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	<title>Fine Art Blog &#124; Art ActuallyFine Art Blog | Art Actually &#187; Categories Archives for  Art Guides</title>
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	<description>Art is everywhere!</description>
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		<title>The Fine Art of Beer Label Design</title>
		<link>http://www.art-actually.com/the-fine-art-of-beer-label-design</link>
		<comments>http://www.art-actually.com/the-fine-art-of-beer-label-design#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:32:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Art Guides]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[graphic design]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.art-actually.com/?p=221</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A perfect label can be key in marketing and advertising for your beer. You are going to have to spend some money, some time, to find the perfect label for your beer. Any Label Not just any label will do when it comes to designing your label. You cannot just simply throw on a label [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A perfect label can be key in marketing and advertising for your beer. You are going to have to spend some money, some time, to find the perfect label for your beer.</p>
<h2>Any Label</h2>
<p>Not just any label will do when it comes to designing your label. You cannot just simply throw on a label and expect it to make your beer sell. The first step is finding a designer. It is a good idea to find a designer that has lots of experience. It is even better to find a designer that has designed a beer label before. This experience can be crucial in picking out the perfect label. Once you have found your perfect designer, you must figure out what your label will be. This part will be very hard. You are going to have to make a choice from several different designs on which label will work for you are. Deciding which label, is going to be a key in marketing your beer.</p>
<h2>Attractive</h2>
<p>A boring label is not going to cut it. You are going to have to design thing that is fun and trendy, that will catch everyone&#8217;s eyes. This can be tricky because you have to figure out who will actually be buying your beer. Will your beer be in a store, or will your beer be in a restaurant or bar? That is a very important aspect to think about. Where will your beer be? Once you have figured that out, then designing your label should be easier.</p>
<p>In a perfect world, your beer will be a huge success. Taking the time to do proper advertising, marketing, and word of mouth like a <a href="www.budweiser.co.uk/">budweiser advert</a> does should help your beer sell quite well. The main thing is finding the perfect location for your beer to be sold. Once you have that, you will have success.</p>
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		<title>The Relationship Between Art And Fashion</title>
		<link>http://www.art-actually.com/the-relationship-between-art-and-fashion</link>
		<comments>http://www.art-actually.com/the-relationship-between-art-and-fashion#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:30:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Art Guides]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fashion]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.art-actually.com/?p=203</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today, some of the greatest art belongs on your body. Do you ever realize this amazing fact? It is true. Think about it for a moment. A designer came up with the idea for what you are wearing, sketched it, created a sample of it, and from there production blossomed. Imagine that kind of power. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today, some of the greatest art belongs on your body. Do you ever realize this amazing fact? It is true. Think about it for a moment. A designer came up with the idea for what you are wearing, sketched it, created a sample of it, and from there production blossomed. Imagine that kind of power. Ideas such as these can change the world – and at times, they have! Interestingly, because designers are so artistic they rely heavily on art.</p>
<h2>Art Serves As Inspiration For Designers</h2>
<p>If you have ever spent a day with a designer, then you will know that they house about as many garments as they do books. And their books have little type in them. Instead, they are filled with art from all ages. They have art from the beginning of time and modern art. Though varied, anything can serve as inspiration for a future collection. When they begin work on their collection, they will constantly refer to their inspiration. It will serve as a guide – their constant companion throughout the design process. This art stays with the collection from start to finish and remains a huge part of the design.</p>
<h2>Pantone Color Wheel</h2>
<p>Another huge part of the relationship between fashion and art is the pantone color wheel. Often we think of artists using the color wheel to create a beautiful canvas. However, the fashion world uses what is called the pantone color wheel to determine the “in” colors for the season. This can be a guide for designers and those in the industry and it is constantly referred to throughout the season.</p>
<p>Although much of the art world is changing due to technology and the internet, fashion actually keeps art alive as they look back to the past and seek inspiration from those who went before us. There are many handbags on sale featuring unique prints.</p>
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		<title>Decorating: Fine Art for Your New Baby&#8217;s Room</title>
		<link>http://www.art-actually.com/decorating-fine-art-for-your-new-babys-room</link>
