Art

rsins asked:


‘Creative and Commercial Arts’ are an upcoming and much in demand field today. Those with creative aptitude and good art skills have no lack of job opportunities with a rise in the media, advertising and publishing sectors. To hone the inherent skills, one can avail the formal training which is available for fine arts at the certificate, diploma and degree level at a number of institutions. The course duration could vary from 1-5 years. Those who want to make a career out of it can pursue courses at institutes across India and abroad. To become a successful commercial artist, one must have a creative bent of mind and an eye for detail. Apart from this, for more details visit to www.insomnia-battle.com one needs perseverance and an indomitable will power to pursue this field of fine arts as a profession.

Commercial fine arts could refer to painting, sculpting, applied art, graphic interior design, ceramic design, mural design, metal craft, pottery design and painting. It is important to get training as a course helps one nurture and align the creative energy and gives the technical edge and finesse required to survive in an industry where competition is ever increasing. There is training available at both degree and diploma level. For doing a Bachelors Degree course in Fine Arts (BFA), one must have successfully cleared the Higher Secondary Examinations or 10+ 2. Subsequently, more details visit to www.101-save-money.com for acquiring a Post Graduation Degree in Commercial Fine Arts; one must be a graduate in Fine Arts.

There are many premier institutes in India where Commercial Fine Arts is taught as a subject of study. These include Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art (Mumbai), Faculty of Fine Arts (Baroda), Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan, Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi) and College of Art (New Delhi).

Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art is based in Mumbai. It is a state government college that has four departments which offer training for various types of Degree and Diploma courses. The Department Of Painting offers BFA (Painting) 4 years, Post Degree MFA(Painting ) 2 years, MFA (Painting) (by papers) in Portraiture, MFA (Painting) in Graphic Art, MFA (Painting) in Creative Painting. The Department Of Sculpture And Modelling offers BFA (Sculpture) 4 years and Diploma Sculpture and Modelling 4 years. The Department Of Arts And Crafts offers BFA (Craft- Metal Work) 4 years, BFA (Craft - Textile Design) 4 years, BFA (Craft- Interior Decoration) 4 years and BFA (Craft - Ceramics) 4 years. The Department Of Art offers Teacher Training Art Teacher’s Diploma ( A.T.D.) 2 years, Diploma in Art Education (Dip. A. ED.) 1 year and Art Master Certificate Course (part-time) 1 year.

Symbiosis Institute of Design based in Pune offers the following degree programs: Bachelor of Design (B. Des) in Communication Design, Bachelor of Design (B. Des ) in Product Design, Bachelor of Design (B. Des) in Fashion Communication and Bachelor of Design (B. Des) in Fashion Design. The institute tries to offer an optimum mix of traditional skills, new media skills and soft skills.

Other than these, Jamia Milia Islamia, Loyola College, Amity University, University of Calcutta, Rabindra Bharati University, International Institute of Fine Arts, Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Aligrah Muslim University, University of Jammu, Animation and Fine Arts Academy, Anna University and the University of Delhi offer courses on fine arts.

Those who have acquired a degree or diploma in fine arts, commercial arts or creative arts can work as freelancers. This allows for variety and free hand in their projects. There is demand for specialists in drawing in the publishing industry and newspaper houses as illustrators, cartoonists, and designers. Those who are good at applied art have unlimited opportunities in advertising agencies as graphic artists, designers, visualisers, and creative directors. Trained artists have a wide arena of options in front of them, ranging from working in art studios, advertising companies, fashion houses etc. Other related careers are teaching, direction, photography, television, clothing and fashion, as art directors for magazines, on-line services, software companies, manufacturers, promotion and product design.

In the television and media field, one could design the non verbal presentations for television programmes involving trade figure analysis, election results, etc. A commercial artist can also design stamps and letter heads for government organizations. Software firms in India require experts in commercial fine arts as ‘Graphic Equalisers’.

Apart from working in India, one can also explore career options abroad. One can organize exhibitions and auction his creations abroad. Then, there is an option to conduct various workshops on fine arts and its related fields. Other related option is to be art critic and write reviews for various art magazines which are quite popular abroad. Thus, there is no dearth of job options for skilled and trained artists in creative arts, fine arts and commercial arts. After a course from a good institute, one can land a job with either a good company or work on his/her own and earn name, fame and wealth. This field can give one high visibility and recognition with one good piece of art.

