SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Our digital world is expanding every minute. The pandemic has forced us apart in the physical world, so we turn to online spaces to connect. The emergence of “Positive Technologies” has risen; these programs seek to provide personal enrichment. Online spaces aim to foster self efficacy, gratitude, community, and social connection. Over the past year, millions of people around the globe tuned in to internet broadcasts. We are finding new ways to stay connected and motivated.
Studies have proven that virtual learning provides fulfillment and happiness. We learn how to manage stress and open our minds to new possibilities. The future of technology gives the user more control to strengthen their creativity and life management skills.
The Director’s Chair is one of the newest features added to Curious Mondo’s art classes. With this tool, you control our live art classes! Watch the Editor’s View to follow the class with our live editors. Or you can switch between three different camera angles throughout the show. Use our Top View, Side View, or Mobile Camera to get the best shot. Switch it up to stay engaged and focused during the show. You can even open more than one camera angle to view at once! Watch a three-dimensional view of our guest artist so you never miss a single detail.
We always offer a live chat during our classes, so creatives can come together to discuss art and techniques. At Curious Mondo, we empower and connect artists around the globe. The Director’s Chair allows creatives to pilot their viewing experience. Join us to watch for free in over 30 countries at CuriousMondo.com!
And I’m in a fold under, so was just double checking that I want it kind of facing this way a little bit. So just folding under the, the top and pressing that down. Just making sure that it’s facing the right direction. And you want to make sure that’s nice and attached and then enrolling it down. So it’s kind of like the arm on a teacup or something, and then press it down. And then you kind of look at it from the side and make sure that it’s not squished down such that you can’t get your wire through. So I think I’ve got plenty of room. And I’m trying not to ruin my texture on there too much.
“So the next thing to do is go around and bend them over on top of themselves, all of them, because you’re breaking that fiber down. You can see I’m doing it, two handed. Now what happens if one of them breaks? They won’t at this point in time, I made sure that these, and if I had one that was kind of wimpy or something, then somewhere down in here, I would have replaced it with a more substantial piece I would have noticed. The key here to avoid the breakage is in the rehydration and that fabric’s offer was helped soften it. So just going to continue around here.”
“And we’re just going to do a little piece, right about in the front there. This is a quarter-inch cable cord. And it doesn’t really matter if it’s nylon or something like that. It tends to really frame the stuff around the edges once you cut it. So I go in there with a little bit of hot glue and stop the firing and I get my fingers in a little water to avoid the pain. And then we can just go roll that around. Nice and neatly there. So a lip that will go right about there. That’s a little big, I think I’ll just get to take a little off the side there. It doesn’t need to be very big. So I, use rope for creating thing, little accents, like lips and, wrinkles. If I want to do it like a wrinkly forehead on something rope works really great for that.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Learning a new skill can be daunting. Studies show that adults and children learn better when they’re having fun!
Nick Pelling coined the term ‘gamification’ in 2002. This means adding game elements to a process to increase engagement and enjoyment. Applying game mechanics engages viewers and motivates them to reach their goals. It also makes their goals more structured, solid, and achievable. Gamifying makes learning easier and more fun!
Gamification aids education in a few ways. Adding elements like points systems and leveling up encourages learners to reach achievements. Social interaction within the game provokes friendly competition. Leaderboards help track achievements and provide recognition for hard work. Rewards, like badges, encourage players to complete objectives. These don’t only drive engagement and entertainment; they are also proven to increase knowledge retention.
Curious Mondo is using these ideas to create a brand new, interactive look! We know that learners learn best when they’re having fun, so we’re adding cool new game components to our art classes. Viewers will be able to interact with the class, earn badges, and level up. We’re also introducing player control. Students can sit in the virtual ‘Director’s Chair’ and choose 4 different camera angles to watch during the show. Curious Mondo is the first and only virtual art class in the United States to incorporate gamification.
