Islamic Art And Its True Meaning!

The Islamic art has been manifested in all its glory in all the countries wherein Islam was seen as a prominent religion. The Islamic wings is said to be spread all across Spain to the land of Persia, from Africa to Egypt. It has gained all the substance and strength needed. The artistic and rich flavor that it has comes from the Arab heritage as several types of art were used so as to express the unique features of Islam with no pictorial depiction.

A rare blend of several arts combined together form the crux of the Islam art. These forms are a blend of the Copts, the Persians, the Byzantines, and the Romans. In this lies the best asset of their skill, their ability to fuse up native designs with that of the imported ones so as to achieve a rare final result. The abstract designs and embellishments are unique to this form of art.

Most have made use of the interlacing and curves with vibrant and bright colors so as to enhance the several styles. The best pieces of this architecture all around the world are seen to be clearly distinguishable owing to the spirited floral prints and designs.

The present form of art is said to have come up during the Umayyad caliphate rule (in 661 - 750). Thereon, several divergent phases of the Islamic architecture transpired. Thus, it is very commonly classified as being a part of the reigning empire owing to the creation of its art. There are several Muslim galleries and museums which have their collections categorized by various Muslim dynasties that include Abbasid, Umayyad, Mughal, Ottoman, and Safavid.

Islam is a very diverse religion which consists of people from several ethnic backgrounds. The art from Islam too is much diversified so as to accommodate its follower's ethnicity. It has the capability of unification of several elements blended together into a master piece which depicts the several facets of an artist. It prevents any kind of animal or human representation, the sole rationale being that Allah cannot be represented by any living creature. It is no wonder that this skill is more of an abstract form that depicts floral shapes, abstract, geometric shapes, etc.

There are many collectors across the globe that has an eye for such masterpieces. They are even ready to pay a handsome price for acquiring them. Moreover, there are several books which are available that can catch the interest of anyone with an eye for cultural mystique creations. These books can even help to display the current market price of these artistic items.

If you are looking to add some of the beautiful Islamic art to your collection then take a look at this website: http://islamicartforsale.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7989120

The Most Famous Modern Art Forms

Abstract Art

Abstract art has a dream-like quality that portrays the world through imagery that often features objects and shapes which initially appear recognisable yet are simultaneously distorted so that the viewer sees something more than what they first view.

When this art form began appearing in the late 19th century it coincided with a changing society thanks to the rise of the industrial era and the new technology that appeared and made the once familiar world around suddenly appear strangely unusual. The French artist Robert Delaunay and German painter were two of the most revered artists of the Abstract style.

Cubism

Cubism was a movement of the 20th century which completely altered the perception of European painting and sculpture. It slowly evolved through several different branches of interpretation, from the early French 'Analytic Cubism' to the later, more popular 'Synthetic Cubism'.

Cubist art features objects and images that are altered and often reformed to create numerous interpretative possibilities dependent upon what the viewer feels they are witnessing. It is a frequent trait of Cubist art that the images depicted are distorted via odd angles that create a misleading sense of space that leaves an almost depthless quality to the artwork. Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso was by far the movement's most famous face.

Surrealism

Surrealism was a movement that began through painting but soon became part of all kinds of other artistic mediums, from photography to film. This often resulted in art that divided critics and audiences through what was sometimes disturbing imagery intended to shock audiences.

Lead by Andre Breton, the surrealist movement was no accident, it was designed to be revolutionary and disrupt the conventional tastes of the bourgeoisie. Surrealism evolved from the Dada art movement after the First World War and frequently had political agendas that hoped to result in actual change in government, such as Salvador Dali's controversial painting, 'The Enigma of Hitler'.

Impressionism

Impressionism was a movement that originated during the late 19th-century in Paris. It is now regarded as one of the most important movements of all time, but when first introduced, it found little respect from most art lovers as it was considered too much of an alternative to conventional tastes.

