Tanpola Articles Directory

Can you find good quality Yoga classes for free? Sometimes you can, and many introductory Yoga class packages are free, or priced, so low, that they might as well be. Some students of Yoga jump, from studio to studio, like grasshoppers. These Yoga students are in search of constant introductory packages and free Yoga classes.

In response, some Yoga studios have stopped giving “bargain basement” or free Yoga class packages. Why do they stop giving bargains? It is for the sake of financial survival that a Yoga studio, ashram, wellness center, or fitness center must charge something, to stay in business. Otherwise, there will be no Yoga classes for any of us.

Having had the experience of teaching free Yoga classes, in parks, and holding down a full time job, at the same time.
It was my observation that many of those students really didn’t see a value in Free Yoga. It was just something to do, if they were around the park.

When the park asked me to pay a “permit fee,” for teaching free Yoga, I asked my students to give me a little help. Some of them let me know walking is free and left.

The first day I charged for Yoga, the remaining students stayed, because they saw a value in learning Yoga. Their attendance was much more consistent. Some of my first “paying” Yoga students have become successful Yoga teachers in their own right, since then.

If you are serious about something, you are willing to pay for it. Would you like a free vacation spent in a conference room, with someone trying to sell you a “land deal” or would you just like some time to relax away from home? Personally, I am not interested in a free trip to learn about buying a swamp and am willing to pay for a nice vacation.

Nothing in life is really free, when you think about it. You or the local taxpayers pay for all the water that you drink. Most people have to travel to inhale fresh quality air, at the beach, or in the mountains. Even, walking requires some fuel in the form of food and drink that is paid for by somebody.

So, what is the moral of this story? Any activity you choose to do with your discretionary income is your own business, but without the support of the local community, “mom and pop” businesses will fail.

This is true for any type of local business, from the hardware store to the men’s clothing store. Most of these businesses were swallowed up by large franchises.
Therefore, if you truly love Yoga, and want to learn more, support your local Yoga teacher, or your local studio.

Otherwise, you may find limited alternatives, and large fitness franchises, dictating what kind of Yoga you practice. Somehow, practicing Yoga at McDonalds isn’t very appealing.

Paul Jerard, is a co-owner/director of Yoga teacher training at Aura Wellness Center. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Art is defined in the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Addition as skill acquired by experience, study or observation. In other words art can be described as seen through the eyes of the beholder. Many forms of art have appeared over the years and newer more abstract art of modern days is often described as contemporary art.

Art over the centuries has taken on many forms. From Leonardo DaVinci to Jim Morrison, art can be determined by the desire of others to enjoy a particular form. People have been collecting famous works of art for a long time. Today many new artists skilled from personal experience have been sharing their view of beauty throughout the world.

With society changing everyday the evolution of art has become a source of particular negative views. More and more contumacy artist are making their works available to the public and as the world changes so does the view of art.

Today’s generation of adults have experienced much political and social change, making a great amount of expressive ideas to take the form as art. Although different people can view different things while looking at art, many people have changed the form of the canvas. For example, tattooing has become increasingly popular in the twenty first century. People have discovered they can express themselves by way of a permanent tattoo on their skin. When you see someone with tattoos all over their skin you may begin to form an opinion of an undesirable person.

However, if you should sit down with a person who has many tattoos on their body you may hear a beautiful story of struggle, heartache, love or even accomplishment. People have begun to put the feelings and life views out as an artful expression in the form of a tattoo.

Another form of contemporary art is the canvas paintings and photographic expressions of an abstract nature. With so many different opinions on what is and what is not art, the artists of today are not afraid to show more impressions of the unrest over the last century. The art is more real and sometimes more graphic. Due to the graphic and sometimes explicit paintings and sculptures in recent years people struggle to find a freedom through art. Art museums and exhibits are often censored for the public. Private viewings have become the norm for explicit expressions of art.

