Have you ever tried to remember the first time when you found yourself looking at an abstract art or an abstract painting? Do you remember the thoughts or feelings you had about what you were looking at?This article is a reflection of some of my own personal and subjective viewpoints and realities as an artist about abstract art with certain references to facts that are in agreement with what I believe myself as to the nature, birth, growth and the evolution of the abstract art outside the boundaries of the esoteric terms of the art academia.To have a basic and fundamental look at the subject, we should first understand what the word abstract means before we could tackle the understanding of “abstract art” itself; and we learn that abstract in this sense and as a verb means to extract or remove and surprisingly as an adjective means not easy to understand; abstruse. And as a transitive verb it means to take away, remove. It’s origin is from Latin abstrahere ‘draw away’ or ‘draw from.’Thus, we can conclude that abstract, is generally viewed as a form of art that does not depict anything that resembled the objective or material world; instead it represented new creations that very subjectively were expressions of the inner substance and the spirit of the artist and often through a profound spontaneity that brings out the inner world of the artist.So, abstract art, being the product of this very natural, uninhibited and unpremeditated impulse in the absence of any external stimulus, is intrinsic and belongs to the very basic nature and the make up of the artist, as the true influence behind his creations.As I evolved through my own representational art and became more acquainted with the history of art, I learned that abstract art had its roots in the very early dawn of human history when man began to draw on the walls of his cave. These early abstract arts, abstract drawings and abstract paintings – sometimes embellished with organic dyes – often attempted to capture the essential nature and the quality of the objects rather than the actual appearance of them.As the art historians and art critics formulated their opinions and ideas into prints, more esoteric terms spun off the subject under “non-objective art,” “non-representational art,” and “non-figurative art.” In the field of aesthetics, since none of the principles of creating art have been precisely formulated, this particular branch of humanities has its critics galore with many schools of divergent opinions and thoughts, where esoteric lectures and opinions are listened to with open jaws in lieu of reason, personal expressions suffers under the cloud of confusion.Centuries long before the birth of abstract expressionism in America, highly figurative arts had existed in the East, namely in the Islamic culture, where calligraphy also as a non-figurative art is taught as a subject starting sometimes as early as in primary schools, as great emphasis is placed upon the pupils’ acquiring and developing skills in calligraphy, as the art of handwriting.In the Western culture, abstract designs are found in many forms. But abstract arts are uniquely distinguished in composition form in relation to decorative art and fine art, where in abstract art, the results of creation, are spontaneous snapshots of the artist’s thoughts, emotions, and the introspection by which he creates his work of abstract art.Abstract Expressionism, as we know it today, was born in America in the mid 20th century following a massive exodus of the European avant- garde artists to New York City, making the city the center of the art world; a title that used to be held by Paris. The contemporary American artists were immensely influenced by the influx of this new talent that brought forth the very welcoming freedom of personal expression through the vehicle of spontaneity in the absence of the boundaries and limitations of conventional forms.The arrival of abstract expressionism in New York was the dawn of a new peaceful artistic revolution by which the artist began to rebel overtly against the status quo. He began a new era where he could freely create towards the future and change the existing scene for a better tomorrow.Some of the pioneers in abstract expressionism, such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, became synonymous with New York School and action painting as they played a significant role in what became deservedly known as avant-garde; a new realm of freedom for the artist to create and construct with an impulse that surmounted any rational and objective realm of reason.On the more textural side, Jackson Pollock began to re-arrange his easel and painted as he pleased, expressing himself by pouring the paint from within unto the canvas, as he felt. Pollock, as one of the most mavericks of the era, used also his body as an instrument to paint with, as he moved rapidly around his large canvases on the floor, spattering interlacing patterns of paint, like an emotional roller coaster, drawing the viewer into its rhythmic flow of motion, apparently into an infinity of space.In great contrast to Pollock, Barnett Newman’s color-field paintings, are open fields of vast empty spaces for the viewer to step into