Alex Workshop

Every year, you can expect lists to come out about everything. This year’s top 10 lists include some of the most enlightening revelations about business and the direction business is going. In a recent report, fast food, janitorial services and delivery services seem to be the peak of 2006. How does Rivky’s Art Workshop stand up to those?

When you are looking at franchise opportunities, you have to take yourself into account. A major mistake among most new entrepreneurs is the notion that business must be done the way it always has been done. What about your time with your family? What about building your client base into long term, repeat customers who are more like friends than patrons? What about running a business out of your own home?

There are trends in the business world and I have a hunch that most of these new trends were started by individuals who never spent one day in a business class. Otherwise, opening up at the break of dawn and closing way after dusk would be their idea of a business. Having customers stampede in like a heard of cattle, buy their products and leave in business like fashion would be their dream come true. Leasing or buying a building and packing it with inventory would be their business model.

Subway seems to top the list in just about every category. Lists include Top 10 of 2006, Best of the Best, and Fastest Growing among others. Subway opens early in the morning, closes long after dinner and requires a constant inventory. For a customer, it’s great. For an entrepreneur, it’s a nightmare. You have to have employees who know what they are doing and don’t make too many mistakes on a daily basis. You need a constant supply of inventory. And the long hours you’ll be keeping will make your family life virtually non-existent.

Most franchise opportunities work this way. But even if they don’t, there are other factors involved. A janitorial service is the type of business that you can run pretty much at your own hours. If you are cleaning people’s homes, you can set the time that you’ll be there. Make it any time throughout the day that is good for you. But, there’s not much chance for multiplication. You can only do one home at a time. And if you’re doing office buildings, you might be working late into the evening because you won’t be able to clean during office hours.

There is always so much to think about when you are searching for the perfect franchise opportunity. That’s why Rivky’s Art Workshops are really more ideal than any other. You set the times that you are going to be holding your workshops. So, you can have a family life and run your workshops too. You don’t need much inventory. Art supplies are fairly cheap and students can be expected to buy their own, unless you want to give them art supplies as a bonus. You get to know your customers by their name and soon you know so much more about them than that. You can build repeat business and word-of-mouth business through your client base who has actually turned out to be more like a family than merely customers.

The most awesome part about running an art workshop is the multiplicity factor. You can have several students in one class. A class can last for 45 minutes to an hour and a half depending on you. So, you have multiplied your earning potential from an hourly wage to your fee times the number of students you accept in one class. The math is phenomenal. Run a few classes a week and you are making more than the pour soul working his fingers to the bone to keep his Subway open.

There are many other factors that make Rivky’s Art Workshop the most ideal franchise opportunity. But if you think about the ones listed here, you’re already interested. You have time to do other things. You have a client base that grows by the day through word of mouth. You have loyal repeat business. Work anywhere you desire. Running art workshops in your home isn’t at all too difficult. Rivky’s Art Workshops meet today’s business trends with absolute perfect conclusion.

RivkyShimon
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/the-perfect-franchise-opportunity-the-factors-of-the-art-workshop-95153.html

If ever you fancy a try at stone carving your own house sign or even a stab at sculpture, it might be of some help to understand the various tools and their uses.

There are basically three different sets of tools depending on the type of stone or marble you are intending to use, though there is a fair bit of overlap. Some tools being useful on almost any type of material.

Wood Handled Masons chisels: For working with softish sandstone’s, i.e.; Bathstone, Cotswold etc. These look similar to the wood working chisels commonly available. However, the steel is tempered differently and they are heavier duty . They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

These specialist chisels are used with a lead dummy. A lead dummy is a kind of mallet, basically a lead cylinder about 2 inches in diameter and 3 inches high mounted on a wooden handle.

Bulb End steel chisels: These steel chisels are heavier duty tools than the wood handled type and are used for working harder limestone’s such as Portland

stone. They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

These chisels are designed for use with a traditional wooden masons mallet. These round shaped mallets made from Italian Yew come in various sizes and weights, from four inches in diameter to nine inches.

Steel End steel and tungsten chisels: These chisels are for use with a steel hammer, either a large masons steel hammer or a steel club hammer. The choice of hammer will depend on the task in hand.

These chisels are the most commonly available and are made in a huge range of sizes and shapes. As a carver you will be more concerned with the smaller tools.

Individual chisels are named according to use and size. So for instance carving chisels are called “splitters” (I don’t know why just trust me!). So you can have a quarter inch splitter or half inch splitter etc.

Here is a list of the various types.

Point or Punch: Pointed chisel usually for roughing out or getting rid of waste material.

Bolster: Any flat bladed chisel with a straight edge, from half inch to four inches.

