Keep Acrylic Paint Moist

Acrylic paint comes in a large variety of colors.

Since acrylic paint is water-based, it tends to dry out very quickly, however, this also makes it easy to dilute without the use of special thinners. Additionally, acrylic paint stays true to its color after drying and is easy to clean up. This makes it the choice of many artists, both new and old. When using acrylic paint, keep it moist to ensure that it goes on smoothly and that none gets wasted by drying out.

Instructions

1. Use a small amount of acrylic paint at a time. Since it dries out quickly, squirt out a dab of paint onto your palette right when you're ready to paint. Getting the paint out too early gives it time to dry out before you actually use it.

2. Purchase a palette that includes a sponge designed to keep your acrylic paint moist. Also, between uses, store your paint in a container with a very tight lid.

3. Spray your palette often with water. Start with a light mist so you don't over-saturate the paint and make it runny. If it gets too thin, add more paint and mix it up.

4. Make your own moistening palette for acrylic paint. Place a damp paper towel on top of a paper plate. Cover the paper towel with a sheet of wax paper. Put a small dab of acrylic paint directly on the wax paper with the paper towel under it, which helps keep it moist.

5. Cover your palette with a damp paper towel and aluminum foil between uses. Also, storing it in the refrigerator helps prevent the acrylic paint from drying out.

Interpret Traditional Irish Art

Interpret Traditional Irish Art

The earliest remains we have of art in Ireland belong to the megalithic tomb at Newgrange. Bronze Age artifacts and golden objects like torcs and armlets reveal an interest in metalworking. The Medieval period produced religious images, decorative objects like the Tara Brooch and illuminated manuscripts. To understand traditional Irish art, you must interpret its symbols and learn about the history and religion of Ireland.

Instructions

1. Investigate the iconography and symbols of Celtic art in Ireland. These include knots, labyrinths, spirals and crosses. Celtic knots symbolize the thread of life and the process of the spirit. The oval knot and the serpent knot symbolized eternity. The round knot refers to the sun's orb and the three interlocking spiral knots represent earth, fire and water.

2. Learn what the animals represented. The horse is associated with night, mystery and magic; the dog is a popular shape shifter depicting loyalty, snakes represent rebirth and the salmon knowledge. You do not see realistic representations of animals because Celtic tradition forbids the duplication of the Mother Goddess Danu's creation. The Celtic goddesses shape shifted into different animals and birds thus making them sacred.

3. Study the mythology of the Celts in Ireland. They were polytheistic with more than 300 deities. Knowledge of the stories will help you interpret the artwork. Learn the iconography of the gods and goddesses so you can recognize them in the artwork. The Dagda (good god) is a figure of power, the god Lugus is associated with light sun and summer, Danu is the mother goddess and Morrigan is the tripartite battle goddess.

4. Consider the landscape and history of Ireland and the role that plays upon the artwork. The land and sea are a major part of Irish life and an important subject in the art. The Celtic cross symbolizes the four roads to the four corners of the earth. They roads meet in the center of the earth. The Tree of Life is another symbol used by the Celts. Its meaning connects into the creation of the earth.

5. Determine outside influences upon Ireland. Roman Christianity influenced early Irish art. Examine images from the illuminated manuscripts found in Ireland such as the "Books of Kells." It is on display at The Trinity College Library in Dublin. Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements in European art influenced Irish nineteenth and twentieth century painting.

Make Acrylic Flowers

Cut one-of-a-kind plastic flowers using a scroll saw.

Acrylic is a relatively new material to the world of craft, and jewelry and craft items made with colorful acrylic have a funky, modern quality. If you want to make acrylic flowers, it is possible to use a die cut machine with flower stamps to create standard flower shapes. However if you want creative freedom to make any shape, size and style flower you want, use a scroll saw. A scroll saw is a table saw with a thin, spiraling blade and is well suited for making intricate, rounded cuts.

Instructions

1. Draw your flower shapes on an acrylic sheet with a dry-erase marker or a marking crayon. These implements are both erasable.

2. Put on safety glasses to prevent fragments that are cast off while cutting from entering your eyes. Pull your hair back and don’t wear a shirt with long, loose sleeves or any dangly jewelry, as these items can get caught in the blade.

3. Turn the scroll saw blade speed to medium-high.

4. Set the acrylic sheet on the scroll saw table and turn on the saw.

5. Feed the acrylic sheet into the blade slowly. Do not force the acrylic. The cut will be smoother if you are gentle. Pushing too hard on the acrylic can also bend or break the thin blade. Guide the acrylic sheet so the blade cuts along your drawn lines.

6. Periodically back-out the acrylic sheet, turn off the saw and blow out the blade. Acrylic shavings can easily get stuck on the blade, which can result in a jagged cut.

7. Use a mini plastic welder if you want to attach the flowers to other acrylic pieces, such as different colored stems and leaves. The welder is preheated and the tip is moved along a joint to fuse two parts together. The plastic welder can also be used around petal edges to soften them and add subtle nuance.

8. Use a drill with a plastic drill bit if you want to make a hole in the flower for stringing on a necklace. Drill using a slow feed rate to avoid cracking the acrylic.

Locate A Tomb In New Orleans St Louis Cemeteries

Located near the French Quarter, the historic Roman Catholic cemeteries St. Louis 1, 2 and 3 date back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The narrow, twisted paths lead to crumbled tombs, built in above ground vaults to protect them from floods due to the low ground water level. It's easy to find a tomb if you know look.

Instructions

1. Gather as much information about the person as possible from obituaries, wills, death certificates and other public records. You at least need the first and last name, as well as the date of death within a year.

2. Search for the names and burial dates of the deceased person's closest relatives. The St. Louis cemeteries have vaults that contain groups of family members, so if you search for the person's closest relative, you may find them as well.

3. Find out which cemetery the deceased person was placed in. The funeral home or church that handled the final arrangements can provide the name of the cemetery and perhaps even the tomb number.

4. Contact the cemetery office to get the tomb number and a plot map, which will help you locate the tomb when you visit the cemetery. St. Louis 3 is the only cemetery of the three that has its own office; however, all three cemeteries are operated by the New Orleans Archdiocese.

5. Request tomb numbers and plot maps for St. Louis 1 and 2, in writing only, from the St. Louis Archdiocese, 1000 Howard St., New Orleans, LA., 70113-1903. Include the deceased person's name, nationality and date of death within one year. For more information on request information, call the Archdiocese office at (504) 596-3050.

6. Call the main office of St. Louis 3 at (504) 482-5065.The cemetery is at 3421 Esplanade Avenue. St. Louis 1 is at Basin and St. Louis Streets. St. Louis 2 is on Claiborne Ave., between St. Louis and Iberville streets.

7. Consult the cemetery plot map when you have the number of the tomb. Plot maps don't list names. The tomb numbers are written in the boxes on the plot map and are arranged consecutively.

Make Your Own Street Stickers For Free

Make Your Own Street Stickers for Free

Whether you're looking to promote your band or advertise a product, you can create handy street stickers at no cost with just a few supplies from your home office. Street stickers are colorful graphics that adhere to street signs, bathroom walls, store windows or any other eye-catching area that people frequently pass. For some people, both the creation of stickers and the "stickering" process itself are part of the enjoyment and excitement. With a bit of creativity, you can make your own collection of stickers to distribute.

Instructions

1. Open Microsoft Word and click the "Tools" menu, then select "Letters and Mailings" and choose "Envelopes and Labels." On the "Envelopes and Labels" window, click the "Labels" tab, then click the image of the label in the bottom-right corner. Scroll through the box to find a pre-set size for the street stickers you're creating.

