Free Arts Articles

When handled carefully, your memorabilia can look its best even after years of display. Here are some tips to keep your treasures safe. Keep all of your scrapbooking supplies, albums, photos and negatives in a cool, dry place. Humidity and liquids will destroy these sensitive scrapbook materials. Handle your photos carefully. Oil from your skin and fingerprints can become visible after time. Wash your hands frequently or wear thin cotton gloves. Store your memorabili...

Christmas decorating doesn?t have to be a bank-breaking event. There are plenty of ways to create a warm and festive environment with limited resources. Begin by pulling out all the family favorites. Homemade ornaments made throughout the years are far more special than anything you could buy in the store. Display them on your Christmas tree or on top of your mantel; perhaps line them up on your mantel by year as a creative and nostalgic timeline of Christmases past. When ...

Have you ever made a comment that was simply ridiculous, but you didn?t realize it until you saw the smiles on your friends faces? You may have been totally mortified afterwards, but the truth is everyone makes comments like that; even the smartest people in the world make dumb comments too. The best part is: the smarter they are, the harder you laugh. My friend Jessie recently graduated from MIT and headed off to Princeton to get her PhD. A month after she moved in, she c...

When we speak of Andy Warhol pictures we are speaking of not only two kinds of pictures but of a distinctive era in American culture, of artists, models, and of factories turned into the-place-to-be studios. Of course, now, at our end, we have the collections, galleries, and museum shows featuring Andy Warhol pictures of the sixties/during the flower-power and pop art period ascension?the unique genius created under the influence of early comic books and brand name industr...

The best way to create and transform a favorite photo into a striking piece of photo art for display on the wall is to make a canvas print from digital photos. Printing digital photo on canvas is also useful for personalized gifts such as wedding and anniversary gifts, etc. There are a few important things you should know before you hand over your digital images to digital photo printing service and order a canvas print. The photographic quality of your canvas will ulti...

Losing someone you love is never easy. When my beloved mother passed away last fall I wasn't sure how I would find the strength to go on. So many of my greatest memories were filled with the beauty and grace of my mom. It was wonderful to be supported by so many friends and family at the funeral, but ended up being the sympathy cards that I received in the mail everyday for weeks afterward that gave me the strength to keep living. At first I felt strange as sympathy cards ...

After decades of refusing to admit that Palestine has a legitimate right to exist, Israel inched toward possible approval of the idea it has opposed as part of its militantly anti-Palestine platform. Palestinians, who have by now grown used to the belief that they are the ones who get to decide which state has a right to exist, were bewildered by the surprise announcement. They also puzzled over whether it meant that they really ought to acknowledge Israel's right to exist. ...

I love Mexican folk art! Whenever possible, I try to buy it directly from the artisans who create it. The pieces that speak to me, I keep and add to my own collection. The others, I share with family and friends as gifts, or sell to other collectors and home decor aficionados. Many people collect museum quality artwork by world renowned Mexican artists. Others choose practical items such as talavera dishes, hand-woven textiles or silver jewelry. Some prefer items of a cere...

President Bush made a secret trip to Iraq to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to assure him that the U. S. will continue to support efforts to stabilize and rebuild Iraq. Mr. Maliki thanked him and assured him that he would do everything to increase President Bush?s approval ratings. After further discussions, the two leaders agreed that the best way to accomplish both goals may be to exchange jobs. President Bush stated, ?I?m very involved in the U. S. invol...

Do you save one of the books of holy writ or the helpless babe? Be fair. You can only save one. No time for two. The flames are at your fanny. Yes, there's some chance you can go back for a second rescue attempt, but right now the hope is too risky to influence your decision. Let?s say you pick one of the books. What will the people, who happen to see your choice through a flame-fraught window, think of you? And, as you rush out of the incinerating house and the baby go...

Photography is defined as ?The art or process of producing images by the action of light on surfaces sensitized by chemical processes.? Of course, this is landscape photography on a big scale. Not many people are lucky enough to start off traveling the world. The earlier model did not contain the film; instead, it had a small light-shield box with lens and translucent screen on either side. The image that traveled through the lens was stored on the screen. Known as 'cam...

Play would always be attached with the term ?toys?. Toys are the source of fun for children kids and even adults too. If used well, they could be aids in achieving learning and fun both at the same time. What could smart toys do? How could smart parents use these toys for the development of their children? There are very helpful points that could help out in making your child even smarter: * Each child has his or her own preference of toys. Let your child express him by...

Have you ever walked into a store and immediately been so frustrated that you couldn't even begin to think about spending your money there? Things are haphazardly strewn about, there is little organization, and then to top it all off, when you walk up to an item that you might consider - it has no price tag on it. Don't let this happen to your craft show booth. You need to keep in mind the same principles of good marketing and merchandising when you set up for a craft show. ...

Since Christmas is almost here, what could be a better gift than Christmas themed hand made soap to give to family and friends? My family and friends always look forward to the hand made soap gifts I give them each year. Hand made soap is a practical as well as a thoughtful gift. The recipient knows you thought about them while you took the time to make their soap. And everyone uses soap! If you?re short on cash, hand made soap can also be an economical gift (although mine...

I read an amazing article by Grayson Perry entitled "How art appreciates - it's a class act". In a nutshell he reckoned that art finds its true monetary value from what the experts say. But I can see something more from what he says. If a piece of art is to be labeled as having any "value" at all it is what is said about it that establishes it as a work worthy of an individuals attention. In other words ... if you see a picture and it relates to you in some way (this ca...