Splitter: Small chisels for fine work such as carving or letter cutting.

Claw or Comb: Toothed chisel for taking off waste material in a controlled way, creating a roughly flat finish.

Pitcher: Flat bladed chisel with a blunt wedge like edge for taking off large chunks of waste material, needs lots of experience to use, not for the faint hearted!

Bullnose: As the name suggests, a flat chisel with a rounded edge for creating curved surfaces.

Scallop: Similar too a bullnose chisel but the blade is hollowed like a half section of tube, steel tools only, for use on softer materials.

Carvers and Masons will often shape the tools they need from existing chisels to suit particular jobs. Creating bullnose chisels from bolsters or shaping small splitters to get into awkward corners.

Steel tools re-shaped in this way will need re-tempering, tungsten tools can be used without this need and are the best choice for beginners.

If this is your first stone carving project I suggest you buy just two chisels, a half inch and a quarter inch tungsten splitter. If you need a shaped chisel just shape one of your chisels as needed on a grindstone. In addition search out the smallest steel club hammer you can find , if its an old one so much the better, cut down the handle to just five or six inches, it will be much easier to use!

For your first project why not carve your own house sign? Its a relatively simple project and if you hang it out side your house you will be showing off your work to every visitor to your home!

Steve Walker
http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/carving-your-own-house-sign-stonecarvers-tools-87566.html

There is so much going on in the world today. President Bush is moving things around in Washington. The controversy over Saddam Hussein. The explosion of youtube! 2007 has started off with a bang. Do you know how this impacts your art workshop center?

If you are interested in running an art workshop center, now is the time to start getting on it. Art is becoming the great escape for many, not just the artists of this world. Art is also being recognized as the solution to the education gap caused by the schools working toward cutting art from their curriculum. The benefits of art are endless. But, one major function art has in our lives is it helps us cope with the issues in the world around us.

You might wake up in the morning and turn on the television as you work your way toward your first cup of coffee. As you listen for only a few minutes, you hear about a person getting shot, a child getting kidnapped, more people dead in Iraq. And before you even take your first sip of coffee, you are ready to turn the television off again. What can you do with all that pent up emotion?

Finding a punching bag to bully around is certainly one answer. Pouring yourself into your work, even on your day off is another. But, sometimes our releases are more counterproductive than resourceful. Art doesn’t have any negatives. It is the mirror within us by which we understand ourselves better. Even when we don’t know what to say about an issue, art helps us express it in images, icons and symbols. We can still get all the pent up emotion out of our system. And we can look at it. Reflect on it. Discover ourselves.

So, where does your art workshop center come into this scenario? Don’t you see?! You are providing a place for people to go and be productive. They need guidance and you are giving it to them. Even if you are not an artist, it’s not hard to learn how to run an art workshop center. I teach people all the time. My students have picked up on my system so quick and now have gone on to run their own workshops.

Be ready for anything. Read the paper in the morning and have topics to discuss. As your students come rolling in, don’t be afraid to bring certain things up to their attention. It’s not a discussion session mind you. But, what you are doing is reminding them about these issues that are on their minds. What is the result? On each canvas, at the end of the day, is the resolve your students needed. Hug yourself! You deserve it.

The world does not look as if it is going to get better any time soon. Your art workshop is their therapy. And they will love you for it when they realize how much money you are saving them on therapy. Understand the concept! What is going on this world does directly impact your workshop center. There is not an area of our lives and our world that art doesn’t touch.

RivkyShimon
http://www.articlesbase.com/entrepreneurship-articles/art-therapy-your-art-workshop-at-work-89494.html

Art might be fun to explore and introduce to others. But, learning traits vary widely from person to person. That’s why it’s difficult to teach art to a diverse group of people and reach them all equally without varying your approach. Being prepared and remaining flexible are vital to running a great art workshop.

There are artists who can learn different techniques from simply watching a demonstration. From your canvas to theirs, they quickly pick up on the instruction and run with it. They can read about art concepts in a book and immediately understand the complex issues inherent in light and shadow methods, one and two dimensions, concrete and abstract styles as well as any other scheme they set out to learn. This type of learner is known as a visual learner and other forms of learning are difficult for them.

When setting up a workshop with a visual learner present, simply place your canvas in broad view. When you are demonstrating a stroke technique or pointing out how to create the impression of dimension, allow everyone to watch you as you perform. Your visual learners will react much better at watching you than anything you are trying to explain to the other people in your workshop. So, don’t get distracted when they are ready to try your technique without hearing the rest of your explanation. Chances are, they already understand.