URL:-

http://www.arts-crafts-for-all.com

http://www.workplace-warriors.com



KIM

Hal Lewis asked:


Folk art can be described as a wide range of objects which not only reflect the craft traditions but also reflect the traditional and social values of various social groups. These social groups go back to thousands of years ago and only few displays of their art work is left in the world. Generally Folk art is made or produced by people who have very little and in most cases, no academic artistic training. They do not use any kinds of modern day techniques and styles to their art work. They also do not have the desire to emulate art in its finest form. Folk artists usually use established techniques and styles which go back thousands of years for a particular region or culture. Folk art can be painting, sculpture and decorative style art forms. Today we also regard utilitarian objects like tools, utensils and costume as a part of folk art. Traditional art forms are very different from the folk art style. It is distinguished on the basis of the fact that traditional art is collected today based on its artistic merit; it is never really bought for the sake of it being an art form. Portraits and paintings are all a part of the traditional art forms. Folk art does not show any influence of movements or fine art circles. Folk art excludes works of professional artists which is sold as fine art to the society’s art patrons. Native art, traditional art and popular art however do overlap with folk art and is interchangeably used for the same at times.

One of the most popular folk art designers still crafting these works is Vaillancourt. Ms. Judy Vaillancourt has been hand-crafting unique collectible chalkware figures since 1984 and is one of the last remaining crafters still designing by hand. These days, most of these figurines are created with computer software and machines. The fact that Vaillancourt’s designs are still done by hand make their demand high and prices are not cheap. The few remaining companies which make this folk art allow visitors to tour behind-the-scenes. In these work shops the artists hand paint different versions of Santa Claus and Father Christmas figures. Vaillancourt Folk Art produces many styles of collectible Santa’s, rabbits, and even Antique chocolate and ice cream moulds. Another popular designer is Christopher Radko. His popular designs are collected by the rich and the famous, including: Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Stresiand, Elton John, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Various countries have their own style of folk art. Choosing top folk art designers from any one region is a nearly impossible task with many of the designers being from different regions. Folk art represents objects crafted by the traditional life style, culture and training of different social groups and geographical regions. Without any academic courses to train in their art these people master their folk art in their own way. The folk artists use and implement traditional styles and techniques which are unique to their region and culture. This is one of the most attractive features of genuine folk art.



RILEY

Jeff A Hardy asked:


You are an admirer of fine arts. Do you collect handicraft, paintings or sculptures or any other artworks just to get an undefined satisfaction or as an investment too? Well, art as an investment has become popular in the recent past. However, there are supporters as well as opponents of the trend who give arguments for and against investing in art.

What’s good in Art Investment



Uncertain stock market returns, interest rates at their lowest in decades, and shaky property market has lead people to find alternative investment options- investing in art is one of them. The rise in demand and consequently in prices, is definitely a good news for people who collect art. Although there’s no certainty that prices will continue to rise, at least art will give pleasure and an emotional dividend by giving the chance to call oneself a collector. From 1875 to 2000, art has outplayed fixed income, but has been defeated by equities. However, in the past 2 years or so, in the wake of stock market losses, art has surpassed equities. Reports say that global art market avoids crash, even in times of economic downturn.

Why Art Investment is Bad



Art market is illiquid. Buying and selling art works is not so easy as the trade shares. Art market is also non-transparent and unregulated. The history of ownership and condition of a piece has to be checked before investing money. Art goes in and out of fashion and the prices may move up and down very quickly. If selling art, one has to pay many taxes. Critics argue that art can’t be considered as financial asset as it disregards traditional benchmarks of financial analysis. Price determination is at the mercy of erratic public taste that follows no financial logic. Works of art don’t generate any income though they lead to storage and associated costs. In short-term, market volatility is relatively high when compared with other classes of asset.







How to do Wise Art Investment

Art investment is risky only if the investment period is too short. Long-term investment, say for 10 years and more, gives good annual average returns. The only prerequisite is to invest in high quality art. It’s better to deal with reputable galleries or dealers and invest in something you like & won’t mind keeping it for a few years, rather than something you don’t like but just want as an investment. If you are a novice collector, gather knowledge and train your eyes by visiting art fairs, galleries and preferably, student shows. Get lots of information from Internet. If that doesn’t suffice, hire independent art advisers for selecting and managing a collection. Some of them work at private banks. Galleries too offer advisory service as a sideline to their main business. If you sell some art works, consult tax advisors about how to save on it. If a couple buys the work, its good to invest in the name of the person in the lower tax bracket. Generate income from artworks by lending them to galleries. UK-based Fine Art Management Services launched Fine Art Fund, a private equity-backed venture aimed at pension funds and university endowments. It hopes to raise $350 inn, locked in for 10 years, to invest in a portfolio of top-quality art. The fund managers are banking on those investors who have seen some of their biggest holdings go down as the value of a quality arts will never go down to zero. Fine Art Fund also plans to solve the problem of lack of dividend income in this type of investment by renting out its art. This can be taken advantage of by wealthy private investors.

