest piece of PVC pipe. This makes finger bones.

8. Find the hole in the center of the neck area of the wig head. Push the hole of the wig head onto the top of the one-inch pipe. Push it down as far as it goes. Paint black spots for the eye sockets and nose area, and paint a straight line across the center of the mouth draw vertical lines showing the teeth. Pull the hood over the head.

9. Pound the second 1 1/2 inch wide piece of PVC into the ground one foot in front of one of the arms with the hammer. Slide the five foot piece of 1 inch PVC pipe into the opening. Glue the 4 inch side of the triangular piece of hard plastic painted silver to the side of the top of the pipe. Use the five-minute epoxy glue following the glue manufacturer's instructions. Hold it in place until it adheres. This creates the scythe.

10. Bend the arm closest to the scythe so the fingers touch it. Wrap the fingers around the scythe, so it looks like the reaper is holding it.

Make Graphic Designs

Graphic designs are visual images created to communicate an idea or message. They are made using elements of typography, color, illustration, photography and texture. Graphic designs are produced for a variety of media including print, electronic, the Internet, video, movies, environmental graphics and signage. They are used for corporate logos, T-shirts, books, magazines, websites and dozens of other things. You can create graphic designs for your own projects in a few steps.

Instructions

1. Think of a message or idea that you want to communicate using graphic design. The message could be a simple advertisement or logo for a club or business, or a finished design for a magazine or website. Use pencil and paper to write an overview of your design project and the message you would like to communicate.

2. Make a series of rough sketches for your design in pencil, including simplified typography, photos, and illustration. Colors can be indicated by writing them in the area where they appear or sketching them in with markers. Arrange the elements in your design in an eye-pleasing manner that communicates your message quickly and effectively. Consider using strong shapes such as circles, ovals, squares and rectangles to draw attention to key elements in the design. Try several visual solutions for your graphic design idea. Choose your favorite rough sketch to execute as a graphic design.

3. Collect any photo or illustration files you need for your graphic design. If you intend to use paper illustrations or photos instead of digital image files, scan them into a computer. Scan them at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch and save the files.

4. Open a file on a computer in a word processing, photo editing or illustration program. Name the file and save it. Size the file as needed for your graphic design project. The most common size is letter size, 8.5 by 11 inches. Keep your rough sketch by the computer to refer to as you create your graphic design.

5. Open any photo or illustration files you intend to use in your design. Resize them to the dimensions that you need for your graphic design. Copy and paste them into the file for your design.

6. Use drawing and shape tools to add any shape elements to your design. Use color tools to change the shapes to the color you need for your design.

7. Use the type tool to add any typography you need for your graphic design. Choose a type style that reflects the spirit of your design. Sans Serif-type styles like Verdana give a modern feel to a graphic design. Serif faces like Times Roman give a classic feel to a graphic design. Decorative faces like Comic Sans give a lighthearted feel to a graphic design. Select the type, and change the point size of your type face according to your rough sketch. Change the color of the type if desired.

8. Print out a copy of your work. Check your graphic design to see if the elements work together to effectively communicate your idea or message. Make changes as desired. Your finished design can be printed using a computer printer. You can also contract with copy shops, print shops and T-shirt printers to print multiple copies of your graphic design.

Make Grain Coated Art Clay Art

The ancient art of clay art is still stunning in every sense, and seed ornaments on crafts add texture and an exquisite outlook.

Instructions

1. Format the clay into a preferred animal or bird model; paying attention to prominent features such as the eyes, the mouth or beak.

2. Allow the clay model to dry completely before commencing the next phase. Design the artifact's outlook and determine the varying types of seeds and the model position that will suite each seed type.

3. Collect various grain textures and colors required for the project and lay out a designed outlook of the seed arrangements for the clay model. When the artifact has dried completely, apply glue to small portions of the model then attach the seed to the glued clay model portion according to your article design. Applications of glue in small portions allow you to apply seed to the clay model in time, before the glue dries out.

4. Arrange seed patterns on the model according to the designed outlook, and ensure that the seeds form a flowing sequence and the heavy or fuller part of the seed should generally face downward to enhance a flowing outlook. The seeds should be in single layers but may overlap slightly to in order to sufficiently cover the clay.

5. Allow the glued seeds to dry. It recommended that you place this craft in a secluded place so that the seeds are not brushed off accidentally before they dry.

