Summer vacation is here! While there is plenty of things to do outside during the summer—community swimming pools, family vacations, and night games with the neighborhood kids—it can be hard to find a fun activity for when the weather is wet and dreary. Why not keep a few summertime-themed crafts in the back pocket, just in case? Here are five craft projects for kids that will brighten up an afternoon spent indoors. Stained Glass Bunting with Melted Crayons These buntings bring a carnival-like...
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During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a simple, enriching service went viral in the midst of lockdown: WindowSwap. According to their website, "WindowSwap is here to fill that deep void in our wanderlust hearts by allowing us to look through someone else's window, somewhere in the world." Simply put, WindowSwap gives viewers a glance into someone else's window somewhere around the world. The practice is simple: click a button to be taken to a random window. The video will loop until you click...
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Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842) is a painter most known for her portraits of aristocratic women. While her subjects and color palette are often classified as part of the Rococo movements, her overall style is more aligned with the Neoclassic period. Vigée Le Brun caught the attention of the public eye for her portraits of Marie Antoinette, some of which caused scandal and controversy at the French court. Throughout her lifetime, Vigée Le Brun painted 900 pictures total. She is most...
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Inspiration is a hard thing to nail down for artists. That's because each individual artist finds inspiration in something that's as unique as their art style. What inspires one artist will not inspire another. What's more, for a lot of artists, the inspiration behind one project is not the inspiration of their next. Veteran artists understand that inspiration is ever-changing and unregulated. This is a good thing! Sometimes, though, inspiration can be lacking. Even the best of artists suffer...
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Watercolor is one of the most popular mediums for painters, and it's easy to see why. Using light layers of paint for a work creates a space for artists to play with color. There are a lot of techniques artists use to create a quality watercolor painting, and all artists no matter their skillset are encouraged to try them all out. You can check out more in-depth instruction on watercolor painting techniques here. Or, if you have less time on your hands, you can read our summarized tips for...
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The Rococo Period is an art movement from the 18 th century characterized by pastel color palettes, natural motifs, curving lines, and a light-hearted nature. It started in Paris, France around 1720 A.D. as a reaction to the Baroque period, which preceded it. Where Baroque was serious and forlorn, Rococo artworks were free-spirited and bright. The movement encompassed paintings and architecture and grew from France to also influence art and design in Italy, Germany, Austria, and England. The...
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It's beginning to look a lot like crafts-mas! Get into the holiday spirit by decorating your home with homemade decorations you make with your kids. Crafts are a good way to build creativity in both children and adults. There are a lot of fun winter holiday-themed craft projects for all ages. We scoured our closet of craft supplies to find our favorites to share with you. Here is what we put together. Marbleized Shaving Cream Ornament This is not a quick and convenient craft, but the end...
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When it comes to selecting a color scheme for a project, it's important to understand what specific emotions each color can evoke. Color makes the world vibrant, and combinations of various colors can elicit emotions. But if you're deciding on a monochrome palette for a project, it's best to know which colors elicit which emotions. Cool Colors Cool colors are on the low end of the spectrum—purples and blues and quite a few greens. These colors can be calming or sinister, depending on context...
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When it comes to selecting a color scheme for a project, it's important to understand what specific emotions each color can evoke. Color makes the world vibrant, and combinations of various colors can elicit emotions. But if you're deciding on a monochrome palette for a project, it's best to know which colors elicit which emotions. Warm Colors Warm colors operate on the high end of the visible light spectrum. These are reds and yellows and other colors that bring vibrancy and energy to any...
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Combinations of different colors can be used to invoke certain emotions. It is important to know which colors encourage which emotions so that your intentions come through in your project. For instance, a graphic designer selecting colors for a new brand should choose colors that reflect the brand’s attitude or energy. In another example, an artist should be able to select a color that conveys a desired mood for a painting. In another post, we reviewed how colors relate to each other on the...
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Color theory is the study of colors and how they interact both with each other and with people. Every artist, regardless of their medium, should have a basic understanding of color theory. Understanding how colors relate to each other helps in selecting a color scheme for a project. Knowing which emotions each color or combination of colors evokes is also helpful information to know, especially if an artist or designer is looking to evoke a certain emotion. The first step to learning color...
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Sometimes you hit a slump in your creative process, it happens to everyone. When you’re in a funk, it’s easy to get discouraged and even sidetracked from projects. If you’re running out of fresh ideas it’s time to think outside of the box. For the days you’re not feeling on-point, try these techniques to get your creative juices flowing. Try something new We tend to be creatures of habit and it’s probably time to shake things up. Is there a new restaurant you’ve wanted to try, or a coffee shop...
