Animation Art – 5 of the Most Common Mediums Purchased by Collectors

Animation Art – 5 of the Most Common Mediums Purchased by Collectors

Animation Cels – A cel (short for celluloid) is a blank clear plastic sheet used by the studio artist to paint an animated character or object based on the animator’s original pencil drawing. The cels are then placed over a background and photographed in sequence to produce an illusion of life in the completed film or cartoon short. Every cel is different but this does not mean that every cel is unique. Often multiple copies of a cel were created by the Inkers as color models in order to advance their technique and skills in Animation Art.
Limited Edition Cels – A non production hand painted cel created for sale to the collectors market. It is produced in fixed limited quantities and are easily identified by a fraction (150/500) in the lower right hand corner. They were not used in films or cartoon shorts, and the original intent was to recreate the original production cels. Nowadays many studios release new images not based on production Animation Art.
Sericels – A non production cel created by means of a printing process similar to silk screening. No work is done by hand, therefore no painting or inking is involved. They are often produced in limited quantities of 5000, and they are marketed as a low cost alternative to production and limited edition cels.
Animation Drawings – A drawing on paper in pencil, sometimes colored which is created by a studio artist of an animated character or object for which the cels are later created.
Giclee – The French term “Giclée”, literally meaning “spray of ink,” is used to describe these prints. Four precision nozzles spray up to a million microscopic droplets per second on to fine art paper. Then, each piece of paper is individually hand-mounted. Displaying a full color spectrum, the prints are lush and velvety, capturing the subtle nuances of the original artwork

Starting A Business: Sole Proprietor Or Corporation?

Starting A Business: Sole Proprietor Or Corporation?

When starting a business, it is important to consider the potential tax and legal issues. Most people choose a “sole proprietor” as their business type when starting out. Starting your business as a sole proprietor does not require any special paperwork from the IRS.

Which is exactly why most people start out this way. Being a sole proprietor means that you and the business are one and the same.

According to the IRS:

“A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business that is owned by one individual. It is the simplest form of business organization to start and maintain. The business has no existence apart from you, the owner. Its liabilities are your personal liabilities. You undertake the risks of the business for all assets owned, whether used in the business or personally owned. You include the income and expenses of the business on your own tax return.”

However, even though a sole proprietorship is the simplest way to set up your business, you still need to follow your local business regulations to make your business legitimate. And you are personally responsible for paying both income taxes and business debts.

So, is being a sole proprietor the right business structure for you?

For most home business, in the beginning, yes.

If you choose to start your business as a sole proprietor, you do have the option of incorporating as your business grows.

What is the difference between a sole proprietor and corporation?

Unlike a sole proprietorship, a corporation is a legal entity in which the individual and business are separate. The great thing about incorporating is taht the corporation protects you from personal liability for business debts. For example, if your business gets sued, your personal assets are safe, for the most part.

And, you may be able to save a significant amount of money in taxes by incorporating.

If you decide to incorporate, there are several options:

• S Corporation
• C Corporation
• LLC (Limited Liability Corporation)

Before incorporating, it is a good idea to check with the IRS and your tax professional first.

Setting up a corporation is more complicated – and may not be right for your business!

Pointers To Make Your Next Round A Success 2

Pointers To Make Your Next Round A Success

It might not be one of the top four sports like baseball, basketball, football or hockey, but the sport of golf is starting to really gain some recognition in the realm of popular culture. If you’re new to the sport or simply need some tips to improve your game, take a few minutes to check out this article.

A helpful tip when it comes to golf is to know how to approach the game. This is beneficial because golf is a game that requires extreme precision and discipline instead of brute force and strength. Keeping this mindset, you will put yourself in the right position to succeed.

Finding a good and relaxing course is key to having a great and relaxing golf game if you’re not playing competitively. If you have too many distractions or there are too many people there it may interfere with your game. Golf is generally a relaxing game unless played for sport.

It is wise to make and aim for a target when you are practicing your golf skills. By having something to aim at, you may find that it is easier to get the ball to go where you want it to. Before you start an actual game of golf, do the same thing – get some target practice in (it’s fun too!)

