19th century paint colors: 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Create A Wooden Mask

Many cultures have pursued the tradition of mask making throughout history for both artistic and ritual purposes. There are limitless possibilities and styles to choose from when creating your own wooden masks. They can be decorated with paint, feathers, carving or a combination of all these elements. Power tools are helpful in creating the initial wood cutout and should be used under supervision. Forethought into where the mask will go helps you harmonize the style of the location with the decorations used on the mask.

Instructions

1. Make a sketch on paper of what you would like the finished mask to look like. Find inspiration by researching the designs of different cultures throughout history.

2. Cut the wood to the desired size and shape shown in the sketch you've made. A soft grain wood will be easier to carve and work with. Particle board is not recommended unless you plan to paint the entire mask.

3. Drill holes for any eye, nose, or mouth cutouts. Drill any other holes desired according to the sketch.

4. Carve any desired designs in the wood. You may want to use chisels to create a curved surface on the wood. This must be done very intricately and will add enormous depth to the finished mask. Carving takes practice, so be patient with yourself and practice before working on the final piece.

5. Paint the wood with the designs designated in the sketch. Do not limit yourself to the original design as wood has its own grains and patterns that might inspire a change in the design.

6. Attach other decorations such as feathers and glitter according to the predetermined layout. Again the individual wood used will have different patterns in color that may lend to a change in the original plan. Be creative in this step, adding any elements that will look good with your particular piece of wood.

Humidity & Interior Fresh paint Blistering

Blistering is caused by heat and humidity interacting with the paint.

Interior paint is often easier to apply than outdoor paint, and does not need to withstand the same type of weathering conditions, but it can encounter problems, too. Improperly applied paint, or paint that is exposed to unfavorable conditions, can be subject to blistering. Fixing these blisters takes a little work, but prevention is easier if you can find and deal with sources of humidity and moisture.

Blistering

Blisters are small places in the paint where the paint layer has lost adhesion with the surface beneath it and formed a small space of air, bubbling up or warping out of shape. Blisters form most often in acrylic and latex paints, but can be found in nearly any type of paint and can form only a day after application, or up to a year later.

Causes

Humidity is one of the most common causes of blisters and bubbles in interior paint. High humidity can cause moisture to seep into wood and indoor concrete, causing a lack of adhesion where it contacts the paint. If the humidity is high right after painting, the problem may become even worse.

Paint Drying

As the paint begins to dry, high humidity in the air will usually interact with the paint and pull sections that are not dry away from layers that have already dried, forming bubbles not only of air but of water, which can be even more damaging to the paint. Rain and dew have an even worse effect, but interior paint is only in danger of the humidity outside air can bring indoors.

Heat

If the humidity is accompanied by heat, this can worsen problems caused by bubbles. The heat causes certain solvents in the paint to evaporate more quickly, while the drying parts of the paint are resistant to the transfer of the gases, creating a bubble filled with solvent gas.

Fixing

Bubbles and blisters must be removed completely. The painter can scrape or sand them off and smooth over the section where the blisters occurred. For large areas, painters can use a power sander to save time. Often, the painter will need to apply a new coat of paint over the affected area.

Caulking

In houses, humidity can leak in easily through cracks in windows, doors or vents. Painters can caulk these cracks to seal off airflow and decrease humidity inside the house, decreasing the likelihood of blisters and other paint problems at the same time.

Basements

Basements are notorious for humidity and blister problems, since moisture can easily rise through the surrounding soil. The floor of the basement should be sealed with a waterproof sealant to help alleviate the problem. Attics can have the same issue, but are more easily ventilated than basements.

Adding Texture To Digital Works of art

There are many ways to add texture to a digital painting.

Digital painting uses a computer program to produce artwork. A skilled artist can use a program in almost exactly the same way as traditional physical media, using brushes and colors on a digital canvas. However, digital painting has many features and options that are either impossible or difficult for a traditional medium. For instance, if you want to quickly add realistic texture to a painting rather than painting the texture it yourself, there are many options for making fast textures that can blend naturally into the rest of your artwork.

Instructions

1. Use a filter to change the appearance of the layer of your painting that you are actively working on. Some simple filters will create an overall grainy texture or can imitate the look of a camera blur.

2. Use the brushes that come with most programs. Some of these create textured patterns, such as leaves or grass. Some brushes may not seem to produce a texture, but will if you change the opacity or spread of the brush.

3. Overlay a photo onto your image, which allows you to see both the photograph texture and your painting at the same time and instantly creates texture for your image.Take a digital photograph of an interesting texture, such as bark or dirt, and import the photo onto a new layer in your painting. Lower the opacity of the photo or change the layer setting to a transparent mode.

Make Organic Face Offers

A natural alternative to commercial face paint is extremely easy to make.

Many brands of face paint, a product most commonly used on young children, have recently come under fire from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics because they contain lead, a toxic metal known for causing neurological damage. If that is not reason enough to create your own organic face paint, keep in mind that you can use this project to distract fidgety children, while keeping them from potentially dangerous products.

Instructions

1. Mix the lotion and cornstarch to create a thick paste. Use your preferred thick lotion that is organic and hypoallergenic to avoid rashes.

2. Add food coloring a drop at a time to the paste and mix it in until you achieve the desired color. If using a natural dye alternative like berries or flowers you may have to follow a different process to release the color. You can squeeze pomegranate seeds, but a quick way to a deeper shade is to use a blender to make a juice and use a few drops to color your paste. You can also squeeze or juice berries of most types. Boil flower petals in water in a small container in a microwave to release the color. If working with children, using prepackaged food coloring is the easier option.

3. Apply the paint to your face.

Clean & Fresh paint Outside Wooden shutters

Outdoor shutters can be a handsome way to decorate the outside of window fixtures. However, like any surface exposed to the outdoors, these shutters will get dirty, and paint will start to fade. Cleaning and painting outdoor shutters will bring a fresh new look to your home and is fairly inexpensive and easy to do.

