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Hand Christmas Tree

When starting out in art, it need not cost the earth. You may have a child wishing to start or who is showing an enjoyment for creativity, and you as a parent would like to encourage them knowing the benefits children receive from arts and crafts in the long term. So here are a few ways where you can encourage creativity without breaking the bank balance. ...

Work creation in progression Admit 2 Movie Marathon

This painting is the second in the series of a popular mashup of movies, it was commissioned for a client. I asked the client for a list of his top ten movies ever and then a list of any other movies he could think of that he enjoyed. This was the provided list.The dark knight  (all time favourite movie), The prestige, Fight club, Deadpool, Mad Max, Fury Road (2015), Big fish, Watchmen, The avengers, Iron man. His secondary movies included Marvel and DC, Guardians of the Galaxy, Harry ...

Painting entitled: Admit One Movie Marathon work in progression

This painting is an acrylic on canvas work. It is very large 142.5cm wide x 171.5cm tall x 4.5cm deep.The idea's inspiration come from a movie marathon idea, where a mash up of popular movies could interact in a fun and off beat fashion. The painting which has a unique distressed/scratched finish to emulate the look of old scratchy film reels provides a really interesting matt finish and certainly takes the painting to a much higher level visually. The included movies and fables includ...

What to include in an art portfolio

Applying for university or art school entrance can be a daunting process, what to include, what not to include in your portfolio of work. Basically most schools will ask for a specific portfolio that showcases your broad talent range. That means you need to have finished work from a variety of mediums, a variety of styles and a variety of work that showcases your engagement with different material investigations. Most schools don't allow an endless portfolio, so that means your portfolio needs t...

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Red back Spider...

Plaster headed person

This project can be done with or without the plaster head, but the plaster head does make children have a different view of their person entirely than if it were just a paper person. So if you can find a mould at a craft store or online plaster mould specialist do try to get it especially for school groups, as it does make a difference to the projects outcome.When using plaster of paris, be sure to wear a mask during the stirring stage, as the fine plaster mist can cause health concerns especial...

Margaret Ellen Turner Gallery exhibition review

Striking colour combinations, and the rustic essence of the Australian Queensland landscape, have enthralled artists whom have portrayed it since the dawn of time. Whatever the style of portrayal, landscapes picturing the Queensland forests, open spaces, mountains and lakes, have appeared in galleries around the world. In this essay the work of Margaret Ellen Turner in an exhibition called ‘The Idea of Wallum,’ which is represented by the Noosa Regional Art Gallery in September 2010, will be...

Preparing Art Surfaces

To give you an idea of surfaces that can be used in traditional art making here are a few:MDF - Medium Density Fiberboard, this is a common surface for painting on, and comes in both medium and hard densities. It is made by finely pulverized wooded particles and combined with a formaldehyde resin making it highly toxic when sanded or sawed, so be sure to wear a mask when doing either of these activities. To give you an idea of just how serious this wood is to your health, Bunnings, Australia's l...

Tissue paper plaster paper weight

- Plaster head already made or plaster of paris poured into a mould and set.- Tissue paper- PVA Glue- BrushPlaster of paris should be added with water to resemble a light cake batter, then poured directly into a mould, lightly tap the mould on the table to relieve any air bubbles and set to dry. Allow 24 hours to completely cure the plaster before decorating....

Broaden, Practice and Extend your Artistic Knowledge

By Karen Elzinga, 31/01/2018Learning and exploring various art processes is like a tree growing fruit, the more nutrients it receives the more growth and better the outcome. When you have a foundation to draw from, your art becomes richer, more in depth and broader in its reach. Regardless of what you learn in the art landscape, it is the process that you are taking from it not the end result. For example if you learn to collage, your learning how to get the paper to stick and look professional ...

Ephemeral Art

The art of the short lived, short term, transient, and disappearing. Ephemeral Art is lost quickly, it may last mere seconds before changing or being lost to time, it could be art that can only be photographed once beforeit is gone, or a dessert flower that opens and blooms for an hour before dying.Ephemeral art is fleeting art that is often captured photographically otherwisethere would be no record of it ever existing at all....

Tiny House- How to build a slide out kitchen.

So you have purchased a trailer and now want to convert it to a camper, good for you...well your going to need a kitchen! The best method l think in terms of tiny spaces is to make everything compact, easily accessible and functional. Keep it sweet and simple, try not to over complicate it by trying to think like a tradie, when you may in fact be just like me, a single lady with limited technical skills, but good problem solving ability. Think logically, what do l need, not what do l want, the ...

Designing the Art Nouveau Way

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Recycled Kitchens on the cheap

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Site Mapping In Art

Click download button to download the full pictured version of this lesson, l highly recommend viewing the PDF version....

Caricature for Beginners

Caricature drawing is actually much easier then you think to do when you know how. I do not claim to be the worlds best drawer by a long shot, but with a little help from Photoshop programs you can turn even a bad drawing into something interesting and creative. This lesson will show you the basic techniques of how to do a caricature drawing and how to extend it into a unique artwork through Photoshop's basic filter tools....

Indigo and Shibori Dyeing Techniques

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Designing menus for 4 different seasons

Using a limited colour pallet -By Karen Elzinga 21/01/2018One of the elements that can come into play when designing for a specific task that requires printing, is the cost of having many different colours. More colours means more $$$ so keeping your swatch of colours limited is better for your hip pocket unless your utilizing digital printing methods. In this lesson we look at designing a menu cover for 4 seasons with just 8 colour choices for all 4 menu covers....

FIRE and ART

Written by Karen Elzinga Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved All rights Reserved- No part of this book and its contents in the written word or picture maybe reproduced or transmitted in any way shape or form without the strict written authorization of the author. This includes but is not limited to electronic or mechanical means with the inclusion of photocopying or re-recording onto onto disk. Warning/Disclaimer: This books purpose is for the educational advancement. Any lesson follo...

FASHION - Biological Beauty..A look at different cultures

Click the download link ABOVE for full copy with pictures. Biological Beauty – A look at culture and time through 3 photographs It is all too easy and perhaps shallow and egotistical; to suggest that biological beauty is simply how beautiful someone or something is considered by the majority. It appears that biological beauty even in its purest form maybe subject to culture, place, time, fashion, wealth, religion, popularity, and social status. So, is biological beauty a reference in essence ...

Exploring an art idea 12 different ways

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Advanced Paper Making Techniques

The first method for pulping paper is to use a food blender, adding a bit of paper in stages to a blender, this is a quick method and very effective for smaller quantities. You can use any sort of recycled paper, but make sure to take out sticky tape or staples prior to pulping....

How to make paper pulp Marionette Puppets

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Up-Cycling & Recycling Project Ideas

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Reference for learning PRIMARY, SECONDARY & TERTIARY COLOURS

Teacher Resource for TeachingPrimary, Secondary & Tertiary Colours to Students.A quick and easy reference guide for parents and teachersBy Karen Elzinga...