The art used in online casino games was quite basic. The main purpose was to enable players to place their bets and spin the slots. Today, different kinds of artworks can be seen in online casinos that have high standards of quality. For example, if you compare casino logos on CasinosJungle you can see how they are competing for new customers.

How online casinos benefit from using art

Art is used in online casino games for the purpose of attracting players and keeping them engaged. It is the art used in these games that makes all the difference. Otherwise, most of the casino games are the same. The players place their bet, click a button, and hope to win as the game begins. 

Of course, there are patterns that land them a win. However, the overall purpose of these games and the idea behind them are similar. Owing to these similarities, the casino game developers began focusing on something that would make their online casinos different. This was mainly to stand out among their competitors. The answer was graphics and art. 

They hired the best graphic designers for creating the most compelling works of art for their online casinos. These highly attractive works of art and beautifully designed themes made every session of the players exciting. Detailed information on the online casinos with the most attractive themes can be found on www.casinosjungle.com

On this website, some of the best online casinos have been rated and reviewed by experts. The site also provides some valuable information on responsible gambling. Besides, the players can try some of the online casino games for free!

Using casino concept art for developing new games

Usually, the online casinos use a theme that can attract a large number of players. The best example in this regard would be an online casino based on a heavy metal theme. There are many gamblers who like the heavy metal sub-genre of rock music. 

Many among them would prefer playing in this casino than any of the casinos based on a different theme. This is the reason why concept art is used widely in the development of online casino games. When the developers of an online casino decide to create new games, they begin with a concept. 

This must always be the first step of the process. At this stage, they try to come up with a theme that would appeal to the maximum number of players. They may even conduct a poll on their social media channels to know players’ opinions on a particular theme.

The cost factor

The developers of online casinos hire a team of expert designers to develop concept art for the games. This increases the cost of the final casino game significantly. Considering this fact, it’s obvious that an online casino having an immensely attractive theme would be costly. 

Players would have to spend more on such casinos upon signing up. To offset the development costs, the online casinos might also charge a fee for certain features in the games.

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They also range in sizes from the ones measuring 3 feet in diameter to the tiny 0.25-feet collectables. Although baskets can be manufactured by machines, the ones woven by hand using natural fibres are high in demand. They usually have distinct tops and bottoms but are essentially continuous surfaces. 

Baskets are often used in many cultures to gather, store and serve dry food. Liquids can also be retained in waterproofed baskets. Techniques of basket making are also employed for creating hats, clothes, and mats. In some modern homes, baskets have become a desirable item for decorations.

History

Nearly all the native people have baskets as a part of their heritage. The way they’re made may differ according to their customs and traditions. The ancient Mesopotamians described baskets as children of the gods and the basis of earth. Their belief about the origin of the world was associated with baskets. According to them, a wicker raft was placed on the oceans with soil spread on it to create landmasses.

Bakers used baskets to store baked loaves of bread in ancient Egypt. The most famous of all baskets was the one in which baby Moses was transported safely. Almost all the ancient civilizations produced baskets. The best examples would be the Roman baskets and the ones made by the ancient Chinese and Japanese. Basketry also gave rise to the art of pottery, as the earliest pots used baskets as moulds. 

The archaeologists have observed that the histories of pottery and basketry are interwoven. Many ancient pots unearthed by archaeological excavations showed patterns of baskets used as their moulds. These patterns became pieces of evidence where vegetable fibres didn’t survive the test of time.

Raw materials used

A wide range of plant fibres is used as raw materials for making baskets. They include twigs, grasses, roots, cane, basket willows, and reeds. For the colouring of baskets, hobbyists use vegetable dyes. This is mostly when they’re imitating the historic baskets. 

Concentrated cloth dyes are used in manufacturing modern baskets. The ones that need a solid bottom and handles also use wood beside the main item for weaving. Many hobbyists purchase basket-making kits for creating some fantastic baskets. 

