Nail Care Tips & Advice

Today is that day which comes around once a year and strikes trembling in the bones of certain artists in Cape Town. It has dawned – the day which some of us have been working our butts off for the past few months, agonising over subject choice, colour, medium, support, frame, oil or acrylic, watercolor or mixed media. Last night those of us who paint in oils have probably wasted half of our monthly electricity account trying frantically to dry our oils as- NO WET OILS WILL BE ACCEPTED!

It is the South African Society of Artist’s Selection Day. Every member (there are about 500 ) is allowed to submit 3 paintings. I could hardly sleep last night wondering who the judges were going to be, whether my somewhat eccentric art would be liked, how I would react if I got all 3 accepted, how I would react if I got 0 accepted. I wanted to get there well before the specified opening time – 9am for those with surnames A-M. As I hurriedly swallowed my muesli I realised that I had not pasted my name and painting details on the back of my 3 paintings! Panic as I tried to locate the glue – in my family things like glue, erasers and pens have legs – they see me coming and scuttle into their special little hiding places designed to create heart-palpitations and anxiety attacks. I finally found some cold glue, using a braai fork to prize through the congealed mess at the top of the funnel and squeezed some onto the back of the postage-stamp size label supplied by the Society. Of course it spread all over the label and half the kitchen table. Briefly wondering whether cold glue was acid free or not – if not it was too late anyway – the stuff was already seeping into the back of the painting by now – I scraped off the rest with my finger, wiped the residue on my new slacks (oops, too late!) and then realised I still hadn’t found a suitable title for one of the paintings.

Yesterday I phoned my husband, rudely interrupted his meeting on Nuclear energy and greeted him with no preamble: ” A river is like a road” – there was a brief stunned silence and then he said slowly (and, I imagined with a slight rolling of the eyes) and with just the merest trace of patronage, “mmmm, yes, that has quite a good ring to it..” I knew that was fine. I rang off, thought about the other painting which was about ballooning and river cruising in the Overberg (slightly fantastic idea, but not impossible…) I just couldn’t get a title. After about 5 minutes I rang him back : ” Go with the flow”. Again a small silence. If he had been a pipe -smoker I would have heard a little “phhpp” of the lips ………”…not as good as the first one, but not bad..” it would have to do.

I filled in the rest of the forms, reminding myself to get R20 selection fee.

Then, I put the paintings out of my mind and got on with the rest of the household chores, which mainly involved dodging flying plaster when walking past the bathroom which is being rebuilt. The builders are on the last stages of plastering the walls – they should really have finished already but we had a rainy week last week which put us back. The plumber told me I would have to grow about 30 centimeters if I was going to have a bathroom cabinet the size I had in mind which was 85 cms from floor level. I secretly thought – maybe for you, you little dwarf but I’m a lot taller than you. He proceeded to argue his point in that peculiar way plumbers have of putting their point over in as technical a way as possible in order to confuse those who have no interest in what pipes are made of or how long they have to be. (I call taps,”taps”- not “stop-cocks” for heavens’ sake!

Stifling a yawn, I listened as he explained, a bit rudely I thought, that as my basin was going to sit on top of the pedestal and not be sunken in, the lip of it would protrude too high up to make washing one’s face comfortable. I watched in horror as he grabbed a plastic bowl from my kitchen sink which I was filling with vegetable waste ( I am a home-compost-maker and enviro-freak) and demonstrated. He then thrust the bowl at me. Realising that plumbers are to be humoured at all costs if one doesn’t want ones carpets accidentally-on-purpose flooded, I suffered the indignity of trying not to “splash” rotting vegetable waste over my face. Sheepfaced and suitable chastened I had to admit he was right for a shortarse. (I didn’t say that part aloud)

Now I was faced with the trauma of relaying this dramatic piece of evidence to my husband. Why today? Today I am supposed to be meditating, relaxing in a spa, having my hair done while scores of handmaidens tailor my nails and feet….aaah alas it was not to be and then I realised my son was coming home for Varsity vac that afternoon, would probably be exhausted and hungry, my other son was having a friend to sleep-over and I had no food in the fridge.

