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Archive for May, 2010

Guidelines for Pencil Portrait Drawing – Tone and Form in Relation to Plasticity

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

* Tone and Shape – are two of the 4 elements of drawing. The other two are line and texture.

In this commentary we will discuss the idea of plasticity and how it relates to the concepts of tone and form.

* Elasticity – is the visual push and pull of lights and darks which, when presented in a harmonious entirety, defines the three- dimensional forms of a portrait.

The human eye can discriminate between many more values than the 12 we generally use in a drawing. That means that the artist must “trick” the eye into believing that it is seeing more than is actually on the drawing paper. To this end we must grasphow light behaves and values are perceived.

The trick is to manipulate the eye’s natural tendency towards finality, i.e., towards finishing a drawing even if parts are not actually there. But the eye only does that without protest if the plasticity is harmonious. Only then will the viewer emotionally connect.

The subject of creating harmonious plasticity is broad. In this commentary we limit ourselves to realistic portraiture.

* Tones – are just degrees of darkness and lightness. We generally limit ourselves to twelve discrete values.

To grasp how a form is rendered we need to grasp how light operates and how values enter into this. There are 2 properties of light relevant to drawing:

(1) Light travels in a straight line and bounces off surfaces.

(2) The intensity of light diminishes quickly with distance.

From these properties it follows that:

* As a form turns away from the light source it dims.

* When two planes face the light they will have different values if their distances from the light source are different. For instance, the cheek closest to the light source will have a lighter tone than the one which is farther away.

* The lightest light on a form is the “highlight”. The highlight is always on a plane that is directly facing the light source.

* Most of a portrait’s tone is so-called halftone. That is, anything in-between pure white and pure black. Halftone rendering is at the same time the most enjoyable and the most difficult part of drawing.

* As a form turns completely away from the light source it slowly descends into shadow, towards totally black (i.e., the absence of light). However, there is more to it.

* There is also reflected light from one plane onto another. Remember, light bounces off surfaces but with diminished intensity. So be cautious not to overdo your reflected light.

* There is also the crest of the shadow which is the darkest value on the form. This band of darkness lies between the darkest halftones and the reflected light. This band of darkness is called the Line of Appelle. It is critical to capture its form correctly because it determines the form’s volume.

* As a form turns away from the light, the half-tone plane changes have a soft edge. The quality of this edge is determined by several factors the most critical of which are the amount of plane change, the intensity of light, and the texture of the surface.

* In portrait drawing there are also cast shadows which are hard-edged and very dark and are cast by one form upon another. An example is the shadow that is cast by the nose onto the cheek.

A superb exercise for comprehending the idea of plasticity is to sketch a white Bowling pin. For a more controlled situation you can build yourself a black box with one side open that fully controls the light of one source and blocks out the light of other sources that could disturb the situation.

In closing, the use of the twelve-value scale together with the above tips allows you to create the necessary plasticity for your subjects.

Remi Engels, Ph.D.
http://www.articlesbase.com/visual-art-articles/guidelines-for-pencil-portrait-drawing-tone-and-form-in-relation-to-plasticity-736444.html

Model Train Hobby – Why Building Model Trains Could Be Right For You

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

If you are bored with your tiddly winks club, your monster truck has broken down one too many times, and knitting isn’t your thing.  Perhaps you should be looking for a new hobby.  Bowling is hard on the back, gemstone collecting is a little too expensive, and cooking just might expand your waste line too much.  So what do you choose?  Model trains just might be for you.

The uninitiated may look at model trains as toys, not something a grown person would want to be associated with.  But a closer look into the hobby will show that not only is this a grown up hobby, it is rewarding from a technical, historical, and aesthetic standpoint as well.  Model trains have been around for over a century and while they started out as marketing tools for the real railroads, enthusiasts soon demanded more and more to satisfy their thirst for this rewarding hobby.