Instructions

1. Remove the shutters from the window fixtures and move them to a shady, well-ventilated area. With cleaning and painting, use an area that is out of direct sunlight, as too much sunlight will cause soap and paint to dry quickly, and therefore not work as well.

2. Mix one part bleach to four parts water into your spray bottle. Spray lightly onto your shutters; the bleach will kill mold or mildew that has developed on the shutters.

3. Fill the bucket with warm water and soap, usually a mild detergent. Using a brush or sponge, scrub the shutters clean to remove dirt and other particles. Be thorough; dirt and grime left on the shutters will cause an uneven paint scheme and will prevent the paint from sticking effectively to the shutters. For wooden shutters, if you are wary about water leaking into the grain, blow compressed air or use a regular feather duster to clean.

4. Rinse the soap off of the shutters using a garden hose. Allow time for the shutters to dry completely before attempting to paint.

5. Choose a type of paint. Acrylic paint is the most popular, and will be effective in coating the shutters well. Consider the make of your shutters when choosing paint; for instance, vinyl shutters respond well to paint with a touch of urethane resins, which bond well with vinyl, while wood responds effectively to latex-based paints. Address any questions to experts at your local painting supply or hardware store.

6. Apply a coat of primer if your shutters are made of wood. Oil-based primer is most effective; choose a color that is close to the color of your paint. Use a paint gun or paintbrush to apply the primer to the shutters and allow time to dry before continuing. Multiple coats of primer may be required; lightly sand the shutters after each coat has dried.

7. Apply the paint in light, even layers. For a thin paint, a paint gun is most effective. If you use a paintbrush, use a smaller size so that you can get into the grooves between slats and the edges of the shutters. You may need to apply multiple coats; be sure that one coat has dried completely before applying the next coat. Apply a clear coat of sealer for longer life. Keep newly-painted shutters in the shaded area for at least a week to be sure they are dry and weather-resistant.

Warm Interior Fresh paint Colors

Painting your home in warm colors will make it feel more welcoming.

Colors are divided into two groups: warm and cool colors. Cool paint colors tend to make your home look more modern and cold feeling. Warm paint colors, on the other hand, make your home look more traditional, lighter and welcoming. There are many different warm paint colors that can transform any dark, cold room into a bright, warm one.

Reds

There are different shades of reds on the color spectrum; most are considered warm tones but some are considered cool tones. Warm reds are reds with a brownish or orangish background. Deep burgundies, rust, red-orange and blood red are considered to be warm. These reds often work well as an accent wall or painted in an office or dining room. The deep red will be bold but beautiful in the home.

Oranges

The color orange and it's shades are warm colors. Bright orange, pumpkin, Tuscany orange, orange-brown and gold are all warm colors. Orange is best suited for kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms to bring a bold and strong color to the room.

Yellows

Yellow is often associated with feelings of joy, happiness and sunshine. Yellow can come in bright yellow, lemon, the softer butter yellow or light cream. Yellow will quickly freshen up any room in your house. Yellow always looks great in the kitchen, family room and any bedroom.

Greens

Green can be either a warm or cool tone. Green with undertones of blue or purple is certainly cool. However, light yellow greens or brown greens (like the color olive) are much warmer. Light greens are very fresh and light feeling and are nice for living rooms or bedrooms. Olive green, a bit deeper and more peaceful of a color, works very well in the kitchen.

Pinks

Like greens, there are warm pinks and cool pinks. Warmer pinks are those with a orange background, creating a peachy pink. This color pink is very youthful, fun and carefree. Peachy pink colors look best in bedrooms or playrooms.

Browns

Any shade of brown--from chocolate to light khaki--is a warm and neutral color. Mix brown with a warm accent color to give any room a pop. For example, you can paint the walls in your living room a tan color then accent with warm green pillows and area rugs. You can paint your dining room chocolate brown and accent with deep red chair covers, faux flowers and accessories. Or you could paint your kitchen khaki and accent with butter yellow accessories. Because brown is also a neutral, earth-toned color, it will look good in almost any room with warm accents.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Home Designing Types Of The 1920'S

Sleek silver serving sets were a common element in art deco design.

The 1920s was a decade of peace and prosperity for the U.S. At the turn of the 20th century, the Arts and Crafts movement in architecture and interior design prevailed, but this style began to give way to art deco and revivalist styles. In this same era, the roots of the style that is now called "modern" began to take hold.

Art Deco

The art deco design exhibits a mix of European, African and Oriental artifacts, a broad spectrum of color and geometric shapes. Influenced by such events as the discovery of King Tut's tomb and the 1925 Paris Exposition, art deco decor is characterized by the eclectic mix of traditional and modern. Typical of art deco design is gold walls, painted tiles, bold patterned rugs and wood floors played against fabrics printed in geometric patterns, modernist paintings and artifacts collected from world travels. Art deco design is defined by sleek lines, linear patterns and cool, smooth textures.

Revivalism

The same global influences in art deco also brought about an interest in past interior design styles, ranging from American colonial to Spanish revivalist. Architects of the time drew from the global pool to create updated versions of earlier architectural styles. America saw a surge of Tudor, Spanish mission and French eclectic designs as well as Colonial style homes.

The architecture inspired the interiors. Tudor homes are decorated in classical English design, complete with dark wood furnishings, large family portraits and oversize trestle tables. The Spanish mission enjoys painted cabinetry and tiles, pottery-filled kitchens and wrought iron furnishings padded with brightly-colored fabrics.

The French eclectic architecture inspired French country styles complete with whitewashed walls and blue trim and furniture painted in creamy whites. The American colonial style is reminiscent of the heavy tables and hard benches of early colonial times but updated with upholstery and earth tones in smooth, subtle shades.

Modern

In Germany, after World War I, the establishment of the Bauhaus School of Design started a movement toward the clean, almost harsh lines of early modern design, though it was art deco decor that was, at the time, considered modern.

