Watercolors

Peter Peterka asked:


Your company need not be in the automotive industry to benefit from the principles of the Toyota Production System. Whether you’re running a critical care unit, overseeing cross-country trucking operations or opening an art school, you can learn valuable lessons from the Toyota Production System.

We’ll apply TPS in certain situations to bring some principles into focus.

Waste (muda)

TPS frowns on waste. Waste happens when the wrong processes are employed and no one bothers to stop to solve the weaknesses and defects in a given process. Toyota promotes attention to detail not later but right away. If people prepare ahead of time and do their homework, the processes won’t be wrong. As one writer jokingly said, the devil is in the preparation. Unfortunately, thorough preparation seems to be a tall order for many.

If you’re running a health facility that provides critical care, what are some potential areas of waste? In a health care unit, supplies and equipment that are normally used first are stored in an area that takes five minutes to access. It could be the way the rooms were initially laid out, it could be due to lack of planning, it could be indifference on the part of health workers. If you were to run an efficient facility for the sole purpose of saving lives, shouldn’t the urgent materials and equipment be within easy reach so that when ambulances transport people in need of immediate attention, no time is wasted by scrambling, getting the equipment up and running.

The same goes for your art school. While it makes for good publicity, why have an overstock of art supplies when your current enrolment dictates that not even 50% of these supplies will be used during the semester? When there’s too much inventory on art paints, for example, the paints and watercolors will eventually dry out and won’t be of much use for the next batch of students.

In the trucking industry and especially in light of high fuel prices, trucking routes can be organized in such a way that a truck does not have to go back and forth to the central to pick up merchandise. If a truck were to return to home base say three times a day to deliver merchandise to a different location each time, calculate the cost of the return trip in terms of travelling time, fuel consumption, and manhours.

If trucking routes were more organized, the same truck could do different deliveries by sticking to only one route without ever having to return to the central station.

Just in Time (JIT)

Toyota created this popular phrase to promote the idea that materials should be moved and made available so that the next operation in the production cycle is not delayed. JIT of course can be applied to work places and situations other than in the manufacturing sector (getting to the church in time to be married is certainly only one of the thousands of examples).

Take the case of a public relations outfit. If you have a busy public relations practice where you have writers who work round the clock for hundreds of your clients, giving them too much work than they can handle overburdening them to be exact can lead to multiple delays. These multiple delays are illustrated in the example below:

Company A schedules a product launch. It needs a plethora of press releases. Your agency receives the mandate to do these press releases. You assign it to your favorite writer. This writer suddenly has a family emergency and cannot finish the press releases. Company A does not receive the press releases on time and has had to postpone whatever announcements were scheduled. In the meantime, the product has not been released to the market. This particular situation may seem unimportant compared to a massive car assembly line, but the consequences are just as serious.

When there’s substantial writing to be done, you should not have your favorite writer do all the work just to impress your clients. Arrange it in such a way that each writer gets a fair share of the writing load, so that a promised deadline does not turn into an embarrassing negotiation for an extended deadline. By spreading the work, you give your other writers the chance to prove their talents.

Kaizen

In A Team Leader’s Guide to Lean Kaizen Events ( Breakthrough Performance Press, 2006) authors William Wes Waldo, Tom Jones, Neil DeCarlo and Colin Moore focus on another Japanese concept Kaizen. The term is actually made up of two words: kai (change) and zen (good).

In their book, the authors begin with the premise that change is good. Good change, however, is better. Kaizen aims to break down the project mentality so that it motivates people to action.

We once worked in a distribution company where the Chief Executive Officer wanted to implement some changes in the product marketing section. The company was a successful distribution operation, thanks to an efficient product marketing team that had been doing the same tasks for many years with little deviation. When the CEO realized that changes were needed to bring back straying customers back to the fold, some key managers resisted these changes. When asked why, they refused to speak up. His instincts told him that change was inevitable and would bring back the thousands of customers it had lost. Someone argued that departing customers can always be replaced by new customers, but the chairman had a more benevolent nature and sincerely wanted to keep his old customers.

The CEO borrowed from the practices of lean manufacturing by appointing a Black Belt to oversee the change. Black belts and green belts were martial arts titles conferred by Motorola on some of its employees when it was eyeing the Malcolm Bridge National Quality Award. While not strictly an invention of the Toyota Production System the terms black belts and green belts would be a close equivalent of the work teams and participatory management that Toyota is known for.

Peter Peterka is the President of SixSigma.us. For information on Six Sigma, Six Sigma Certification or Six Sigma Tampa programs contact Peter Peterka.

GERRY

Remi Engels, Ph.D. asked:


Drawing is probably the most immediate of all art forms. It allows you to put down your observations instantly. In addition, all you really need to draw is a pencil and a sheet of paper (even a napkin will do).

Unfortunately, drawing is also one of the more demanding art forms and it takes a lot of practice to become really good at it. However, drawing is a real basic art form, i.e., it is a prerequisite to learning many other art forms such as painting and sculpting.

