PhotosPanoGraphiques

Three Awesome Disc Golf Courses in America

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:35:50 +0000

One of the hottest sporting crazes in America is disc golf. Disc golf is a combination of golf and frisbee blending together into a fun sport that is played while enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors. Most disc golf courses are located within forest preserves and chances are, there is a disc golf course close to where you live. All disc golf courses are unique and have their own special quirks but if you want to know where some of the best disc golf courses are located, here are some of the best disc golf courses in America.

1. Flip City Disc Golf Park. Located in Shelby, MI is the Flip City Disc Golf Park. Flip City Disc Golf Park has been owned and maintained by one person since 1980, and it is often referred to as the “Field Of Dreams”. This park has a variety of extreme elevations that make this disc golf course a fun challenge for an disc golf enthusiast. Flip City Disc Golf Park offers on site camping and contains many port-a-potties for convenient toilet usage. This park is open year round and only costs a $1 donation per round.

2. Idlewild. Idlewild disc golf park is located in Burlington, KY and it is the type of disc golf park that is made for the professional disc golfer. There are a variety of changes in this court from water hazards to deep wooded areas and the rolling hills present a special type of challenge to test the skills of the most professional disc golfing types.

3. Phantom Falls. Located in Pine, CO, Phantom Falls is a beautiful disc golf court that is set within the mountains of Colorado. This course is set on 15 acres of land that is heavily wooded and chock full of rolling hills that provide a very “tight” terrain for its 36-38 hole course. Phantom Falls even has the great distinction of being the home of 3 ASPEN/PINE baskets that are like works of art and are well known throughout the disc golfing community.

These are just 3 of the best places to play disc golf in America. This is quite a small list in comparison to the numerous disc golf courses that are located all around the United States, but these are 3 of the best disc golf courses around and if you are a true disc golf enthusiast, you should experience the fun of disc golfing on one of these courses at least one time in your life.

The Best Julia Roberts Movies

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:12:40 +0000

Actress Julia Roberts has starred in dozens of films since her career began back in 1987. Her first movie role came in 1988 with “Satisfaction,” also starring Justine Bateman and Liam Neeson. Since that time she has gone on to become one of the most sought after leading ladies in Hollywood, been cited as being one the highest paid actresses in show business, and has been nominated for and won countless awards proving her talent. While many of her films have been box office successes, some of them stand out as better than the rest.

“Steel Magnolias” from 1989 showcased many of the top actresses of the time, including Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, and Olympia Dukakis. But it was Julia Roberts role as Shelby, the newly married diabetic woman determined to have a child of her own even at the cost of her life, that stood out. She was young and strong willed and desperate for a normal life, and Julia Roberts played her with believable passion and zeal.

Her next film saw her playing a character the seeming complete opposite of upper class Shelby. In “Pretty Woman,” released in 1990 and co-starring Richard Gere as the handsome love interest, Julia Roberts played a prostitute with a good heart. It was a modern fairy tale about a poor girl from the streets meeting and falling in love with a handsome prince, and become one of the most iconic films of the 1990s. It may not have been the best film in Julia Roberts resume, but it was one of the most popular and memorable.

In 2000 Julia Roberts played real-life activist “Erin Brockovich” in a role that would earn her an Academy Award nomination and win for Best Actress in a Leading Role. In this film she was tough, street smart, cynical, and fiercely dedicated to helping people out who had been hurt by people they should have been able to trust. It was a departure from the sweet and funny romantic leads she had played in many films, but Julia Roberts managed to play the part with believable integrity and flow into the character flawlessly.

Though she never appears on screen herself, Julia Roberts takes a cherished and beloved children’s literary character and makes her shine in the live-action adaptation of “Charlotte’s Web” in 2006, also starring Dakota Fanning. Her voice is gentle, maternal, and comforting to the characters on screen as well as the young audiences who watched as their favorite story came to life

Art, or Ugly?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:26:35 +0000

The appreciation of art is something all human beings are capable of, being the rational creatures we are. Our powers of reason and deduction, paired with an innate sense of the aesthetic qualities that stand in the place of beauty and truth, make us capable judges in matters of artistic expression. How, then, can opinions vary so much on how to discern art from ugliness? Especially in the post-modern period that glorifies reflections of broken icons of the past, revisits old themes with disdainful new representations, and often ridicules long held institutional beliefs and messages and symbolism — so many of today’s so-called works of art may actually be nothing but snarky garbage produced by charlatans who have pulled the proverbial wool over the eyes of those who wish to be known as expert appreciators of art.