The adherents to the Bauhaus School of Design, however, saw the marriage of industrialization and handcrafting as a cause for exhibition within design. The sleek lines prevalent in art deco were celebrated due to the manufacturing process. Nuts and bolts, joiners and stitching were as much a part of the design as the materials themselves.

The Bauhaus design concept was as much a political statement as it was a reflection of the industrial era. In America, the design concepts made their way into the home late in the decade but were not widely accepted. Few architects and designers employed the design, but the Bauhaus was to have its day.

By the early 1950s, modern design had taken hold in America and was considered the antithesis of traditional designs, such as art deco and revivalism.

Calculate The Level Of Fresh paint

You will need the area to calculate paint volume.

One thing you don't want, for a home project, is a lot of extra paint. Extra paint means money needlessly spent. In addition, you will either need to find a spot for those extra cans or find a way to dispose of them. You can avoid these headaches by making a careful calculation of the volume of paint you'll require for your job. The area calculation of your walls or surfaces is the first part of this job, then you figure your paint volume needs. In addition, if the surface is properly prepared with sanding, patching and priming, you will be more likely to get the maximum coverage possible.

Instructions

1. Measure the width of your first surface.

2. Measure the height or length of your first surface.

3. Multiply length and width. This is the area of the surface. For instance, a wall that is 22 feet by 8 feet is 176 square feet.

4. Repeat the previous steps for all surfaces.

5. Add the areas together for an aggregate area.

6. Divide the aggregate area by the coverage area of your selected paint. For most household paints, a volume of one gallon covers 400 square feet. As an example, if your aggregate area is 1,078 square feet, the volume of paint required is 2.695 gallons for a normal paint. Buy three gallons. For very textured surfaces or improperly prepared surfaces, your coverage will be less, so round up on your paint calculation.

Work A Wet Edge In Painting

Attach the paint roller to an extension pole.

Many people prefer to paint their own homes in order to avoid the expense of a professional painter. House painting is not terribly difficult as long as it is done systematically and a few simple guidelines are followed. One essential rule is to always maintain a wet edge when you are painting a room. Work on one section of the room at a time, such as a wall or a ceiling. Once you start painting a wall or the ceiling, the whole area has to be completely painted, otherwise all of the overlap lines will be clearly visible.

Instructions

1. Cover the entire floor with painter's tarp. Covering the entire floor, rather than moving a tarp as you go, saves time and offers better protection once you begin to paint.

2. Develop a plan for painting the room. Work on one wall at a time. Decide if you want to work from the left side of the wall towards the right side or vice versa. Don't start in the center; choose the left or the right side.

3. Cut in the edges with a paint brush. Start at the top of the wall and cut in the edge between the ceiling and the wall. The cut in line should be about 2 inches. This makes it easy to paint the wall with a roller without bumping the roller into ceiling. Cut in the corner of the wall as well. Avoid getting paint on the adjacent wall. The idea is to keep a wet edge only on the wall that you are working working on. Finally, cut in the edge along the baseboard trim and the bottom of the wall.

4. Attach the paint roller to an extension pole. Painting the wall with an extension pole is much faster, which makes it easier to paint a wet edge before it has time to dry.

5. Paint the wall with the paint roller working in the same direction used for the cutting-in process. If you cut in from the left to the right side of the wall, begin rolling on the left side, which has had more time to dry than the right.

6. Saturate the roller with paint in a paint tray. Work from the ceiling towards the floor with the roller. Roll it up and down several times, covering a 3- to 4-foot wide area. In addition to maintaining the wet edge from the cut in line, it is also important to maintain the wet edge with the roller line. Overlap the wet edge of the first section when you roll the second section of the wall. Continue the procedure until the wall is completely painted.

Win Painting Bids

Design a precise bid to win painting contracts.

Winning painting bids can mean the difference between a failed or successful painting business. Knowing craft a painting bid is essential to suit the needs of your clients and to make a profit. Remain confident when proposing your bid and use a precise formula to show clients you are charging a fair price.

Instructions

1. Be specific in your bid. Apply a formula that shows your clients how much you charge per square foot of painting. Determine how many square feet you can paint per hour -- 150 sq. ft., for instance. Add together the cost of supplies and the wage you would like to earn per hour -- $20 and $35, as respective examples, total of $55. Divide the total amount of your supplies and wage by the hour square footage -- 55 divided by 150, for example -- to get a charge of $0.33 per square foot. Charging clients a per-day cost is too general and shows a lack of specificity in your bid.

2. Use top-of-the-line materials. Select paints that contain minimal mercury content and are environmentally sound. Additionally, utilize paints that emit minimal odor and offer ultraviolet light protection. Note your commitment to keeping clients safe and satisfied by mentioning your use of quality products in every bid.

3. Provide satisfied customer testimonials to all potential clients. Compile a brochure of quotes or a short DVD of interviews from previous clients. Include both professional businesses and private homeowners to show the wide range of customers you have served.

4. Offer a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee. Explain to potential clients that any dissatisfaction with the work will result in your company returning to the premises to make any necessary adjustments -- free of charge.

About Interactive Room Designing

The home decorating do-it-yourself craze popularized by television shows such as "Trading Spaces" and networks like the DIY Channel and HGTV now has a new resource. Many people are taking advantage of computer-based Interactive Room Decorating to plan their redecorating or remodeling projects without ever leaving home.

History

Interactive online decorating stems from software products that were marketed in the 1990s for room decorating. The first interactive decorating utilities appeared between 2004 and 2006, and each year several more sites are added to the roster.

Function

Interactive decorating sites typically rely upon photos that are uploaded from the computer to the company's websites. These sites then allow you to re-color or add new elements to the photographs, virtually transforming their look and feel without the commitment of experimenting with the real thing.

Types

Some interactive design sites are hosted by manufacturers and are for a specific type of product such as hard wood floors, cabinetry, paint or carpeting. Other sites take a whole room approach and allow would-be designers to completely revamp their living space.

