Oil Painting Art - The Advantages and Disadvantages

Oil painting has been around for hundreds of years. In fact, the thirteenth century has brought us some oil painting art from England. This is where they used oil paintings for decoration. However, during those early years, many of the artists liked using paints that are known as tempera, instead of using oil paints. This is because tempera would dry faster than the oil paint. During the fifteenth century, certain artists came up with the idea of taking tempera and mixing it in with the oil paint. It was not until the seventeenth century that the pure oil paint became more popular. Below, we are going to discuss this topic even more.

If you are in touch with your artistic side, then we are sure you are in this type of art. Oil painting has a tendency to slowly dry. In fact, it dries slower than any other paint out there. This is because it is made from small particles of pigments.

Some of the artists out there may find it troublesome to wait for the painting to dry, but when taking a class, you will find that the artists believe this type of art should be taught to every student. This has a lot to do with the fact that there are many oil paint reproductions developed using these type of paints.

When it comes to this type of painting, there are more advantages than there are disadvantages. You see, if you forget about your paints and you leave them open, then they are not going to dry out as fast as the other paints.

Since it takes longer for them to dry out, the paint in the tube is not going to dry out if you leave it open. In fact, it could take up to a couple of weeks for it to dry.
This also makes it easy for an artist to leave their picture and come back at different sessions without fearing the painting is going to dry up too early. Of course, for many, this may be viewed as a disadvantage because the slow drying could make it difficult for them to go to the next stage of their project.

These type of paints are great when it comes to blending with the paint that is surrounding it. When you blend it on canvas, you will be creating unique strokes that are not possible with any other type of paint. Of course, to some, this advantage could also be viewed as a disadvantage. It is possible to blend colors that one did not intend to blend.

Have you taken a look at all of the oil painting art that is out there today? We're not just talking about the pictures that are hanging in the museum. We are talking about the type is for sale. There are many websites on the Internet that have a large variety of pictures for sale. Some of them are from private artists, while others are from famous artists. Oil paintings would look great hanging on your wall.

Al Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from oil painting portrait [http://www.oilpaintingportrait.org/] to American football. Thanks for reading!

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Teenagers Expressing Art Through Wall Painting

Wall Painting is a form of art that makes walls attractive and colorful using paint and an imaginative mind of a person. Creating arts through the surface of the wall is a great idea to express someone's thoughts about society, government, technology, environment and the future. Many people will be able to see these creative arts when they travel around the city or in any other places.

Teenagers nowadays always play video games, going online on social networking sites like Facebook, watching movies or TV series and shopping as a form of entertainment. With these hobbies, they will not be able to become productive and at the same time they waste a lot of time instead of honing their skills in arts or in any other fields. Some teenagers are influenced to take drugs through peer pressure. This kind of activity destroys their life and future.

Having a hobby that is productive is very important to keep someone away from bad activities like taking drugs and other hobbies that may affect his future. There are many ways to keep someone entertained and productive. One of those hobbies is Wall Painting. Through Wall Painting, people can make the surroundings more attractive than before especially those walls that have been left out or abandoned. Doing this makes their creative mind enhance its imaginative skills and thought process. They can also make the places that look dirty to become attractive and a tourist spots for locals.

Art is very powerful to express yourself. It can influence one's mind to have an optimistic perception in life. Teenagers who do wall painting can also have friends with those who have interest in arts and especially in what they do. They can share their thought to each other and collect those thoughts to deliver powerful messages to the people through Wall Painting.

Art can be helpful or destructive depending on the artist mind. With a wrong motivation like anger, fear, revenge or any bad feeling it can lead to a very disastrous effect both on the creator and the person involve with the art. For art is very eye catchy many can people can see and may judge the art. It may not seem to it, but art can be a foundation of rumors, gossips and even wrong information that can spread to wide variety of audience. But with a good motivation like love, care and perseverance for something, art with these kinds of motivation will surely be inspired and outcome will most likely to be positive. Wall painting is just a good way of expressing your art depending on what kind it can surely help you in any way possible.