2. Check the "Width" and "Height" for the label to ensure it meets your size specifications. If you can't find the size you want, click the "Details" button and nudge any of the size boxes or number of labels per page buttons up and down to get the required numbers. Click the "OK" button. Back on the "Envelopes and Labels" window, click the "New Document" button and your page fills up with a blank sheet cut to the sized stickers.

3. Click your mouse inside the top-left box on the page. Click the "Insert" menu, then choose "Picture" and select "From File." Browse to where you have a logo, graphic or image to go on the sticker and double-click it so it appears in the sticker box. If you don't have an image, choose "Clip Art" from the "Picture" menu and select an image, or create one, then paste it in.

4. Click your mouse inside the box again and select a font from the top toolbar. Choose something eye-catching such as Impact, Copperplate Gothic or Rockwell Extra Bold. Select a color and size for the font, then type the information to go on the sticker, such as your band's name or website address.

5. Click and hold your mouse key, then drag it to highlight everything in the top-left sticker box. Once highlighted, press the "Ctrl" and "C" keys on your keyboard. Drag your mouse to highlight the rest of the boxes of stickers on your page, then press the "Ctrl" and "V" keys. This pastes in the sticker art so you don't have to redo each box separately.

6. Choose a background color for the sticker; note that this will put a background on the entire page of stickers. Select "Format," then click "Background" and choose one of the colors. For a more eye-catching background, click the "Fill Effects" link, then choose the "Pre-Set" button under the "Gradient" tab. You can get tye-dye, chrome and starburst background effects this way.

7. Load sticker paper into your printer. Click the "File" menu, then click "Print" and select your printer from the menu options. To print multiple pages of stickers, increase the "Number of copies" you want to print. Cut out stickers along their edges after printing.

Paint Glass Bottles

Paint Glass Bottles

Recycled glass containers make excellent vases, candleholders or simply decorative jars for display. Some bottles may already be colored and ready for decorating, but many of the bottles you will find around the home are clear glass and do not make an attractive project on their own. Clear colored glass requires painting to add color and dimension to the finished product. With a few supplies and a little time, you can paint glass bottles in any color you desire.

Instructions

1. Collect empty glass bottles with interesting shapes and designs. Empty jars from flavored oils, and specialty vinegar and beverage jars are often tall and slender making them ideal for vases. Empty jars from pickles, dips and other preserved food are often short and stout making them ideal for glass containers for display or as trinket jars.

2. Wash the empty bottles in hot soapy water and dry thoroughly. Allow bottles with labels to soak for ½ hour to remove the paper label.

3. Visit the craft store to purchase paint designed for use on glass. These come in a wide selection of colors and are even available in spray form. You may wish to use stained glass paint to created a colorful design. Select the colors that appeal to you.

4. Prepare a work area in well-ventilated spot by lining a worktable with old newspapers. Be sure to wear old clothes or a protective smock to avoid soiling your clothes. Apply a base coat to the bottle. You can either brush or spray this onto the outside of the bottle or create a base coat on the inside. To coat the inside, pour a teaspoon of paint into the bottle and twirl the bottle to coat the inside. Add more paint if necessary. Coat the inside of the bottle thoroughly and allow to dry overnight. If you are using stained glass paint and want the light to shine through the glass skip this step.

5. Paint the outside the desired color following the instructions on the paint container. Allow to set for 24 hours to dry completely. Display your artwork on shelf or give as a gift to someone special on your list.

Make An Easel For Painting With Oils

Sit comfortably in front of an easel to paint.

When you paint with oils on canvas, you need something to hold the canvas in place. Most painters use an easel to prop up their work throughout the painting process. You aren't limited to using an easel to only support works in progress; you can even use an easel as a display stand for finished works of art. Having an easel allows you to paint in various settings comfortably. The ideal easel is easy to fold, carry and transport. Make your own easel at home and save the expense of purchasing one from an art supply store.

Instructions

1. Cut two 63-inch boards out of the pine using a saw. Cut one pine board measuring 51 inches in length.

2. Cut a pine board that measures 27 1/2 inches in length and angle one end of this board. Cut another pine board that is 15 3/4 inches long. Separate the wooden dowel in two 7 4/5-inch pieces with the saw.

3. Secure the 63-inch pine boards together with a G-clamp. Attach the spade bit to the drill and measure 3 feet down from the top of the boards. Draw a line in pencil to mark this measurement.

4. Drill a hole halfway through the wood on the pencil drawn line. Measure 6 inches toward the center of the wooden boards from the pencil-drawn line and drill another hole halfway through the wood. Measure another 6 inches down the board toward the center of the board and drill a hole halfway through the wood.

5. Grip the bottom ends of the 63-inch boards and pull them 23 1/2 inches apart. Grasp the top ends of the boards and pull them 5 inches apart. Draw a line 29 1/2 inches up from the bottom of each 63-inch board.

6. Glue the 27-1/2-inch board on the marked line and drill holes through the boards at the points where they intersect. Screw the 27-1/2-inch board to the 63-inch boards. Turn the easel frame over and draw a line 8 inches down from the top end of the 63-inch boards. Screw the 15-3/4-inch board to the 63-inch boards along the drawn line.

7. Lay your paint tray against the top portion of the bottom rail that joins the 63-inch boards and glue it in place. Secure the back leg of the easel frame to the rail that bridges across the front legs of the easel with a brass hinge.

8. Drill a hole through the middle of the bottom rail. Drill a hole through the back leg of the easel. Pull a sash cord through both holes and tie a knot on each end of the cord.

9. Open the legs of the tripod easel. Sand down the bottom ends of the legs until the easel is level and flat.

Make Masquerade Mask Templates

Mardi Gras masks frequently use purple, gold and green.

Masks have a long history in many cultures, but the traditional masquerade mask remains one of the most popular forms. Partiers often use these elegant masks for Mardi Gras and Carnival celebrations. These masks may either cover the face or the eyes, and are often festooned with gold, feathers and glitter. Making your own mask is quite easy, but to do so, you will need a template to work with.

Instructions

1. Tear off a 30" long strip of aluminum foil and fold it into thirds. You should end up with a thick rectangle of foil that is 10" long.

2. Remove any glasses or ornamentation from your face. Lay the aluminum foil over your face and gently pat it down with your hands. The foil will mold to the contours of your face. Do not pat it down so tightly that you cut off airflow. The foil only needs to take on the general shape of your face, not every detail.

3. Lift the foil mask from your face. Be gentle with it and try not to distort it. Set it aside for now.

4. Trace the outline of a face on your leather by using chalk to draw an oval that is 10" long by 8" wide. Cut the oval out with a pair of leather shears. Lay the leather oval over your face and lightly mark the leather over your eyes using the chalk. Cut out a pair of eye holes where your marks are.

5. Fill a large pot with water and place it on a stove top. Bring the water to 120 degrees F. Place your leather piece in the pot and leave it. The leather will emit noise as it heats up. Remove the leather when the squealing noises stop.

6. Remove your leather with a pair of tongs and quickly drape it over your aluminum foil mask. Make sure to line the eye holes up correctly with those on the foil mask. Allow your mask to cool and dry completely. This may take a day or two.

7. Trim any excess leather from the edges of your mask with your leather shears. You now have a durable leather template that you can use to create your masquerade mask.

