| How to Identify a Painting Posted: 07 Apr 2020 05:00 PM PDT Learning more about a piece of famous art is easy, but identifying an unknown or obscure painting can be kind of tricky. There are so many paintings in existence that the odds of finding information about a specific image can feel insurmountable. Luckily, you can dramatically narrow down your search by assessing the composition, subject matter, and style. Start by using an image recognition app and reverse image search. Museums and art historians are in a perpetual effort to upload and catalogue paintings and artists online, so it may be easier than you think to find the information you're looking for! [Edit]Finding the Artwork Quickly - Use an image recognition app to identify the painting immediately. If you're struggling to remember an artist's name or you want additional information on a particular painting, download an image recognition app designed specifically for art. There are several apps for both Android and iPhone that allow you to snap a photo of a painting to search through museum catalogues, university databases, and art history texts. This is the easiest way to find a specific painting.[1]
- The two most popular apps for recognizing artwork are Smartify and Magnus. Both of these apps will pull up information about the work's artist, as well as interesting facts and background information about the composition.
- These apps only have access to paintings that have been well-documented and catalogued by curators, professors, historians, and other artists. If the painting is made by a more obscure artist, these apps may not work.
- Run a reverse image search if you have a digital copy of the painting. If you're looking at a painting on your computer or phone, run a reverse image search. Copy and paste the image's URL into the search engine. Run the search to pull up other websites displaying the painting. This will give you access to a variety of websites that will tell you everything you need to know about the painting.[2]
- If you're using Google Chrome, you can right click an image and select "Search Google for this image" to search the web.
- You can download an image and upload it to the engine instead of copying and pasting the URL if you prefer.
- The most popular reverse image search is TinEye, but there are several options available online.
- Use the signature or monogram to dig online and find the image. Look in the corners of the painting to see if there is a signature or monogram. If the name is easy to read, simply search the artist's name up online to find the painting. If it's harder to read, look carefully to see if you can break down the letters and read them. This will let you narrow down the search and figure out who the artist is, which can make it easier to find your specific painting.[3]
- A monogram refers to a 2- to 3-letter design containing the artist's initials. Monograms tend to be more popular among painters working after the 1800s.
- Signatures were almost never used before the Renaissance, which began around 1300. Even if you can't identify a signature, at least you have a baseline for your search![4]
- You have to sign up for a free account to use it, but you can use https://artistssignatures.com/ to reverse search for an artist's signature. This is useful if you think you can read the signature but want to double-check to make sure you aren't misreading it.
[Edit]Assessing the Composition - Ask an expert to identify the era, style, or painter of an image. Email or visit a museum curator, art history professor, or gallery owner to ask if they can take a look at the image. An expert in the field of art will be able to offer insights about the period, style, and give you a better sense for where to look. They may even know who the artist is as soon as they take a look at it![5]
- If you're contacting a gallery owner, try to find a gallery that specializes in the type of art you're trying to identify. For example, a contemporary abstract piece is going to be easier to identify if the gallery owner mainly focuses on newer artists.
- Use obvious clues in the subject matter to narrow down the date. Contemporary painters may paint people or objects from the past, but they can't time travel! If there's a train, company logo, digital clock, or some other time-specific component of the painting, this is a great way to set a baseline for your search. You can get a good overall sense for when a painting may have been made simply by asking yourself when an artist would have painted their subject.
- For example, there aren't many painters alive today painting portraits of Spanish aristocrats from the 1600s, and absolutely nobody was painting images of Elvis Presley before 1954!
- For example, if there is a small airplane in the background of the painting, you know that the painting must have been made after 1903, since that's when Wilbur and Orville Wright first successfully flew a plane.
- Identify the artistic movement by assessing the style of the painting. There are various artistic movements throughout history that share similar qualities. Determining the movement associated with an image is a great way to quickly narrow down your search since historians group artists from the same movement together.[6]
- There are hundreds of movements; if you can't figure out the movement at first glance, look through museum catalogues and online collections to find similar paintings.