Thanks to the variety of impressions of the world around us we can view artistic expressions in raw forms. The social and political struggles in life prove to be a place for observation of the human race that deems different styles and expressions of contemporary art. Never before in history has there been more variety of expressive art shown in contemporary art.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as framed art and posters at http://www.framedartandposters.com

Art has long been a favorite pastime. Just as long as it has been around people have been collecting paintings and original pieces of many different mediums, many of which are hard to find and expensive to purchase. In recent years interest in collections has grown enormously among people of all ages. With the explosion of desire in finding collectable pieces, some have turned to a new sort of collection, collecting art posters.

Although it has been possible for years to find reprints of famous pieces, not until recently have reprints developed actual value. The entrance of collecting these posters has made it possible for anyone to collect famous works and has changed the reprint business all together. Art posters are reprints of original famous and unknown art and can range from the Mona Lisa to a movie advertisement poster.

With the renewed interest in collecting these new pieces, though it may be reprints only, collecting art posters have raised prices and led to poster auctions. These auctions are similar to other collectible auctions in that you can bid on great works, the main difference is in regular auctions you are generally buying an original whereas in poster auctions you are purchasing reprints on posters. The popularity of poster auctions has exploded too. People are beginning to pay between $100 to $2000 or more to purchase a reprint poster of certain works.

Famous paintings are not the only works available for purchase at art poster auctions. You can also find movie posters and advertisement posters. People are seeking older advertisement posters the most. If you have an advertisement in poster form in good condition from the first half of the twentieth century it may be worth a bit of money at a poster auction.

These poster auctions are not only popular in the United States. Collecting posters at auction have become a worldwide favorite pastime. People are searching the planet to find certain posters and as a result the prices at these types of auctions are on the rise.

Music posters are also gaining popularity at the art poster auctions. Although not yet as expensive as other types, in the near future we may find the price just as high for music concert posters as any other kind. As long as the interest in poster collecting continues, these auctions will continue to grow and so will the price of reprints. More and more people are enjoying the beauty of a variety of artists thanks to this popular pastime. Every generation has collections that has made the art famous and these new posters are the collections of the 21st century.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as framed art and posters at http://www.framedartandposters.com

Realism in art is defined in the same way as it would be in literature; it is the rendering of the subject matter as it really is without being embellished or putting one’s personal influence on it. The whole emphasis with realist painting is to portray the scene or the person as is in a no frills and unromantic fashion. What is sought in realism is to relay exactly what the artist is seeing to the future viewer of the painting without adding to or taking away from the subject.

Many of the paintings done my realist painters tend to deal more with situations or subjects that are a little abnormal or even sordid. Realist photography is the same way, for example some of the photos from Vietnam portraying an actual shooting, while shocking, were also very real. The idea of realism is to say this is all I know, what I see with my own eyes, whereas idealism is more concerned with a philosophy that our world is just a reflection of something greater.

Realist painters are more likely to work in subject matter that is commonplace and everyday such as farming, fishing, and other normal everyday pastimes as well specializing in painting the elderly. The colors chosen are completely non embellished and even border on being drab compared to other styles of painting.

In the 1500’s mannerism was probably the most practiced from of art in Europe and depicted figures that were exaggerated and abnormal appearing in unrealistic positions. The work of Caravaggio changed all of this when his paintings of average everyday people involved in the doing normal activities became popular. All of his paintings were simply like photographs or snapshots of real events of everyday ordinary people.

The Dutch were famous for embracing realism and the detail of the paintings from the Dutch Masters is unsurpassed. Rembrandt was one of the most famous of these realist painters whose works are admired and studied to this day. I look at these paintings and am amazed by the attention to detail that they were able to show.

Today, realism is still a major force in art as well as all other forms of media. Some of the largest draws at museums are the realist photographers who are portraying subject matter from the Gulf War and other similar tragic landscapes in a way that tugs at the heart. Realism can make you feel like you are there and at the same time, glad you are not.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about art and fine artwork at http://www.fineartstudiodesigns.com

Are you thinking of buying a painting for a relative? There are some things you should know that will help to make your gift be better appreciated. There is more to buying a painting for someone than just the right size and color.

