Orange22 - Artists Making a Difference

By Patrick Mahoney

Over the past centuries, we have evolved from the mere existence of primitive hunters and laborers into a society of technical savvy humans. Each new generation looks back at the last to proclaim an excellence in the forward moving progress of the given day. Unfortunately, our once fertile forests are turning barren and our oil surplus that makes the awesome plastics of today, now out paces the gasoline usage in vehicles. A new society is needed and some members of the modern furniture field have found a way to start the battle.

One company has been working on just this rumination for more than two years and has recently been testing the water with new ideas that not only save much needed oil and protects our trees but has brought their products to into the art world through international artists and designers. Orange22, a Los Angeles based design lab founded in 2000, creates and fabricates mass-market and limited-edition furniture but also does a lot more.

Leading Orange22 into a new society is a dedicated staff that have been challenged by using the ingenuity and creativity that they are known for. Armed with only their skills, providing solutions for traditional furnishings without harming the environment is a large feat in itself but these artists are going one step further. Fighting problems of social plight, such as cancer, AIDS and other worldwide problems are dreams that they have chosen to tackle.

Dario Antonioni is the founder and creative director of Orange22 and the driving force behind the Botanist Blank Canvas Project. Unequaled to any other program today, his group of designers begin with a blank piece of 'green' furniture and leave their own artistic mark of design, making it possible for anyone to own their legend. More importantly, a portion of the proceeds are donated to an organization or charity of the artist's choosing.

One of the most popular pieces, a design by Antonioni and Brandon Lynne, is the Botanical Floral Bench that merges the outdoors and the inside with its floral stencil lain to one side. Powder coated in a variety of colors, this piece can adorn a hallway, living space or patio interchangeably. Both environmentally friendly and lightweight, this example of the Blank Canvas Project is perfect for any setting.

Orange22 plans on continuing creating projects for contemporary furniture, using new and old materials to benefit the environment and make a difference. The overwhelmingly positive response to the Botanist Blank Canvas Project has already proven that society is acceptable to creating a better world. Currently, there are designers lined up for breathtaking designs through 2009 and 2010.

About the Author:

Icons of design in modern furniture have found a way to preserve precious resources of our planet while helping multitudes in need. Discover more about Orange 22 and how they are stimulating a much needed change by going to www.GoContempo.com.

This Is What Makes Art So Special!..

By Anna Meenaghan

Art abounds today everywhere in so many different guises. So, interestingly enough there must be something to suit everyone. Personal taste is a matter of opinion, so really it does not matter if you are knowledgeable or a beginner to art.

As an example take art from the Orient. The Japanese and Chinese use brushes both for their lettering and painting. Often you find their work is just in black or white. Brushes from the east are usually made of hair and they go to a definite point, ideal for the fine work they go on to produce.

It is usual for the brushes to have handles of bamboo and I would imagine these go back to the paintings of Zen. They seem to sometimes paint with these long painted brushes with a very delicate stroke, sometimes in ink over a slight wash.

The long fine brushes they use seem to create lovely flowing works of art which appear so true to form and give out the freedom of movement. Naturally this works well on silk. The trees and waters are expressed well like this.

So what do we know about Expressionism? How does one describe this type of work to a beginner? I actually see it as a way of letting your inner emotional state run free. But I stress that this is my interpretation of it.

Let us use the famous painter Van Gogh as an example. To the normal person much of his work appears to be totally distorted. The weird shapes and forms created turned into natural genius!

The painting is often brought together by a series of dots and dashes, which when viewed from a distance can be really appreciated like the artist Monet.

If you go back to about the 19th Century this is about where it started. This style is good for landscapes where the light makes such a difference to the actual scene.

Let us consider Still Life paintings now. Are they easily achievable? I think not. They appear so easy on the eye. Probably because we all recognize the typical types of subjects that are used for this. How often do we stop and think how talented artists are?

Simple items are not always easy to reproduce and you need a good backdrop for this type of work. I think that this dates back to about the 17th century and the famous Dutch Masters. How fantastic some of these artists from a bygone age were, and so forward thinking.

