5 tips for setting up himself as an artist


Any artist interested in marketing and selling their works in galleries, festivals or online must know a few things before starting. In this paper, the artist has five main components beginner must have before you begin to reflect on their journey as a successful artist. The first is to believe in themselves. Secondly, to create illustrations that sales and the third is a business today. Finally, find a place to sell your work to help your name and credit. Take a look at each.

First Believe in yourself. One of the traits more negative many artists do not think they are pretty good artists. This is a package of Bologna. If you have any art that you sell fairly well. You may need to work on some things, but you need at the beginning of the faith itself. I know an artist named Eric McCray, who has set an example for themselves, "said Believe in your own words," until the artist he wanted to be. So if Please, believe in yourself and tell all the negative thoughts in my head to shut up!

Second new illustrations. The creation of 20-30 pieces of art that is coordinated. Not to paint landscapes, portraits of pets and abstracts. Choose your niche and stick to it! As collectors and galleries, see your work they look for consistency. It shows that you're a pro. Also create art than sales. Do not create art that is boring, dull or dark. People want to feel collected, please create your art accordingly.

A third company has become. Prepare yourself as a society. Get business cards, licenses, separate checking accounts, etc. The worst thing you can do is to show in an art and you have no cards. You completely missed sales. Next get a website to promote himself as an artist. Site is pretty cheap these days and can be installed easily in no time. Also read about starting a business and an entrepreneurial spirit mindset.The longer manage a business and with the different selling technique, the better. Selling art is not only applicable to exhibitions of art for sale on Etsy and represented in galleries, but about marketing itself non-stop with various marketing strategies that help to propel your business. I encourage you to more books on marketing and sales as they create books on the art of reading the play. This helps you build the right attitude to achieve a prosperous society.

Fourth Find places to sell your work. Accept for art exhibitions, art festivals, gift shops, galleries, etc.. Do not go to libraries, cafes or restaurants. People do not go to these places to buy art. Just as real estate, where the king is also applies to finding places to sell your work. You must buy your art to people who prepared your art will take place without problems. Make sure you consider that the sites are beneficial for your market. They also want to put your art in front of people who relate to you. If you can paint birds for sale in the salons of birds or you want several gift shops. Since I paint pictures of musicians from different instruments to be applied to music festivals. You see, what I tried to get.

5th Build a name for themselves. When you start selling your work to festivals, art galleries, or traveling, your brand online. Market yourself in a way that when people think, think of art or your niche, they are yours. The more your art in front of people more opportunities, art galleries and other places you find. You can also include your name, a nickname as "the painter of birds," if you paint the birds. It could use your brand you build your customer base. I use a slogan, "says brighten your life" since I play music to paint jazz music. If I had an outdoor show that I sign this slogan in front of my tent. Those who responded very well.

With all these tips can have a significant impact for all those who try to sell their works of art in their local environment. There is a wealth of information there that many of these tips mentioned on many occasions simply because they work. The more you focus solely on artistic creation without planning how to lose the market and sell your artwork. So please take these tips in mind and move us to become not only a good artist, but an artist successful sale.

Facts About Metal Art

Art metal is extremely rugged design and you come in past years. Simply by touching the metal casing, you can get an idea of it strength and durability. There are different types of metal that can be manipulated into different shapes and sizes to create a unique work of art. You can buy metal art for your home, office or garden. Depending on where you find the perfect piece for your application, you can normally see the metal art for a relatively low cost. There are many stores that sell mass-produced art in metal. However, if you are looking for something a little more unique looking, you can at a local artist. There are even places that will customize a piece designsed for you! There are several ways to represent the art of metal. You can find parts that are designed specifically as Wall Art, mounted anywhere inside or outside. There are also rooms designed to sit on a table, floor or mantle. You can also find art with metal stakes into the ground in the room you allow your art as a decorative lawn integrated display. What could be Whatever your application, make sure that your art is certainly safer than the parts tend to be heavy metal. If you buy metal art, seek to be placed outside to ensure that your art, as it is protected, lacquered or painted with a weather-resistant coating. Not only art metal atheists rewarding it can be useful too. towel racks, clothes hooks, coasters, furniture, lamps and chandeliers are just some examples of functional parts. Iron works around your home, office or outdoor space is well placed to give each room a visual presentation to the breathtaking elegance and charm recalls.