Improve Your Watercolor Painting Skills

A Little Busy, portrait of Kate's cat Busy by Robert A. Sloan

Anyone can learn to paint in watercolor, and the joy of being an absolute beginner is that you have nowhere to go but up. Watercolor isn't an easy medium, but it is cheaper to take on and generally less frustrating than oil painting, and that frees you to experiment, change styles frequently and start several projects simultaneously.

Instructions

1. Get the supplies that will make it easy to do a lot of small, quick watercolors without much fuss. A pocket set like the Sakura Koi 12-color pocket box, and a good waterbrush, are essential.

Buy or make a watercolor journal. You can make an inexpensive one with a cheap ring binder and a hole punch. Get sheets of 140-lb. watercolor paper, cut them down to fit in the binder and punch holes in them. You can add as many pages as you like. You'll use the journal to chart the colors in your watercolor set for quick reference and it will also act as a sketchbook.

2. Search YouTube for watercolor instruction videos; there are plenty of good ones. Find as many free instructional goodies as you can online and try the paintings in them. If you don't have exactly the same colors, use the closest ones. If you don't have exactly the same brush, improvise.

3. Get a good book on sumi-e, Japanese ink painting. Monochromatic sumi-e techniques will expand your skills in composition, in different kinds of strokes, in ways of seeing your subject and most of all, in being able to simplify a painting to make it more powerful. Sumi-e practice improves anyone's watercolor painting. Do some traditional Asian monochrome or simple multicolor paintings, paying attention to the white space and not covering the whole page. For this practice you can use pages of lighter weight --- 90-lb. student watercolor paper --- because you're not dealing with massive washes that can cockle.

4. Turn each stroke exercise into an actual painting. Start with one stroke and build on it to create whatever subject it suggests to you. This is a powerful inspirational tool even for the expert. It encourages you to start from scratch and paint from imagination, freeing yourself from strict realism and fear of failure.

5. Sketch and draw often. Learning to draw helps a painter develop good observational skills and understand the shapes, textures, values and other tricks involved in representational painting. Try sketching with watercolor pencils so that when you paint over the sketch, your lines are close to the colors you used and blend completely.

6. Paint every day if you can. Take your pocket set and a small watercolor pad to work and paint during your break. How often you paint, not how slow you paint, will determine how fast you progress.

On weekends or whenever you have more time, do several paintings at a time, spreading out the early stages to dry while you start another. To aid this, get three or four small watercolor blocks bound on all four edges, especially if you like painting outdoors.

7. Start a blog or use the blog you have to post your Daily Painting. There's nothing more encouraging at any level than posting your work online and getting comments. Even if you're a complete beginner, just doing daily painting and blogging it will help you progress.

8. Find a good art community like WetCanvas.com or DeviantART.com where you can post your art regularly for comments and critique. Make sure the forum you choose is a friendly one that encourages painters at your level -- WetCanvas is very good because beginners are welcome, and many professionals participate in the forums, teach classes and give tips. Also, many art sites post challenges and prompts with photo references to give you ideas.

9. Paint what you love. If you're into marine paintings, do lighthouses and seascapes. If you love animals, paint your favorite animal again and again, using different strokes and color schemes. If you like portraits, paint the people you love and sketch the people you meet. Your best paintings will always be the ones that mean something to you.

Let A Boy Down Nicely

Don't go out with him if you don't like him.

One of the most awkward and uncomfortable things to do is turn down someone who is really into you, when you're just not into them. It's not easy to find a way to turn him down gently without bruising his ego. Think about how you would want someone to break up with you. You would want that person to be respectful, honest and straightforward, so you need to do the same.

Instructions

1. Pull him to the side privately. It's embarrassing enough for you to have to tell him that his interest in you is not reciprocated, so don't make it worse by doing it in front of his friends or within earshot of other people.

2. Compliment him while letting him down. Start the conversation off by telling him that you think he's got a great sense of humor or style or is really sweet, "but..."

3. Be straightforward and honest about how you feel. Don't beat around the bush or confuse him by saying, "I'm not sure about us" or "maybe we should just be friends." This leaves the door open and could give him hope.

4. Explain why you don't want to date him. Be honest about why you don't like him. This will help him move forward. If you don't think that you have anything in common, tell him so. If you're interested in someone else, be honest about it.

5. Don't linger. After telling him, excuse yourself politely so that he can pick up his bruised ego with dignity.

6. Don't get back in contact with him. Don't text him asking if he's OK, or saying you want to hang out as friends. If you do want to be his friend, give him ample time to get over you. Otherwise, you will just confuse him.

Make A Tie Dye Fish

Create colorful, tie-dye fish using colored markers.

Kids enjoy bright colors and craft projects that let them get a little messy. A rainbow-colored tie-dye fish project combines both these things together. Try each of two different methods for creating tie-dye fish and see which children like best. The activity works well with the book "The Rainbow Fish," and makes a creative classroom activity or a story-time craft for a weekend at home.

Instructions

Coffee filter tie-dye fish

1. Color a coffee filter with washable colored markers. Funology.com recommends using a variety of bright colors and leaving white spaces in some areas instead of coloring the entire filter. Color the center circle and skip the outer edges.

2. Sprinkle water over the filter and set it in a sunny area. Check on the filter after 15 minutes. According to Funology, the washable markers should have spread and blended together to create unusual, colorful patterns.

3. Cut out a fish pattern and trace the outline onto the center of the coffee filter. Position it over your favorite parts of the colored patterns. Remove the pattern and cut out the fish. Cut out a matching piece of white poster board and glue the fish to it for extra support. Use a glue stick on the poster board and not liquid glue. The liquid glue will soak through the coffee filter.

Food coloring tie-dye fish

4. Change into old clothes and cover your work area with newspaper. Wear latex gloves if you do not want food coloring staining your fingers.

5. Spread out a large piece of aluminum foil and place a row of paper towels across it. Drop several different colors of food coloring over the surface. Leave space between some drops while allowing others to overlap and mix in certain areas.

6. Cut out a fish pattern from white poster board or card stock. Press the fish down onto different areas of the paper towels. Rotate the fish and dab it downward to create interesting swirl effects. Keep dabbing the fish around the paper towels until you have enough colored swirls and patterns. Allow the food coloring to dry and draw on a face with a Sharpie marker.

Improve Your Mural Painting Skills

Improve Your Mural Painting Skills

Even the best mural artist could gain from improved mural painting skills. All mural artists could stand to work quicker, improve their technique and expand their repertoire.

Instructions

1. Read magazines and books on murals and painting. Subscribe to artists magazines and purchase or borrow books on painting. You can use these materials to teach yourself new techniques and to discover new ways of working.

2. Expose your self to the work of other muralists. It is easy for an artist to isolate themselves and work in a bubble. You need to view the work of other mural artists. The purpose of this is not to copy what other artists are doing, but to be inspired by other artists. Such inspiration will only improve your own talent and skills.

3. Take art classes. You are never too good of an artist to take art classes. Even a beginner artist class can be helpful to a seasoned pro as it can remind you of some techniques and skills that you had long forgotten. You may also want to take classes on things like faux painting, tromp l’oeil, painting, and stenciling as this will improve the range of your skills.

4. Practice often. Mural painting will improve with each mural (or even smaller painting) that you paint. Therefore, in order to improve your mural painting skills you should make it a point to paint regularly. Don’t just wait until you want a new mural in your home, or until someone asks you to paint for them.

5. Stay abreast of new materials and tools. Learn use a projector to help you transfer drawings onto a wall, learn draw sketches in proper perspective and scale, find out about new paints and rollers and brushes that may make your job easier as soon as they come on the market.