Now to the regular night-time scenes found in gay Paris created by the likes of Toulouse-Lautrec. How he loved all this and brought the subjects all to life for us and into our homes as posters etc. showing the bawdy lifestyle of the local artists and burlesque in the dance halls.

Even Monet did some amazing humorous sketches often of his friends yet still created such fantastic luminous colourful scenes. They were always so lovely and bright.

So many wonderful artists, too many to mention, Constable, J.W.Turner, Renoir, and Picasso, and what a talent Salvador Dali.

For those who like art, prime examples to be recommended are to be seen all over Barcelona in the works of Salvador Dali, which seem to spread all over this city. To look at these one surely feels his brain must have been overloaded.

About the Author:

Anna Meenaghan, the creator of this article, is a contemporary artist and knows a fair bit about art. Being a contemporary painter she has participated in the arts most of her adult life. Her latest venture is an online art community where I am an active artist myself. Footnote by Michael Bruckner.

Cut Down On The Calories To Lose Weight

By Michael

Losing weight has become a household mantra in todays fast paced lifestyle. Most people are thinking about losing weight and leading a healthy lifestyle. People have taken to dieting and have become what we call calorie conscious. It is common knowledge that reducing calorie intake or burning more calories keeps people from gaining weight. This has lead to what is called the Low Calorie Diet.

Talking about low calorie diet, one should first assess if the diet is suitable. It is important to consult a dietician instead of going into a self-made diet routine. Low Calorie Diet does not have any hard and fast rules, but is normally tailored according to individual needs.

To define a Low Calorie Diet in simple terms, we can say A Low Calorie Diet is any diet that allows a person to consume 1500 to 1800 calories a day as against a average normal consumption of 2000 to 2400 calories per day. People following this diet are said to lose about 2-3kgs in a week. According to experts, this diet is followed for a relatively short period of time, generally 3-6 months and extending it for a longer time period could lead to health complications.

Who can follow this diet? This is a form of diet that is followed by people who are overweight or suffer from obesity (generally with a body mass index over 30). It is not prescribed for children, pregnant women and adolescents. The person following this diet needs to monitor the intake of every calorie for nutritional value and the calorie intake is very low compared to the average calorie consumption.

Normally, for people following the Low Calorie Diet, physicians/doctor recommend avoiding regular food diet in favor of meal replacement supplements. Doctors will also include a prescription for physical activity as part of the diet plan. It is suggested that when following this diet one should change one thing at a time to move away from the regular diet.

It is very essential to monitor your diet routine followed by regularly consultations with your physician as there are chances of side-effects such as nausea, diarrhea, fatigue and constipation. However, expert claim that these side-effects will reduce over time.

In case dieters are losing weight rapidly it could lead to complications such as gallstones, hence it is extremely important to start a Low Calorie Diet after consulting a physician.

Many people mistake the Very Low Calorie Diet with the Low Calorie Diet. The Very Low Calorie Diet is however, different " here the calorie consumption is restricted to 800 calories per day. People are generally recommended a liquid diet with supplements. However, experts do not recommend this diet without proper medical guidance.

About the Author:

Get helpful tips and information on diet meal plans through the website on low calorie diet.

Luxury Safaris - Will it be Kenya or Tanzania?

By Derek Roberts

If you imagine a safari you may have visions of camping next to a fire and jumping at every noise you hear during the night. If this deters you from looking into taking a safari then let me tell you that there is a way around it. You can now take a luxury safari if you have the funds to do so.

These kinds of trips are devised to let you enjoy the crme de la crme of luxurious living as well as experiencing nature in its wildest form.

There are many benefits to this as you can immerse yourself in the call of the wild whilst still being able to relax in pleasant and agreeable surroundings for the whole journey. Not only this but you can have a guide and a vehicle exclusively for your own use. Whether you are a large group or just a couple you will have the chance to take time out to view the wildlife and the magnificent views from your very own viewing hatch. There is no need to share with others when you are on a luxury safari. All of your wishes are fulfilled to the very best of the staff's abilities. They can answer any questions you may have regarding the accommodation, animals or the geography of the area.