- Determine if the artist used acrylic paint to see if it was made after 1940. Get as close as you possibly can to the image. If the color looks flat and the darker colors don't reflect light, it's probably oil paint. If the color is reflective, shiny, and looks kind of plastic, it is likely acrylic paint. Acrylic paint wasn't used in art until 1940, so you have a much smaller period to search through.[7]
- If more than one medium was used to produce a work, it is highly-likely that the image was created after 1900. It was fairly rare before this period to combine multiple materials to produce a painting.
- This is a lot harder to do if you're looking at a digital image, but if the colors are almost supernaturally bright or neon, the painting was probably made with acrylic.
- Assess the quality of the canvas or paper to determine the date. If the canvas is stapled into the frame uniformly, it is unlikely to have been made before 1900, which is when canvases were first mass produced. You can also assume the painting is relatively newer if it's is on paper and there's no tearing, damage, or general wear and tear. Paper is relatively fragile, and it's unlikely that a fresh piece of paper is particularly old.[8]
- If the canvas is hanging loosely on the frame, the painting may have been made prior to 1600. Before 1600, most artists weren't particularly good at stretching the fabric tight against the frame.
- Search through websites and catalogues after narrowing the search. If you know you're looking for art from a specific time period or movement, go online and search through galleries and websites related to this type of art. Look for paintings that are similar in style, color, and composition. You can also go through museum databases and encyclopedias to find your image to do this as well. With enough luck, you'll find the artist![9]
- Almost every major museum has an online dataset that you can search. Search through these catalogues to find similar pieces that may belong to your artist.
- Once you have the artist, finding the specific painting is fairly easy. Museums and universities often catalogue and document the entire body of work for well-known painters, so you should be able to find the specific painting just by poking around online.
[Edit]Using Less Obvious Details - Inspect the back of the painting to find notes from previous owners. If you really can't find anything about an image in your possession using traditional search methods, flip the canvas over and look at the back. If the image is a print or reproduction, it may be listed on the back. If the painting is a family heirloom or was bought at a thrift shop, there may be a handwritten note describing where the painting is from.[10]
- Use the other steps in this method first before looking for lesser known details. It's possible that the painting is a reproduction, print, or mass-produced version of a popular painting.
- If you see 2-3 numbers listed in a corner, the painting was probably purchased at a thrift shop or resale store. The employees of these stores often write the price on a back of a work. You're unlikely to be able to identify the artist or image in this case.
- Check the frame to see if you can find a manufacturer. Inspect the frame on the back and look for an imprint, or label. Frame manufacturers often print a company name on the back. If there is a name, contact the manufacturer to learn more about the frame itself. This can drastically narrow down the region and time period where a painting was produced.[11]
- If you only have the canvas and there is no frame, check the wood portion of the canvas on the back. Prior to 1900, most artists stretched their own canvases. If there is a signature on the wood frame, it's probably the artist's.
- This isn't really a helpful option if the painting is well known or really old, since it was likely re-framed at some point.
- Take a large collection from an unknown painter to an art dealer. If you stumble on a large number of paintings and you can't find a single thing about the artist online or through close inspection, contact an art dealer. Many lifelong artists paint simply because they enjoy it, and it's possible that you may have stumbled on to a unique collection from a totally unknown artist![12]
- If you want to figure out if a painting in your possession is worth anything, contact an appraisal service. That's really the only way to authentically confirm whether your painting is worth anything or not.[13]
- For many paintings, it will impossible to say definitively who painted the work or when it was made. You may be able to make an educated guess about the era or artist's background, though!
[Edit]References |
| How to Make a Homeschool Classroom Posted: 07 Apr 2020 09:00 AM PDT Creating a classroom area for your child's homeschool may help your child transition to a school mindset each day. Start by designating a space and decorating the room, then set up the basic furniture for your learning area. Finally, work on organizing your supplies so you're ready to go. [Edit]Preparing Your Homeschool Room - Set aside a whole room if you have space. If possible, it can be helpful to dedicate a whole room to homeschooling, as it keeps the mess out of sight and helps keep your kids on task. You can use a family room, den, basement, office, or even an extra bedroom. You may even be able to convert a shed with electricity into a homeschooling room.[1]
- Add your classroom to an existing room if you don't have extra space. It's entirely possible you don't have the space to devote a whole room to homeschooling. If that's the case, try picking a central area, such as the living room or dining area. Choose an area where you can add some storage, so that you can hide school stuff away when your kids aren't working on it.[2]
- Your dining area is a good choice since you already have a table in place for your kids to use.