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Painting With Innate Passion: All Artist's Are Born, Not Made

Painting is a form of expression which involves the use of paint brushes to create an image on a canvass. An artist has the option of choosing which paints to use; the most popular though are watercolors and oil paints.

It is impossible for an artist to produce a masterpiece without feeling passionate about his work. It is important that the painter is able to clearly visualize what he wishes to express through his painting, and then be able to bring forth his imaginations with accuracy and vivacity. The ability to express oneself in such a way does not involve skill, but talent. One may argue that art can be learned through practice. However, the truth is that individuals, who do not possess an innate talent of drawing and painting, cannot become exceptional artists no matter how hard they try to learn this medium of expression.

The primary talent of a born artist is the ability to imagine. If one evaluates a number of young children on their imagination skills, it will be quite obvious that while some of them have very vivid and creative imaginations, others lack the originality and the panache that a naturally creative individual has. If one were to reevaluate the children after training the less creative kids to be more imaginative; even after a complete and rigorous training the results will prove that training cannot enable less imaginative kids to compete with those who are gifted.

Being able to visualize creative scenarios is just half the job of an artist. The crucial task is to be able to express what one sees with their mind's eye on paper. This requires the ability to make the right strokes and use the right colors to create a visually appealing painting. Mixing colors with precision so as to get the right shades is also part of an artist's skill set. Additionally, an artist needs to be able to keep in mind the aspect of perspective. Perspective is the skill of being able to give the right impression of a three-dimensional object on a two-dimensional surface, such that the height, width, depth, and position are proportionate in relation to each other. These are some of the basic skills of a talented artist, which one may attempt to learn, but will never master unless he has a natural flair and aptitude for painting.

It may seem rather unfair to say that all artists are born, not made. It is not that a person cannot become an artist if he doesn't have a natural tendency towards art and painting; but the fact is that one cannot produce masterpieces and become a famous painter just by enrolling themselves at an art school. There has to be significant innate talent in order to make a name from painting.

For more details regarding painitng, visit: http://www.researchomatic.com/Painting-5208.html

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5 Knitting Accessories You Need to Have

With knitting being a very popular hobby in many countries around the world, there is a huge number of retailers all offering various thicknesses of knitting yarn, along with a variety of knitting accessories that are claimed to be more or less essential for various projects.

One of the first accessories that will become invaluable for you as a knitter is the knitting bag. This type of accessory does not only provide the perfect place to store your unfinished projects, your yarn and your knitting needles, but it will also allow you to transport your materials with you without worrying that they are going to become damaged.

Many specialist knitting bags are also designed to specifically cater to knitters, with inner linings that are tough enough to resist damage from knitting needles or scissors being kept inside. Popular brands of knitting bags include methane, Namaste and Bergere de France, but there is a huge range of stylish and practical designs on the market from many different manufacturers.

Another very practical item to invest is a chart keeper, which is tool that can be used to keep and display patterns and charts, all whilst working on a particular project. The chart keeper can be opened out and stood up to place patterns in for easy reference when working on a project, and then folded up and stored away when not in use.

One top brand that manufactures this accessory is Knit Pro, and this particular manufacturer supplies it chart keeper to retailers around the world, making it easy to get hold of. Knit Pro also has a number of other accessories that knitters might find useful, ranging from sock blockers to needle sizer.

The blocking mat is another accessory that can be extremely helpful for the knitter or crocheter, or even for those who enjoy sewing and quilting. This mat serves for pinning the project to its surface, making it very easy to line up the project, keeping straight edges, hems and seams.

Many of these mats on the market are coated with heat and water resistant material, allowing for steam, wet blocking and pressing. Many mats on the market can simple be rolled up when the user has finished working on their project for the time being and then be stored away safely and securely.
Other smaller accessories that can be particularly useful when working on a knitting project are stitch markers, which can be used to mark particular points in a pattern that you are working on. These often come in the form of small rings which can simply be slipped onto your knitting needles as you knit.

