Blogs related to Arts - Paintings Online, Handicrafts, Artifacts etc. can be posted here and customers can read the same.
2 – If the frame has a protective glass or acrylic pane, remove it from the frame. If it does not, skip to step 4. Apply two pieces of painters tape diagonally across the glass/acrylic pane to form a large "X". Should the glass break during shipment, the tape will help keep the broken pieces together.
3 – Sandwich the glass/acrylic pane between two sheets of foam board approximately 2 inches larger than the glass on all sides. Firmly seal the foam board sandwich all around with packing tape, making sure that the glass/acrylic panel does not shift around within.
4 – Wrap the painting in acid-free, archival tissue paper or glassine. Note that any material that will come into contact with the surface of the painted work should be archival quality.
6 – Add cardboard corner protectors to the corners of the wrapped work. You can buy corner protectors readymade, or you can construct them yourself. Several online resources offer instructions on how to make them.
7 – Wrap the framed painting in three (3) layers of bubble wrap, using packing tape to secure it.
If your framed painting is larger than 18"x24", you'll need to build a wooden crate and seal the work inside.
If your framed painting is under 18"x24", proceed to step below.
8 – Sandwich the wrapped painting within two sheets of foam board and tape all the way around to secure it.
9 – Place it inside a sturdy cardboard box. To minimize movement within the box, thoroughly fill any empty areas around the artwork with shredded paper. The more snug the fit, the less the potential for damage. Seal the box thoroughly with packing tape, reinforcing the corners.
10 – Affix the shipping label to the package and put clear tape over the label so it doesn't get removed during shipment. Using a felt tip pen, write "FRAGILE" in large capital letters on the package, or use readymade "FRAGILE" labels.
IMPORTANT: Always make certain that your painting is completely dry before packaging it for shipment. Sometimes paint can appear dry when it's not. Since drying time depends on such factors as the type and brand of paint, the drying mediums used (if any), the paint colors, etc., you must research the correct drying time for the specific supplies you've used.
1 – Wrap the painting in glassine paper or acid-free, archival tissue paper. Note that any material that comes into contact with the surface of the work should be archival quality. We advise that you avoid touching the painting's surface with bare hands by wearing white cotton gloves or placing acid-free tissue paper between the work and your fingers when handling.
2 –Take four (4) 8"x 8" square pieces of glassine paper or acid-free tissue paper (you may adjust the size of the squares to better fit the size of your work) and fold each in half diagonally to create a triangle, then fold in half again to create a triangle pocket. Place one pocket onto each corner of the painting.
3 – Taping only onto the tissue paper corners, tape the wrapped painting to a sheet of foam board (or two-ply cardboard) the same size or slightly larger than the painting for a firm backing.
4 – To protect against moisture, wrap the glassine-covered artwork with plastic sheeting/poly wrap or put it inside a heavy plastic bag. Use tape to seal all areas where water can enter and cause damage.
5 – Wrap the entire work with atleast three (3) layers of bubble wrap for a protective padding. Use more if you believe your painting requires more protection (e.g. it has a raised surface). Wrap it as you would a gift, using tape to secure it shut.
6 – Place cardboard corner protectors on the corners of the wrapped artwork.
10 – Affix the shipping label to the package and put clear tape over the label so it doesn't get removed during shipment. Using a felt tip pen, write "FRAGILE" in large capital letters on the box, or use readymade "FRAGILE" labels.
All artworks that are 48" or above on any one side need to be packaged into a wooden crate.
5 – Wrap the entire work with two (2) layers of bubble wrap for a protective padding. Wrap it as you would a gift, using tape to secure it shut.
7 – Place the wrapped artwork between 2 pieces of foam board that are at least ½" thickness (or two-ply cardboard), forming a "sandwich." Also, the borders of the foam board sheets should extend 2-3 inches beyond all edges of the bubble-wrapped artwork. Use packing tape to bind the foam board sandwich together. Be certain the sides are taped down firmly to ensure that the artwork doesn't shift around within.
8 – Place the foam board-covered painting into a cardboard box with approximately three (3) inches of space on all sides. Fill the empty space with enough bubble wrap or wadded/shredded white paper to ensure that the artwork doesn't shift during transit.
9 – Use the H-taping method to seal the box. The H-taping method involves using long strips of packing tape to completely seal the opening flaps of the box. Use one long strip of tape over the horizontal opening between the two flaps, and two strips over the vertical sides of the flaps—forming an "H." Apply additional vertical strips of tape as needed across the sealed flaps for added reinforcement. Illustrations of this method are provided by different sources online. Just type "H-taping method" into the Google/ Bing search box.
Once you have a portfolio with you, plan to promote it.Set out to get your Art Seen. It helps to set goals of where you want to be in a few years' time.It is said that a piece of art is your own voice. Do take your own liberty to express yourself. But be little considerate too, in order to make a sale of your art. This means your work should have a mass appeal - a style, a subject liked by many. Your work must have a subject, a theme, to which, people can relate themselves easily to. If you are not selling, and funds are what is needed to continually produce and promote art, some changes may have to be made. Look for general trends in the art world, and find out what people are buying and writing about.
Write regularly, about the artworks you are working on currently. Create an Art blog and start blogging about random thoughts, processes, and works in progress. Whether it is a certain concept, subject, or theme, an art buyer will appreciate the piece more if they can know what it means, and why you created it. Have some of this conveyed through your artwork title, but try to enlighten an art buyer with a summary of what inspired you, so that they can easily explain it to others who will ask questions. Have a website to sell your artworks. It's the most promising tool for selling in today's digital age. If you cannot make a website on your own, spend some amount to hire help to create it for you.
Pricing your work entirely depends on what stage you are in your art career. Add value to your work. Good presentation, framing of reasonably good size enhances your artwork. Smaller is better.
A lot of artist (including myself) want to make big painting, sometimes of a gigantic proportion. It's a fantasy of every artist. But you have to think of practicality too. Maybe a big size painting allows you to give ease with big brush stroke to flow or your style of giving finer details comes through better. But small size paintings are affordable. They can be easily framed and hanged anywhere. Easy to transport or ship. High end art is only for an exclusive few.
Look at the prices of other artists in your stage of artistic development. Visit art galleries or search for prices online. Explain your prices in practical language to anyone who asks, and never base it on emotions. For example, tell them your painting took certain amount of time to create along with cost of materials involved, instead of saying you price it higher because it has personal meaning. Unless they know you, they will not understand the significance of your personal attachment to the painting. If you can convey that the artwork has a certain tangible value related to the time spent, artistic skill success, cost of materials, etc., the art buyer is more likely to buy the artwork.
When a person views an artwork, they often want to buy it because they see something in it that relates to them. They have an emotional reaction to the piece, which stirs them to want to buy it. There are a lot of things that contribute to the value of an artwork. How it is presented, where it is showcased, all helps to increase the perceived value. An artwork displayed in a gallery would certainly appear more valuable than one in a coffee shop. That is not to say you should not display in a coffee shop, especially if you are an emerging artist. It is effective for name recognition.
Look for what sells. If you are residing or operating from a particular area (and not in metro or cosmopolitan cities) which has a peculiar taste, culture adopt it in your art form. Say Tanjore in south India, or use of vibrant colors in central India. Folk, religious and mythological subjects in north India.
Bestselling subjects in Indian scenario are landscapes, seascapes, beach scenes, harbour, animals, birds, flowers, abstract, semi-abstract, impressionistic landscapes, modern art.
Art! It brings an element of vibrancy into your home or office. Choice of art often reflects your Aesthetics.
