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“Creativity is contagious, pass it on” – Albert Einstein

The Art Life

  • Happy Diwali
    Happy Diwali!!
  • Solving the Easel Puzzle
    Easels are a one-time investment and costly. Every artist uses whatever he or she is comfortable with. Not all artists draw, sketch or paint on an inclined surface. Different painting styles can mean using or not using the Easel. A short simple post answering questions about selecting an Easel or a Drawing Board. People usually have two opposing thoughts on this topic. Some feel “what is there to select? Every artist or painter needs an Easel” while others feel “it is the last thing to invest in”. There are a lot of myths about an Easel. No doubt it makes an excellent gift to give an artist, but do you know which one to select?
  • Tools and Techniques To Make Professional Greeting Cards
    Making a greeting card all by yourself may seem difficult for some. No one wants to be judged or mocked for their artistic skills. Besides not everyone can be a master at it. I understand. But what if I were to tell you that even with minimal artistic skills and creativity one can make beautiful professional looking greeting cards. Yes! In this post, we will be discussing a few tools and techniques for making professional looking greeting cards with ease.
  • Fifty it is!!!
    We have achieved a milestone! 50 posts! Yaaay!! Please do share your thoughts and feedback. Would love to hear from you!
  • ‘Still Life Painting’ – by Guest Blogger Dr Shaazia Hawai
    Our guest blogger Dr Shaazia Hawai is a dentist, who spills her love for colours onto the canvas. Join us as she shares more about her Impressionist Style Still Life Painting using acrylic paints. She also conducts live painting sessions on Instagram.
  • It’s Beautiful! Stained Glass Paintings
    The painting process is very simple. Two steps 1) Create the Outline and 2) Fill the colours. The skilled part is in doing it. And like they say, you have to do it to know it. The texture that you see is the original texture of the glass. We select the glass based on the type we want. The material except the glass isn’t very expensive. The colours in a set are enough to make two or three glass panels. So if you want to re-use or recycle a piece of glass from the renovation, consider ‘Stained Glass Panting’. It will give a fresh and majestic look to your decor.
  • Cute Little Clay Creations – by Guest Blogger Ms. Radha Srikanth
    Taking imagination and fantasy from the world of magic and transforming it into something beautiful in this world; is what I do every day. Does that sound interesting? Hello everyone, I am Radha, a clay artist. Doing something creative by shaping earth with your hands can be an incredibly humble, joyful and healing experience.
  • The Clay Effect – Air Dry vs. Bake
    For arts and crafts at home, we use Clay that is available at art and craft stores. Basically for hobby crafts and crafts at home there are two types of clay : one is the air drying and the other one that needs to be baked. We can use them to make many artistic objects from the comforts of our home. I have made wall murals, decorated wooden and glass panels, mirrors, jewellery and toy models with both types of clay. Yes! I know friends who have made saleable products from these. They are now successful small businesses.
  • Three creative ideas with Coffee – Art Craft
    Hmm.. the aroma of a freshly brewed coffee can be so refreshing, isn’t it? Sniffing coffee beans can almost reset your sense of smell. When we sample different perfumes and a particular strong smell gets to our head, it lingers. How to clear it? Take a few coffee beans in a cup and smell them. After sometime smell another perfume. We can creatively use coffee for many things other than just sipping a nice cup of coffee. You may have come across or tried these. In this post I am sharing three artistic creative ideas of arts and crafts with coffee. I have tried my hand at all the three and they can be wonderful creative outlets for anyone, especially coffee lovers. It is the skill and material that make this art unique.
  • Scan, Copy, Download, Print – How to get good prints for your Projects
    Did a hand drawn artwork and now want to make copies OR drew it digitally and now want to print it? Photographs, Graphics, Vector Art, Backgrounds, Designs, Drawings and Paintings – All of us might have tried to print these at some point of time or another. It could be for a School Project, a University Submission or a Personal Art Craft Project or for Commercial use. I see many people struggle to get good prints of their work. What went wrong? They don’t know. I often get to hear “I gave the print command and the printing device printed it.” “I took it to a professional printer and he said the art work is not done correctly. The printing service owner said the device (printer) has done it correctly.” It’s our loss as the money is wasted and we are not happy with the output. Today’s post is about ‘Getting a good print out’. I am going try and translate the language of a printer. In other words explain it in simple terms that everyone can understand.
  • Painting a Silhouette
    ‘Silhouette’ Try saying it as ‘Silu -et’. That’s right! I am not talking about a soft fabric but a technique of painting. Silhouette is also a popular method in photography. It is an object or profile in dark black against a very bright source of light, usually the Sun.
  • The Perfect Blend – Exams & Coffee
    What is Coffee got to do with Art? 😀 My young followers have exams coming up at schools, colleges and universities. Coffee will be their best friend keeping them up studying late nights. Just like a good coffee is all about the blend. Art is also all about blending and having the right combinations. All set? Prepared?