Other types of stitch markers on the market today can be clipped onto you project when needed, and then clipped as required. These allow the individual who is working on the pattern to come back to a certain place in the design later in the project, leading to a great deal of precision in the creation of the project.

Finally, one essential accessory to keep your equipment safe is a set of knitting needle caps, which are designed to be placed over the end of your needles when they are not in use. As mentioned above, needles can cause damage to bags that they are kept in, and can even prove a safety hazard, especially if they fall into the hands of children.

Keeping caps on the ends of your needles can therefore prevent accidents and injuries, as well as avoid causing damage to other material sand objects. From a KnitPro chart keeper to a blocking mat, there are a number of great tools to assist you in your knitting projects; ask a trusted retailer for their own suggestions of tools that can make your hobby easier and even more enjoyable for you.

Little Hound ales Knits is an Aladdin's Cave for knitters, with a huge range of amazing yarns, premium branded knitting needles and fabulous patterns from some of the biggest names in the hand-knitting industry. Established in 2010 in the Yorkshire Wolds, Little Hound ales Knits was inspired by a passion for knitting and the desire to make 'proper wool' available to knitters around the UK. In addition to its range of exclusive Little Hound ales Knits yarns and other luxury wool products, the store also stocks a popular selection of bags, accessories and knitting kits. Little Hound ales Knits also has gift vouchers available for the perfect birthday or Christmas present, and offers free UK delivery on orders over £20. Visit Little Hound ales Knits at: http://www.littlehoundalesknits.com/

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Basic Knitting for Beginners

So, you've decided it's time you learned how to knit. Is it some perplexing and time-consuming art to learn? No! All you need is a pair of needles and a skein of yarn. The needles can be any size that feels comfortable in your hands, or that work with your pattern. Needles can be made with a variety of materials with the most commonly available ones being made of aluminum, bamboo, and plastic. For beginners, wood or bamboo needles might be easier to work with because they catch the yarn more than metal needles do, a trick that leads to fewer dropped stitches. The yarn can be of any color, weight, or material. If you are not using a pattern, try using different materials like bamboo, wool, or acrylic to find the material you like best. If you are using a pattern, use the yarn that is specified or you may need to adjust your pattern to fit with a different yarn. When you are following a pattern it will mention gauge and tension. Gauge is the number of stitches per inch for that specific pattern, a detail which is affected by tension, or how tightly you hold your yarn as you stitch. The size of your stitches will change with different tensions, so try several different tensions until you find the one that works for your pattern.

Casting on
Now that you have your materials, the first thing you must do to start your project is cast on some stitches. A cast on is the edging for your project; it is the root of your knitting. You can cast on in many different ways, with each style producing beautiful effects, but the one of the simplest methods is the loop cast on. Start with a slip knot. Take about 6 inches of yarn and create a loop around your index finger. Place the loop on top of the tail end of your yarn. Pull the line of yarn that is in the middle of the loop up through the loop until you have another loop. Place the loop on your left needle and pull on the length of yarn that is connected to your skein, this is called the working end, until the loop is snug against the needle. The slip knot can be counted as one of your stitches or it can be used as a temporary stitch; it is your preference.

Now that you have a slip knot, you can begin with the cast on. Start with the needle with the slip knot in your left hand and the working end of the yarn in your right hand. Make a loop of yarn around your right index finger and slide your needle through the front of the loop. Pull the yarn until it is tight enough not to slip off, but not so tight that you cannot get your needles through the stitches. Once you have cast on the number of stitches you pattern indicates, it is time to use some of the basic stitches.

Knit Stitch
To make a knit stitch you will hold your needles in the palms of your hands with both points facing up, like you would hold eating utensils. Hold the working end of your yarn in your right hand behind your work. Take your right needle and hook the first stitch from the front left to the back right of the stitch. Wrap the working end of the yarn once around the point of the right needle while keeping the stitch on the left needle. Pull your needle back through the stitch without dropping the wrapped yarn. Slide the stitch off of the left needle and gently tug the working end of the yarn until the yarn is back at the correct tension for your pattern.

