7 Tips for A New Art Collector

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Collecting art is not just for the wealthy but has become a popular hobby for many people today.

As people begin to appreciate certain styles of art, there becomes a supply and demand situation where prices can indeed reach almost unattainable limits. These types of collectors purchase strictly as a form of investment.

But there are many beginners who pay little attention to the rules of the art world and instead buy what they like. There may be a theme associated with a collection you are drawn to or there may be up and coming artists you admire and want to invest early in their career.

Whatever the case, there are a few tips to pay attention to regardless of your experience as you begin to add to your own collection.

Where To Start

1. Do your research. If you are interested in an artist or a specific piece to add to your collection make sure you have checked out the galleries in your area before settling on your next purchase. Most galleries will have additional information available on the pieces you are considering.

2. Visit the museums in your area and get on their mailing lists to ensure you will be invited to any new openings or special events. Although you cannot purchase from a museum, you can find invaluable information in the featured publications.

3. Don't buy it if you don't like it. The idea of collecting is that you enjoy the pieces you purchase and wish to display them proudly.

4. Check out the non-profit art centers in your area as well as any artisan fairs that may be scheduled throughout your city. There is often art for sale at these events as well as artists and experts on hand to help guide you in your own collection.

5. Go to your local library for books and magazines on art collecting. They will have a wealth of knowledge on collecting and offer tips to help you understand what to look for. They will also and suggest areas you may have over looked when searching for specific pieces.

6. Find fellow art collector by attending similar events. Exchanging opinions and ideas can be very rewarding in new friendships and in networking for new pieces for your collections.

Go online. There is a mountain of information on the internet that can help you narrow down your preferences and build your knowledge base in any aspect of the art world.

The Choice is Yours

The sky is the limit when it comes to collecting and the value of art is unique to each individual. Someones masterpiece may be an acquired taste and the more you learn about your personal preferences, the more extensive your collection can become.

Its all a matter of personal style.

7 Things You Can Learn from Sailing

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Sailing can be many things: a competitive sport such as sailboat racing, a fun and adventurous holiday, or an active hobby. Sailing trips can be relaxing, but also filled with adrenaline. They're perfect for groups of friends, families, couples, for team building events, and for solo thrill-seekers as well.

If you're already into more active hobbies or maritime activities such as scuba diving, fishing or surfing, you just might fall in love with sailing. It is definitely a hobby that brings you closer to nature, as you learn to appreciate the power of currents and winds, and the simplicity of moving across vast bodies of water.

Sailing can also teach you a lot. With each new sailing trip, you'll have the opportunity to develop useful skills  such as working in a group, depending on yourself, navigating according to winds and using a compass and a map. You'll also acquire nautical terminology and, overall, grow as a person.

Let's look at some of the most important things you can learn from sailing:

1) Planning ahead

Sailing requires detailed preparation before embarking on a journey. This means getting to know your route, checking the weather conditions and packing your clothes accordingly. It also means making sure you have all the documents you might need: boat license, your personal IDs, a passport if you're traveling abroad, as well as foreign currency. Another thing sailors need to consider and plan ahead in order to ensure everyone's safety is whether to hire a crew or not. If there are no professionals or people with advanced sailing experience in the group, getting a chartered boat is always advisable.

2) Thinking like a minimalist

Related to planning ahead, sailing can make you think more like a minimalist. Sailboats are usually very limited in space so unless one is sailing on a million dollar yacht, every bit of room needs to be utilized. For this reason, sailors are taught to think practically and bring only the things they will most definitely need. These are usually clothes, emergency ratios, medicines, non-perishable foods, canned goods and plenty of bottled water to last for the duration of the trip or until a harbor checkpoint is reached. Gadgets like smartphones are also necessary for communication, while tablets and laptops can come in handy not only for staying in touch with civilization but also for following weather forecasts.

3) Working in a team

There are many activities that can teach you how to work in a team, but few of them are as good as sailing. If you go sailing with a group of friends, you'll notice how quickly you'll develop into a boat crew. (Of course, this doesn't mean you shouldn't hire a crew in case you need it.) As a matter of fact, many companies take their employees on sailing excursions exactly because sailing builds team spirit. It takes a whole crew to handle a sailboat, pull the ropes, hoist the sails, follow the weather, navigate, and take care of food and medical supplies. It is most definitely a team effort.