Some people in your workshop will listen to you and they will try to ask questions and repeat concepts you’ve mentioned. They need to talk themselves through what they’ve learned and they need your patience. While your visual learners will want to go ahead and begin painting, your auditory learners won’t feel comfortable denting their canvas until the new information is solid in their brain. Your flexibility will really come in handy.

After you have finished explaining an art concept and your visual learners are already painting, walk around the room and look for anyone who might have a question they want to ask you in private. Most auditory learners realize that too many questions annoy a group of people who want to move forward, so they are willing to wait until they get a one-on-one with you. But, they need that one-on-one and to make your workshop successful, you need to provide that time. An art workshop is perfect for giving you the time to teach and then walk around so that you can deal with certain individuals on a personal basis.

There are learners in your group who will pick up some of what you are trying to explain and a little on what you’ve demonstrated to them, but they learn by doing. Mostly, they are patient people who know that you have to explain your lessons to some people and you have to demonstrate your lessons to others. But, they won’t really learn anything until they put that knowledge to use. As opposed to the visual learner, a kinesthetic learner will most likely not be too good on the first try.

As you roam throughout the workshop looking for the auditory learners who will need to ask questions, keep an eye out for the kinesthetic learners who are working through the brush stroke or the shadowing technique you just taught. They won’t want to ask questions necessarily. But, they will want another demonstration. Possibly even a hands-on demonstration. Grab the brush with their hand and model the motion.

Workshops are absolutely perfect for dealing with any type of learner you might find. Workshops are even so flexible, they allow for individuals to help each other. When someone who is learning has time to help someone else, it enforces learning for both. Simply facilitate the workshop and allow for a free flowing exchange between artists. The outcome will be the same. Everyone will experience art at their own level and you’ll get all the credit. You can’t beat that!

RivkyShimon
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/the-workshop-84273.html

Before you should decide whether or not taking part in a writing workshop is right for you and your writing you should first understand just what a writing workshop is.

A workshop is an educational format where an expert shares information on a focused topic over a short period of time. Some workshops are intended to be simply informative while others involve more hands-on activities. Today there are many options for enjoying a workshop: you can attend workshops in person, view them on television or tape, or participate in an online workshop.

So now that you know what a workshop is you can see how this format can readily be adapted for writers. Writing workshops can cover the basics of writing, writing challenges, topics related to publication and careers in writing, or specific research subjects. Some of these programs are featured as part of larger events, such as conferences, while some groups or individuals offer them as one-time events. Some organizations, institutes and educational programs offer workshops to their students or members while others open those workshops to the community at large.

Why would a writer want to attend a workshop? What benefit could it be?

Join the writing community. One of the strongest benefits you can receive from attending such a gathering is getting to know other writers. Writing is a solitary profession and can be very lonely. Enjoying the company of other writers and talking about writing with people who really understand your joys and worries can be wonderfully energizing to you personally as well as your writing. You can also make contacts that may lead to support and growth of your writing or perhaps even professional advancement. You never know when the friend you make today might be in a position to recommend you to an editor or publisher down the road.

Learn something new. No matter what level your writing career there are always lessons to be learned from other writers. Sometimes there are research strategies and shortcuts or perhaps it is a method for dealing with writer’s block. You can learn market news and contacts as well as important information about reviewing contracts. Workshops are generally geared toward a specific genre or market niche and offer a wealth of specialized information depending on whether you write about crime or food.

Improve your craft. Generating new work or revising existing pieces is often a large part of attending a workshop. Sometimes you must bring something with you, create a project as part of the workshop or are inspired by the gathering itself. Sometimes talking with others or listening to the presenters causes you to suddenly rethink a stalled project or inspires a new one. Whatever the impetus there is definitely an increase in production after attending a workshop and that is the surest way to improve your word craft.

If you have not taken part in a writing workshop in the past then perhaps you might consider doing so in the near future so you can join the writing community, learn something new, and improve your craft.

Deanna Mascle
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/why-you-should-take-part-in-a-writing-workshop-72817.html

About 4 days before Christmas, I started making a nice little picture frame for a custom piece of art I had made up for Nicole. A gift for a special girl requires some special wood. So I pulled out my best sheets of curly maple veneer and a couple of sheets of home-sawn afzelia?? wood that I received from David Marks. Now to be honest, I have no idea how you spell the name of this stuff and my research hasn’t yielded anything yet. David is in India right now so I can’t get the answer. But as soon as I know the proper spelling, I will let you know. You may find it odd that I decided to use solid maple as the substrate for the frame. I thought this would be a fun experiment, and when the rabbets are cut in the back, there won’t be any unsightly ply to look at (not that it matters that much). Small projects like this are just a great place to experiment with techniques and materials you might not normally use. All the extra effort pays off in the end when the finish hits the wood. KABLAM!!!! The wood just comes to life!