How to draw the skeleton of Rhinoceros


The rhinoceros is a large primitive-looking animal that millions of years ago, before the Miocene. Recently, rhinos hunted relentlessly for their horns on the point near extinction.

Skull
Skull & First Taste: Draw an oval structure of medium size with the front edge of tipping. The front of the oval should cover his mouth is a trademark of rhinoceros. 2nd Jaws: Opening of the mouth move, you have two main lines of parallel lines across the cheeks reflects. 3rd Teeth: Draw a set of teeth, even between the gap. 4th Orbit: Trace a deep hole on the top of the skull to the orbits.

Spine
First the neck or cervical: the neck bones can be pulled by the extension of the line of the oval with a depression down. The length of the neck is the same as the head. With this baseline to consider a few small bones are aligned in this line forms a neck bone. 2nd Thoracic, lumbar and sacral vertebrae of the tail: Draw a line curves of the end of the neck bone, the tail cone to mark the spine. points to increased bone is placed between the lines, until ¾ of the line. The first part of the spinal column called the thoracic vertebrae. The last part can be divided into lumbar, sacral, and caudal vertebrae.

The thorax: Draw an oval on the chest below the thoracic vertebrae. Fill it with rib bone doubled.

The front legs
First Scapula: From the beginning of the thoracic vertebrae along the front of the chest, drawing a rectangular bone with wide end and narrow at the top. These forms of the scapula.
2nd Humerus: Trace a different length through the bone (oblique) from the end of the scapula and upper arm. 3rd Radius: Drag a similar bone structure to represent the radius. Canon fourth bone below the smallest radius bone prefer Canon. 5th phalanges: Make three rectangular bone hooves. Redesigning the structure of the sixth circle beside the first phalanx bone, there remains a gap.

The doe
First Pelvic girdle: Make a diagonal form the backbone of the lumbar vertebrae show pelvic girdle. 2nd legs: Draw a small pelvis bone thickness. 3rd Tibia: Draw a thin bone from the end of the thigh. 4th phalanges: At the end of the tibia, pulling three phalanges continued as before. Repeat the whole leg bone structure with a small gap before the last step. This gives the idea of soil to make the skeleton of a rhinoceros.

Skeleton drawing of the rhinoceros requires a thorough study of the anatomy of the animal. improvisations are added to the creativity, accuracy and use of shades and colors.

What is abstract art?

Abstract art is a dramatic shift in the Mindscape of art lovers. There at the end of the 19th Century AD and was launched in the early 20th century AD. In particular, the wave of Pablo Picasso and contemporary painters in the first decade of the 20th Century created profoundly affected the work of writers, musicians and poets worldwide. Indeed, a wave of movements, gradually changing styles, forms and presentation creation. Some say it is a derivative of figurative art. Some say that low to the objective of non-figurative no, not related to figurative art. But all agree on its uniqueness. Abstraction is the distance between the reality of the situation described creative. The degree of suppression can vary from light through the whole game. The latest edition is accompanied by a very necessary element sequentially. Thus, the entire image to be a reproduction of reality in a subtle form. But in some variants, such as lyric or geometric patterns, the final presentations seem far from the actual image being replaced. Prehistoric man used to create symbols for water, fire, thunder and all that surprised. Often, these symbols are difficult for modern man to interpret. But the inherent beauty of these prehistoric creations eternal appeal to all people. Thus, these representations of ancestors creations in force in the realm of abstraction to take. 19th Century, Romanticism, Impressionism and Expressionism led to abstract creations. Delivery of visual sensation, instead of the actual representation of an object is dropped into the creative field of the time. Later the trend seen at the top on the practices of cubism of Pablo Picasso and Georges bark. The emotionally charged paintings by a change of colors, shapes and forms of Expressionism was on the basis of abstraction. Moreover, was the inspiration in the mystical paintings of the era in Eastern Europe. Abstraction has also gained inspiration from the post-impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh, Cezanne and Gauguin. Henri Matisse and his followers created Fauvism to expressive use of color in the early 20th century first century Paris. But the critical point is reached with the radical painting by Picasso with cubism.