Raffia and rattan are used mostly as a substitute for grasses and rigid fibres. Raffia is a fibre obtained from the raffia palm, found in some Southeast Asian countries. Rattan is a tropical palm and its stems and leaves are used for making baskets.

Design

The character of every basket is determined by the fibre that’s used for making it. One must get the appropriate fibres to create baskets of certain designs. Usually, fibres are flat, round, or flexible. Flat strips can either be twisted around stiff rods or woven together. 

Flexible fibres are wrapped around each other in order to form a coil. To create the sides of the baskets, the coil is stitched to itself in a rising spiral. The designer has to determine which fibre is available and then plan the making of a basket accordingly. Designs of baskets can be based on a sample basket or photos.

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There are a few different products and tools that would make this work easier and faster for you. Here are some of these tools and products that you must definitely try when painting your furniture:

1. Palm sander

For removing old finishes and getting down to the bare wood, a palm sander is highly effective. It saves you plenty of time and effort. A palm sander with finer grit sandpaper is a great combination for slightly scuffing a furniture piece before painting. Many individuals who work on furniture on a daily basis have found palm sander extremely useful.

2. Primer

The number of coats that you paint on a piece of furniture can be reduced considerably by using a good primer. It not only saves your time but also gives the paint a surface to stick to. This is essential to have a stronger finish. A shellac-based primer stops wood grain from bleeding through while using mineral paint. A small can of primer can be used to fix areas that bleed through the first coat of paint.

3. Tack cloth

Even when you’re sure of having cleaned all the wood dust, some of them go unnoticed. Using a tack cloth, you can get rid of the dust that enters into the finished coat of paint. Today, you’ll find the best deals on tack cloth on any of the leading online shopping portals where it’s available.

4. Sanding sponge

A sanding sponge is a foam that’s wrapped in sandpaper. It protects your fingers as you get into the edges while you’re busy with your sanding work. A sanding sponge is quite inexpensive and usually lasts longer.

5. Mask

Many individuals are fascinated by antique and vintage furniture items and love to have them in their homes. However, the old pieces are often covered in grime, dirt and other stuff that can be hazardous. So, it becomes necessary to wear a mask while preparing a piece of furniture. It must also be worn if the cleaner or paint you’re using instructs you to wear a mask.

6. Paint sprayer

Painting every nook and crannies can be an exhausting task. For painting furniture items with a lot of detail, you can save time and effort with a paint sprayer. Besides, spray paint makes a furniture surface look elegant, which is quite difficult to achieve with a brush.

7. Quality brushes

Using cheap brushes often result in more brush strokes and can make it harder to get a clean edge. Considering this fact, it would be a good idea to get good-quality brushes. They last longer and give the edge of your furniture piece a nice, clean look.

8. Hemp oil

One of the best ways to seal a natural wood finish is to use hemp oil. It brings out the rich and natural beauty of the wood and is absolutely safe and easy to use. Polymers like polyurethane create a topcoat that scratches or chips after some time. This can be avoided with the use of hemp oil.

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You can also choose applications with limited features in case you’re facing some budget constraints. However, such software can only help you get a certain set of tasks done. Here, we’ve listed some of the best digital art software that can help you in your artistic endeavours:

1. Adobe Photoshop

If you’re looking for a tried and tested industry-standard application, Adobe Photoshop would be the best choice. Although you’ll need to pay for using it, it is good for almost everything. It can be used to draw, paint, edit photos, and perform a number of other tasks. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that this particular application still dominates the digital art space. 

This software is a part of the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite. It helps you to share your data and access all the tools, such as brushes, styles, and colours across devices. You’ll also have an array of impressive Photoshop plugins for adding extra functionality.

2. Rebelle 4

This digital art software can be a good option if you’re concerned about your limited budget. It has more than 170 brush presets and mimics the art of painting. You can use Rebelle 4 to create a more realistic digital representation of acrylic, watercolour, wet, and dry media artwork. This impressive natural media painting application has been upgraded recently. 