Duration : 0:8:45

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Technorati Tags: Maple, picture frame, wenge, woodworking

One of my favorite woodworking projects is a butcher block end-grain cutting board. Im not sure if its the “back to basics” simplicity or just the fact that it is one of the most useful projects a woodworker can make, but something keeps bringing me back for more. A custom cutting board makes a great gift and many woodworkers make them in batches every Holiday Season. And if you are relatively new to woodworking, this is a great project to hone your milling, glue-up and tablesaw skills. In Part 1 of this two part series, we cover the preparation and construction of the board itself. I hope you enjoy this project as much as I do.

Duration : 0:9:1

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Technorati Tags: block, board, chopping, cutting, end, grain, wood, woodworking

Humanity takes itself much too seriously and every experience does not have to be a life and death situation.

Before the industrial revolution came along, humanity was involved with living. Half the world’s population produced all the food that would supply the other half. Rural residents produced their own food and in doing so they maintained their connection with the earth.

When I was growing up, we always had a garden. Everyone had fruits trees of some kind growing in their yards. Listening to the radio or watching television was something you did after supper when all the chores were done-it was kind of a reward for work well done.

When we went to bed at night, we slept well. Our minds were at peace knowing when we go up everything would be as it was. People were content and happy to do a good days work. The middle class families demonstrated the good life.
The very poor and rich were struggling to maintain what they had. They were always under stress to improve their lot-always wanting more-always worrying about keeping what they had. All classes look at each other with fear and envy. The rich envied the middle class for their freedom-the middle class envied the rich for what they had. They both envied the poor for their perceived lack of responsibility and freedom. The poor wanted to be recognized and treated fairly-they wanted a part of what the other two groups had. Yet it was the middle class who separated the rich and poor. And it was the middle class who was the most prolific in symbolizing how man should live.

The rich always eager to collect more introduced a virus into society called consumerism. Consumerism was the next great plague that would kill off the middle class. As the middle class turned their heads away from what they had and focused on what they could have, they found themselves wanting more. They turned away from the simple pleasures which were expressions of their happiness and become addicted to the new wave of materialism that would consume them and destroy their way of life.

The rich introduced new products and services they said would free up middle class. All this extra time would be spent leisurely with friends and family. However there would be a hefty price for all these goods and services. This required the middle class to move from their fields and gardens to find good paying jobs in the cities to pay for the new consumerism. The quality leisure time traditionally spent with family, friends, and community was now spent working harder to pay for the goods and services. We are isolated and cocooned ourselves. We live in front of the TV because we are too tired to interact with others. The virus has a strong hold and the middle class has shrunk to almost non-existence.

The middle class was duped into believing it was not happy and happiness could be found in consumerism.

Humanity now finds itself searching for what it already had-happiness. It has tricked itself into believing things will bring it happiness. “I will be happy when I get my new car.” “I will be happy when I purchase my new 72″ plasma TV.” “I will be happy once I move into my new home.” But people are finding out happiness doesn’t always come with the new product or is very short lived. We have convinced ourselves into believing only “things” bring happiness.

All of us have experienced being excited about acquiring something new, only to find it didn’t live up to our expectations, was defective, or not as advertised. Were we happy?

The illusion of acquiring more happiness outside of ourselves has not worked and it is observable-something went wrong! How were we tricked?

We experienced happiness when we were not too busy looking for it. By nature, happiness is what we are naturally and what we do expresses our happiness. Happiness is a choice we make first and then we express it. In your mind you must be happy and then you seek to do things which reflect your happiness-you do happy things. We have it all backwards, and it is why we are suffering now. We are experiencing consumerism induced happiness-it is synthetic and unnatural, and it is designed to drain you and take all your energy and resources.

The new religion of consumerism has not enlightened us. In fact it has taken us away from enlightenment. It has taken us down a path of searching for what we already are by nature, and it is the reason we cannot find it. You cannot find what you already are. To experience happiness you must be happy first and then express it physically in what you do.
Enlightenment does not bring you happiness. Searching will not bring you there.

There is a Buddhist expression; “Before enlightenment comes chopping wood and carrying water, after enlightenment comes chopping wood and carrying water.” It is all there is, and somewhere in between you experience happiness. Happiness will always lead to the simpler life. It does not mean we have to give up the things we desire. It simply means we should not take on more than what we are able to manage while maintaining our ability to experience happiness.

Roy E. Klienwachter
http://www.articlesbase.com/motivational-articles/chopping-wood-and-carrying-water-75545.html