Odyssey 500

“Why is it so important for an artist to learn sketching?”

Drawing in monochrome lays the foundation for greater things to come. You can move on to color pens, oil pastels, watercolor painting, acrylic painting and oil painting later on but without the skills to create the visual effects that you want, your progress will be limited.

This e-book is about building a strong drawing foundation. Without a strong foundation, the artist has no expressive freedom. Without control and mastery of drawing techniques and tools, they cannot express their ideas and vision in a satisfactory manner.

And that’s the goal that every artist should keep in mind when creating a work of art.

It could be a few broad strokes, or it could be many fine lines. It could be patches of shades, or it could be patches of void spaces. It doesn’t matter.

The important thing is to remember that a drawing or a painting is complete when the ideas are expressed to the artist’s satisfaction.

You’ll see these techniques re-surface when we move on to discuss more advanced drawing techniques. Meanwhile, do familiarize yourself with the techniques discussed in this e-book.

Ultimately, the goal we want to achieve here is to prove that anyone with a burning desire and a strong interest for art can learn to draw in no time.

What’s the next natural thing to happen? With understanding comes better works of art. Let’s start with understanding composition.

Aspect 1: Composition

The composition of a drawing contains elements such as line, shape, tone, texture, color, direction, size, proportion, and perspective. The combination of these elements makes up the overall look and feel of the drawing.

Decide early the subjects that are going to be included in the drawing. Draw out rough shapes as outlines for the subjects. This will let you see how the different shapes fit into the drawing, and you won’t find yourself running out of space for some objects that you want to include in the drawing.

Aspect 2: Perspective

Perspective, simply put, is the way in which objects appear to the eye. Anyone with a keen observation of the objects in the surrounding has the potential to draw great looking pictures.

After that, it’s all a matter of translating that mental image into visual form. The higher the level of skill and mastery of tools, the better the drawing.

Here, the artist has the power to choose from the many different ways to represent the image. Different mediums, different drawing tools, different types of paints, etc. He or she may even choose to represent perspective differently. Here’s a quick example of how perspective can affect the drawing.

Objects that are further away always appear smaller. The further they are, the smaller they are, and they will keep on appearing to the eye as smaller objects until they disappear into the horizon.

In addition, details of the objects may be blurred or lost due to the distance.

If the object is of importance or if for some reason the artist wishes to emphasize the presence of the object, the perspective can be altered to bring the object to focus.

We certainly want to keep off taxes just as keep off death. However it’s unacceptable.  But there’re certain means  to bring down import tariffs on your wholesale electronics goods from China.

When you buy electronics  from Chinese wholesale electronics suppliers, naturally,you are importing from China. So the imported products is subject to import duties. However, your import duties are ascribed to the country to which your goods will be transported. It’s  your due to country instead of China. The authorities requires that every time you buy products from foreign countries, some duties must be imposed on the imported goods.

When you import goods from wholesale electronics suppliers in China, it is ever best to consult the related government bureau about tarrif issues surrounding your products to be  purchased from abroad. Though import taxes should be payed to the related authorities, there are ways to reduce the taxes. But its’s utterly different from evading taxes. Almost all authorities can’t allow any kind of tax evasion.

understand well of  your country’s tax rules would favorably offer you an overview on the way to cut down the import duties. In almost all countries, some principles are outlined  to determine what is dutiable and what is not. The amount of tarrifs to be levied according to the goods’ tantamount local price.

Thus, a way of reducing the tarrif assessment on your electronics goods from China is have a complete understanding of the value of the imported  items. You’d better work with the wholesale electronics provider to make certifications correctly about the amount and value of the commodities you bought and show it to your authorities for consultation.

There’re different legitimate approaches for you to bring down your duties on imported goods}. Consult a registered tax consultant to get the approaches that can decrease the duties on imported products.

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One of the most rewarding things you can do with a finished framed painting is to give it to someone as a gift.  Yes, you can sell your art, but when you give a painting away, it is like giving a piece of your heart to someone you care about.  Lets face it most of us aren’t going to become rich selling artwork.  Most people take up the craft as a hobby to fulfill their creative inner spirit.  I started painting as a hobby as my children grew and didn’t “need” me anymore.  I have never really had the desire to travel to shows and get my work out in the public for sale.  I have and do sell work, don’t misunderstand me, I just want you to know that true beauty in art comes from within your desire to make someone happy by presenting them with something as original as a painting done by you!

You can personalize your work pretty easily as well.  For example, painting the mountain scene from the family cottage or camp would have an insurmountable sentimental impact to the recipient.  My niece’s first painting was titled “Pops’ Cabin” whom she gave to her 90-year-old great grandfather. The painting was that of a cabin in the woods.  It didn’t resemble his cabin at all.  The painting represented an important time in her grandfather’s life and the time he spent there with his loved ones.  The painting was from her heart and he knew that.  Needless to say it brought him to tears because he was so touched by her thoughtfulness. 

Landscapes, homes, vacation scenes, and portraits all can be created into un-price able works of art when given to someone you care about.  Another reason to give your art away is this; Holidays and special occasions when you ask what to give the person or family that “has everything”.  I bet that they don’t have a painting of their children playing on the beach on the last family vacation. They don’t have a painting of the tree swing at the old farm house. Get the point!  I know what your thinking, I’ve just started painting and I can’t paint people!  Believe me there are ways to paint the suggestion of just about anything – including people. The key is to practice, practice, practice. Do yourself a favor, don’t be a perfectionist.  Accept what you can do, do it, and then give it to someone.  

Yes you will need to practice your painting skills before you feel confident enough to give your works as gifts and I’m not saying that your going to love every thing you create.  If you are thinking about developing your skills as a painter, consider the pleasure you’ll get and give when you give it away! 

Now I have explained the joy and pleasure you will receive when you give a painting to someone as a gift. I sincerely hope that this article has been useful.  If you are just starting out as an acrylic painter – keep it simple, have fun, and enjoy learning to paint. 

Julie Shoemaker is an avid painter and hobbyist who regularly gives paintings as gifts to family and friends.  To read more articles like the one here, and to see more free art tips, tricks and techniques and free step by step lessons please visit http://www.IamPainting.org