You’ll get to benefit from the new texture and stabilization features. Besides, it also offers RYB colour mixing, colour management, and layer groups. So, if you want an affordable alternative that feels authentic and doesn’t cut corners, Rebelle 4 is worth trying.

3. Affinity Photo

Of course, Adobe Photoshop has been a preferred digital art software for many years. Now, there’s an application called Affinity Photo that’s giving Photoshop a stiff competition. Upon taking a closer look at this software, you’ll easily understand why it’s a tough competitor. In terms of performance and power, Affinity Photo comes quite close to Photoshop. 

The application offers great compatibility with PSD files and can be used for images that exceed 100 megapixels. You’ll get almost all effects, brushes, and filters in the software. When it comes to cost, this application is a lot cheaper than Adobe Photoshop. It can be owned for less than what you’ll pay for a 3-month Photoshop subscription.

4. Corel Painter 2022

With its latest stamp-style brush customization, Corel Painter 2022 can make your work appear more natural. This feature gives you excellent control over the dab effects of your chosen brushes. You’ll also benefit from its overhauled and reorganized brush library. 

If you’ve been using Corel Painter for a while, it may take some time to adapt to the changes. Once you get used to its updated features, you’ll certainly love using it for your digital art. You can also benefit from the discounts that pop up every now and then. They make upgrades to the application a lot more cost-effective.

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Private museum acquisitions, as well as public auctions of works from great artists, have often created headlines. Artworks have sometimes sold for millions of dollars. Here, we present some of the most expensive works of art ever sold at an auction:

1. Salvator Mundi

The auction of Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci fetched a massive sum of $450 million! It was undoubtedly the most widely publicized sale of art in history. The painting was auctioned at Christie’s in New York during a postwar and contemporary art event in 2016. After 19-minute-long bidding, this legendary piece of art became the most expensive artwork ever sold at an auction. 

It was later revealed that the buyer was Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. The painting depicts Christ holding a translucent orb in his left hand and signalling the cross with his right.

2. Pendant Portraits of Oopjen Coppit and Maerten Soolmans

The French and Dutch governments carried out a landmark joint private acquisition of Rembrandt’s rare pendant portraits in 2016. They were of the Dutch couple Oopjen Coppit and Maerten Soolmans. The sale of this painting was facilitated by Christie’s. These pendant portraits were purchased through a private deal for €80 million each. 

Completed in the year 1634, the portraits of the newlyweds were intricately painted by the 28-year-old Rembrandt. Formerly in the Rothschild collection, these rare portraits are the only known full-length paintings of Rembrandt. Before the sale, they had been publicly exhibited in the Netherlands during the mid-20th century.

3. Portrait of a Young Man Holding a Roundel

Sold for a whopping $92.2 million, this portrait was painted by the master of Italian Renaissance, Sandro Botticelli. It was sold at Sotheby’s in January 2021 in New York. This rare portrait was believed to be one of the last secular portraits of Botticelli in private hands. 

It went to a Russian buyer who was bidding on the phone with Lilija Sitnika, Sotheby’s London-based specialist. The portrait came from the late real estate developer known as Sheldon Solow. He had bought it for £810,000 in 1982.

4. Massacre of the Innocents

This rediscovered masterpiece by Peter Paul Rubens was auctioned at Sotheby’s in July 2002. This painting depicting the scene of a violent massacre in Bethlehem mentioned in the Bible fetched £49.5 million. It went to Kenneth Thomson, a Canadian businessman and art collector. 

He later donated it to Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario. This painting was previously attributed to Jan van den Hoecke, a Flemish painter. Initially, the value of the artwork was estimated at £4-6 million. To everybody’s surprise, the painting soared past its estimated value at Sotheby’s London venue.

5. Lot and His Daughters

Yet another fascinating artwork by Peter Paul Rubens, Lot and His Daughters was sold at £44.9 million. The sale was held at Christie’s in London. The painting depicts a Biblical scene detailing the seduction of Lot by his daughters. It had been a part of the collections of high-profile individuals, such as the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph. 

