Painting Restoration: Find out How to Fix a Damage Or Warp in an Original Painting You Bought

If you bought a artwork on stretched canvas, here are a couple frequent occurrences which have easy and quick remedies:

Dent or Canvas Sag

Let's say you unintentionally pushed against the backside of the stretched canvas painting which created a dent, or maybe the canvas has simply sagged over time because of temperature and humidity levels...

Remedy:

Sprinkle the backside of the canvas with lukewarm (not hot) water and as the water disappears the canvas shrinks back into shape. Don't over-saturate. It is advisable to continue this procedure a couple of times in intervals of one hour, instead of over saturate it the 1st time. This works 99% of the time

Distorted Stretcher Bars

Let's say if your artwork was travelling from it's original location to you and was totally exposed by the shipment carrier to intense heat, cold, and/or humidity OR after some time in your own house, due to a change in temperature and/or humidity levels, the wooden stretcher bars may have warped. Sometimes the warping can be significant, much of the time they're minor and undetectable.

Remedy for minor warps:

What you will need to have: Bowl, water, rag/towel, Kraft or Butcher paper, four books and 4 weights (either exercise weights or simply just 4 big rocks)

-Choose a location within your house that doesn't get a lot of traffic and will be out of your way for one day or two. Ideally the floor or perhaps a table.

-Create a clean dry surface in which you will later lay your painting face down. This is important: DO NOT use a plastic bag because it can stick to a painting, Don't use newspapers since the print can pass on onto the painting. Use clean non-stick material like butcher or Kraft paper.

-Fill up a container with luke-warm water. Flip the painting over, put it facedown on the area you've just made, and wet the wooden stretcher bars with a soaked rag/towel, ensuring to keep wetting the bars until you see they are completely wet. Put 1 book on each of the 4 edges of the canvas and then put your weight on the top of the books. Wait 1 day. For good measure, I would recommend taking the books and rocks off after 24 hours, rewetting the bars, and placing the books and rocks back for another one day.

IF this does not work, sad to say it means the warp is a significant one and the painting will have to be brought to a local stretching and frame store to be re-stretched.

Underwater photography isn't just about the camera or the amazing images it reveals

Underwater photography isn't just about the camera or the amazing images it reveals, and we're not talking about the skills of the photographer, or the fact they might be braving the chill waters in the seas around Antarctica, or diving in the warm waters of the Caribbean or Indian ocean, or diving in the murky waters of a cold, uninviting North Sea. Rather, it is all about the peripheral equipment a diver photographer needs to make sure the camera remains free of water and that the integrity of what can be extremely expensive equipment is not compromised.
Perhaps the most important of the equipment and accessories an underwater photographer should have with them at all times, regardless of whether they're a professional or keen amateur isn't the strobe light kit, isn't the batteries, cables, adapters and chargers which are necessary equipment. The single most important accessory is perhaps the tube (or tubes) of silicon grease, grease which is applied to the seals and exterior of the equipment to stop sea water ingression through joints and seals.
The weakest point of any camera equipment used underwater is the seals, and as a diver descends into the depths, the pressure increases exponentially; the danger is greatest because the inside of any camera casing or housing is pressurised at sea level. As the diver descends the exertion of a greater pressure at depth could be the undoing of any photographer, as well as his or her equipment, and all it needs is a few drops of salt water ingression into the interior and the potential for expensive damage is a very real threat.
More information about underwater photography a secure platform for buying everything required for this fascinating undertaking, log on to the website of Your Gadgets at http://www.yourgadgets.co.uk/compare_underwater-photography.html.
Rather, it is all about the peripheral equipment a diver photographer needs to make sure the camera remains free of water and that the integrity of what can be extremely expensive equipment is not compromised.
The weakest point of any camera equipment used underwater is the seals, and as a diver descends into the depths, the pressure increases exponentially; the danger is greatest because the inside of any camera casing or housing is pressurised at sea level.

More information about underwater photography a secure platform for buying everything required for this fascinating undertaking, log on to the website of Your Gadgets at http://www.yourgadgets.co.uk/compare_underwater-photography.html.