At Curious Mondo, we are always looking for innovative ways to share art with adults around the world. We stream live art classes for FREE, featuring professional guest instructors. To see our exciting new updates, go to CuriousMondo.com! Come see our artists teach stunning skills in an updated and entertaining format.
“When you go buy these at a flower shop or a craft store, you have different gauge of wire, the 18 gauge. So the way I see, I just pinched the package, the packet a little bit, because you have very soft ones. So I see if there is any resistance. And there is quite a bit, so I want that because again, it’s heavy, right? The glass is happy. So I want that. Now there is the 16. The problem is, sometimes you don’t find it. The 16 is even better than this one because it’s very sturdy. It makes it easier for us to make the flowers. I need to have some weight. If I had a lighter gauge, the moment I put the flower here, it starts root, right? It doesn’t stay. Even with this one. Sometimes many times I bend them to make it sturdier.”
“So I’m going to do a, say a stripe here, kind of like a Y shaped stripe in the middle and then another stripe, right by the tail. So I’ll start with that. Y shaped one. And just do exactly that. I know I’m not in the center of the tile, but okay. So I’m just gonna cut out a Y. This may not be long enough. Let’s let’s check it out. Actually. Hope nobody’s noticing how rusty my blades are. I was just going to go on there, kind of like that, and I’m going to trim those edges off so that it looks like it’s going around his back and then I’ll do another stripe.”
Salt Lake City, UT – The process of creation is an important tool for stress relief. Creating art allows us to express emotions that are too powerful for words. It helps us work through issues and feel better about ourselves.
Psychiatric circles have long used Art Therapy to help people express themselves. Creating an image about an issue allows the person to distance themselves and gain clarity. Creativity causes a relaxed state, which can allow a person to access buried memories. Art is a safe way to explore difficult emotions within boundaries and structure.
Crafting art can boost self image as well. Making something unique provides a sense of accomplishment and control. It empowers the creative, giving them individual choice and freedom. Making a piece of art is a problem solving process, which teaches better coping skills in life. Putting an emotion into a physical form can also offer catharsis.
The world we live in now has made it difficult to connect with artists physically. With many feeling isolated and alone, artistry is even more essential to us. Art provides an escape to a freer space. Making art connects us to other times, places, and cultures. It has the power to provide a link between people across the globe, who would never have met otherwise. The internet has proven to be an essential vehicle for sharing art.
Curious Mondo’s goal is to empower creatives around the world to make more art. The company’s founder, Shahar Boyayan, commented, “I love making art. It gives my brain time to buffer, forget about the problems of the day, and focus on creating something beautiful.” This is the spirit that Curious Mondo hopes to share with the world. To join us for free, live art classes, go to CuriousMondo.com.
Join mixed media artist and author, Rogene Mañas for a fun 3-day online workshop creating dimensional wall art with paper clay. Create bas-relief images that have the look of carved wood and leave people wondering how they were made. Paper clay is an easy-to-use, air-dried clay that holds amazing detail, is non-toxic, and does not require baking or firing. It comes out of the pack ready-to-use and is available at most art supply and craft stores. This unique and innovative process is fun, flexible and forgiving, making it perfect for beginning and advanced students alike. Another amazing art course online!
Do you have unused items hidden away in your closets? Or maybe an old dresser that is falling apart? Instead of letting your items go to waste, why not attempt an upcycling project? Upcycling is a process that takes old, unused materials and refashions them into something new and usable.
To help you get started, Redfin reached out to experts across North America, from San Jose, CA to Calgary, AB, including us, to share our best upcycling projects. From repurposing old glass bottles to transforming old metal grating, keep reading to see what we had to say.