Your choice of art often reflects your own personality, your tastes, your aspirations…little wonder then that not only the choice of art, but also its display requires a lot of thought.
Placement: Where you place the painting depends on the subject and composition of the work and which room you determine would suit the mood of the painting best. However, that is not the only consideration; one even needs to consider which wall the painting is placed on. It is always advisable to place paintings on a wall that is a dividing wall within your home rather than on the perimeter. The simple reason is that the perimeter walls are more subject to temperature fluctuations and also the possibility of water seepage. These could result in fading of pigments, cracks forming in the canvas and increased yellowing of the varnish. If you would still need to display the painting on the perimeter wall then it would be prudent to place rubber or plastic behind the frame so that the work is not in direct contact with the wall.
Displaying a painting above fireplace will expose it to extremes in temperature and soot and is a strict no, no. The same applies to having the painting above heating and air conditioning vents. Avoid areas of high humidity like the bathroom. The kitchen is another room which should not host artworks, the steam and fumes of cooking are bound to ruin the colors over time.
Framing: The choice of frame can detract or enhance the painting. It is essential that the frame should compliment not just the painting but also the décor of the room where it is placed. Normally smaller paintings need to be displayed with a mount. If you have a large wall, a museum style framing would help cover a larger area. A dark frame is normally advised for smaller works which help to bring the artwork into focus. For larger canvas works, keeping them on the stretcher would suffice, but they need to be checked regularly for signs of moisture or dust.
Visit Artzyme.com, India's fastest growing original Painting portal where you will find framed as well as unframed options.
Lighting: It's a known fact that direct lighting can harm the paintings and cause the colours to fade. While the commonly used 'picture' lamps are popular, they cast a harsh glare which heats the painting unevenly. It is always best to have an indirect light source highlight the artworks, in the form of recessed lighting or spotlights in false ceilings. While using halogen lamps be aware that these emit a high level of ultraviolet light which damages artworks and hence should be installed with a UV filter. If the option is available, use tungsten lamps instead.
You may select exclusive range of Paintings by Eminent as well as Emerging artist on different mediums (viz. Acrylic, Oil, Watercolor, Mixed media etc.) on Artzyme.com. Abstracts, Contemporary, Landscapes, Figurative, Traditional Paintings like Tanjore, Warli, Miniature etc. on Artzyme.com.
Excel in Arts as self-taught artist.
Lot of new artists, or those who are trying out their artistic skills, asks for guidance. Most of them say, that they don't have any education in art (an excuse for their poor quality of work), and feel, that it's a big hindrance in their progress. They generally want to know, how to improve their work. They are just ignorant how to go about it. I understand their plight, as I myself am a self-taught artist and painting for less than one and half years. From my own experience I can clearly understand what they are going through.
Sometimes it is really difficult to answer their queries in short. These people are usually looking for instant formulas to jump up to a master's level. But there are no short cuts to be successful in art or to improve your quality of work with the twist of a magic wand. Sometimes the questions are really silly. But I appreciate that they ask. Asking, increases knowledge.
To help, assist aspiring artists, here with this article, I'll try to tackle the issues of improving quality of your work and progress with every new piece of art you create and overcome short-comings of not having a degree in art.
I always tell people to make more and more art. Practice… practice and practice. This is the only way to improve your skills. But along with making more and more art and practicing, you need to study as well. As you need to paint and create with a sense of direction.
Have a proper plan for your work in your head before starting off on the canvas. Though the visual, style, technique or treatment might change as the work progresses, as the brain is very imaginative and keeps working, thinking and flashing new ideas and images in front of you, and you think it will look even better. Never mind. The end result may be better than the one you had thought. Your work must have right path and progression. Learning is necessary to improve your skills and avoid incorrect practices. It's important to keep a check and correct your mistakes in time, so that they do not become habits in long run. Without proper knowledge or guidance, you will keep on repeating the same mistakes. You cannot succeed by ignoring learning and just by picking up a brush and start painting. And it can be achieved too, even if you missed going to an art college and didn't earn a degree.
We are fortunate to be born in this era of digital media, where a whole lot of study material is available on internet. Knowledge is scattered all around us. We should simply reach out and grasp it. Read books, blogs, articles, watch instructional videos and study works of other artists. We have a whole lot of great artists and master painters, who never went to art schools and or even started painting after the age of 70 and still succeeded. (Mind it they didn't have internet or even computers). The simple formula behind their success was learning, knowledge and proper direction.
It is equally important to devote sufficient time to study various aspects of painting, besides just picking up the brush and colouring the paper or canvas. Explore various possibilities of different media, tools and techniques. Study works of great artists. Know the material available in the market and how best you can bring it to your advantage. Find out things that can add a different style or effect to enhance the looks of your works.
Experiment how your drawing or painting effects can be enhanced by preparing, modifying or changing the surface you are working on. Possibly you can add some texture to the surface- soft or wild, depending on the subject and make your work look more appealing. This you can do with texture white, crumpled paper, using cement or anything you can think of. May be or simply scratch the surface of the paper with your nails or with some pointed objects. Change the way you use your paints by diluting, thickening, throwing, splashing, spraying, and blowing and/or by adding some other medium or material, adding it texture, making it grainy, luminous, dull etc. Understand your tool. Handle it in a different way to see, if you can achieve different effects. Look around your place, for things that can be helpful for you to paint or create some new effects. Drawing and painting is not limited to pencils, brushes or spatulas. Learn about uses of various mediums like fixative, varnishes, gels, etc. for preserving and making your work archival and their effects on the paints used. Give proper thought to the presentation part. Appropriate mounting and choice of right frame can enhance the beauty of your works.
Exploring knowledge on History of Art, origins of various schools (styles) goes a long way in enhancing your art. A tall building can only be elevated on a strong foundation.
Being a self-taught artist, you have the liberty to choose to paint in the style you wish to. But you must give a direction to your style. Don't let the monotony take over single minded subject or technique. Don't enter a comfort zone. Experiment till you develop your own unique style. Over time you will discover that you are really good at some particular medium, style, and tool or technique. The tools and the material obey your mind and hands. Regular practice and command over it will make you a brand in future. Just painting, probably you will be producing more work. But by painting and simultaneously exploring knowledge, you will be producing quality work.
This year Holi will be celebrated on 23rd March.
It is primarily observed in India, Nepal and other regions of the world with significant populations of Hindus or people of Indian origin. In recent years the festival has spread to parts of Europe and North America as a spring celebration of love, frolic, and colors.
It also has a religious purpose, symbolically signified by the legend of Holika. The night before Holi, bonfires are lit in a ceremony known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Little Holi. People gather near fires, sing and dance. The next day, Holi, also known as Dhuli in Sanskrit, or Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated. Children and youth spray coloured powder solutions (gulal) at each other, laugh and celebrate, while adults smear dry coloured powder (abir) on each other's faces. Visitors to homes are first teased with colours, and then served with Holi delicacies, desserts and drinks.
- Himjal (founder of Artzyme, marketplace for Arts - Paintings, Handicrafts and Antiques/ Artifacts).
It's something you do with your art after it's made, when it's ready to leave your studio and get sold either by you personally or through an exhibition, at an art & craft fair, online (e.g. #Artzyme.com), at open stores, through an agent or representative, wherever. Making art creations is about the individual personal creative process, experiences that come from within; pricing art creations for sale is about what's happening on the outside, in the real world where things are bought and sold for money, and where market forces dictate in large part how much those things are worth.