4) Depending on yourself

In a crew, just as in any team, every person is assigned with certain duties. These duties need to be respected as all the team members depend on each other, but they're also an opportunity for every individual to learn to depend on themselves. After all, there are always situations where only one person is able to perform certain assignments so they are forced to develop their independence and self-assurance.

5) Learning how to navigate

Another very useful thing that sailing teaches is how to navigate. In fact, it is a skill that can be used throughout the entire life, regardless of whether one is on water or on dry land. Sailors learn how to read nautical maps and use a compass, how to properly follow weather reports, how to differentiate winds and currents and determine the route based on their directions. Perhaps the most interesting way of navigating one can learn by sailing is celestial navigation. Also known as astronavigation, this skill lets the person specify their location by looking at the starry night sky. And the best part about it is the fact that it requires no tools, which means it can be used even when modern equipment fails.

6) Respecting others

Sharing a boat with a group of different people makes one realize the importance of mutual respect and proper conduct - especially when it comes to safety and personal space. There's even sailing etiquette, a set of rules that regulate behavior on board to ensure that everything goes smoothly and that everyone gets along. The rules contained in sailing etiquette are tightly related to sailing, but many are in essence common good manners that play an important role in building any interpersonal relationship:

Asking permission to board. Just like knocking on somebody's door when visiting, before stepping on a boat, each person should ask for permission from the highest official present at the given moment.
Avoiding overpacking. It is important to respect other people's personal space and avoid taking up too much room by bringing unnecessary items. Everyone also needs to make sure to always keep their things in designated storage areas.
Thinking about the safety of others. It is advisable to check up on people and make sure that everyone is safe.
Bringing something others can use. For example, some scuba diving equipment won't take up too much space, but can be a source of fun for everyone.
Offering help. When enthusiasm gets the best of them, people sometimes do things which are more annoying than helpful. For this reason, each crew member needs to make sure they don't get in anyone's way and that they always ask and offer help.
Avoiding making a mess. Remembering to keep things neat and tidy is essential. Each crew member should take care not to leave their things around, to pick up the trash, use the restroom (known on a boat as the head) accordingly, and keep the noise down at times when it might cause inconvenience to others.

7) Learning to be open to new experiences

"Not all those who wander are lost", says a popular quote from Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", and this is definitely true when it comes to sailing. People take up this hobby to explore new sights and sounds, discover new places - and perhaps make some new friends along the way. And for those who favor sailing as a long-term hobby, the biggest exploration that occurs is usually that within themselves. Sailing helps them to improve both physically and mentally, and get to know themselves better.

7 Tax Tips for Musicians

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For many musicians, the idea of making a decent living doing what they love is practically a dream come true. However, making a profit in the music industry can be difficult enough without having to worry about the tax laws and restrictions that can make life even more complicated. Luckily, there are plenty of steps a musician can take to make sure they are fully compliant with the IRS and their state taxing agency.

Classify Yourself

You need to decide exactly what type of musician you are before you can even begin thinking about taxes. What course is your career taking? Are you in a band? Are you interested in being a music teacher? Or, do you offer lessons from your home or at a nearby music shop. Once you have classified yourself, if will be easier to keep track of your finances and tax liability.

$600 Rules

No matter what type of musician you are, if you make more than $600 in a year doing something then you will need to report your income to the IRS. Whether you make that much in tips from performing at clubs, or from teaching the piano to a family friend, it will need to be reported to the IRS.

Teaching Advantages

If you are a music teacher at a school, you may be able to take advantage of several tax deductions available to teachers. One of the most useful tax advantages for teachers is the educator expense deduction that allows qualifying teachers to deduct $250 worth of out of pocket expenses for classroom supplies. For more information on tax tips for teachers, including the educator expense deduction check out this article on CEO Roni Deutch's personal blog.

The Business of Music

If you teach music classes from home or a business, you may be able to classify yourself as a small business owner. Speaking of teaching from home, if you have a separate room at home that is used to run this business then that room may qualify for a home office deduction. If you have not already, you may need to get a small business license from your city or country, and if the business expands you may even need to get a federal ID.