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So is train modeling for you?  Let’s take a look. There are several different aspects to the hobby that may be appealing.  First is the history.  Model train enthusiasts pride themselves on building accurate scale models of real railroads.  In order to preserve that accuracy, some knowledge of history is required.  Learning about an industry that was once the primary method of long distance travel can be very interesting.

A second attraction to model trains is doing something that requires working with your hands to make something that can be displayed to others with pride.  Whether it is the scenery, the benchwork, or the trains themselves, this can be a fairly technical hobby that requires some level of skill in working with your hands.  There are aspects of woodworking, metalworking, mechanics, electricity, automation, and crafts all rolled up into this hobby.  If you are only interested in one of these things, the others can mostly be purchased as kits so that you do not have to be a jack of all trades.

One more thing that may interest those with children or grandchildren is the opportunity to share a hobby with them.  Because these are “toy sized” trains, they are often seen by children as interesting and exciting, but because they are not toys, and require some skill to operate, adults also find them interesting and exciting.  This is a great hobby for adults and children to enjoy together.  It is totally appropriate for everyone, men, women, boys and girls!

So if your interest is piqued, perhaps the model train hobby is for you.  If you would like to learn more, there are many resources you can find both locally in hobby stores, in model train clubs and on the internet.  Check it out!

Henry Michael

Predict Your Future!

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

You can predict your future. You really can predict your own success or your own failure. “Nonsense!” you say? It really is true.

Consider this. If you have absolutely no control over your future, then why worry about anything? Whatever is going to happen to you is going to happen anyway, right? That’s called fate. And believe it or not, that in and of itself is a prediction.

It is true; we have absolutely no control over many things in life. I cannot control the stock market, can you? I cannot control the housing market, can you? So many things are simply out of our control.

But, one thing is very much in your control, your own mind. You can choose to think about anything that you want to, at any given time. Right now, for example, you could choose to picture a skiing elephant.

If you did indeed, just now, picture a skiing elephant it is because you decided to think that. I may have made a suggestion, but you made a decision to think it and picture it. The same is true if you chose not to think about a skiing elephant.

So what does this have to do with predicting our future? Because we are always talking to ourselves, it has a great effect on our future. The words we speak to ourselves will either cause new things to happen in our life or they will help to perpetuate the road we are on.

Years ago, I used to go Bowling once in awhile. It was just for fun with friends and I would go once or twice a year. The scores on my first three frames were always horrible. Do you know why?

As soon as I would grab the ball when it was my turn, I had the thought, “Don’t throw it in the gutter; don’t throw it in the gutter!” That was my self-talk. And, I didn’t know it at the time, but that was my prediction. Almost always in the first three frames, I would have at least two or three gutter balls.

But, once the game got going, I would shift my focus from the ball not going into the gutter to hitting the pins. I didn’t know it, but again, that was a prediction. And even being a very inexperienced bowler, my scores increased. I even got a strike once in awhile.

Now I know there are people who say, “Oh I’ve heard all this positive stuff before and it just doesn’t work for me.” That is self-talk and that is a prediction. I have also heard people who say other things, like, “Nothing ever goes right for me; I never catch a break.” Or, “I knew that was going to happen.”

Self-talking becomes future predictions. These predictions always produce results.

Those who are successful in life don’t dwell on what they don’t want to happen, but instead they dwell on what they do want to happen. They don’t dwell on their past failures and losses. Instead, they remember past successes. These memories, whether they are successes or failures, will evoke feelings and emotions. These feelings and emotions leave an imprint on your subconscious mind which is just as vivid as a reoccurrence of success. And, these thoughts are a prediction of what is going to happen.

Many of those who teach self-help and self-esteem courses say to see yourself as though you have already achieved what you desire in life. They encourage people to positively remind themselves over and over of where they want their life to go. So much of this is based on the dynamic truth, “as he thinks in his heart so is he.”

