Category: Art

Watercolor is an unruly medium, characterized by dribbles of paint, colors that run and indistinct forms on paper. Getting started with watercolor is different from other forms of paint, because of the medium’s chaotic and difficult to control nature. If you’re new to this medium, knowing what to expect can help you adjust to this type of painting. The following tips can help. Here’s what you need to know. 

1. Experiment with Different Styles

There are many styles of watercolor. Experimenting with each type can help you find the style that works best for you. 

• Wet on wet. To paint wet on wet, apply water to a piece of paper using a clean brush. Next, apply paint to the wetted paper. The paint will run. Just how much the paint runs depends on how much water is on the paper. Allow the paint to dry.
• Wet on dry. Apply wet paint to a dry paper, then allow the paint to dry on the paper to see how the paint looks.
• Color blending. To create blended colors, apply wet paint of different colors to a dry paper. Allow the wet areas of paint to combine and blend. You’ll notice that the colors remain pure near the edges, but the colors blend in the middle. 
• Mixed medium. See what happens when you mix water color with other mediums like pencil, pen and ink, markers and pastels. 

2. Don’t Get Too Precious About Your Paintings

Watercolor is a difficult to control medium that produces unexpected results on a regular basis. Even artists who have been painting with watercolor for years are often surprised by the results of their efforts. 

Let go of the idea that your watercolor paintings will look in a certain way, especially in these first paintings. Don’t try to achieve perfection. Instead, devote yourself to experimenting with the medium, seeing how the paint takes to the paper, and what happens when you apply paint to varying wet and dry conditions. 

3. Invest In Good Materials

Not all watercolor materials are created equal. Purchase a small set of good quality water color paint. Do not splurge on a lot of paint at first. Wait until you know what brands and colors you like best before investing in a larger set of colors.  

The quality of your watercolor paper also matters. Poor quality watercolor paper will buckle when it becomes too wet, creating an uneven application of paint. If you’re not sure which watercolor materials are good brands or which brands perform best, talk to a clerk at the art store when making your purchase.  

4. Start Light and Add Dark Paint As You Go

One of the ways that watercolor paint is distinctly different from other types of paint is that you can’t subtract or overwrite the paint once it’s on the paper. This is because watercolor is a transparent medium. While you can add more paint to the paper, you can never lighten what is already in the image. 

To avoid mistakes, start by applying light paint to the paper. Add darker paint as you add details to your image.  

5. Paint Every Day

The most important thing you can do to learn how to paint with watercolor is to paint every day, and practice as often as possible. Watercolor can be tricky, but the more time you invest in your new hobby, the happier you’ll be with the results. 

Are you stuck and having trouble getting your next creative project off the ground? Creativity leads to innovation, but how do you jumpstart the creative process when you’re in a slump? Let’s take a look at five ways to reignite your creativity, whether you need it for your job or a hobby.

1. Update Your Decor or Change Your Location.

If your creativity is in a slump, get a new perspective by changing the décor in your office or relocating yourself to another room. You could even take a trip outside to view your natural surroundings. If you’ve been staring at the same four walls and the same décor for years, it could be the reason for your creative slump. Change the pictures on your walls, and update your bulletin board. Add items to your desk that invoke creativity, like a puzzle box or a cryptex. Additionally, take the time to work in other locations within your building and even outside. A change in scenery can help you get a new perspective and ignite your creativity.

2. Learn Something New.

Innovation and creativity can come from learning new things. To start, think about the things you don’t know. Have you ever researched medieval construction techniques? What items did ancient Romans have in their homes? How are shoes constructed? What’s the loop on the back of dress shirts for? By increasing your knowledge base, even on obscure topics, you’ll help foster new ideas and broaden your thinking.

3. Write Down New Ideas.

Do random thoughts come to you during the day? Write them down. Most people have random ideas and thoughts that occur to them on a daily basis. Jot them down in your phone’s note feature or on a tablet, even if it’s not a fully formed idea. Reviewing these ideas later can help you boost your creativity.

4. Write Down the Things that Annoy You.

Innovation can come from frustration. What’s bothering you today? Does the trash bag liner keep falling down? Are you having trouble with a piece of software or not able to find the software you need? Write it down. Later, you can elaborate on the problem and brainstorm ways to fix it. Solving small issues in your daily life can help you broaden your creative horizons.

5. Add Some Brains.

The saying that two brains are better than one is true. When you’re in a creative slump, seek out new ideas by listening to other people. This could be as simple as holding a conference call or in-person meeting with others in your industry or similar industries. These individuals may have ideas and thoughts that will spark new ideas in your mind.

To inspire your creativity, make an effort. Remember not to limit yourself. Write down even the craziest idea, and don’t forget to learn and try new things. By expanding your horizons and knowledge, you’ll better be able to tackle your next creative project.