  • Getting to know ‘The Washi Tape’
    The title says it all ; this is a all you want to know kind of post and it is all about ‘The Washi Tape’. Ok! What is so special about it? Fine! It is just another tape, so use it as one. True! I think it is a door to creativity. Especially for storytellers who cannot draw well but have so much to say and share.
  • A Photo Frame – It’s Handmade
    Click! Click! Hehe! We don’t get to hear this clicking sound anymore. The cameras are silent but we still click as many pictures or probably more. Now that our phones have a very strong camera lens, we like to capture every memory. It is a memory, it is special. Then why let it remain in the phone. Let’s print it and put it in a nice photo frame. That is my topic for today’s post – a very simple easy DIY Photo Frame. Complete description with material details.
  • Art with Alcohol Inks on Yupo Paper
    Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year! This post is in continuation with the previous one. I shared about Resin Art, Fluid Art and Art with Alcohol inks in my last post. I now have some additional inputs on that topic. Sharing them in this one.
  • Resin Art, Fluid Art and Art with Alcohol Inks – Go with the Flow
    Hello everyone! As promised, I am here, with complete details on working with this sticky, messy and crazy material called ‘Resin’. I will also share about creating designs with alcohol inks. Fluid Art is all about pouring the paint. I have clubbed these three styles because their methods are the same – random, uncontrolled, indisciplined and crazy. It is because of this property that each piece of art is very different from the other. We create beautiful waves and ripples like flowing water resulting in abstract designs to make various usable objects. Trays, Coasters, Keychains, Name Plates, Cookie stands, Cheese Boards, Wall Clocks, Wall Art, Bowls and Boxes to store little things, Jewellery, Stationery and more: there are so many things we can make with these art styles. We do not need any prior training in art for it. All three are popular activities for art-themed parties.
  • Mixed Media Project : Nameplate
    The first thing we usually ask or get to know about someone is their name. That is how we relate to them. We all like it when someone calls us by our name, isn’t it? That is what my next project is all about – a name. In this post, I am sharing about making a nameplate. It could be a simple door sign for your room or studio, an open or close sign for your store or a board sign for your home. Complete Step by Step details with Material.
  • Art Project : Set of Coasters
    How about making Coasters for your coffee table? Join me in making this beautiful blue coaster set. Complete step by step process with material details.
  • Craft Project : Making a Dreamcatcher
    Sharing my experience making a Dreamcatcher. Also shared steps to make a simple easy Dreamcatcher.
  • Playing with Colours and Textures
    Modern Art, Abstract Art and Contemporary Art these terms are used together or in place of the other many times. This little artist was into Contemporary Art. Her guardians were organising her show. She was trying for the world records as the youngest artist to have a solo art show. I don’t know if she made it but it got me my topic for this post. Yes! We will be discussing Modern Art, Contemporary Art and Abstract Art in this post. Are these the same? Not really. Honestly very few people understand these or know. It is more about visual appeal. If they like to look at it, they buy it. Simple!
  • Selecting colours in Art for their meaning
    All artworks require a good choice of colours. However, artworks like designs, patterns, abstract art and modern art tend to have a higher dependence on the colours used. Hence before choosing colours for the artwork it is always better to know about colours and their meanings. If you want to appeal to a certain audience, it is always a good idea to know their interpretation of colours. I am going to discuss the broader interpretation and general meanings in this post. Art is about the freedom to express. We all draw and paint to express our thoughts. A good piece of art is one that conveys the artists message clearly. Worldwide, we associate colours with certain emotions. That is why when an artist paints a red rose it invokes a different reaction and when he paints a black rose it invokes a different one. Why? Because every colour has a meaning. Some meanings are accepted in general by most people while some have deeper or additional meanings.
  • Art goes Digital – it is not easy!
    Hey! Where have you been? I know it has been a while. I was upgrading my skills. Attended some classes, learnt a few new skills in digital art. Yes! You heard it right. I said Digital Art. That looks easy! How did you do it? Can you show me.. Here is my story about digital art.
  • Half Yearly Recap
    Posts from January 2021 to June 2021 just in case you missed out reading any of them.
  • Say it with Flowers – Greeting Card
    DIY Greeting Card – Tulips Design
  • Oops! I made a mistake .. Eraser Stories
    Some common mistakes all of us make while drawing and painting. Erasers and their use as Art Materials.
  • Digital Detox: Relax and Rejuvenate With An Off-Screen Activity
    Sharing Origami Models I made – All you need is a sheet of Paper
  • A Trip Down Memory Lane : Sketching With Charcoal And Soft Pastels
    A gallery for my Paintings in Charcoal and Soft Pastels that I made at the classes and later.
  • A Beginners Guide To Pencil Shading
    Taking the first step. Learning the ABC to drawing – Pencil Shading. Sharing how I learnt it and what all I learnt about it. I hope it makes it easy for someone learning it.
  • Colouring like a Pro with Pens and Markers
    Sharing tips and tricks for colouring using pens and markers.