The Impressionist style of art was known for its distinctive style of painting which boasted a minimal yet effective use of brush strokes and angles which created a new visual interpretation of what was generally familiar subject matter. These stylistic traits created a unique effect that appeared to reflect the passage of time for an almost photographic visual scenario. Claude Monet was the key artist of the movement.

With history full of so many great artists, we often forget that there are great visionaries among us now. The Other Art Fair is a twice-yearly event held in London that showcases the finest new artistic talent in the world who might become the next major artists. The second event of 2013 is taking place from October 17-20. If you want to experience the best of contemporary art, this is an unmissable occasion.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8034744

How To Manipulate Your Puppet: Tips and Tricks

In order to throw a great show you need a great character, a well laid script, lots of practice and comprehensive knowledge about how to use and manipulate your puppet. The article below is going to help you learn some of the basic yet most important tips regarding puppet manipulation.

Proper entrance and Exit:

First impression is always important in casting a professional impression of your puppet; it compels the audience to watch your next move and builds anticipation.

At the end, you had a great show, people really loved it and now it's time to give a proper exit to your puppet, slowly move your puppet out of the stage as if it is walking away.

Hold it right:

Learn to hold your puppet at the perfect angle and then make yourself adept it it, practice it to the point where it becomes your habit. Ensure that your hand feels comfortable inside the puppet's mouth, with your four fingers along the upper jaw. Use your thumb to control the lower jaw of the puppet and make sure your hand feels comfortable.

Synchronize mouth movements:

It doesn't matter whether you are using a recorded play or doing it live, the important thing is you must always sync the puppet's movements with the sound. Uncoordinated and sloppy movements would quickly deconstruct the whole show and the audience would lose interest.

Maintain Eye Contact:

Maintain eye contact with the audience while you are talking to them, and with your puppet when you are talking to the puppet. Same goes for the puppet, hold it at the right angle, and ensure it is actually looking at the audience as you move its mouth to speak.

Keep the head and body in right position:

Always make sure that the head and the body of the puppet are held in the right position. Do not drop the head of the puppet during the show, this may happen when your hand gets tired, but practice would help you overcome this challenge. Similarly the body of the puppet should be at the right angle and position. If the puppet is sitting you have to bend it like a normal person sitting, if the puppet is standing you have to hold it straight to give the right impression.

Select the best voice:

Select a voice for your puppet that matches its personality and is easy to maintain. You should stay consistent with a voice once you have selected it for a specific puppet.

Allpro puppets is a leader in making high quality professional latex puppets for performers, entertainers, film and live theater all over the world. Each puppet is handmade using high quality materials and our superb formula for making latex puppets. For more details, tips and articles about puppets and ventriloquism please visit our website. Allpro puppets

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8016660

6 Must Have Technologies For Every Event Planner

When you casually go up to an event planner to ask about the kind of technology they use in their events, their expected reply would be the use of big screens, or projectors during the events. Certainly, those things are important, but when it comes to the technology of event planning, they have just reached the 'tip of the iceberg'!

Sadly, several event planners (apart from those who are tech savvy) shy away at the mere mention of the word 'technology'. They may be aware of some new technologies, but they do not make use of them on a regular basis; thereby, missing out on some remarkable opportunities.

The downside being, if you do not embrace the current trends of technology for all your events and stage systems, your audience, or clients will dig for ways to use the technology on their own! So, the sooner you befriend technology; better chances of your event coming under the spotlight.

Let's look through the 6 technologies, which you need while planning your next event-

Before the start of your event, communicate with your speakers, via Google Hangout

It is important to communicate your goals to the speaker (s), before the start of the event. Gone are the days when you used to interact through telephones, or emails. Now, Google Hangout is the latest trend, where up to ten people can gather for a video conferencing. This medium helps in building a rapport between the speaker(s) and the entire team.