6. Examine the clay model's Grain Coated Texture and fix any patches that may not be covered sufficiently. Allow the artifact to dry.

7. Place the article a most suitable place that is not excessively wet.

Make Graffiti Your Own

Some street art can be incredibly powerful.

Graffiti is a very controversial art form. The scrawling of names, logos or images on public or private property is, essentially, a type of vandalism and is punishable by law. However, if the property owner grants permission, the graffiti artist can be one of the most powerful creators in contemporary art. Modern street art dates from the 1960s and, if done right, can produce artworks of great value. Those who are serious about graffiti need to find ways to make their murals completely unique.

Instructions

1. Ask for permission to paint and mark the property. This is the single most important part of any graffiti project; failure to do so could have serious legal consequences--including jail time. In 2009, the Web site Graffiti News reported how 18-year-old Sebastian Perez was initially sentenced to eight years in state prison for admitting to a string of graffiti vandalism offenses.

2. Sketch out a plan. If you do not own the property, but have permission from the property owner, draw up a plan of your intended mural and show it to him beforehand. After the owner has seen the plan, ask him to sign and date it; this will stop any misunderstandings or complications that could arise later.

3. Find a community art program. Some city councils have sites dedicated to public art, which could be a great place to start if you don't have the chance to work on private property. To learn whether your city has any of these areas, contact the city or town officials directly.

Be Artistic, Not Territorial

4. Consider your message. Much of the anger over graffiti comes from its use to mark gangland territories. If you truly want to make your street art your own, think about what it is saying.

5. Paint a story, never just "tag" an art space. The majority of graffiti artists simply spray their name or a pseudonym onto a wall. With little else to go on, anyone who sees these tags will not know to whom or what they're referring, and simply ignore the art. If your art is used to just claim an area as your own, then people will be turned-off by it, and never engage with it. However, to create graffiti murals that will be remembered, compose something that tells a story or highlights an injustice.

6. Create something confrontational, not threatening. Graffiti has been used to challenge authority for thousands of years. Rebecca Benefiel, assistant professor of Classics at Washington and Lee University, has documented how ancient versions of the art from can be found in the ruins of Pompeii.

Think Outside the Box

7. Make your art quirky. If you truly want to make your graffiti your own, then you need to be original. The work of British graffiti artist Banksy is instantly recognizable thanks to his innovative use of card stencils. Create your own artistic style, and you will truly be unique.

8. Use application methods other than spray cans. Everyone equates street art with spray cans, but there's no rule that says this is the only way to paint graffiti. Paint with brushes or rollers to create a completely novel approach.

9. Choose an unusual subject matter. Typically, graffiti deals with the serious themes of public inequality and unrest, but you could try something new. Try to make something humorous or satirical. The whole point of street art is that it catches the viewers off guard. Try to hit them with something to make them think or smile while they are on their way to work or walking to the store.

10. Design a unique signature. If you sign each of your drawings with your own signature, people will be able to recognize your work. A memorable signature will stick in people's memories and truly make your graffiti your own.

Make A Railroad Track Craft For Preschool

Children can enjoy creating their own train tracks.

Many preschoolers love making craft projects or building their own creations out of familiar objects. Teachers or parents teaching about trains can allow preschoolers to build their own train tracks. Once built, the children can use the tracks for their toy trains or paper trains. Parents and teachers should remember that many preschoolers need assistance with craft projects, but enjoy the chance to make creative choices and be independent.

Instructions

1. Set out butcher paper or construction paper. Children can make long train tracks that run across the room with large butcher paper or smaller tracks with construction paper. If you plan on using construction paper, use the larger size paper (9"X12") to give the children more room to create their tracks.

2. Instruct children to design their wooden sticks using crayons, markers or stamps. The number of sticks will depend on the size of the paper that you choose.

3. Hand out paper and instruct children to glue two horizontal lines approximately three inches apart. Learning to glue is a valuable preschool skill and children should be given freedom with this portion of the project.

4. Instruct children to glue their remaining wooden sticks vertically, connecting the two horizontal lines to create a train track.

5. Have children run plastic toy trains over the tracks once the glue is dried. Preschoolers can also choose to draw trains directly on their project.

Read War And Peace

"

War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy is one of the most famous pieces of literature in world history. Published in the late nineteenth century, the novel focuses on the lives of five Russian families during the time of the Napoleonic Wars. The language is rich with description, and details the challenges of family and social life during the time in Russia. Reading the book may seem like quite an undertaking, but don't let its size intimidate you.