When you buy golf shoes, remember that you will have to wear them for several hours to walk over all kinds of terrain. You will also need to do some unusual twisting and turning wearing your golf shoes. For this reason, you should make comfort your #1 priority when you choose golf shoes.

To stay warm and dry while playing golf, you can wear a golf sweater, a light windbreaker, and/or a light waterproof garment. You should not wear a heavy garment like an overcoat or parka. You should also avoid wearing any kind of outerwear that has the name of a team or business imprinted upon it.

When you choose golf shoes, you will want to decide whether you want a sneaker style or a traditional leather style. Just like with regular shoes, the sneaker style will be more comfortable and flexible right away, but it will wear out sooner. If you purchase a high quality pair of traditional leather golf shoes, they will be a little stiff to start, but once broken in, they’ll last a very long time.

Are you having trouble slicing the ball away from you? Did the ball leave you in the shape of a banana? This is easy to fix. Move 2 inches closer to the ball so that your ball is just an inch away from the hosel. People’s first reaction during a swing is to pull yourself away from the ball. This will be corrected by moving up on the hosel.

It doesn’t really matter if you’re brand new to the game or if you’ve been playing for decades, we could all use some improvement here. Golf is strange in the sense that it never changes and thus the repetition can breed confusion. Ever heard of the yips? Don’t let the ticks and other issues settle in. Use what you’ve learned here to get better at golf.

Fun & Unique Baby Shower Favors

Fun & Unique Baby Shower Favors

A baby shower is often the highlight of an expectant mother’s pregnancy. Planning a baby shower requires some thought and consideration for the expectant mother’s special event. Baby shower favors are among the items that must be considered when planning a shower.
Baby shower favors do not have to be complicated to make an impressionable impact on visitors. Most people are happy enough to come to the shower just to visit the mom to be in all her pregnant glory. Baby shower favors however can provide a memento of the unique event and offer a simple way to thank guests for visiting and celebrating the mother’s time of joy.
Baby shower favors come in every size, shape and form. Some simple gift ideas include the following:
Candles
Miniature boxes of chocolates or candy
Bath and body items
Pictures
Gift baskets
Lotto tickets
Movie tickets
Keep in mind that to make any party even more fun and eventful, baby shower favors that coincide with the “theme” of the party are even more fun to pass out. For example, if the expectant mother is carrying twins, and the theme of the shower revolves around multiples, it might be possible to offer baby shower gifts that coincide with this idea. Some ideas in this situation might involve the following:
Double Bubble
“Twix” Candy Bars
2 pairs of anything
Identical picture frames
Manicure and pedicure set
Pair of coffee spoons
One neat idea for baby shower favors is to have each guest bring a “white elephant gift”. The idea of white elephant gifts typically surfaces during Christmas time, when guests are invited to bring a “mock” gift to a party for exchange. This may include silly items such as used household appliances, a roll of toilet paper or an open box of Oreo cookies. Guests are encouraged to wrap the gifts, then each member of the party can select a number and draw gifts. Using white elephant gifts as party favors is a great way to share laughter and joy in a shower situation.

3 Reasons Networking With Other Business Owners Is Good

3 Reasons Networking With Other Business Owners Is Good

Whether you have a new small business or have been operating for years, networking with other businesses and business owners is a key to success. Some business professionals call it strategic networking while others call it social networking, either way, networking with other business owners is a sure way to climb the professional ladder in any industry.

Networking with other businesses and business owners is a wise decision for several reasons. First and foremost, it is usually a free way to market and advertise your business and services. Secondly, networking with other business owners can allow you to maximize your resources. Additionally, not only can strategic networking among other business owners help you market yourself and your business but to find potential business partners.

Everyone knows that word of mouth advertising is the best kind. It is free, fast, and reliable. Usually word of mouth advertising comes from happy customers wanting to share their good experience. Well, when you network with other business owners about your business, they will have the chance to meet you and get to know all about your business services. Whether or not that particular person is interested in your services, he or she may know someone who is. Networking allows you to get the word out about your business for free.

