Finding the perfect gift for your friend or loved one this holiday season doesn’t have to be frustrating. There are many items you can give that your loved one will delight in for a lifetime. One thoughtful gift idea is to have a stunning oil painting produced from one of your loved one’s favorite photos.
The photo used to create the painting can be one of a grandparent, child, close family friend, pet, your loved one’s home, or even an important event such as a wedding or anniversary. If there’s a particular photo your loved one holds dear to their heart, a painting of that photo will be even more meaningful.
Choose an Ideal Photo for a Beautiful Finish
The type of photo you select for your portrait gift will determine the beauty and quality of the painting. You can choose a photo that will complement your loved one’s home. You might even use a photo that’s already hanging on their wall!
If you’re planning to give a wall portrait, make sure the colors and patterns in the photo harmonize with your loved one’s room decor where you think they might hang the portrait. Then, your painting can be a natural addition to the room without your loved one having to redecorate or rearrange things. For tabletop portraits, you can also choose a photo that blends well with your loved one’s home.
Portrait Size and Quality
The photo should be clear and unblemished if possible, and preferably taken by a professional photographer for best quality. When creating a wall portrait, consider where they might hang the portrait and find out the measurements of that particular wall space. Choose a size that could fit in several different areas of the home so your loved one will be able to hang it where desired.
Oil Portraits Come from the Heart
A beautifully painted portrait on canvas conveys a message to your loved one that you truly care about their happiness and fulfillment this holiday season. They’ll be thrilled that you made a special effort to recreate their most valued memory on canvas.
Giving a painted oil portrait is a great way to add a personal touch to your holiday gift. It’s a gift that will be treasured for years to come.
David De Groot helps art lovers around the world realize their dream of owning gorgeous pieces of art. Now, you can easily turn your favorite photos into beautiful oil paintings on canvas. Visit the Web site to learn more about this unique service: http://www.myreproductions.com/
Article Source : http://www.freesubmitarticles.com
Friday, August 31, 2007
How to Create a Beautiful Landscape Painting
One of the most popular forms of art is that of a landscape painting. A landscape painting captures the feel and the beauty of a certain special place. A good landscape painting will make the viewer feel that they are right there in the painting. They feel as though they can breathe the very air of the painting and reach out and touch the landscape as if it were real. But to make an audience feel this way when they view your landscape painting, you are going to need a bit of practice.
A landscape painting should make you feel like you are in a deep space. When viewing it you should feel as though you were right inside the painting. It should be both spellbinding and beautiful. To attain this, there are some tricks to it. The first trick is to use clarity. An example of this is to show a thick fog over some hills in the distance, and have the fog fade as you get to the hills towards the front. A second trick is to use a winding path, such as a trail, a creek, or a river. This makes people feel as though they are deep within the painting. A third trick is to use size to your advantage. A tree up close should be large, while a tree far away should be small. This enhances the viewer’s feel of the distance and expanse of the landscape.
One thing you have to remember about a landscape painting is that it doesn’t have to show exactly everything you see. If you don’t want to paint every tree you see, then don’t. If you want to put a bird in the sky, then put a bird in the sky. If you don’t like the color of some flowers, then feel free to change the color to one you approve of. If you don’t like to include the people you see in the landscape, then take them out. If you want to change the color of the sky from a grey evening to a dark evening, then change away. Use your imagination and do as you will. It is all up to you. Your goal with the landscape painting is to dramatically capture the feel of the landscape, not to show everything in it. If a landscape painting was supposed to be an exact duplicate it would be called a photograph, not a painting.
A great landscape painting will enhance your artist capabilities. It can also help you make some extra pocket change being how popular these paintings are. Anyone would want a beautiful landscape painting to compliment there home or office. With all of these tips and tricks in mind, you should be on your way to creating a masterful landscape painting. Perhaps one day you can be a world renowned landscape artist!
Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.landscape-painting.info a blog focusing on the Painting, resources and articles. For more info visit his site: Painting
Article Source : http://www.freesubmitarticles.com
A landscape painting should make you feel like you are in a deep space. When viewing it you should feel as though you were right inside the painting. It should be both spellbinding and beautiful. To attain this, there are some tricks to it. The first trick is to use clarity. An example of this is to show a thick fog over some hills in the distance, and have the fog fade as you get to the hills towards the front. A second trick is to use a winding path, such as a trail, a creek, or a river. This makes people feel as though they are deep within the painting. A third trick is to use size to your advantage. A tree up close should be large, while a tree far away should be small. This enhances the viewer’s feel of the distance and expanse of the landscape.