To make a point to the contrary, allow me to present one of the world’s foremost appreciators of true art, Sister Wendy Beckett. I first noticed her while watching public programming on satellite tv one Sunday afternoon, and was instantly captivated by her insights into the works of the artists she interprets. The way she breaks open the complex symbols in the paintings, and what they stand for, illuminates the works of art, bringing clarity to the mysterious aspects that cause us to gaze upon them time and again. Enjoy the following video featuring Sister Wendy in Italy:

Art of Type

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:23:42 +0000

Back in the 1960s, Steve Jobs was a restless young man attending college classes that deep inside he knew he would never need or use. This was of course years before he would become the co founder of Apple Computer Company, now Apple, Inc., with his long time friend and engineering genius Steve Wozniak. To dull Jobs’ increasing restlessness as he grappled with the direction he wanted to take his life, he found solace by breaking away from the courses prescribed in his major field of study and indulging his new found love of typefaces and fonts. He found them at once artistic and meditative, and his vision of a future of computers with beautiful fonts was at least planted there.

Fonts have been works of art since they were first developed as crude letters to be copied by hand. The first printing press brought with it the world’s first standardized fonts, and a whole new industry was born. Today, fonts are still going strong. We use them for everything, we read them every day, and we have them at our fingertips when creating our own works. One of the most magnificent things I have seen is this clever infographic I came across while surfing the Net outside a cafe in Connecticut. Here it is now, for you to enjoy:

Music Artists and Social Media

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:34:26 +0000

When a musician decides that his or her musical artistry and talent is how he or she wants to start making a living, it typically does not happen overnight. Sure it would be awesome if musicians were able to put a song together and it get noticed immediately and land them a record deal, gigs, and more. Alas, that is not the way that it works at all, and getting ahead in the music business takes a lot of self-promotion and social media.

It’s the same way for any artist really who is trying to make it in their field. Artists love the art that they create, and when it is difficult to make a living doing what you love, sometimes you have to put dreams on hold or even give up on your dreams to just survive.

If you are willing to make the extra effort then you really could be making a huge difference in your career as a music artist, believe it or not. One of the best ways to get new fans, promote your music, and get your name out there is to use social media. There are all types of things, so if you are unsure where to start first, here is a helpful infographic to get you started.

Photography for Beginners

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:13:37 +0000

I am not a photographer at any level. I love playing around with my camera and I have a lot of fun taking pictures, but again I am no photography. I love photography and it is one of my favorite forms of art. What I don’t like is the fact that people think just because they own a camera of some kind that they are officially a photographer. Well, it’s time to face the facts. Just because you do own a camera and can push the shutter does not make you a pro. That does not mean that you cannot become an experienced and wonderful photographer though.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Real professional photographers do not use a Kodak EasyShare camera.
Sometimes you need more than luck to capture a beautiful shot.
Talk to other photographers to get some tips.

If you are intent on learning photography, then I say go for it. The video below features a pretty impressive photographer sharing his top tips for beginning photographers. Maybe these pointers are just what you need to start your art of photography. Check out the video and if you feel like your photos are real art, let us see!

History of Street Art

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:26:07 +0000

Street art is all around us. Just go to any city of significant size and population in the United States, and you’ll be hard pressed to find the absence of graffiti. Some of it is gang related, but a lot of it is actually a legitimate form of art. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course, and what some people find beautiful and creative, others might reasonably see as property damage, a nuisance, or meaningless scribble. But street art can be very deep and full of meaning. There are also styles that have evolved over the years, just as there are in other art forms.

Definitely, there have been discernible periods of street art and the kinds of graphic trends used in various decades. If you trace it all back far enough, you will be able to see the first beginnings of street art emerging as a valid art form, and then transforming over the years and attracting a wide following of both artists and those who appreciate it. While thoughts of graffiti make many of us want to lock down our ADT home security and hide in the house, others want to venture out through the cities in search of it. Check out the infographic below for more information:

What is Art?

