How to start Living
Sculpture
We are defining living
sculpture as sculpture created with living, growing, or recently harvested
plants. It can be functional and/or ornamental. Chances are, you may think of something made
from clay, plaster, glass, bronze, or even, plastic. Sculptors through the ages
have traditionally worked with media such as these. Although sculpting plants
isn’t a new idea (think bonsai or topiary), its recent rediscovery by artists,
horticulturalists, gardeners, and young people has given living sculpture an
innovative popularity. Obviously sand is
always a good and easy way to start in the Middle East.
Living sculpture offers a
highly appealing blend of art and science. On one hand, you’re creating a piece
of art. It’s creative, it may be whimsical, and will surely stand out in your
backyard, park, school, or community center. Creating a living sculpture gives
you the chance to bring your own unique vision or idea to life (literally!) On
the other hand, this piece of art is alive! The plants you use are a vital part
of your sculpture. Those plants have needs that must be met to keep your sculpture
alive, and may require special horticultural skills, such as grafting, to
create the art.
Living Statues
The term living statue refers to a mime artist
who poses like a statue or mannequin, usually with realistic statue-like makeup,
sometimes for hours at a time. This is an art that requires a great deal of
patience and physical stamina. Middle East
climates of course may make your work as living statues slightly less
comfortable than your European counterparts.
Living statue performers
have been known to pose as shop window mannequins in order to fool passers by,
and a number of hidden camera shows on television have had living statues suddenly
spring to life to startle people. As with all performing arts, living statue
performers may perform as buskers or in commissioned shows. Some living statues
are also invited to perform in fine arts exhibitions.
The tableau vivant, or group of living statues, was a regular feature of
medieval and Renaissance festivities and pageantry, such as royal entries by
rulers into cities. Typically a group enacting a scene would be mounted on an
elaborate stand decorated to look like a monument, placed on the route of the
procession. A living statue appeared in a scene of the 1945 French masterpiece
film Les enfants du paradis (Children of Paradise), and early
living statue pioneers include the London-based artists Gilbert and George in
the 60s. In the early years of the 20th century, the German dancer Olga Desmond
put on “Evenings of Beauty” (Schönheitsabende) in which she posed nude in
imitation of classical works of art ('living pictures').
Caricaturists
Anyone can
draw a caricature, but only a real artist can transform a doodle into a work of
art. If you are serious about improving your caricature drawing skills, you
should consider taking classes. Here are some tips to help get you started.
Observe, observe, observe. A caricature is only effective if it actually
resembles the subject. More than artistic skills, you need keen observation to
pull this off. Carefully study your subject’s facial expressions, outstanding
features, angles and mannerisms. Think of ways to capture the subject’s
personality and character to give “life" to your caricature. Zoom in on
details like what type of clothing the subject wears, the gadgets he has in his
hands, and other minor details.
Exaggerate like there’s no tomorrow. A caricature is always larger than life.
Don’t be afraid to lay it on thick – if the subject has distinguishing features
like a particularly big nose, highlight it even more. Use bold lines for
distinct facial edges such as the upper eyelids. The best thing about
caricatures is the creative freedom it gives you. Don’t be afraid to use it.
Vary your strokes and lines. Caricatures rely on the quality of its linear
structure for its composition, so use it to give dimension and shadow. Be sure
to vary them to avoid making your caricature look flat. Use harder strokes for
facial edges such as chins and noses and lighter strokes for other details such
as facial lines, unless that’s the distinguishing feature of your subject.
Finally, have fun. Drawing caricature is a serious art form, but no one says
you can’t have fun doing it. If your first few attempts do not quite make the
cut, set them aside and move on. Making mistakes is part of the fun. After all,
even in the world of art, the old adage is still the golden rule – practice
really does make perfect.
Caricatures provides detailed
information on Caricatures, Celebrity Caricatures, How To Draw Caricatures,
Caricature Artists and more. Caricatures is affliated with Vintage Comic Books.
Fortune Tellers
Fortune
telling, the practice of predicting the future through psychic means, such as
interpretation of signs or communication with supernatural forces. Many people
use astrology as a method of fortune telling. Other methods use palmistry, the
practice of interpreting the lines in hands; cartomancy, the prediction of the
future through communications using special cards such as tarot cards and
necromancy, in which the people predict the future through communication with
the dead. Some methods of fortune telling involve clairvoyance, the ability to
perceive events or objects beyond the range of five senses. Although fortune
telling has a little support in science, it still remains popular in many
countries.
People have practiced various forms of fortune telling for thousands of years.
It became the widespread practice in many ancient societies, particularly among
rulers, who often sought advice from fortune tellers. In ancient China, for
example the emperors had court astrologers and special diviners, who predicted
the future using a set of sticks called the Yijing. In ancient Rome, special
priests called augurs have predicted the future by interpreting certain signs
in nature. The ancients Greeks consulted oracles, which supposedly learned of
future events by communicating directly with the gods.
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