Purl Stitch
When you make a purl stitch, your needles are held in the same position as the knit stitch, but the working end of your yarn is held in front of your work. Hook your right needle through the stitch from the front right to the front left of the stitch. Wrap the working end of your yarn around the right needle's point and pull back through the stitch. Slide the stitch off of the left needle and gently tug the working end of the yarn.

When you reach the end of the row, switch your needles to the opposite hands. Your work should be held on the left needle and the working end of the yarn should be held with your right needle. Continue with your stitches until the pattern is complete and then bind off your work.

Binding off
To finish your work you must bind off the last row of your stitches. If you have knit stitches facing you, then you are going to use knit stitches to bind off. If you have purl stitches facing you, then you are going to use purl stitches to bind off. Make the first two stitches like you would to continue your pattern. Using your left needle, pick up the first stitch on the right needle and pull it over the second stitch to drop it off the needle. Make the next stitch and repeat the picking up and dropping off of the first stitch. Repeat this until all of the stitches have been finished and there is one stitch left on the right needle. Cut the working end of your yarn, leaving 6-8 inches of yarn to weave back into your work. Pull the end of the yarn through the stitch on your right needle and tug it gently to fasten off the stitch.

Now you know how to start your knitting project, the two basic stitches, and how to finish your project off. Knitting really is easier to understand than many people think. You just need to know the basics to get started and make some truly beautiful pieces. So go ahead and get started on your knitting adventure!

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5 Benefits of Taking Up Knitting

As anyone who enjoys knitting as a pastime knows well, taking up this particular hobby can be very soothing and rewarding. There are many benefits of this craft - some of them unexpected - so here are some good reasons why anyone and everyone should consider picking up some knitting needles and a ball of yarn and getting started.

The first benefit of knitting is that, as a creative hobby, it stimulates the mind and provides a creative outlet. People are drawn to many different creative pastimes, including painting, drawing, singing and learning a musical instrument, yet knitting is not necessarily an option that everyone might consider.
Differing from some other less mentally tasking creative hobbies, knitting actually requires a great deal of skill, and therefore is an excellent choice for those who enjoy mental stimulation along with a healthy dose of creativity. Working to patterns and making alterations requires a good amount of brain work to keep the little grey cells ticking over.

The second major advantage of knitting is that it a very productive hobby to enjoy, and it does not have to be very expensive either. Many friends and family love receiving gifts such as scarves and mittens in winter, and good quality scarf yarns are not necessarily expensive, especially if you find a good retailer to buy from.

Whereas other hobbies may just be for pure pleasure, knitting is actually a way to make unique gifts for loved ones as well. Many good knitting retailers offer designer and budget materials from Aran yarns to scarf yarns at a range of prices too, and it can be a real thrill to shop a sales section for a beautiful yarn and then turn it into a gift that someone will love.
The third benefit of taking up knitting as a hobby is that it is a great stress reliever. Studies have actually shown that this pastime is excellent for the health, and can even ease more severe conditions such as depression.
One of the reasons for this is that it is very meditative in nature, with knitters enjoying the soothing rhythmic movements of creating designs with simple needles and yarn. It is also the opportunity for many who are otherwise very busy to sit down and relax; this kind of sitting relaxation can lower blood pressure and help individuals find peace of mind.
Knitting does not only have benefits for mental health, however, and it is also an excellent solution for those who are suffering - or are starting to suffer - with conditions such as arthritis. Just as the brain needs to stay active to be healthy, so do the joints, which is perhaps one reason why many older people enjoy knitting so much.

Regardless of age, using some knitting needles and a ball or two of yarn can help improvisational skills, warding off future joint problems and strengthening the cartilage in the fingers. As knitting is gentle, it is sufficient to keep things working properly without putting a strain on the hands and joints for those who already have arthritis.

The fifth and final benefit of knitting is that it can be as social as you want it to be, which makes it the perfect choice for those who enjoy mixing with others or prefer to relax alone. There are many knitting clubs and groups where participants can compare patterns, show off projects and discuss the best lace weight or scarf yarns to use for a particular design they have.