Quarterly Payments

If you are earning income from your music, either teaching or performing then you might want to consider making estimated quarterly payments. If you wait until the end of the year, then you might end up with a massive tax bill, and possibly even penalties and fees. To learn more about making estimated payments check out this post from earlier in the year.

Deserved Deductions

If your music career turns into a legitimate business, not just a hobby, then you can take advantage of all the business friendly tax incentives. First and foremost you can deduct all expenses related to the business from your taxable income. Just remember to keep all of your receipts and records of purchases. Some common music business deductions include instruments, sheet music, trade magazines, lessons and training costs, travel expenses, etc.

At Home, and On the Road

If you are a solo artist or part of a band, that performs at several venues across the country, then your taxes are going to get a little more complicated. Unfortunately, income taxes are due in the state that you earned the money in. Therefore, if you live in California but get paid $1,000 to perform a show in New York, then you are going to need to file state tax returns in both California and New York. Filing returns in multiple states can become very complicated, and you will need to keep a detailed record of all venues you are paid to perform at.

The Tax Lady Roni Deutch and her law firm Roni Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation have been helping taxpayers across the nation find IRS tax relief for over seventeen years. The firm has experienced tax lawyers who can fight IRS tax liens on your behalf.

7 Steps to Keep YourHobbies and Marriage Intact - Save Your Marriage

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Ian and Kim were a couple who came for marriage counseling, as they were constantly fighting over Kim's love of fashion and the financial cost of her shopping sprees, her husband Ian couldn't keep up with it and thought that there were far more important things to be spending money on. Kim felt hurt that Ian didn't try to understand her passion and angry as he spent plenty of money out socializing and drinking. They came to save their marriage, as after years of not understanding each other's interests they had grown so far apart, they were living separate lives under the same roof.

Reshma and Binod another couple that sought marriage counseling to save their marriage, were also struggling to see eye to eye over the amount of time Binod would spend watching cricket, tennis, and football on TV. Any game, any time of day when he wasn't working he would want to sit and watch TV, this drove Reshma crazy, she was concerned what that would teach their 3 children and annoyed he didn't seem interested or make an effort for family time.

It can be difficult if you or your partner have a hobby you passionately embrace and the other one sees it as nothing but an intrusion. Yet it is critical to reach a compromise to prevent frustration and resentment from building, as resentment can often lead to angry silence, withdrawal or explosive rows. Here are 7 Steps to Keep Your Hobbies and Marriage Intact - Save Your Marriage

1. Recognize we all have hobbies. I've noticed working with many couples, that on average men tended to have one hobby that takes up a lot of their time and women had several activities (which they weren't counting as hobbies). For instance, I love to run, swim, practice yoga, write, dance, cook and try alternative healing courses. None of these hobbies individually take up much of my time, but collectively they add up to be more than some of the most consuming hobbies.

2. Ensure you both have hobbies. Expecting your partner to be your hobby or vice versa can be a recipe for disaster. It's just like expecting them to make YOU happy, only YOU can do that. If your spouse is having difficulty to accept your hobbies and have none of their own, help them to find something enjoyable and stress-relieving.

3. Find the good. We tend to love our hobbies, to us they are noble, important and engaging. If you think your spouse's hobby is silly, trivial or dumb or they say the same about yours, you are judging each other, when you need to be supporting each other. Look for the good in each other's hobbies, for example Kim explained to Ian, that he was benefitting from her fashion and make up passion, as she always looked good and took care of her appearance, which he always complimented her on. The benefit to Resma of Binod's hobby was that he could play with the children and watch TV at the same time, so she could get on and do things she needed and liked to do. Plus she was grateful that his hobby was not a financial burden to them.

4. Accept all hobbies, as they are part of who we are. When we reject the hobbies of our partners or they reject ours, we are in some way rejecting a part of each other. As our hobbies make us who we are and for most of us are a source of stress relief and happiness. Would you rather prefer a grumpy, bored spouse with plenty of time or a happy, content spouse with a hobby? I'd choose the second.

5. Learn about each other's hobbies. I love the statement "If you can't beat them, join them!" I think this is a great approach in marriage to learn more about each other's passions, it will enhance your conversation and connection, even better if you can join them.