Improve Vocal Diction

Become an effective communicator through better vocal diction.

Diction is one of the most important aspects of speech communication. A person with proper vocal diction is able to get his point across in a clear way, with strong enunciation and word articulation. Learn convey messages, concepts and ideas efficiently through working on your vocal diction.

Instructions

1. Use tongue twisters. If you want to practice getting better at standard speech, tongue twisters can easily do the trick. Work on pronouncing your plosive consonants sounds (the letters B, P, T and D) through reciting word exercises that repeat a lot of the same letters. Plosives are a common issue with diction as the sounds tend to disappear when they come in the middle of a word (due to sudden air flow halting).

2. Speak slowly. When you speak, remember that there is no prize for whomever rushes out the words the fastest. Take your time when you talk. If you speak rapidly, you risk your listeners not being able to understand everything you're expressing. Also, before you communicate something, ponder exactly what you want to say first. The more prepared you are for what you are going to say, the easier it may be to keep control of your diction.

3. Open up wide. Avoid mumbling and speaking incoherently by making sure that your mouth actually moves when you communicate. To ensure that you are doing this, observe yourself speaking in the mirror. Observe the motions of your jaw, lips and tongue.

4. Pay attention to intonation, which is the way your voice goes up and down as you talk. Put the emphasis on the appropriate syllables when you speak. Apart from accentuating the right syllables in words, make note of the fact that intonation can make a world of difference. For instance, "You're going to the store" flatly sounds like a command, while "You're going to the store?" with a subtle rise at the end, instead, comes across like a question.

5. Keep your Gs in. One pitfall that many people experience in vocal diction is neglecting to pronounce the G sound at the end of words such as "dancing," "eating" and "visiting." Make a point always to clearly and sharply pronounce the G at the ends of words. Apart from making your speech easier to understand, it will give off the impression that you care and put time into how you speak.

Identify The Strings On A Harp

Identify the Strings on a Harp

Harps use many types of gauges on strings to get a wide range of notes. How a harp is tuned depends on the type of harp you are using. Most harps are tuned diatonically in a seven note scale. Some harps are tuned chromatically with a twelve note scale including all sharps and flats. Diatonic harps obtain sharps and flats by using levers, pedals or hooks. Full size harps usually have 47 strings while semi-grand harps have 46 strings. Some pedal harps may have 44 strings. It is important to identify which type of harp you have before determining which type of tuning the harp uses and which note the strings are tuned to.

Instructions

Identifying the Notes of the Strings

1. Identify what type of harp you are playing. Pedal harps are the main type of harps. They are also called Concert harps and can vary in their size and the amounts of strings. Changing to sharps and flats on a pedal harp is done by using your feet. Lever harps, in contrast, consist of folk harps, Celtic harps, and Irish harps. They use hand-operated levers to switch to sharps and flats.

2. Identify the C and the F string. These strings are usually easily identifiable because on most harps they are color coded. The C string is red and the F string is black.

3. Use your electronic tuner to confirm the C and the F are the red and black strings (or if they aren't color coded, which strings are the C and F). Because tuning a harp is flexible depending on the player's preferences, identifying the notes of each string is a matter of the tuning you are using. Most harps are generally tuned in C Major.

4. Use the electronic tuner to make sure the other strings of the harp are tuned. The tuner will tell you the correct notes of the C Major scale. Tune the notes in ascending order with the shortest string as the highest pitch note. A C Major scale is easy to identify because it has no sharps or flats.

5. Place pieces of colored tape on the neck by each string to help identify the notes of the strings. This will assist you when you are beginning to learn the layout of the harp. Each piece of colored tape will correspond to a different note within an octave.

Impersonate Someone Famous

When you are attempting to copy the behavior and actions of another then you are impersonating them. An impressionist is a person who impersonates multiple celebrities as a part of their stage act. There is a huge difference between assuming someone's identity and impersonating them. Assuming a person's identity is illegal. In the political arena, an impersonator or decoy is sometimes used as a security tool. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

1. Decide who it is you are so enamored with that you want to be like them.

2. Study the actions and behaviors of the famous person. Buy, borrow or rent videos of their shows and interviews.

3. Relax and pay attention to your own mannerisms. Make a list of your ticks and gestures-create a video of yourself and study it with all the other tapes of the famous person you want to impersonate.

4. Perform in front of as many people as you can find. Enter competitions and entertain at parties. Practice will be the key to your success.

5. Establish a name for yourself locally with your impressions. Perform in bars and clubs as much as possible. Give interviews and always keep the next step in mind.

6. Search constantly for better venues to perform. Invite agents and club owners to your performances.

7. Create a new you. Become the famous person you want to impersonate.

Impersonate James Stewart

James Stewart

James "Jimmy" Stewart was an Academy Award winning actor. His career was prominent in the 1930's, through the early 1970's. Tall, slender, and wide eyed was the look Stewart had that made audiences welcome him with open arms. He typically portrayed the average Joe, or a man who was trying to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. This is illustrated in such films in Frank Capra's " Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," and "It's a Wonderful Life."

Instructions

1. Be the Average Joe. Look the part by dressing in khaki's, a button up shirt, vest, tie, and wool jacket. Stewart is known for portraying family men, who represented the little people.

2. Get quaky. Stewarts voice is very distinctive. Originally from Pennsylvania, his voice was an exaggerated mid-western accent. His voice shook a little when he spoke. There was always a little quiver in every word he said. The key is to add this element, without cloaking your words.

3. Stewarts wide eyes were what gave him the innocent look that we all melted into. They are similar to "puppy dog" eyes. Widening your eyes while raising your eyebrows will give this effect. The point is to look innocent, not surprised.

4. The half smile. Give off a smile that is similar to the Mona Lisa smile. Smile from one side of your mouth as opposed to both. This gives off the "aww shucks" vibe Stewart was known for.

Make Elf Ears

Make Elf Ears

A pair of elf ears can be a great addition to a Halloween or Christmas costume. The look is unmistakable, a normal set of ears on the lobe area. They stretch upward and finish in a fleshy point. Usually, these are oversized for effect as well.

Instructions

1. Draw an elf ear on a piece of cardboard. If you are not artistic, search for a picture of an elf and trace the ear on a piece of paper until you get the shape right.

2. Cut out the outline and trim the edges so the ear is smooth.

3. Color the cardboard to match your skin color or the skin color of your costume. You also can draw details that make an ear look more realistic, such as the opening in the center of the ear and the different curves and folds that make ears unique.

4. Choose among the three methods for fastening them to your head. One is to tape them to your ears; another is to run a string through the ears and wrap it around your head like a headband; the third option is to wear a hat and fasten the ears to the hat.

5. Create comically large elf ears by cutting out a pair of elf ears from a durable foam. Create slits on the inside of the fake ear for your real ear to slip into.

Impersonate Batman

After over 50 years since his creation, Batman continues to be one of the most popular superheroes of all time. While there are many fans of Batman and the world of Gotham, some people actually crave to be him, and while it may never fully happen, you can get pretty close to impersonating Batman by following these simple steps.

Instructions

1. Lifestyle: Batman's alter ego is the very rich Bruce Wayne. To be like Bruce Wayne you need to maintain a very public lifestyle that includes going out to charity events like balls, supporting new projects in your city, and keeping a low profile about your other persona.