		<comments>http://www.art-actually.com/decorating-fine-art-for-your-new-babys-room#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 07:41:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Art Guides]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nursery]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.art-actually.com/?p=196</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When the parents of a newborn attack the job of decorating the modern nursery, their efforts and tastes generally go beyond the old border-wallpaper and baby-mobile. Why should they surround their 21st Century offspring with the same boring pastel stuff that surrounded the cribs of previous generations? The job may start with a fresh coat [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When the parents of a newborn attack the job of decorating the modern nursery, their efforts and tastes generally go beyond the old border-wallpaper and baby-mobile. Why should they surround their 21st Century offspring with the same boring pastel stuff that surrounded the cribs of previous generations? The job may start with a fresh coat of brightly colored paint, but that&#8217;s hardly where it ends.</p>
<h2>The Primary Issue</h2>
<p>The idea behind a nursery should be to create a space where tranquility and security are everyday themes. Wall murals of sharks and octopi, therefore, are probably not suitable for children until they reach the age where such terrors of the deep will fascinate (rather than frighten) them. Patterned window treatments (curtains) also lend a sense of calm and peace to the baby&#8217;s first room. Primary colors are interesting to children, but are not necessarily the most calming selections from the color chart.</p>
<h2>Artists in the Making</h2>
<p>Companies like Oopsy Daisy Art specialize in nursery decorations that will place your baby in a fine-art environment. Canvas paintings, stretched over wooden frames, are made by some of today&#8217;s top artists such as Jill McDonald, Gale Kaseguma, and Aaron Christensen. The same materials and artwork go into growth charts for your child, an important way to track his or her growth through childhood. These quality products will last for years &#8211; your kids, in fact, will someday be able to show them to their kids. </p>
<p>As parents, many people also want their baby&#8217;s nursery to reflect their own tastes. That means matching the bedding with the curtains, and picking out the trendiest colors (which will depend on whether or not they have a baby boy or a baby girl). Decorations will change, of course, as the baby grows into a toddler, and then into a school-age child&#8230; But those are decisions that can be made down the road.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.getprice.com.au/Beautiful-Habitat-Removable-Repositionable-Peel-Stick-Gpnc_222--52767831.htm">Beautiful habitat peel and stick wall stickers</a> can be an easy and cheap way to decorate a baby or kid&#8217;s room.</p>
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		<title>Diverse Art Creators: Dual Interpretations Of Quixote (Don Quixote)</title>
		<link>http://www.art-actually.com/diverse-art-creators-dual-interpretations-of-quixote-don-quixote</link>
		<comments>http://www.art-actually.com/diverse-art-creators-dual-interpretations-of-quixote-don-quixote#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:21:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ayden Glover</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Art Guides]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.art-actually.com/?p=118</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Quixote (Don Quixote) has engaged the minds of generations with his fantastic and entertaining escapades; he has become a unique icon all his own since the creative author Miguel de Cervantes immersed us into Quixote's happenings through a fantastic work of fiction by the character's name. Don Quixote is the ultimate optimist and the stereotypical romantic, and the tales of his adventures relate the follies of not being able to combine these normally positive characteristics with a strong dose of reality. It's not surprising that in time many well-known artists have chosen Quixote as the subject of one or more of their masterpieces.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As one of the most vibrant and spectacular made-up personas of all history, the unbelieveable figure of Don Quixote has become a virtual idol since Miguel de Cervantes first introduced him in his classic novel of the same name. Don Quixote (Don Quixote) is the ultimate idealist and the quintessential  dreamer, and the stories of his exploits relate the follies of not being able to combine these otherwise helpful traits with a healthy dose of reality. It&#8217;s not shocking that over the years several well-known painters have chosen Quixote as the topic of one or more of their masterpieces.<span id="more-118"></span></p>
<p>In 1955,Pablo Picasso made his well-known grayscale ink wash depiction of Don Quixote. The masterpiece is known for its minimalist style and unadorned constitution.  In it, Picasso uses hurried, dynamic brushstrokes in a flawlessly arranged style to give life to Don Quixote. Picasso Pablo shows in this piece that, in regard to art, simplicity can absolutely be much more.</p>
<p>He overstates the figures of both Quixote and his world-weary friend Panza, as well as those of their horses to show the incredible differences in their basic belief processes and underlying world viewpoints. Even with no prior knowledge of the two characters or the novel &#8220;Don Quixote,&#8221; it is obvious that each individual is the total opposite of the other. The spindly, thread-like lines used to illustrate Don Quixote and his pony put him high above the earth, suggesting a behavior with lofty principles and dreams. In contrast, the smaller, heavier figure of the tired Panza is created through the use of darker shapes and heavier lines, placing him nearer to the ground and suggesting someone who suffers from an hyper-realistic, possibly negative general outlook.</p>
<p>Conversely, we have an masterpiece &#8220;Quixote&#8221; painted by the well-known contemporary painter Toros a couple of years ago. Toros also presents a basic Quixote (Don Quixote), stripping down the image by simplifying it into geometric images with distinct borders comparative to those found in stained-glass pieces.  The form comes alive by the use of bold colors and textured obvious brushstrokes that add depth, lending the image an appealing tactile air.</p>