One thing you have to remember about a landscape painting is that it doesn’t have to show exactly everything you see. If you don’t want to paint every tree you see, then don’t. If you want to put a bird in the sky, then put a bird in the sky. If you don’t like the color of some flowers, then feel free to change the color to one you approve of. If you don’t like to include the people you see in the landscape, then take them out. If you want to change the color of the sky from a grey evening to a dark evening, then change away. Use your imagination and do as you will. It is all up to you. Your goal with the landscape painting is to dramatically capture the feel of the landscape, not to show everything in it. If a landscape painting was supposed to be an exact duplicate it would be called a photograph, not a painting.
A great landscape painting will enhance your artist capabilities. It can also help you make some extra pocket change being how popular these paintings are. Anyone would want a beautiful landscape painting to compliment there home or office. With all of these tips and tricks in mind, you should be on your way to creating a masterful landscape painting. Perhaps one day you can be a world renowned landscape artist!
Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.landscape-painting.info a blog focusing on the Painting, resources and articles. For more info visit his site: Painting
Article Source : http://www.freesubmitarticles.com
Choosing a Suitable Floral Arrangement
Do you like fresh flowers? Nearly everyone does, except, perhaps, those who are allergic to plants. Dew-kissed roses, smiling sunflowers, and vibrant tulips are just some of the lovely blossoms that can adorn your home or office space or bring joy to those you care about. But do you know how to choose a florist and then select the proper arrangement for a given occasion?
First, look for a florist you can trust. There are fly-by-night shysters who will not hesitate to take advantage of unsuspecting customers by pretending to offer a beautiful bouquet, requesting credit card payment online or over the phone, and absconding with the money but not delivering the order. It is always a good idea to do business with a florist who is well known and respected in your community. Stop by the shop and check out the latest designs and arrangements to see if they appeal to your sensibilities. You will soon know whether you want to do business there or not. “Fresh, trusted, and delivered today” (FTD) is the motto of the organization that many florists belong to and offers some measure of security.
When you do find a florist whose artistry you admire, look through the catalogs or displays for an idea of the range and styles that are available. Find out if the florist is willing to work with you on special orders and arrangements. You may want to open an account so you can telephone orders later or send online orders on short notice. Developing a business partnership with your florist can facilitate transactions to create a proactive situation for everyone involved. Some florists will let you carry a balance from one month to the next as long as it doesn’t get too large or you don’t stop making payments.
Floral arrangements are useful for a number of situations. You can send a congratulatory gift to a coworker or friend for a promotion, retirement, or anniversary. Personal holidays and events like birthdays and moving to a new home are good reasons to send flowers. A fresh bouquet adds a pleasant touch to your boss’s desk, your pastor’s study, or your secretary’s office for calendar days celebrating these individuals and their jobs. Sometimes a planter or an attractive arrangement can express special sentiments like “I love you” or “I’m sorry” more effectively than words can.
Remember to give some thought to the vase or container you choose, along with the flowers. The vase should fit a designated space in the area it is intended to fill. Oversize or glass vases may present an occupational hazard for workplace deliveries. It’s also a good idea to make sure your intended recipient is not allergic to flowers before you send a large bouquet.
Flowers bring a touch of nature to our most civilized spaces. Their beauty and purity remind us of the natural simplicity that exists all around if we take time to notice and admire it. Visit your local florist soon to explore the many gift-giving options that exist in the world of fresh and silk flowers.
Choose from a bevy of floral topics when you visit Flower Lot athttp://www.flowerlot.com.
Article Source : http://www.freesubmitarticles.com
First, look for a florist you can trust. There are fly-by-night shysters who will not hesitate to take advantage of unsuspecting customers by pretending to offer a beautiful bouquet, requesting credit card payment online or over the phone, and absconding with the money but not delivering the order. It is always a good idea to do business with a florist who is well known and respected in your community. Stop by the shop and check out the latest designs and arrangements to see if they appeal to your sensibilities. You will soon know whether you want to do business there or not. “Fresh, trusted, and delivered today” (FTD) is the motto of the organization that many florists belong to and offers some measure of security.
When you do find a florist whose artistry you admire, look through the catalogs or displays for an idea of the range and styles that are available. Find out if the florist is willing to work with you on special orders and arrangements. You may want to open an account so you can telephone orders later or send online orders on short notice. Developing a business partnership with your florist can facilitate transactions to create a proactive situation for everyone involved. Some florists will let you carry a balance from one month to the next as long as it doesn’t get too large or you don’t stop making payments.
Floral arrangements are useful for a number of situations. You can send a congratulatory gift to a coworker or friend for a promotion, retirement, or anniversary. Personal holidays and events like birthdays and moving to a new home are good reasons to send flowers. A fresh bouquet adds a pleasant touch to your boss’s desk, your pastor’s study, or your secretary’s office for calendar days celebrating these individuals and their jobs. Sometimes a planter or an attractive arrangement can express special sentiments like “I love you” or “I’m sorry” more effectively than words can.