All About Sculpture

The sculpture is the art and science of building, construction, or molding a replica of the imagination of the artist or the product of a complex in which a drawn part. Sculpture includes everything from materials that are commonly used, either wood or metal. The artist uses a wood or metal, something or someone to get to sculpt a work of art for commercial purposes.

Since the process of transition from a sculpture is so versatile, it takes some time, it is probably worth keeping an artist his work of art from their own use or for private reading. One may wonder how to make a sculpture? What is a general process of writing a play? Let us examine more closely how a sculpture is made. The first step is made especially to the test, the artist decides on a theme or inspiration to make a sculpture.

Normally there is one thing to fake, to go with a sculpture. It varies in general, it is sometimes a photo of someone or something, or it could be a product of the imagination of the artist. Then the artist will decide to use the device. The equipment to be used will be based on the use of the sculpture. Will he be placed inside or outside?

Is it as decoration or as an event for an event? Regardless of works by the artist will decide to use the best material. However, when the sculpture will be used for private purposes, it is the owners who decide to use that material because they will pay the artist for this piece. The sculpture is placed after the date started.

For commercial sculptures, they are in contract, how much will it cost and when is the date of completion of the sculpture will be mounted. The artist has to work under pressure during this time. Since sculpture is not easy to train, sometimes there are trials and errors with the artist, the size of the sculpture estimate for the works. They wanted the piece at any angle, so that they perfectly define the dimensions and monitoring the effectiveness and quality of work.

The artist is to all on the sculpture, to see the perfect look for the human eye. The artist can also make changes from time to time, and have some finish on after it has all been created and each species was carried out reached.The a sculpture is not easy, before they are owners.

It requires patience, heart and skills to be able to complete a sculpture. If your heart is not really into it, you could end up after a few changes. As a sculpture course and unstable. But for an artist, if your passion is in you is self-realization to self-satisfaction and happiness, what you do to find. You would think after each song, the sculpture is worth it.

Basics of Color Theory


Many people first start designing websites in the colors of their choice. Every time she looks at the end with a color that clashes or simply bad. Sometimes they get lucky and end up with a plan that is consistent and good looks, but most of the time the plan is difficult to look at the audience. This can be very difficult, but they will face, to help you understand how the color on Web sites and other marketing materials. In 1666, Sir Isaac Newton, along what is known today as the first color wheel. The wheel shows groupings of colors, the "harmonious" and all colors that may conflict.

Primary
The primary colors consist of red, yellow and blue. This, in theory, can be created mixture of different colors and all the other options, by their mixture

Secondary
The secondary colors are violet, green, orange. There is a combination of red and blue, red and yellow, and yellow and blue formed.

Tertiary
Tertiary colors are red-orange, red, purple, yellow-orange, green, blue and violet-blue-green and yellow.

You may be asking "OK, fine, but what's your number?" The fact is, you need these basics before you begin to learn to understand how colors work together harmoniously. Some colors are fantastic together, while for more effective support you in your eyes. Believe it or not, it's a theory on the color wheel, which is based colors look better.

Similar
Colors that sit side by side on the color wheel. Mess Around with the hues and saturation of colors and come with an easy pleasant to look at the plan.

Triads
If you are an equilateral triangle on the color wheel location, create a color with pop. The most common is red, yellow, blue, are only a few others, green, purple and orange, purple or yellow-orange, blue and green and red.

Free
These colors are opposite each other on the color wheel, you can look really good, if a color is the dominant color and the other less involved.

Screen Printing Tips


Silkscreen printing, screen and the screen has also called, is a printing technique that you create a sharp image with the use of a pressure gauge and a porous fabric.Screen is the main contact point design sets. silkscreen T-shirt can be a good way to start a home business. It is not difficult to learn. You can find step by step instructions on the Internet, some even have videos. Here are some simple tips that could be useful if you start with design shirt screen printing. As already mentioned, you need instructions or videos of the printing process available. Make sure you have a large work area before you work or purchase materials. You must make a clear space to make room for your tools and accessories. If you have configured your workspace or area, you are now ready to buy your kits and printing extra supplies needed. You can create your own screen printing, if you're up to. Old newspapers or scrap paper will be useful. You can see on your line of work surface, because the screen can be chaotic. If you are in the process of printing T-shirts, you need to avoid a piece of cardboard into force between the front and back of the shirt, ink soaking through it. If you print, you should let it dry overnight. It is so easy! Give it a try, who knows, maybe you're a tycoon shirt!