Just another ordinary day.

Well, we got pizza, watched in shock while France got slagged by Argentina, saw South Africa’s chances of winning the world cup going ever more pear-shaped and went to bed.

The next morning-still no title for the 3rd painting. It suddenly came on the last swallow of muesli-”Let the Games begin!” What with the Rugby World cup starting, the Cape Town Stadium Big Guns arriving to assess the progress on the Greenpoint stadium, it seemed suddenly and singularly appropriate. Of course if the selectors (of the paintings not the Rugby teams!) were 90-year-old women with an interest in macrame and Baumalerei I had no chance in hell!

The drama of selection day did not end at the Church Hall either. I got there early, was surprised to find no queue, walked straight in and was out in 10 minutes. I then cheerily hummed my way into Long street where I visited my favourite bead store and then whizzed back home. When I got home I realised that I had left my carrier bag which I used to carry my paintings back at the Church somewhere outside the entrance. With my heart in my mouth I zoomed back to the Church, was relieved to find the bag still sitting on the patio, cellphone and purse with 300 credit cards still intact. Now I’m back home., looking forward to watching Australia play Japan. Should be fun!

The judges are busy choosing my 3 paintings as I write this. If they don’t I will personally bring them home and make them try washing their faces in my vegetable bowl…

Being responsible for a group art exhibition can be scary. There are artists to organize, the venue to book, promotional material to distribute — the list is endless. One of the most stressful times is hanging day. This can be both chaotic and exhausting with artists dropping off artworks, paintings waiting to be hung, and price lists to organize. With some pre-planning you can make your hanging day less stressful and more fun.

Reduce stress on hanging day by getting some help, ensuring you have the right equipment, pre-marking the walls, adopting an efficient hanging method, and using artwork swing tags and price cards.

1. Get help

Well before hanging day enlist the help of several people. Give each person a different task so they can get on with the job independently. Enthusiastic helpers will allow you to coordinate the day, not left to do it all alone like a super hero.

When the day is over remember to thank your helpers by mentioning them at the opening function, sending them a thank you card, or presenting them with a Certificate of Participation. Appreciation for a job well done is important.

2. Bring the right equipment

There is nothing worse than discovering you have forgotten to bring the step ladder or hammer to hanging day. Returning home to collect the forgotten item is time consuming and stressful. Be organized by writing an equipment checklist and checking the items off before you leave. If you hang exhibitions regularly consider purchasing a tool box on wheels to help cart your equipment around.

Items to take along with you on hanging day are a step ladder, hammer, tape measure, spirit level, picture hooks and nails, pencil, box cutter, bluetac, map pins and twine. Other useful items are a screw driver, assorted screws, nails and hooks, gun stapler and staples, scissors, packing tape and a permanent marker.

3. Pre-marking the walls

Hanging artworks at the same height makes your exhibition look professional. Some people prefer the tops of the paintings to be level and some prefer all the centres to be at eye height. Whichever height you prefer you can reduce the time hanging the artworks by pre-marking the walls.

Using a tape measure and map pins, measure the required height at several different places across the wall. Connect the pins with long twine to give you a horizontal line. This line can then be used to accurately and quickly find the common hanging point.

4. Efficient Hanging Method

Climbing up and down a ladder can be frustrating and exhausting. Make life easier for yourself by getting someone to help you. One of you can be up the ladder, while the other can be passing the hooks, hammer and artworks. Not only does it take less time to hang the exhibition, but it will be more fun too.

If you’re using the pre-marking technique above, use a ruler to measure the distance between the hanging cord and the top of the painting. Transfer this measurement onto the wall, using the horizontal string line as your guide.