Benefits

Interactive room decorating takes much of the guess work and risk out of redesigning a room by identifying the specific products needed to achieve a look created online. It is also more convenient than visiting stores to compare paint samples, carpet scraps, fabric swatches or other decorating tools.

Considerations

After making choices based on virtual room images, many people visit showrooms to examine fixtures or other selections made online. This allows them to not only touch and see the products before buying, but also save money by avoiding shipping costs or taking advantage of in-store specials.

Custom Fresh paint Motorcycles

Motorcycle owners strive to keep their vehicles looking attractive at all times. However, motorcycles, like all automobiles, develop nicks, chips and dents due to the wear and tear of regular use. A custom paint job can restore the beauty of the machine and give it a striking appearance that differentiates it from all others. Having a professional do the work for you can be expensive. Being able to paint your own motorcycle will save you some money, allow you some freedom with your designs and also give you a sense of pride in your work.

Instructions

Prepare your work area

1. Choose a work area. If you don't have a professional booth, consider using a portion of your garage or a storage room.

2. Prepare your work area. You may wish to protect the walls of your workshop with a covering, such as white poly tarps. If the lighting is inadequate, consider placing additional light sources, such as lamps or fluorescent bulbs, on opposite sides of your work space.

3. Ensure that the room is well ventilated so you don't inhale the toxic paint fumes. Also make sure that the room is well lit so that you can apply the paint evenly. Place a portable fan in a corner of your work area to aid ventilation and speed drying time.

4. Gather your equipment and supplies. You will need an air hose, a compressor, an air regulator with a water trap, a couple of paint guns, a speed polisher, buffer and a buffing compound. You will also need filler, flowable putty, primer, various grades of sand paper, opaque paint and clear paint.

5. Ensure your safety. Use an appropriate respirator with a filter that is meant for the type of paint you will be using.

Prepare your motorcycle for painting

6. Detach the tanks and fenders of your motorcycle. Remove old paint from these parts with sand paper or by sandblasting.

7. Wipe the parts down. Ensure that every surface is completely free of residue before you begin to paint.

8. Use filler on any dents and sand it smooth when it has dried. If the filler contains low spots, apply more filling and then sand it again. Repeat this process as needed.

9. Use a spray gun to apply two coats of epoxy primer. Follow this with a light spray of black paint to reveal any more dents. Apply flowable putty thinly in these areas and then sand when dry. Use 80, 120 and 400 grit sandpaper successively.

10. Spray another coat of primer. Sand it with 400 grit sandpaper when dry.

Apply Color

11. Apply the base paint with a spray gun. You will need at least three coats, each one applied after the previous coat has dried. When the base color is dry, you may begin to apply other colors according to your custom design. Give each coat enough time to dry before applying the next color.

12. Apply a coat of clear paint. When it is dry, wet sand it with a 600 grit sandpaper until it is even. Apply another coat of clear paint and sand it with 600 grit sandpaper. Repeat as needed and then sand with a 1500 grit sandpaper, followed by a 2000 grit sandpaper.

13. Polish your motorcycle. A speed polisher will help you achieve a mirror effect. You will also need a buffing pad and a buffing compound.

14. Learn more. Read "Custom Paint Your Motorcycle," by JoAnn Bortles for more information (see Resources below).

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Watch Spray Fresh paint Art Online

YouTube is a website dedicated to the art of the home video. By logging on to YouTube, you can watch amateur videos about almost any subject from around the world. If you are curious about spray paint art, search YouTube for clips to watch. They are an entertaining yet informative way to learn about the fascinating process of spray paint art.

Instructions

1. Direct your web browser to the YouTube website in order to watch video clips about spray paint art (see Resources below). If you want to add a clip of your own, you will need to create a login and password.

2. Type "spray paint art" into the search box provided and hit the "Search" button. Your keywords will bring up a list of all of the clips using those words. Some will be relevant to your topic of spray paint art and others will not.

3. Review the results list for spray paint art videos. You can sort them by the date they were added to YouTube, as well as the rating that other viewers have given each video. If you want to change the order of the list this way, click on the appropriate link at the top of the list.

4. Click on the title of the spray paint art clip you would like to watch. After clicking the link, the video will begin to play automatically.

5. Use controls on the screen to adjust the volume of the spray paint art video. Most YouTube pieces have sound or are set to music. You may need to adjust the volume on your computer as well.

6. Replay sections of the video or fast forward it by moving the slidebar that shows the running time with your mouse.

7. Find additional submissions from a particular user if you enjoy his style of video. Type the username into the search box. Examine the results list to see if he has posted more spray paint art clips on YouTube.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Tips About Interior Designing For Any House

An elegantly decorated living room.

There are many things to consider when decorating the interior of your home, and it can be an overwhelming process. Aside from costs, furniture and decorative elements, you will need to choose color schemes, decorating themes and styles, and have a plan for where to place everything.

Wall Paint

Many people have neutral-colored walls that are either white, ivory, off white or light gray. There is nothing wrong with having a neutral wall, and if you like the color of it already, don't feel pressured to change it. If you are afraid to experiment with color, however, try painting just one wall, called a focus wall. If you have a very large space, you can use virtually any paint color. If your space is smaller, avoid using dark colors to prevent the room from feeling closed in.

Decorating Styles

There are many decorating styles to choose from, and the one you pick will depend upon your personal tastes. If you like antiqued furniture, lace and floral prints, consider decorating your home in a country French style. Those who like chic simplicity, clean lines and bold patterns should aim for a contemporary look. Other decorating styles include Southwestern, shabby chic, country, rococo, neoclassical, African, rustic, Asian, art deco, Mediterranean, retro and Victorian.

Alternatively, you can choose not to limit yourself to any particular decorating style and just go with what you like--by carefully choosing decorating pieces and colors, anything can be tastefully done. For example, if you like leopard print and the color lime green, it can be executed with a color scheme of lime green, mocha, ivory and gold, and mixing in solid fabrics with the leopard print.