Instructions

1. Set up a comfortable space for reading. This can be a favorite chair, a bed or even a coffee shop.

2. Start reading at a manageable pace. Don't try to zip through the story. There are so many plot threads flying through the book. Confusion and frustration can result. Try starting with one to three chapters per sitting, and see how that feels.

3. Take notes. This may be reminiscent of school, but it may also be what keeps everything in order. There will be no test--assuming this isn't for a class--so just jot down the important people, places and things. When you see references to them later, there will be no confusion.

4. Enjoy the language. Be sure to take the time to let the language of the novel flow. Books just aren't written this way anymore and because of that, the novel may seem too dense. Soak up the words, and let those words paint a picture of the times.

5. Celebrate the fact that you've completed War and Peace. Do something special to celebrate the achievement. While it's enjoyable, it's not always an easy task, but the sense of satisfaction is well worth the time spent reading.

6. Rent the movie version. There are two solid movie versions of War and Peace--the 1956 American film and a 1968 Russian adaptation.

Paint Like Salvador Dali

Spanish Surrealist Salvador Dali has created some of the world's most memorable works of art. Although he was also well versed in other artistic disciplines, such as sculpting and writing, most people probably best remember Salvador Dali for his dream-like paintings. As Salvador Dali himself once said, "The two greatest strokes of luck that can happen to a painter are (1) to be Spanish, (2) to be called Dali."

Instructions

1. Get a different perspective on your surroundings. Dali was known to actually stand on his head for periods of time in order to induce hallucinations that would inspire his paintings.

2. Embrace chaos. Dali believed that chaos was integral to creativity. He once said, "You have to systematically create confusion--it sets creativity free. Everything that is contradictory creates life."

3. Study Sigmund Freud. Much of Dali's artwork (and that of the surrealist movement as a whole) reflect Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis of dreams, the unconscious and symbolism.

4. Use symbolism. One of Dali's most famous paintings, "The Persistence of Memory," features images of clocks draped over tree branches, as though they were the consistency of pizza dough. This symbolized Dali's perception of time as something flexible rather than rigid. Other symbols that appeared in Dali's paintings include fried eggs, which symbolized his supposed pre-birth memories from the womb, and crutches, which he said symbolized "a support for inadequacy."

5. Alternate between smooth and choppy brush strokes within the same painting. Dali would use long brush strokes on certain objects in his paintings to give them the appearance of a smooth surface. In contrast, he would also paint certain objects in the same painting with short, distinct brush strokes to create a rough or hard surface.

Make Gingerbread Man Paper Cutouts

Make Gingerbread Man Paper Cutouts

Making a gingerbread man paper cutout is a very easy craft, ideal for small children. You will need only a few supplies, which you most likely already have in your home or can purchase easily and inexpensively. Gingerbread men paper cutouts can be used for a variety of fun craft projects around the holidays. You might use them as stencils, make a gingerbread man chain for decorations, apply them to holiday cards, or incorporate them into many other decorative projects.

Instructions

1. Wash your cookie cutter if it has been used recently. A dirty cookie cutter can soil your paper, leaving grease and oil marks behind.

2. Lay the gingerbread cookie cutter on your piece of paper. Place the cookie cutter 1/8 inch away from the paper's edges so your gingerbread man cutout does not have any straight edges where his head, feet, or hands are going to be.

3. Trace along the outside of your gingerbread cookie cutter with your pencil. Start at the top (the head) and trace around using a fluid motion going clockwise. End at the top of the head once more.

4. Cut the gingerbread man out of the paper. Start at the foot and cut along the area you traced. If you want to make a reverse cutout, with the gingerbread man shape cut out of an intact piece of paper, fold the paper in half, and make a small snip in the middle of your gingerbread man. Open the paper and insert your scissors into the hole, cutting toward the outline of your gingerbread man. Cut along the inside line working clockwise.

Make Gingerbread Decorations

Ginger decorations are not meant for consumption.

Gingerbread decorations are an alteration of the classic gingerbread cookie, producing an inedible and fragrant ornament. While most common around the holidays, gingerbread decorations will dress up your home any time of the year. Making lasting gingerbread decorations requires only a few household ingredients and an hour of spare time. You can make any shape of decoration you would like, coloring them with icing or leaving them their natural color.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Mix the ground ginger, ground cinnamon and flour together in a large bowl.