Supplies of Modern Art Day

If you are an artist, chances are, you know drawing tables. If you do not know what they are, they are tables that can tip the different ways to get a better angle for drawing. Today, many architects use to plan and develop plans. They come in many varieties and have many advantages. Some have written that only diagonally opposite, so that you do not stoop to your work for a longer period. The tables in the drafting chairs that are adjustable in height to avoid even come slouching. Sometimes they can be purchased together, but most of the time they are sold separately.

If someone is sitting at a desk all day working on drawings or paintings, you're probably just tired because of the way you sit. The number of these tables is that they designed specifically with you and contribute to this problem. If you're in art as a hobby and do not spend all your time working on art, it is good to have a separate table just for your stocks. Can you imagine trying to paint or draw on a table full of papers, pens and important documents? This could be very messy. The table has a perfect amount of space for all your projects and supplies that you do what you do not worry about your work and art of things mixed.

Some tables are in a ratio of light under his orders. So if you want something Trace, you do not need to guess where to draw the lines. Any way you want, they are available at most furniture stores or art supply stores and you can access any type of material such as wood.

Some are so bent and put them in this case, you probably would not use that much. If you plan every day or almost every day, then use one that is not foldable, is probably the best option if you want to take it to other places were planning often. Depending on what you are working, the size of your project a major role in what you buy. You do not want to use a table in this way too small.

Some of the benefits is a drawing board, if you want, you can store it, they are big enough for many, is the angle from which you want to work. All these things can make a work area more comfortable, and you can work longer, what you want. Easels may switch because he is on three legs and, although they rely on large tables is certainly the best choice. The other great thing is that you do not have to get up and work.

3 Secrets to Drawing

Everyone can learn to, draw. In fact, anyone can learn to draw very well. If you want to draw well, then let it run. Because the design is a person can learn skills. Many people want to get in position to pursue, but never, as they apologize. You can say: "I have no talent." Talent is a myth, and that you have no talent is an excuse.

They will not take a position overnight. Having the ability to create and comes after much practice. It's like playing an instrument. You need to practice everything you want to be good.

In this article I will share with you three secrets of good design. They are really no secrets, but to apply the basic principles of design, the most successful artists.

# 1 - The design is at least 50% of observation drawing is actually more realistic to see that it is anything else. To drag an object on the conceptual level, it must look. I see a lot of artists try to draw something realistic and not on the subject. Most of the time they are frustrated that their drawings do not like what they tried to seek to draw. This is simply because they do not have to look at the object. Learning to look is a science in itself. Pay attention to the line, values and form of what you are trying to attract. You can have a picture of an object, without the camera displays it. Therefore, you can not draw a specific object without looking.

# 2 - you can get something out of the cup shapes Each object can be divided into basic shapes. Circles, rectangles and triangles can be found in every object. From these forms the basis for the opinion and put them together, you can actually build the structure of the object you draw. Instead of drawing the contours of the object, try subscription form easy to define the shape of the object first. Try not know what you think, drawing, rather than focusing only on the forms to see. Reconciliation with a drawing in this way, both your speed and increase accuracy.

# 3 - Provide a full range of value pricing is one of the seven elements of art. Is defined in darkness or brightness of a color. The value is in fact how we see objects. Light on an object and creates lights and shadows. This tells us where the light is the origin and defines the shape of the object. We can see because light. Attach the light in a drawing. I often see students with a small field of converting the data.

In other words, they can use the mid-tones to create their designs to make their designs too easy. To accurately represent the objects that you create, you must have a full range of value. To ensure that you have a full range of value, you create a value scale. Start with seven boxes. In the first box, it so dark in color than done. In the next box, the color is very dark, but not as dark as the first field. Repeat on the remaining boxes, becomes progressively easier as you go. The final box must be completely white. Use your scale of values to evaluate your use of the value in your design. Look at the drawings that are successful and compare your scale of values for them. I bet they have a wide range of value.