<p>With his casual and wistful appearance it is obvious that Toros&#8217;s &#8220;Quixote&#8221; is a extremely confident and true-to-life person.  In the scenery we observe the enigmatic windmill that Quixote famously jousted in the original  book, representing the folly of becoming too absorbed in unattainable feats of whimsy. The combination of forms and colors between Quixote and the windmill and other background pieces, assists Toros to depict the correlation between Quixote (Don Quixote)&#8217;s personal constitution and his perception of the world around him.</p>
<p>We can see how it is possible to apply two extremely different media and modes of expression to effectively illustrate the same individual personality and basic concept when we examine the two pieces together . Picasso does it employing a black-and-white, while Toros does the same through a style that involves the extensive application of very bright hues. Picasso Pablo uses imprecise shapes and forms, while Toros uses highly clearly delineated ones. However, both works of art convey a robust feeling of idealism, giving the audience a very distinct and accurate feeling for the character&#8217;s basic personality.</p>
<p>This specific information is prepared by a well-known writer of great number surveys on today&#8217;s artworks. You can easily meet Toros paintings on a on line site <a href="http://www.Gallery-2000.com/Style_Avant-gardism.shtml">Fine Art Gallery for Exacting Lovers</a>.</p>
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		<title>What Does Hair Have To Do With It?</title>
		<link>http://www.art-actually.com/what-does-hair-have-to-do-with-it</link>
		<comments>http://www.art-actually.com/what-does-hair-have-to-do-with-it#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:58:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Art Guides]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brushes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[painting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.art-actually.com/?p=106</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Experienced painters will have several brush styles and sizes to choose from throughout their work on a painting. Depending on the medium and surface, different brushes work better than others. The types of hair or fibers that make up the tip of the brush are very important in the ease of painting and the price [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-107" title="brush-hair" src="http://www.art-actually.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/brush-hair.jpg" alt="brush-hair" width="300" height="225" />Experienced painters will have several brush styles and sizes to choose from throughout their work on a painting.  Depending on the medium and surface, different brushes work better than others.  The types of hair or fibers that make up the tip of the brush are very important in the ease of painting and the price of the brush.  In general you can choose natural hair, bristle, synthetic fibers, or blends of synthetic fibers with natural fibers.<span id="more-106"></span></p>
<p>Quality of natural hair brushes are determined by the shape of each individual hair, as in how much of a point does it come to and how tapered the point is.  It is also important how tightly the hairs stick together when wet.  Spring and strength of the hair determine durability.  Natural fibers hold water in the structure of the fiber and release liquids in a more controlled manner than synthetic fibers.</p>
<p>Red Sable brushes are said to be the best quality and are the standard that all brushes are held to.  Red Sable brushes come from any red colored weasel, the males produce longer hairs than the female, and each hair comes to fine point.  The collection of hairs will hold tightly together when wet, making them excellent for applying media like watercolor and thinned oil and acrylic paints to smooth surfaces like paper or ceramics in even strokes.  Other animal hairs like fitch, mongoose, and badgers are used to make brushes of comparable quality at a lesser price.  Sabeline brushes use ox hair that has been bleached and dyed to look like red sable.</p>
<p>Camel hair brushes are not made from camel hair, but and number of animals including pony, squirrel, goat, or ox.  These brushes are of a lower quality than sable and are good for lettering or mop brushes to blend oil paints.  School-grade brushes are often made from pony hairs taken from the mane because the long hairs can produce several brushes.  Cutting the hairs removes the natural tip of the hair.  “Camel hair” can be blended with synthetic fibers to increase absorbency and performance without a great increase in price.</p>
<p>Bristle brushes come from the stiff hairs of pigs, boars, or hogs.  The stiffness is ideal for applying thick media like oil and acrylic paints to slightly textured surfaces like canvas.  The natural tips are “flagged” or split acting as little brushes.  If the ends are blunt, that indicates the hairs have been cut and it is not a quality brush.  A quality bristle brush will also have an interlocked construction, meaning the natural curve of the hairs all point to the center of the brush, leading to superior shape retention.</p>
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		<title>Guide To Knowing Your Paper Weights</title>
		<link>http://www.art-actually.com/guide-to-knowing-your-paper-weights</link>
		<comments>http://www.art-actually.com/guide-to-knowing-your-paper-weights#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:57:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Art Guides]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paper]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.art-actually.com/?p=102</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To determine paper weight, manufacturers either weigh one ream, 500 sheets, of paper or one sheet of paper. Weights may be expressed in grams per square meter, gsm, or pounds per ream, lb. Thicker paper weighs more, so when looking for a thick paper for watercolor or other art project choose one with a higher [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-104" title="paper-weight" src="http://www.art-actually.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/paper-weight1.jpg" alt="paper-weight" width="300" height="200" />To determine paper weight, manufacturers either weigh one ream, 500 sheets, of paper or one sheet of paper.</p>