Wouldn?t it be revelatory if a helpful hand would came out of the clouds and give the human race a new work list? Given our present doings, we sure could use one. But, since the hand does not seem to be forthcoming, we decided to take the hint and do our best to help develop one. To get the new work list started, we present the following recap of our current work list and then our suggestions for inclusion in a new work list. First, let?s review the regrettable list hum...

Rest easy, America, even when you contemplate the abbreviated flight of North Korea?s errant but someday, they hope, long-range Taepodong 2 missile ? a name that, should the nation ever decide to enter the capitalist hustings, doesn?t sound like a very promising appellation for a new car. In the wake of the miscalculated launch of seven missiles by North Korea, including a Taepodong 2, President Bush told reporter Larry Wing in an exclusive interview, ?We?ve got a missile ...

Dressmakers, like many other artists, may be good at their craft, but need assistance when it comes to being a business person. The following are some suggestions to assist you in the business world. You need expert advice. You may be top of the game when it comes to tailoring an award winning frock from scraps of cloth and thread, yet you are not likely to be an expert at law and financial affairs as well. Don?t be scared to seek the assistance of financial advisors, lawy...

Knife sharpening was recognized as an important part of tool maintenance since the very first primitive tool was made. In the Colonial times, a grist mill was often the first building to be set up and running when a new settlement was being formed. That is because these pioneers recognized that without sharp tools, the rest of the building would be slowed dramatically. Today?s knife sharpening tools are based on the same basis physics as the old grist mills and whet stones...

Finding a definitive definition for both an antique and a collectible is not possible. Just what constitutes an antique and what constitutes a collectible is determined by each individual antique dealer. Many times, the dealers will give varied answers to the seemingly simple question, ?What is a collectible and what is an antique?? Most dealers will agree that historically an antique is any crafted or manufactured item that is at least 100 years old. Collectibles are item...

Have you ever wondered how someone was able to create a logo that looked so perfect? I used to think that someone probably had to draw the logo by hand, but then I learned some very interesting things about creating shapes in Photoshop. I used to think that you could only create standard shapes like ovals, rectangles, squares, and circles. However I recently learned that Photoshop gives you the ability to take these standard shapes and modify them to make new shapes that are ...

When you are producing flower landscape oil paintings, keep in mind the short canvas blend life of oil paints. If you are producing an oil painting of a flower landscape and you need to make a change that isn't immediately effective, the best thing to do is wipe it off with your paint rag and start over. This will work for the first 24 hours after your painting, as oil paintings take this long to dry. In fact, it's important not to make too thick a first coat or you'll never ...

In case you haven?t heard, there is a brash new movement afoot to make America a nonaligned nation. The principal motivation behind the movement is worldwide ingratitude for the sacrifices America has made for the benefit of other nations, while getting back precious little in return, materially or even in simple gratitude. Certainly, the group maintains, the payback in either form has hardly been commensurate with the sacrifices America has made in life and treasure. The ...

For any family who has children baby picture frames are very important items. Sure, parents love to show off their little tykes as much as possible and choosing a suitable framing can make the difference between a good snapshot and a photographic masterpiece. There are lots of options when it comes to selecting the right frame for the little tot but for sure, one brand stands out. Yes, images by Ellen presents unique baby picture frames that are especially designed for bab...

Sometimes the cartoon world, at least as reflected in the colorful pictures and captions of mass media, gets so bonkers that a real-world headline would be right at home in a humor magazine. Take the ludicrous bauble that prompted this article. It appeared in no less a distinguished place than the front page of The New York Times on the Web: "Bathroom Dispute Halts Chess Championship." We could have gone with that. No doubt about it. But we prefer to see the everyday za...

Why medieval castles seemed so familiar in the history class for me and most of my classmates? Why some of us have a déjà vu when we watch films like the "Pirates of the Caribbean"? We have spent so much time assembling the Playmobil version of the castle, or making stories about pirates, knights, sheriffs and Native Americans as children and playing with the Playmobil spaceship, that sometimes we think that we actually have lived in all those places. For everyone who was a c...

Everyone loves candles and they are a great way to add warmth and comfort to your home. You even have a few choices of candles such as regular wax candles and soy candles. Candles are affordable and they can last for a very long time. The best part about candles is that they look good both lit and unlit. Oddly enough most people, me included, own candles that they never intend to light for fear of ruining their beauty. Candles are both practical and gorgeous and of all the...

1. First decide what sort of impression you want to make with ?pictures?. Do you want to be fashionable and arty or do you want to display family photos, nostalgia or personal interests? If you wish you can include all of the above, but you may make a better job of it if you have designated areas for each. For example you may want to make a statement with an impressive single abstract piece in your living room, while in the hall or dining room you could display more personal ...

There?s many a crochet beginner who has made their skill debut with the design and completion of a crochet scarf. A simple project that lends itself to a variety of bold colors and various patterns, the crochet scarf has marked the foray into the world of crochet for many just picking up hook and yarn. Additionally, the shape of the crochet scarf is enormously forgiving of any first timer mistakes. If you would like to try to make a crochet scarf, the possibilities are en...

The patchwork quilting has been around in America since the colonial times. It used to be that patchwork quilting was made from leftover fabric or was taken from clothes that were no longer usable. Now people are doing patchwork quilting for fun and have made it into a form of art. People like to use fine fabrics, and create detailed stitching and beautiful designs on their patchwork quilting. There are three layers of fabric in patchwork quilts. The top layer is considere...