On the other hand, others can enjoy knitting as an "alone" pastime that they can do without getting bored. Either way, knitting cannot only be social, but therapeutic, productive, stimulating and generally excellent for the health. If you are looking for a hobby that can bring all this to the table, knitting may very well be the right choice for you.

Little Houndales Knits is an Aladdin's Cave for knitters, with a huge range of amazing yarns, premium branded knitting needles and fabulous patterns from some of the biggest names in the hand-knitting industry. Established in 2010 in the Yorkshire Wolds, Little Houndales Knits was inspired by a passion for knitting and the desire to make 'proper wool' available to knitters around the UK. In addition to its range of exclusive Little Houndales Knits yarns and other luxury wool products, the store also stocks a popular selection of bags, accessories and knitting kits. Little Houndales Knits also has gift vouchers available for the perfect birthday or Christmas present, and offers free UK delivery on orders over £20. Visit Little Houndales Knits at: http://www.littlehoundalesknits.com/

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Easy Knitting Instructions For Beginners

Posted here are some easy knitting instructions for beginners. I think when people try to learn to knit they choose the wrong pattern and the wrong supplies.
A beginner is naturally clumsy because they are not comfortable with using two needles. So why make it more difficult for yourself by choosing small size needles and tiny yarn to learn with?
It is also best to use the basic knitting stitches, just knit and purl until you are use to knitting. Once you learn these two stitches you will find everything else is just a variation of the knit and purl stitches.
First find a pattern with the some basic knitting instructions; a small flat item really is best. Try a dishcloth, potholder or a square for an afghan. These are all good choices for that very first project. The needles size 8 or larger is easiest to handle. Do keep them about 14 inches long or shorter. I love the new kids needles that are about 7 inches long.
To help you there are many videos and graphics online. If you do not understand the written instructions do check out some of these videos. It also helps to read the written instructions and than watch the videos.
(1) Slip Knot: Wrap yarn over needle from front to back, over the working yarn, and through loop, pull taut but not tight.
(2) Cast On:
(A) With needle in right hand, wrap tail over left thumb and working yarn over index finger
(B) Insert needle up through thumb loop, then draw a loop from working yarn through loop
(C) Release thumb loop, tighten loop on needle by pulling tail forward
(3) Knit stitch: Hold needle with loops in left hand
(A) Insert right needle
(B) Wrap yarn around it, draw yarn through to form new stitch
(C) Transfer stitch to right needle
(4) Purl: With yarn in front of work
(A) Insert right needle into front of stitch, yarn over and
(B) Draw new loop through
(5) Cast off or Bind off: Begin by knitting two stitches loosely
(A) With left needle pass first stitch over second stitch and tip of right needles which leaves one stitch on right needle.
(B) Knit next stitch and repeat process.
(C) Continue until all stitches but one are bound off.
(D) Break or cut yarn and draw end through stitch With these few knitting basics to get you started, you will be well on your way to becoming a knitter.
These few basic knitting instructions are the foundation of any project you will ever knit. Take your time; understand these few items and you will be able to knit anything you want.

Linda Spangenburg draws on 35+ years from her knitting and crochet business experience, both as a teacher and craft business owner. She is the author behind "Looney for Looms" where you will find patterns for loom knitting. We hope you found the information here inspiring enough to try a craft homebased business? You can find more free information about knitting and crochet for profit at http://www.knitting-n-crochet.com

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Make Your Own Doggie Sweater - Where to Find Free Dog Clothes Patterns