Learn to oil paint

Learn to oil paint has many challenges to novice painters. There is no doubt that oil painting is one of the most difficult media of painting masters. Do not good. As I always tell students to learn, is in oil paint only a matter of mastery of basic skills and building gradually.

Here are some questions and answers that many beginners often ask.

What about skinny fat?

There will always learn from people who asked in oil paint, and it's a good question. Fat over lean is essential for oil painting. It is a way to prevent your paint cracks when dry. I'm sure you've seen oil paintings with cracks in the paint, so to avoid this method.

When you press the color tube, it is bold. To make it more fat you can just more oil to make it easier, you need to add thinner turpentine. To avoid cracking your paintings start with a lean mixture. Increase the fat that add several layers of your oil painting. His desire, the risk of your oil paint to reduce cracking when it dries.

Do I paint my pictures?

As I said, learning to oil paint is a unique challenge. You do not need to paint your oil painting done, but if you will not be attacked by air pollutants such as dust origin, and even smoke on your painting.

The application of paint is one coat on the paint and protects it. If you need to paint or not to you. If there is a practice that you do not intend to disturb not continue. If you intend to hold a table and painted.

Opening is a skill to master if you have to learn to paint in oil. A good tip is to express a painting that you're not interested about the practice before applying polish your best pictures.

Can the oil again?

If you learn with oils that you use a lot of color to paint. If you have a little color left intact on your palette, you can perform a number of methods to protect it from drying out for a few days, so you can avoid using the color again. Learn to paint with oils is a bit more complicated than learning to paint with watercolors. However, there are some practical require the necessary skills to cope with oil paintings of sound color.

painting in watercolor


Watercolor is a fairly simple process, and this may be why many people try. As the solvent is water, there is a ready supply to dilute the artists to bring their own needs, and if errors are a little more water makes painting or corrections. In terms of technique, watercolors are semi-transparent, which means that the brightness of the article gives lots of light. It is therefore difficult to use water colors on dark surfaces, although the painting on paper can give a touch of color with heat or cold to an image. However, other oils, are completely opaque, even if the spread thin, so that the color of paper or canvas is largely irrelevant.

watercolors purchase

watercolors are available in two formats, which sells art materials suppliers - such as blocks dried or liquid form in a tube. The powder is also sometimes seen, but it is more often restricted to specialists and to achieve certain effects, like a simple table.

Most people are familiar with blocks of watercolor, as we all are used in primary schools and play groups, while painting a hobby experience, discovery and more than a little confusion. The block itself can be used as a miniature variety, with water directly on the block itself and ink on paper. Must sit in a separate color mixing palette, though. Blocks can be dried in batches, usually packed in a tin can be purchased with a lid, creating a convenient, portable container and an elegant gift for any budding artist. The size of these doses of watercolors varies greatly from Six sets colure small to large quantities of a variety of colors. The great advantage of blocks of watercolor is that they can be used again dry, wet again and again, they never torment or suffering from dehydration than other colors.

Watercolors in tubes might look like oil paint in the store, then we must take care when buying them (and the purchase of oil for that matter). Watercolors are used in the same way as oil, which they rolled on a pallet, and then combined or diluted by the painter to get the desired color. But because they can easily be diluted if they allow all of the opacity of a wash almost transparent to very strong, bold, if colurs left almost pure.

Watercolors can use a wide range of painting techniques, washing vaporous effects too strong, the application of high contrast. Combined with the fact that the watercolors cheaper than oil, they are an ideal material for practice, sketches and experimenting.

Native American Art - Painting


The Blackfoot, Cheyenne and Dakota (Sioux) tribes lived as nomads on the Great Plains, the buffalo hunt. They painted symbols and numbers on the shells of Buffalo and used to make clothing and tipis. Painting could describe an event - a fight or a hunt. Others were inspired by visions and contains icons and images, believed to have been to provide protection.

The Filipino Painters


In the second half of the 19th Century Filipino painters showed enough maturity of concept and technology to win critical acclaim. Damian Domingo got recognition as the "father of painting in the Philippines." Towards the end of the Spanish regime, two Filipino painters known in Europe - Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo and Juan Luna. Antigone Hidalgo and Luna are both recognized in Europe Spolarium masterpieces of painting Filipino. In 1884, Luna won the first gold medal at the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes its Spolarium. The monumental painting shows fallen gladiators in a pile of corpses hidden in a room under the Roman arena razed.