  • Culinary Art : Garnishing and Carving by Nirali Mehta
    Decorating ideas for Food presentation at home. Also learn to make a simple easy garnish. Garnishing and Carving of Fruits and Vegetables by Nirali Mehta
  • Drawing without using a Scale or a Ruler
    Learning to draw without using a scale or a ruler. Explained how to draw a symmetrical object.
  • Let’s get you in a Frame! Selecting a suitable Frame for your Art and Creating an Art Wall
    Answering all your questions about selecting a suitable Frame for your Art. Ideas for putting up Art on the Wall and creating an Art Wall.
  • Selecting Art Materials : Canvas and Paper, Paintbrushes
    Discussing about selecting a Canvas, Art Paper and Paint Brushes for you Art.
  • The Black and White of Pen and Ink Drawings – Ink Art
    Ink is my favourite medium of Art. Ink Illustrations, Pen and Ink Drawings are my forte. Sharing various techniques and more about drawing and painting with this medium.
  • Why is Acrylic Paint the most preferred medium to paint?
    10 Reasons why Acrylic Paint is the most preferred medium to Paint and why you should have a box of these at home.
  • Wildlife through my Lens: Photography – by Guest Blogger Mr. Himanshu Jain
    Passionate about Wildlife Photography Himanshu shares with us some of his amazing works and special tips for budding photographers in detail.
  • 5 Ways to Fine Tune your Art – Drawing, Painting and Sketching
    These are 5 points to observe, mark, note and check while making Art. It will not only improve your Artwork but also help understand and learn different Art styles and genre. You could also say these are five mistakes to avoid while drawing, painting or sketching.
  • ‘Hooked on to Crochet’ – by Guest Blogger Ms. Emma Thomas
    Our Guest Blogger this week is Ms. Emma Thomas. Join us as she shares about her journey learning Crochet along with some helpful tips for beginners. Emma is the maker and the owner at ‘Double Stitch Creations’.
  • The Art Of Paper Folding – Origami
    My Story and experience with the Japanese Art of Paper Folding – Origami
  • Year in a Review
    A list of all the Posts on the Blog so far. Easy links to the posts in case you missed out on any.
  • Selecting Pens and Markers for your Art
    Answering your questions on selecting Pens and Markers for your Arts and Crafts
  • Paper Quilling – A World Of Infinite Possibilities
    Learn about the Art of Paper Quilling and it’s world of infinite possibilities. A Step-by-Step tutorial to making two basic types of beads with explanations to the other varieties. We make a Christmas Tree Ornament using the crafting methods we learn.
  • Book Recommendations – Arts and Crafts
    Four Books I can recommend for Arts and Crafts Lovers. You may want to buy these and learn a new skill – Sewing, Candle Making, Gift Wrapping and Napkin Folding.
  • Calligraphy : A Visual Art
    Learning this beautiful unique visual art related to writing. Answering your questions on Calligraphy- What is it? Where to start? What materials to buy? And more
  • Rangoli Art
    Sharing my Rangoli Art and Wishing everyone a very Happy Diwali!
  • Be Creative! Do Not Copy – Copyrights in Artistic Works
    Sharing what I learnt when I studied the Copyright Law in simple language for everyone to understand. Tried to keep it to our daily language of conversation while introducing the main topics to read up on.
  • Three Arts that you can give a try – Doodle Art, Zentangle Art and Mandala Art
    As the title says I’m sharing three Arts I feel everyone can try. It requires no prior experience or knowledge in Art. One can begin any time. Easy to learn and there is no right or wrong here. I’m talking about Doodle Art, Zentangle Art and Mandala Art.
  • ‘Healing with Art – Art Therapy’ by Guest Blogger – Dr.Wilona Annunciation (MD)
    Dr. Wilona Annunciation, a practising Psychiatrist is our Guest Blogger this week. She shares her experience and thoughts on Mental Health and healing with Art – Art Therapy.
  • Serious about Art : The way ahead
    If you are serious about Art and wish to take it up. Sharing how to take it ahead. Formalised Training and Art Examinations.
  • Paper Flowers ; Decorate Paper Bags, Gift Tags or Greeting Cards for the Festive Season
    A complete step-by-Step guide to making these simple and easy decorative Paper Flowers
  • Pencil Mania – Part 2; Charcoals, Pastels and Woodless Pencils
    How to select Art Material for Charcoal and Pastels Painting? Explaining the technical names along with their similarities and differences with other Pencils used in Art.
  • Pencil Mania – Part 1 ; Selecting the right pencils for your Art
    This article will help you make an informed purchase decision the next time you go to an Art store to buy pencils for your Art.
  • Let’s make Greeting Cards with ease
    Step by Step DIY simple easy method to make Greeting Cards using Ink and Watercolours
  • What should I draw?
    What should I draw? How to find an interesting topic to draw.
  • Understanding Colours
    Decoding some jargons and understanding colours with the Colour Wheel

© 2020 Nirali Mehta

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