Artistic cars around the world

Art means diverse range of human activities and the products of those activities. Common view of art refers to painting, film, photography, sculpture, and other visual media. Music, theatre, dance, literature, and interactive media are popular forms of art.
What about artistic cars or vehicles with artistic approach? This article is about cars with different designs and color combinations which will amuse you.

Why people art cars? Simple answer is that art plays an integral part in our lives and thus public can see this art form on the road every day.

Let's have fun watching few artistic cars:

Now search more at sites or links related to art on cars.
'Art Car' is hosted by Costas Schuler aka 'The Pen Guy' creator of the Mercedes Pens Art Car covered in over 10,000 pens. Art Car Central is a blog about art cars, art bicycles, art motorcycles, mutant vehicles, videos and any other artistically altered vehicles.

 'Art Car Fest' is a festival for Art Cars, which are registered and insured vehicles that an artist has permanently altered in an artistic fashion.  The purpose of this art festival is to bring art into the world everyday as these cars are driven to work, and on the highways.
'Art Car Fest' is the only festival in the world of its kind.

Read more:20 of the World’s Most Awesome Art Cars: From Cupcake Scooters to Cat Cruisers
* 'Air Brush.com' is Australia's professional airbrush production shop. They also air brush the vehicles.

* BMW Art Cars

* Driven by Design A professional designers site. http://weburbanist.com/2008/08/03/20-of-the-worlds-most-awesome-art-cars/?ref=search http://www.burningman.com/art_of_burningman/art_cars_on_the_playa.html http://www.orangeshow.org/art-car/

Amazing newspaper sculpture artists and their work

Newspaper is very common thing around us. Use of newspaper is for reading purposes and may be it can be recycled again to create paper. But can it be used to create art? This article is about 2 newspaper sculpture artists. Their awesome work is also shown and if you want to read or see more pictures, their site links are also included.

There are many paper or newspaper sculpture artists like su blackwell whos work is framed in books containing fairy tales, poetry, and even how-tos.
 Here are few selected pictures:

To see more pictures: 25 incredible paper sculptures by su blackwell

Another artist is from America 'Nick Georgiou' known for his use of the printed word as an artistic medium, but not in the way you think. He creates creatures and art pieces out of discarded newspapers and books, and has a penchant for depositing them in random locations throughout New York City. He creates anything from delightfully odd critters to eerily depictive portraits.

Nick Georgiou  uses old newspapers, collected by him or donated by others, tears them into folds and stitches them into various creatures. His works have been exhibited in various shows and galleries, bot in the US and abroad.

Few pictures from Nick Georgiou:

NICK GEORGIOU's profile at blogger

More links:

*  Paper folwers- Anyone can do that

* Creative photos by Chema Madoz * Sculptures and art installations made out of newspapers

Amazing street art photos

What is street art? 


In simple words it is the form of art which can be named 'public art' as it is not bound to any limits and it can be seen anywhere around us. It can be a picture drawn on wall, a little color or placing of objects on the pavements, roads or any place around us, which can have some meanings or look like an artistic thing.


This post is about amazing photos of street art, but first learn about the term 'street art': 


According to 'wikipedia' Street art is art, specifically visual art, developed in public spaces — that is, "in the streets". 


The term can include traditional graffiti artwork, sculpture, stencil graffiti, sticker art, wheatpasting and street poster art, video projection, art intervention, guerrilla art, flash mobbing and street installations. 


‘Street’ artists do not aspire to change the definition of an artwork, but rather to question the existing environment with its own language. They attempt to have their work communicate with everyday people about socially relevant themes in ways that are informed by esthetic values without being imprisoned by them.

I am inspired by the photos where artists have transformed the ugliness of the surroundings to piece of art as shown in few pictures.

Enjoy the art scattered around us!

 

You may watch more photos at the following link:

106 of the most beloved Street Art Photos – Year 2011

Ideas and Techniques to Create Unique Collage Work

You can create endless collage projects to impress others. As there are variety of materials or mediums which you can use to create a collage, your art or crafts work is always a unique piece of art. You can use your collage work for making cards, decorate gift boxes, making wall hangings and etc.