It was purchased by a charitable foundation during the summer sale of Christie’s in 2016. It is currently displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on a long-term loan.

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Considering the way digital arts is growing today, one can say that it is here to stay. You might be a professional artist, or an art student, or just a beginner in the digital art space. Whoever you are, there’s absolutely no reason why you must not explore digital art. Curious? Well, let’s look at a few types of digital arts you probably never knew or even heard about:

1. Algorithmic art

It is a form of generative art, created using computer algorithms. A digital artist who creates algorithmic art is called an ‘algorist’. The role of an algorist in this form of art is to create the algorithm. Once the algorithm is created, it creates the art. 

Algorithms may involve computer codes, expressions, functions, or other forms of input. They can be in a mathematical, generative, or computational form. It is the choice of the artist whether to include some randomness or to go for a deterministic algorithm.

2. Datamoshing

Also called ‘glitch art’, data moshing is one of the most popular forms of digital art in today’s times. Whether you’re a hobbyist, a student, or an expert, you might’ve seen glitchy GIFs or memes. Such effects are achieved through data manipulation of media files. So, data moshing is the creation of such glitch art pieces. It is a time-consuming process and applies to animated GIFs and videos. 

You can create this digital art with the help of software or use data mosh videos. One of the techniques for datamoshing video files involves the removal, replacement, or corruption of frames. Another technique is to select a certain frame and duplicate it repeatedly.

3. Fractal art

Fractal art can be considered as a sub-type of algorithmic art. Simply put, a fractal is an infinite pattern similar across various scales. In fractal art, the calculation of fractal objects is represented in the form of any of the media. In order to create this type of art, you can choose from a variety of fractal-generating software. 

The fractal art thus created can also be post-processed through another software. This digital art is quite intriguing, as the same pattern is repeated, no matter how far you zoom in. Creating fractals can be challenging, as a small change in a variable can result in the butterfly effect.

4. Still imagery

Among the computer-generated digital arts, one of the most common types is 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) still images. The 2-dimensional still images are created by combining 2D geometric models, text, digital images, and other elements. To create the 2-dimensional still images, you can use Flash, Adobe Illustrator, and other software. 

The 3-dimensional still images are created using 3D representations of geometric data. This data is stored for performing calculations or for rendering images. The 3D still images rely mainly on the algorithms that are used for 2-dimensional computer graphics.

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A craft can be described as a physical manifestation of the internal creative impulses of humans. There are a few types of crafts that can be found across the world. Here, we’ve tried to cover the most popular types:

1. Papercrafts

As it is apparent from the name, paper crafts are created out of paper. Millions of children across the world get introduced to paper crafts during their preschool days. Using paper, they create several items and hand-printed designs. A more grown-up version of this type of craft is linoleum and wood engraving. Paper-making, calligraphy, and papier-mache are some of the other popular papercrafts.

2. Decorative crafts

The most common forms of decorative crafts include basketry, furniture making, stained glass, and metalwork. Decorative crafts also include gilding, stencilling, toy making and a few other arts. Unlike all the fine arts, decorative arts have an element of utility associated with them. Usually, the final product in this category of crafts is a piece of decor. 

A chair provides a space to sit and it can also be a beautiful piece of furniture. One of the popular trends in recent times is combining metalwork and furniture-making. Home decor and arts and crafts magazines often feature contemporary items of furniture. They are constructed using wood but have certain parts with amazing metalwork.

3. Textile crafts

Knitting, weaving, dyeing, quilting, and applique are some of the examples of textile crafts. They include any type of craft that uses yarn or fabric extensively. Many of the textile crafts also fall into the category of fashion or decorative crafts. This is because the finished products are often sold as wall hangings or sweaters. 

Since they all begin with the fabric, they technically fall under textile crafts. Among the other examples of textile, crafts are the Japanese art of ‘boro’. It is a form of decorative repair that combines textiles from various sources. The Japanese decorative stitching is called ‘sashiko’.