- Even if your kids tend to spread out around the house to work, you should still have a designated area for keeping your school supplies.[3]
- Choose an area without distractions. Pick an area that doesn't have distractions like a television, video game console, or the like. You want your kids to stay on task as much as possible, and distractions won't help with that!
- Try to pick a quiet area in the house that doesn't have a lot of extraneous noise. For instance, you may not want to put the room too close to the laundry room.
- Similarly, while you wouldn't want to cover up the windows, you may want to face the classroom away from the windows.
- Let any other household members know school is in session by hanging a sign on the door. That way, they won't barge in!
- Pick a room without carpet or install floor mats. Homeschooling can get messy, especially if you're crafting or cutting up paper at all. By choosing a room without carpet, you can sweep up most debris, and if something like paint spills, it's much easier to clean up.[4]
- If the room you want to use has carpet, consider pulling it up. You may find hardwood or tile underneath. If it's concrete, you can even just paint the concrete. If you find subfloor, you can put in laminate or another cheap and durable flooring solution.
- Alternatively, try adding plastic office floor mats. These have spikes that go into carpet to hold them in place and provide a hard plastic surface on top.
- Paint one or more walls with bright, happy colors if you can. You and your kids are going to spend a lot of time in your homeschooling room, so you might as well make it cheerful. If you're allowed to paint the walls in your home, try choosing a bright accent color for one or two walls, then paint the other walls a more neutral color.[5]
- You could pick a creamy yellow for sunshine effect or a bright purple if it's your kids' favorite color.
- Add fun decals to the walls if you don't want to paint. Stick up wall decals of animals, flowers, the alphabet, or any fun theme your kids will like. Wall decals make it easy to change out the theme, as you can just peel them off and stick up a new set when you're tired of the old ones.[6]
- You can find wall decals at craft stores or online.
- If you want something a little more permanent, try stenciling the alphabet and numbers on the walls, or having your kids paint a mural together.
[Edit]Setting up a Learning Space - Include a table or desks to work on. While some kids may need to move to other areas at times, having a designated area to work on can help keep everyone on track. It can be the kitchen table, small desks for each kid, or even just a large, sturdy folding table.[7]
- Add a whiteboard or projector screen to teach from. If you're teaching several kids at once, you may want to use a board they can all see. You can get standalone whiteboards to set at one end of your classroom. You can also fold these whiteboards and put them away when you don't need them. Alternatively, you can mount one on the wall to save space and use it as a projector screen as well.[8]
- A computer with a large screen or TV screen hooked up to it will also work for displaying images and slideshows.
- You can even just paint one wall with white paint, and project images and slideshows onto the wall using a computer and projector.
- Include a space to read. Nothing is quite as nice as curling up in a comfy corner with a book. You could throw a large beanbag or floor pillow in a corner with a lamp or set up a comfy loveseat with a lamp. That way, when your kids need to spend some time reading, they have a designated place to go.[9]
- You don't have to include this space in your homeschooling area, as you likely have other spaces in your house. However, it can make it more fun to have a dedicated area for it.
- Gather the school supplies you'll need. For younger kids, you'll need crayons, pencils, chalk, and art supplies. For older kids, you'll need pens, pencils, whiteout, and maybe cheap tablets to work on. You may also need some subject-specific supplies, such as a calculator for math, lab supplies for science, and highlighters for English and social studies.[10]
- For both ages, you'll also need things like staples and a stapler, a 3-ring hole punch, paper clips, a printer, and highlighters.
- Print out classroom rules and charts. Kids need help staying on track, so having the classroom rules up on the wall in a pretty font can help. You may also want to have a schedule on the wall if you plan out your day with specific time frames.[11]
- Try a chart for each kid, letting them know what they need to complete each day. You can have them fill in sections with stickers as they get done.