When you network with other business owners you are also opening up the possibility of maximizing or increasing your resources. This does not necessarily have to refer to monetary resources and clients but can include new vendors and contractors as well. For example, as you network and discuss your business services, you may find yourself talking to the manager of a business that can complement your product line. Networking can prove to be a truly rewarding endeavor resulting in many symbiotic professional relationships.

Strategic networking allows for business owners to meet their direct competitors face to face in many cases. Additionally, networking allows for business owners to meet other business owners who are in the same field, but may not be direct competitors. This allows direct competitors to get an edge on each other and keep business fresh. Competition is key to strong businesses it keeps the creative juices flowing for the best products and services possible. Furthermore, networking allows for business owners who are in the same industry but not directly competing to meet and possibly engage in new partnerships.

Strategic networking among business owners is one of the most effective ways to build a successful business. Many business owners continue to network even after their initial start-up years. Continued networking throughout all stages of business allows for new professional relationships and opens the doors of possibility of new clients, new resources, and new partners.

All About Box Lacrosse

All About Box Lacrosse

Box Lacrosse, also referred to as boxla or boxcrosse is an indoor version of outdoor field lacrosse. The difference between a field lacrosse game and a box lacrosse game is like night-and-day.

Box Lacrosse is predominantly played in Canada during the summer months. Box Lacrosse started in the 1930’s as a means to bring revenue to hockey rinks in the off season. Additionally it kept players fit during the summer months.

In Canada box lacrosse is more popular than field lacrosse from which it was derived. The rules of box lacrosse and field lacrosse are very different and of course the surface of play is very different. Box lacrosse is played indoors, in hockey arenas (without the ice) or on indoor soccer fields.

The goal in box lacrosse is smaller than the goal in field lacrosse and the attacking team must take a shot on goal within 30 seconds of gaining possession of the ball. Play in box lacrosse is significantly rougher than in a field lacrosse game. The rules of box lax encourage passing and running which improves a players overall lacrosse skills and athletic ability.

Box lacrosse should not be confused with indoor lacrosse which is a newer version of the indoor game. Indoor lacrosse was intended to be less violent than the other indoor version of the game, box lacrosse, on which it is based. Indoor lacrosse is also played in regions where box lacrosse is not played. Indoor lacrosse was designed to combine the most exciting elements of box and field lacrosse. Box lacrosse is a summer game, while indoor lacrosse is played in the winter.

Professional indoor lacrosse combines the physical play of hockey with the high scoring, fast pace and play-making style of basketball. Indoor lacrosse is played with six men per side, a rougher and faster derivative of the outdoor game. There are more scoring opportunities, and far more big hits, making indoor lacrosse an intense experience for players as well as fans.

The two indoor games have become increasingly similar in recent years with the primary difference being the equipment used in game play. Indoor lacrosse allows only sticks with hollow shafts, while box lacrosse allows solid wooden sticks. Also indoor lacrosse games consist of four quarters of fifteen minutes each, while box lacrosse games consist of three periods of twenty minutes in length.

The age of indoor lacrosse is evident when discussions relating to the first World Indoor Lacrosse Championships arise. The first Championships were held in 2003.

The Threat of Spam and Basic Preventative Measures

The Threat of Spam and Basic Preventative Measures

Everyone who uses the internet has more than likely been targets of spam at one time or another. At first they are easy to dismiss for internet experienced persons, however for the inexperienced user of the internet, the messages contained can sometimes be intimidating and in some instances lead to trouble (I will come onto a personal example later).

Spam can take several forms; email and search engine spam are just two, but the one we will concentrate on in this article, and also the one you will, and have most likely encountered, is via email.

Spam is defined as unsolicited bulk mail, much of which is caught in your “bulk” or “trash” folder found in your email service provider control panel. You have probably often seen a mass of these types of emails in you bulk folders when checking for email that you actually have consented to receive, as many emails are caught by spam filters even though they should not. The majority of spam you may receive will be of a sexual or gambling nature, however over the past few months I have noticed an ever-increasing number of scam emails asking for sensitive information, claiming to be someone they are not.