4. Fashion crafts

This type of craft covers all elements of dressing, such as garments, jewellery, shoes, hats, bags, belts, and wallets. It naturally involves other types of crafts. For example, jewellery can also be categorized as metalworking and garments can be considered a form of textile craft. A wide range of materials is used in fashion crafts. 

They include soft fabrics like cotton, wool, and linen to stronger materials like nylon, canvas, and leather. When it comes to making a garment, sewing is just one aspect. The designing of that particular garment can be a multi-step process involving careful attention to detail.

5. Functional crafts

The four types of crafts described earlier can also be classified as functional crafts. For instance, decorative pottery involves the creation of utensils that are suitable for daily use. Many of the furniture pieces can be quite decorative and can be functional at the same time. To attract a wider customer base, it is always a good idea to have functionality built into the craft.

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It requires some effort to create these wonderful paintings or designs. Besides, one cannot create such works of art without using all the essential items required for it. Given below are the items used for this purpose:

1. Canvas tote bag

It’s quite obvious that a plain canvas tote bag is essential for creating the desired painting or design. The artist can get the idea of colour and contrast correctly with such bags. There are several artists who prefer painting on coloured tote bags. Their advantage is that they would already have a background colour ready to get started. 

The size of a canvas tote bag to be used would depend on the preference of the artist. Generally, medium-sized bags are used by beginners. The bag must not be crumpled and wrinkly as this would make it difficult for the artist to paint. To get a smooth and stretched surface, it must be ironed lightly.

2. Paint

There are several options in paint to be used for creating art on canvas tote bags. Among them is the acrylic paint, which dries faster and allows the addition of layers or crisp lines. Oil paints take longer to dry, but they can be blended well with the colours. As the oils can degrade fabrics over a period of time, the canvas would need some preparation. 

One of the benefits of oil paints is that they don’t lose their original colours when they dry. Although not so popular, watercolours can also be used for creating paintings and designs on canvas tote bags. They are used especially for creating abstract or dreamy paintings.

3. Brush

Each painting requires some specific brushes for the best results. If the acrylic paint is being used, a longer and sturdier brush would be required. Synthetic brushes are also recommended as they are quite resilient to the chemicals in acrylic paints. Natural brushes would go better with watercolours and oil paints. Beginners usually start with one small and one large round brush with one small and one large flat brush.

4. Palette and palette knife

In order to mix the paints while painting, either a porcelain palette or a professional palette is used. The palette knife would be essential if the artist uses acrylic paints. It helps in mixing and spreading the paint. The palette knife can also be used to apply paint on the canvas. 

Some of the colours can be mixed using brushes. However, when acrylic paints are used, the use of these brushes may result in altered bristles. This is because the acrylic paint is thicker and rougher. 

5. A cup of water

To begin painting on a canvas tote bag, a cup of water would be needed. It is essential that the base of the cup be larger or the same size as its top. This prevents the cup from falling over and ruining the painting. If the artist doesn’t have a special water cup for painting, one of the mugs at home can be used. If the artist uses fluid acrylic paint, it must not be diluted a lot with water.

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These materials ensure that the colours and patterns don’t fade away. Explained below are the materials used to paint the pieces of clay pottery:

1. Slips

A slip refers to a liquefied suspension of the particles of clay in water. It is used for colouring the pieces of clay pottery before they’re fired. Either white slips or coloured slips tinted with oxides are used for painting the pottery. Some of the potters preserve the remaining slips. They are best used on greenware that is wet. 

There are certain benefits of using slips. If the potter commits any mistake with the slip, it can be cleared off easily. This method of painting matches the shrinkage of the clay. So, there’s less worry about the heavier stuff popping off while firing or drying. A good visual impact can be created on the pottery pieces with slips. 

2. Underglazes

Effects that are similar to watercolour paintings done on pottery can be created by using an underglaze. It must be thin enough and contain colourant in the right quantity to minimize fading. The semi-moist underglazes are relatively easier to control than liquid underglazes. Liquid underglazes are used to create effects that are more like the ones created by acrylic colours. 