them and imagine what they wish to place in them.Now, for the sake of simplicity, we could categorize art into only representational art and abstract art. Representational art being what we instantly recognize in association to familiar objects, vs. abstract art that requires our thought to perceive the composition of the art and the comparison of our observation with the conclusions we have made in the past, in order to arrive in the immediate instance, where we are. Thus, in our observation of abstract art, the presence or the absence of any emotional responses, brought about as the result of understanding the abstract art, raises the question of, what is truly an abstract art and when does it become successful.Let’s imagine that we are looking at a representational art, a scenery where it depicts a mossy wooded area cloaked in a low fog with a cascading shallow stream running through it. We can all agree with what we are looking at, appreciate the quality of its beauty, and some of us become awestricken by its magic, and even feel the mist in the air and smell the moss. We like to look at it as a pleasant experience. We sense that it is peaceful, because it has the tendency to make us feel good. It helps us – even if it is for a brief moment – forget our troubles, and transforms our disturbances into a new level of calm, to the point that we could be there, in our imagination. We walk away from the painting and look at other paintings that does not produce the same thoughts and feelings, and we turn and look at it again and again, wanting to have more of the same pleasant experience. Pleasure is what we are experiencing.This is the emotional reaction we feel towards this very representational art that we fully understand. It communicated to us a certain message within the boundaries of its technical expertise, by which it was created. The technical expertise wasn’t the initial visual attraction, however. It was the message that it communicated to us visually, that attracted us. The virtuosity by which it was created becomes secondary to the significance of the message and the quality of its delivery. Although the message doesn’t have to have the same meaning for every viewer, it is the combination of both, the message and the technical expertise that brings about an understanding that causes the viewer to respond emotionally.From sketching and carving with sharp stones on the walls of his cave, to the magnificence of today’s technology, man has journeyed through an incredible evolution in the arts among many other dynamics of life. From those who have accepted the boundaries of their culture and environmental factors, have remained true and faithful to what they were permitted and expected to create in the form of various representational and figurative arts. But the more precocious, who had an awareness of higher form of existence and true potential, wanted to move beyond the obvious with no tolerance for suppression and entrapment. They became the visionaries who escaped and sought freedom of expression elsewhere, where the attainment of that freedom was possible.A great number of European artists and teachers such as Joseph Albers and Hans Hofmann moved to America in mid 20th century and made New York the new Art Center of the world by leaving Paris behind. They brought with them that very freedom of spontaneity to create paintings that became what we know today as abstract expressionism. As unique as our finger prints, each expression, became a new aesthetic signature to reckon with.However, the basic roots of the transition from representational art to abstract art and expressionistic paintings had begun to grow in the later part of the 19th century in the form of impressionist and neo-impressionists when art had begun to change its face, while still retaining a good degree of resemblance to what it meant to be; and by the time post-impressionism had arrived on the scene, the field of art had already gone through a noticeable change and well on its way towards a major transformation.Prior to the arrival of this new transformation, and certainly before post-impressionism, the artist was primarily engaged in the natural depiction of the landscape, rather than attempting to tap into the depth of his own emotions by way of his canvas, and connect to the psyche of his audience.Nothing is more powerful and significant than the birth and the power of a new idea. Nothing can or is capable of stopping an idea. Once an idea is conceived, it cannot be stopped, suppressed or harnessed; because an idea has no mass or form to occupy a physical space and become subjected to the opposing forces, and become vulnerable. A new idea, once conceived, takes on a life of its own, by being nurtured in the powerful lofts of imagination and carried forward in the arms of those who embrace it.Hans Huffman who became recognized as the father of the abstract expressionism has this to say: “An idea can only be materialized with the help of a medium of expression, the inherent qualities of which must be surely sensed and understood in order to become the carrier of an idea.” The idea of self-determinism, to permit oneself the ownership of freedom of expression is a luxury