Colors Schemes

Color is one of the most important parts of interior decorating. From furniture and fabrics, to paintings and decorations, if the color is off, the entire look of your room will be off. Certain themes demand specific color palettes, and the same goes for particular decorating styles.

For example, when decorating in a contemporary style, you should aim for a neutral color palette with a punch of color. Using pastels would not work well for contemporary décor.

Here are a few color schemes to consider: navy blue, white, gold and cherry red work well for a nautical theme; cornflower blue, ivory, white and yellow work well for a country French look; use colors such as sage green, ecru, rose pink and white if you're going for shabby chic; black, white and cobalt blue is a good contemporary color combination; burgundy, gold, emerald green, amber and amethyst will give your room a regal, warm feeling.

Organization

Without organization, your space will look cluttered, which will throw off all of the decorative elements in it. To help yourself keep organized, designate specific areas for things that are likely to get thrown around. For example, if you know you are likely to put your keys or mail on the entryway table, put a decorative bowl there to hold these items, so they're not just laying around in plain site. If you have a tendency to leave your magazines laying on the coffee table, get one that has a hidden storage drawer or opt for an ottoman with inside storage so you can easily put your magazines away.

Visit New You are able to City'S Best Museums

Visit New York City's Best Museums

With over 100 museums, New York City has something for everybody. Whether you prefer the typical art museum or want something more exciting, like a museum build on a submarine, you are sure to find it here. Unless you’re planning on staying around for weeks, however, you will need to work out a plan to visit the best museums in just a few days.

Instructions

1. Dedicate a full day to explore the Museum of Natural History. With floors and exhibits that range from the cultural anthropology halls to the 90-foot-long rainforest diorama, this is the one museum you can’t miss when visiting New York City. Pay special attention to the dinosaur exhibit, featuring some of the most impressive skeletons ever recovered, including a Tyrannosaurus rex, a mammoth and others.

2. Spend an evening at the Hayden Planetarium and Rose Center for Earth and Space, just across the street. Aside from the magnificent show, which includes special effects such as a shaking ground, you can also visit the permanent exhibits of fossils, the history of the universe and a collection of geological specimens that are as old as 2.7 billion years.

3. Visit the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), a 630,000-square-foot building in on 53rd Street. Even if you’re not an art lover, the museum is still a must see because of some classics such as Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night and Paul Cézanne’s The Bather. The museum also offers an impressive collection of drawings, photography, film and sculpture works.

4. Make some time to visit a couple of New York City’s quirky museums, such as the Museum of Transit, which is set in a real (but no longer working) subway station, and features a collection of subway cars dating all the way back to the 19th century. Other unusual museums to see include The Tenement Museum (about the history of immigration), the Alice Austen House Museum, the Guggenheim Museum SoHo (famous for its architecture) and the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum.

5. Spend a day at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Housed on board of a 900 foot-long aircraft carrier, the museum features everything from a collection of planes to a flight simulator to the submarine USS Growler. Aside from educational exhibits, you can also see vehicles captured during the Iraq war and a series of weapons and instruments used onboard.

6. Don’t pay full price. Most of the biggest NYC museums operate on a “pay-as-you-wish” basis, although they also offer a suggested donation price. You don’t need any special membership cards to gain entrance either.

Buy Ecofriendly Clothing

Buy Eco-Friendly Clothing

Clothing labels typically reveal what fibers were used to make a garment and clean it. However, those labels don't outline all the chemical finishes applied to the garment or the environmental impact of the manufacturing process. Furthermore, even clothing made from natural fibers can contain toxic chemicals. Here's look for eco-friendly clothing.

Instructions

1. Understand that clothing made from acrylic, nylon and other synthetic fibers contains plastics. They're made from petrochemicals, and some consumer advocates question whether there are toxic effects associated with wearing plastic fibers. Therefore, rayon clothing is a better option because it is composed of cellulose, which is found in plants. Still, petrochemicals are used to break down the cellulose so that it can be turned into thread.

2. Know that fabrics often are treated with formaldehyde finishes. Such finishes are intended to create no-iron cotton fabrics, and they make nylon flameproof. It's best to wash new clothing before wearing it to remove excess finishes. Note that wool is naturally fire-resistant. People allergic to wool may not have a reaction to unbleached wool clothing, because the allergy may actually be linked to bleach and dyes.

3. Choose clothing made from natural fibers, but consider even the creation of natural-fiber clothing can have an adverse environmental impact. For example, cotton is said to be the most contaminated natural material, since fungicides and pesticides are consistently used to grow cotton. More cotton is being grown organically to produce eco-friendly clothing. Organic-cotton growers don't use pesticides, and manufacturers of organic-cotton clothing often use dyes that are less toxic.

4. Note that some retailers offer clothing made from fabric blends that combine organic cotton with recycled fibers, such as polyester. Others sell sandals made from a combination of recycled foam and rubber.

5. Look for clothing made from bamboo. Retailers who sell clothing made with bamboo fibers say it's naturally anti-microbial, meaning it requires no chemicals to prevent the growth of bacteria. Additionally, bamboo is grown without pesticides and naturally replenishes itself.

Appraise An Oil Painting

Appraisal of art work involves many events, such as obtaining insurance coverage, settling an estate, planning a trust, collateralizing a loan or even resolving property in a divorce settlement. It will also help you to evaluate the Fair Market Value (FMV) to satisfy IRS requirements for tax deductions if the painting is donated. An appraisal also helps in determining what is a fair market price should you buy or sell artwork. Consulting firms authenticate works of fine art and provide other services, such as preservation, and packing and transport. But with a little training, you can learn to appraise oil paintings yourself.

Instructions

The World of Antique Art Valuation

1. Develop an "eye" for art by doing your homework first. Beginning or refresher courses on art history may include a study of different genres of art and artists, as well as some tips on tell the real thing from a fake.

2. Research price guides and prior sales indexes. Though there is no definitive Blue Book or standard model on price, a proper look using available resources such as Falk's or the Artprice Market online (see Resources below), should give you a good starting place.

