From Cave Paintings to Digital Photography

March 21st, 2012

Art used to be a simple thing. No, strike that. Art was never simple, but the mediums by which art could be expressed were once simple. Cave paintings used simple pigments or charcoal and stone walls. Presumably our prehistoric ancestors used other materials that could not survive the ravages of time: Straw or grasses, wood, earth. Human beings, even with those of the most primitive sort of pre-civilization, have a need for self-expression that goes back to our very beginnings.

Cave Painting of Bulls: Spain

Cave Painting of Bulls: Spain

Gradually, the technology of art became more complex. Even a few hundred years ago, paints were more like scientific formularies, and stretching a canvas just so was a science and a craft–but one that artists needed to master. It has long been the case that an artist and her tools are inseparable, and craftsmanship matters in the act of creativity. An artist relates to his brushes and canvas just as a photographer relates to this camera or, for that matter, as a carpenter relates to her hammers and nails. More than that, an artist must also be a craftsperson and a technical expert when it comes to her art. A great painter understands pigments and brushes, canvases and even the frames. Picture frames, indeed, are their own form of artistry. To be creative is simply not enough–artistry and mastery go hand in hand. Great sculptures sometimes create their own carving tools, and great tattoo artists sometimes build their own tattoo machines or mix their own inks.

Today, the complex interrelationship between science and art takes us to places a Renaissance painter could never have dreamed about. A great photographer should understand composition and light, sure, but also exposures, films, and a host of digital technologies. Photography is a stunning example of the way that science and creativity, art and technology, the digital and the analog, all come together.

This blog is concerned about the intersection of art and technology, and so will support discussions of either or both.

Arts & Entertainment Technology, Software, and Services
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The Art & Science of Jewelry

March 21st, 2012
Amber necklaces

Amber has a long history in jewelry

There was a time in history when locket watches are so popular that soldiers even brought it with them in war. As time pass by, lockets became more popular and an assortment of designs and uses has been developed. Among the various designs of the ornament, the heart locket is seen as the one with the most innovative design. For the rich and famous, the gold locket of this kind serves as a status symbol. Gold necklaces with gold lockets became part of the jewelry collection of affluent people. They are the ones who can afford gold lockets that are designed by the finest jewelry makers in the world. Nonetheless, it does not mean that only people in high society can afford to have this type of locket design. For the average person, there are lockets that are made of silver or more affordable metallic materials.

The old lockets are attached to a chain and kept in pockets. Jewelers have also come up with locket pendants for women wherein they can keep locks of hair or photographs. Lockets became so popular with women that some treat them as one of their most valuable possessions. They attach it to their bracelets and necklaces. The designs of lockets have also improved a lot making them more versatile and useful to many people. There are lockets wherein family photographs can be kept. There are also lockets for precious gems as well as lockets for special occasions.

Some jewelers have established their reputation as the most competent designers of lockets. They have developed intricate processes of making detailed design in their finished products. Through the procedures they have developed, no single locket has the same design with the rest. There are locket designs that are especially made for men and women wherein the details can easily be distinguished through femininity or masculinity. There are also lockets that are intended for children which come as miniature ones. For people who want to remember their loved ones wherever they are, the locket can be a representation of home. If the are alone and lonely, all they need to do is to open their locket and look at the family photograph.

Jewelry
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I Loved the NY Wedding Band That My Father Hired

December 1st, 2011

I just have to say thank you to my father for being so thoughtful in hiring a very good NY wedding band that he decided to hire for my wedding.  I know for a fact that my husband is very happy that my father decided to hire the band that he hired.  I know that my father told me that he had a very nice surprise for me, and he let me know just one minute before the NY wedding band showed themselves to the members in the wedding reception.  I just know that I am so happy to be able to have such a wonderful experience like I did.  My father knew exactly what kind of music for the band to play, and the band did a very good job in playing that kind of music.  I know for a fact that I will remember that one day for the rest of my life.  I really know that my husband will be remembering the same exact thing.

Music
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Art Masterpieces on Human Body

December 1st, 2011

Art is not only found in huge canvasses in museums and galleries. The human body can be transformed into a moving art canvass. Body art in the form of tattoos is already known in ancient civilizations before artists of today enhanced it into other forms. Polynesian tattoo designs are one of the patterns which served as inspiration for modern tattoo artists. However, these designs are just some of the few that are found in many parts of the world.

Tattoo designs are unique in each culture. Majority of early tattoos are found in the bodies of indigenous people. Each tribe has distinct designs that reflect the kind of culture they have. Sociologists and Archaeologists have been studying early body art for many years. They have uncovered a lot of important cultural facts in examining the tattoos of different individuals in various tribes. These data became the source of valuable information about their origins.

Tattoo/Body Art
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