Above all, drawing is an excellent vehicle for learning to see the world as it “really” is. It is a way to overcome the often greatly simplified memories of everyday objects we have stored in our brains since childhood.

Finally, drawing also allows you to put your own interpretation on your observations and ultimately lets you produce your very own art.

In this article we will discuss the various pencils used by the professional artist.

1. Graphite Pencils

Graphite pencils are the most direct and simplest of drawing tools. They are made from graphite and come in grades from very hard to very soft:

9H 8H … 2H H F HB B 2B 3B … 8B 9B

Hardest Softest

The F-pencil is somewhat of an odd duck in the series. It produces a fairly fine line and is often used to draw hair. The HB-pencil separates the hard pencils from the soft ones. In practice, you do not really ever use all 22 grades. I personally use mostly a 3B, a 5B, a 9B, and an F. For really fine lines I sometimes use a 2H pencil. But this is more of a personal preference and you should make your own choices.

Pencils do not cost much, so buy the best you can find. It is more than worth it. A good graphite pencil currently cost about a dollar.

2. Graphite Sticks

Graphite is also available in sticks. These sticks are usually wrapped in a plastic film. They are graded just like ordinary graphite pencils as we explained in Section 1. They are ideal for large-scale projects. They are also inexpensive so don’t be stingy and buy the best.

3. Colored Pencils

Colored pencils cannot be blended and must be built up in layers. Blending is achieved by putting one transparent layer of color on top of another. This way it is possible to obtain very interesting optical effects. Colored pencil art has made great strides in the last twenty or so years. Great pieces of art have been produced with colored pencils. Today, colored pencil art is very well respected and many artists specialize in creating very detailed and intricate drawings.

4. Water-soluble Pencils

This is the latest variety of pencil to come along. Water-soluble pencils provide a valid alternative to watercolors. The pencil marks turn into a watercolor-like wash when they are brought in contact with water. This wash can then be manipulated with a paint brush.

These four types of pencils are the most basic and have been used by most drawing artists. Of course, pencils are not the only tools that can be used to draw. Other drawing materials and tools will be discussed in future articles.



DARREN

adobeprincess asked:


I am considering taking a class and I only have watercolor brushes. I was wondering if it would ruin them if I use them.

DOYLE

Lauren! asked:


Dont think I’m stupid please, but I have never really painted before, and my art set came with watercolor paint, but no instructions. Do I just wet the brush and start painting with it, or mix it with water?

VITO

Luqman E asked:


I would like to find out if anyone has ever used real coffee as a watercolor medium. How do u go about making the mixture? Does it have any bad effect on the workpiece?

VIRGIL

Firienscatha asked:


I am working on a new airbrush project, and normally I just use illustration board so frisket normally works fine as a masking material. This project is much larger than I can get in illustration board, so I have a canvas that I am working on.

I have done some research and most seem to only pertain to airbrushing with acrylic paint. I want to use the watercolor becuase of the look I am going for.

My main problem is that I tried using Frisket as the masking material; but it did not want to stick all that well. Does anybody have any ideas on what I can do for masking material on canvas?

ELOY

Vikram kuamr asked:


An important part of marketing your skills as a homebuilder is showcasing the work you have done and the work you intend to do.  Imagine trying to explain to a client what his or her new home will look like without being able to show him or her an image of what you’ve created in your mind.  It would be nearly impossible.  That’s why architectural renderings are essential in your business.

 

While these renderings were once almost always done in watercolor or similar artistic techniques, today they can be created digitally to appear photo-realistic.  However, you have to decide which type of renderings you want to use for your homebuilding business.

 

Watercolor versus Photo Realistic

 

Although there are a few other options, the two main ones to consider are whether to have your architectural renderings created in watercolor or in a photo realistic digital format.  Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.

 

Time is one of the major differences.  Creating a watercolor version of your renderings can be time-consuming.  It takes a lot of effort and usually should not be done too quickly because that could limit the quality of the finished product.  On the other hand, the photo realistic versions can be done more quickly using digital software.

 

Price is another consideration.  Watercolor versions usually cost more because they require a certain type of talent not possessed widely.  Because you have to search for someone specific to create this version, you’ll usually end up paying more.  With photo realistic versions, your creator does need to have knowledge of the software but this is something more widely known in today’s environment so the costs are usually more reasonable.

 

With a watercolor version, the artist also has greater freedom to capture what is truly in your imagination.  They can create not only an image of what the finished product will look like but they can capture a feeling in their work which is sometimes not present in the digital versions of architectural renderings.

 

Architectural Renderings & Clients

 

One of the major factors in your decision is probably going to be your clients.  Because you want them to be enamored of the architectural renderings, you must think about which of the two methods is going to have the most positive impact on them.

 

As mentioned above, watercolor versions tend to be effective in creating an emotional reaction in clients because the artist if able to capture more than just the house in the work.  However, some clients are going to prefer seeing something more realistic because it will give them a better idea of what they can expect from the finished product.