You cannot control nor can you predict many things going on all around you. But you can control what you think about. And most importantly, you can control what you tell yourself about yourself; your self-talk.

You really can predict your own future. You can set your own course regardless of the situations and conditions of the world around you. The Creator gave you free will so that you can choose your thoughts and thus control your own self-talk.

So, what’s in your future?

Michael A. Verdicchio
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/predict-your-future-690187.html

Difference Between Mass and Weight

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

The prevalent way of defining mass is to say that it is the quantity of matter possessed by the object concerned. For example, a small rock has a fixed, unchanging quantity of matter. If we were to take that rock to the Moon, to Mars, or to any other part of the universe, it would have the same quantity of matter i.e. the same mass as it has on Earth. Mass is sometimes confused with weight. Weight is defined as the gravitational attraction on an object by some body, such as Earth or the Moon. Generally we say that weight of an object is the force with which it is attracted by the earth towards itself. The rock described above would have a greater weight on Earth than on the Moon because Earth exerts a greater gravitational attraction on bodies than does the Moon (six times grater on earth than that on moon.)

A more precise definition of mass can be obtained from Newton’s second law of motion according to which and assuming that the object in question is free to move horizontally without friction, if a constant force is applied to an object at rest, that object will gain speed. For example, if we hit a ball with a hammer (the constant force), the ball goes from a zero velocity (when it is at rest) to some speed as it rolls across the ground. Mathematically, the second law can be written as F = m · a, where F is the force used to move an object, m is the mass of the object, and ‘a’ is the acceleration, or increase in speed of the object. Thus force applied on an object is the product of its mass and the acquired acceleration.

In other words we can say that Newton’s second law states that the amount of speed gained by an object when struck by a force depends on the quantity of matter in the object. If we strike a bowling ball and a golf ball with the same force, the golf ball will gain more speed than will gain the bowling ball because it takes a greater force to get the Bowling ball moving than it does to get the golf ball moving. This fact provides another way of defining mass. “Mass is the increase in speed of an object provided by some given force.” Or, one can solve the equation above for m, the mass of an object, to get m = F ÷ a. A kilogram, for example, can be defined as the mass that increases its speed at the rate of one meter per second when it is struck by a force of one newton.

In the International System of Units (SI system of measurement), the fundamental unit of mass is the kilogram. A smaller unit, the gram, is also used widely in many measurements. In the English system, the unit of mass is the slug. A slug is equal to 14.6 kilograms. Scientists and nonscientists alike commonly convert measurements between kilogram and pounds, not kilograms and slugs. Technically, though, a kilogram/pound conversion is not correct since kilogram is a measure of mass and pound a measure of weight. However, such measurements and such conversions almost always involve observations made on Earth’s surface where there is a constant ratio between mass and weight.

 

Dr.Badruddin Khan
http://www.articlesbase.com/childhood-education-articles/difference-between-mass-and-weight-524061.html

Why You Don’t Juggle Bowling Balls

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Another reason why you shouldn’t juggle Bowling balls.
www.butternutjelly.com

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Basic Bowling Techniques (Part 1)

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Basic Bowling Techniques with Storm’s Randy Pedersen…(Part 1) In this episode, Randy gives an overview of the basic Bowling technique series.

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Bowling Style

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Unusual Bowling Style

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Skyworks Ten Pin Bowling

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Review of Skyworks Ten Pin Championship Bowling. The newest game created by David Crane. 99 cents in the App Store and a bargain at that.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=320810035&mt=8

Also check out the BuyMeAniPhone giveaway at:
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Billiard Games: Poker Pocket and Six Ball

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

Poker Pocket: it combines the skill and talent of billiards with the intrigue and skill of poker. If the total ball number is 15 on the billiards table, then poker pocket is played with one more ball than extra which totals. Each four balls are to be labeled with a J for Jack, another four with K for King, A for Ace, and the last four ones with Q for queen. The objective is simple, played by maximum three opponents, it is required that you make a better poker hand for yourself than your opponents.

