Latest news about arts and humanities and books and more

I am looking for some artists gifts for my Father for his birthday. I am not sure exactly what to get him but I am hoping to broaden his experience of art by buying some things that he has not used before. I thought that some stretched canvas might be a good idea as he does not have any. Then I was wondering whether he might like some new materials or paper or whether something else might suit.

I called my Mum to discuss it with her. She reminded me that I would need to get some stretcher bars to help with the canvas which is something that I had forgotten about. In the end we agreed to meet up so that she could come with me in order to help me to choose the right things. She said that she would be looking at the portfolio cases anyway as she was going to be buying him one for his birthday and wanted to see what sort of things were available. It should be great fun, we have not been on a shopping trip together for quite a while and we will make a whole day of it and have some lunch out too, I am looking forward to it!

Paintings are always heart touching and there is nothing to excite when people turn dumbstruck on looking at the sizzling and sensuous painting. There are plenty of far-famed painters of ancient days. Few of them were noted ahead the crowd and one such famed painter is none other than Van Gogh. Van Gogh was one of the eminent painters of ancient times. Van Gogh paintings are one of the exquisite pieces of art. The oil paintings by Van Gogh are most sought after pieces of art. He was a moody painter and it is known that he himself destroyed his first creation. Some of the surviving paintings from the genius include the cottage, the old tower and others.

Impressionist paintings evolved in Paris in about 19th century. One of the leading genres of paintings in this genre is Monte paintings. The type is defined by some exquisite brush strokes, light colors and lucid creativity. The paintings emphasize on light and its effects. Short but deft strokes from the paint brush brought out the central essence of the painting. The painters generally liked to work in tandem with nature. The painting is consistent with the light at the time of painting. Impressionist paintings are based on contemporary subjects.

<!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>

So i got a guitar a few years ago. Back then, I really didn’t know much about guitars…. and ended up getting a classical guitar, though i had no idea at the time. Is there anyway for me to play it like an acoustic guitar? It seems like it’s really hard to play chords and the strumming, as well as the sound doesn’t come out near as well as an acoustic guitar. Sometimes it buzzes and it just doesn’t sound that great. Is there anyway to strum fast (chords) like an acoustic guitar?

Well, a classical guitar IS an acoustic guitar, just with nylon strings instead of steel strings, and a wider neck.

The wide fretboard is what makes it harder to reach the chords; and you’re starting to notice that nylon strings don’t give you the same clear, crisp, loud sound you would get from steel strings, that’s probably why you’re not too happy with the sound. But DO NOT — I repeat — DO NOT — try to put steel strings on your classical guitar!!! You will end up with a broken guitar if you do. Classical guitars are built for nylon strings, which exert much less tension on the neck and body of the guitar than steel strings do. If you attempt to put steel strings on your classical guitar, it will sound GREAT for a short while, until the neck and body give way under the greater string tension — the neck will warp irreparably, or the bridge will be torn off, or the top will collapse or some combination of the three. It won’t be pretty.

The buzzing is most likely from the strings rattling against the frets when you strum hard; the action on your guitar is set up for gentle fingerpicking, not vigorous folk-rock strumming, so the strings are a bit too close to the fingerboard and that causes the buzzing. You can take your guitar to a repair person and have the action raised; that will solve the buzzing problem.

The wide neck is something you’ll just have to get used to, you can’t change that.

Eventually you may want to consider buying yourself a new steel-string acoustic in order to get the narrower neck and the sound that you want.

<!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>

My great-great aunt’s name was Yaris and I’ve been trying to find out what it means, but it’s not in most of the online name sites, and all of my other searches come up with results for the stupid car! It might be Yiddish (she was Jewish). If anyone can help me find out more about more about the name

There is a Given Name Database at:the “Jewish Gen” website at: http:www.jewishgen.org
I tried searching the spelling “Yaris” w/ no luck. But, tried again, using the D-M Soundex search. I found a couple of likely hits.

Legal/Hebrew: Yore Yiddish: Yore Yiddish Nickname: Yores
Legal/Hebrew: Yiras
Neither of these names gives an origin, however.
Another possible?
Legal/Hebrew: Yerusha Yiddish: Yerushe
Legal Origin: Chronicles II 27:1
You can search yourself by going to: http://www.jewishgen.org/galicia/GNDB/sr…
You “may” have to become a member in order to do this. If so, it is free. If perchance, your ggrandmother came from Poland / Galicia than you may even find some vital record info. on the JRI-Poland Database located there.

<!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>

I’m writing a story and had a few questions about auditioning for roles in feature films. Is it possible for an actress who’s done mainly smaller roles in TV/films to get a leading role in one with a good agent? How many people might be there for the initial auditions? - I know they select them through agents, but is there a rough estimate of how many might actually be auditioning? And also, would an audition typically be held in a theatre [story is in NYC], or are there other places where they might be held?

some actors get leading roles in films before they’ve had almost any experience. it’s rare though. it’s important to have an agent, but it’s the auditions. if you suck, and you have a great agent you still won’t get a role. Depends on the role, for a big role, they go through hundreds. But not all in the same day, so you may only see 20 other people there at the same time as you. i don’t know about new york, but in LA, sometimes they hold them in theatres, but for movies, it’s usually a room in front of a casting director, or they may ask you to audition for the camera.