Ask Me Help Desk - The Artist in you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrebel7

Didi, I have never heard of such! I love it. When the butterflies migrate, we can drive to Tulsa and they just come in droves. When I lived in California, a couple wanted us to go see where they gather on the trees and cover the trees but we were not able to go. I was sad to have missed that.

Had you heard of this type of centerpiece being done before? I had not. Great idea and you did a great job! Where did they get the butterflies? Special order?

Are the butterflies visible all the time until their release? Oh, I just reread your note. It was a centerpiece and they were released later so they were visible for all the guests to admire? That is fun!

The butterflies are ordered from a company that is registered with the International Butterfly Breeder's Association (IBBA). They breed and sell butterflies which are native to the release area. They ship the butterflies out overnight delivery to be received the day prior to the event. Each butterfly is packaged in a triangular shaped box. They are packed in a styrofoam box with a cold pack to keep them cool, thus sleepy. :) You unpack them and keep them in a cool place overnight (cellar or fridge). About an hour prior to the event you put them at room temperature.

Butterfly releases can be done for weddings, funerals, cancer events and memorials, etc. The concept is that according to an old Native legend, butterflies cannot talk, so you whisper your prayers and good wishes to them, then release them to carry them up to the Great Spirit.

Sometimes they are released directly from a butterfly cage, but they are not fancy at all, certainly not suitable for a wedding. I wanted to create a fairly stable, natural environment for them, yet pretty at the same time. I used a wooden base, covered with a silk material, then a nylon sheer with daisies on it. I attached a grapevine wreath on the bottom, and joined it to another on top with small bamboo plant stakes. On the day of the event, flowers from the bouquet were places inside, and some orange Gatorade which the butterflies love (only orange, though). Later that night the butterflies hid up in the spaces of the top grapevine wreath, or between the material and the wreaths to sleep.

The most common butterfly to be used here in Canada and in the eastern States are the Monarchs and Painted Ladies. In California they can use different ones. It is truly a glorious event. I really do think you would love to see one.
Hugs, Didi

Wow... you all such great artists!
Gramma, jrebel, its frustrating I been trying to rep u 2 but I got to spread it roun lolz
Everyone's art here is so amazing, love the butterfly watchyamatcallit, and everyone's pencil sketchings are amazing!

Ah! I see that there has been some great dialogue going on here tonight!

I painted, today...

Show us show us clough! :) pleeeaaaassseeee :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cal823

show us show us clough! :) pleeeaaaassseeee :)

Psst... I'm waiting for the others to respond, if they are still around, that is... ;)

Check to see if "user online" is under their name
That way you know if they around rite now :)
I'm sure your painting is awesomly fantastic :) can't wait to see it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cal823

wow....you all such great artists!
gramma, jrebel, its frustrating i been trying to rep u 2 but i gotta spread it roun lolz
everyones art here is so amazing, love the butterfly watchyamatcallit, and everyones pencil sketchings are amazing!

Cal, good to see you back on here. Post some more work soon please. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

I painted, today...

OOOOHHHH!! What did you paint, Craig?? Let's see, let's see!! Pleeeease??

Waiting with anticipation...
Fingers tapping...

Didi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Ah! I see that there has been some great dialogue going on here tonight!

I painted, today...

Hi there! What did you paint?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cal823

wow....you all such great artists!
gramma, jrebel, its frustrating i been trying to rep u 2 but i gotta spread it roun lolz
everyones art here is so amazing, love the butterfly watchyamatcallit, and everyones pencil sketchings are amazing!

Thank you, Cal... now... what else do YOU have to show us??

Hugs, Didi

Well, it looks like you are all ready!! Please be patient!! You'll love it!! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

psst... I'm waiting for the others to respond, if they are still around, that is... ;)

C'mon, c'mon... that's three!!

Toes tapping, feet dancing in anticipation...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Well, it looks like you are all ready!!! Please be patient!!! You'll love it!!!!:)

Ready and waiting!! :)

Lolz ill try to scrounge round through my art see if I got any other good stuff to show you guys.
Id upload pics now except I need to go unpack shopping and the pics I want to show you are on videophone and I want to use the digital camera to retake them :)

Here it goes..! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cal823

lolz ill try to scrounge round thru my art see if i got any other good stuff to show u guys.
id upload pics now except i need to go unpack shopping and the pics i wanna show u are on videophone and i wanna use the digital camera to retake em :)

Looking forward to it, Cal.

Hugs, Didi

Quote:

Originally Posted by grammadidi

C'mon, c'mon... that's three!!!!

