Artisan Mall

In the old times people spent a lot more time looking at the sky and searching for the answer to their various problems and preoccupations among the stars. Almost any culture abounds in myths, legends and stories about stars. At the time, people could name a star according to the symbolism or meaning they attached to it. (more…)

The modern re-inventing of an old tattoo, the red nautical star has a history of at least one hundred years. Sailors found their way on the sea guiding themselves by the Southern Cross and the Northern Star; as long as one of these two was visible, knew their directions. Sailors would therefore tattoo nautical stars on their arms most of the times out of superstition, and to increase chances to get home safe. (more…)

The beauty of a shooting star crossing the night sky is undeniable, but while for some people this is very romantic, for others it just suggests a bad omen. The perception of the shooting star in different parts of the world is both varied and suggestive. Thus, westerners commonly make a wish when they see a falling star, while in other traditions, any shooting star represents a sign that someone dies. (more…)

It is almost within the memory of living men, even in the West, that direct barter was the chief method of trade. Goods were exchanged between 2 parties and that was completion of it. But locating someone who wanted to exchange eggs for bread or shoes for butter is of a problem and results in some spoiled loaves. (more…)

As with all artists and crafts people, pet portrait artists are a thrifty group and, if they can save some money by making their own materials, they definately will. As with paints, pastels can be very expensive to buy and the best ones always seem to run out more quickly however, it is possible to make your own at a fraction of the price of shop bought ones. It is also possible to achieve better results, often manufactured pastels lack the intermediate greys, grey-greens and the half-tone required for rendering flesh colours. (more…)

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