Ideas and techniques to create collage work:

• A collage is your personal canvas, yours to decorate in any way that you please, and hence it becomes unique art piece.
• You need some basic materials on hand in order to get started, including poster board, scissors, colored pens and pencils, and some glue sticks.
• Arrange each picture and two dimensional object on the poster board before you glue. Try different arrangements until you get one that looks just right.
• For light weight and flat materials (paper, canvas, etc.) use Liquitex using the fluid or the gel.
• For heavy weight and 3-D materials (beads, rocks, etc.): Use Liquitex Gel Mediums.
• Collages are a great way to show the bigger picture, like a baby’s first year (or month!), or marathon training, or even your garden’s progress over the summer.
• After a fun vacation or a wonderful event, use collage gifts to enjoy your most-loved photos all together.
• Highlight your family trip or share a collection of your wedding photos with family and friends.

More ideas and techniques:
Continue reading

Amazing art and crafts projects with paper quilling

Paper quilling is another form of paper art or craft. It is a great looking art which you can use to decorate gift packs, picture frames, coasters, jewelry, trinket boxes, invitations and greetings cards. Paper quilling involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to make attractive designs. It is also called Paper Filigree or Filigrana.

What is quilling?

Quilling or paper filigree is the art of creating designs with narrow strips of paper that have been wound around a quill or quilling tool to create a basic shape. The basic shapes are glued together and arranged to form all kinds of creative and interesting designs. Quilling is one of the easiest crafts to learn. Nearly all of quilling is done with just a few variations of basic rolls and scrolls.

Quilling history:
Quilling is an art form that dates back to the Renaissance and is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to make intricate designs.

There are two different explanations given for the name "quilling." Some say it comes from the use of a quill as a tool to roll the paper strips into coils, while others contend that the coils of paper created resemble rows of quills.


Where to use quilling?

Quilling can be used to create art pieces by gluing a design of unlimited colors and patterns onto a flat cardboard background. Beyond this, quilling is used to decorate items such as picture frames, coasters, jewelry, trinket boxes, invitations and greetings cards.
In addition to gluing paper coils to a background, quilling can involve sculpting and gluing coils together to create free-standing, three-dimensional objects.

Popular shapes created from paper coils include flowers, leaves, ornate scrolls and abstract patterns.

Quilling can be used to create art pieces by gluing a design of unlimited colors and patterns onto a flat cardboard background.

Quillers can do the quilling at boxes, cabinets and other items with recessed surfaces and decorate them.

Useful resources and links:

* Definition of 'quilling' at: 'wikipedia'

* 'Creative quilling' offers basic tutorial for beginners and free patterns.

* 'My Paper Quilling' offers paper quilling ideas, projects.

* What Is Paper Quilling?

Below are the links to few blogs (I have selected few blogs among hundreds) dealing in quilling projects and you can get lots of tips, ideas, and patterns to make your own quilling crafts.

* 'Inna's Creations'
is a blog with amazing quilling projects.

* 'Quilling, art and expression' offers free instructions and patterns for quilling, tea bag folding, and paper crafts.

* 'If looks could quill'

* 'Quilling ideas'  

* 'All things paper'

* 'Paper quilling ideas'

* 'Basic quilling shapes'

* If you want to know more about this amazing art form go to the link: 'History of paper quilling'

Creation of Crafts with pencil lead

Pencil is very commonly used and easily available object. Pencils come in attractive formats, color and shapes. The main part of pencil is lead which is made of carbon graphite. There are some artists who can create crafts with the help of wooden pencil, but it is strange to hear that the lead can be used to create amazing objects like 'alphabets, shoes, buildings and etc.

Dalton Ghetti is an artist who works with one of the toughest mediums around. His craft involves sculpting pencil lead into impossible to imagine images. Everything from a giraffe to a hammer can be made out of lead.

There have been artists who use pencils as part of their craft, but none use the smallest and most fragile part: the pencil lead. Dalton Ghetti has found a remarkable niche in the art world.


Most of the pictures shown in this post are created by Dalton Ghetti


Source and related links:

* 'Artisitic writing utensil creation photos at 'Trend Hunter'

* '25 peculiar pencils'



* 'Pencil Talk'   is a blog devoted 
to exploring woodcase pencils and related topics. The blog is ad free so user friendly and comfortable to read the posts.

* 'Sharp pencil lead crafts'

Another artists from Bosnia, Jasenko has created the following art

The chain in this picture is carved from pencil lead-
another artists work

Art and creativity with fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are an essential part of our food and supply of some important nutriest and minerals for our bodies. Fruits and vegetables are also used to decorate food dishes. It has become a traditional feature of most of the restaurants, fast food shops and hotels around the world. Even at family gatherings, personal parties the decoration with fruits and vegetable is much appreciated and praised.