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Job opportunities in the arts are expected to increase by 11% according to a report by the National Endowment for the Arts. Doesn’t seem like a big number? Try two million. That’s how many people are expected to work in art-related industries within the next few years. Throw that at Mom and Dad next time they try to say it’s not too late to switch into pre-medicine. With so many opportunities opening up, it can be hard to choose the best industry to go into. This list, though hardly...
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Bumper stickers are simple to print at home! Purchase sticker paper at a craft shop or office supplier (retail or online) and then make up your own design using your computer. You can create them for your school, club or band, to advertise your small business or simply to show off your creativity. Not just for car bumpers, you can also place them on notebooks, your bike and walls or give them away or even sell them. Bumper stickers can be made in any shape or size, although the traditional...
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Being an illustrator is one of the most effective and creative ways to convey ideas to the public. While the idea of creating beautiful or exciting pieces is appealing, getting started as an artist is a daunting task. It's incredibly overwhelming and easy to get demotivated when working on a long-term project. Here are five tips to assist any beginner artist in starting their journey in illustration: 1. Start With The Basics Of Drawing Many times, young artists get inspired by a picture in...
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By Carolyn McFann Drawing is a relaxing and fun hobby for anyone willing to take the time to learn it, step by step. Just let yourself go and sketch, concentrating on what you’re drawing. It is important to think positively, and not be too hard on yourself. So many of my students have told me at first, “I can’t draw anything,” or “my drawings are horrible!” but in time, they learned that with practice, their drawings improve. Don’t discourage yourself with negative self-talk. Just do what...
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“A man paints with his brains and not with his hands.” - Michelangelo Sending an artist into an art store to pick out a paintbrush is like shoving a sweets-loving kid into a candy shop. Since there are a lot of choices out there, choosing the right paintbrush can be a tricky task for a new artist. What some beginners don’t realize is that the real art begins when you go “outside the box” to select your paintbrushes. If you allow yourself to be too strictly confined to picking the “right”...
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As digital art continues to blossom as a new and exciting creative medium, there are more and more reasons to invest in a tablet for drawing. While traditional media will always be relevant, the laundry list of benefits offered by digital art devices is nothing to shrug off. They have the potential to simplify and refine your artistic process. They can be used to assist you in achieving a final product with your medium of choice or to bring your work to the next level with the many tools they...
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One of the best ways to preserve your experiences out in nature is to keep a journal with drawings and accompanying writings that record your adventures. Such a practice can do much to hone your overall drawing ability, as well. Some of the most vibrant scenes that may be captured exist out in the wild, but we need to develop quick eyes and hands lest they escape us. Such skills, however, can be developed with some simple exercises that each only require a few minutes per sitting. These...
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Painting, drawing, and coloring are more that just ways for a child to while away empty hours. These arts greatly enhance the growth of cognitive, emotional, and psychomotor pathways in children. Parents should introduce children to coloring as early as possible and consider this time spent as fundamental to their development. Here are 12 great ideas for teaching your child the joy of creating with color. Computer coloring: Pages abound on the internet that allow a child to click on a palette...
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An Old World Art Form Chinese Calligraphy, known as "Shu Fa" in Chinese, is an appreciated art form throughout the world. We see it everywhere--from stone inscriptions to clothing. Character techniques in Chinese Calligraphy were refined throughout China's history and experienced changes as China went through many different social and economic changes. This ancient form of calligraphy was used as a form of self-expression, but also to show a disciplined understanding of the form and technique....
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by Megan Sterling Creating art work is a lifelong passion. Inspiration is essential in order to sustain a flow of ideas for painting, drawing, and sketches. There are times when new ideas do not seem to come of their own accord, and repetition sets in within the themes or style of art work. The practices that follow will refresh thought processes, generate images within the imagination, and suggest new creative projects. Altering your ordinary driving route around town will bring new ideas to...
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Do you have the will, but not the skills to draw? Everyone has to start at the beginning, so don't be put off by the fact you're not great at drawing yet. Even if you're a stick figure artist at present, you can improve given enough time. Further, learning how to draw will also be fun if you shake off tension and allow yourself to play. Here's how to draw, despite not sharing much in common with Leonardo. Learn to see Whether you want to draw pictures that stem from real life or your...
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A bungalow house is a style of home popular throughout the 20th century characterized by open floor plans, low-pitched roofs, and big front porches. This style of home is associated with the American Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century and examples are especially prevalent along the west coast. Bungalows typically have deep eaves with exposed rafters, decorative knee braces, built-in cabinetry, and dormers. You can draw your own bungalow house plan at home for fun. Study...
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