3. Add molasses, eggs, brown sugar and butter to the dry ingredients and mix at a medium speed using an electric beater.

4. Cover a clean table with flour and place the gingerbread mixture onto the surface. Roll into a 2-inch thick sheet using a rolling pin.

5. Cut the decorations using cookie cutters and place onto a cookie sheet. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

6. Allow the gingerbread decorations to cool and decorate with icing if desired. Allow the icing to dry for 10 days before using as decorations.

Make Gingerbread Boy Or Girl Cookies

Gingerbread boys and girls tend to come out during the holidays.

Gingerbread cookies are a holiday staple. The spicy flavor of the cookies complement both tea and coffee, and are perfect for the cold weather of the Christmas season. Gingerbread girls and boys are rolled out the same way as sugar cookies, giving you freedom to create different shapes for your boys and girls. You can use the cookie cutters as guidelines or make your own cuts using a butter knife.

Instructions

1. Take the egg, butter and shortening out of the refrigerator and place them on the counter. You want these ingredients at room temperature for proper mixing and levening.

2. Mix the dry ingredients together (flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, salt and pepper). You can sift the ingredients together by shaking it through a wire sieve, using a sifter or aerating it with a wire whisk or fork.

3. Combine the butter and shortening with a mixer on high speed. Do this until the two items are well mixed, about one minute.

4. Add the brown sugar and mix with the hand mixer until the combination has a light texture and color, approximately two minutes. Add the molasses and egg and beat until thoroughly combined.

5. Stir in the flour mixture gradually using a wooden spoon for best results. The dough will be stiff.

6. Divide the dough in two equal parts and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least three hours so the dough is completely chilled. The dough can be made up to three days in advance.

7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and remove one section of the dough from the refrigerator. Let the dough stand for about 10 minutes to get it slightly warmer allowing the dough to roll out without cracking.

8. Roll out the dough on a well-floured surface, using a rolling pin. Lightly flour the top of the dough, as well, to keep the rolling pin from sticking. The dough should be about 1/8 of an inch thick when completely rolled out.

9. Cut the cookies with cookie cutters or a knife. If you only have "man" cookie cutters, you can use it for the top half of the shape. Press the dough on the legs back together and cut out a skirt shape with the knife. You can also use the knife to cut around the outside of the cookie cutter on the top, remove the cookie cutter and cut the triangle of the skirt to make the girl.

10. Place the cookie shapes on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Put the cookies in the oven for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are crisp.

11. Remove the sheets from the oven and let stand for two minutes. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. Continue cutting and baking the rest of the cookies.

Make Funeral Flowers Into Jewelry

Dry funeral flowers and make jewelry.

Floral arrangements used at funerals pay tribute to the deceased and lighten up the otherwise somber occasion. Dry the flower arrangements after the ceremony and use them to create pieces of jewelry that will last for many years. Depending on personal taste, use tiny flower blooms such as forget-me-nots as a whole, or separate petals of larger flowers carefully to create your work of art. You can even use greenery from funeral flower arrangements such as delicate baby's breath in your jewelry beads.

Instructions

1. Flatten a small section of polymer clay as big as a golf ball on a flat surface with your palm.

2. Place your pasta machine on a flat surface and set it at the highest setting. Slide one end of the clay through it and roll it until the end. Carefully lower the flattened clay onto an even surface and roll it into a snake with your hands, until you get the desired diameter of your beads.

3. Decide the size of your beads before slicing the rolled clay with a clay cutter. Keep in mind that the width of each slice of clay determines the bead's depth. Place the beads on one of their flat sides on a baking sheet with the other flat side facing upwards.

4. Extend a metal skewer through the center of each bead. Follow the clay manufacturer's instructions for baking the beads. Bake them for the appropriate amount of time and allow them to cool when done.

5. Lift each cooled bead and apply an even layer of decoupage medium on a side of it. Carefully lift a flower petal or small flower head with tweezers and lower it into the medium. Cover the flower head with another even layer of decoupage medium and allow it to dry for up to 24 hours.

6. Turn the dried beads over, apply a layer of decoupage medium to the other side and add a petal to it. Coat it with decoupage again and allow it to dry.

7. Slide the beads through a silk cord for a bracelet or necklace. Loop the ends through a lobster claw clasp and wear your jewelry.