Remember to give some thought to the vase or container you choose, along with the flowers. The vase should fit a designated space in the area it is intended to fill. Oversize or glass vases may present an occupational hazard for workplace deliveries. It’s also a good idea to make sure your intended recipient is not allergic to flowers before you send a large bouquet.
Flowers bring a touch of nature to our most civilized spaces. Their beauty and purity remind us of the natural simplicity that exists all around if we take time to notice and admire it. Visit your local florist soon to explore the many gift-giving options that exist in the world of fresh and silk flowers.
Choose from a bevy of floral topics when you visit Flower Lot athttp://www.flowerlot.com.
Article Source : http://www.freesubmitarticles.com
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Can your Powerpoint Presentation Rival TV Advertising?
Do you ever wonder why some PowerPoint Presentations are so much better than others? Why do some have amazing powers of persuasion, while others simply bore you to death? TV commercials use these marketing strategies to hold and fascinate their viewers. You can too, if you follow these tried and proven techniques.
Step 1: Kaboom Them Into Waking Up!
Ever noticed how most presentations start with, "Welcome to this presentation...blah, blah, blah." You don't see too many TV ads do that. They slam into you at a zillion miles an hour and make sure you're paying attention.
So How Do YOU Do That When You Don't Have A Moving Picture?
The trick is to start with something that's totally disconnected with the presentation. For instance, you could be selling cars yet you could start with, "One day in heaven..." That's a good wake up call for an audience that's half asleep.
You're selling cars aren't you? What has heaven got to do with cars? The dissonance of the idea has forced their attention. Now that you've got their attention, you've got to gently massage your message into it. For example, you could simply suggest that God created man, woman, and then gave them a car.
And that is only the start.
Step 2: Always Tell A Story
Did you see Titanic, directed by James Cameron? Couldn't you tell that story with reasonable accuracy? Most people can. All our movie and great TV commercials are in a story format.
Do the same with your presentation. Think it through. Build up a story first, then work your presentation into it. It will not only give your presentation some focus (and storyline), but will make it easier for your audience to remember the sequence of what you're saying. For instance, where are Adam and Eve going in the car? Did they have a breakdown? How well does the air-conditioning work as they drive through the desert?
Step 3: Use Suspense, Not Mystery
Alfred Hitchcock was a master of suspense. He told you who the murderer was right at the start. So you and every one in the audience knew who was going to kill whom. Everyone in the theatre knew, except the hero (or heroine), who was going to get killed.
And that drove you crazy.
How could they be so dumb? You all knew who the killer was. Why couldn't the hero see it? That's what kept you riveted to the screen the whole 90 minutes. If you establish the characters in your presentation early and work in an element of suspense, you can keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
Step 4: Don't Bore Them with Your Solutions. Bring Up the Problem!
Most communication harps languidly around solutions. You don't want to do that.
Look around you. People are obsessed with problems. They don't walk around all excited and happy. Most people walk around with their heads in their hands. When you bring up their particular problem they snap out of their slumber in a mighty hurry, and pay attention to what you're saying.
What you need to do first is bring up that problem -- and bring it up in all its glory! Paint a gory picture. You might want to read my article: Is your solution your biggest problem? Only after you have made them feel the pain, should you bring out the solution. The best TV commercials always make you feel the pain.
As they say, "No pain, no gain." Learn that, and use it.
Step 5: Reduce Risk
Why do people say, "I'd like to think about it?" The only reason is because you haven't reduced the risk to minus fifty. While there is risk, my brain is still doing a RAM check. If there is no risk, I've got nothing to lose.
So, how can you reduce risk? TV ads give money back guarantees, trial periods, free test drives. Surely you can be more imaginative than some ad guy.
Get that risk down low, like a limbo rocker. How low can you go?
Step 6: Let Your Audience Know They're Not Guinea Pigs
Hey! If you've got a product to sell, and you're not using testimonials, you're missing out big time. Even if the product is yet to be launched, you can have pre-launch tests. It all builds up expectations for your final pitch.
This is also another form of risk reduction. If someone else has used your product or service and fallen in love with it, you need to go into the nitty gritty of that love story.
Step 7: Close the #@US$%*&^ Sale!
I don't know how many times I've seen a wonderful presentation that takes me to cloud nine, and leaves me there wondering, how I'm going to get back to earth.
You've got to close the sale! Every presentation should end with a call to action and decision on the client's part. There are a zillion books and tapes on closing a sale out there. Brian Tracy has some amazing audio tapes on Winning Closing Techniques (www.nightingale.com). Learn from the pros, and turn a la dee dah presentation into a full blooded sale!
Step 8: Bring on a Quirky Finale!
Every movie and every ad does it. They wrap it up in a way you never expect.