Art prices are not pulled out of thin air. When you price your art creation, you must be able to show that your prices make sense, that they're fair and justified with respect to certain art criteria such as the depth of your resume, your previous sales history and the particulars of the market where you sell. People who know something about art and who are interested in either buying, selling or representing your work are going to figure out one way or another, not necessarily by asking you, whether your creation is worth what you're selling it for. In order to sell, you have to demonstrate and convince them that your prices are fair and reasonable. If you can't do this, you'll have a hard time selling art.
For those of you who have little or no sales experience, who haven't sold much art, a good starting point for you is to price your work based on time, labor, and cost of materials. Pay yourself a reasonable hourly wage; add the cost of materials and make that your asking price.
Define your market. Where do you sell your creation? Do you sell locally, regionally, nationally or internationally? The art, artists and prices in your market are the ones you should pay the most attention to.
Define your type of art. What kind of art do you make? What are its physical characteristics? In what ways is it similar to other creations? How do you categorize it? If you paint landscape, for example, what kind of landscape, how would you describe them? This is the type of art that you want to generally focus on for comparison purposes.
Determine which artists make art similar to yours either by researching online or visiting exhibitions, open studios or other venues and seeing their work in person. Pay particular attention to those artists who also have career accomplishments similar to yours, who've been making art about as long as you have, showing about as long as you have, selling about as long as you have and so on.
See how much these similar artists charge for their art. Their prices will be good initial estimates of the prices you should charge for your art creations.
No matter where you sell your creation, make sure it's priced and that people can see the prices. ALWAYS price your creation. Don't make them ask. Don't make them email. Don't make them call. Not pricing your creation and making people ask is a game. Here's how it's played... "You tell me which one you like the most. Then I try to figure out how much you like it and how badly you want it. Then I look at your shoes or your email address or your online profile or your area code, and try to figure out how much you can afford. Then I price it as high as I think I possibly can." This turns people off; they know what you're doing; they don't like to be played and they don't want to be saps.
Pricing your creation also protects you from having to field unanticipated questions, especially if you're not comfortable talking about money. Suppose, for example, someone asks a price and you're not sure what to charge, so you start fumbling around. "Oh... that one," you say. "You like that one? Hmmm… Let me see, I haven't thought about selling that one before... I really like it though; it's one of my favorites. I would have thought you'd like this one." And on and on you go, looking bumbling and unprepared as the asker makes a beeline for the door. Also, people don't like to ask prices and then find out they can't afford the art. This is embarrassing. Let people see your prices first, think them over, decide whether they like your Rs.100000 sculpture Rs.100000 worth, decide whether they can afford it, and when they're ready, then they'll ask questions.
Raise the prices of the in-demand art above those of your other art, and price earlier examples that are still in your possession higher as well, possibly even higher than those you're currently making. For example, if collectors come to prize your modern art much more than your landscapes, raise prices on all past, present and future modern art, with prices for your earlier most formative or significant works (those in the styles that are receiving the most attention) being raised the most.
Offer art in all price ranges. People who like your work but can't afford the expensive stuff should at least have a chance to come away with something. No matter what their budgets, they're still among your biggest fans, your potential future collector base, and the people who have the highest likelihood of standing by you throughout your career.
Getting your art out into the public whenever and wherever you have the opportunity is the best way to maximize your exposure, create goodwill and become known and established in the arts community. The more people who see your art and the more circumstances they see it in, the greater the chances good things will happen in your art career. That includes getting shows, being Online, arts publications, getting representation and last but certainly not least, making sales.
Online sales of al creations' including pintings, cafts and atifacts is increasing. And with the Smartphone sales increasing significantly high, do not ignore the online option for sales. It not only will improve your Brand recall with customers, but give you better exposure globally too. Make your creation available in as many possible places as you can. Look at the sales of other categories, where we never thought online had any market, but, looking at current trend the offline sales are threatened and have lost sizeable mrketshare to the oline players.
Place your creations with Category focused Online marketplace portal.
We help selling your prized creation, visit Artzyme.com. We enable artisans from urban and rural areas to showcase their creative talents to Art connoisseurs and customers.
Select the most important and visible walls in your home. The art that you decide to bring into your house is important to you so give it room to shine by leaving some walls blank. It is not necessary to hang something on every wall. The mantle is a great place for a piece that you love as your eye is drawn to it and it is often one of the first areas noticed in a living room.
Mirror the size of the wall: If you have a long horizontal wall hang a long horizontal piece (or collection of pieces) on that wall. If you have a narrow vertical spot, place a piece that is narrow and vertical and that fills the space. By accentuating the height or length of the wall, you make the room feel larger.
Fill the wall - Don't be afraid to use the entire wall; many people think they can't handle a big piece of art when they can.
Color is important: Think about the feel of a color before placing it in your room. Light blues and greens are cool, serene colors that are well suited for a room meant for rest and relaxation such as a bedroom. It is nice to greet people in an entry space with warmer tones, welcoming them into the home.
Vary the texture of the pieces in your room. If you have a photograph behind glass above your favorite chair, you may want to choose a piece of art on canvas for above your sofa. Variety is good when you hang art in a room!
A frame can serve as a bridge between the artwork and the room.
When selecting a frame, it is important that it complement the furniture and architectural features of a room. Choose a frame to match the wood floors or if you have gold lamps in your living room, select a golf frame for the art. A frame can be particularly helpful when bringing modern art into a traditional home.
Play with the lighting in the room: After placing the artwork, move your existing lighting around or think about adding new spots to illuminate the piece. A well-lit piece of art will draw visitors into your space.
Watch out for glare: When hanging art behind glass, stay away from walls directly across from windows as the light will create glare and the piece will be lost on the wall. Non-reflective museum glass is available at a higher price but worth it if glare is an issue.
Will Logistics be helpful in category of Arts?
Arts site Artzyme banks on Logistics for frill-free deliveries.
Logistics is the backbone of the economy, providing the efficient, cost effective flow of goods on which other commercial sectors depend. The logistics industry in India is evolving rapidly and it is the interplay of infrastructure, technology and new types of service providers that will define whether the industry is able to help its customers reduce their logistics costs and provide effective services.
Despite weak economic sentiments, the logistics & warehousing industry continued to witness growth largely due to growth in retail, e-commerce and manufacturing sectors. The Global Logistics sector is expected to grow at around 10-15% in the period 2013-14. With this forward looking attitude and a promise of growth and improvements, the service oriented logistics industry is all set to expand beyond the horizons in the latter half of this decade, utilizing this fiscal year as its launch pad.Indian logistics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.17% by 2020 driven by the growth in the manufacturing, retail, FMCG and e-commerce sectors (Artzyme.com etc.).
India spends around 14.4% of its GDP on logistics and transportation as compared to less than 8% spent by the other developing countries.
3PL logistics market in India is expected to be worth US$ 301.89 billion by 2020.
NOVONOUS estimates that the warehouse market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10% whereas freight forwarding market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% till 2020.
This growth rate is based on the expectation that the new government will soon implement the GST regime and the logistics companies can optimize their operations to reduce cost and increase their margins. With the implementation of GST, the logistics companies, which are currently forced to set up many small warehouses across multiple cities can set up just a few, big warehouses region wise and can follow the hub-and-spoke model for freight movement from the warehouses to the different manufacturing plants, wholesale outlets, retail outlets and the various POS. This growth is also backed by the boom in the e-commerce sector (Artzyme.com etc.) and expansionary policies of the FMCG firms. This has increased the service geography of the logistics firms but they also have to meet the demands of quick delivery and tight service level agreements.
