Modern Day Gyotaku Has Begun To Include Jin Shofu Collage Work
The Gyotaku fish print is an Asian art form that originated during the 1800′s. In famous fishing locals such as Asia and Hawaii gyotaku is still used as an artistic method of documenting the size and girth of a fishermen’s prized catch. Today the art form has expanded to include a variety of new “subjects” and artistic mediums, including jin shofu (wheat paste) collage techniques.
In Japanese Gyo=Fish, and Taku=Imprint, as Gyotaku art uses freshly caught fish, plants or other sea life to create unique outlines on paper or cloth. The “subject” is recorded for posterity, then ready to eat, as gyotaku uses non-toxic pigments to create one-of-a-kind imprints.
Traditionally gyotaku prints were created using rice paper and a carbon-based sumi ink. Today most gyotaku is printed on a variety of paper and cloth materials, and artists often substitute the sumi ink for non-toxic acrylic paints. Artists may also incorporate other mediums such as color pencils, watercolors and pastels, to create colorful renditions of the original species.
Most gyotaku subjects are various types of fish, but there are a lot of other unique specimens which make wonderful gyotaku “subjects”. Octopus, with it’s long tentacles covered in suckers, is a relatively new and very interesting gyotaku subject. Some gyotaku artists even highlight the octopus prints using real octopus ink! Another modern gyotaku subject are sea shells and coral. Artists can place an octopus or small reef fish around the shells/coral to create and underwater scene.
Collage techniques, or the layering of different papers and cut-outs has become a very well received form for interpreting gyotaku art prints. This technique often uses jin shofu, or wheat paste, and has the artist imprinting the fish (or other gyotaku subject) onto a lacy or see-through piece of rice paper. This print is then backed with two or more extra pieces of paper to create a unique print of various colors and paper textures.
Rice paper, which is also called washi, is made from parts of the rice paper plant or other plants materials such as hemp, bamboo and mulberry. Rice paper has been used for centuries for writing, drawing and gyotaku fish prints. It is also a useful medium for making kites, lanterns, surfboards, collages, shoji screens and artificial flowers. Today most rice paper is made using the rice plant straw, bamboo, hemp, mulberry, wingceltis and gampi. The jin shofu collage technique is a wonderful way for the artist to highlight the beauty, texture and coloring of the rice paper. Very often by placing a lacy paper over top another colored/textured paper, it will create a multi-dimensional coloring scheme creating a visually stunning contrast for the gyotaku print.
Gyotaku is an ancient Oriental art form which uses freshly caught fish to create one-of-a-kind art prints on natural papers and fabrics. Natural Impressions of Hawaii employs the traditional gyotaku technique with modern twists. Visit Natural Impressions Of Hawaii
Quinceanera: A Young Womans Rite Of Passage
Every culture has its own version for a girls “coming of age” at different ages. But for most Latin Americans, girls celebrated their coming of age through their Quinceanera or their fifteenth birthday.
This is a tradition that has been handed down from generations to generations. Of course, the celebration need not be as lavish and over-the-top like MTV “Quiero Mis Quinces”. What is important is the meaning of the celebration to a young womans life.
A girl need not have a millionaire daddy to make her Quinceanera special. All she needs is a good professional event planner. If she does not have one, what are relatives, friends or neighbors are for? They can be a good source of information as they have experienced this before.
If you are tight on your budget, you may ask them to sponsor some of the big ticket items on your list. Of course, your godmothers can give their hands on these too as most Latino families follow the tradition where godparents, friends, or family participate in the special day by gifting money or items to be used. Just be sensitive enough when asking for sponsorship as some people might be a little tight on their budget too.
The important thing to do is plan ahead, even months before the day, so you have ironed out all the glitches before the big day of your Quinceanera. Next, gather round your family since they will play a big part on this day too and ask them to share their ideas or their thoughts for your coming of age.