2. Costume: The key to being Batman is having the perfect costume. Many online retailers sell duplicate costumes that can cost hundreds of dollars, but will actually give you pretty much the same thing that Batman from the movies wears. The best costume to get is the one from Batman Begins. It is more current and will not look as bad as wearing the costumes that Adam West donned in the TV show Batman.

3. Make sure you have a long cape, and if you want to go Tim Burton style, but a yellow oval with a black bat on the middle of your costume. One of the other most important things is the utility belt. Have a lot of accessories on the belt to help you fight off enemies and make your way around the city. You can even add extra accessories like a cell phone and iPod to make the belt more modern.

4. Car: The Batmobile usually gets around in one thing and that is the Batmobile. You will not find any of these at your local car dealer, but there are ways to get it as close as possible. Check out different websites for custom Batman things, even if you have to use decals. Also look out for contests as well, Taco Bell once ran a contest where they gave a winner a free Batmobile.

5. Bat Signal: To show people in your city or neighborhood that a Batman presence is near, you need to set up your own custom Bat signal. Simply head over to your local Home Depot or supplies store and pick out the biggest and cheapest spot light that you can find. Then get some thick black construction paper and cut out the shape of a bat. Tape the bat to the middle of the spotlight and attach it to your roof. The bat signal should be flying high when you turn the light on and then you are ready to go and save the world.

6. Martial Arts: Batman is a skilled grappler and fighter, and this is key to becoming him. He does not rely on superpowers to take down foes, but using his smarts and power, he has been able to defeat them easily. Go to a local kickboxing or karate center and train to become the best you can before you start busting criminals.

Impersonate A Celebrity

Impersonate a Celebrity

Celebrity impersonators are popular additions to fundraisers, corporate events and parties. In addition to being a source of great amusement for their families and friends. Impersonating a celebrity requires research and practice. The good news is the process of impersonating a celebrity is the same whether you want to transform into a president or a rock star.

Instructions

1. Study the cultural output of the celebrity you wish to impersonate. If it's an actor, spend time watching all of her movies. When you want to impersonate a musician listen to his albums and watch videos or concert footage. Politicians can be viewed in action by watching C-SPAN or the nightly news.

2. Learn important catch phrases, mega-hit songs or stirring speeches that are instantly recognizable as belonging to the celebrity. If you're not a fan of the celebrity and need to see them, do a quick internet search to identify her most famous moment.

3. Copy the celebrity's fashion, make-up and hair. Seek out still photos of the celebrity either on the Internet or in a weekly gossip magazine. Identify trends when impersonating a major celebrity, go for his or her iconic look.

4. Watch interviews of the celebrity out-of-character. When wandering around parties as the celeb, you will need to make small talk apart from your act. To be truly authentic, find out how the celebrity acts in interviews and adopt that persona.

5. Practice your act. Start with the song or act you plan to do, then add hair, make-up and costume. Once you are comfortable enough impersonating the celebrity alone, perform the act for a trusted friend or family members to get feedback. Incorporate any changes you need to make and take your act on the road.

Get A Guy To Break Up With His Girlfriend

Generally speaking, it's usually best to stay out of other people's relationships. However, there are times when a guy's partner clearly isn't right for him. He may be unhappy, dependent or even abused, but he'd definitely benefit from breaking up and moving on. If you know a guy in a bad relationship, here are some ways to get him to break things off with his girlfriend and find love somewhere else.

Instructions

1. Strengthen your relationship as friends. Before you can offer him meaningful advice, you'll need to get to know him as well as you can.

2. Be understanding and listen to his problems. If he doesn't want to open up about the relationship right away, be patient and wait until he's comfortable talking about it.

3. Point out the negative things his girlfriend does, but do it in a positive way. Instead of being openly critical, lightly suggest how things in the relationship should be, or how they'd be different if he were dating you.

4. Lead him to resources that list good reasons to end a relationship. Most guys aren't sensitive enough to what their partners do to know when she's crossed the line.

5. Always tell the truth. People are bound to find out when you're lying, and it'll only make it harder for your guy to trust you.

6. Make yourself available to talk anytime your guy wants. Building a stronger bond between the two of you is the best way to make him see the flaws in his current relationship.

Identify Reverse Foil Artwork

Observe the painted side of the reverse-glass painting to identify a real antique.

Reverse foil artwork is also known as reverse-glass painting, where artists painted on the back of glass for mostly decorative objects. According to the Encyclopedia of American Folk Art, reverse-glass painting was popular in America in the late 1700s to the early 1800s, though the technique was used in Europe since the thirteenth century. The subject matter of the paintings ranged from cupids to geometric designs, and the paintings were often incorporated into furniture such as sideboards and mirrors. To identify antique reverse foil artwork, examine the glass for the materials that were used during the height of its popularity.

Instructions

1. Study the front and back of the artwork with a magnifying glass to be sure that the painting is on the back. Reverse-glass painting should painted, inlaid or gilded from the reverse side. The painting was often translucent with silver and gold leaf. Be sure your artwork is not etched glass from the front side.

2. Observe the actual painting on the artwork. Reverse-glass paintings were often inexpensive decorative objects that appealed to a mass audience. The subject matter often used flowers, imitation stained glass, historical figures, important events, such as the American Revolution, and landscapes. Check if your artwork features this type of subject matter.

3. Examine where the reverse foil artwork is. Most reverse-glass paintings adorned furniture, mirror, frames and clocks. If your artwork is on its own in a frame, it may not be an antique unless it was taken off from a larger piece of furniture or mirror.

4. Look for separation of the layers of paint and gilding. This is a common problem according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, once the binding materials on the glass start to deteriorate. Paint layers do not bind well with smooth surfaces, and glass is a smooth surface. Detached paint layers look lighter and voids occur between the glass and the paint. Paint flakes are also a sign of layers separating.

5. Analyze the artwork with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, which museums or art conservators would have. It would analyze the composition of the paint and glass. For example, a reverse-glass painting at the Metropolitan Museum was analyzed to have a two to one ratio of potassium to calcium with traces of sodium, magnesium and aluminum, which pointed its origin to an American glass manufacturer in Maryland from the 1700s.

6. Test the paint sample with a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy which is used by museums and art conservators. This examines the type of paints and other chemicals used on the artwork. For example, the Metropolitan Museum found on the same reverse-glass painting linseed oil as the paint medium, which was often used in the late 1700s to early 1800s on reverse-foil artwork.

Identify Raccoon Poop

Identify Raccoon Poop

Recognizing when raccoons are living in your area is important because of their destructive nature and the fact that their feces, or "poop," may transfer disease to humans and pets. Raccoon droppings may carry the parasite Baylisascaris procyonis, which can cause illness or death in humans. Here's identify whether the droppings in your area are from a raccoon, so you can take the necessary precautions.

Instructions

1. Compare the raccoon droppings to that of a medium sized dog. They look much like dog feces: dark, tubular in shape, up to 1/4-inch in diameter and usually appear in well-formed, blunt segments. Older feces may look like dry leaves or a small pile of debris.

2. Observe the contents of the feces. Poorly digested seeds and peelings of seasonal fruits are usually present. Insects, such as grasshoppers and crickets, are apparent if they are abundant in your area.

3. Look for other evidence that raccoons are in the area to help verify that you have found raccoon droppings. There may be hair on fences or tree bark where they have been climbing, and the young ones often wear out areas at the base of trees where their den is located. Overturned trashcans and other mischievous activities often indicate the presence of raccoons.

4. Use caution if you run across a raccoon latrine. These are areas where raccoons keep coming back to leave their fresh feces on top of old droppings. They are often at the base of trees, along fence lines, woodpiles, on roofs or in unsealed attics.

