Category Archives: Drawing

Tuscan Garden Design Plants For Italian Gardens

TUSCAN GARDEN DESIGN: Plants that provide structure

Tuscan gardens and Italian gardens in general have been based on strong garden structure from their Arabic origins, where a strong emphasis was already being placed on geometric form.

If we take some of the more indigenous, evergreen, Mediterranean plants like rosemary, myrtle, lavender and evergreen oak we can establish strong structure and form in our Tuscan style gardens. Plants that can be clipped into strong forms have been utilised for centuries to provide hedges and topiary and have formed the basis of the geometric, Italianate garden.

The use of plants to form geometric structure in gardens was at its peak in the Renaissance period in Italy and saw geometry taken to an extreme in gardens like Villa Lante (Bagnaia) in Viterbo. This image of elaborate geometric garden design has remained as a strong symbol for anyone attempting to make an Italianate garden. Although maintenance costs inhibit the use of such elaborate garden structure it is still essential to base any Italian garden design on a strong evergreen structure. Basic garden structure can be achieved by using the same, classic Mediterranean evergreens.

With the minimum of planning from the outset we can ensure a rational and coherent base for our Tuscan garden, without incurring a Renaissance style maintenance budget.

Evergreen plant structure in the garden is best planned on paper using a scale drawing. This enables us to decide upon a balanced design, without incurring expensive mistakes, such as moving large trees and shrubs when the garden is finished. By using slightly more modern plants, that were introduced during the Renaissance, we can apply at least some Italian form to our Tuscan style gardens. Plants like boxood (Buxus sempervirens) we can add a minimum of topiary structure, in the form of small spheres or spirals and by using old classics like the holm oak (Quercus ilex) we can form large cylinder shapes.

These topiary forms, when illuminated, can provide an Italian elegance that is well worth the investment! See some examples at www.lifeinitaly.com

To Buy A Hard Floor Or Software Offroad Floor Camper Trailer

Hard floor camper trailers are constructed with a hard cover that has the ability to flip
over to the rear to become a floor while at the same time drawing a canvas tent over the top of the trailer including tent poles that are then extended into place and you are all setup. Some hard floor camper trailers have a small hand driven winch to facilitate the lowering and rising of the hard floor section down and back up again.

A quote from a hard floor camper trailer owner “We’ve had 6″ of water running under our hard floor camper and we just sat inside and watched it and peoples thongs go whizzing past. Not a drop in the camper. Love it. ”

Hard floor campers typically keep dust out of the campers internal storage compared to a soft floor camper trailer.

Soft floor camper trailers come with a large tent and pole assembly held in place with a large cover. To assemble the tent requires the removal of the cover and then extension of the tent and poles onto the ground below. Then staking the tent into place using a series of tent pegs into the ground. Typically these tents have awnings and the ability to add on an extra series of rooms. These provide a large covered area to stay in while camping and can accomodate up to 8 people if needed. Soft floor campers provide a larger camping area though take significantly more time to setup than their hard floor counterparts.

Soft floors, typically also have much more storage space, so if you’re like me and have a wife who packs absolutely everything you could possibly imagine, it comes in handy.

It also depends where you want to stay having to drive pegs into the ground when it’s all rock makes the soft floor a bad option. You need to think about what is in the package I have had both and much prefer my hard floor. You can get some Aussie made hard floors quite cheep it just depends what you want

Price Consideration.
Generally speaking hard floor camper trailers are more expensive than their soft floor
counter parts.

Towing weight is an important consideration when ordering either a soft floor
or hard floor camper. The weight is more determined by the amount of accessories added
to the individual camper trailer, more than whether a soft floor or hard floor distinction.

Offroad abilities? Both hard floor and soft floor offroad camper trailers have equal offroad abilities. This is more dependant on the suspension fitted to the trailer be it hard floor or soft floor.

Drawing Supplies

To some people, drawing gives them the feeling of expression. They are able to best convey their emotions. To some, it is a hobby that they cant do without. Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed with the talent but still want to learn the craft anyway. But whatever your reason is, it is always best to invest on drawing supplies that will last long and will ultimately bring out the best in your drawings.

If you are just starting to appreciate drawing as a hobby or you see drawing as a career in the future well then by all means, the best time to start is now! First, it is ideal that you sketch anything you see around for at least a couple of months before you even attempt drawing. There are a lot of exercises you will find online that are good for beginners to help you jumpstart a hobby or a career. If you plan to draw occasionally as a hobby, I suggest you use drawing pencils which are equipped with erasers. Drawing pencils with erasers allow you to erase mistakes.

However, if you plan to make drawing a serious hobby or profession, then it is recommended that you start investing on different drawing supplies aside from pencils. It is also very interesting to know that there are types of pencils you can use and collect for your different types of obra maestra. Aside from the usual black and white effect in drawing, you can also obtain illustrations that require colors. In this case, you must buy colored drawing pencils to give more life to your drawings. Always remember that pictures could communicate what words can not say. Apart from colored drawing pencils, you could also use charcoal drawing pencils to create that beautiful portraits to capture the glow in your subjects eyes and the way the light adds beauty, drama and interest to the portrait.