If you opt for one of the luxury Kenya safaris you are also likely to stay in one of the well-equipped and opulent lodges. These are ideal whether it is a family holiday or a romantic trip for two.

So whether your trip is for the whole family or an intimate getaway for two then you can be sure that you will be treated to the most wonderful surroundings and accommodation. The tour operator will make sure that your itinerary is suited to you and you will have all the privacy that you need, whatever your group dynamic. Many of the lodge sites will include a chef who will cook sumptuous meals to your individual requirements.

Taking luxury Tanzania safaris will also make this experience one of the best and unforgettable of your life. The staff will make sure that you are well looked after and are determined to assure that they leave a lasting memory about your safari trip.

Other safaris also allow you to journey by horse rather than by vehicle. This is truly an amazing experience which lets you get closer to the wildlife; there will be the knowledgeable guides accompanying you at all times to make sure you are not placed in any danger.

Whatever your group dynamic and reason for wishing to go, a luxury safari is a wonderful experience which will leave you breathless and in awe of the beauty of nature and the Earth. It will leave a mark on your heart and in your head as one of the best experiences of your life.

About the Author:

When you are searching for luxury safaris on the internet you should consider both Botswana safaris and Kenya safaris. All the holidays featured on the luxury-safaris internetsite are completely ABTAprotected and the site also offers some amazing beach hotels in Zanzibar and Mozambique.

What to look for in a bathroom vanity

By Alex Zidan

When you start to redecorate your bathroom, you are going to want to start by choosing a new bathroom vanity. Since the mirror is the focal point of most restrooms, if you change your bathroom mirror you will breathe a new light into your entire restroom. It makes logical sense, even if you find it hard to believe that the mirror can hold so much power over your current restroom theme.

The reason why you will want to make sure you choose a great bathroom vanity is because it is essentially the only large item that you have control over in a restroom, which makes it the centerpiece of the room. You are limited by water fixtures and size when it comes to the other accessories that typically occupy a restroom, the sink, toilet and shower. Thus you want to make sure you choose an excellent mirror that will stand out to theme the restroom.

Luckily, there are many different types of designs that you have to choose from when you go to pick out your bathroom vanity all of which can create their own themes for the restroom depending on what your various tastes are. In fact, the mirror you choose could very well define your theme if you choose one that is large enough to cover up wall. After all, you can guarantee everyone will notice the mirror you choose since people check their appearance while washing their hands and before leaving a restroom.

If you have already decorated your bathroom you will definitely want to match the current theme in order to things flowing smoothly. Your guests will enter and exit your bathroom and see your mirror. This is going to be the single piece that says everything about the room. So be sure not to disappoint them. In general most people don't bother to look at how the bathroom vanity sits with the sink. If the mirrors style or theme is opposite from that of the style of the rest of the bathroom it will surely stand out.

When decorating your bathroom you don't just want to place a plain bathroom vanity. It is tacky and it does not give off the warmth that you want your guests to feel when they enter your bathroom. There may be a few solutions to bringing your shower and toilet some warmth but the biggest item that will help connect the whole room together which is the customized vanity. The vanity is a piece that you can not leave out.

A framed bathroom vanity mirror should cover the entire width of the sink while keeping the amount of space it occupies to a minimal. An oval or round framed mirror could help straighten this problem out. To help cover empty wall space you can add a towel rack that goes with the framing of the mirror.

On the other hand, if you are going for a more classic or comfortable scene, you may decide instead to choose a bathroom vanity with a wood setting that will bring out the natural wood settings in your restroom. With the right colors your restroom will come together in front of your eyes.

About the Author:

This Article is brought to you by the team at Quality Bathroom Vanities. For more information about Bathroom Vanity Furniture Contact them at 1-866-44-Decor.