- You could also dedicate a whiteboard to daily tasks. That is, you can have a section on the whiteboard for what each kid needs to accomplish that day.
- Add a cork board or a metal board to display your children's work. If your child does well, you may want to stick it up on the wall. A cork board is an easy way to do this, as you can just use pushpins to pin up their work.
- Alternatively, set up a board that will hold magnets. For instance, some whiteboards are metal underneath.
[Edit]Organizing the Supplies - Designate a bookshelf, shelving unit, or cabinet to organizing. When you homeschool, you need a ton of supplies, from pens, pencils, and papers to textbooks, curriculum, and worksheets. A designated shelving unit can help you organize the chaos.[12]
- If you don't have much cash, try scouring garage sales and thrift stores.
- Alternatively, start with a few plastic bins until you can upgrade to a shelf.
- Try painting what you find so it blends in with the space you put it in.[13]
- Pick storage that hides supplies away. Whether you choose large plastic bins, a large cabinet, or storage cubes on shelves, find a way to hide your supplies away. Organize your items into bins before placing them on the shelves. Hiding your messy supplies will make everything feel so much neater.[14]
- If you don't have storage bins, try painting old shoe boxes or used postal boxes. They can look bright and cheery once you paint them, and you can store items in them.
- You can also use things like cups to organize pens and pencils. While it won't hide them, it will keep them more organized.
- When you don't have to look at the chaos of school supplies all the time, you'll feel more calm and collected, and your kids will, too.
- Make a specific place for each school supply to live. Books, pencils, crayons, paper--each of these needs a specific place to call home. If you don't set aside a single space for each thing, your school supplies will end up in a jumbled mess because no one will know where to put anything![15]
- Label where each item should go with masking tape or a label maker. Have everyone put things away in their place at the end of the day.
- Pick an organizational method for papers. You can use 2-pocket folders, expanding folders, binders, or even files to organize papers for you and your kids. Try color-coding them, so each of your kids has one color and you have your own color. That way, you can easily keep track of what folder belongs to each person.[16]
- Make sure to label everything clearly, so it's easy to keep track of.
- Get rid of what you don't need each year. You're likely going to be adding new supplies each year, which can quickly overrun your organizational space. To cut back on the problem, take stock of your supplies each year, and donate or sell anything you don't need anymore. That way, you free up space for new stuff.[17]
[Edit]References |
| How to Hide a Hole in a Shirt Posted: 07 Apr 2020 01:00 AM PDT If you're fashion-conscious, few things are worse than realizing your favorite shirt has a big hole in it. Although you may think your favorite shirt is ruined, don't throw it away yet. Most holes can easily be hidden, such as by ironing on a simple fabric patch. If you're looking for a more permanent way to fill in or even decorate a hole, sew it shut with colored thread. Sometimes you can't fix a hole right away, so get creative and find ways to hide it underneath clothing or other items. With the right fix, you can still look your best without having to bring along a change of clothes. [Edit]Trying Quick Fixes on the Go - Tuck your shirt in if the hole is near them hem. Tuck the hem into your pants to cover a hole near the bottom part of the shirt. If the hole near the collar or sleeves, you still might be able to hide it in a natural way. For instance, if it's near the collar, fold the collar down to cover it. For holes on shirt sleeves, roll the sleeves up.
- If the hole can't easily be hidden this way, stay aware of it. For example, you may be able to hide a hole in the armpit just by keeping your arm down until you get home.
- Wear a matching color underneath the shirt to make a hole less visible. Try putting on something light, such as a thin T-shirt, underneath the damaged shirt. Make sure it is long enough to cover the hole. If both shirts match in color, people won't be able to see the hole unless they look closely.
- Pants or other articles of clothing can also be used to mask some holes this way.
- Wear a jacket over your shirt for holes that are difficult to hide. Put on a jacket to cover a hole anywhere on a shirt. Unless the hole is in the front, you won't even have to zip up. Sweatshirts and button-ups are also good options. If you don't have anything to wear, purchase an additional layer if you have the time.