ARIEL

Eric Hines asked:


I am sure you are aware of the nationwide trend of downsizing, even eliminating, art programs in schools.

What is not entirely known is the impact of removing the fine arts from the education of children.

‘Champions of Change, the Impact of the Arts on Learning’ is the most comprehensive study on the subject of students involvement in the fine arts and how it relates to academic success.

The study builds a strong for students achieving higher levels of academic success and in higher overall numbers when involved with fine art.

Per the study;

- 82.6% of 8th graders earned mostly As and Bs who were involved heavily in fine arts versus 67.2% earning As and Bs who were not.

- 30.07% of the respondents who participate in fine arts performs community service where only 6.28% of the respondents who do not participate in fine arts perform community service.

- Students who are not heavily involved in fine arts have more than double the chance of dropping out of school by the 10th grade.

- 56.64% of the respondents who participate in fine arts read for pleasure where only 34.Chances are you will a handful of musical instruments in good condition gathering dust in a garage or attic.

These are only some of the findings in this study.

Fine arts help teach students far more than how to draw roses in a vase, or how to play the violin.

They help stimulate the creative part of the child’s mind, teach discipline, instill a sense of pride, accomplishment, and self-worth.

These attributes not only help students do better academically, but do better in their adult life, with their career, their new family, their emotional well being.

So what do you do if your child’s school has had major cuts in their art program?

Your first option is, of course, private lessons. You need to be cognizant of the pros and cons in this option.

Lets look at the pros first.

First, due to budget cuts and pressure for schools to ensure their students score well on standardized testing (oddly enough the students who are involved in the arts score better on average) the arts get less attention that other subjects in school. Thus the quality of instruction suffers.

Meaning your child has an excellent chance of getting better fine art instruction in a professional fine art instruction environment. The classes are smaller, sometimes even one on one. The instructor only has to teach that particular art form.

Another plus in private fine art education is that your child’s success is directly tied into the instructors income.

A public school teacher who has half of their art class receive failing grades will still be paid the same at the end of the week.

The equivalent in the private art instruction world would mean a bankrupt business in a very short order.

Providing private art classes is a business. They must produce a good product or risk not being around in the future.

The major con to private lessons is of course if you cannot afford them for your child.

Private lessons cost money. Knowing the benefits of a child being educated in the fine arts, I would happily drive a less luxurious car, or eat out less often to ensure their fine art education.

However if you are living on a fixed income this may not be an option.

To wrap up this point, private lessons are great, often better than what is provided even in schools that have ample art and music budgets.

An alternative solution may be needed if you you are on a limited budget.

There are things that you can do to help your local school raise money for their art programs.

First and foremost is fund raising. This can be gone about in a variety of ways.

For example in my high school in Burbank California a parent spoke to executives at NBC studios. Weeks later, NBC donated high-end production and editing equipment for our high school. Everything for the fine art of film making was at our school.

Long short or no, local businesses or celebrities should not be ignored when trying to solve this problem. In return they get good PR.

Of course you have the traditional events to raise funds. A car wash, garage sales, silent auctions, etc.

The real make break point for the above types of fund raisers is having the right person in-charge to ensure that all the details are taken care of and everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing.

If no one shows up to the car wash because no one knew about it, it won’t do anyone much good. Nor will the dozen cookies at the bake sale.

Organize and communicate.

I know a good amount of people. More pertinently I know people who know more people than I could ever hope to know.

When confronted with the difficult task of refitting your schools classical music program with instruments, it can seem overwhelming.

On the other hand, with a group of hundreds of students and adults it looks like this.

An email/phone call/mailer goes to your network about the problem.

Get your network to scourer their homes and the homes of people they know for instruments to donate. Last year I gifted a nice classical guitar that had been idle for years to a school.

Perhaps you find a few instruments in great condition that have been sitting in closets and garages untouched for 20 years.