Colors certainly add life to the drawing and make it so realistic for audience to see. However it does not mean you need to get crayons and that you need some childrens basic colors. As an artist whether for a hobby or a profession, one must have a guide to picking colored drawing pencils as they place a vital role in your craft and that to pick the wrong one would mean a humongous mistake. Pick the ones that will boost your pictures and make the drawing seem to come out of the page. Looking it up online would be wise since you could judge against the items side by side and could make your decision in just a snap.

Whether drawing is a hobby or a serious profession, you will want clarity in all your work, this is where mechanical pencil comes in as it gives control and sets that higher level of drawing. There is a saying that goes an artist is what he draws and with that in mind, it would be safe to assume that an artists drawings suggest his personality. Therefore, drawing pencil kits are a must for artists because these make drawings easier and a lot more convenient. You can bring your drawing materials anywhere you go and you do not have to carry along big box full of drawing tools.

What you need to bring instead is your drawing kits and you are ready to start drawing anytime anywhere even if you have to travel far just to get that inspiration you need. You can choose among the varieties of pencil kits such as: drawing pencil kits which will make your drawing job simple and less complicated since it is clutter-free and helps you be more organized. There is also a separate kit for your colored drawing pencils to protect the quality of your colored drawing pencils. On the other hand, charcoal drawing pencil kits protect the grey edge superiority of your charcoal drawing pencils which gives your drawing balance and contrast.

Ways To Use Newsprint Drawing Paper

Newsprint drawing paper has multiple uses. This paper is made from recycled newsprint, making it a very durable choice. Both professional artists and art students benefit from using this hardy paper. Newsprint paper is usually sold in both rough and smooth varieties. Stores like Dick Blick Art Materials and Michaels sell newsprint drawing paper in a variety of brands. Here are four ways to use this type of paper:

1. Create Sketches on Durable Paper

Artists who create frequent sketches, including pen and ink, often want to preserve their work for as long as possible. One way to do this is by using durable drawing paper. You’ll be able to keep sketches you’ve created for much longer.

2. Paintings

Newsprint paper is a good option for painting. It provides a good quality surface that will allow your colors to stand out. Using this paper is a good option for beginners who haven’t started working with canvas yet.

3. Pastels

If you like to use pastels, it’s worth considering using newsprint paper. Newsprint paper stands up very well to the rubbing that needs to be done to get the color coverage that you need. The paper also resists smearing better than lighter-weight grades of paper do.

4.Calligraphy

Newsprint paper can be a very good choice for calligraphy projects. You can easily do your lettering without poking holes through the paper. Textured newsprint paper also gives your project an old-fashioned look.

Tips And Ideas For Clay Sculpting Tasks

The art of using clay to mold things is very old. Clay sculpting is generally a very simple procedure. Many people do it at home as a form of leisure time hobby. Other people make sculptures like professionals for commercial purposes. If you want to use your arty skills, clay sculpture art is much better, and it is adaptable. On the contrary, drawing and painting is much more difficult, and talent specific than molding. Thus, you should try clay molding to enter the art world. Like every other thing you do, clay modeling needs a plan. The following tips and guidelines will help you as you start.

Set a goal Before you can go to the step of buying tools and materials, think about how far you want to go as a sculptor. Perhaps you want to remain a hobbyist or to become a professional. Could it be you want to develop you kids sculpting skills? Simply come up with a purpose or a goal for sculpting.

Look for clay materials If you are new in this field, chances are that you know that clay is the main material to use. On the other hand, you may not know the best type of clay to use. Polymer clay is the best type, if compared to other types. You can find it both in serious art shops, and in hobby art stores. The key advantage of using polymer is the ease of baking it at home. Normally, you need to heat it in the kiln at about 275 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this will depend on the sculpture size. The other types of natural clay include the stoneware, terra cotta, and earthenware. Natural clays are in other words, the water-based clays. On the other hand, polymer clay is synthetic. It means that you could alter polymer clay to look like a stone or metal. It is the simplest type to use for clay sculpting

Search for tools If you use polymer clay, you have to buy special tools. These include a sand paper, acrylic paint and a clear gloss. You need tools such as wires, spoons, scrapers, bowls, a stand and so on. This explains why this clay type is the best because it is easy to use. The clay cutting tools are normally in wire forms. To create beautiful details on the sculptures, you need to buy a couple of detailing tools. You, too, need a good kiln, as you work with most natural clays.

Get your hands dirty One of the things you have to be used to would be dirt when working with clay. You will be using your hands often when preparing the clay, and molding things with it. The other thing you should know is the item you want to sculpture using clay.

Finish your sculpting task The finishing tips are many. However, you should depend on your personal creativity. In addition, the type of finishing will depend upon the choice of clay, and the sculpture you decide to make with it. Make sure the sculpture surfaces look good, by sanding thoroughly.

You may have to practice clay sculpting for sometime before making an item that other people and you admire a lot.