1) Thrift outdoor lighting to improve your home’s aesthetic
Why spend upwards of up to $300 on new light fixtures when you can do it for a fraction of the cost? I thrifted two identical outdoor light fixtures for $7.99 each. I didn’t like the grey metal they came with but loved the shape and style. But with one can of spray paint and an hour of work, I had two brand-new-looking outdoor light fixtures. – A Wandaful Thing
2) Create beautiful garden art with old glass bottles
Take old glass bottles and upcycle them into beautiful and long-lasting garden art. These offbeat and quirky house numbers were made from recycled wine bottles and add lots of personality to your home. – Curious Mondo
3) Use stencils to paint designs
One of the easiest ways to update your home is with stencils and paint. Not only can you use stencils to create a modern accent wall, but you can also use them on furniture, pillows, and old ceramic flooring. Instead of ripping up old tiles and replacing them, you can paint and stencil right over them for an updated look. – One Handy Momma
4) Install a plate wall to elevate your space
Do you have vintage plates or family heirloom china hiding in storage? Plate walls are one of the easiest, most impactful, and eco-friendly upcycling projects you can do to elevate any space in your home. Give new life to these old treasures by arranging and hanging them on your wall. – The Brooklyn Teacup
5) Turn scrap wood into new furniture
Do you have old wood furniture taking dust in the basement or attic? A bit of unscrewing, sanding, and cutting can give you enough wood to create your dream desk, shelves, or a bench without spending a penny. Seal your new creation with hemp oil and add a touch of color by mixing in some earth pigments or applying a few layers of milk paint. You’ll end up with a stunning eco-friendly and VOC-free finish. – Marianne Faguy
6) Repurpose an old metal grating to create storage
A broken laundry cart was used as vertical storage by mounting it to the wall. You can also use clothespins to make it a message board or add curtain clips with hooks to hang small things like paint tubes. Empty plastic gelato containers clipped in a row and along the bottom keep pens, pencils, paper clips, and scissors tidy and organized. – Crossing Light Studio
7) Transform the mood of a room with a mural
While not everyone is able to commit to painting a wall with a bold mural, painting the design on larger pieces of furniture instead of a wall is a great way to achieve the same effect without the commitment. I like to stack pine cabinets to create a large, flat surface for painting, but a mural can go on any piece of furniture. – EC Mazur
8) Use tempered glass to create new furniture pieces
Over the last fifty years, I developed several ways to use reclaimed tempered glass to make tables, countertops, light fixtures, and sculptures – all done using no heat or large machines. – Silastial Glass Art
9) Swap plants with family, friends, and neighbors
Ask your gardening neighbors and kin if they’d like to swap cuttings or plants that can be easily rooted or divided and transplanted – like hydrangeas, hosta, ferns, and Lenten Roses. Then the next time you walk through your outdoor spaces you can think of them and find greater enjoyment in these deeply rooted relationships. – Redeem Your Ground
10) Use old books to create a floating book wall
Upcycling is a way to create original objects with a history and provide your interior a special touch by giving old objects a new function. You could use old books as support for a stunning floating book wall. – UpcycleDZINE
11) Install durable, low-carbon concrete
Utilize CO2-enhanced concrete additives in any concrete used inside or outside of the home which is made of waste powder feedstocks and CO2 that would have otherwise been emitted into the atmosphere. The low-carbon concrete looks and feels the same as traditional concrete, but is stronger and more durable so you can build with greener, stronger, and more durable concrete. – Carbon Upcycling Technologies
12) Create your own cleaning solution with unused fruit
If you like the smell of citrus and love a clean home look no further than orange peels. You can create your own cleaning solution with orange, lime, or lemon peels by adding them to a jar, covering them with distilled white vinegar, closing the lid, and waiting a week (or more for a more intense smell). Once ready, pour the cleaning solution where needed, and you can now clean with your favorite scent. – Jali Fruit Co.
Bonus: Turn spare PET bottles into jewelry
You only need PET bottles (bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate), a candle, accessories, and wires/hooks. Cut them into shapes, heat them using candle heat to bend & shape them, and assemble them together with your flavor of accessory parts. – Upcycle with Jing