Then invite everyone with a pulse and $20 to a bowling fund raiser. You make $20 for everyone who shows up. 50 people show. There is a $1000 right there for new instruments.

The following week target local businesses and parents in your network to gift items of worth for an auction. You get kids to pass out fliers and put up posters around town, put up announcements in craigslist, your local paper, and of course make sure everyone in your network knows and that they are telling everyone else.

The auction is a success raising $3,000.

When you have enough money for the instruments have the kids study hard and put on a fund raiser concert, charge $10 and put the money aside. Somehow someone will manage to lose a tuba.

It is plain to see, a dedicated group can accomplish much more than an individual.

What happens if your school is so strapped for cash and so over crowded that they cannot afford the fine art teacher let alone the space for art classes?

And what if there are no reputable private fine art instruction schools local, or you cannot afford them at this time?

At this point you have to take matters entirely in your own hands. However you are not entirely alone!

There are products on the market, that for a low cost, can still help educate your child in the fine arts.

Here is an example, for a onetime payment of $30 you can have you child take online violin lessons with Violin Master Pros.

There are also online lessons and DVD instruction programs for other musical instruments, writing, drawing, and more.

Any will be far more productive than another evening of video games or cable TV.

Beware of asking uncle John - who plays the piano - to teach your child. If someone demonstrates knowing how to do something well, it by no means demonstrates they can teach it well!

Bad lessons can very quickly turn your child off to the arts. Even if a huge donation is made to the school and the arts are saved, it will do little good if your kid is sour on the arts.

All in all our societies viewpoint must be changed in regards to how important the arts are to our children and our future.

It is irrefutable, children perform better on standardized tests when involved in fine art. Yet many schools will cut art and music to focus on getting better scoring results!

A small fraction of this nations defense budget could easily pay for art and music programs nationwide.

Many parents have the viewpoint, ‘if it is not reading or arithmetic then what real use is it my child’?

Yet in the top science schools in America all have a extensive fine art programs in their universities for a reason. It helps students perform academically!

It is our job as parents, budget cuts or no budget cuts, to ensure that our children receive the fine art education that they need.

If we don’t do it for our children, who is going to?



SAMMIE

Flor Ayag asked:


Art Galleries are places where art is exhibited and in some cases sold. An introduction to art galleries should explain the difference between a commercial gallery and an art museum.

The make it out art galleries is depleted interchangeably between an actual art gallery where art is exhibited and sold for a profit and an art museum where collections of art are merely exhibited for the enjoyment and education of patrons. For the purposes of right now introduction to art galleries, the former will be used. Although some of the most famous and sizeable operates of art are exhibited in art museums around the world, they are not for sale. The exhibiting of art for the purpose of sale is the necessary function of the commercial art gallery.

A commercial art gallery exhibits art for the enjoyment of the patrons, but the art is in addition for sale. This means so the collections in an art gallery are changing quite ever as works are purchased and removed from the exhibit. The gallery might often have special exhibits featuring particular artists whose works are the centerpiece of special events. In most cases, the art galleries make their profits from taking a commission on the sale of the exhibited art, although in some cases, admission is charged. This is quite rare in the commercial art gallery business, however. In other galleries, the artist pays a fee to be allowed to exhibit at the gallery.

The majority of work exhibited in art galleries are Residual art through paintings being the most common form. Some galleries furthermore exhibit more sorts of art the as sculpture and photography also. Some galleries the specialize in sculpture are also renowned as sculpture gardens and those that specialize in photographs are celebrated as photo galleries. The hard work art gallery is most often used in place of these terms and many galleries feature all of the a good number of forms of art.

The expression contemporary art gallery performs not refer to a style of art, but is used to describe the modern commercial for-profit art gallery. The term is used to distinguish it from the art museum. Many contemporary art galleries tend to be clustered up in certain regions in larger cities. Greenwich Village in New York City is an example of this although most medium sized neighborhoods will usually have at least one gallery for local artists.

There are also art galleries that are artist collectives and not run for profit, but as a place for the artist to exhibit their own works. Regardless of the type, art galleries and art museums offer the public a possibility to enjoy art of all kinds and moreover the commercial galleries allow them the opportunity to take some of that art home with them to add to their own collections.