<p>Weights may be expressed in grams per square meter, gsm, or pounds per ream, lb. Thicker paper weighs more, so when looking for a thick paper for watercolor or other art project choose one with a higher weight.<span id="more-102"></span></p>
<p>There are a few different sorts of projects where paper weight will be important.  If you are creating a book, the cover needs to be thick enough that it is as durable as you need.  The inner pages, if they are just text need to be just heavy enough that the ink won’t soak through when printed on both sides.  Anytime the paper will be saturated, it should be of appropriate weight.  Paper construction projects need to be mindful of weight in regards to durability and type of fastener (i.e. glue) to be used.  Origami or other folding projects will generally want thin paper.  When making cards or envelops, too heavy of paper will cause strange, lumpy folds so test out a few weights before you purchase in bulk.</p>
<p>If you are indeed planning on painting your paper, it may first need to be stretched to prevent buckling.  When paper absorbs water, it may dry in a way that you do not desire.  If you want your paper to dry flat and smooth and it is less than 356 gsm or 260 lb, it may need to be stretched.  You can experiment with a small bit of paper by painting it as you normally would and see how it dries.  If it buckles, you should stretch it. Stretching paper is not terribly difficult, but it is tricky.  Basically you soak the whole sheet of paper, smooth it against a flat board, use gummed tape to fasten the edges to the board, and allow the paper to dry evenly.  The next time the paper is wet, it will not buckle or warp.  The advantage of user paper over 356 gsm or 260 lb is that you never have to stretch it, it can withstand several applications of paint and glaze, and it will be more durable.</p>
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		<title>How to Choose The Right Brush</title>
		<link>http://www.art-actually.com/how-to-choose-the-right-brush</link>
		<comments>http://www.art-actually.com/how-to-choose-the-right-brush#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:55:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Art Guides]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How-To's]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brushes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[painting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.art-actually.com/?p=99</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Think of your paintbrush as a tool. You need the right tool to get the job done. You wouldn’t use a rake to dig a hole in the garden, so take the time to start with the right paintbrush. The end effect of the painting will be better when you know which brush to use [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-100" title="paint-brushes" src="http://www.art-actually.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/paint-brushes.jpg" alt="paint-brushes" width="300" height="224" />Think of your <a href="http://www.art-actually.com/art-supply/category/brushes">paintbrush</a> as a tool.  You need the right tool to get the job done.  You wouldn’t use a rake to dig a hole in the garden, so take the time to start with the right paintbrush.  The end effect of the painting will be better when you know which brush to use when.<span id="more-99"></span></p>
<p>Brushes serve the purpose of applying a medium to a surface.</p>
<ul>
<li>The first aspect of brush selection takes into account the viscosity, composition, and cleaning solvent required.  Some brushes are prone to damage with certain solvents, so it is important to understand the chemistry of the materials you are using.</li>
<li>Next, you will choose a brush based on the texture of the surface to be painted.</li>
<li>Finally, you ideal brush will depend on the desired outcome of your painting.  Painting a realistic scene or mural on a highly textured wall will require very different tools than a detailed painting on a smooth surface.</li>
</ul>
<p>One of the most important aspects of your brush is the type of hair.  You can choose from natural soft animal hair, bristle, or synthetic fibers.</p>
<p>Synthetic fibers are generally less expensive and less prone to damage and breakage than natural fibers.  However, the non-porous quality of the fibers that make synthetic brushes easy to clean, may affect how well the medium flows from the brush to the surface.  Synthetic blend brushes combine the durability of a synthetic brush with the ease of use of a natural brush.</p>
<p>The shape and length of the brush is very important in the desired outcome, and your frustration getting there.  If you want nice long strokes on a canvas, you will need a relatively thin medium and long, tapered brush.  For blending or adding shadows you may want a flat brush with paint only applied to one corner.  For a highly textured end piece, you will need a thicker medium applied with shorter brushes, maybe even a knife.</p>
<p>If you are new to painting, you should feel free to experiment.  Buy a few different brushes with a similar shape and different fibers.  Apply your medium with the same technique with the different brushes and notice how each feels.  Thin out the medium and try it again.  Try a few techniques and styles and you will find what works best for you.  Remember that in art, everyone is different.  Several people could get a similar end result with totally different styles, techniques, tools, and media.  Painting is a personal feeling, so use what feels best and works for you.</p>
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