Make use of social media to promote your event

As soon as your event nears the date, start tweeting about it on Twitter, and add cool and interesting status updates about the event on Facebook and LinkedIn. Splash interactive videos on the social media and garner publicity. It will encourage people to register and show up for the event.

Make mobile friendly event materials

Printed event materials are passé! Introduce your program and handouts on a PDF format. This will make it convenient for the audience to get the materials on their tablets, or smartphones. You can even create a mobile app for the event- an easier and less expensive way to get noticed.

Internet access is a must during the event

Several hotels provide free internet access, but some of them do not provide it for free in the conference rooms. Due to this, several event planners avoid the use of internet altogether. Big mistake! If your audience can't get access to the internet to post a tweet, or check their emails; soon enough, they will leave the conference room to do it- and possibly, they may never return. The sign of a great event is when the audience can interact and communicate freely with each other.

Implement an audience response system

It is a whole different ballgame to want the audience to participate. Leave the boring interaction techniques behind like raising your hand, or talking to the person next to you. Instead, use the audience response system, or the voting keypad system. Turning the passive audience into an active audience is the best way to make an event hit.

Keep the phones switched on during the event

Yes, you heard it right! Allow the audience to keep their smart phones switched on and encourage them to interact with the speaker through text messages. This will make the event spontaneous and alive. They can ask questions and get replies right away during the event.

Summary

Technology for an event must not be used just because it is trending, or it is cool. It must rather be used wisely to upgrade your stage systems and event management business. With technology, you can carve your route to an enhanced and successful event.

For More Information Visit UK Staging

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8009280

How to Create Black and White Effect in Photoshop

In this Photoshop tutorial, we are going to learn how to create a black & white photo background. The tutorial is given below -

1) At first, find a channel that has the tonal range. We are going to use the black & white version. Now, switch to the Channels palette. You will see three channels option naming "Red", "Green" and "Blue".

2) Click on each Red, Green and Blue channels to select them individually. Now press Control + A to select and Control +C to copy it. At this point, click on the color composite channel and your photo will appear in full color.

3) In the next step, paste the channel as a new layer. Add a new blank layer and past the copied layer. Go to the filter menu and select Smart Sharpen. Enter 75 percent value and click OK.

4) Add a new layer above the latest layer and select the gradient tool from the Photoshop palate. You can also click G on your keyboard for quick access. Go up to the Photoshop palate and click on the gradient preview area. Set your gradient colors to black and white. Click OK to exit.

5) We are going to create an illusion, from the top right corner of the image. Therefore, we will drag the Gradient Towards at the top right corner of the Image. Start dragging it to the right corner. Now change the effect-blending mode to create an abstract effect.

6) Go to the blend mode option and select normal. Set the opacity level to 60 percent. At this point, you will get the last image. Apply the Gaussian blur filter to smooth out the gradient level. Select Blur and Gaussian blur together and set the value to eight pixels.

7) Now go to the fill option from the palate and lower the value to 0%. This will hide the gradient visibility. Click on layer styles and choose outer glow from the palate. Select white from the color swatch. Click OK to exit out of the Color Picker dialog box. Set the opacity value to 40% and increase the glow level to 90 pixels.

8) Click OK to exit and here is your final output.

This is the basic and a very simple process to create a dramatic black & white effect in Photoshop. It is obvious that, one may not get the desired output at once. So, keep practicing and within a few days, you will get your preferred result. Thanks for reading!

To know more about Photoshop applications, go to http://www.clippingpathsource.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8012719

The Technique Of Water Gilding: Using Gold Leaf And Size

Size is the name given to the adhesives or glue used in the process of gilding, or covering objects with gold and other metallic leaves; it may be oil or water-based. Depending on the gilding method used, there may be sizes made of animal hide and gelatin as well.

Water-based sizes are often used when gilding object surfaces with gold and other metallic leaf. However, one perception is that water sizes do not allow for burnishing after the gilding; they leave behind a gluing surface on the gold or metal-covered object that does not allow polishing and burnishing.