CARMINE

Nelson Braithwaite asked:


Art is the reflection of your ideas, thoughts and feelings. In fact, it is the best way to paint your emotions on the canvas. You can express more with pictures than with words and this is the perfect way to describe the beauty in Mirek Klabal’s collection. Mirek Klabal’s collection is the master piece and gives you an opportunity to view mesmerizing paintings. Art is the only means of expression that knows no boundaries. The main aim of art is to show the reality and fantasy in the most exquisite manner. Indeed, art is meant to woo the senses and heart.

An art dealer truly understands the meaning of the beauty reflected in paintings. Mirek Klabal is a good art master, who has a huge collection of creative art that can catch your senses. He has an expressive collection of Chagall’s paintings in the world. In fact, Mirek Klabal’s art gallery in New York is the most happening place for buying quality piece of art. An art dealer deals in the most beautiful paintings available. And his main aim remains to promote art and its relevancy in one’s life. Mirek Klabal art gallery signifies the destination point of art that defines the true meaning.

Art dealers have a special craving for art and they also have a passion for art. There are various art dealers that have a series of paintings that represent a certain period or time, while many others have a collection of modern art. The art dealer has to cater to all types of customer likes and preferences. An art dealer can be considered as the hub of creativity. Art dealers have a deep understanding of the particular talents for the individual artists.

The art dealer coordinates with various artists to develop a network. The art dealer also links-up with the distributors and buyers, who have a special interest in the field of art. Mirek Klabal is a well-known name in the field of art. His art gallery defines the true meaning of art. When dealing with Mirek Klabal, you are in safe hands. Customer satisfaction is the main target of the art dealer. After all, he has to cater to the huge masses and has to be cautious about their passion for art.

Submitting your artwork to the art dealers is not an easy task. You have to select the appropriate art dealer for this purpose. After all, you are taking so much pain to create a painting and if the art dealer does not value your painting, you will not get the deserved recognition. Submission is not the only significant part, buying is also necessary. If the buyers will not buy your paintings, then you won’t have a market. Basically, it depends on the network of an art dealer that creates base for the carrier of an artist.

The world of art has its own lifestyle. If you are an art lover, then you can enjoy the complete enthusiasm. The word art itself signifies life beyond human ideology. You can express every thought in the light of colors. The art has the power to give a way to your innovations and creativity.



EVAN

Wain Roy asked:


Vietnamese fine art in modern times presents a scene that is replete with many fine artists and countless admirers and enthusiasts. Vietnamese fine art has been shying away from the eyes of the world for many years. It is only recently that it has been emancipated from its erstwhile provincial existence. Vietnamese fine art is finally coming out of the closet to present itself in its full glory before a wider audience.

The growth of interest and the rise in popular enthusiasm about Vietnamese fine art have been truly phenomenal in the past few years. The last decade, especially, has witnessed a dramatic growth in the number of people world-wide taking an enormous deal of interest in Vietnamese fine art. It is safe to assume now that Vietnamese fine art has finally come of age and is ready to go truly international.

The contemporary art scene of Vietnam is buzzing with activity, and is vibrant like never before. This is to be attributed not only to strong commercial considerations, but also to the commitment of artists and dealers to create and promote quality work. One cannot help but wonder in awe when one looks upon the radical metamorphosis of Vietnamese art over the last few years. Less than a decade ago, contemporary Vietnamese fine art and artists had negligible presence in their own country and virtually none on the international art scene. Yet, in 1993, eminent art critic and accomplished painter Ca Le Thang wrote in the popular art journal My Thuat, “In 1992 a total of 130 groups and one man exhibitions were opened in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring works by local (Vietnamese) artists… and even (artists) from overseas. Over 5,500 works created by more than 200 artists were exhibited in 25 different locations; attendance numbers rose to over 400,000.”

Vietnamese fine art, since then, has only grown from strength to strength with every passing year. A closer look at this phenomenon reveals that it is not just the profile and status of the nation’s art and artists that have grown in strength. The change is also evident in the quality of the art and in the scope of its representation through local, regional and international galleries and museums.

Compared to other Asian countries, and according to several art commentators, Vietnam was the earliest to merge into the mainstream of modern art, as defined by the West, in both form and content. Such a fact can be easily seen with the coming into existence of Ecole Des Beaux Arts (Indochina’s School of Fine Art) in the early 1930s, with the presence of professors from France.

Western style in technique and the use of color was what the first student generation trained in this school obtained. The techniques however were employed by the graduate artists to depict the aesthetic essence of Viet-narn, especially the freedom and generosity of an Asian soul. Such a fundamental beginning had laid the foundation for the younger generations to follow and again led to their success.

