Category: Creativity

It is interesting to note that, while she was definitely a champion of free enterprise and often repudiated government subsidies, Margaret Thatcher was not necessarily an enemy of the arts as many people might think. True, when she came to office, she cut funding to the Arts Council by almost 5%, but towards the end of her last term, the cuts had been reduced to less than 3%. While here in the UK we are facing similar dilemmas today, it is the charisma of Dame Margaret Thatcher that not only kept the arts alive in the UK, but her persona actually inspired a lot of works which ultimately contributed to the art scene in general.

Using Andrew Lloyd Webber as an Example

It might be pure coincidence that the rising popularity of Mr. Webber coincided with Thatcher’s term in office. His worldwide success gave tremendous credibility to the UK theatre scene, not only attracting thousands of visitors to London and other cities to see some of his plays, but also allowing them to be exported to other countries such as the United States. Thatcher loved using Webber as an example of entrepreneurial spirit, exactly the type of approach that she wanted artists of all kinds in the UK to embody. During the 1980s, musicals were the leading stage product, and Andrew Lloyd Webber was arguably the king of this medium. Many theatre companies began to believe that musicals were the way to survive, which one could argue was a fairly limiting view and kept other forms of artistic expression from being fully developed.

Transforming the Arts Council

It was also during the Thatcher years that the Arts Council went from being just an independent organisation to an important government entity. It has relished that role ever since and has contributed in the last few decades to important funding that has benefited artists from every medium. In a sense, it is almost counterintuitive: going from private to public? It doesn’t really sound like the Thatcher model, and yet it proved to be a very smart move. Dame Thatcher also provided a lot of inspiration for serious dramatists and humorists who produced many pieces, which, although may have been somewhat politically scandalous, ultimately always presented Thatcher as the dominant figure of her time – which, arguably, she was.

Producing Your Own Work

Naturally, you don’t have to be a playwright or a dramatist to produce great works of art. More often than not, you just need some great supplies to produce beautiful paintings or sculptures which reflect your own distinct style and point of view. You will be able to find everything you need by visiting jacksonsart.com, all at quite affordable prices and with a wide selection. No matter what medium you prefer to use, you can find everything that you need to create your artistic vision.

Image attributed to: Freedigitalphotos.net artur 64

Professional face painters use striped cake paints to get easy one-stroke gradients, perfect for anything from butterfly wings to cool fire effects. Brushes are the easiest way to apply rainbow pots but artists typically work with disposable sponges for work around the eyes, especially at large events.

Using a sponge to apply a rainbow cake takes some practice. Many beginners report muddled colors the first few tries but those problems are often easy to troubleshoot. This guide will help you get started.

1. Preparing Your Materials

Use the highest quality paints you can find. Name brand rainbow cakes are well worth the investment. We always recommend Diamond FX products because their cakes apply as smooth as butter, making life much easier for beginners. Of course, the sponge is just as important as the paint. You’ll want a high quality, high-density round sponge with a nice smooth texture. Try a couple different shapes and sizes to see what seems to fit your distinct style the best. We suggest cutting the sponge in half so you can have a nice straight line to work with.

2. Loading Up The Sponge

Getting the right amount of moisture is the hardest part. You will want to keep trying until you figure out the right water to paint ratio to suit your cake and sponge. It’s better to start with too little water because you can always add more, but a good gradient rainbow effect seems to require a little more moisture than general application.

After wetting your cake, draw the flat edge of your half-sponge across the surface several times using even pressure and a little bit of “wiggle” to work the water into the paint as you go. Move back and forth as cleanly as you can to prevent blending the rainbow stripes, and add a little extra pressure on the edges to scoop up those hard to reach colors.

3. Applying The Face Paint

Now that your sponge is loaded, give it quick sprits with water before applying. We suggest practicing on your arms or legs until you can get a good idea of how the sponge will react. Start with a single point and dab gently but firmly. Never try to “wipe” the sponge across the face – trying to apply with a wiping motion will produce muddy results every time. Keep dabbing the color onto the face as you slowly rotate the sponge to create the fan effect necessary for those gorgeous butterfly wings.

You can adapt this technique to fit plenty of needs. Try watching video tutorials online for ideas and actual implementation. Now that you know how to make those gradients sharp and pretty, practicing them will be more fun than ever.