The Mona Lisa Background


Leonardo Da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in 1503. According to contemporaries of Leonardo da Vinci, Giorgio Vasari, "... after spending four years there, leaving unfinished ...." He is expected to remain on it for three years after having completed and returned to France for him shortly before his death in 1519.Leonardo taken painting from Italy to France in 1516 when King Francois I invited the painter to Clos Luce near the royal castle of Amboise in the work. Probably by the heirs of assistant Salai by Leonardo da Vinci, the king bought Table ECU for 4000 and kept at Fontainebleau, where he remained until given to Louis XIV. Louis XIV will paint at the Palace of Versailles. After the French Revolution, he was moved to the Louvre. Napoleon had moved in his room at the Tuileries, and later she was back in the Louvre. During the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) was the Louvre to a hiding moved elsewhere in France.

Mona Lisa was not good until the mid-nineteenth century was known as an artist began to appreciate the emerging Symbolist movement, and associated with their ideas on the Feminine Mystique. Critic Walter Pater in his essay on Leonardo da Vinci in 1867 expressed this view in the image of the painting as a kind of fashion myth of the eternal feminine, which is older than the rocks it sits "and "Many deaths may have been sometimes, and learned the secrets of the grave. "

The Mona Lisa


Mona Lisa (La Gioconda or the Mona Lisa is also known) is a portrait of the sixteenth century oil on poplar wood painted in Florence, Italy with Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci in the Renaissance. Work is currently owned by the French government and is on display at the Louvre in Paris under the title "Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo.In addition, it is the best known and most iconic paintings in the world.

The painting is a bust and shows a woman whose face is often described as enigmatic.Others believe that the slight smile, a sign that the issue is a secret. The ambiguity of the expression of the subject, the monumentality of the composition, and modeling of subtle and atmospheric illusionism new properties that have contributed to the continuing fascination and study of the work.In 1911, it has been stolen and copied, the copies have been sold as the real painting. It was recovered in 1913.

History of painting


The oldest known paintings are claimed in the Grotte Chauvet in France, by some historians to about 32,000 years. They are engraved and painted with red ocher and black pigment and horses, rhinos, lions, buffalo, mammoth or humans often display the hunting. But the first evidence of the painting was discovered in two rock shelters of the Arnhem Land in northern Australia. In the lowest layer of the material on these pages is used, there are pieces of ocher estimated that 60,000 years. Archaeologists have also a fragment of rock paintings in a shelter of limestone has been in the Kimberley region of Northwest Australia, which is 40 000 years, has found. [1] There are examples of cave paintings in the world, in France, Spain, Portugal, China, Australia, India, etc.

In oil painting and watercolors Western cultures are the best known media, with rich and complex traditions in style and theme. In the East, and color ink historical predominant choice of media with equally rich traditions and complex.

Pallets and Techniques of Masters: The Pre-Raphaelites


In the middle of the 19th Century, the Royal Academy of Arts in London as a place of study. But his view was "acceptable" art very discouraging, idealization of nature and beauty. In 1848, form a group of students banded together disappointed, the Pre-Raphaelites, with the overall objective of the revitalization of the painting in Britain. Only three would go to the History of Art: William Holman Hunt (1827 - 1910), Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) and John Everett Millais (1829-1896).

Their principles are the simple presentation of the problems, rather than based with a serious theme and moralizing, an honest interpretation of nature to the direct observation on the outside, and the respect of Christian spirituality was. The symbolism is also important.

Bright colors transparent than (then flash) were applied in thin glazes on a smooth, white background, the canvas more often. With a white background instead of a color, brightness is a painting. Building through the enamel paint mimics the effect of light on an object and gives a depth that can be achieved through mixed colors on the palette

Acrylic Painting Techniques: Casting Paintings


Pour, puddles, drops ... The characteristic of this technique of acrylic paint is that you can not apply the paint with a brush or putty knife, but the severity of the use to move the paint across the canvas. The results are different from what you get with a brush: the fluid flows without brushmarks paint or texture.