One of the most important considerations when buying a painting for someone else is the content or theme of the painting. If the relative you are thinking of buying a picture for has a home that has modern furnishings a painting of the old west would probably be out of place. The opposite is true as well; a Picasso would look dreadfully out of place in a home furnished in early American or country decor.

Of course you have to think about the size of the painting too, if the person has an average size home with eight foot ceilings a six foot tall painting is just not going to work. You should know where the painting would be placed before you buy so you can choose one that will fit the wall properly.

Sometimes religious themes can work well when buying for relatives. In contrast to buying for a friend when you may not know their religious background you will in all likelihood be very familiar with the religious preference of a relative.

Another very smart idea is to buy paintings from artists whose works the relative already has. It is pretty much a guarantee that if they like an artist enough to have his paintings hanging on their wall, they would welcome another.

If you know that the person likes a particular area or vacation spot that can make for good subject matter to look for in a painting. If their favorite vacation was in a small town in Italy, a painting of a quaint little cafe would go nicely. If you know that they have a penchant for the Caribbean and their home would receive such a painting in good taste you could buy a seascape of a Caribbean beach or island.

Some people really like the paintings by the Old Masters like the Dutch artist, Rembrandt or the romantic styles of Monet. While buying an original is quite likely cost prohibitive, you can find reproductions that are very well done and will be loved by the person you are giving them to.

The best thing to do is to make sure of the style that the person or persons prefer and be sure that you know the size of the area where the painting can be displayed.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about art and fine art prints at http://www.fineartstudiodesigns.com

I’m a buyer and collector of abstract paintings. There are few things I like more than finding ones that appeal to me. My favorite type of painting is done in gouache and I have several favorite artists.

I know a lot of men spend their weekends playing golf or lurking in home improvement stores. I spend mine prowling garage sales. It’s amazing what people will sell for a pittance because they don’t recognize the value of what they own. Last weekend I purchased a painting done by Oscar Bluemner. The owner had it stored in her attic and thought it might have belonged to her dad. I got it at a steal.

I’m not always so lucky, though. I paid through the teeth for a work signed by Louis Bassi Siegriest. It was painted in 1947 and the composition was calming to me. I really didn’t mind the price, because to me the painting was worth it.

Last year my sister finally graduated college and got her own digs. As a house warming gift I found an oil painting done by Leonardo Nierman. I considered getting a frame to go with it, but decided to let her choose that herself, at my expense of course.

Another great painting that I bought is by Joanne Riddle. It’s called Trade Winds and it’s one of the best pieces that I own. It’s a huge painting and has a vibrant blue color. It was so big, I had to pay extra to have it shipped to my house.

I used to go out with a woman that had a painting done by Robert Gilberg. It was a signed abstract and it had almost a chameleon effect, since every time I gazed at it, it seemed different.

I have an aunt that shares my love of abstracts and her favorite artist is Lou Monti. I found one of these great paintings during a trip to Arizona and had it shipped to her from there. She promised to bake me some of her famous butter cookies and I plan to take her up on that.

My Grandfather was career military and is very patriotic. I had seen a modern abstract done in red white and blue hanging in town hall. I tried like mad to get them to sell it to me, but no one seemed to have the authority so I had to give it up. Too bad, it would have looked perfect over his mantle.

I tried to get my only nephew interested in abstracts. I bought one painted by Richard Diebenkorn at a good price on eBay, but I misjudged the size and it was too big for his studio apartment. I ended up reselling it at a profit, so it actually turned out well. With some of the profit, I purchased a smaller one done in 1927 and it fit well on his wall. I don’t know if he really liked it, but at least he seemed to and that’s good enough for me.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Fine Art Prints at http://www.fineartfulgifts.com

I have loved folk art paintings since I was a child. I spent a lot of time with my grandmother and her house was full of them. One of my favorites that she had was done by John Roeder. Maybe it’s because I spent a lot of time playing in my tree house, that the trees in the picture appealed to me so much. When she died, she left me the painting and it hangs in a place of honor over my fireplace mantle.