 

In many cases, you’ll need to make the determination about which method will be the most effective based on your individual dealings with clients.  Although price and time considerations may cause you to lean towards one preference over another, it’s important to pay the most attention to what will be the best choice for your clients.

 



TERRY

huiya asked:


If you are looking for china destination as an ideal vacation spot, Guilin must be the place you should never miss. Many tourists would like to use Chinese watercolor painting to describe the scenery of Guilin after they visit Guilin. Yes, it is true. Enjoying the picturesque Li River and the boat trip riding down the river from Guilin to Yangshuo is like to unfold a scroll of Chinese watercolor painting before your eyes. Besides River Li boat trip, there are many also leaving you with deep impression for a life time. This article presents my Four days highlight journey in and around Guilin. It’s not just the Destination.

 

Day 1 is: We arrived at Guilin airport as schedule and were met and escorted to our hotel by our tour guide, Nancy. She is a pretty lady and has a good sense of humor. We have a good time together in the following days in Guilin.

 

Normally people like to spend at Guilin for 2 nights and 3 days. One day is for the River Li Cruise and the other two days is for city tour to explore the nature wonders like the Limestone Cave ‘Reed Flute Cave’ and the Elephant Trunk Hill which looks like the shape of an elephant drinking water by the riverside. We have more time than regular tourist so we can have a chance to explore more in and around Guilin. Below is my highlight excursion in Guilin, they are more than tours!

 

Longji Rice Terraces: It is so exciting to walk into the mysterious mountainous villages of Longji (Dragon Back) to see the thousand-year-old nationality cultures. We departed hotel in the morning for the scenic and drove for 2.5 hour to the Longji scenic parking area, where we walked to top of the mountain to see a famous spot: seven stars surrounding the moon.

 

After more than 1 hour climbing, we finally arrived at the summit. When we stood on the top of the mountain and looked down at the nearby terraced rice fields, we had the feeling that we were standing on the dragon’s back as the terraced rice paddies look like the shining scales of the dragon. This awesome construction dates from the Yuan Dynasty and demonstrates you the brilliant feat of man conquering nature. Afterwards we took the way walking down to our bus. On the way back, we met several ladies dressed in Red Yao customs. They offered us their elegant way to comb their long hair which has been collected in the World Guinness Record. And Nancy, our guide told us the secret: The hair style of Yao ethnic minority display whether a lady is married or unmarried.

 

We also learn from Nancy when is the best time to visit Longji. The best time to visit Longji is from 15th April to 30th April in Chinese Calendar, the rice fields is started to filled with water and the rice field looks like mirrors. Another time is from 15th August to 30th August in Chinese Lunar Calendar, the rice is ready for harvest and you will see the fields filled with golden color. The winter time, when you are lucky to see snow here, the scenery looks also unique but the time for snow is not always guaranteed. The average temperature in July is 28.3 degrees and the average temperature in January is 7.9 degrees.

 

Third Sister Liu Impression: Nancy recommended us to watch the performance for our nigh-time leisure when the day we took the boat trip to Yangshuo. We are not much of the “cultured” or “historian” by any means, but the performance is really spectacular. This performance expresses the beautiful scenery of the Li River, the colorful culture of the ethnic groups in Guangxi and the brave imagination of the excellent artists in China. It is the first of its kind in the world. We were amazed to see such big outdoors performance which can accommodate 2400 guests and the participants in the show. All performers are local, mostly from Zhuang and Yao background and more than 600 people play on the performance. Even after we have seen the show and are still confused with what they are talking about, we are very happy to have a chance to have a look. It’s good enough beyond any description.

 

The last day before we drove from yangshuo to Guilin airport in the late afternoon, the cycling trip around Yangshou is also one of my favorite things to do here. In the morning, Nancy bought bicycles for us and required us to practice for a while. And then we cycled outside the town to explore the breathtaking countryside views. Along the way, we visited the big banyon tree which covers an area of 1000 square meters with a long history of 1,000 years around and the Moon Hill with a hole in its peak in the shape of a half moon where you can look through the sky as well as the old villages. Strolling around rice fields, we also invited to visit one of the local families just roadside. The lady of the owner treat us the grape fruit, peanuts which her family planted. She is a so sweet lady and we left some money for gratitude before we leave.

 

My 3 Nights and 4 Days in Guilin tours:

 

Day 1: Arrive at Guilin

 

Day 2: Day trip to Longi Rice Terraces

 

Day 3: River Li Cruise to Yangshuo, and the Third sister Liu impression in the evening

 

Day 4: Morning cycling trip in Yangshuo and leave Yangshuo to Guilin airport in the late afternoon.

 

China tour - China Wonder Tours specialize in providing package China tours, discount Yangtze cruises and single city tours with the best rates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



WILBUR

e_coli_lover asked:


I’m interested in showcasing some of my watercolor paintings, what is the best way to mount them for viewing? Also what is the cheapest?

DEAN