Feel like being a little crafty? Making something with your own two hands is not just rewarding, it’s also considered a form of therapeutic meditation by some mental health professionals. Whether you are a constant crafter with a knack for anything artistic or a total beginner, certain arts and crafts are easy to learn. We’ve pulled together five of the simplest art and craft projects you can try that don’t take much time at all to master. 

1. Creating Origami 

Origami is the ancient Japanese papercraft that involves folding paper into decorative figures and shapes. Best of all, all you need is sturdy paper, possibly a pair of scissors, and simple instructions found online. From birds and mammals to flowers and everyday objects, it’s a lot of fun to use paper to create a 3D object. Most pieces involve simple paper folds and tucks to achieve the finished product. 

2. Sharpie Tie-Dying 

Sharpie ink works out really well for tie-dyed art projects. Grab a handful of your favorite markers, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and something to make more colorful. Keep in mind, this art project is best done outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Simply use the markers to create shapes on a shirt or piece of paper, and then spray the rubbing alcohol over the ink. The colors will bleed together to create a masterpiece. 

3. Creating Hand-Painted Landscape Rocks

Looking to spruce up your landscape with a touch of personality? Pick up some acrylic paint, a few paintbrushes, and a clear enamel sealer spray at the craft store. Scout out a few good stones with interesting shapes and smooth surfaces. With a little creative thinking, you can transform a basic rock into your favorite book, an animal, or a flower-donned garden piece bound to attract attention. 

4. Making Flower-Rimmed Picture Frames 

Grab a few inexpensive picture frames, some faux flower blooms and greenery, and your hot glue gun. Pluck the flowers and greenery from the stems, arrange them how you like on the frame, and tack them in place with the hot glue. In the end, you have an adorable photo frame to house your favorite memories. It can also be fun to make your own wreath using a simple straw wreath or circular base using this same process. 

5. Crocheting 

Crocheting is considered one of the easiest-to-learn needlework techniques. You are simply using yarn and a crochet hook to create rows of loops or knots. These rows eventually become a full piece of fabric. Stitch patterns with crocheting vary, and some are easier to learn than others. There are a ton of instructional crocheting videos available for free online, and the craft is easy to pick up. You could be crafting everything from baby booties to comfy throw blankets in no time at all. 

 

Even though the world has gone more digital in the past 20 years or so, the use of stationery hasn’t really waned. In fact, the stationery industry has seen a huge uptick in revenue, with sales topping $24 billion in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic helped a lot of people get into stationery, and it’s projected that within a decade, stationery will be an industry valued at over $30 billion. If you want to see why so many people are getting into stationery and spending so much money, here are a few of the reasons why it’s a worthwhile investment.

5. There’s a Wide Variety

One of the best things about stationery is that the sky’s the limit. While there are some pieces of stationery that you’ll end up getting that someone else has, there’s a wide enough variety that you’ll be able to have your own unique collection. Just about every color that you can imagine is available to use, and you can use the variety of your stationery to fit your mood. If you’re feeling in a particularly chipper mood, you can use brighter colors and paper so that you can really express yourself.

4. Improves Your Organization

Every year, there are millions of people that have a New Year’s resolution that says they want to get more organized. However, most of those resolutions (just like many other ones) tend to fall by the wayside. One easy way to get yourself organized is through the power of stationery. You’ll notice that right away you have a spot for your pens, another for pencils, and more for your different types of paper. Once you get the stationery organization down, you’ll be more inclined to get the rest of your life organized.

3. Stands Out in Today’s World

In this day and age, people tend to only communicate one way, and that’s digitally. There’s nothing wrong with that as it’s the most effective and time saving form of communication, but it just doesn’t feel as personal. With stationery, you’re able to create something from the heart that uses your imagination and creativity to pass along messages that truly mean something. Think about how great you feel using your stationery. The person that receives your creation feels that same kind of high.

2. Feeling of Accomplishment

This concept sort of ties into the previous one about the digital world. Anybody can send an email in 11 point Arial font, but when you complete a project using your stationery, it’s something that’s truly your own and it will help you feel a major sense of accomplishment. The same applies to any form of art, really. Even before you finish, you’ll find that your mood is improved, your stress levels are reduced and you feel that you’re creating something worthwhile.

1. Unlimited Creativity

When it comes to what you can accomplish with your stationery, there really is no limit. If you want to create your own font, draw something that’s never been seen before or simply try to emulate some works of art. Tapping into that creative part of your brain unlocks so many feelings of pleasure that creating something digitally might not be able to replicate.