Water-based sizes, however, are still quite popular among artists and often used when gilding with gold leaf. Gilding with water-based glue should not be confused with water gilding.

Water gilding is a technique that results in a shiny mirror-like finish on the object and is achieved by using loose metal leaf, usually gold and silver and a water based size.

The technique of water gilding with gold leaf and size

The object surface that has to be gilded is coated with water size. The loose gold leaf is picked up carefully and placed on the gilding surface, now covered with water-based glue or size.

Care must be taken to ensure that the workplace is free of drafts and breeze. Loose gold leaf is extremely susceptible to any kind of pressure, including air currents, however weak.

When water gilding with loose leaf gold and silver, or other precious metals, ensure you follow the size maker's instructions carefully. Some sizes may be overlaid with metal after a lapse of some time to ensure the right viscosity of glue. Pick up loose metal leaf with a sure hand to minimize shakes, and place onto the glue.

Because water gilding may require higher amounts of size and glue, the metal leaf needs careful attention while handling. Loose leaf gold and silver is prone to sticking and breakage. Other metals in loose leaf form are also susceptible to damage and may crinkle or lose their smoothness upon handling. Water gilding should result in a brighter surface, which is why the artist needs to be extra careful to not allow the gold and silver leaf to break or smudge due to excess size.

Once you are done with the entire process of water gilding, it can be treated the same as objects gilded with gold leaf and size. A piece of soft cloth or polishing cloth can be taken and rubbed all over the surface that has been gilded to ensure that the size evens out. This also gives the surface a burnished and polished effect. The polishing and burnishing also enables the gilding to stick onto the object better.

About the Author:

Neuberg & Neuberg Importers Group, Inc., (NNI) is a respected global name in the gold industry. The company is associated with producing the Wunda Size, invented by Sam Neuberg, the Founder of Easy Leaf Products (a division of NNI). Wunda Size is the first-ever water-based size. The company is a member of the Society of Gilders and specializes in genuine gold leaf, metallic powders, metal leaf, adhesives, framing fabric, and other items needed for water gilding.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8026461

How to Create Photoshop Watercolor Effect

In this article, we are going to learn how to make a photo look like a watercolor painting. You can create the effect by duplicating layers, applying a few filters, and using special layer blending modes. The process is very simple and easy. The entire method is as follows -

Step-1: At first, install the latest version of Photoshop in your computer. Select the photo file on which you want to create the watercolor effect. Duplicate the background layer. It is better to duplicate it three times. You can press "control j" to copy layers. Press them three times. Now turn off the two primary layers. You will notice a small icon. This tiny icon determines that the layer is visible or, not. When it is visible, it means the layers are visible and when you click on the icon it disappears, it means that the layers are no longer visible.

Step-2: Select layer one and it will appear in blue color. Point your cursor on the filter menu>artistic>cutout. Right after choosing the filter, a dialogue box will appear. You will notice there are three boxes. One is for the number of levels second one is for edge simplicity and the last one is edge fidelity. Set the value of first two boxes to four and the last one as two. Click OK to save and exit.

Step-3: Point your cursor to the layers palate and select the blend mode option. Click on the drop down menu, set it to normal and select the luminosity-blending mode. Now turn on the second layer above the primary layer. Go to filter menu>artistic>dry brush. You will three boxes on brush size, brush detail and texture option. Set the first two boxes to ten and the last box as three. Click OK to save.

Step-4: Select the layer one copy, go to the blend mode options again, and select the down pointing arrow. Change the blending mode to screen. Click inside of the tiny icon and click to make other layers visible. Point your cursor to the filter menu>noise>median. A dialogue box will appear. Set the radios value to 12. Click OK to save and exit. To complete the watercolor effects change the blend mode option to soft light. Now change the layers blending mode from the down pointing arrow and select soft light. Here you get the last output.

Keep practicing and enjoy the good results!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8031055