When using such underglazes, it is best to work in layers. Many of them do not achieve full strength until three layers are used on the surface of the clay. One important thing to note is that dark colours have the tendency to bleed through overlying layers. This happens even when they cannot be seen before firing.

3. Glazes

For many years, potters have been using glazes for painting ceramics. The best example in this regard is the glaze-on-glaze painting used in the majolica traditions. Several areas of the ceramics are painted using glazes of varying colours. 

This particular method has one major problem. There’s always a possibility of the glaze flowing after becoming molten when fired. This can cause the design to become indistinct at the edges or disappear completely into an underlying glaze.

4. Oxide stains

This is an excellent method for adding broad areas of colour and painting flowing lines. There’s always an option of using stains that are commercially prepared. Such stains are chemically stable and safe to handle, as they are made using fritted material. Otherwise, stains can be simply earth oxides mixed in water. They are quite difficult to handle. 

Some of them are fickle and would change colour depending on the other elements present in the glaze. The best example here would be chrome oxide. It is generally a green colourant, but it can go pink if the glaze has tin present in it.

5. Fingernail polish or acrylic paint

The use of fingernail polish or acrylic paint can also produce effective results. They are non-ceramic materials and can be useful especially for this type of painting. Among the two, acrylic paint is used most commonly. Both these materials are not soluble in water once they have dried, unlike the other paints. The only major problem with these materials is that it’s hard to visually integrate them fully with the clay.

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The fabric must be pre-washed so that it is free from starch and shrinkage. After washing, it must be dried and ironed. When this is done, it would be ready as a base material to be painted using fabric colours. Here, we’ve described some of the best techniques used in fabric painting:

1. Tie and dye

This is quite an interesting technique for painting fabrics. The fabric is twisted, folded, pleated, or crumpled and then wound around with a sturdy thread. An alternative for the thread would be a strong rubber band. Using paints with a watery consistency, certain areas are painted and left to dry. 

The wound fabric is then opened with a particular pattern or design on it. Natural dyes can also be used instead of fabric colours in this technique.

2. Wet into wet

This technique involves merging and blending colours and shades in a watery consistency. Once dry, multiple applications can be painted without picking up the underlying colours. Lightweight fabrics are the most appropriate for this technique of painting. The biggest reason for this is that such fabrics allow liquid paints to spread rapidly and naturally.

3. Block printing

This is an old technique of painting and making impressions. In this technique, wooden blocks with letters, motifs, patterns or any other engravings are used. These wooden blocks are then dipped in fabric colours or natural dyes and pressed neatly on the fabric. Next, the borders of the fabric are printed. Block printing technique is used extensively in the textile industry for garments, upholstery, and other products.

4. Salt technique

In this technique, coarse salt or fine salt is used while painting. A particular design or pattern is painted on a piece of fabric using paint with a watery consistency. While still wet, salt is randomly sprinkled. Once the fabric dries, the excess salt is shaken off. Stains that are left by the salt create a unique design on the fabric.

5. Spray painting

One of the easiest techniques of fabric printing, spray painting involves the use of watercolours. In this technique, compressed paint is created by filling a can with fabric paint. Then, the paint is sprayed to sprinkle water colours on the fabric. Stencils can also be used in spray painting. 

The stencil is placed appropriately on the fabric and the paint is sprayed on it from a distance. Then the stencil is carefully removed, thus creating a design almost effortlessly. This technique of fabric painting can be used to design T-shirts, curtains, cushion covers, and other items.

6. Sun painting

This is a very natural technique of painting using fabric paints. In this basic technique, the heat and light of the sun are used to get the final result. The fabric is painted and spread directly under the sun while still wet. Then the elements are placed aesthetically over it for creating the intended design. 

The element can be a feather, flower, leaf, stencil, or motif. Once the fabric dries under the sun, the elements are removed. This leaves the painted fabric with impressions of the element with a faded or faint appearance.

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