Tattoos aren’t just a trend that has been getting more popular in recent years as they’ve been around for centuries. These days, though, tattooing has become more extensive with the technology that we have and the detail is amazing. Because of this, people that didn’t think they’d ever get a tattoo are starting to consider it and join the 30 percent of Americans that have received a tattoo in the past 10 years. Before you face the needle for the first time, though, there are some things that you need to know. Here are the fundamentals of tattoo selection.

5. Don’t Rush It

The worst thing that you can do when getting a tattoo is getting one on the spot. It’s basically an old trope at this point. You go to a place like Las Vegas, have a bit too much to drink and when you get home you discover a new tattoo that you immediately hate. Never be under the influence when getting a tattoo, although you can decide on one when you have. If the sober version of you still likes the tattoo idea you came up with, it might be a good pick for you.

4. Start Small

If you’ve never had a tattoo before, you might be doing yourself a huge disservice if you dive into a full arm sleeve for your first project. Instead, you should pick out something small. This can set the base for your larger project, but there’s something even more important for starting small. This will be a good base for your pain tolerance when the needle starts doing its work. If it felt like almost nothing, then you’re ready to take the next step to a larger tattoo.

3. Don’t Follow Trends

Because of social media, a lot of us tend to hop on a lot of trends. Whether it be from TikTok, Instagram or one of the countless others, tattoos are no stranger to being part of a trend. It’s best to ignore what’s hot at the moment because when you look at the tattoo a few years down the road you might end up cringing. Just because someone like Ariana Grande got a particular tattoo doesn’t mean you have to get the same one.

2. Word of Mouth

Getting a tattoo from an artist that you’ve never met before can be a bit scary. But word of mouth goes a long way in the tattoo game. If you see an artist that has darn near perfect ratings on online reviews or know someone that has personal experience, then that’s an artist that’s likely to be trusted. If they have a wide catalog of work, too, you’ll know you found the right artist.

1. The Personal Connection

Think back to when you were a child and you said that you like dinosaurs once so every birthday or Christmas present you received was some sort of dinosaur item. You probably don’t like dinosaurs as much these days, do you? The same growth continues into adulthood, so you probably won’t want a tattoo of a dinosaur when you’re 80. Instead, pick something that has personal meaning to you, such as a departed family member or the place where you grew up. Heck, maybe you do love dinosaurs that much that it will last the rest of your life.

The world of art is one of the most lucrative, but it can also be the most mysterious. Since almost all of the most well-known works of art predate the internet and even recorded history altogether, it’s hard to know the exact origins and full stories for these pieces of art. Because of this, there are plenty of unsolved mysteries in art history, and here are some of the biggest question marks that we’re still trying to figure out.

5. Who is Lady Liberty?

Very few pieces of art in the United States are as recognizable as the Statue of Liberty which overlooks the New York Harbor. A gift from France that was dedicated in 1886, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi created what has become an iconic piece of Americana. The statue is of Libertas, a Roman goddess, but who was the exact model that Bartholdi used? There are rumors that it was his own mother, but it was never confirmed. 

4. How Did Van Gogh Go?

When you think of artists that just about anybody can name despite their level of art knowledge, Vincent van Gogh is one of those artists. On July 28, 1890, van Gogh passed away after a fatal gunshot, which was presumed to be fired by himself. However, in the years that have passed, there has been speculation that someone else fired the gun into his abdomen. Due to forensics, some historians suspect it was an accidental gunshot that nobody wanted to confess.

3. Is Denver Cursed?

If you’ve been to the Denver International Airport, you may have noticed one of the most eye-catching sculptures. Officially titled Blue Mustang, people know this massive horse sculpture better as Blucifer. Standing at over 30 feet tall and around 9,000 pounds, Blucifer has been said to be cursed. That’s because the sculptor of the statue, Luis Jimenez, was killed in his studio by a piece of Blucifer falling on him, severing his artery. 

2. Big Heist in Beantown

Boston is one of the most historical cities in the United States, and art plays a significant part in the city’s lore. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is one of those places that has preserved history, but there’s a big chunk missing. In March of 1990, 13 pieces of art were stolen from the museum with an estimated value of $500 million. With that much money missing, you’d think the case would be solved more than 30 years later. However, the FBI still hasn’t caught the thieves and the reward for finding the missing art has ballooned to $10 million.

1. Who was Robert C. Christian?

The state of Georgia made headlines in July 2022 when the Georgia Guidestones were destroyed. A big tourist attraction, there was a lot of controversy surrounding that monument that’s said to give instructions on what to do after a potential apocalyptic event. One thing that’s unclear is the history of the man that made the Guidestones. The man was known under the name Robert C. Christian (a pseudonym), but that’s about all we know. He simply wanted to know how much it would cost to make the monument, and only Wyatt Martin knows Christian’s real name.