that is not for sale, but to attain; a faculty innately available to a few, but attainable by the masses. For some it arrives quickly, and the rest come to embrace it through hardship.The evolution of art from representational to abstract expressionism required a tremendous level of liberalism and acceptance by those whose help and economic support were instrumental in the survival level of the abstract expressionist painters.In an essay, very revealing of his philosophy of art, Johannes Itten says: “If new ideas are to assume any artistic forms, the physical, sensual, intellectual and spiritual forces must all be equally available and act in concert.” Truly speaking, Itten says what it takes to create a good artistic expression in terms of the wherewithal necessary to transmit an idea, which is something imagined, felt or pictured in the mind, into the canvas as a successful work of art, which can be sensed and understood by the viewer.This above criteria outlined by Itten in the early 20th century was a big philosophical bite that required lots of chewing and digestion before earning acceptance and support; so the abstract artists had to endure a very endearing plight in earning and preserving their livelihood.Before the arrival of the European pioneers and their fortitude, in bringing their very precious gift of abstract paintings, representational artists had no clue as to what freedom of artistic expression really meant to open the door into a new realm of practicing art, which opened a new door and an extension of their inner self.Faced with the sever opposition of the traditionalists who rejected change, the abstract artists began to express their soul, on their new canvases, with their own newly created rules. In the world of art, where art is traded as a luxury and not a necessity and dependent upon the discretionary money of a few, the arrival of the abstract art in general and in particular abstract expressionism threatened the axles on which the art market was pivoted.Change became inevitable, and traditionalists broke rank with futurists at the expense of the modern art; but the abstract expressionists became busily involved in experimenting and exploring the various physical entities and invented new tools by which they could apply paint to their canvases.Suddenly the conventional means by which the artist had painted changed into an ever-changing process of exploration, creation, experimentation, and more creations; each time giving birth to a new technique. The canvases, paints and the studio tools extended far beyond the boundaries of the artist’s studio and into the realm of collage and found objects.Jackson Pollock was the quintessential action painter, who struggled badly with acceptance, began to use his body as a painting instrument around his vast canvases laid out on the floor and danced with his splashes, drippings and spattering of paint; he developed and mastered the technique of action painting and enjoyed some of the sprouts of a great new fame and fortune before he fell victim to the demons of his culture at the ripe age of 42. He left a great legacy behind, which continued to inspire many abstract artists through the variety of great canvases which he left behind.This is what Pollock have said in part about his paintings: “It’s all a big game of construction, some with a brush, some with a shovel, some choose a pen. The method of painting is the natural growth out of need. I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them. It doesn’t matter how the paint is put on, as long as something is said. On the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more a part of the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the painting. The modern artist is working with space and time and expressing his feelings rather than illustrating. When I’m painting, I’m not aware of what I’m doing. It’s only after a get acquainted period that I see what I’ve been about. The painting has a life of its own. Every good painter paints what he is.”Another great artist and contemporary painter from the abstract expressionists group is Robert Rauschenberg. Rauschenberg created collages with found objects on the streets of New York City and defied every conceivable traditionalist’s rule as he progressed through his career, which became quite deservedly rewarding, earning him the recognition, notoriety and financial success in the past few decades. He later moved to, Florida to get away from New York City, where he continue to create his art on the quiet and affluent shores of Captiva Island.One of the most inspiring techniques of Rauschenberg worth remembering, is his concept of leaving enough to chance for the sake of discovery, where the artist enjoys the serendipity of unexpected happenstance.The two most prominent style of abstract expressionism, were the action painters engaging use of textures, spattering and drippings of paint throughout, gesturing the mood of the artist, and the color-field painters who expressed their work through the unified fields of color and shapes, while many other painters made use of both styles in their work.___________________________________________________________