How to Get the Best Tattoo Designers for Your Next Tattoo

It seems like yesterday that you had your first tattoo, and you had a hard time finding the best artist to ink your skin. Well, that was before, when tattoo artists could only be found in tattoo studios or parlors. Today, online tattoo designing is offered on internet websites. Here, you can find a marketplace for custom design tattoos, or you can launch your own contest for tattoo artists to design your very own personalized tattoo.

To find the best designer for your next tattoo, go online and browse the web for sites and forums of tattoo artists and enthusiasts alike. Most sites have a wide number of resident tattoo designers that can create the custom tattoo design you want. Every so often these designers can also provide a unique design that you will fall in love with and which will meet all your needs.

So, to look for the best will take a little resourcefulness on your part. Go to your favorite search engine and type the keyword 'tattoo designer' in the search menu bar. The search engine will provide a listing of all websites that have your keyword. To narrow your search, read a brief description of each site and choose those that have the most feedback.

Most websites on the internet provide feedback from visitors to their sites; these tattoo websites have their own feedback in comments and testimonials for each designer featured on their site. You can read this feedback to give you an idea of the quality of work done by the tattoo designer who catches your interest.

You could also visit forum sites and join in on conversations with other tattoo enthusiasts and ask for some recommendations for a good tattoo designer. You could even chat with the designers themselves and ask them about their work. Asking for information is a good strategy for finding the best tattoo designer.

Although it is an advantage if you learn that an artist has clients who are famous celebrities or personalities, you still have to think of your own personal taste and not somebody else's. Always remember that tattoos are expressions of your own personality.

Another option is to look for sites that provide a platform for custom tattoo design contests. You have the opportunity to observe the designer's work and get an idea of who can deliver high quality work based on a client's specifications. Look at designs which have won these contests because you may find it helpful when designing your next tattoo.

Finding the best tattoo designer for your next tattoo is easier today. You are not just limited to going to tattoo parlors or studios and meeting their resident artist. With all the available resources in the internet, you could find the one who suits your high standards.

Remember, these tattoo designers also want their work to be recognized in the tattoo world. It is like a painter showcasing their artwork in galleries; a tattoo artist also wants the entire world to see their work, using your body as their canvas. Start looking now for your next ideal tattoo.

Kristen Dunn is a tattoo enthusiast and professional tattoo designer who has created thousands of thought provoking, elegant, and funky tattoos for her clients.She has a vast collection of custom designs to her credit. Winner of several awards and accolades, Kristen is now a founding member of the world's largest custom tattoo design community at CreateMyTattoo. View her tattoo collection or read more on her blog here.

How to Get the Perfect Custom Tattoo Design

Getting inked is a personal endeavor, and tattoos last a lifetime. So, you should find a tattoo image that is fitting and expresses your individualism. Finding the perfect custom tattoo design is not as hard as you think. Unlike before, when getting the perfect image and the best artist consumed a lot of time and effort, today online tattoo designing is offered via the internet.

There are various sites on the internet that offer tattoo design contests and there are galleries online providing a marketplace for custom tattoo designs. So your choice is unlimited.

Various websites provide a platform for the creation of custom tattoo designs. The contest guidelines for a specific design are provided by the host, which is you. You will also post the prize and invite all artists to take your challenge. The higher the prize you provide, the higher the number of artists who will participate in the contest. This means a wider selection from which to choose a perfect custom design for your tattoo.

There are sites on the internet that provide online galleries. You could choose from the displayed designs, or you could work with their resident designers to help you with the perfect design. A good tattoo designer could even create a design that you deem perfect for you, without the intention of doing so.

Tattoo designers talk with their clients. They ask for the specific details of your idea for a perfect tattoo image for yourself. They may offer suggestions and variations of the design and technical details so you could come up with the unique piece together. You could also give them your own feedback and input, because more often than not these designers are open to modifications.

In a contest, these websites give about ten different variations of the design that you want. They also have a money back policy to ensure a client's satisfaction in the design created. Creating your own tattoo design is rewarding, because not only do you get the best and most unique tattoo image possible, but you also get to work with the designer who has the skill to give life to your idea.

To narrow down your choices, go online to your preferred site. Type custom tattoo design onto the browser's search menu bar; each site has a brief descriptions for easy browsing. You will be able to pick a site that you think could give you the best service there is.