Local galleries and museums have a major role to play in the growing popularity of Vietnamese fine art. They are the main driving factor behind the increasing popular enthusiasm and the commercial success of fine art in Vietnam. Such galleries are virtually countless in cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hue. Some are nothing more than mere shops selling paintings.

In the major cities, about 50 of these galleries can be deemed professional. They deal in a wide variety of local art, ranging from highly popular landscape and figurative work to abstract and experimental work in lacquer and other mediums. The range of variety to be noticed in Vietnamese fine art by gazing upon these paintings is truly amazing.



GUSTAVO

Robert Kenny asked:


Art is the expression of beauty and sensitivity. Numerous people have a special taste and interest for pieces of fine art. And for this reason, Mirek Klabal has been catering to the thoughts and likes of people for so many years. Being a master of art and a renowned person, he has understood the importance of art in a person’s life. Fine art dealers are concerned with how people perceive the sense of art. There are various fine art dealers available in the market. But, you should take care that you don’t fall a prey to any fraud art dealers.

Fine art captures moments, pictures or breathtaking scenes in a canvas. Well, it can just be about anything. A painter tries to express a feeling or his desires through the spread of colors. Are you planning to buy art master pieces from fine art dealers? Well, looking for genuine fine art dealers is a tough task. It is like selecting the most precious piece of diamond from a coal mine. Art lovers can check out the Mirek Klabal art gallery for creative masterpieces. An important thing about Mirek Klabal is that its collection of painting has a special quality.

The world of art has a life beyond human imagination. It is the base and platform of creativity that calls for art lover’s attention. Mirek Klabal is one of the best fine art dealers in New York. If you are looking for rare Chagall collection then you can find it at Mirek Klabal’s art gallery. Mirek Klabal has a thorough understanding of art and dealing with him puts you in the safe hands. Moreover, it is all the more important that you buy art masterpiece from an authentic dealer.

Fine art dealers know that art is a perfect blend of creativity, vibrant colors, thoughts and expressions in the painting. There is a sense of life in every painting and this is what an art lover gets to see in the collection of Mirek Klabal. With Mirek Klabal, fine art gets to have a tag of a quality product. It is quite common among the art lovers that pictures express more than simple words. This is what is seen in the painting collection of Mirek Klabal. Moreover, art brings gaiety in ones life because it conveys joy and different aspects of an individual’s life.

Fine art dealers have a special network of quality painters and art masters. In fact, they act as the platform of recognition for art masters. Fine art dealers also have contact with distributors, who have a special interest in the field of art and who have a real understanding of it. Fine art dealers have an understanding that art lovers have a passion for art masterpieces and they have to cater to a large number of masses. It is because of this thing that these fine art dealers carefully with painters. The world of art has its own lifestyle. If you are an art lover, then you can enjoy the complete enthusiasm. Mirek Klabal can be your one stop shop for best art pieces.



STERLING

Christa Kowalczyk asked:


Martial Arts come in different forms and they are not only confined to Kung-fu or Taekwondo, which is popularized a lot in television and the movies. You would be surprised to know that certain forms of fighting are also called martial arts. To learn and practice martial arts, one should be well equipped with the proper supplies.

Martial arts have different origins. The term “Martial” is derived from the Roman god of war named “Mars”. Martial Arts simply mean “the art of war”. Although most people think that martial arts only came from the Asian cultures, it is also found in America and Europe. Martial arts feature a type of combat system that has codes within a single objective of physically defeating a person.

Aside from this, it is mainly used for self-defense against any bodily harm. Some martial arts techniques are actually based on a spiritual or religious philosophy such as Aikido and Judo. This is while others base it on a certain code of honor such as fencing. Hence, martial arts techniques are being practiced as a form of combat sports and some in the form of dance.

Thus, regardless of where the art originated, they have similarities with one another. Each style has a systematized fighting style. They even have forms and routines when they do sparring, which is practiced either alone or with a partner. Martial arts are grouped in a way that each style will focus on a certain area.