Since it is a tradition, your parents especially your mother, can give you the lowdown on the ceremony involved, the things that you will need, and the things you can expect to happen. Now is also the best time to set on the budget limit that you are willing to spend. Having a budget will make it easier for you to calculate how much money will go to a certain category.
The essential items for any Quinceanera include food, beverage and banquet hall; photographer or videographer; flowers; cake; dress and accessories; music, depending on whether you want a live band or a DJ; invitations; and the miscellaneous. So decide on the percentage of the budget that you want to spend on each. You might also have by now, a rough estimate on the number of people that you are going to invite.
Having a great Quinceanera is not about the amount of money you spend on it, but how everything comes together in the end. If you have a limited budget, you should be practical and realistic enough so that you will not be disappointed in the end.
Next, scout out for vendors that might give you a huge discount. There are things that you and your friends can do. You can opt to order Quinceanera invitations and enjoy assembling them yourselves. You can also do the same with the giveaways. Have some free time together and have fun doing them. Anyway, you will only be quince once so you should have all the pleasure not only on the big day, but also while making the preparations for the big day!
Check out Jinky Kowalskis blog at http://www.jinkyscrafts.com for all the beautiful invites that you need. You will be amazed at the Quinceanera Exploding Box invites that you will definitely want one for yourself. Visit her site or order a kit and have fun assembling them!
Applying Decals And Markings To Your Plastic Model
Plastic models create a smaller version of a collector’s item in the form of planes, tanks, trains and vehicles. After the model is fully built, it is then painted and decals and markings are added to give authenticity to the particular model.
Models of newer vehicles and commercial airplanes are generally painted with shiny lacquer paint, whereas models of fighter planes and tanks should be painted with a flat paint. Allow the paint to dry completely for at least 24 hours before adding decals and markings.
Decals are used by many model builders to give models a more realistic, detailed look. They are sometimes included in the purchase of a plastic model set, or you may want to purchase alternative decals from a hobby shop. It is even possible to create your own unique decals. If you want to make your own decals, you will need access to a printer and decal paper which is readily available at computer and stationery stores. You can use an existing image off your computer or upload an image from your phone or even scan an image into the scanner for printing. After printing the image on the decal paper, lightly spray it with aerosol decal clear coat and allow it to dry overnight.
Prepare your decal for placement on your model by cutting it out with a hobby utility knife along the exterior lines. Place the decal in a bowl of warm water and let it soak for about 30 seconds. Move the decal in the water with a pair of tweezers to test if the decal slips from the backing paper. Position the decal on the plastic model with tweezers and slide the decal from the backing paper. Attach the decal and remove all air and water bubbles underneath by lightly rolling a finger from one side to the other.
Seal decals to a model by spraying a coat of clear sealant spray. The sealant spray protects the edges of the decal from future loosening and curling around the edges.
Weathering marks may also be added to a model to simulate usage and make a model more realistic. Markings are often added to military planes and tanks and model train cars. Use a small detailing brush to brush chalk dust onto the model in an area to appear as weathering marks. Darker chalk dust simulates smoke marks and lighter silver chalk dust simulates wear on a metal object such as a place where an operator of the vehicle mounts.
Finish your project by coating the entire model with a light misting of aerosol clear coat spray. This final touch evens out the slightly higher areas of the decals onto the model for a smooth professional appearance.
Established in 1975, Hobbymasters is one of the largest and oldest hobby stores in the country. With over 7,000 square feet on two floors, we have something for everyone to enjoy! Most of our hobby experts have been employed with us for at least 20 years, and their combined expertise covers every field of the hobby industry. Visit us at http://www.hobbymasters.com/ or call (732) 842-6020.
Adding Photoetched Details To Your Plastic Models
Photoetched details for models – such as model cars, airplanes, etc. – are thin metal pieces that have been precisely etched to add more detail to your model. These details are made of thin metal – whether they are steel, brass or nickel. They also come in different thickness to match the model where they are likely to be attached. Photoetched parts may be flat and dull or shiny, depending on how it was made and the kind of metal used. Such parts are solder fastened to a rubber base or to a frame. The former is more expensive than the latter and is harder to come by. Additions for your model that are photoetched may include things like hood ornaments for cars, metal grills and mesh, brake discs, trim, and different kinds of hardware.