Aside from the internet, you could visit some tattoo parlors in your community and ask the artist for some information. You could look at their portfolio to get an insight to their talent and skills. In this way, you could decide if the resident artist would provide a perfect tattoo image for you.

Finding the perfect design for your tattoo image is now easier than ever before. With a limitless number of possibilities, you could find not just the perfect design but the best artist to provide a unique design for you. Making your body a canvas for body art tattooing is a big step. So find the perfect custom tattoo design that will bring out the best in you, too.

Kristen Dunn is a tattoo enthusiast and professional tattoo designer who has created thousands of thought provoking, elegant, and funky tattoos for her clients.She has a vast collection of custom designs to her credit. Winner of several awards and accolades, Kristen is now a founding member of the world's largest custom tattoo design community at CreateMyTattoo. View her tattoo collection or read more on her blog here.

Acrylics as Face paint (from Mr. Steven Patterson, Derivan's CEO)

There have recently been several posts (some old, some new) saying that "acrylics" or artists' paints are dangerous to use on the skin and that they are carcinogenic, that is, they may cause cancer. This is not true, but deserves some explanation. Although some artist acrylics may contain pigments that could possibly be carcinogenic, it is the pigment that is the potentially harmful part, not the acrylic. However, these pigments will usually have more obvious health warnings on them than a cigarette packet, so it will not be hard to work out which are the bad ones. Of course, Derivan's Face & Body Paint, and Tim Gratton's products, contains none of these pigments.

Even with safe pigments, however, regular artist's paint shouldn't be used on the skin, for the same reasons that any other non-cosmetic product should not be used on the skin. Only cosmetic products made to cosmetic standards (or other therapeutic goods that are designed to go on the skin) are made using materials that are proven to be safe on the skin and can be used for pro-longer periods without any side effects.

For Derivan products, if they are labelled non-toxic then that's what they are. Being "non-toxic" however does not mean that they are meant to be eaten or for that matter go on the skin. They are designed to be safe for their intended use and if a person happens to consume a small amount 'accidentally' or get some on their skin 'the average person' will have no reaction. You should keep in mind that there are people who are not 'average' and are hyper-sensitive to some things and they may find that the paints cause them irritation or even to become quite ill, and this can happen with many different things - even something as humble as a peanut can be quite literally life threatening to some people. With that said I can't remember a complaint about our product (and I have been here since 1983). So non-toxic does not equal cosmetic.

Acrylics are not necessarily dangerous (many acrylics are approved and used in cosmetics worldwide) however it is certainly wrong to use an artist acrylic as a face paint. Only paints such as the Derivan Face & Body Paint or Tim Gratton's Aqua Colour that are cosmetics should be used.

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Pavement markers

The ever more stylish way of life leads to one thing, at the end of the day, cars. All of us, who are in a position of economic stability, strive for mainly 2 main things. The first one is a roof overhead, i.e., our own house, where one can enjoy all the million fold pleasures of life. The second one is a car, to ensure that our daily commute is enriched. The first one seems like a distant dream, as it requires a lot of financial backing, which most of us aren't in a position to provide. The second one is always one of the first things on all our minds as soon as we start working. It provides us with a sense of individualism and personal pride. All of us take immense pleasure in driving our own cars rather than using any other means of commute to workplace, or anywhere else for that matter.
As more and more of us, attain stability in our workplace, the amount of cars on the road is increasing. Increase in the number of cars means there is a lot more traffic on the road than before. This in turn means there is an increased likelihood of an accident occurring. Whilst we can do nothing to control the driver in charge of driving the vehicles, we can at least ensure that the roads and pavements are marked properly so as to ensure that the driver is correctly informed and is therefore less likely to make a mistake.
Pavement markers have become an essential commodity nowadays. With roads cropping up left, right and center, the pavements have to be properly marked to ensure that there is no risk of accidents. After all, if the safety of the passerby on the pavement is not guaranteed, then how is anyone supposed to walk on the roads, without a sense of fear at the back of their minds?
Maintaining pavement markings that are highly visible and long lasting presents a major challenge to transportation agencies. Pavement markings are judged mainly on two factors: durability and visibility. No matter the amount of people that walk on the pavement, the pavement marker must be ever present and stand the test of time. Secondly, they must be visible to the naked eye and mustn't disappear after just a few people walking on top it. A pavement marking maximizes safety that cannot be ensured by any other means.
Let STRIPES handle your entire pavement marking needs and you'll have one less thing to worry about. We are a local leader in pavement marking and asphalt repair in and around Ontario. We have been providing reliable pavement markers for over 25 years. We always take advantage of new technologies and use only the best quality products. Our professional, on-time approaches to all jobs are one of the few reasons that have helped us become a leader in our field. We offer a synergy of services including road line striping, asphalt seal coating, and parking lot marking. We are the last call that you will make when looking for professional pavement completion. Don't be shy to knock on our doors, because, we are always there for you. STRIPES, the one stop for all your pavement marking needs.

