Category Archives: pattern

Learn to Make a Custom Paint by Number Pillow

Only Once-in-One-Hundred-Years Eclipse

Moonglow

As a child, did you ever talk to the Man in the Moon? If so, you were in good company. Millions of people throughout the world are drawn to the beautiful presence in the sky that only shows its face at night. But while you might agree that the moon is stunning, would you ever guess it serves as a mirror?

Mirror, Mirror, in the Moon…

The moon has mirror-like properties. On June 5-6, 2012, we will see Venus dance across the face of the sun. The moon’s role in this performance will be an important one — it will act as a mirror, reflecting Venus for us to see!

The Magical Moon

There is something mystical about the moon that has captured many a scholar. In fact, the moon has been studied for years –Galileo, one of its early suitors, first gazed upon it in 1609. Since then, there have been expeditions into the galaxy and plenty of further study. What have the moon’s pursuers discovered about it?

They discovered that we can see just around 59 percent of the surface of the moon because it rotates in-step with the sun. But the surface of the moon that we can see is breathtaking, encouraging many to eagerly anticipate various phases of the lunar cycle.

This Sunday, the moon and sun will collaborate to bring the world a spectacular show.

Did you know that much of the world is waiting in anticipation for the eclipse that will take place this Sunday? The eclipse that’s approaching is not just any eclipse; it is an annular eclipse.

An annular eclipse is one that has the appearance of a “ring of fire.” Why is this? “Because the moon is further away from the earth than it might otherwise be…it will appear smaller than usual, and will let the edges of the sun peek around it.”

The last annular eclipse that was able to been seen from the United States happened twenty years ago. After this Sunday’s eclipse, the next of this particular type won’t happen again for 50 to 80 years.

See the moon for yourself

Would you like have a little piece of the moon for yourself? If so, visit http://www.segmation.com/products_pc_patternset_contents.asp?set=MNG to see our Moonglow patterns. These patterns are basically paintable images of the moon’s landscapes.

This set contains 21 paintable patterns. You can light your home with brilliant Moonglow right now by clicking here.

Be an Artist in 2 minutes with Segmation SegPlay® PC (see more details here)

Segmation

SegPlay® Mobile iTunes now available for iPhone and iPad

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Solar Eclipse: What is a Total Solar Eclipse & When is the Next One? (rant4u.com)
Annular Solar Eclipse (valleywx.com)
Rare ‘Annular Solar Eclipse’ Tonight (science.slashdot.org)

The Op-Art of Josef Albers

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Josef Albers, photograph by Arnold Newman, 1948. © Arnold Newman

In a recent post, a popular art form of the 20th century was introduced. Op-Art puts thought provoking optical illusions onto a flat canvas. During the early 1900’s, the art form flourished with the creative use of lines and patterns. At the start, artists used black and white paint or ink to create captivating images; color was incorporated later. One artist and theorist at the forefront of this art style, who also pioneered the technique of adding color, was a man by the name Josef Albers.

German-born American artist, Josef Albers studied at the Bauhaus school for arts and crafts in Germany. The school existed at the time of Nazi dominance in Germany and, subsequently, closed in 1933. After spending decade at Bauhaus as an art instructor, Alber’s emigrated to the United States, where he continued his career as an artist and teacher.

After spending some time in the United States, Albers accepted a position at teaching at Yale University. It was there that Josef Albers was able to advance the graphic art program before retiring from teaching in 1958.

In the early years of his retirement, as a fellow at Yale, Albers received funding to exhibit and lecture on the art form he had done so much to advance. By this time, Albers had catapulted many artists into successful careers. The list of notable students includes Richard Anuszkiewicz and Eva Hesse. Both artists are considered major forces in the Op-Art movement that swept the world during the 1960’s and 70’s.

Aside from his artwork and teaching, Josef Albers added another form of art to his long list of talents: In 1963, his book, Interaction of Color detailed the theory behind colorful op-art. This writing built upon a foundational thought of Albers — that colors have an internal and deceptive logic all-their-own.

Albers continued to paint and write until he died in 1976. However, the impression he left on the world of art, especially as an abstract painter and theorist, continues to live and influence abstract art today. Even though much of his work is well known and recognizable, it continues to thrive because of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. To this day, the organization supports exhibitions featuring the work of Josef Albers and his wife Anni, who was a textile artist.

The contribution Josef Albers made to the world of art is undeniable. He was successful at merging traditional European art with modern American art, to create an abstract style all his own. While his roots were grounded in the type of constructivist thinking that allowed Bauhaus school of arts and crafts to flourish, his experiences in America allowed him freedom to explore patterns and colors that are now the signature of optical art.

Op-art and graphic art continue to advance while consistently affirming Josef Albers influence. The world renowned teacher, artist, and color theorist is very much alive in the work of abstract artists today. Whether it is through his written words, paintings, or students who survived him, Albers will influence young artists for years to come.

No words can conclude a story about the life of this great man, except, perhaps his own. Alber’s was quoted as saying, “Abstraction is real, probably more real than nature. I prefer to see with closed eyes.” Others are happy to have their eyes opened by the influential life and art of Josef Albers. May his legacy and art been seen for years to come.

Be a Artist in 2 minutes with Segmation SegPlay® PC (see more details here)

Segmation

SegPlay® Mobile iTunes now available for iPhone and iTouch

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