The thrill and excitement of working with photoetched details starts when one is ready to attach them to a plastic model. However, before doing that, the hobbyist should clean the parts first. Cleaning them with lacquer thinner helps the parts stick well to the model. It helps remove any traces of the chemicals used to make the etching. One should also be reminded that cleaning parts which come in a rubber base should be done after the parts have been removed from its rubber base. This is because lacquer thinner will dissolve the rubber. Photoetched parts should be allowed to dry after cleaning.
Once the photoetched parts are cleaned, those attached to a frame can be cut with a hobby knife. For parts which are so small that they are likely to fly away when cut, they can be attached to a masking tape so that the tape holds them while they are being cut. Parts that have been attached to a frame are filed with a sanding stick; the part is held with blunt tweezers. After that, the part is ready to be painted. But before painting, scuffing the part makes it more receptive to a primer.
The photoetched detail is now ready to be attached to the plastic model. Using clear epoxy can achieve this purpose. It bonds plastic and metal well and won’t fog the parts. One can also use an acrylic paint for this purpose. If some parts that are needed cannot be found or one has lost a part, a photoetched detail can be made at home, although the process is somewhat involved.
Established in 1975, Hobbymasters is one of the largest and oldest hobby stores in the country. With over 7,000 square feet on two floors, we have something for everyone to enjoy! Most of our hobby experts have been employed with us for at least 20 years, and their combined expertise covers every field of the hobby industry. Visit us at http://www.hobbymasters.com/ or call (732) 842-6020.
Painting Tips And Techniques For Plastic Models
Building models is a pastime that has been around for many years and is still popular. Often, older generations will introduce the hobby and become mentors to the young as they take on a variety of models. Plastic models are one of the most reasonably priced kinds of models and are easy to come by. They can be found with the body of the model already painted, with decals included for the finishing touches. However, the true thrill comes from the challenge of painting a plastic model, making it unique with colors you choose or building and painting a reproduction of a famous vehicle.
There are a variety of painting tips and techniques that are handy for taking the headaches out of building plastic models. These tips will result in a pleasant experience for all involved that will keep the young and the old coming back for more projects.
There are several types of paints that can be used for plastic models. Enamel paints work well if you prefer to use a paintbrush, while lacquer paint is typically used for spraying. Depending on what kind of paint you choose to use and what color, it may be advisable to use a primer on the model before painting, as this will help the paint adhere better and make the final color look better.
It is also wise to test the paint on a small portion of the model, such as the underside, to see if the paint will adhere to the model. At times, even though a paint may adhere to a model, it may separate or crack. Experimentation may be necessary to find the best paint.
The person who has great attention to detail and enjoys adding distinctive touches is more likely to choose using a brush-on method of painting. It requires care in the selection of the brush. For the most delicate of details, a very fine, small brush will be needed while a larger brush will work for covering the majority of the surface. It is wise to paint the frame before building as well as any accents, such as a steering wheel, seats, and other small parts. The body needs to be painted separately as well. Very small parts that might be difficult to hold still while painting may need to be painted while still on the sprue.
A wash of dark paint can be used to age a model, and it will settle into lines in the model to make it look more realistic. Dry brushing can also be used to age a model and add subtle detail. In dry-brushing a brush with a very small amount of thick paint can be lightly swept across a surface, and will leave paint only on the raised areas of the model. Once the paint job on your model is dry, a clear wax or varnish coat may be added for protection and shine.
Established in 1975, Hobbymasters is one of the largest and oldest hobby stores in the country. With over 7,000 square feet on two floors, we have something for everyone to enjoy! Most of our hobby experts have been employed with us for at least 20 years, and their combined expertise covers every field of the hobby industry. Visit us at http://www.hobbymasters.com/ or call (732) 842-6020.