How To Prepare Different Surfaces For Painting

Author: Jessica Ackerman

The discovery of the existence of the so-called Lascaux cave paintings in France in 1940 has proven that man's need to express himself through art has long been with us since the ancient times. A passion for painting has been imprinted into the human soul even at that early stage of our development. It is therefore unsurprising that our fascination for paintings has not waned over the years. Part of this cultural evolution includes the ever growing demand to hang paintings on our walls as an integral part of our home decor.



If you would like to buy a painting for your living room but have never tried it before, and you have no idea where to start, consider the three basic tips below to help you make the right choice.



Identify your personal taste- Definitely, this is the most important thing you have to consider when buying a painting. You are in fact expressing yourself through the design pieces that you choose for your home. Thus, when buying a painting, you have to choose one which is in sync with your taste. If you are the romantic, traditional type, then you may prefer paintings that adhere to the realist style. Typical examples include still life paintings, landscapes, and portraits. If you are the type who prefers modern wall art, you can opt to buy abstract paintings. Some of these artworks come in the form of multi-set paintings that you can hang as a group to accentuate your living room.



Set your budget- In order to prevent you from making an impulsive purchase at each seemingly good buy you encounter, try to set your budget. Ask yourself if you are willing to settle for prints or the real deal. Of course, original paintings, especially those created by the "masters," command a higher price tag. If you want the look of a Renoir, for example, but simply cannot afford the real thing, try to look for good prints or other artists whose works match your design aesthetic but do not command a steep price. While you're at it, now is the chance to help out a good friend or even a community artist by considering their artworks for your home decor.



Do your homework- By going online, asking around, and seeking help from experts, you increase your chance of buying the perfect painting. In fact, by doing a bit of background research, you will be able to expand your options to help you choose from a variety of artists and styles. At the same time, doing your homework will also help you identify the best painting within your budget.



Visualize- It also helps if you have a clear vision of where you would like to hang the painting. If you have decided to buy a multi-set painting, for example, try to consider if the colors will not overpower the other elements in the room.



In the end, different homeowners prefer different looks, and what you buy for your home should be in accordance to what you really want. Through the tips above, you can now begin looking for the perfect accent for your home.

About the Author:
This article was written by Jessica Ackerman and provided by WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, a site featuring unique abstract canvas art and metal artwork.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How To Prepare Different Surfaces For Painting

Painting Parties For Kids

Author: Terry Henman

A kids painting party is a great way for your children to get to know their new schoolmates. The difference between a painting party and any other party is that is has a structure in that there is an obvious set activity. Not only is this much more fun for the kids but it also ensures pandemonium will not break out as kids get bored or run wild.



The party itself is fairly straight forward- all it requires from you is a little bravery! The key to success is really in the planning. Before you do anything else, send some invitations two weeks in advance so that everybody has time to arrange other plans around it and so that you have a fair idea of the number of children attending. As a fun precursor to the party, involve your children in creating some fun personalised invitation cards. Remember to include the date of the party, your telephone number so that people can reply or ask any questions they may have and your address so that they know where to go. When you have received most your replies it is time to stock up on party provisions. You will need enough paint brushes to go around, lots of paper (A3 is best) a selection of paints (water colours, poster paints or any water based paints a best as the are safer than oils and can be washed from surfaces and fabrics), an apron for each child and perhaps yourself- if you can't find aprons, cheap T shirts will do the trick, though stick to one colour to avoid tears and the threat of an uprising and mutiny. Other things you may want to include are some blank pieces of pottery for the children to decorate and take home for their parents and name badges. For party food, cartons with straws are always popular and avoid spills, Satsuma's, yogurts, sandwiches, cupcakes, jelly, miniature sausage rolls and chicken drumsticks. Some children may have special dietary requirements or allergies that you will need to cater for so be sure to discuss this fully with their parents well in advance of the day.



A nice little touch is to stencil the name of each child on their apron or T shirt. Not only will this help you remember who is who but the kids will feel really special. Obviously you would need to know exactly who is coming otherwise it could cause more trouble than it is worth.

On the day of the party, blow up balloons and tie together with some bows that you can create out of some cheap fabric, you can also use this fabric to cover the table and any other surfaces you would like to remain paint free. Clear away anything hazardous or breakable and prepare the food in a separate room. Structure the day by painting first, eating second, that way all the newly created works of art will have had time to dry before they are taken home. Ahem....simple really....

About the Author:
Terrys Fabrics retail in a wide variety of curtains and fabric.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/painting-parties-for-kids-782535.html