The Indian logistics industry spends around 14% of the GDP on different types of cost incurred in logistics operation. The amount of cost incurred is very high in comparison to the logistics cost incurred by different nations. The logistics firms are moving from a traditional setup to the integration of IT and technology to their operations to reduce the costs incurred as well as to meet the service demands. The industry as a whole has moved from being just service provider to the positon where they provide end to end supply chain solutions to their customers.
The Ten key logistics players in Indian market namely TNT Express, DHL, All Cargo Logistics Ltd., Agarwal Packers and Movers, GATI, DTDC, BlueDart, First Flight, FedEx and Globe Express services.
One of the major critical challenges faced by companies today is of insufficient integration of transport networks, information technology (IT), warehousing and distribution facilities.
Regulations exist at a number of different tiers, imposed by national, regional and local authorities. Regulations often differ from city to city, hindering the creation of national networks.
Trained Manpower in both the third party logistics sector and the manufacturing and retailing sectors is very weak at a practical level, i.e., IT, driving and warehouse as well as at a higher strategic level.
The disorganized nature of the logistics sector in India, its perception as a manpower-heavy industry and lack of adequate training institutions has led to a shortfall in skilled management and client service personnel.
There are a lack of IT standards and poor systems integration and equipment.
Poor facilities and management are to blame for high levels of loss, damage and deterioration of stock, especially in the perishables sector. Part of the problem is insufficient specialist equipment, i.e. proper refrigerated storage and containers, but it is also partly down to lack of training.
Although both the practitioners and the academicians are increasingly aware of the importance of logistics and supply chain, however the field is still under penetrated as far as research is concerned. It is important to prioritize research and development so that various weaknesses in the industry could be identified and improved.
Surely some serious thinking and action is happening around for the improvement of the Indian Logistics industry. Arts category should get help from logistics.
Do you want to follow your passion for arts?
Jut follow and live your passion the way I did while starting Artzyme.
We believe that each one of us have an inborn talent, talent to sing, draw, paint, cook, write, and the list goes on. Some talents lay hidden with in us the entire life as we chose to ignore them or never get no opportunity, avenue to showcase or even explore the same. Some of us make it a conscious decision to make our talent our livelihood and some of us just a hobby. Then there comes those moments in our lives where we want to give up our existing jobs/ source of income to pursue our talents as we want to excel in our talent too. The question that arises in most of our minds is that do we actually run for our talents or is it the right time to pursue the same.
Ability:- The first and foremost decision to make is my skill, talent really worth or will I will be able to make a living out of it. In Order to succeed as an artist do you have that some level of artistic ability.
That's not to say that you need to be a master painter with a fine art degree. In fact you don't really need any formal qualifications to make a living as an artist. But you do need enough skill to produce consistently high quality work, and to have the confidence in your own work to be able to sell it.
If you don't feel like you're at that level yet, then you may need to get some more training.
Today, there are many online courses, short term courses available in classical drawing and arts, to give your talent the finesse and professional touch that it requires to get you success.
One important thing to note, is that just because you are still learning, that doesn't mean that you can't be earning at the same time. An artist never stops learning. You will never reach a point where you have nothing left to learn, so you don't need to wait until you are an 'expert' before you can make money from your art.
Visit Artzyme for emerging artist.
So if you have the spark in you to follow your passion, don't get down bogged down by what you don't have, just make that one leap, and path leads to your passion with little amount of hard work and sincere dedication.
Age:- If someone was to ask me does age really matter to change one's profession and that too for a perusal for passion, I would say Yes if your heart so doing fine, and you have no ailments. As new venture that one starts comes with stress, time to dedicate, complete involvement, and a bigggg RISK... And for that you may want to start young, like in late 30's or early 40's.. As after this one may not be as agile to handle physical as well as mental stress.
Finances:- How healthy is your bank balance ? Do you have enough bank balance to make it through without any income for the next one year? Is your project self funded? Or financed ? Do you have enough assets to cover up for your liabilities? These questions and many more need to be analysed and answered before taking the Biggg Leap. One must have a consult a good financial analyst to making good conclusions and deductions and finally arrive at a decision.
"Creativity isn't some rare gift to be enjoyed by lucky few...its part of human thinking behaviour" - Tom and David Kelly of Creative Confidence.
An link of article on Artzyme blog giving details of Nudes arrive at the Delhi Art Gallery, Manhattan.
To me Information Technology is the birth child of the artistic side of the brains of a Software/ Hardware engineer. The entire IT domain thrives on the creative thinking of an engineer and support staff. Be it complex software to Gaming Program, laser shows...just think about it would it ever involve if there was no creativity or element of art to it. There are many visual art, graphics, softwares that we use in our day to day lives without even realising the creativity used behind them. IT would not have reached our houses if these artists did not perceive and then create end to end solutions.
To me now it's just a pay back time of IT to the actual artists like painters, art creators,decorators who are artists by profession and have a formal education and skill in physical artistic creations. These creators have started to use technology to create better, through various visual arts software. Artists just think of an idea and use technology to give it a final outcome. Eg. a designer designing marriage invitation cards, thinks of the design he wants on the cards, the fonts he wants write up, the colour scheme, the layout and the entire pattern. He visualises the same and uses technology to transform his thoughts in to physical form, and then uses the same technology to produce more copies of his production (hi -end printers). It has made life of a creator, developer so easy that he doesn't need to manually sit and try various permutations and combinations, just a few clicks on the keypad, and he gets exactly what he wants to create.
Artists are using IT to showcase their work, creation to the entire world through Paintings, where people virtually is it these artistic exhibitions, like the work of the artist, give their inputs through comments section and what more even buy them instantly through hi-end securitised payment gateways. It's so simple, no logistics , transportation involved until the last phase of shipment, which saves artists all his effort and time, and he is creating more while the exhibition is ON. All it required an Artists to do was click his work through high end digital camera and post his work online.
Artists have come out of their nutshell of traditional way of selling only through retail shops, or through physical exhibitions. They are now moving one step ahead, like the entire world is moving, and have started selling their creations online, through various portals, like Artzyme, dedicated India's Fast growing Arts Marketplace. Again following a very simple process of clicking their work, pricing the same and listing it on the portal. Buyers window shop for their needs and if they like it they make advance payments and the seller just has to ship the products to buyers across the globe, giving him an open international market exposure. All he has to do is ship the products.What's more the payment reaches the artists sitting at home, saving him all the time and energy, and there by allowing him to focus on Creating More, and learning more, as today there is no dirth of avenues to showcase your talent.
And all this is possible by the new and better developments through the creative minds of our IT artists, who are working day in and day out to create what ART needs and uses. So to me Art Creates Art!
- By Himjal (Founder Artzyme - Creative Bazaar to enhance you Home/ Office with Paintings, Handicrafts and Home Decor).


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Hadhrat Maulana Shaikh Naseer Ahmad Khan 1918 - 2010
Shaikh Naseer Ahmad Khan 1918 - 2010
Muhammadullah Khalili Qasmi
The 4th February 2010 morning, Deoband woke up in shocks, as the minarets of Darul Uloom's mosque resounded, in the deep winter silence, the sad news of its ex-Shaikul Haidth expiring in the same night. The shockwaves continued to travel throughout Indian subcontinent and even to every place in the entire world where people with Deoband link are present.
It was sorrowfully recalled that just 4 years ago, on 6th February 2010, Maulana Asad Madani expired leaving a strong column of Deoband falling apart, that even led the division in Jamiat Ulama Hind and a subsequent rift between Deoband sympathisers around the world.