Toes tapping, feet dancing in anticipation....

I know, I know! I love to watch you dance, Didi!! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Here it goes....!!!! :)

It must have been the fence... sigh...

*Didi is banging her head on the desk in frustration... *

ARGHHHHHHH!! *she clutches at chest as she has now aged 15 years waiting for the musician turned painter!*

Hey there Clough!! I know you are just leaving us blowin' in the wind so we will appreciate the post more when we EVER do receive it!! Did I miss it?? Am I in the Twilight Zone?? Hello Clough,, are you out there somewhere! Cal, Didi and I are patient but patience is a virtue, virtue comes with age and we aren't THAT old... LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrebel7

Cal, Didi and I are patient but patience is a virtue, virtue comes with age and we aren't THAT old......... LOL

Hahaha, Jan! I was just going to type: "Look, I KNOW that patience is a virtue, but I just lost my virtue!"

I painted STORM DOORS for a musician friend/customer of mine!! :D

Yeah, I know! I bad! :( About as bad as those people who post to the religious threads just to bait people into getting into arguments for the sake of arguing! :mad:

But, for real now, I do have an image that I would like to post while all of you are here that concerns one of my types of art in which I am involved, and that would be music I want to do it correctly, so I might need some help, please. Please consider this a test image for me. Many more will follow at points in the future. I spent quite awhile tonight assembling images that I could find that are already on my computer.

Since the image contains me in it, it will be small.

I do have two questions for which I would appreciate an answer, please.

What are the approximate sizes of the images that your have already posted?

Do I type in my description of the image before I place the image in the post, or after I have uploaded the image?

Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by grammadidi

Looking forward to it, Cal.

Hugs, Didi

Me, too! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

I painted STORM DOORS for a musician friend/customer of mine!!!! :D

Yeah, I know! I bad! :( About as bad as those people who post to the religious threads just to bait people into getting into arguments for the sake of arguing! :mad:

But, for real now, I do have an image that I would like to post while all of you are here that concerns one of my types of art in which I am involved, and that would be music I want to do it correctly, so I might need some help, please. Please consider this a test image for me. Many more will follow at points in the future. I spent quite awhile tonight assembling images that I could find that are already on my computer.

Since the image contains me in it, it will be small.

I do have two questions for which I would appreciate an answer, please.

What are the approximate sizes of the images that your have already posted?

Do I type in my description of the image before I place the image in the post, or after I have uploaded the image?

Thank you!

For some reason, I could not access this page for a bit. But I am back. The way I post is to resize the image to the largest whether width or height at 450 pixels. You can use 750 but I like 450. But if you are in the image, post at 750 as long as that is the largest either width or height. I go to the body of the e-mail, type the description or any information I want to post regarding the attachment then go down to "advanced", then further down, it will allow you to browse your files, chose which one you want to post and then hit upload (or download) I forget what it says. Then you can preview but it won't show images, just text, but it will list them in the area where you loaded them. Send. Is this what you needed to know? I may be answering questions that you already know the answer to. I am so new to this, you might get better info from Cal or Didi!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

I painted STORM DOORS for a musician friend/customer of mine!!!! :D

Yeah, I know! I bad! :( About as bad as those people who post to the religious threads just to bait people into getting into arguments for the sake of arguing! :mad:

I KNEW IT!! You tease! VERY bad!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Since the image contains me in it, it will be small.

?? Why?? You don't want us to see you??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

What are the approximate sizes of the images that your have already posted?

If you mean in megapixels, when you are uploading the image it tells you how many it shouldn't exceed depending upon the type of file (ie: jpeg, etc). I just resize them by sight to what feels to be an appropriate size.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Do I type in my description of the image before I place the image in the post, or after I have uploaded the image?

Either way. I usually type first, but sometimes I think of something to add. Please do hurry, I need my beauty sleep!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Thank you!

No, thank you! (I considered making you wait, but... )

Hugs, Didi

Quote:

Originally Posted by grammadidi

Hahaha, Jan! I was just going to type: "Look, I KNOW that patience is a virtue, but I just lost my virtue!"

Didi, this is just getting stranger and stranger!! Do you suppose we were twins at one time?? LOL That was hilarious. :)

Clough, 2:30 is about my time I get a little crazy with out sleeping. Did you go to sleep on us?? Cal, are you still hanging in there??

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrebel7

Didi, this is just getting stranger and stranger!!! Do you suppose we were twins at one time??? LOL That was hilarious. :)

I don't know, Jan, but I do think that we both got hung up for a time posting because we were trying to post at exactly the same time!