- Layering clothing is easier during cold or stormy weather. People will notice if you're wearing an extra layer during a heatwave, and you will end up sweating so much that you would rather leave the hole exposed.
- Cover holes with matching colored tape if you have any. Pick tape that blends in well with your shirt. Try using a piece of masking tape cut to the size of the hole, for instance. Set it on top of the hole and press it flat. If it matches your shirt well enough, the tape can prevent people from noticing the hole.[1]
- Tape tends to work best on darker colors, such as black. It blends in better with the shirt.
- Tape is best used on less exposed areas, such as around the shirt's hem. If the tape is in a very visible spot, people will be more likely to notice it.
- Cover the hole with an accessory if you have one that fits. When you're in a pinch, reach for any sort of decoration you can fit over the hole. For example, get a big button, a badge, or a brooch and pin it to your shirt. You could use a plastic flower or something equally colorful. Tuck the stem in, then pin the flower in place.[2]
- Some decorations may draw attention to your shirt. If the hole is well-covered, decorations can make your shirt look more stylish instead of damaged.
- Pins are also very useful for attaching fabric to holes. You could create a makeshift patch to use until you're able to install a real one.
- When you're in a pinch, you may not have many options. Find what you can. Consider carrying a spare clip or safety pin for emergencies.
[Edit]Patching a Shirt - Cut a patch of fabric bigger than the hole. Choose a piece of fabric that matches the color of your shirt. Try matching the texture and weight of the material as well. You can buy fabric patches or cut a patch from another piece of clothing.[3]
- If you're trying to patch a multicolored shirt, use a color that blends in well. For example, choose a fabric color that matches the print on the shirt.
- You can buy iron-on shirt patches online and at many fabric stores.
- Trim a piece of fusible web bonding to the same size as the patch. Place the patch on top of the fusible bonding to gauge how to cut it. Trace around it with pencil, then trim it to size with fabric scissors. The fusible bonding will be the adhesive that binds the patch to the shirt.
- In general, the fusible bonding should be the same size or a little smaller than the patch so it doesn't bleed through the hole.[4]
- You can get fusible bonding online or at fabric stores. It comes in a sheet, similar to regular fabric.
- Turn the shirt inside out and place the fusible bonding over the hole. Center the fusible bonding over the hole. Make sure the hole is completely covered. The fusible bonding should overlap the hole by at least on all sides. If it looks a little small, cut a bigger piece.[5]
- If you're having a hard time getting the fusible bonding to lay flat, iron the shirt. Also, trim away any loose thread around the hole.
- Place the fabric patch on top of the fusible bonding. Line up the edges of the patch with the fusible bonding beneath it. If they are slightly different sizes, double-check that the patch completely covers the fusible bonding. If it doesn't, cut a bigger patch or trim the fusible bonding a little smaller while still ensuring it covers the hole in your shirt.[6]
- The fusible bonding is the glue between the pieces of fabric. It can cause the shirt to stick to your ironing board.
- If you're fixing a hole less than in size, you could heat the fusible bonding without the patch, then press the shirt's threads together to cover the hole. It's possible to fix the hole without making a patch, although the repair won't be as sturdy as usual.
- Warm the patch with an iron on a low-heat wool setting for 10 seconds. Turn the iron to the wool setting and let it heat up for about 2 minutes. Once it is warm, place it on top of the patch. Hold it still so the patch can't shift out of place. Then, turn the iron off, set it in a space spot to cool down, and check the patch.[7]
- If your iron doesn't have a wool setting, mist the patch with lukewarm water to soften it and press out wrinkles.
- Consult the manufacturer's instructions for specifics about how to heat the fusible bonding. It can vary a little depending on which product you buy.
[Edit]Sewing a Hole Shut - Select a type of thread that matches your shirt's color and texture. While you can use other colors if you wish, get thread that matches your shirt color so the stitching blends in as much as possible. For texture, cotton thread works well in most cases. If you're trying to fix a thinner material like chiffon or satin, use nylon or silk thread instead.[8]
- Purchase thread online or from a fabric store. While you're there, make sure you have a needle and other sewing supplies.