If you have been in Darul Uloom Deoband, you must be remembering a personality tall, straight with wood stick in hand heading to Darul Hadith (class for higher learning of Prophetic sayings). It was Shaikh Naseer Ahmad Khan, commonly known with Shaikh Awwal (senior Shaikh) among the students.
He was ailing since last some years but continued the studies till the end of 2008 as Shaikhul Hadith of Darul Uloom Deoband and Sadrul Mudarrisin (Principal) from which he resigned on health ground and later the duo posts went to Hadhrat Mufti Sayeed Ahamd Palanpuri. According to sources, his health deteriorated continuously from some last days. He remained bed ridden just a shadow of himself, denying food at his residence in Deoband. It was 02:00 am on 4 February 2010, he breathed his last and left for his heavenly abode drowning his students, disciples and followers in a sea of sorrow and grief.
His Early Days
He was born in an academic family on 21st Rabiul Awwal AH 1337 (1918), in village Bassai of Buland Shahar district of Uttar Pradesh. His father Abdus Shakoor Khan enjoyed a high post in Indian British army, but after the call of 'non-cooperation' made by the freedom stalwart Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi (1851-1920) he resigned and returned home and earned livelihood by tilling.
After memorizing the Holy Quran, he read all the Persian and Arabic books of the syllabus, from first to last, at Madrasa Manbaul Uloom Gulaothi (Dist. Buland Shahr). After completion of his studies at his local Madrasa, he longed to benefit from the elders of Deoband and thus he took admission in Daura-e Hadith of Darul Uloom Deoband in 1362 AH (1943) where he completed his studies at the hand of great Ulama of the time, especially Shaikhul Islam Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani (1879-1957). The next year, he completed the study of other arts and also acquired proficiency in Quranic intonation (i.e. Qira't-e Hafs and Sab'a Ashra).
His elder brother Maulana Basheer Ahmad Khan was also a renowned teacher for upper classes at Darul Uloom. He was well-known for his in-depth knowledge of secular subjects like astronomy, logic and philosophy. His elder brother played a key role in shaping his life and elevating him to the heights of knowledge and piety.
His Bright Career
After completion of his studies, in the late 1365 AH (1946), he was appointed as a teacher in Darul Uloom Deoband at a young age. Thus he was included in the galaxy of scholars in whom the Muslim Ummah can take pride like Shaikhul Islam Maulana Madani, Shaikhul Adab Maulana Azaz Ali (1882-1954), Maulana Ibrahim Balyawi (1886-1967), Qari Muhammad Tayyib (1897-1980) etc. In his long career as teacher, he taught almost all the books of the syllabus 'Dars-e-Nizami', now even many of the books are no more part of the syllabus.
In 1391 AH (1971), in view of his high administrative abilities, along with his teaching work he was appointed on the post of Naib Mohtamim (Deputy Vice Chancellor). He continued to hold the post till 2003.
Thereafter, in 1397 AH (1977), he was appointed as Shaikhul Hadith (one who teaches Sahih Bukhari, the most authentic book of Hadith) followed by Hadhrat Maulana Shariful Hasan. He taught the book successfully for three decades till 2008 and produced thousands of students.
In 1412 AH (1991), after the demise of Maulana Miraj Ahmad Deobandi, he was entrusted the post of Sadrul Mudarrisin (Principal) which he carried on to hold till 2008.
In his personality, we find a fine blending of academic and administrative abilities. Not only he protected the honour of posts he held, rather his steadfast and scrupulous administration won him good trust and the administration and educational sphere witnessed a great deal of expansion and progress.
His Characteristics
His teaching of Hadith was generally liked and lauded by all. His lectures discourses were lucid, coherent and logical. He used short sentences and limited his lecture to only necessary details explaining the main points and avoiding unnecessary and irrelevant talks. Shaikh sahib's teaching style was though simple but much impressive. He was so respectful to the Hadith that he used to take bath every day before going to teach Hadiths.
He was very punctual to all his duties and work. In mosque, we found him in the first row performing salah, a constant practice that is very hard for most of Ulama. In class, there is slightest record of absence and late attendance. He was accustomed to teach a fixed quantity of the syllabus each day across the length of the academic year.
In spite of high posts and prestige he possessed, there was great simplicity and humility in his disposition. His exterior and interior attitudes were always identical. He was also cheerful and affable. In him, we had a man of dignified posture who loved to stay away from frivolities and to speak only when it was too necessary. Thus, he owned an imposing and impressive personality.
He had got great knowledge of the science of astronomy and other sciences. He wrote a scholium on Risala Fatahiyya of astronomy, which once was included in the syllabus of Darul Uloom Deoband. It can be said that, with his demise, we lost the last link to the past.
He held three prestigious posts at a time. He held the post of Shaikhul Hadith, the highest post in religious education, for 33 years, and for longest term after his mentor Shaikh Madani. At the same time, he was Sadrul Mudarrisin (Principal) and Naib Mohtamim (Deputy Vice Chancellor). He taught at Deoband for seven decades and the longest term in the history of the world famous Islamic seminary. During his term of Shaikhul Hadith, he produced nearly 28,000 fuzala (graduates) who are working in different parts of the country and the world. He was almost teacher of every living scholar graduated from Darul Uloom Deoband.
His Journey to Paradise
The funeral prayer was offered at Darul Uloom premises and was led by Moulana Qari Syed Mohammed Usman. His last rituals were performed at the presence of thousands of students, Ulama and general Muslims from Deoband and surrounding areas. His body was laid to rest at Qasmi graveyard beside his elders.
Maulana Marghubur Rahman, the Mohtamim of Darul Uloom Deoband, expressed his heartfelt grief on Shaikh's demise and termed his dead as loss for all Muslims. Maulana Badruddin, MP of United Democratic Front and Member of Darul Uloom Deoband's Majlis Shura, condoled his family and said with his death he lost an affectionate patron and history builder personality. Darul Uloom Deoband and Shaikh's family members are continuously receiving condolence messages from around the globe.
Remembering his bright services spread at the span of seven decades, his deep love and affection, his beloved personality and his sweet memories, we offer him heartiest homage and purest tribute, quoting an Urdu couplet:
Wiran hai mai kadah, khum o saghar udas hain
Tum keya gay ke ruth gaye din bahar ke
"The tavern is deserted, and the pitcher and bowl are stricken with sadness
With your departure, the spring days also said goodbye"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Recently in the news there has been questions regarding airline safety. Some recent airline crashes have been highlighted by the media. The article lists some of these crashes as the "deliberate crash of a Germanwings jetliner in Europe by a troubled co-pilot, the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jetliner over war-torn Ukraine last July and the disappearance of another Malaysia Airlines plane on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014″. Readers may remember these planes in the news recently as many people were affected. Many families in Malaysia questioned this lack of safety in the airline system. After all airline tickets aren't exactly cheap, so where are the regulations on safe airline safety? Traveling by airplane is reported as one of the safest modes of transportation. One spokesperson for the International Air Traffic Association says "In 2014 there were 100,000 [commercial] flights a day, or about 38 million flights during the year…There were 73 accidents of all types." 73 accidents out of 38 million is a pretty remarkable number; however, the increase in technology is making safety more complex. The IAFA lists the some of the problems as "Pilot screening, airline congestion, protection in conflict zones, and pilot screening." Many Americans still feel safe even in spite of the recent accidents. Nearly 80% of Americans are bothered slightly or not at all in regards to airline travel. The article tries to convince it's audience that maybe the industry is to blame for these accidents. The article mainly blames these companies for their lack of training towards the pilots. As the technology gets more advanced, there is more automation, but that means the pilots are less prepared if an accident does arise. I think this article does a good job swaying the audience towards the fact that these airline companies are just cutting costs and its showing on the accident record.