Identify Pairpoint Glassware

Pairpoint glassware is very popular, and often sells for large amounts at auction.

Pairpoint glassware is made at America's oldest glassworks, founded in 1837. A wide range of glass products have been created by Pairpoint over the years, from vases and bowls to glasses and ornaments. Each piece is carefully handmade and painted to create unique and striking items which are loved all over the world. Unfortunately, Pairpoint's popularity does mean fakes have become available, but it is relatively easy to discover if your Pairpoint glassware is real or not.

Instructions

1. Look at the colors of the piece. Pairpoint glassware primarily use cranberry, sapphire blue, cobalt blue, ruby, rosaria, gold ruby, opal, Vaseline, camellia, auroria, amber and amethyst. There may be touches of other colors where these colors have combined, but if your item contains a very different color, it may not be original or may have been repainted.

2. Check the painting. Pairpoint is hand-painted, and while it is very high quality, the pieces have a distinctive handmade quality. Examine the painting for signs of machine painting, such as very straight lines or perfect shapes. These are often signs of fakes, as fake glassware is mass produced.

3. Match the pattern with the online database available on the Pairpoint website. Although there are hundreds of designs, most of these are available to view online, including commissioned or limited edition versions.

4. Contact Pairpoint. They have a corporate office in Cape Cod which is contactable by the public. It is worth asking if they will help you to identify your piece, and waiting to see what they need. For some pieces, photographs may be enough to identify whether it is Pairpoint, although more complex pieces may require you to send the item itself.

Identify Paintings By Artist

Identify Paintings by Artist

Identifying a painting by an artist can be easy if the artist's signature is clearly visible. Things become more complicated, however, when no signature can readily be seen, or if the authenticity of a painting is in doubt. In order to properly identify the artist, you need a little knowledge and a willingness to do some detective work. Depending on how intensely you pursue the question, it can be as easy as checking the local library or as difficult as solving a centuries-old crime.

Instructions

1. Study art history. Know the different historical movements, the masters who shaped them and the ways in which they influenced subsequent artists. Understand the methodologies used in different artistic periods as well: the brushes, the paints, etc. Knowing the style of a given painting can help you identify the movement during which it was made, and knowing the materials used can further narrow down the date it was painted, both of which go a long way towards determining the artist.

2. Research as many different artists as you can. Every artist has a unique style, shaped to a certain extent by the period in which he lived but also reflecting his one-of-a-kind outlook. Intimate knowledge of that style can help you spot a particular artist--with a quick look, in some cases. You may notice little details and flourishes that pinpoint the creator of a work. If you suspect that a given piece was created by a specific artist, you can research that artist in particular, but a broad knowledge of many different artists can steer you in the right direction even if you have no idea who painted a particular work.

3. Check the painting closely to identify its characteristics. Start with the style itself: the techniques used to create the image, the subject matter. If you have access to the right materials, test the painting for its age and composition; contact a local university or museum for advice on the best way to approach it. Look for clues that point to a particular artist--a specific model or a particular subject--and extrapolate from there. The more evidence you can assemble pointing to a given artist, the more you can eliminate other possibilities and definitively determine a painter's creator.

Identify Glass Patterns

Carnival glass has an iridscent appearance.

Glass has served a purpose for both style and function for hundreds of years. The earliest known production of glass was in 1226 in the United Kingdom, and glass has been used for decoration and useful function ever since. Antique glass is sought after by collectors for its history, style, colors and unique appearance. However, it can be difficult to distinguish antique glass patterns. There are a few tricks to make this easier.

Instructions

1. Look for clear, thick glass with edges that are polished to an angle that is not 90 degrees. The light is refracted through the glass, which creates prism-like effects. This is called beveled glass.

2. Watch for glass pieces with a transparent, monochromatic glass that is usually colored. The surface can be either smooth or textured and is referred to as cathedral glass.

3. Examine glass items for a surface that looks like alligator skin. This is crackle glass and is created by reheating and blowing the glass to create surface fissures and is a technique that dates back to early Venice.

4. Look for glass that has a multi-colored surface that has a shimmering rainbow effect. Called iridescent glass, this also known as carnival glass, which was a popular Depression-era style. One of the most popular patterns in carnival glass was the stag and holly pattern, with a picture of a stag deer and holly leaves. This was manufactured by the Fenton Glass Company.

5. Find glass pieces that are pink, blue, red, yellow and green, which are usually Depression glass items. Popular Depression glass patterns included bubbles, diamonds, hearts, lace and swirls. Collectors often refer to Depression glass patterns as "Adam to Windsor," meaning that there are at least 23 patterns of Depression glass, which are usually referenced alphabetically. To view the full list of Depression glass patterns, find a reference book to see detailed photographs and information. One such example is "Mauzy's Depression Glass: A Photographic Reference with Prices" by Gene and Cathy Florence.

6. Examine the glass items closely for hand-etched patterns, cutting wheel patterns and hand-ground bottoms, all of which identify Elegant glass patterns. Elegant glass was produced during the Depression but was treated by hand after being removed from the mold, giving it a greater attention to detail and more intricate patterns.

7. Identify glass that is milky or opaque in color, typically in a white or bluish shade. This is milk glass, which was popular during the 1800s and often had block and fan or button and arches patterns on the glass.

8. Watch for glass that is yellow-green in appearance and looks slightly iridescent. This is Vaseline glass and is made by adding 2 percent uranium dioxide to the glass ingredients. Vaseline glass can be identified by shining a black light, or ultraviolet light, on the glass, which will glow florescent green.

Paint An Abstract On Canvas

Abstract by artist SondraC

Painting an abstract on canvas is an activity limited only by the artist's imagination and the size of the canvas. The abstract artist does not paint what he sees, but how he ''perceives'' reality to be. An abstract painting can include lines, curves or both. It can employ colors that blend, twist and turn, or that merely add a light tint to the canvas.

Instructions

1. Choose the basic colors for your painting. Use the color chart to determine which colors complement each other. Prime the canvas with Gesso to make it smooth.

2. Paint what you feel at that moment. Look at any image: a tree, a flower or even a wall. Squint at the object and paint what you ''think'' you see. Blend contrasting colors; make them move by creating curves, lines or dots.

3. Use a variety of brushes to add shading. A fan brush will thin and widen the painted area, while a more rounded brush can add highlights. Add yellow to red to blend and create shadings of orange. Some areas might be darker and some lighter according to your brush strokes. Step back and look at the canvas to get another prospective on what has been created and/or needs changing.

4. Understand that not all abstracts painted on canvas need to "look 'like'' something. Create an illusion by adding colors that contrast, then add lines or color shadings. Look at the yellow in the center of this painting. Does it appear to stand out above the other colors? Now look only at the red and green. Do they seem to stand out over the yellow?.

5. For future projects, experiment with the size of the canvas. A small canvas can be constricting, but the painting will not take as long to finish and will look great hanging next to a large painting. A large canvas allows for more freedom of painting, and a larger span of space in which to create what you envision as the canvas leans against a wall or lies on the floor.

Identify Baroque Art

Identify Baroque Art

Baroque is the term given to the art movement of the Counter-Reformation that began in the late sixteenth century and ended in the mid-eighteenth century. While the style makes an appearance in some Dutch art, it emerged mainly in predominantly Catholic countries. Painters, sculptors and architects located in these areas strove to evoke movement, emotion and variety in their artwork. Read on to learn identify Baroque art.