Finding Your Style

There is a basic, but fundamental question that always comes up when I'm designing an item for someone or giving them some decorating tips. Very often, the answer is, "I really don't know." What is the question? It's, "What style(s) of decorating do you like?" Do YOU know the answer to that question? If you don't, this article is for you.

It really is important that you understand your style before you set about decorating your home. Why? It's kind of like reading the recipe the whole way through before you start to cook it. Or writing your grocery list down organizing items by categories. You can cook a recipe by reading only one line at a time, and you can grocery shop one item at a time, but you'll have a much easier time accomplishing your goal if you have a clear picture of the end result! It's the same with decorating. You can search for your decor one thing at a time by looking everywhere and considering everything, but it will be much easier (and enjoyable) if you have a clear idea of what you are and are not looking for!

I'm going to lead you step-by-step through the process of 'Finding Your Style.' It's not a quick, five-minute process, and will take some visiting of bookstores, magazine racks, and libraries. But it's an enjoyable process that is worth the time!

Step One - Browsing and Discovery
The first thing to do is to browse magazines and books to find photos of decorated rooms that appeal to you. I recommend using mostly magazines because they're less expensive to buy and browse at home, and also because you'll find a greater variety of decorating styles. Books tend to focus on one or two styles only. Check your library to see what they have available in both decorating books and back issues of magazines. Look for those with plenty of pictures! Keep sticky notes available to mark rooms you like. Some of the best decorating magazines and books can be found in the bookstore at KatieDid Design. Feel free to browse through and write down titles to check for in the library.

Now it's time to start the fun part! Start browsing the photos. Don't look for anything specific -- forget the colors you want to use, the furniture you have, and what you've used in the past. You want to look at each room with a brand-new perspective, and see it for the first time. Don't pay attention to the individual items in the room; instead, imagine yourself sitting down to read a favorite book, or cuddling down on a snowy winter night. If the thought of living in that room brings a smile to your face, mark it. Go through as many magazines and books as you can and do this... the more you find you like, the easier later steps will be.

Step Two - Identifying Common Themes
The next step helps you identify what it is - exactly - about each room that you like. Go back to the first rooms that you like and go through them again. This time, try to find common themes or techniques that the rooms share. These are aspects of the room to compare:

* Colors - Do they use soft and light colors, dark and regal tones, bright colors, muted shades
, lots of white, etc...

* fabrics
- Do they use florals, checks, solids, plaids, antique-looking brocades, etc... and are the fabrics mostly light and airy, or heavy and rich? How much fabric is used?

* Walls - What have they done to the walls? Are they just painted, or are there lots of moldings? Are they papered or bordered? Walls are important - they are the background and frame of the room.

* Wood - Is the wood that's shown in the rooms mostly natural and comfortable looking, or highly polished and sophisticated? Is it painted in clean, crisp colors, or faded and cracked to look antique?

* Furniture - Does the furniture use large, comfortable lines and plenty of pillows, traditional high back chairs with small prim pillows, or sleek straight lines with no pillows at all?

* Arrangement - How are the rooms arranged? Is the furniture pulled away from the wall and brought together in a cozy grouping, or is it spaced out? Is everything arranged symmetrically at right angles, or is the seating at soft angles and tables mismatched around the room?

* Knick Knacks - Are there lots of them, or just a few? Are they antiques, or sleek brass and glass? Are they grouped in collections, or mixed with books and plants around the room?

* Lighting - Where is the light coming from? Is it mostly from lots of windows? Are the lights centered overhead? ...recessed around the edges of the ceiling? ...coming from lamps down at eye level and on tables?

As you go back over the rooms you've marked, and pay attention to these things, you'll begin to see similarities emerging. You'll also begin to recognize names such as 'Traditional', 'Victorian', 'Colonial', etc. and begin to have names for what you like. And don't be surprised if you like a mix! It's called eclectic when you love to mix styles. I love to mix casual Victorian, and formal Traditional. It might sound like a strange mix to some, but it's perfect for me! And you'll find what's perfect for you!

Maybe you'll discover that you really love lamps on tables, rather than overhead lights. Maybe you'll find that you love light-weight fabrics. Perhaps you'll realize that pulling the furniture away from the wall makes all the difference in the world. And maybe you'll better understand why you love to collect what you do!