- If you're trying to cover a hole more than in size, you could sew a patch onto the shirt. Another option is to darn the shirt by sewing across the hole.
- Thread a needle with at least of thread. Unroll the thread from its spool, then cut it off with a sharp pair of scissors. Take the end of the thread and slip it into the needle. Slide the needle until it's about halfway along the thread. Then, knot the thread right behind the needle.[9]
- If you're having trouble threading the needle, dampen the end of the thread a little bit. You could also get a needle threader to pull the thread through the needle's eye.
- Poke the needle up through the fabric near the hole. Start on the top right side of the hole. Position your needle inside the shirt, then pull it up through the fabric. Keep pulling it until it's about above the shirt. Make sure the needle is about away from the hole so the stitches don't fall apart.[10]
- If you're having a hard time positioning the needle, turn the shirt inside out. Try lifting up one of the shirt's threads and moving the needle underneath it to start the stitch.
- Move the needle through the fabric on the opposite side of the opening. Bring the needle down through the hole without touching the fabric first. While it's inside the shirt, position it. Pull it up through the shirt again to finish the stitch. Doing this will pull the fabric closer together, covering part of the hole.[11]
- The positioning of the needle determines how big the stitches are. Smaller stitches are stronger, so don't try to bridge the entire hole unless it's very small.
- Stitch on opposite sides of the hole until it is completely closed. Follow the same steps to make subsequent stitches. From inside the shirt, position the needle to the left of where it initially passed through the shirt. After pulling it through, position the needle to the left of where you had it the second time to complete the initial stitch. Continue making as many stitches as needed to complete the repair.[12]
- Take your time and keep your stitches as even possible. Remember to keep them at the right distance from the hole so they are strong but well-hidden.
- If you're darning a large hole, sew across the entire hole in one direction. Afterward, sew perpendicularly to the threads to create a woven net filling the gap in the fabric.
- Pull the needle inside of the shirt to knot the thread. Wrap the remaining thread around the needle about 3 times to create loops. Pull the needle through these loops to create knots. Make about 2 or 3 knots. When you're done, pull the knots toward the shirt so they won't be visible.[13]
- Test the knots afterward by pulling on the thread. If it seems loose, tie it again. Make sure the knots are secure so the hole doesn't return.
- Cut the excess length of string to finish the repair. Pull the ends of the thread toward an opening on the shirt. Reach in and snip the thread underneath the knot. Remember that the thread has 2 "tails," so cut both of them off before wearing the shirt again.[14]
- If you're feeling creative, you could embroider a design on the shirt using different thread colors. It's a clever way to mask stitching by making it part of a colorful design.
- Use a fabric repair glue if you are unable to stitch the hole shut. Lay the shirt facedown and trim away any loose threads around the hole. Squeeze a small amount of glue onto a separate surface, such as a piece of scrap paper. Then, use something small, like a plastic knife or toothpick, to spread the glue around the hole. Squeeze the fabric together afterward for about 2 minutes until it sticks in place.[15]
- Wait at least 24 hours before wearing or washing the shirt. Give the glue plenty of time to dry out.
- Note that glue only works for small holes and tears. It also won't be as permanent as stitching but can be less visible.
- If you're trying to repair a shirt you really love, take it to a professional. A good tailor can make the damaged portion look much less noticeable.
- If you're worried about holes or stains, always bring along something you can use in an emergency, such as a jacket, a needle and thread, or a piece of tape.
- If you discover a hole in your shirt, act like it's natural. Don't pick at it or otherwise make it worse, or else it will be harder to repair when you get home.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Trying Quick Fixes on the Go - Colored tape
- Pins or clips
- Other clothing
[Edit]Patching a Shirt - Fabric matching your shirt
- Fusible web bonding
- Pencil
- Fabric scissors
- Iron
- Ironing board or another heatproof surface
- Spray bottle (optional)
[Edit]Sewing a Hole Shut - Colored thread
- Sharp scissors
- Sewing needle
[Edit]References |
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