We have an exciting opportunity as parents to create lasting health and happiness for our children and it starts with what we feed them.Experts believe that nutrition (the food we eat) is responsible for 80% or more of our health. That means that we can create health and wellness that will endure or we can create illness, chronic conditions and lifestyle diseases that set our kids up for a lifetime of struggle with health, misery and discomfort.What are you going to choose?The biggest challenge for parents who choose great health for their kids is sifting through the plethora of misinformation about what constitutes a healthy diet. If we are to rely on the information that is presented to us by government health representatives such as nurses or doctors, we are relying on their level of education, which is minimal or non-existent when it comes to nutrition, as well as other sources of information. These sources all have vested interests and profits stand to be made by someone.The food pyramid as we know it is not a reference upon which any food decisions should be made. There is now significant research that has shown that grain consumption and sugar contribute to poor health and yet these foods are recommended to be eaten multiple times daily. The reality for good health is significantly different, below is a blueprint to follow in choosing the foods to best nourish your child for optimal development, growth and health both physically and mentally.The primary nutrients needed by the body to support cellular health are quality fats and protein. These macronutrients support nerve and brain development, healthy bone formation and provide optimal nutrition for digestion and assimilation of nutrition.The ideal first foods for baby include organic liver (frozen for a minimum of 10 days then finely grated) combined with runny egg yolk that has been separated from the egg white after 3 minutes of cooking. Organic lambs brains are another good option as is quality bone broth. Bone broth contains superior nutrition in a form that is immediately available to the body for use making it very supportive of digestion and optimal development. I suggest bone broth be represented daily in the lives of all infants consuming solid foods and of all children and adults for optimal health.Vegetables well cooked in bone broth with the quality fats retained are another good option, avoiding the starchy vegetables such as potato until after 10 months or more and only if no health issues exist.The notion that rice cereal should be the first food is based on misinformation and has only been recommended for a few decades. The health of society over the last number of decades is getting exponentially worse. For a blueprint of great health we need to look to traditional societies and traditional wisdom to discover the secrets of people who enjoyed long lasting health and died of natural causes, something we rarely hear of these days thanks to our own lifestyle choices.To understand why certain foods should be avoided as first foods we need to understand an infant’s digestive development processes which all point to quality fats and proteins as ideal first foods.A child is born with immature gastrointestinal lining. This is essentially the same thing as leaky gut, a condition of impaired immunity and gut function. The first 12 months of life sees this system evolve and develop and provided with the right support this process will happen optimally or in the face of challenges it can set the child up for poor health and lifetime of immune challenges, the foundations of chronic and fatal conditions.With the gut as it is in an infant, the ideal scenario is to support that maturation and development, the cells in the gut require fat and protein (as these nutrients are the foundation for every cell in the body and the majority of the cells in the body are found in the gut). This points to the significance and importance of the gut, if 90% of the cells of the body belong to the gut flora and 85% of the body’s immune cells reside there, shouldn’t the vast majority of the things we do to support our health focus on preserving the health on that environment?The foods that challenge a less than optimal gut, an infant’s gut, are sugars of all kinds including complex carbohydrates. These are foods that should not be introduced first and these comprise all grains and legumes, and all refined and processed foods. I believe there is a place for grains in a healthy diet but only if they are appropriately prepared through soaking or fermentation, and only down the track for a child entirely based on their level of health.Grain consumption is not appropriate for any child with any acute or chronic health issue.With first foods that are based on quality fats and proteins, maximum nutrition will be derived from the foods eaten and optimal development will be supported. Minerals need fat to be properly absorbed and healthy fats are crucial to support every cell in the body, as are proteins.To understand more about what it takes to create lasting health and happiness for your child visit http://www.realhealthykids.com to buy the book and join our weekly newsletter with relevant and current information and research and tasty recipes.