The art of carving foods is an Eastern custom that has been adopted by creative food preparers around the world. In Thailand and Japan food carving is considered part of the presentation of the meal. The stunning designs that can be created makes the food the center of attention when you serve your guests.

Some of the more elaborate carvings can take hours to get just right, but practice makes it go faster and soon you'll find yourself designing your own patterns for watermelons, radishes, and any fruit or vegetable that can hold it's form when carved.

Watermelons, turnips, pineapples and many other fruits and vegetables can be carved and combined into either elegantly simple or very elaborate center pieces or accents for your picnic table or indoor party decorations

Source: Creativity with Vegetable & Fruit

More useful links and resources:

*'Art with fruits' at 'crooked brains'

* 'Amazing fruit and vegetable art'

* Incredible Fruit And Vegetable Art

* There is a long tradition of fruit carving in Thailand, especially in the preparation of food for the Royal Family.

- More at: The Art of Thai Fruit Carving

* http://www.artchef.com/ explains that "The art of fruit and vegetable carving has its roots in the age of the Chinese Tang Dynasty (AD 618-906) and Sung Dynasty (AD 960-1279). This exquisite craft has been slowly developed and refined over the years in China. These beautiful garnishes and fruit carvings were not only created for the Kaiser's feudal banquets but they were also popular among average people, who enjoyed beautiful artistic food presentations."

Giuseppe Arcimboldo (also spelled Arcimboldi) (1527 – July 11, 1593) was an Italian painter best known for creating imaginative portrait heads made entirely of such objects as fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, and books. He painted representations of these objects on the canvas arranged in such a way that the whole collection of objects formed a recognizable likeness of the portrait subject.

Recycle your books into work of art

You have heard about recycling many products like paper, plastic, wood, clothes etc. But there is a creative way of recycling your existing or old books (which has a little resemblance with scrap booking) and it is called 'altered book'.

An altered book is an existing book that is awaiting your hands to glued, paint, collage, rubber stamp, cut and tear and transform into a piece or work of art. Yes! by using some techniques, idea and tips you can create crafts with easily available material around you own home. Let's get more information about 'altered book':

Definition from 'Wikipedia' is:
'An altered book is a form of mixed media artwork that changes a book from its original form into a different form, altering its appearance and/or meaning.

An altered book artist takes a book (old, new, recycled or multiple) and cuts, tears, glues, burns, folds, paints, adds to, collages, rebinds, gold-leafs, creates pop-ups, rubber-stamps, drills, bolts, and/or be-ribbons it. The artist may add pockets and niches to hold tags, rocks, ephemera, or other three-dimensional objects. Some change the shape of the book, or use multiple books in the creation of the finished piece of art.

Altered books may be as simple as adding a drawing or text to a page, or as complex as creating an intricate book sculpture.'

There is a very specific definition of making altered book at 'Kaboose.com'

An altered book, according to the International Society of Altered Book Artists, is "any book, old or new, that has been recycled by creative means into a work of art." Altered book artists change a book by cutting or rebinding; covering pages with collage, drawings, or photographs; stamping images on the pages, and highlighting particular words or images, while covering others. Different than a
scrapbook, altered books are preexisting books that are complete in and of themselves, not journals or blank bound volumes. Take, for instance, an old children's board book or a dusty garage-sale find and personalize it by adding your own thoughts, images, and art.

"Scrapbooking is using photos of your family and journaling a particular event" or time, says Aileen Roberts, a California-based mixed media artist.
"Altering books is not the same as scrapbooking. Most altered book artists are using the book as their canvas and altering it into an artistic statement just like you would a canvas or a sculpture."

Book Safe - Altered Book. You can turn an ordinary, hard-covered book into a safe to hide your valuables and little treasures. Not only are these books a useful addition to your own book shelf, it also makes a great gift!
'Book safe project'
'Altered book safe' is a great way to hide things on your book shelf Or in your school bag or locker.


Useful links:

* 'Getting Started with Altered Books and Other Altered Art' at 'Creativity Portal'

* Altered book: Craft, patterns and tutorials at 'Craftster.org' forum.

* Few article about 'Altered books' at 'Suite 101.com'

* 'Arts and Crafts : Techniques Used in Making Altered Books'

* 'Altered books ideas and tips'

* Few links at 'Craft Site Directory'

* 'Altered Books at 'Incredible art lessons' at 'Squidoo'

* 'Artful journey' wife, mother, teacher, writer, and artist trying to live a creative life. I make all kinds of altered books and collage art, and I write about the process as I go along.

* Making Altered Books :: Art in a Child's Hand

* 'Art ezine'