5. Swing Tags and Price Cards

Creating an accurate price list can be a nightmare, particularly at group exhibitions. Many artists change the title, price and even the artworks before the big day, and this can be frustrating to keep track of. Use swing tags and price cards instead of exhibition numbers and a price list to help reduce the stress.

Before the exhibition give every artist a swing tag. It should be hung on a cord long enough so the swing tag can hang over the top of the artwork. One side of the swing tag will have the artist details, the other will have the artwork details. Transferring the artwork details onto a price card will be easy to do now, and the completed card can be quickly adhered to the wall with bluetac.

The hanging day for a group art exhibition can be stressful and hard work. With a little bit of pre-planning, help and some basic equipment you can turn a frustrating day into a fun day!

Beginning arts and crafts enthusiasts often have a hard time deciphering what kinds of paints work best when working with wood, glass, and other kinds of surfaces. The results of a wrong choice can often lead to frustration, disappointments, and even expensive setbacks in completing the project on-time and on-budget.

There are important differences between enamel and acrylic paints, including their chemical composition and also the types of surfaces that best accept their pigments and adherence, or “stickyness.” Knowing which ones to buy for which projects will help you avoid trouble both during the project’s execution and especially once it’s completed.

Acrylic paint is water based

Acrylic paints are water-based, meaning they are essentially water with concentrations of a certain color’s pigment. As the water evaporates, the pigment adheres to the painting surface.

Acrylic paints work best with relatively non-porous surfaces such as plastic and wood. It’s also ideal when working on a project with children: its water base allows for easy clean up and removal with ordinary hot water and soap.

Primer goes on before acrylics

Acrylics almost always work best when the paint surface is prepared with one or more coats of primer. Primer is relatively cheap, typically available in white and gray shades, and can be found with the spray paint in both craft and hardware stores. Using darker color primer will give the acrylic paint coated atop it a darker hue, while white primer will give the paints a slightly brighter hue.

The right kind of Acrylic paint brands

There are four main brands of acrylic paint sold in crafts stores such as Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and A.C. Moore. These brands are Americana, Apple Barrel, Folk Art, and Delta Ceramcoat. Americana paints have probably the widest selection of colors, and their range of reds, browns, and yellows are the best in the industry. Ceramcoat has the best blues and greens, while Folk Art’s slightly cheaper shelf price provides quality, especially with its broad line of metallic-finish enamel paints. Apple Barrel provides several hues of blue, red, and earth tones that the other lines do not.

Enamel paint is oil-based, sturdier, more tempermental

Enamel paint has oil as its main ingredient, typical of the kinds of paint used in fine arts painting and model-making alike. Enamel is more durable than acrylic paint, meaning it won’t as easily chip or flake off. However, that virtue is also its greatest flaw.

Enamel paint works best with canvas and ceramic mediums, especially if treated with a glazing agent or sealant after the painting is completed. Enamel paint used on plastic sometimes never completely dries, remaining sticky to the touch long after the project’s completion.

Painters working with enamel must use paint thinner (turpentine) to remove the paint from their skin and clothing. Finally, most brands of commercial nail polish are in fact the same kinds of enamel paints sold in hobby and craft stores.

Testors enamel paints are available in the model kit sections of most craft stores, as well as other brands in the fine arts sections. Prices vary, but enamel is typically more expensive per unit than acrylic.

Sealing acrylic paints

Hobbyists recommend using a fixatif, or sealant, to protect acrylic paints. The most popular brand, Testor’s Dull-Cote, gives a matte finish and can be found in the model kit section near (ironically) the enamel paints.

Stress Relief Tips! & Relaxation Tips!

In these times, many people live with chronic stress. The first step is recognizing that this is a problem that can have long lasting effects on your health. The single most importanat thing you can do is try to reduce the stressors in your life. It is unreasonable to expect to remove all stress, but evaluate your life – are you expecting too much of yourself? Are there circumstances or people in your life that cause stress and need to be dealt with? Once you have reduced your stress to a minimum, try using some of these suggestions and learn how to relax.

l. Take a Relaxing Bubble Bath.