We always stay on top of new advances in the industry and are proud to offer our clients only the best in product quality and customer service.

Hiring Air Conditioning for Art Galleries

Maintaining appropriate temperatures and humidity levels at art galleries is far from easy. There are specific rules and controls that need to be followed. Successfully creating a suitable atmospheric balance for artworks, sculptures, the building itself and visitors is often best left to an air conditioning hire expert, especially in the event of the fixed system breaking down.

About building interior issues
Art galleries are often located in old buildings that are rarely as high tech as they should be in terms of environmental control. They may not necessarily have been originally built as art venues. Problems of micro temperatures and different air flows can mean there may be different hot and cold spots within. A comfortable atmosphere for visitors can never be guaranteed and artworks could be damaged.

If art galleries cannot guarantee controlled conditions, they may not be able to borrow important works from other galleries and thus impact their visitor numbers. According to The Guardian website, in the last few years there has been increased pressure on galleries world-wide to lend great artworks they would not have considered lending before and so they look for reassurance.

Temperature and relative humidity rules
International regulations about maintaining the right temperature and relative humidity levels inside a gallery were laid down in the middle of the last century, driven by fears that artworks would be damaged if their surroundings changed.

As it stands, unless a gallery or museum can guarantee a climate of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) and 50 per cent relative humidity, it is not seen as suitable to borrow great art.

The rules were established in London after artworks were moved to avoid the aerial bombardments of the first and second world wars.

The advantages of hiring air conditioning
Environmental control at galleries rarely needs full 'built-in' air conditioning. Important exhibits require expertly managed conditions (the adequate control of temperature, relative humidity, and pollutants). This is best taken care of by an experienced air conditioning rental specialist who will know which mobile air conditioning, dehumidifier and chiller units are most appropriate for each different gallery area.

According to the research 'Environment Control in Historic Galleries and Museums' by O'Sullivan and Oreszcyn, maintaining required environmental control at a gallery by hiring necessary equipment is a far more cost-effective option for galleries than investing in fixed air-conditioning. Build-in air conditioning can be extremely expensive, and then prove to be insufficient when it comes to meeting a gallery's exact needs. Hiring air conditioning is the ideal solution; as it can address specific problems on site and be removed when the UK temperature changes and is not needed.

The benefits of hiring air conditioning are numerous, in fact:

- As well as there being no capital expenditure involved, galleries can receive the newest air conditioning models available (whereas if they buy a fixed system it could date or not be the most efficient)

- Experienced air conditioning unit hire personnel will know exactly which units will best serve each gallery area

- Rented units are portable and therefore can be moved around a gallery as required

- There are no long-term storage issues; units can simply be hired as and when needed, with the rental specialist collecting and returning them to their depot when they have served their purpose

Planning ahead is the key
Most prestigious art galleries know their exhibiting calendar for the year well in-advance and so have exact dates for when hired air conditioning will be required. The air conditioning specialist can then begin to comprehensively plan the provision of equipment, making a site survey an essential part of the planning process. A site survey examines the specific requirements for a venue during delivery, installation and operation of equipment; avoiding potential damage to both the venue and exhibits being the most important factor.

All this means peace of mind for gallery owners, some of whom may temporarily have in their care some of the greatest artworks ever created - a weighty responsibility indeed.

Andrews Sykes is the UK's largest specialist portable air conditioning hire company, with over 25 years' experience. Andrews Sykes serves art galleries using machinery sourced from the world's top manufacturers.