3. Learn to understand the QCM principles: Quality, Condition and Market. Quality is based on a paintings aesthetic (sight) value, condition is based mostly on a professional art dealer's assessment, and market depends on who is in the market and what the painting is worth to them. Because no valuation is set in stone, it all depends on what you and the selling or buying entity thinks it is worth.

4. Consult with a professional curator or art historian. The best way to learn to detect forgeries is to gather up some hints and tips from authenticity experts. This knowledge is best obtained by attending art shows and auctions and asking questions.

5. Learn to tell an amateur painter from a professional. Amateurs are more likely to use standard size canvas, paint more in the abstract, use photos as a reference rather than real life images and also to choose water-soluble types of oil paints rather than paint that needs to be cleaned up with turpentine.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Fresh paint Textured Walls

Paint Textured Walls

Painting the walls of your room is one of the cheapest, quickest and easiest ways to change the look of your room. Textured walls, however, require special attention when painting them. The nooks and crannies of a textured wall create a minor challenge to the painter, but there are ways to get around them. This article will give you tips on paint textured walls as well as some alternate ideas to painting them.

Instructions

1. Choose the correct kind of paint. A semi-glass paint will give better coverage because it is not as easily absorbed by the texture as a flat paint is. Semi-gloss finishes are also easier to clean.

2. Prepare your surfaces. Priming a textured wall is just as important as priming a non-textured wall. Tape off any surfaces you want to protect, and protect the floor area with a drop cloth as well. Keep a ladder handy for the hard to reach places.

3. Choose the correct brushes. You will need to start with a regular paint brush. Use this brush to cut into the the edges of the texture; wiggle the brush back and forth while cutting the lines so you're sure to get into all of the little nooks and crannies.

4. Use the large wall brush in an "X" pattern or diagonal back and forth motion over the surface to give yourself nice even coverage. Using diagonal strokes will ensure that you get into the crevices and it will also create a random pattern that will better hide the brush stokes. You can also use a roller to do this, but rollers tend to glide over a textured wall, missing many of the nooks and providing uneven coverage.

5. Wait for the paint to dry, and then step back and look for areas that are thin or that you missed completely. Touch up those areas, or apply a second coat of paint. Allow the paint to dry, remove the painter's tape carefully, and enjoy your new wall color!

Use Home windows Fresh paint To Paint A Black & Whitened Drawing

Windows Paint

has all the colors of crayons but without the mess.

Teaching your kids to use a computer to color pictures will keep crayons out of the house, thereby keeping your walls clean. You will also save money from not buying crayons, paper and coloring books. This method allows you to draw your own black and white pictures, scan them to your computer and color them using Windows Paint. The Paint program comes packaged with every computer that has a Windows operating system. Windows Paint will help you and your children learn about photo editing and graphic design.

Instructions

1. Scan the black and white drawing and save the file to your computer. Consult your scanner's user guide for directions.

2. Locate the scanned copy of the black and white drawing and right click it. Then select "Open With" on the menu that appears. This will prompt a new menu.

3. Select "Windows Paint" from the menu of programs to open your black and white picture.

4. Select a color you want to use from the color options in the lower left corner. You can change colors at any time by clicking on the color you desire. You can also customize your colors. Double-click on any color to bring up the "Edit Colors" menu. Click on the available color that most resembles the color you want to create and click the "Define Custom Colors" button. This will prompt a menu to appear where you will find multiple columns of colors. Click on this menu to select a color. Clicking higher on the color will saturate the color, while clicking lower will fade the color. Use the color bar on the right to further saturate or fade the color. Clicking lower on this bar will deepen the color, while clicking higher will fade the color. Clicking too low will blacken the color. Once you are satisfied with your customized color, click "Add to Custom Colors" and then click "OK."

5. Click on the paintbrush icon and select the shape of paintbrush to use when coloring your picture. There are many shapes to choose from, and you can switch between them to suit your coloring needs as they change.

6. Left-click the mouse and, while holding down the left mouse button, move the mouse around the screen in the areas you want colored. If you make a mistake, click on the eraser icon and then click and hold the left mouse button while you move the mouse over the areas you want to erase.

7. Click" File" and then click "Save" if you would like to save your finished picture.

Details On Face Painting

Facts on Face Painting

Face painting is a fun activity that has been around for years. This fun activity began many thousands of years ago by tribes who used it to identify themselves. Today, face painting is used all over the world to entertain kids. The art of face painting is something that has developed both artistically and culturally over the years.

History

Face painting began thousands of years ago by Indian tribes who used different face painting designs and techniques to identify their status, culture and tribe.

Identification

The colors in face painting had different meanings. Red stood for war; white for peace; black in preparation for war; green was worn under the eyes to give a person night vision; and yellow represented death.

Types

There are many types of face painting. Some face painting is used for fun on children to create different types of animal or facial expressions, while other types are used to identify religions or orientation. Face painting is often done at carnivals or family fun events. It is often popular for children to have their face painted during Halloween.

Famous Ties

Face painting has been used in many popular Hollywood movies. Jim Carey had his face painted in the movie "Mask." Heath Ledger had his face painted to portray the Joker in the movie "Batman: the Dark Knight."

Geography

Face painting is practiced throughout the world. Some Indian tribes still practice the art during tribal celebrations, it is used in Africa and Asia, and it is a fun form of entertainment for children in the United States.

Use Water Bottles To Warmth A Green house

Big bottles prevent the water from freezing.

Greenhouses are structures designed to absorb the sun's heat in the day for plant use. It not only gives your crops the light they need, but also the heat. This system is great in the warm season, but when you grow crops in a greenhouse to extend the growing season into the cold months, you need a way to keep the grow room warm at night. Although electric greenhouse heaters exist, you also have available an inexpensive method of collecting thermal mass for later use: filled water bottles without lids.