6. Always have at least one hobby you share. Find a hobby you look forward to doing together, this will help you become closer and strengthen your relationship. If we engage in all our hobbies without our spouse, we miss the opportunity for the fun and excitement to be brought into the marriage.

7. Talk about your boundaries. Despite the above we all have boundaries, Think about what you both really need to be happy. Chances are its often not the hobby that really bothers us. Its the time or money spent on it, especially if the time or money isnt being spent on something else important to us!
Ask yourselves what is it that bothers you? Could it be you want more time as a family? More intimacy, affection or appreciation? Are you concerned financially that you won't have enough money for the car, holiday or children's needs?
Learn to share what precisely what is on your mind so you can move forward and compromise. Be vulnerable and you will reap the rewards! Rather than say I hate you doing that stupid hobby" instead say, I miss being with you and would love to spend more time together Or if your partner has a problem with your hobby ask them lovingly what concerns they have. Then work out a compromise that suits you both and fits in with the family.
Hobbies can help a marriage if the right balance is struck, aim to support one another and speak up if you need to.

From my heart to yours,
Nicola

6 Tips to Remove YouTube Addiction

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By The Pioneer of Subliminal Messages Online.

Yes, you don't watch a lot of television but you're spending too much time in YouTube. This video-sharing website has garnered millions of followers all over the world, for only a very short time. With so many videos to watch you can't help but spend the rest of your day doing nothing else but that.

Now just imagine how it can affect you personally. You can no longer complete your tasks, you spend less time on productive activities, and you may even distance yourself from your loved ones. It's not really surprising that you'll end up suffering from depression and a lot of stress later.

But how do you exactly get rid of YouTube addiction? Here are seven tips:

1. Just block it. If you don't want to watch any YouTube videos, then just block the website from your computer. A lot of websites and plug-ins can already do that for you. Every time you check on YouTube, you'll end up having an error page. Further, to make sure you don't delete the plug-in, you can look for a tool that allows you to add passwords. Have someone set it for you.

2. Spend less time in front of the PC. You won't be tempted to watch YouTube videos if you also spend less time with your PC. Besides it's really not a good idea to spend more than 4 hours in front of your computer. You don't have to cut everything off suddenly. If you spend 8 hours with it, you can reduce it to 6 or 5.

3. Take up a sport. A sport can be a good motivator for you to spend less time with YouTube. In fact, it can increase your self-confidence, plus you're forced to spend more time with your friends and perhaps your family. It also feels so good if you win competitions.

4. Choose a hobby. If you don't like sports, then at least pursue a hobby, and hopefully it doesn't involve computers. If you're a mom, arts and crafts would be perfect. You can share the hobby with your kids. If you're a dad, creating furniture and fixtures may be an exciting hobby, which may even turn into a profitable venture.

5. Go to the outdoors. There are a lot of things you can do outside of your home, but you're missing all of them since you're just there, watching YouTube. Try being in the outdoors at least an hour a day. And if you can afford it, spend a night in the mountains camping or even travel outside the state or outside of the country.

6. Encourage yourself to just do it. Unless you have the will to get rid of your YouTube addiction, you'll never be able to do it. But how? Use subliminal messages. Affirmations have a way of changing your present mind-set from "cannot" to "can." The moment you wake up, say the following lines:

Today, I'll spend more time on things that make me grow.
Today, I will spend more time with friends and family.
Today, I'll relax and spend my day with a lot of quiet and peace.

6 Simple Steps to Create a Perfect Online Portfolio

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Whether you are a programmer, designer, photographer, or writer, having an online portfolio will significantly increase your online visibility. Its essential that your online portfolio presents both your work and your talent in the best way possible. This will increase your chances of success in the freelance world, or when it comes to job applications. Just follow these simple steps and success is practically guaranteed.

Choose a platform and make it look good

Dont worry if youre not experienced when it comes to web design and programming, there are plenty online platforms and websites with the beginner-friendly usability that will help you effectively showcase your talent. In most cases all you have to do is select the appropriate website template and start filling out your portfolio.

Keep your work relevant

No matter what, dont let the work in your portfolio become outdated. Whether you have one page portfolio website, or several URLs of your work, your portfolio should always be fresh and up to date. This doesnt require much effort, just enrich it with the latest screenshots and links from time to time. It is always better to have fewer but more fresh projects in your portfolio, than to include outdated work, which will surely bring down your average.