1 Attachment(s)

This is me when I gave a musical program and lecture on early music for the Friends of the Rock Island Library some years ago. The instrument that you see is a virginal, which is a type of harpsichord. I own and did decorate the instrument. There is an interesting story about how I obtained the virginal.

That is a very small photo, Craig. You look nice in the suit, though! Oh... and your virginal... also very nice. :) What do you mean you decorated it?

Hey gang! I am anxious to see Clough's post but sorry, I am going to have to call it a night! I have a fairly early morning tomorrow. I will check first thing in the morning though!! Sorry to have to leave you! Clough, I'm not giving up, just need some shut eye! Good Night to all!

Hello Grammadidi,JR,Cal,Clough and all the others here enjoying the Art thread.

JR,
I love your life updates here.

Grammadidi,
You are trying out new art?That's wonderful and I must say you are quite good at it.
I loved that butterfly release thing.. I wish I was there to see it.

Clough,
Are you ever going to post one of yours?;)

Cal,
Keep them coming.

Erlobeneur,
Show us another one of yours...

Chek,
Where are you?

Meterre,
Haven't heard from you in a while.

And all the others I may have not mentioned but are enjoying this thread,come on people, post some more art.I am enjoying it here.;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

This is me when I gave a musical program and lecture on early music for the Friends of the Rock Island Library some years ago. The instrument that you see is a virginal, which is a type of harpsichord. I own and did decorate the instrument. There is an interesting story about how I obtained the virginal.

I was about to sign off and saw messages. I don't see any images though. :confused: Maybe after I bring it back up tomorrow, it will show up. Again, goodnight. If the image is small go with the 750 pixels Clough. We are anxious to see you and the instruments!! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

This is me when I gave a musical program and lecture on early music for the Friends of the Rock Island Library some years ago. The instrument that you see is a virginal, which is a type of harpsichord. I own and did decorate the instrument. There is an interesting story about how I obtained the virginal.

I am determined so had to try again before bed!! Yes, go with 750 pixels. We can't see this well enough!! :) Okay??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

This is me when I gave a musical program and lecture on early music for the Friends of the Rock Island Library some years ago. The instrument that you see is a virginal, which is a type of harpsichord. I own and did decorate the instrument. There is an interesting story about how I obtained the virginal.

Clough, I hope you will take time later to share how you obtained the instrument. That will make it even more interesting. Now, I am for sure going to bed. I am glad you are starting to post photos!

Hey FB, glad to see you popped in with us.

Good night for sure now! :p ;) :) Until tomorrow!

G'Nite JR!

Quote:

Originally Posted by grammadidi

That is a very small photo, Craig. You look nice in the suit, though! Oh... and your virginal... also very nice. :) What do you mean you decorated it?

That brings me to the story as to how I obtained it.

When I was to vocal music accompanist at one of the local high schools, it was well known that I like early music and that I had also been commissioned to build a virginal for some customers, because I had borrowed the instrument that I had built to use on a Vivaldi piece that one of the choirs at the high school performed in a concert.

It just so happened that one of the students knew of a virginal in a home. It was the only thing that was left in the house. The people who had owned the home had left it there.

The student wondered if I was interested in the instrument. I was. He spoke with his parents, who then spoke with the owners. It was arranged that I would purchase the instrument and that the money would go to the student.

When I got to see the instrument in the empty house, I was somewhat shocked, because the instrument was painted ORANGE! And none of the strings had be put into it. Also, there were wooden pieces that were glued together that didn't need to be. Turns out, that it was a project by the woman of the home that she didn't finish.

By decorating, on this particular item, I don't mean anything fancy. It decorated it simply, as a simple style would be that which would be suitable to Italian Virginals of the 15th century.

It's hard to see the decorating in the picture. But, I do have other pictures which I will post at a later time.

This is just one of the arts in which I am involved that I wanted to share about on this site.

Night, Jan... Sweet dreams!

Hugs, Didi

She built it, or was trying to restore it? How many octaves is it? I read an interesting story online not very long ago about someone who built one out of junk. It was based upon a 15 century Italian Virginal. They showed a photo of the original from a museum. Beautiful! (But then I appreciate things like that.)

Anyhow, so I am thinking you removed the unnecessary pieces of wood, stripped off the orange paint and re-strung it?

You are a very talented man!

Anyhow, I am heading off to bed. Thanks for keeping us in suspense. :D

Hugs, Didi