Paypal and eBay scams are a prime example of these types of emails known as “phishing scam emails”. The email will be along the lines of:

“We have noticed an irregularity in your account details and require you to update them immediately. Failure to do so will result in the permanent closure of your account”

You can see how these emails can be pretty alarming to an inexperienced internet user who may only occasionally use the internet to sell or buy items on eBay for example. Some of the emails will look very convincing, and will use the images and symbols of the respective company, however be very cautious and take heed to the following important point:

If you are unsure of the legitimacy of the email, do not follow any link contained within the email to an external website. Instead, type the website address that you know is correct into your browser directly, so that you are safe in the knowledge that you are not using a fraudulent website.

Failure to do this may result in your account being hijacked by the scammer; it’s as easy as this. You follow the link in the email to a website claiming to be, and also looking very much like one where you have an account. The website will ask you to input your username and password to access your account and voila, you will have now sent this information to the scammer, allowing them access to your account containing sensitive information about you.

Another type of email scam that has been very popular is where you are notified to be the very lucky winner of a lottery, even though you have never entered the lottery in the location claiming your success! This is where the example of a personal experience comes in. Many people reading this will be thinking “I’ll never fall for one of these scams”, however the unfortunate reality is that many people will do so. An elderly relative of mine received one of these lottery scams from Spain, and then insisted on following up with the email scam, even though they had never even entered the lottery draw. The only stumbling block was that the bank account details required, needed to be sent by fax, which she couldn’t do, and despite the frustration that this caused I of course refused to help send it.

There are measures that you can take to help avoid being targeted by spammers; a few have been mentioned here. However, in addition never reply to a scam email as it will notify them that the email address is live and also that you have read the email, leading to further spam.

Of course there are many other threats from spam that are not discussed here, such as viruses and trojans being sent via email attachments. More details on spam can be found here: www.spam-blocker-online.com.

What Is A Monoprint? What Is Foxing

What Is A Monoprint? What Is Foxing

What is a Monoprint?

A monoprint is

frequently interchanged with the word “monotype”. “Monoprint” tends to be used by academics versus those selling art to the design community who prefer the word “monotype”.

An artist starts by “painting” or “drawing” with ink on a surface such as a printmaking plate made of aluminum or zinc. Some use a large pane of Plexiglas to paint on. The resulting image is transferred to a piece of paper by placing a sheet of paper on top of the inked plate, running it through a press. One monoprint is yielded looking like what the artist drew with ink. Some residue of ink remains on the printmaking plate. That faint residue of ink becomes the platform from which the artist builds his/her next composition. The secondary composition can employ different colors as well as compositional changes. An advantage of making monoprints is the creation of a rhythm of working, saving time by creating subsequent compositions using the “ghost image” as a starting point for the next work of art.

What is Foxing?

Foxing is

is a condition flaw on a work on paper.
Foxing yields a freckled appearance typically of red brown spots. Currently it is believed these are iron oxides and hydroxides produced by the chemical reaction between the organic acids discharged by mold and the colorless iron salts and impurities embedded in the paper.

Dampness encourages mold. Some types of sizing in the paper also attract fungus growth. Acidic contact materials such as cardboard and animals glues can aggravate the foxing.

Only a professional paper conservator can minimize the appearance of foxing safely.

To read more on this topic, I suggest The Care of Prints and Drawings by Margaret Holben Ellis as well as Prints and The Print Market by Theodore B. Donson.

Soccer Betting – A 365-Day-A-Year Activity For Those Who Know How to Wager Responsibly

With so many teams and matches happening around the globe, soccer betting is a 365-day-a-year activity for those who know how to wager responsibly. The World Cup is an annual highlight, but regular league play also presents plenty of wagering opportunities with relegation battles and promotion battles adding to the drama.

