Graphic Novels – Ten of the Best for Any Christmas
Nov 3rd, 2010 by Aldouspi

graphic novel
by mySAPL

Graphic Novels – Ten of the Best for Any Christmas

Thanks to the surge in interest for comics and graphic novels, due to films such as The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk and Watchmen film adaptation, many people are turning to the painted page in search of the perfect Christmas gift. Getting into graphic novels can be extremely daunting due to the sheer number of available titles, so here’s a run-down of ten of the best graphic novels of all time. These are title which fans new and old should have in their collections. These are amongst the finest examples of the genre’s art and writing and the comics industry as a whole. They are presented here for your edification in no particular order.

Watchmen – Widely acknowledged as the greatest graphic novel of all time, and certainly the bestselling book to hit comics shelves. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created something so monumental that it has been a bestseller for almost two decades, not to mention spawning the most anticipated film of 2009.

V for Vendetta – Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s original graphic novel that inspired another hit movie. A moving and gripping masterpiece that is considered one of the genre’s landmarks.

Marvels – The beautifully painted artwork of Alex Ross was the perfect accompaniment to Kurt Busiek’s flawless script in this superb book. A unique and near perfect exploration of the Marvel Universe’s early years.

Kingdom Come – Alex Ross also supplied the artwork for DC’s incredible alternate future story. Complex and engrossing, Kingdom Come, written by Mark Waid, cemented Ross as one of the true stars of the comics medium.

Civil War – The biggest event to rock the Marvel Universe in years. Hero faced off against hero as the debate over the superhero registration act spilled over into violence. A truly monumental thriller, which saw writer Mark Millar take the core Marvel characters to a new level of drama.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (10th Anniversary Edition) – Frank Miller transformed the comics industry, and more specifically the character of Batman, with this seminal graphic novel. Batman has been retired for ten years, and Bruce Wayne once more takes on the mantle of the Bat in order to take on a new breed of villains.

Maus – This is a unique memoir by Art Spiegelman, presented as a graphic novel, which thirteen years to complete. It recounts the struggle of Spiegelman’s father to survive the Holocaust as a Polish Jew told in a stark black and white story featuring stylized cats and mice.

Preacher Vol. 9: Alamo – The multi-volume DC Vertigo series PREACHER is one of contemporary comics’ greatest works. Written by Garth Ennis and featuring gorgeous art by Steve Dillon with covers by Glen Fabry, it is a harrowing and gripping tale of redemption, religion and vampire hicks.

Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1 – A fascinating, multi-part epic following the misadventures of Yorick, the last man on Earth, and his monkey. A deeply moving examination of a very dark future indeed.

Batman: The Killing Joke – Currently the most sought-after Batman title published. This stunning one-shot provided some of the source material for the mega hit movie The Dark Knight, and features a typically sparkling script by Alan Moore and sleek art from 2000 ad star Brian Bolland.

These are just some of the groundbreaking trade paperback graphic novels that have enthralled comics fans all over the world, and have cemented the comics industry as a force to be reckoned with. The impact of these works is huge, and has seen the genre move from being a niche interest to an entertainment and literature phenomenon in recent years. There are countless others to enjoy, but these are tsome of the best and would make a good starting point for your Christmas gift list. Happy reading!

Andrew Hawnt is an expert on popular culture, movies, TV, comics and graphic novels, movie collectibles and more. He writes for the famous Starstore blogs and the popular movie collectibles site www.starstore.com as well as being a renowned music journalist and science fiction author. For the latest news, free newsletters, podcasts and more, check out ===> http://starstoreblog.com —- Article from articlesbase.com


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Watercolor Painting Fun For Kids
Sep 15th, 2010 by Aldouspi

watercolor kid

Watercolor Painting Fun For Kids

Many parents buy their kids a simple watercolor set as young as six years old to make painting as easy learning experience for them. Aside from instilling the value of art appreciation, parents encourage their kids to paint using watercolors for many good reasons. Watercolor painting fun for kids can teach them the value of resourcefulness, creativity, patience, and perseverance.

Getting Started

Next to using crayons, kids are very fond of using watercolors when painting. Aside from being an enjoyable activity that kids can share with their parents, painting using watercolor can also be one of those activities they can share with their playmates and friends.

But, before you get too excited in teaching your kids the beauty of watercolor painting, there are some things you need to consider:

1. Interest. The first thing to consider when encouraging your kids to get into watercolor painting is their interest in the craft. If your child is one of those who are into art and into drawing or collecting pretty images, then she or he is the perfect candidate for the activity. This is because she/he already has the drive and the creativity to create another masterpiece. But if your child is not yet interested in crafts and arts, it doesn’t mean he/she cannot indulge into watercolor painting. You may just need to take a different approach with the thought that this is the perfect time to introduce him/her into a new world of exciting and enjoyable activity. The world of art that he or she may not have noticed before.

2. Space. Aside from the desire of your child to explore art, another thing you need to consider is the availability of space where your kids can do the activity. Since watercolor painting can require a lot of materials, you will need a space big enough for them to sprawl out and to scatter the materials they will use for watercolor painting. It is advisable that you provide a space where kids can do their watercolor painting and a place where they can leave their stuff.

3. Availability and cost of supplies. You also need to take into account the amount of materials and the cost of supplies your child will need. Since you are about to teach him or her basic watercolor painting, you will need a basic set of paints and pigments, brushes, papers, palette and water. These items are not too expensive, but knowing your budget will make shopping for these items easier.

Since you will be the one teaching your child about watercolor painting, it would be best if you are familiar with art at some level. This maybe a great opportunity for you to learn watercolor painting on your own. When your child sees you doing the activity, he or she will be influenced in engaging into the craft.

One way to learn the basics of watercolor painting is to take a crash course online. Aside from the basic techniques in watercolor painting, you can also learn painting tips and application methods. By enrolling to an online watercolor painting class, you can also be introduced to different styles and modern techniques.

The length of the various watercolor painting courses available depends on your knowledge about the craft and how much more would you want to learn. But, basic online courses for watercolor painting usually last from four days up to one week. Then, you will be asked to complete the rest of the exercises at home.

But no matter where you are at personally with watercoloring… Introducing your kids to the art of watercolor painting can be fun for you as well as for them.


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