Each player may pocket up to five balls for one inning or frame and after doing so is done with his or her hand of poker. Any legally pocketed balls are given credit to the player doing the opening break, and after that it continues until the player has pocketed five balls. Just like in the popular card game in that the best hand is four of a kind, then its a full house, three of a kind, two pairs, a straight, or a simple basic pare, here, the object is to have the best hand.

Six ball: is much like the object of rotation in that every legal shot, and it must first contact the lowest numbered ball on the table before it pockets any other ball. As long as the six ball is placed directly in the middle, the rack is simply just six balls in any random order. When scoring is concerned, the balls have absolutely no point value, and the only object of the game is to pocket the number six ball.

The game is over and a new game must be started if in the opening shot, the player makes contact with the one ball first and then contacts the six ball. As long as the player legally pockets the ball, the shooter can stay at the table, similar to other games of rotation. To players looking for a quick and easy game without the concern of the game dragging on four hours, this game is very attractive.

So, the next time you come out of your local pool hall or complete your billiards tournament inside the old Bowling alley, do not forget the long history of billiards. Do not forget that the game you already won has added to the well-known history of billiards, or that the contest you just lost was lost long ago by much much more masterly people than you. Presidents and Kings have lost and won at billiards just like you or me, although they likely did not drown their pity in a cheap beer with a big basket of mozzarella sticks.

George Wood
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-gambling-articles/billiard-games-poker-pocket-and-six-ball-58277.html

Do You Need Advice On Buying A Bowling Ball

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

 

There are several brands of bowling balls available at the bowling shop or any sports stores. Apart from the collegiate bowling balls, there are also the famous ebonite bowling balls and storm bowling balls. Each of these balls has its own bowling ball bags. Irrespective of the brand that interests you, it is important to be equipped with the right amount of knowledge about the bowling ball and the purpose of its design.

The first thing to consider before buying any ball, whether custom-made bowling balls or NCAA bowling balls is its quality. It should be good and strong. If you are a professional athlete, a sport enthusiast or a beginner, choosing the right ball is essential to your success.

Second, you need to know which type of bowler are you? If you throw the ball with a curve, there is a ball suit for you just as there is a specific ball if you are a straight thrower. If you are not certain, you may fall into the straight thrower just as it is very common.

Third, when you are inside the bowling shop, try out the balls and check the weight appropriate for you. This may take awhile; nevertheless it is worth the effort because ball weight is essential to the success of your sports or game whether you are choosing NCAA bowling balls, ebonite bowling balls or storm bowling balls. Do not forget that bowling ball bags are important to care for your balls.

To help you on this matter, experts recommend choosing the bowling ball weight that does not strain your shoulder or hand and at the same time, does not slip away from your hand easily without the appropriate grip and effort. It is easy to know if the weight is light—it shows hang time as you throw it towards the pins. On the other hand, if the ball is released abruptly even before you mean to, the ball weight is too much for you to handle.

NCAA bowling balls, storm bowling balls, ebonite Bowling balls and custom made bowling balls have holes in them. In fact, the holes are crucial because you need them to fit your fingers and grip the ball. This is the second characteristic of bowling ball to ponder upon. Grip is very important because it influences the pace, manner and direction of releasing the ball towards the pins. If the holes are too small for you fingers, chances are, you would hurt them. If they are too large, the quality of grip is affected.

Bowling balls must be perfect in its shape. There should not have any flaws such as deformation, distortion or dimpling on your bowling ball. Even a tiny glitch can make the outcome of the game and give you split instead of strike.

In most stores, they have a portion of space allotted to have practice throws of Bowling Balls. This is helpful to students who want to have NCAA bowling balls as their personal equipment for rehearsal or ebonite bowling balls and storm bowling balls for their game. Remember, bowling ball bags are important as part of caring for your balls.

 

Rudy Silva