Below is a list of samples for each group:

Grappling

? Throwing - Judo, Jujutsu, Sambo

? Joint Lock - Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Hapkido

? Pinning Techniques - Wrestling, Judo

Striking

? Punching - Boxing (Western style), Wing Chun

? Kicking - Capoeira, Savate, Taekwondo

? Other Strikes - Muay thai, Karate, Shaolin Kung Fu

Weapons

? Traditional Weaponry - Fencing, Gatka, Kendo, Kali

? Modern Weaponry - Eskrima, Jogo do pau, Jukendo

For some, most of the styles are well known as a form of Martial Arts technique and only a few would know that boxing and fencing is also categorized as such. At present, most styles of martial arts are being used as combat sports. For the others, they are used in military or police training as a form of self-defense.

Hence, Tae Kwon Do, fencing, boxing, and wrestling are events in the summer Olympics. This is while other martial arts such as Wushu of China and Muay Thai have tournaments held around the world. Aside from this, there are also those, which are regarded both as a form of dance and as a type of Martial Art. Good examples would include the Capoeira of Brazil, Yolah of Oman/UAE, and Buza from Russia.

Here is short description of some of the techniques mentioned above.

CAPOEIRA

The slaves in Brazil created this martial art during in the 16th century. It’s a blend of dance, game, and as mentioned already - martial art, where in, music is incorporated. It’s more of a skill based art rather than injuring the opponent. The players’ form a circle called the Roda, where in, they will take turns in playing inside the circle.

The basic movement in Capoeira is called the ginga, in which, they need to swing and rock back and forth. They should move with the rhythm of the music being played by the bateria. Hence, the players usually use acrobatic movements such as cartwheels, handstands and use kicks, sweeps, and head strikes as a form of attack. They also do rolls and ducks, as their defensive move and as type of preparation for an attack.

Thus, this is more of a combination move for self-defense that makes use of a cartwheel with a blocking kick and an attack at the same time.

BOXING

The ancient Greeks first introduced it as a sport and there are different forms of boxing done around the world. As a combat sport, usually two persons with a similar weight class fight with each other using their fists. There is the presence of a referee, one who needs to watch over and control the fight.

Since boxing is a type of contact sport, certain precautions must be taken in order to prevent injury. Hand and wrist wraps and boxing gloves are worn in order to protect the bones in the hands. During practice or sparring sessions, a headgear is also worn to protect the head and face. A mouthpiece is also worn to protect the insides of the cheek and lips from getting cut and also the jaw joint when the face gets hit.

Boxers practice their punches on a “speed bag” or on the heavy “punching bag” in order to develop speed, agility, and strength. Other training equipments include free weights, jump ropes, and medicine balls. The trainer uses focus mitts as padded targets for the boxer during practice.

MODERN ARNIS

A Filipino style of martial arts founded by the late Remy Preses was created as a self-defense system. Influenced by the style of the Bolo (machete) and the art of Balintawak (Stick-Dueling), rattan sticks are used as weaponry, in which, it is called a “baston” (baton) or cane. Two techniques are taught using the baston - the single and double stick technique.

The cane is considered sacred to the practitioners of the art. This is the reason why, during combat, the arm or hand of the opponent is hit and not the cane. This method was called “defanging the snake”, where in, the opponent will drop his weapon, making him less of a threat. Then this technique has been discouraged a lot from learning the art. This is because it was too painful to learn.

Plus, this caused the Filipino martial arts to become almost extinct! Therefore, what Remy Preses did is to preserve the Filipino martial art via developing a method of cane-to-cane combat during practice. This is in order to attract would be practitioners of the art. Thus, the “defanging the snake” method remains the practical application.

TAEKWONDO

Taekwondo is the national sport of South Korea and perhaps the most popular martial art in the world. It is a combination of self-defense, sport, and combat techniques, which makes it an official event in the Olympics. The training of taekwondo usually involves the use of the power of the hips and legs. It also has blocks, punches, sweeps, and joint locks.

Taekwondo is distinguished from other techniques because of its kicking techniques. They believe that the leg is the most powerful weapon especially with the back kick of taekwondo. The union of the mind and body is developed and practiced in this art, while developing other aspects such as discipline, strength, flexibility, and stamina.

The “dobok” is the official uniform of a taekwondo student and is usually white, and with it, a belt is worn around the waist where its color will indicate the person’s rank.

FENCING

A European martial art that involves the use of swords, knives, bayonets and other similar weapons used in armed combat. Presently there are three weapons used:

? Foil - light thrusting weapon

? Epee - heavy thrusting weapon

? Sabre - light cutting and thrusting weapon

Dueling gained popularity with the Europeans in the 17th up to the 19th century, where in, the cutting style of swordplay became a thrusting style or “foining”. During that time fencing involves defending one’s honor so no duels using sharp blades took place unless a formal insult was made.