My favourite stress relief tip of all. Take a relaxing bath. Add music, candles and a glass of your favourite drink: beer, tea, hotchocolate, wine or even champagne. Close the door and forget about everything else for an hour or so. This helps to increase levels of calmness and the calmer we feel, the less likely we are to get stressed out or depressed. A luxurious way

to find stress relief.

2. Read a Book

Reading is one of the simplest forms of relaxation for mind and body? Picking up a book and allowing our minds to add colour to the black and white pages, can relieve the stresses and strains that modern life places upon us. There are many other benefits too! There is a wealth of choice in ‘self improvement’, ’motivation’, or ‘educational’ books which may provide answers to questions we have always asked ourselves, or at least guide us in the right direction! There is no better place to start than your local Library, where you will find expert help and guidance from the staff. Aside from the plentiful stock of titles on offer, there are Quick Reads which are ready made for people who just don’t have time to curl up with a good book but do have a few moments at lunch time to get lost with a sandwich.

3. Excercise Regularly.

Regular excercise has been shown to reduce stress so get moving. Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing, walking or any of dozens of other activities can help your heart. They all cause you to feel warm, perspire and breathe heavily without being out of breath and without feeling any burning sensation in your muscles. Whether it is a structured exercise program or just part of your daily routine, all exercise adds up to a healthier heart.

4. Laugh. Keep your sense of humor. Laugh a lot.

Brighten your mood and improve your sense of

well-being. Facilitate positive social interaction.

Reduce anxiety, tension, depression, anger, and

hostility. Lower your stress level. Exercise your heart and cardiovascular system and Reduce pain. Can’t figure out how to get started? Go see a funny movie or read a funny book. Keep a humor journal with all the funny jokes and stories you hear each day. Tell a joke. Laugh at yourself. Look for the funny side in a situation. Hang out with happy people. Put on a happy face. Use humor instead of anger!

5. Light a candle!

The first way to use candles in relaxation and stress relief is a very simple, yet utterly effective method. Simply take a deep breath, and stare at the flame of the candle while it is lit. Focus in on the area at the base of the wick where the flames color is blue. Watch how the colors subtly change as you stare into the flame. Take deep, calming breaths while relaxing and simply focusing on the candle flame. It helps if this is done in a darkened room, however the exercise is effective even while in a brightly lit space. Of course, the act of simply having lit candles is very relaxing in itself. Whether simply around the house, in the bathtub, or during intimate moments, candles can enhance and bring peacefulness to our hectic lives. So the next time you are looking for a quick way to de-stress and ground yourself, look no further than the wax and wick!

6. Schedule a massage or pedicure once a month.

Get a manicure and pedicure. Science has proven that there are pressure points located on our feet and hands. These areas can cause additional pain during stressful times. A nice manicure and pedicure will help soothe those pressure points.

Plain and simple, the effects of stress on the body can be extremely detrimental. When a muscle is stressed, circulation is reduced and both oxygen and nutrients are blocked. Massage is a terrific way to loosen up the muscles, increase the circulation and bring oxygen and nutrients back to the area. It may also release stored toxins, so it’s important to flush out your system by drinking water after a session.

7. Set realistic, obtainable goals and meet them.

One of the major causes of stress and depression is a feeling of going nowhere, a feeling that life is just passing by.

Think about your life and values and hopes. Imagine your ideal life and what steps you can take to Imagine your ideal life and what steps you can take to get a little closer to your dream. Write down your thoughts, and set up small realistic steps that you can reach. Your goals do not have to be grand: think about planting a small vegetable garden, reading a book, or going camping with friends. The point is to set up a plan of action and follow through on it by taking small steps. With a goal in mind, you will be amazed at how stimulated and uplifted you will feel.

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