Instructions

1. Research the three main categories of Baroque art. The Catholic Counter-Reformation emphasized simple compositions used to tell stories that ignited religious feelings in the viewer. The aristocratic courts of Louis XIV of France produced art that while religiously themed exemplified the style of Northern Europe. The work of the Stuarts of England and the merchants of Holland is distinguished by their genre scene, or depictions of everyday life. Dutch art reflects an absence of religious themes because the Protestant Church did not commission art.

2. Study works by Michelangelo Merssisi da Caravaggio such as "The Conversion of St. Paul." This piece marked the beginning of the Baroque movement as a response to the Jesuit religious movement known as the Catholic Counter-Reformation.

3. Notice Caravaggio's use of dramatic light. Called chiaroscuro, this painting technique uses contrast of light as a means of giving three-dimensional depth to objects like the human form. Chiaroscuro is often applied as a means of contrast to entire compositions which gives a painting a sense of drama. It was first seen in "The Conversion of St. Paul" and is technique seen often in Baroque art.

4. Explore the work of Paul Rubens and Nicolas Poussin. Rubens' "The Assumption of the Virgin" and Poussin's "Holy Family on the Steps" are both characteristically Baroque in their religious subject matter and their expression of drama. Rubens tends to favor the bold use of color in his work to achieve baroque theatrics. Poussin uses contrast and shading along with precise lines do the same. Both pieces create a dramatic Baroque effect even though the artists use different techniques. Both are considered classic examples of the French baroque style.

5. Research the work of Frans Hals, Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer. These painters are all considered classic Bourgeoisie Baroque artists. While classic religious themes are explored by each of these artists, the emergence of the genre scene, or a depiction of everyday life is also investigated by these painters which is a classic theme surveyed in Dutch Baroque art.

Identify A Valuable Michael Jackson Thriller Record

Michael Jackson Thriller Record Inside of Gatefold Jacket

Whether selling or looking to buy a valuable release of Michael Jackson's Thriller record, you will need to know identify a first (original) release or a half-speed mastered edition. Knowing what to look for will ensure you are selling or buying the "real deal."

Instructions

1. For the 33 rpm vinyl record, look to see if your Michael Jackson Thriller record has the Epic label. Next, Look for QE 38112 on the label.

2. For the half-speed mastered edition, look on the label for HE 48112 and the year 1982. Again, this is a 33 rpm record.

3. For the Michael Jackson Thriller 45 rpm record, check to make sure it is an Epic label. Then check for the year 1984 and 34-04364 on the label. The flip side of this record is Can't Get Outta the Rain.

4. Check the quality of the record itself. Look for scratches on the vinyl. The less wear there is, the more valuable to the seller and buyer. Also, check the label to make sure there is no writing and if the label has dulled in color.

5. Check any Michael Jackson Thriller record you have for a signature, especially if you are not the original owner. Who knows, you could be surprised and have a valuable Michael Jackson signature!

Identify A Richardsonian Romanesque House

With massive towers and ashlar stone facades, Richardsonian Romanesque houses were built according to, or influenced by, the designs of architect Henry Hobson Richardson in the last two decades of the 19th Century. Although the style as a whole faded out in the 20th century, Richardsonian Romanesque-type details continued on in later house styles, such as the similar Queen Anne style.

Instructions

1. Head to the big cities of the northeastern United States, where you'll find the largest concentration of Richardsonian Romanesque style houses. Or, roam the older streets all across the country to identify the houses that were built in this style. Stop when you spot a big stone house that makes you think of ghost stories and princesses in turrets.

2. Look at the front of the house for Richardsonian Romanesque features. Is it at least two stories high? Does the front of the house display mostly stone and brick? Does the house look lopsided, with the right side different from the left? Is the door set deeply into the front porch in shadowy concealment?

3. Peer up at the roof. Do the gables cross, or intersect each other? Is it a hipped roof--that is, with edges that slope in on all corners and meet along a ridge? Is there decoration on the ridge of the roof? Are there small "eyebrow" dormers arching out of the slope of the roof? It's not necessary that every roof have all these features. But if some are present, it may be a Richardsonian Romanesque house.

4. Look at the tower or turret. Is there only one tower? Or, if there are two towers, is one much smaller than the other? Does the tower look massive and have a small, decorative finial on top? There is nearly always a tower or turret on a Richardsonian Romanesque style house.

5. Check out the windows. Are there plenty of small windows that are deeply recessed? Do you see rows of windows in a line, or "ribbon"? Do the windows have multiple panes and other decorations?

6. Notice the arches over the porch and the bigger windows. Are the arches made of half round wedges of bricks fanning out, or voussoirs?

7. Finally, look closely at all the decorative details. Does it seem very ornate, in keeping with the Victorian Style of which Richardsonian Romanesque houses were a part?

Identify A Police Impersonator

Identify a Police Impersonator

Criminals across the country have tried to impersonate police officers. Some police impersonators pull over unsuspecting people while driving. Women are especially vulnerable. Most people trust a police officer and let their guard down. The crimes impersonators commit range from robbery, to rape and murder. There are steps you can take to help you identify a police impersonator and avoid becoming a victim.

Instructions

1. Consider why you are getting pulled over. If you are driving and are sure you were not speeding or breaking the law, be cautious when the officer approaches you. Most of the time there may be a problem you were unaware of. However keep your guard up and ask why you are being pulled over.

2. Look at the car. It may be hard to get a good view of a car that pulled you over, especially at night. But do your best to determine if it is a law enforcement vehicle. Most vehicles will have several emergency lights, not just the flashing red or blue light. Keep in mind that most unmarked police cars are not doing traffic patrol.

3. Ask for identification. Police impersonators can easily obtain a uniform that looks authentic. Ask for photo identification and a badge. The police officer should be willing to comply.

4. Watch his behavior. When you ask for identification, pay close attention to how he acts. Most officers are aware that criminals impersonate the police. Therefore they should be professional and courteous about showing identification. Look for signs of anxiety such as the officer fidgeting or raising his voice.

5. Call 911. If you are unsure an officer is the real deal, don't hesitate to call 911. The dispatcher can verify where an officer is and help you determine if the officer who stopped you is a fake. Trust your instincts. Its better to be safe than sorry.

Identify A Mannerist Painting

Identify a Mannerist Painting

Mannerism, a 16th century European art movement, rejected Renaissance classical ideals such as naturalism, balance and harmony. Mannerism arose in troubled, changing times; the plague, the Reformation and Rome sacking Florence in 1527 were key events, which might account for the strange and unsettling feeling that one gets from the work. Identify Mannerist paintings by following these steps.

Instructions

1. Study some of the Mannerist painters like Jacopa da Pontermo, Agnolo Bronzino, Parmigianino and Rosso Fiorentino.

2. Notice the subject matter. Artists emphasized the intellectual. Use of Christian and mythological iconography, proverbs and folklore are common.

3. Look for subjective expression. The expressions of the figures are psychological, sometimes tormented. Spirituality is emphasized and yet a seductive undertone exists.

4. Consider the use of space. The composition is crowded and not as realistic as during the Renaissance. Space is flattened and compressed. Perspective is not as important. There is a blurring of boundaries, creating infinity.

5. Note the proportions of the figure. The painters distorted their figures and used exaggerated poses. The figures are lengthened, twisting and often in strange body positions. Often the heads are too small for the bodies.

6. Recognize how color is used. It expresses emotion. The use of color is bright and arbitrary. Colors often clashed and lighting is sometimes harsh.