If you are looking for quality, excellence and innovation in branded furniture designs, then Ashley Furniture Direct is your best bet. Offering creative solutions to improve your quality of living, they have an unbeatable and extensive range of furniture and home furnishing items for you to choose from.You want your home to be furnished in your individual style with classy brand name furniture which will be durable and enhance the beauty of your home. Furnishing your home has now become convenient, enjoyable as well as affordable. You can choose from among all ranges, designs or prices for any room in your house at any Ashley Furniture outlet in your area. Current, classic, traditional and contemporary designs are available for discerning customers’ selection, nationwide.Variety Of ChoiceAshley Furniture has a luxurious and elegant range of home furniture for different purposes. High standards and quality within planned budgets are the reasons you will love to shop at branded furniture outlets.The variety includes and is not limited to;* Living Room Furniture: This is a very important part of your home décor and should be carefully selected. There are sofas, loveseats, occasional tables, recliners and entertainment centers among the variety available. Leather, superior furnishing fabric, wood and metal are used in the various designs of sofas, tables and other furnishings for your interior space. You will find everything you require in beautiful colors and design.* Dining Room Furniture: Good dining room fittings enhance the entire look of your dining area and give a feeling of comfort and warmth. Whether you want a traditional old fashioned cottage look or contemporary styles, you can find it at Ashley Furniture Direct. There are buffets, tables and chairs in rustic country styles made of wood, metal with tiles and many other ranges available.* Bedrooms: The bedroom is a private area where you spend a lot of time when you sleep and also when you are awake. You need furniture that is comfortable, pleasant and makes you feel welcome and cozy. Ashley Furniture has all your requirements from bed linen to beds, mattresses, chests, armoires, dressers and mirrors in a variety of materials and designs.* Home Accessories: You need various items to design and furnish your home interiors. These items include lamps, rugs, bars, curio cabinets, cushions, throws, curios, candle stands, display cabinets among others. You can select all this and much more from Ashley Furniture Direct which has an amazing variety in designs.To buy Ashley Furniture, you can find the nearest store by clicking on their website map. To know more about pricing, visit your nearest furniture store. You have a delightful selection which includes Cottage, Contemporary, Old World, Rustic, or Traditional Classics, Youth and Metro Modern designs in home furnishings.When you buy branded furniture designs from Ashley Furniture Direct, you will find assembly instructions included in the packing. Get quality home furnishings at incredibly low prices to suit your budget and interior design ideas for your home. You are assured of safety, value and quality when you decide on selecting designs for your home fittings from this top brand name in furnishings.

The summer might be over, but families are perpetually on the lookout of perfect family vacation resorts, where they can enjoy the sand, surf and the sun while spending a lot of quality time with each other. Thanks to the outburst in holiday destinations, resorts that cater to the entire family while providing a host of family friendly activities all year round are in abundance. The following are some factors which should be considered before booking your ideal resort retreat.Ideas for choosing the ideal family vacation resortHaving a lot of fun and making unique memories is the main aim for those who are on their way to experience a resort. Many top vacation resorts offer family oriented accommodation, however they differ in the kind of activities offered and affordability. Even though it is not usually considered, safety is important when hunting for a family vacation resort, especially for families that are holidaying with children. Childproofing is an important practice when traveling with children to a resort.Luxury resorts boast pools and play playgrounds to keep your children perpetually entertained and busy. Education tours, art workshops, sports camps, private babysitting and various amenities for babies and kids like strollers, step stools etc are modern day facilities provided at contemporary top family vacation resorts. Attractive activities geared towards keeping the kids entertained are a direct product of opulent family vacation resort. These days luxury family vacation resorts also provide with dining establishments that specifically cater to kids. Modern day luxury family vacation resorts are the perfect destination for a family who wishes to be entertained while creating incredible memories for their kids. Expect some of the best holidaying activities while experiencing your ideal vacation.For all those who would opt for more economical and affordable resorts, the opulent packages of educational tours and camps can be avoided but it is still important to consider safety as a top priority. Make sure your resort has amenities which are childproof and packages that allow parents and the kids to reside in the same room. All recreational areas, including swimming pools, must come with ample security as well as round the clock life guards around all water activities. Many family vacations now provide with special menu for kids, which particularly aim at providing the best in nutritional benefits. Make sure your holiday package provides you with this as optional. As much as you may enjoy five star dinning, it may not bode just as well with your toddlers palate.Make sure you book your resort holiday package well in advance to get the best deals form your preferred holiday establishment. Many organizations plan complete round trips which include travelling, accommodation, sightseeing and meals to international resort destinations. Fusing you family vacation resort with an international holiday package is a unique experience, one you will forever hold dear.In the end, to pick and choose on a eventual family vacation resort destination can be a daunting task, thanks to the many options on provision. However, considering primary requirements like safety, food and entertainment can help narrow down on the final decision. To make matters even easier, take advice from a friend or close colleague who has been to such a vacation before.