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NCAAFNCAAF
College Football PlayoffCollege Football Playoff
Futures LinesFutures Lines
RecruitingRecruiting
Capital One Bowl ManiaCapital One Bowl Mania
Bowl ScheduleBowl Schedule
Transfer TrackerTransfer Tracker
SEC NetworkSEC Network
ESPN EventsESPN Events
CFP's Rose Bowl won't have fans; Fiesta, too
12hTom VanHaaren
Sources: Indiana to hire Georgia's Warren as DC
12hAdam Rittenberg
Aggies land top-flight DE prospect for 2022 class
6hTom VanHaaren
Marshall hires Crimson Tide's Huff as new coach
1dMark Schlabach
Maryland to settle with McNair family for $3.5M
2dHeather Dinich
Meet the ultimate All-Saban team
4dRyan McGee
The 2021 Way-Too-Early college football top 25
Final college football Power Rankings for the 2020 season
4dChris Low
Predicting next year's breakout player for each Top 25 team
Why is Nick Saban smiling? The answer goes beyond him leading Bama to another title
Alabama's title felt both impossible and undeniable
6dAndrea Adelson
Ohio State had to fight for its season from beginning to end
6dAdam Rittenberg
No fans allowed for Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl due to COVID-19
Josh WeinfussESPN Staff Writer
Covered the Cardinals since 2012
Graduate of Indiana University
Member of Pro Football Writers of America
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Two of college football's preeminent bowl games will not allow fans to attend when they kick off early next year.
The Rose Bowl, one of the College Football Playoff semifinal games, and Fiesta Bowl made their announcements Thursday.
The Tournament of Roses said it requested special permission for a limited number of fans or select number of guests of both teams to be in attendance for the Rose Bowl, which will be played on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California, but was denied because of COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the state, county and city of Pasadena.
"While we are disappointed that the Rose Bowl Game will not be played in front of spectators, we are pleased that we are still able to hold the game this year, continuing the 100-year plus tradition of The Granddaddy of Them All,'' said David Eads, executive director and CEO of the Tournament of Roses. "We continue to work closely with health department officials and the Rose Bowl Stadium to provide the safest possible environment for our game participants.''
Ohio State remains biggest X factor in status quo College Football Playoff rankings
Las Vegas becomes 10th bowl game canceled
Knight group recommends FBS split from NCAA
The Fiesta Bowl, which will be played Jan. 2 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, won't allow fans but will allow families of the teams playing to attend.
In a release, the Fiesta Bowl said the decision not to allow fans in the game was made by "local jurisdictions," which based its judgment on recommendations from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
"While we are disappointed that the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl will not have fans in the stadium to enjoy Bowl Season this year, we respect the decisions made by the local authorities," said Mike Nealy, the executive director of the Fiesta Bowl Organization. "Our staff was incredibly diligent to put health and safety measures in place that earned the endorsement from the Governor's Office for policies that aligned with recommendations for reducing COVID-19 transmission risk. Ultimately, we all need to do our part to ensure the health and safety of our community to reduce the spread of COVID-19."
The state of Arizona has seen an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past month, peaking on Nov. 23 with 5,724, according to the ADHS. Arizona was down to less than 600 in a day in mid-September.
Los Angeles County is under a stay-home order that took effect this week and runs through mid-December. Pasadena has its own public health department and can set its own rules, but has mostly followed the county's lead during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Sugar Bowl, the other CFP semifinal, Orange Bowl and College Football Playoff Championship Game, which will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, are still planning on having fans in a limited capacity, according to their respective websites.
There are three bowls played in Arizona. The Arizona Bowl, which is played New Year's Eve in Tucson, announced in October that it won't have fans. A decision has yet to be announced about the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, which will be played Dec. 26 at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix.
Thus far, 10 bowl games have been canceled due to the pandemic.


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2017 September A Look at Cogeneration By W.B. King
Many residential properties obtain their power from a local energy supplier. But in recent years, boards and managing agents have investigated, and in some cases, installed "cogeneration " systems that allow properties to produce a portion …
2017 September Improving Indoor Air Quality By Oba Gathing
In multifamily buildings that hundreds —maybe even thousands—of people call home, it comes as no surprise that unpleasant smells can become an absolute nuisance. The airways that run through the building, the chutes and areas that house the…
2017 September Assessing Your Building's Energy Consumption By Lisa Iannucci
Most folks know that turning off lights in unoccupied rooms, taking shorter showers, and turning down the thermostat a couple of degrees can help save energy – and by extension, money. However, helping an entire building or association cut …
2016 September The Green Market By Mike Odenthal
Sustainability is the watchword these days. All over the country, businesses and residences are being encouraged to go green, and condominiums, cooperatives and homeowners' associations are no exception. But not all condos/co-ops/HOAs are…
2016 September Boston Benchmarking Gaining Acceptance By A.J. Sidransky
In the business world, benchmarking is a management tool that is commonly used to analyze where one business stands in comparison to others in the same industry. For example, a doctor's office might want to benchmark the practice to analyze…
2016 September Getting the Lead Out By John Zurz
While Flint, Michigan may have been the highest profile case of water being contaminated with lead in recent years, lead is an issue that water systems across the country have to navigate and monitor closely. Earlier this year, elevated le…
2015 September A Green New World By Liz Lent
These days, as the summers get hotter, the storms get bigger, and climate change is finding its way into more headlines than ever before, more attention is being paid to the environment and how the average citizen can do his or her part to…
2015 September Power-Up with Co-Generation By Wesley Strickland
The process of producing energy for metropolitan New England-area co-ops and condos has dramatically evolved in recent years, advancing to the point in which one energy professional has quipped, "The old way of using a traditional energy-p…
2015 September Energy-Saving Incentives By Jodie Lynn Boduch
Trade-offs are a symptom of modern society, and we all find ourselves playing one zero-sum game or another. All the more reason to appreciate circumstances under which everyone wins, right? Enter the concept of energy incentives. Energy co…
2015 September The Green Movement By Anne Childers
Americans today are moving toward a more well-developed awareness of their environment, and what it takes to protect and preserve earth's natural resources. City dwellers and suburbanites alike typically recycle paper, plastic and glass, a…


Welcome to the internet's best free resource to find tennis instruction in the old City of Toronto. If you are looking for clubs in the Scarborough Region or North York please consult their individual pages on our site. This site is dedicated to growing the game of tennis and providing information so that you can find the program that's best for you. We have links to Junior Lessons, Adult Instruction, Summer Camps, individual Professionals, local Community Tennis Clubs, retailers, organizations and equipment manufacturers. Everything you could ever want to know about tennis in Toronto.
Use the menus to browse the appropriate section where you will find links to websites and contact information for a wide variety of local tennis instruction.
We hope that through these pages you will find a good match to either learn to play, improve your game, or get started on a fabulous career in tennis.
Feel free to contact us if you have questions about any of the programs listed. We don't provide lessons, but we can help you find the best fit for your requirements.
Tennis Lessons in Toronto contains listings that attempt to match public club services to players. All lessons and programs are provided by those clubs as independent third parties. Even though we do our best to match you with the most appropriate and convenient instructors and programs, there is no warranty implied by this website. Listings are offered freely to public non-profit organizations. Premium advertising opportunities may be available on this website, please contact us.