One of my favorite paintings was done in 1962 by Bill Dodge. It’s called First Trolley to Van Nuys and shows the center of a town filled with people. It is done in vibrant colors and also depicts the buildings in the market like an ice cream parlor and the Hotel Van Nuys.

Another painting that I admire is called Howard in 1944. It was painted in 1988 by Reverend Howard Finster and is done in enamel. I don’t know whose smile is bigger, the one in the painting or the one on my face every time I look at it.

There is a subcategory of folk art paintings that depict the world of black Americans. I have a friend who collects these and I found one of a woman reclining in a hammock. She looked so relaxed, that I could imagine what it felt like to lie there myself. I personally don’t have any of these in my collection, since I like to collect pieces that I can relate to. Still, they are a joy to behold.

One of the most famous American artists is Thomas Chambers. I don’t particularly care for his art. I saw a painting he did of a fishing scene but I chose not to buy it.

There is a water scene that I really like painted in 1940. It’s of a swamp house on a bayou and has a Louisiana feel to it. It’s called Alligator Fisher and I’m thinking about getting because it reminds me of my cajun heritage, most of my family is from Louisiana.

The painting that has touched me the most features a sad little girl and is called A Letter From My Mother. It’s a beautiful painting but it’s just too depressing to hang anywhere. I’ll find someone to give it to.

My sister also shares my love for folk art. It’s pretty funny to me that when we were growing up, she’d cry because she wasn’t allowed to play football with the boys and I used to tease her relentlessly and pull her pigtails whenever I got the chance. Now we’re very close. She favors animal prints, and I found one that depicts leopards and gave it to her for her birthday. It’s too bad my parents didn’t let her play football with us. If she could kick the ball they way she liked to kick me in the knee, I’d see to it she played for my team every time.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Art Prints at http://www.fineartfulgifts.com

The nostalgia of the 80’s has been simmering in the fashion world for several years. It is perhaps not a surprise that the pop culture of the 80’s is also rearing its head in the art world.

We have seen graffiti, which was once considered a vulgar expression of inner-city youth, become a tool for marketers and embraced as a creative outlet for urban artists.

This was made apparent on a recent episode of ‘The Apprentice’, Donald Trump’s reality program aimed to select a candidate from a group of smart, resourceful and business minded men and women. One of the tasks given to them on the series included creating an advertisement for a new game. They were to create a graffiti inspired advertisement on the side of a building to be used as a billboard.

Well, if Donald Trump has given his approval

Speaking of games, another big hit in the 80’s was video games - Pac Man, Mario Brothers and others were played by most teens at one time or another. These teens are now adults looking back with a hint of nostalgia at their youth, despite the fact that it was only 15-20 years ago. But technology changes quickly and so these icons of the 80’s are now being featured in art galleries like Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight in Hollywood.

The gallery features pieces that take a contemporary look at video games and is possibly helping to create a new genre in the field.

A painting depicting Pac Man as over-the-hill and on a drip of pellets went for $3000 according to a Reuters press release.

The artist, Greg Simkins, claimed he started out by painting graffiti in back alleys before working with canvas. And he’s not the only one bringing this strange combination of video and art to the public.

So what should we expect in the next five years? Well, for the art world change is always good, although often criticized in its formative years. So we may have to wait and see if ‘video-game art’ will make a solid stand in the art community. What we do know is that the original game players are now coming into their 40’s and anyone under that age will have grown up with video games as a part of their childhood, just as ‘I Love Lucy’ was a part of another generations’. Because of that, the images will likely have an emotional pull and impact on new and existing collectors today.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. For fine artful gifts go to http://www.fineartfulgifts.com

Although some people seem to start at an extremely young age creating wonderful art not all great artists are born. To the contrary, this is a skill that can be learned and developed.