Instructions

1. Collect the largest water bottles you can find. Gallon jugs and bigger containers are excellent. Your goal is to line the north-facing wall of your greenhouse with containers of water. In the day, the water absorbs the sun's heat. At night, it releases it. The more water is inside the greenhouse when it's sunny, the warmer the room will be at night.

2. Paint one side of the bottles black and the other white, going halfway around the jugs with each color. This step is optional, but "Vegetable Gardening and Greenhouses," a website that provides information on vegetable gardening, explains that when the black side of the bottles faces south, heat absorption occurs more easily. Having the white side pointing north keeps the heat from escaping in that cold direction, where you won't have any plants growing.

3. Place the jugs in their locations in the greenhouse and fill them with water. If you painted them, have the black side face south and the white facing north. Refill them with water as the liquid evaporates.

4. Put a thermometer in your greenhouse and monitor the temperature in it for a few days (if you're up for being out and about in the middle of the night). Or look at your plants. If their vigor seems reduced, increase the amount of water sitting in the greenhouse. Some people use 55-gallon drums to collect the sun's energy. How much water to use depends on how large your grow room is and how intense the sun gets in the day. You'll learn from experience.

Choose The Best Fresh paint For Exterior Natural Wood Siding Or Trim

Choosing the right paint can make a big difference to your home.

When choosing paint for natural wood, you need to consider several factors. In particular, you should consider the type of wood you have, if it has a rough or smooth finish and the direction of the grain. All of these factors influence how well the wood will retain paint. Also, the type of paint you choose should complement your home's appearance as well as protect the wood. Once you identify the type of wood on your home, you will be able to choose the right paint.

Instructions

1. Inspect the wood you want to paint. Determine if it is in good or poor condition. Wood that is in good condition is attractive when a lightweight stain is used, since a light stain allows the natural wood grain to show through. If the wood is also rough-sawn, using a light stain will give your home a rustic, natural look.

2. Look for problems and defects in the surface of the wood. If you see damage, discoloration or other attributes that you don't want to highlight, a heavier, solid color stain might be a better choice. This type of stain still colors the wood but does not let much of the grain -- or the defects -- show through. You can also use paint if there are defects you want to cover.

3. Determine what kind of wood you have on your house. Heavy, dense woods such as yellow pine tend to be affected more by weather changes, shrinking and swelling due to heat and moisture. The changes in the surfaces of these types of wood will cause paint to fail. Stains are the best choice for such surfaces. Oil-based stains tend to have the same problems as paint, but latex stains will adhere well. Paint works well on lighter, less dense woods, including cedar and redwood.

4. Check for bands of light and dark in the wood. These bands are called summerwood and springwood, and are characteristic of some kinds of wood, such as Douglas fir. Wood surfaces showing these bands will not hold paint well and should be stained with latex-based stains or penetrating oil-based stains instead of being painted.

5. Identify the type of grain in the wood. The grain pattern is a result of how the wood was cut when it was made into lumber. Siding and trim are often flat grained, giving them a smooth, even surface that is heavily affected by climate changes and does not hold paint well. Latex or penetrating stain is better for such surfaces. If the wood is edge grained, it will be less smooth and also less susceptible to size fluctuations due to the weather. Paint or oil-based stain is good for this type of wood.

Display Watercolor Works of art Without Frames

Protect watercolor paintings from damaging moisture with beeswax varnish.

Many artists begin their foray into painting with watercolors. Although the medium is relatively inexpensive and very portable, the added cost of framing these works of art behind glass or sheet acrylic for display often deters artists and collectors alike. Instead, create a watercolor board and finish it with fixative and wax varnish for an attractive and durable way to display watercolors without frames.

Instructions

Making a Watercolor Board

1. Place your finished watercolor face down on a clean surface under a heavy object. Leave for two to three days.

2. Trace around your watercolor on the illustration board with a pencil.

3. Cut your illustration board to the size of your watercolor with scissors or a hobby knife.

4. Spread acid-free glue over the entire illustration board with a foam brush.

5. Put the watercolor painted side down on a flat, clean surface.

6. Place the illustration board directly above the unpainted side of the watercolor. Align the edges of the watercolor exactly with the illustration board.

7. Place a large, heavy object on top of the illustration board and leave for a few hours until the glue is completely dry. If possible, select an object that is not only heavy, but large enough to cover the entire illustration board.

Finishing the Watercolor

8. Spray your watercolor with a non-yellowing fixative. Coat the painting thoroughly and wait 15 to 20 minutes. Lightly touch a corner of the painting to test the dryness of the fixative. If it is sticky to the touch, leave it to dry 5 to10 minutes longer.

9. Spray the painting a second time with fixative when it's dry.

10. Set the painting aside in a place where it is protected from dust and moisture. Leave the second coat of fixative to dry 15 to 20 minutes.

11. Brush on a wax varnish when the fixative is dry. For best results use a large paintbrush or a wax product that comes in roll-on form.

12. Wait for the varnish to dry, then lightly rub the surface of the varnished watercolor with a cotton rag.

13. Brush or roll on a second coat of varnish. Let it dry and lightly rub the entire surface again with a cotton rag.

Displaying the Watercolor

14. Attach a magnet to each corner of the back of your painting to display it on a refrigerator or a metal file cabinet.

15. Tack ribbon or string along a wall to display a series of watercolors without frames. Clip your watercolors to the ribbon at equal intervals with clothespins or bulldog clips.

16. Lean your watercolor along a wall, in a corner or on a shelf for display. Use heavy objects like books to anchor it in place.

17.Place your watercolor on a free-standing display stand or a painter's easel to show it in the middle of a room or on a table.

18. Put picture hanging putty on the corners of the back of your watercolor. Gently press the putty into the wall where you want to display your painting.

Visit Monet'S Giverny Home And Gardens

Many great artists have had signature works and motifs. Picasso often painted bulls and harlequins. Keith Haring did faceless stick figures. Warhol did multiple image silkscreen portraits. Impressionist Claude Monet was best known for his paintings of water lilies--water lilies in all sorts of lights and conditions. Today you can see where Monet painted his water lilies--they still grow in a garden of Monet's own design, at his home in Giverny, near Paris.