There's nothing worse than building up expectations, answering all the questions, and then having a weak ending. Your end has to be like lightning -- unexpected, brief and brilliant! It will ensure that your product or service (or quarterly report for that matter) gets maximum attention.
Otherwise you're just making a point with no power!
Wouldn't you love to stumble upon a secret library of small business ideas? Find simple, yet electrifying ideas onmarketing strategy,psychological tactics and branding. Head down to http://www.psychotactics.com#smallbusinessideas today and judge for yourself.
Source : FreeSubmitArticles.com
Step 1: Kaboom Them Into Waking Up!
Ever noticed how most presentations start with, "Welcome to this presentation...blah, blah, blah." You don't see too many TV ads do that. They slam into you at a zillion miles an hour and make sure you're paying attention.
So How Do YOU Do That When You Don't Have A Moving Picture?
The trick is to start with something that's totally disconnected with the presentation. For instance, you could be selling cars yet you could start with, "One day in heaven..." That's a good wake up call for an audience that's half asleep.
You're selling cars aren't you? What has heaven got to do with cars? The dissonance of the idea has forced their attention. Now that you've got their attention, you've got to gently massage your message into it. For example, you could simply suggest that God created man, woman, and then gave them a car.
And that is only the start.
Step 2: Always Tell A Story
Did you see Titanic, directed by James Cameron? Couldn't you tell that story with reasonable accuracy? Most people can. All our movie and great TV commercials are in a story format.
Do the same with your presentation. Think it through. Build up a story first, then work your presentation into it. It will not only give your presentation some focus (and storyline), but will make it easier for your audience to remember the sequence of what you're saying. For instance, where are Adam and Eve going in the car? Did they have a breakdown? How well does the air-conditioning work as they drive through the desert?
Step 3: Use Suspense, Not Mystery
Alfred Hitchcock was a master of suspense. He told you who the murderer was right at the start. So you and every one in the audience knew who was going to kill whom. Everyone in the theatre knew, except the hero (or heroine), who was going to get killed.
And that drove you crazy.
How could they be so dumb? You all knew who the killer was. Why couldn't the hero see it? That's what kept you riveted to the screen the whole 90 minutes. If you establish the characters in your presentation early and work in an element of suspense, you can keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
Step 4: Don't Bore Them with Your Solutions. Bring Up the Problem!
Most communication harps languidly around solutions. You don't want to do that.
Look around you. People are obsessed with problems. They don't walk around all excited and happy. Most people walk around with their heads in their hands. When you bring up their particular problem they snap out of their slumber in a mighty hurry, and pay attention to what you're saying.
What you need to do first is bring up that problem -- and bring it up in all its glory! Paint a gory picture. You might want to read my article: Is your solution your biggest problem? Only after you have made them feel the pain, should you bring out the solution. The best TV commercials always make you feel the pain.
As they say, "No pain, no gain." Learn that, and use it.
Step 5: Reduce Risk
Why do people say, "I'd like to think about it?" The only reason is because you haven't reduced the risk to minus fifty. While there is risk, my brain is still doing a RAM check. If there is no risk, I've got nothing to lose.
So, how can you reduce risk? TV ads give money back guarantees, trial periods, free test drives. Surely you can be more imaginative than some ad guy.
Get that risk down low, like a limbo rocker. How low can you go?
Step 6: Let Your Audience Know They're Not Guinea Pigs
Hey! If you've got a product to sell, and you're not using testimonials, you're missing out big time. Even if the product is yet to be launched, you can have pre-launch tests. It all builds up expectations for your final pitch.
This is also another form of risk reduction. If someone else has used your product or service and fallen in love with it, you need to go into the nitty gritty of that love story.
Step 7: Close the #@US$%*&^ Sale!
I don't know how many times I've seen a wonderful presentation that takes me to cloud nine, and leaves me there wondering, how I'm going to get back to earth.
You've got to close the sale! Every presentation should end with a call to action and decision on the client's part. There are a zillion books and tapes on closing a sale out there. Brian Tracy has some amazing audio tapes on Winning Closing Techniques (www.nightingale.com). Learn from the pros, and turn a la dee dah presentation into a full blooded sale!
Step 8: Bring on a Quirky Finale!
Every movie and every ad does it. They wrap it up in a way you never expect.
There's nothing worse than building up expectations, answering all the questions, and then having a weak ending. Your end has to be like lightning -- unexpected, brief and brilliant! It will ensure that your product or service (or quarterly report for that matter) gets maximum attention.
Otherwise you're just making a point with no power!
Wouldn't you love to stumble upon a secret library of small business ideas? Find simple, yet electrifying ideas onmarketing strategy,psychological tactics and branding. Head down to http://www.psychotactics.com#smallbusinessideas today and judge for yourself.
Source : FreeSubmitArticles.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)