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:53:59 +0000

Is art something that can really be defined? I am the type of person who believes that it cannot be defined. When someone asks, “what is art,” often I know not what to say. I think that defining art would even go against a lot of things that are actually considered to be pieces of art, and no one would want to do that, right? Still so many people attempt to put a definition along with the word art. Sometimes there are numerous things that go into a work of art. There is much time and much energy that people, or artists, will put into a work of their own that is called art. Sometimes though, it can be quite the opposite. A person will put in very little time or very little energy into something that becomes an inspirational or influential work of art. How is one to tell what is art and what is not art. I mean there is even a direct tv channel that tries to answer the tricky question. I think it is up to the individual to decide. Therefore, for as many people as there are in the world, there are possibly that many definitions of art.

I found a video that tries to address the question, “what is art?” I think that you will really enjoy it and benefit from watching it, so enjoy!

Inspired by the Sea

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Summer is the right time for creating art. The air is warm (or depending on your location, downright hot!) and the skies are mostly sunny. Nature is alive with the arrival of many new green leaves, and the bustle of baby creatures of all kinds. This is also the time of year when many vacationers enjoy a trip to the coastal regions to dip their toes in the ocean’s cool blue tides. People since the dawn of time have been drawn to the sea. It’s life forms are numberless and magnificent, and are found in so many lovely colors and shades. Contrasted with the brilliant sky above, the sea becomes a sort of mirror for what is overhead, whether clear or full of storm clouds.

Artists are understandably caught up in the allure of the sea, the beach, and the rolling white sand dunes by the shore. While most of us might think the beach is for summer, an artist may be more attracted to the coast in the off seasons; the cold chill of winter and its gusts of wind may serve to inspire the artistic spirit more than a game of volley ball and a clam bake. Perhaps the distant, midnight glow of a forgotten lighthouse would present artists with a more complex subject than people riding rafts in the surf. Only the artist can know for sure what the draw is to that certain place and time. But what we can know is that artist who paints inspired works according to the coming and going of tides is not undertaking something new.

Photographers do not set out to paint or sketch what they find at the ocean’s edge; rather, they seek to capture a still moment in time from an angle that perhaps only they can see. There may be the flash of a foamy crested wave breaking on an outcropping of rocks, and the photographer is in the right place at just the right time to catch this moment and immortalize it forever. Unless he or she had been there, the moment would have been lost, and the image swept out to sea like so much else, to be forgotten, and never noticed.

If you are an artist seeking inspiration this season, disconnect your satellite tv reception, and take a trip to the beach.

What to Give an Artist

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:16:40 +0000

Choosing the best gift to give to an artistic friend or family member can be a truly uninspiring challenge. One of the things most often purchased for an artist on a gifting occasion is a complete paint set, with brushes and tubes or bottles of paint, some paint thinner, and other supplies for mixing colors and creating works of art. The problem with many of these sets you find in stores is, the paint in them is not good quality stuff. What you may think is an outstanding painting set may be far from it. You might assume that the handsome wooden case with brass hinges and a velvet lined interior look even prettier with all the beautiful, unsqueezed paint tubes resting in their places, but if what is in the beautiful tube is nonsense, your artist might as well be painting with sand.

When selecting a paint set for anyone, it would be best to stick to well known brand names in the art industry. Don’t go for the cheapest set with the most inside it. In fact, don’t necessarily go for the most expensive set with the most inside it. Consult other artists first, or read up online before you make any purchasing decision.

Thankfully, a few of your choices are universal. In any paint set you will want to find the following colors:

Alizaran Crimson

Titanium White

Burnt Umber

Phtalo Blue

Ultramarine Blue

Cadmium Red

Cadmium Yellow

Yellow Ochre

Raw Sienna

These are the basic colors that are used by all artists to create even more colors and variety on their palettes. With these basic colors, a skillful artist can merge, blend, and smear his or her way from a blank canvass to a work of art. Without any of the colors above, variety in shading, shadows, and hues is next to impossible to achieve.
Canvasses in varying sizes will be needed by your artist, who will soon want to put the new paint to use. It is probably best to buy canvasses in person, so that you can examine the quality of them firsthand. Just as with the paint, you will want to have an artist’s opinion on the type and quality of canvasses used. For the traveling artist who does without the luxuries of home, a direct tv rv kit is a great gift! It is a travel ready direct tv set up. And finally, a decent set of paint brushes is essential. No painter sets out to create a brilliant work with a single brush. Well, perhaps some do. But most artists use several brushes on a single painting. Go for variety in sizes, and be prepared to spend some money. Good, high quality brushes do not come cheaply, but will be a true investment.