7. Observe the details. Mannerist artists are technically proficient, having learned from the Renaissance masters. You can see the evidence in the surface details, coloring and technical aspects like foreshortening.

Identify A Leonardo Davinci Painting

For centuries, people have been fascinated with the work of Leonardo DaVinci (b.1452 - d.1519), an artist, engineer and architect. One of the most famous painters of the Italian Renaissance, DaVinci actually completed relatively few paintings. Two of his works, though, are perhaps the best known paintings of all time - the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Here are some tips for identifying a Leonardo DaVinci painting.

Instructions

1. Look for more lifelike figures than in earlier painters' works. Leonardo captured life around him, constantly sketching and scribbling in a journal. He was one of the first painters to show more lifelike human and animal subjects in his paintings, depicting more movement and not just stiff, posed portraits.

2. Notice individual layers of paint that are thin, not thick strokes of already blended colors. Leonardo didn't mix his colors on a palette but rather layered them thinly on the canvas to develop color blends, rich textures and an almost three-dimensional effect. This ability to create more 3-D artwork was enhanced by DaVinci's study and sketching of the human form.

3. Detect the use of a painting tool other than just a paintbrush. While many artists' works are full of nothing but discernible brushstrokes, DaVinci often used a combination of paint brushes and his own thumb to get the effects he wanted on his canvas. The lefthanded painter referred to his painting technique as light and shade blending "without lines or borders, in the manner of smoke." For this reason, his style is called "sfumato" from the Italian word for "smoke."

4. Compare Leonardo's use of oil paints to other artists of his time who mostly used egg tempera. In fact, he was one of the first of his era to use oil paints as he enjoyed the freedom to rework a painting-in-progress.

Hypnotize Someone With Your Eyes

Hypnosis has been defined as a natural state of consciousness that each of us has experienced many times in our lives. Thus, the art of hypnotizing is as fascinating as the trance it often puts people in. More importantly, hypnosis has been used to change unwanted habits or behaviors. In fact, in 1958 the American Medical Association approved hypnosis as a form of treatment in medicine and surgery. Learning the various methods and techniques to hypnotize does not require a great deal of expertise. Among one of the simplest techniques is to hypnotize with the eyes.

Instructions

1. Ask your partner about previous experiences with hypnosis. This will help you better gauge get him to relax. Explain that being hypnotized does not remove his consciousness and that he will have control over his actions.

2. Watch for any movements or changes in breathing patterns. Pay close attention to such things as shifts in posture, muscular tension and even swallowing.

3. Sit down in a chair. Have your partner sit down across from you so that he is facing you. Look directly into his eyes as if looking through them. Advise your subject not to break the stare unless instructed to do so.

4. Continue staring into your partner's eyes. Tell your partner to allow relaxation to pass through the body. Count slowly from one to five taking considerable time after each number. Keep your eyes locked on your partner's eyes. Continue to reinforce relaxation of the body by breathing and repeating the word "relax."

5. Say "I'm looking deeper into your eyes" continuing to gauge response. Begin to offer visual suggestions such as "floating like a feather" or "walking down a long staircase." Again, watch for movements or shifts and especially the state of the eyes. Look for widening of the eyes, even if slight. Also, look closely to see if the subject appears to be looking through you.

6. Count slowly and repeating the following: "Your eyes are beginning to flutter." As his eyes begin to do so, make a wiping motion with your hand before his eyes. Ask him how he feels to get a response and to ensure he is no longer hypnotized.

Hypnotize People For Fun

Hypnotists used to dangle a pocket watch in order to hypnotize people.

The website Findcounseling.com likens the hypnotic state to building an accessible bridge between the sub-conscious and conscious mind. The website explains that when hypnotized, "You are 'experiencing' without questioning, without critical judgment or analysis... and the hypnotherapist can make suggestions that are very likely to 'stick.'" These suggestions stick because your conscious mind is not there to evaluate them, judging their worth or validity. You can hypnotize others for fun in a perfectly safe way, as long as avoid deep emotional or behavioral issues, which only a certified hypnotist should do.

Instructions

1. Arrange the room. Make sure that the room where the hypnotism will take place is completely soothing and serene and that the lighting is neither too light nor too dark. Turn on a soundtrack to the sound of ocean waves on the beach. The repetitive sound will help you with induction. Position a clock on the table next to the couch. Make sure that you can see that clock, but that the subject cannot. This way you can inconspicuously monitor the time and how long it takes the subject to become hypnotized.

2. Ask the subject to lie down on the couch with his feet up. Make sure that he is completely comfortable and that there are extra pillows or blankets if he wishes.

3. Tell the subject to close her eyes. Tell her that she is walking down the beach on a warm sunny day at dusk and that the warm water is hitting her toes very pleasantly. Tell her that she bends down to write the capital letter "A" on the sand, and that a wave comes and washes it away. Tell her to picture this as vividly as she can.

4. Tell the subject that he continues to walk on the beach and bends down to write the capital letter "B" on the sand and that he watches a wave come and wash it away. Continue describing each letter of the alphabet in this manner. This exercise should greatly tire the subject's subconscious mind. Many people will be ready for a suggestion at this point. Others may take much longer. For some people, you may need to go through the alphabet twice, the second time asking the subject to picture drawing lowercase letters out on the sand.

5. Give the subject a hypnotic suggestion. Make it something fun like "Eat some ice cream" or "Bark like a dog" or "Sing me a song." The sub-conscious mind is like a child who enjoys playing, so these will sound like fun suggestions to try. If you suggest anything that the subject is morally opposed to, they will not do it, and will most likely snap out of hypnosis.

6. Take the subject out of hypnosis. Tell the subject that he did a good job and will now feel fully awake and refreshed. As you say these words, make your voice progressively louder. Then tell the subject, "When I snap my fingers," or "When I clap my hands," "You will emerge from the hypnotic state."

Hypnotize People

Ancient civilizations believed that hypnosis was a way to alter the human state of mind, in order to promote subconscious healing of the body. Unfortunately, much of today's society views hypnosis as no more than a parlor trick. But what many do not realize is that they are in a hypnotic state several times a day! Any time you find yourself staring, or driving and not remembering how you got there because your mind was wandering, you were actually in a hypnotic state! Best described as an altered state, in which the mind is relaxed and focused, hypnosis can be one of the most useful tools our brains have to offer us. Breaking habits, pain management, anesthesia and healing progression, can all be enhanced by the use of hypnosis. By using the power of suggestion, hypnosis can create a relaxed state that can help the receiver overcome a multitude of obstacles. The following article will help teach you hypnotize people, in order to encourage the benefits of subconscious healing.

Instructions

1. Create a relaxed setting for your hypnosis to take place. Soft lighting and a quiet area with no distractions will work best

2. Speak gently and ask the person that you wish to hypnotize to relax. You want your hypnotized subject to feel completely comfortable, relaxing all muscles and their mind.

3. Ask the person to close their eyes and breath deeply in and out, again promoting further relaxation.

4. Take notice as to whether the person seems to be completely relaxed of entranced. If so, you are ready to begin the more vocal part of hypnosis. The question and answer, or power of suggestion. Using your words to "suggest" relief of pain or stress from the subjects mind.

5. Close the session by suggesting a word that will break the trance like state. Such as, "When I say the words 'open your eyes,' you will leave this level of consciousness and regain a full state of mind."

6. Encourage the person at sessions end, to believe in the power of hypnosis. To understand that by allowing their mind to relax and accept the power of suggestion, that they may be able to reap the benefits of hypnosis.