After World War I, dueling was almost non-existent and went out after the Second World War. Therefore, the training and using of sharp swords disappeared. Plus, the emphasis was more in the technique and training styles of fencing.

As a form of martial art, the goal of fencing is to be theoretically trained for a duel. In classical fencing, where in the art of swordplay is applied and even expected to become applied in their training for an actual duel or fight, they utilize the standard foil, epee, and the blunted sabre. As for historical fencing, the use of a variety of weaponry with realistic weight will demand a different way of handling them, even affecting the movement of the body.

Today, fencing, as a type of sport, uses protective clothing during practices or events. The complete set includes the following:

? Croissard - form fitting jacket covering the groin with a strap that goes between the legs.

? Gorget - small fabric to protect the neck

? Plastron - under arm protector

? Glove - to protect the hand and prevent the blade from going into the sleeve

? Breeches or knickers - short trousers

? Socks - knee length or thigh high

? Shoes - with flat soles

? Mask - with a bib to protect the neck

? Plastic chest protectors - required for female fencers

Things you need when you are planning to join a martial arts class:

1. Uniform - most students are required to have a uniform. There are available uniforms for students of the following:

? Taekwondo

? Karate

? Judo and Aikido

? Kung-fu

? Ninja

? Belts

2. Protective gears and sparring gears

? Head gear

? Hand gear

? Foot gear

? Chest guard

? Shin guard

3. Weapons

? Practice swords

? Escrimas

? Weapons cases

? Weapons stand

? Knives

? Bo’s and staffs

? Kubotan

4. Training gear

? Breaking boards

? Mats

? Conditioning gears - hand grips, double end ball

? Hand held pads -mitts and arm shield

? Heavy bags

5. Boxing equipments

? Gloves

? Cardio wraps

? Jump rope

? Leather speed ball

6. Exercise equipments

? Medicine balls

? Chin up bars

? Heart rate monitor

? Free weights

? Ankle weights

? Stretching equipment



RICK

Chand Puri asked:


Contemporary art has gained a significant importance in modern households. It has become very popular in contemporary households and is recognized in every aspect of human life. Contemporary art has been omnipresent; it is recognized as a tool for interpersonal communication and has had far reaching effects. The increased attendance in art exhibitions and unprecedented sales of various art forms signifies the importance contemporary art has been receiving. It is an indicator about the awareness of art amongst the general public.

The major reason of success of contemporary art is that it is easily understood and appreciated by the masses. The accessibility has become easy for the masses as it is released in numerous copies and forms like disks and books etc. Such mass production of art has made art more popular, while preserving its unique values. Original paintings which were a distant dream for common people at one time are now accessible through galleries. It has further increased the number of admirers for the art.

However there is an argument raised by the contemporary art critics about reservation of some art form for certain group of people. Their argument is that the true appreciation of some art form can come only from some people who can understand them. In other words an artist can only understand the value of an art. This might be true in some cases but not in all, as a creator would like to get appreciated from as many people as possible. Modern art works today are created by many people, and are made for many people. There are various examples of successful groups who present art together and to as many people as possible. Thus, it can be easily concluded that contemporary art forms will continue to express publicly understood ideas so as to be appreciated by as many as possible.

A play, a novel, a music composition, film, or a painting can be successful irrespective of the views of artists or critics. It solely depends how it has been able to touch your emotions and has expressed itself to the general public.

There are various ways of acquiring modern art today . Online auctions are one of the ways where by abstract arts, oil-based painting, and impression arts can be purchased. Before buying any art form it is necessary to do some homework on what art you would like to collect and what appreciation you are looking for in that art. One can do any amount of extensive search on the internet for the categories of art forms to be collected. There are some other ways also like libraries, magazines etc which can give you more information about your favorite category.

One has to be really careful while purchasing art as there are lots of fakes circulating for a popular art. However one way to find about the genuineness of the art is to appoint an appraiser for the art you would like to purchase. Big auction houses like Sotheby uses the same technique for all the art forms before putting it up for sale. Online auctions like eBay are the tricky ones, and in this case you should directly communicate with the art seller to find out more about the art. Online art auctions usually keep a track record of the art seller’s sales history and can help you to determine whether the seller is a reputable person.



MERLIN