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"America First" In A World Crisis
by former Rep. Larry LaRocco (D-Idaho)
America First is clearly a failed policy – for the United States and the world at large. This Trumpian isolationist doctrine appeals to a small base of nativist Americans who subscribe to hard-core isolationist views. As America pulls back from the very international institutions it helped establish in the post-World War II era, the guardrails for conflict resolution and the protection of our economy erode. Unfortunately, the prior level of American leadership at the WTO, UN, IMF, WHO and NATO, and the ability to deal with the broadest spectrum of crises, is missing. We are witnessing a decline in the strong moral direction exhibited under prior presidents.
As we know, the world doesn't stand still, and threats are posed daily to national and global security. After three-plus years of the White House's imitation of an ostrich, the Coronavirus pandemic has graphically exposed the vacuous aspects of this misguided, isolationist, go-it-alone doctrine. The irony of the America First doctrine is that our prior foreign policy was intended to keep America in the driver's seat as a sovereign superpower. Quite the opposite has happened.
We learned in the aftermath of 9/11 that the world is safer when allies coordinate and share intelligence. Open dialogue and engagement with our adversaries can lead to greater security. As the U.S. discards, dismantles and denounces multilateral accords, the country's influence has diminished. This withdrawal from the table is dangerous for the United States and the world.
The 2016 election was the culmination of an anti-status-quo drift that had incubated for two decades. The beneficiary was a candidate ill-prepared to lead in a time of true crisis. President Trump inherited a strong economy with sustained growth and lowered unemployment. The flourishing stock market and global economic success fertilized and nurtured in the Obama years continued as a matter of inertia. During this economic "sugar high," President Trump plays the role of domestic and international bully with focus on his real estate negotiating skills and reality TV persona rather than coherent policy.
The United States is erecting legal and physical walls to sever itself from the outside world. At its core, America First is essentially anti-immigration policy and racial division masquerading as a worldview. The manufactured crisis on the southern border is red meat for a narrow base while keeping the America First mantra front and center.
The demeaning of the U.S. intelligence community began in 2017, followed by the hollowing out of the diplomatic corps. Foreign policy expertise is replaced by loyalists and untested family members. Conspiracy theories are substituted for facts. The fear of a "Deep State" coup is mainlined by right wing bloggers for dissemination. As the echo chamber grows, America First permeates the executive branch of government morphing into "Trump First."
Washington, D.C. is not functioning well these days. Long term policy goals are shelved for short term political agendas. America First congressional enablers play to the same ideological audience as the White House. The dark money invested in politics over decades is now paying dividends. For the Trump sycophants, the electoral process is not about the greater good. It's about avoiding a primary.
Tariffs are back in vogue, and farmers are treated more as welfare recipients, less as producers. And to what end? Just to dismantle one agreement so that a slightly amended agreement can be bragged about on the evening news?
A global crisis is heightened when the infrastructure for diplomacy is weakened. Diplomatic cables and back channel communications are substituted by tweets and intemperate phone calls. America First emphasizes transactional relationships and treats allies as adversaries under the banner of sovereignty. By systematically dismantling longstanding agreements designed to stabilize a troubled world, America Firsters discard concern for international harmony in order to sow a discordant domestic agenda.
America First messaging is intended to convince Americans that we are victims, suckers and saps. It also distorts comparisons with prior administrations. America First emphasizes "different" policy rather than "sound" policy. International engagement is a tough sell to a domestic audience, but true leaders opt to educate while accepting the risks of mobilizing rabid isolationists. The easiest applause line in American politics is attacking the foreign assistance budget. Xenophobic messaging can attract a crowd any day of the week. The White House has perfected this communications strategy.
America First disciples don't discuss the cost of peace against the cost of war. It's a zero sum game. This new nationalism shuns diplomacy, causing career diplomats with centuries of experience to head for the exits. Unfortunately, we have surrendered the foreign policy playing field when strong moral leadership is needed. As the United States walks off the international stage, the overall global ability to resolve major crises withers. The traditional channels of promoting and transferring America's exceptionalism are now clogged. Other countries now maneuver to fill the vacuum, negotiate new alliances and provide leadership. Our political and economic competitors fully understand the opportunities of America First.
And thus the stage was set for the 2020 pandemic. Our early and committed action on the intelligence about Coronavirus could have helped the world community act quickly, decisively and scientifically to save lives. However, the downstream wreckage of America First removed he United States from the arena. The disregard for the simulated health crises exercises in 2017, the downsizing of the National Security Staff responsible for monitoring international health crises soon after, and now the estrangement from the World Health Organization originate directly from the America First policy playbook.
Scientific leaders of the world met recently in Geneva under the WHO umbrella to share strategies to defeat the Coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. skipped the meeting. World leaders pledged to accelerate work on tests, drugs and vaccines against COVID-19, and to share them around the globe. Under its America First policy, the United States chose to boycott.
This weak and unenlightened policy shows its fissures during times of global crisis like the Coronavirus. The America First failure is now on display for all to see.
The Honorable Larry LaRocco represented Idaho's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991–1995. He is a board member of the Frank Church Institute at Boise State University, and former president of the United States Association of Former Members of Congress.
This article was written as part of the Addressing Global Crisis Project (AGC), which is run by the University of Central Florida's Office of Global Perspectives & International Initiatives (GPII). AGC examines how governments, individually and collectively, deal with pandemics, natural disasters, ecological challenges, and climate change. AGC is organized around five primary pillars: (1) delivery of services and infrastructure; (2) water-energy-food security; (2) governance and politics; (4) economic development; and, (5) national security. Through its global network, AGC facilitates expert discussion and features articles, publications and online content.


According to the recent Customer Experience in Banking Survey, getting the customer experience right is vital to South African banks as 67% of respondents would lodge a formal complaint with their bank about bad customer service.
By the same token, only 28 percent of South Africans would change banks because of bad service, the lowest out of all countries polled. 68 percent of South African customers cited getting the same level of experience and service across all channels as a priority.
Following that, customers want their problem to be resolved on the first point of contact, with speaking directly with a customer service agent seen as least important. The challenge to financial institutions is getting it right, because if you do, your customers will stick around – better yet, they'll tell their friends about great customer experience.
Your customers don't want to be kept waiting, nor do they want their calls transferred to different agents without problems being resolved – worse, still, they don't want to have to go into the branch to resolve an issue if they've queried something via phone or online. Channel integration can enhance processes leading to improved customer experience.
Financial institutions, like any other businesses, have customers whose preferences have shifted to digital channels. While voice is still the default option for contacts, customers also want to be able to use email, chat or even social media. The challenge is bringing all of those channels into a place where information is accessible to all who need to use it.


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CUR Chemistry Division Selects First Outstanding Mentorship Awardees
Xavier U's Foroozesh, UT Rio Grande Valley's Mao, Fordham's Banerjee Honored for Exemplary Mentoring and Leadership
28-May-2019 12:05 PM EDT, by Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)
Newswise — The Chemistry Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research has announced the inaugural recipients of its Outstanding Mentorship Award, which recognizes excellence in mentoring of undergraduate researchers in chemistry:
Maryam Foroozesh (Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA)
Yuanbing Mao (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX)
Ipsita Banerjee (Fordham University, Bronx, NY)
Foroozesh (Margaret W. Kelly Endowed Professor in Chemistry and chair, Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences; chair, Division of Biological and Applied Health Sciences, and head, Department of Chemistry, at Xavier University of Louisiana) was honored for her acumen in mentor-led chemistry research projects and her work utilizing diversity and inclusion best practices in undergraduate education. She has mentored more than 90 undergraduates in research, many of whom are from groups underrepresented in science. Undergraduate students are frequently coauthors on her 60 publications and more than 85 percent of her students have continued their education in scientific and medicinal fields. Foroozesh has been a leader in enhancing the mentoring and undergraduate research experiences for Xavier students, catalyzed by the Research Institute for Scientific Advancement (RISE) and Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) programs, both funded by the National Institutes of Health. She also has been an active mentor of the National Research Mentoring Network and has mentored a number of early-career faculty members, research associates, and postbaccalaureate technicians. Additionally, Foroozesh has served in numerous leadership positions at her institution, establishing an inclusive environment for excellence that encourages professional development, fosters meaningful dialogue, and cultivates ethical conduct in research. Foroozesh earned a BS in chemistry magna cum laude from Louisiana State University and a PhD in organic/bio-organic chemistry from Tulane University.