Organize everything

The way you showcase your work will have a significant impact on whether visitors and/or potential clients bounce off, or stay and browse your portfolio for a while. You can organize your work in a number of ways, by industry, project or maybe media type but whatever you choose dont forget the most important part to provide all the necessary information. Include a brief but interesting description about the project and company you worked with, what your main task was and all the goals you have accomplished.

Include all services you provide

If you're looking for clients who require a type of services that you provide, display those services. Single out the projects where you had to use each of your specialties and showcase them first. For instance, youre a graphic designer who specializes in logo design and business branding. The smart move would be to include two or three projects that display your latest work in those fields. Of course, dont forget each project should have an adequate description and should be categorized appropriately.

Less is more, always

Remember, your best work should be the center of attention of your portfolio. Dont overcrowd the website, keep the design clean, interface simple and easy to navigate. People will always appreciate the simplicity better than if you include every piece of work youve ever done. Display only the work or projects you are really proud of, and also include the type of work you want to be doing in the future.

Introduce yourself

This is where you explain who you are. Personalize your about me page, tell your story, let your personality shine, dont just provide your past job experiences and personal skills. Here are some basic guidelines for you:

Its important to have a unique point of view on the industry youre working in. Come up with something creative, share a story from your own perspective. Leverage the power of visual storytelling to stand out from others.
Tell your backstory let people know how you become the person you are today. Was there a particular point in your life, or maybe some experience when you were young that made you pursue this path?
Be welcoming and open-minded. If you have a hobby include it; if youre passionate about something - about me page is the perfect place to put all those peculiar things for other to see.

6 Rules Of Composition

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As in the words of Andreas Feininger, an eminent American photographer, a photographer is like an artist who has the power to control the subject matter of his photography. He has the ability to control space, form, light, texture, speed, etc. The only one thing, on which he doesn't have control, is the 'composition'.

Composition is the process in which different elements or parts of an image are brought together to form a significant whole. A good picture cannot just be created with a click of a button, especially, when digital photography has made things easier and there are now a host of photography holidays and photography courses on offer making it even more accessible for everyone! The essence of a picture lies in its perfect composition.

Now, composition is something for which you need to have a different outlook apart from your passion for photography. While the basic rules are taught at the very beginning of a photography course or photography holiday, it is practice that makes a photographer perfect.

However, there are some basic rules of composition following which you can improve your skills as well as your photographs.

1. The Rule of Thirds: If you are on a photography holiday, then keep the Rule of Thirds on the top of the list while taking a photograph. This is the most important rule of composition as far as placing the subject matter of your picture is considered. According to this, a frame is first divided into three horizontal and vertical parts. The subject, when placed at the intersection of these lines, makes the best shot. This rule is also applicable when there is more than one subject. Photographers capturing a landscape can decide how much horizon to focus on with the help of this rule. This makes the picture more focused.

2. Frame: Framing includes the use of natural surroundings to add depth to the subject. This can be anything like a window, doorway, tree, etc. Using this rule can help you to focus on the subject and bring it to light. In certain cases, it is better to use a dark frame so that the subject achieves maximum brightness. For the depth, it is better to use a narrow aperture. Such techniques are frequently used by photographers on nature or wildlife photography holidays.

3. Texture: The texture of the subject photographed generates interest in other's mind. This rule is important while picturing leaves, rocks or walls. To make the texture stand out, focus should be on the angle of the light. If the light comes from the side, then the creation of shadows in perfect places will highlight the texture more.

4. Lead Lines: At times, straight, curved or parallel lines in a photograph are helpful in grabbing the attention towards a subject. Keep this in mind while photographing a road, stream, river, bridge, etc. The diagonal placement of these objects is preferred over a horizontal appearance.

5. Colour: This is an essential element in photography whether it is digital photography or still photography. Vibrant colours make a picture look alive and a good composition of one or more colours can make a picture stand out.

6. Simplicity: Last but not the least, keep the picture simple, especially, when the subject is in close focus. In such cases, it is advisable to keep the background as simple as possible.

These are the fundamental rules of composition that should be considered while taking a picture. Though the rules of composition are an integral part of all photography courses in London and photography holidays, it is better to have hands on experience on it.