Art education is a part of the requirement of becoming a good artist. It is true that not all attend a formal training, some are self-taught, but all are educated to some degree, even if only through practice.

Small children begin drawing and perfecting their skills as they grow. We usually see round heads with hair coming out from the top and stick bodies with stick limbs in the beginning. Most children begin by drawing their family, house and family pets. Later they experiment with other items.

Some lose interest and others continue pursuing the field. With practice their skill flourishes. As they continue to draw they not only get more accurate with the depictions but they also get quicker at the drawing itself.

The key is that an artist must learn to memorize what things look like. They must truly understand the human anatomy and how it moves. Not only basic human anatomy but the differences in the human body as it ages.

The many fabrics can pose a challenge to the artist as well. A leather blanket would certainly drape differently than one made of cotton. Lighting is the essential ingredient that can make a drawing come to life. All artists must study lighting and learn that it travels in a straight line but it reflects off some objects and is absorbed by others.

Consider the changes in the skin from infancy to old age. That must be shown in art. The same is true when the model is a young tree as opposed to that of a tree that is 50 years old. The bark would be very different indeed!

So you see, every artist is trained to some degree, whether he attends a class or not he must be taught. There are many good books on the subjects of art and drawing that can assist with the mechanics of drawing but only the artist can provide the essential element. That is the key ingredient without which the finished product will never be considered art.

I am referring to the mindset of an artist. Just as I mentioned, an artist takes into account even the smallest detail of his surroundings and notes it to memory, for he never knows when it may come into use.

Debbie Allen is a writer, internet marketer and personal coach. She has written an ebook about drawing, “The Simple But Eloquent Art of Drawing”. Read more about that at: http://www.drawingspeed.com — or visit her site designed for women of all ages at: http://www.FitInsidenOut.com

Artists are a unique breed. They are special people that have developed the skill of capturing scenes from life or imagination and putting them on paper, thus sharing them with others.

The really great artists are able to make us feel what they were feeling as they experienced the scene. The amazing thing is that artists need very little in order to do this however, some things are essential:
…Brushes & paint, pencils, or chalk
…Artist pad or canvas
…Studio

That is a basic list and most would agree that every artist should have at least those items to start. The first two are self explanatory but a bit more should be said about the studio.

First of all, the studio should be set up with convenience in mind. That means a computer and phone should be near by. It is also good to have a window in the room.

The artist would of course prefer not to be disturbed while working so the area should be free from distractions. Good lighting is necessary in order to get the coloring just right. Since the artist is likely to work for long periods of time comfortable seating is also important.

You also include a small area to house light snacks and perhaps coffee. I am not talking about anything drastic, but the more convenient the studio is the better.

Although basic supplies are minimal, over time every artist accumulates lots of brushes, pencils, chalks and other supplies so storage can become a problem. Adding a small table, a storage cart, or a book shelf will solve that problem.

Bulletin boards can become valuable for displaying work in progress and completed work. This can serve as a motivator to the artist.

One other thing, personalize your space. Decorate with things you love.

Okay, that is enough about the tangible requirements of an artist, now let us talk about the requirements that cannot be seen. These are the ones that the artist is either born with or he develops overtime. I am referring to the ability to notice details about his environment. Not only notice the details but remember them.

True artists can capture details of reality and enhance it. Artists can use their imagination as well. A photo can show us what is real but an artist can show us what feelings he felt as he experienced a dream, or a moment in time. True art makes us feel something.

That is the most important requirement of an artist!

Debbie Allen is a writer and internet marketer. She has written an ebook about drawing, “The Simple But Eloquent Art of Drawing”, to learn more about the book visit:
http://www.drawingspeed.com/ebook/ - or visit her site designed for women of all ages at: http://www.FitInsidenOut.com