Mao (associate professor in the School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences and the Department of Chemistry at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) was recognized for his efforts in mentor-led chemistry research projects and his work utilizing diversity and inclusion best practices in undergraduate education. Mao has mentored more than 60 undergraduates to date from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to jump-start their scientific careers. He has published more than 85 peer-reviewed publications with one-third of these coauthored with undergraduate researchers. Mao actively participates in outreach and mentoring programs to ensure inclusion of minority and female students. His work with the Integrating Food Science/Engineering and Education Network consortium (IFSEEN), which he funded with a $2-million US Department of Agriculture grant, has created an educational linkage for four Hispanic-serving institutions in Texas and New Mexico that has successfully engaged middle school and high school students in cross-disciplinary food science research. In addition to the USDA-funded program, Mao has enhanced the research opportunities for undergraduate students at his institution with total awards of more than $7 million from external agencies as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator. Mao earned a BS in chemistry from Xiangtan University, an MS in chemistry from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a PhD from Stony Brook University-SUNY.
Banerjee (professor and chair, Department of Chemistry, at Fordham University) was honored for her achievements in mentor-led chemistry research projects and her efforts utilizing diversity and inclusion best practices in undergraduate education. Effectively leveraging grant resources, she has mentored more than 50 undergraduate students in research projects, leading to 80 publications, 65 of them including undergraduate coauthors. All of Banerjee's past research students who have graduated are working in STEM or health-related fields. She is a dedicated adviser and mentor, helping her students learn to write. Her patience and ability to mentor students drives her students to take a lead on writing up their research papers, with her students often as the first author. Her students have won numerous awards at national and regional conferences as well as fellowships for graduate school, a tribute to her transformative mentoring. Banerjee's timely and effective advising of fourth-year chemistry majors provides guidance on career selection as well as dedicated feedback on personal statements, resumes, graduate applications, and interview preparation. As the leading female scientist on her campus, she generously contributes her time and expertise to undergraduate research initiatives and committees that oversee STEM curriculum development. Banerjee earned a first-class BS in chemistry from the University of Bombay, a first-class MS in organic chemistry from the University of Bombay, and a PhD in chemistry from the University of Connecticut Storrs.
The Outstanding Mentorship Awards of CUR's Chemistry Division honor exceptional mentoring and advising by higher education faculty across all subdisciplines of chemistry. Each award consists of a $500 cash prize to the recipient, a certificate of recognition, a one-year individual membership to CUR funded by the Chemistry Division, and a letter of commendation from CUR sent to the recipient's institution.
The Council on Undergraduate Research supports faculty development for high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. More than 700 institutions and more than 10,000 individuals belong to CUR. CUR believes that the best way to capture student interest and create enthusiasm for a discipline is through research in close collaboration with faculty members.
Chemistry Education
Undergraduate Research Awards Announcements Mentoring Higher Education Undergraduate Education Faculty excellence Chemistry stem Food Science Diversity and Inclusion


View timeshare information for Historic Crags Lodge At Golden Eagle in United States, Colorado, Estes Park. View more information about the Historic Crags Lodge At Golden Eagle timeshare and start your booking today!
Historic Crags Lodge At Golden Eagle is the ideal resort from which to enjoy a peaceful vacation surrounded by gorgeous Colorado nature. Our Estes Park timeshares are nestled right by the Rocky Mountain National Park and a myriad of outdoor activities and resort amenities. Spend the day hiking or horseback riding along scenic trails or go fishing in one of the many nearby rivers. Take a short drive to gorgeous golf courses and tennis courts or visit Central City's casinos. The resort features a breathtaking view of the mountains as well as an outdoor pool and relaxing whirlpool.


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Trim the Fat: What Your Logo Doesn't Need
How do you decide on how a logo should look? Is it based on what's popular or trending? On the profession or industry? Logos are one of the most integral parts of your brand and creating the right logo that will withstand the test of time can be challenging.
When designing a great logo there are many things to keep in mind, such as fonts, colors, and how it will look when printed. With everything to think about when designing a great logo, try looking at it from a different angle. Consider what the logo doesn't need.
A logo doesn't need to convey what the business is or does. While that certainly works in some circumstances, logos are capable of adding meaning to the brand and keeping the brand top-of-mind without an immediate connection to the brand's product. The relevance of a logo to the product or business can be unique and different, which will only help to add intrigue, interest, and engagement.
Think of a brand like Nike and their logo. With just a simple, curved line, that one little swoosh represents motion and speed, which are synonymous with athleticism. This is what Nike stands for. The brand is so popular with this logo that there really isn't even a need for the tag "Nike" to be seen anywhere - you see the swoosh, you know it's Nike. Nike doesn't need a shoe as their logo to connect with their potential buyers. Here, the swoosh is just as relevant.
Although Nike uses a symbol for its logo, your logo doesn't need a symbol. Having only a symbol for a logo design doesn't always serve its purpose, and sometimes, a wordmark logo is the much better fit. Some examples of popular wordmark logos include eBay, Coca-Cola, and Disney.
You may wish to consider your preference for a wordmark or symbol logo. One may potentially connect the audience with the brand better than the other. Again, think about how the logo will look when printed on shirts, cards, and other items to make sure the message and meaning are clearly understood.
Most importantly, a properly planned logo design is key. Determine what is the best way to connect the audience with the brand, and remember that just because it's relevant doesn't mean it's best. To communicate a brand through a logo, consider: does it require a wordmark? Is a symbol necessary? You may also want to integrate a tag, but a logo typically works best when it is able to stand on its own. Creating a logo that will not only stand out but will also adapt to its surroundings makes a huge difference in getting consumers to recognize the brand.
By taking the time to consider what your logo doesn't need, you can then tailor it to meet the needs of the audience and the brand. This will help you stand above your competitors while saving you time and money in the end.
Logo Design Love: A Guide to Creating Iconic Brand Identities, 2nd Edition
by David Airey
Completely updated and expanded, the second edition of David Airey's Logo Design Love contains more of just about everything that made the first edition so great: more case studies, more sketches, more logos, more tips for working with clients, more insider stories, and more practical information for getting the job and getting it done right.
In Logo Design Love, David shows you how to develop an iconic brand identity from start to finish, using client case studies from renowned designers. In the process, he reveals how designers create effective briefs, generate ideas, charge for their work, and collaborate with clients. David not only shares his personal experiences working on identity projects - including sketches and final results of his own successful designs - he also uses the work of many well-known designers such as Paula Scher, who designed the logos for Citi and Microsoft Windows, and Lindon Leader, creator of the current FedEx identity, as well as work from leading design studios, including Moving Brands, Pentagram, MetaDesign, Sagmeister & Walsh, and many more.
In Logo Design Love, you'll learn:
Best practices for extending a logo into a complete brand identity system
Why one logo is more effective than another
How to create your own iconic designs
What sets some designers above the rest
31 practical design tips for creating logos that last