Instructions

1. Arrive at Monet's home in Giverny. The property is located at 84 rue Claude Monet. It's open from April 1 to October 31, Tuesday through Sunday, and bank holiday Mondays from 9:30am to 6pm. No one is admitted after 5:30pm. Arrive early to beat the crowds. Admission is charged.

2. Tour the Monet house. Go in through the blue entrance hall and turn right into the dining room. Its chrome yellow walls are covered with Japanese prints, while the table is set with and the cabinets are filled with blue and white china. To the right of this is the kitchen, which is lined with blue and white tiles. Most of the west wall is dominated by a huge period stove, while copper pots and saucepans hang from the north wall. On the east end of the room is a door that leads down to the wine cellar/tool shed.

3. Retrace your steps into the entrance hall and turn left into the blue salon, which was used as a family room and library. And yes, even the grandfather clock in this room is blue. To the left of this is the épicerie--a pantry, linen room and cloakroom, with a staircase . Beyond this and down some steps is the studio drawing room. After Monet had the second studio constructed outside, this room served as a study and display room of Monet's work.

4. Climb the stairs in the épicerie up to Monet's bedroom. This ivory-colored room was used to display highlights of Monet's art collection. Its furnishings include a large mirror and a roll-top desk. Turn left into Monet's pale blue dressing room, which includes more Japanese prints and a marble wash stand. The dressing room of Monet's wife Alice is next to this and is fairly similar to that of Monet, except the walls are pale green and the doors are pale blue. To the east of this is Alice Monet's large green and blue bedroom, which has windows on the north and south sides of the house. The door to the east leads to the landing for the main staircase and the laundry room. The daughters' bedrooms are on the east end of the house, while the boys slept in the attic, though none of these rooms are open to the public.

5. Go down the main staircase, through the entrance hall and outside. Turn left, pass the pleached limes and go to the Second Studio. To the left are the hothouses. Retrace your steps and go east of the house, past the hen yard, to the Waterlily Studio. In this large, 50 foot high, sky-lit building, Monet painted his famous "Grandes Décorations des Nymphéas," which are now on display in Paris at the Orangerie in the Tuileries Gardens.

6. Proceed clockwise past the gardener's house and the arched Grand Allée, taking note of the flower garden. (You can only walk around its outskirts.) Go then to the southwest corner of the flower garden, to the entrance to the underground passage to water garden. This tunnel was necessary back in the days when a train ran through Monet's property. At the end of the tunnel is the water garden, with its irregularly-shaped pond, filled with waterlilies and spanned by a reproduction of the famous Japanese bridge.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Write An Advertisement For Home Cleaning

Focus on conveying how you can can benefit the prospective customer.

To get ahead of the stiff competition in the house cleaning business, it is crucial to use every means possible to draw attention to your cleaning service. Posting an advertisement on the Internet or in local newspapers is an effective way to increase your visibility. In creating an ad for house cleaning, focus on conveying exactly how your expertise, reliability, honesty and professionalism can benefit the person who employs your services. A good ad is one that grabs attention with a powerful headline and speaks in a confident tone that assures homeowners they will receive high-quality house cleaning.

Instructions

1. Think from a client's point of view. Consider the criteria that will matter to a homeowner who is looking for a house cleaner. Reliability and professionalism are qualities that most people expect from a house cleaning service. Write your ad keeping these requirements in mind. Develop credibility through your ad by mentioning previous or existing employers as references. Most homeowners who hire cleaning services will be concerned about security and about your background. Obtain a valid police check and mention it in the ad.

2. Describe the services you plan to offer. Make sure your ad states exactly what type of cleaning jobs you are equipped to handle. Give information about your prior cleaning experience. Provide details about cleaning frequency and supplies. Discuss how you compensate for days when a scheduled cleaning job is missed owing to unavoidable circumstances.

3. Make the quality of your service your main selling point. Avoid focusing on low pricing as a feature of your cleaning business, because it may convey low quality. Use language that conveys competence and professionalism. Avoid using sentences such as "Give me just one chance to prove ...." that make it sound like you are pleading for a job. Make the prospective customer the focus in wording the ad. Use sentences like "You will get ... " or "You will find ... " rather than "I will do ...."

4. Prepare a catchy headline for your advertisement. If your house cleaning service has a logo, use that with the ad. Include a picture that relates to cleaning. Keep sentences short and crisp. Use bullet points to draw attention to the chief benefits of your cleaning service. Provide a telephone number and an email address at which people can contact you.

5. Check the ad carefully for mistakes and correct them before submitting it for publication. Spelling and grammatical errors convey an impression that you are sloppy. Have someone else proofread the material as well.

Select A Color Plan For Outside Walls

Choosing a color scheme for your outdoor walls can be a difficult decision. With so many different color schemes possible, it is natural to feel somewhat overwhelmed. Before finalizing your choice on a color scheme, you should review your decision carefully. Careful review will ensure that you are choosing a color scheme that you will enjoy.

Instructions

1. Choose colors that you like. You will have to live with your selections, so go with a color scheme that you know you will enjoy looking at.

2. Choose colors that match their surroundings. A beautiful color scheme in one area can be an ugly one in another. Take note of the area surrounding the walls and go with a scheme that compliments the natural coloration. As an example, in a grassy or leafy green area, dark green may be a good choice.

3. Choose colors that go together nicely. Highly contrasted colors can be harsh on the eyes. Unless you are going for this type of look, select colors that go together naturally. As an example, tan and dark blue often look nice together.

4. Look at your color selections side by side and in the area where you will be using it. Once you are satisfied with your choices, you will be ready to put your new color scheme into effect on your outdoor walls.

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

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Monday, December 30, 2013

Art Deco

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Sunday, December 29, 2013

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Friday, December 27, 2013

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Thursday, December 26, 2013

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Making a Watercolor Board

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