Before you make your dog sweater you need to first decide how you will make it. Will you be sewing your clothes or will you knit or crochet it?
Are there other ways to make it? Try using what you already have like a sweater or a sweat shirt.
Once you decide what fabric you want to make, you can start searching online.
The first place to look is on Google.
Enter your description into the search bar. Be specific. If you want a purple frilly sweater let Google know.
Search Results for Purple Frilly Sweater:
- Autumn Blossom Knits - free pattern for the A-line ruffled dog sweater dress (blog)
- Posh Pooch Designs - Sofia dog sweater dress crochet pattern which includes a little bow
- Etsy - a large collection of crochet, knit, and sewing patterns to choose from (paid patterns)
One thing I forgot to enter in my search que was the word free. Be sure to add it during your search.
Aside from Google you can search blogs, photo sharing sites, Instagram, Tumblr, and more.
Groups are another great place to find patterns. Facebook has as many users as the entire country of China so you're bound to find a group that matches your interest.
Another place to search for dog sweater patterns is on Ravelry.
This is a community for "knitters" and "crocheters".
You can search for free or paid patterns. The results I got were 297 crochet patterns, 605 knitting patterns, 2 machine knitting patterns, and 4 loom knitting patterns.
That's a lot to choose from.
Other sites to look for crochet or knit patterns for dogs are:
Lion Brand yarn - look at the pattern index for pets. Here you'll find all sorts of fashion for your dog.
Red Heart yarn - search under free patterns and pets. One I like is the Flashy Dog Sweater and Leash which uses reflective glow-in-the-dark yarn designed by Kj Hay.
Sheep to Shawl - a lovely garter stitch knit pattern designed by Annie Modesitt.
All Free Crochet - curated crochet patterns from around the web
All Free Knitting - curated knitting patterns
CrochetnMore - check out Giget's Pink Ruffled sweater
Crochet and Knitting not for you?
Find a sewing pattern by searching Pinterest.
Here are a few sites I found:
Sew it Love it - teaches you how to measure your dog and has photo tutorials. Some include recycling a sweater, a sweat shirt, and well as other wardrobe necessities.
Sew Doggy Style - show how to make your own pattern. Once you create the master you can reuse it over and over again.
Resweater - a site that shows you how to upcycle a sweater
Now that you have a few sources for patterns, gather your supplies and make your own doggie sweater.

And now I'd like to invite you to join me on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/momwithahook/ and Twitter http://twitter.com/momwithahook where I share crochet patterns from my favorite designers.

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Knitting And Crochet Business I Was Able To Be A Stay At Home Mom With My Craft Business

There seems to be a lot of talk about the home-based knitting and crochet businesses. It seems half of the people are saying you can't make any money with a craft business. The other half are trying to convince you that it is so easy you can get rich overnight with no effort at all.
I am one of the middle folks. You probably will not get rich, unless you became a very exclusive designer. But even so you if being a designer is not in your future you can earn a decent income with your crafts. I say this only because I have done it.
Knitting scarfs, knitting hats and Christmas items of all kinds. Creating crochet baby patterns and loom knitting patterns were all a part of my business.
With some baby crochet patterns and a used knitting machine I began knitting hats and to crochet baby afghans to sell. Of course starting out was slow but as time pasted and my items became known my craft business increased.
My business was started in 1986. Yes I am now retired and no I did not get rich. But I did add to the family income. Also I was able to stay home and raise our children and work my hours around our family life.
It was extremely hectic at times and a lot of work but also a great deal of fun. When you do something you love the big dollars are not always your main goal. My goal was to help with the family budget and still be available for our family life and activities.
My children are now grown with families of their own. I do not regret a moment of being at home with them.
We still have many laughs about when the orders would come in so fast, that all four of us would be pitching in. We would have the living room full of pom poms trying to finish up all the orders for the holidays.
I would knit during the day while they were at school. In the evenings I would do the handwork while we all chatted and watched TV.
The kids tell of fond memories of me always being home when their school day was over. We always had enough money for what we needed. My income helped for all the many extras for the family.
Yes I do recommend being a stay at home Mom, if at all possible. But also do try the craft business you have always dreamed about. You will never be sorry you tried, but you will regret never trying at all.
You know what! We are rich from my home-based business. We never went without and we are rich with many fond memories and no regrets.

Written by Linda Spangenburg. I hope you found the information here inspiring enough to try a craft homebased business? You can find more free information about knitting and crochet for profit at http://www.knitting-n-crochet.com

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