As a betting market, soccer offers the usual moneyline and spread (Over/Under) options along with a host of game props and live betting markets. Depending on the sportsbook, you can also place regular and same-game parlay bets to increase your winning potential.

The low scoring nature of the sport means that many games end in a tie. This can make it difficult to handicap a match, with a money line often paying out only when one team wins by more than a certain margin. In order to overcome this, some bettors opt for the 3-Way Moneyline, which gives you three final game outcomes to bet on – win for either team or a draw after 90 minutes of regulation time. If a game goes to extra time or a penalty shootout, your bet will be settled according to the score at the end of that period.

A popular way to bet on individual matches is through the use of corner kick totals, with bettors able to place wagers on both the over/under and the spread between teams’ total number of corners in a game. This can be a good indication of how much attacking intent a team is likely to have, with a high total indicating an aggressive side while a low total may indicate a defensive oriented team.

Another popular bet is on how many goals will be scored in a match, with the over/under usually presented as a combined total for both teams. แทงบอลออนไลน์ can also be made on individual teams, with some sportsbooks allowing players to pick which team they believe will score more goals or concede fewer. Again, this can be a good indication of the flow of the match and can be backed up by research into stats such as those provided by StatsPerform or Opta.

In addition to standard pre-game wagers, some online bookmakers offer a wide range of in-game bets including Next Team to Score and Which Half Will See More Goals. These are based on player/team statistics such as recent and upcoming schedules, current form and previous results against the same opponent. It is important to keep in mind that momentum can shift several times during the course of a match, so be careful not to jump on any single trend or hunch.

As with any type of gambling, it is vital to set a budget and stick to it. A good way to do this is by keeping a spreadsheet of every bet you place, including the amount of money you have won or lost. Over the long term, this will help you to understand your success or failure and will allow you to make informed decisions about future bets.

Help For Starting A New Small Business

Help For Starting A New Small Business

Starting a new small business comes with many risks involved. It is not easy to start a business large or small. Starting a business involves a lot of hard work. As you are about to become an owner of a small business, you must realize the challenges which do exist within many different aspects. A small business no matter the products or services offered needs to plan accordingly while achieving the goals needed to exist within the market.

You must network

This is one of the most important steps in starting a new small business. Networking means that you are expanding your network of businesses as well as friends who could end up aiding you in starting your small business. You can join the Chamber of Commerce within your region. Anyone could benefit greatly from the advice of business professionals. Join professional networking websites. These websites can make you more aware of the business world as well as opportunities, which do exist locally to your small business. Embrace your family and friends. Inform them about your new small business while seeking their advice.

Research and understand what you are getting into

A lot of planning, knowing your competition as well as a thorough study of the market is necessary in starting your small business. These are very important points you should keep in mind in starting your small business. Select the best opportunities among the many, which do exist for beginning business owners. You can create or add to an existing business idea. Prepare a business plan. Finalize the plans on what kinds of business you want to have or do currently have. Gain complete knowledge about the market as well as investment opportunities with your company while preparing this business plan. Keep in mind that strategic consultants can prepare these for you but with an ironclad contract and they charge hourly for their services.

Family and friends

You might want to consider being funded through family and friends, financial institutions or banks. Each of these options needs some degree of authority over the money, which they lend to you for your small business.

How should I list my small business?

Choose a legal structure for your small business. Run your business as a sole proprietor or you can enter into a partnership. Register the business, which is when you will find out the rules and regulations of commencing your business. Keep a back up for your business by opting for small business insurance.

Do not forget Accounting and bookkeeping. From the beginning, you or someone you hire should keep the books on a regular basis. This will aid you in avoiding any type of future financial difficulty.

You have various options when searching for ways to finance your business. After the business plan is prepared, the next step should be arranging for the funds for your small business. Calculate how much capital will be needed while looking for the many options available. Remember you want to start a small business first look within your own personal savings. Other options to consider are banks and investors. Financial institutions and investors however will always ask for a share in the management as well as profits. You may need to also submit collateral as a backup for money given by these institutions.