Vintage Car Museums



Vintage cars have always had an appealing allure to vintage car collectors. This is because of the fact that these cars have had a rich history that has influenced much of what has happened over the last a hundred years. Such world changing events like the World War 1 and 2 as well as the coming of the industrial age used cars especially, as a means of transportation. Moving 100 years ahead to our time, cars have seen a major revolution. Recent advances have turned cars from what they used to be, means of transportation to full-featured machines that come installed with the latest gadgetry.

Classic car museums however give each and everyone a glimpse into the world of vintage cars. These museums give one a unique and spectacular journey into the automobile evolution as well as its impact to our current period. One of these is the Petersen Automotive Museum. This museum takes one into an entirely new existence that started just 100 hundred years ago when the mass production of cars begun. The museum has a number of exhibits, one of them being the Treasures of the Vault Gallery. This gallery expected to run until mid 2009 contains some of the most important vehicles to ever assembled. Pit Crew docents will highlight the stories that lie behind these exotic automobile collections. Tours are offered to families, car clubs and to social groups on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. The Art Wall Gallery also part of Petersen, showcases cartoon masterpieces of the lowrider car. The depictions are beautifully done with lifestyle themes that feature skeletons, graffiti and tattoos all done in an urban lifestyle atmosphere.

The museum tries to bring the motor sport community together by organizing events that feature sports cars, automotive art and classics all of which will leave vintage car lovers entertained and having a better understanding of the vintage car history. One of these is the celebration of the 1934 Ford 75th anniversary on early in 2009. This roadster show will display hot rods never before seen as they are unveiled for the first time. An Italian motorcycle collection is also expected to be open in mid 2009. These shows will definitely offer all viewers a closer look into classic cars and their lasting glitter. These events are also excellent opportunities to see cars unveiled that have never been shown the public by private car owners and vintage collectors.

The Northwest Vintage Car & Motorcycle Museum is comprised of vintage trucks and car enthusiasts and is open to various people that either, own a vintage car and those that do not. The museum's newsletter was voted the best automotive division 1 newsletter in the US by the National Association of Automotive Museums. Undoubtedly, this reflects well on the Museum's collections. The museum will especially appeal to car enthusiasts and visitors looking to see cars 25 years old and above. These are just some of the many museums that have kept the vintage line of cars alive.

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A Lovely Short Trip to Venice



It was early afternoon and the Romanian Professor and I had a lovely lunch on the veranda of this restaurant on the east side of Venice. My Canadian colleague just called me on my cell to tell me that he is ready to join us, we were close to Calle Varisco and Calle Stella and our friend was coming from Palazo Ducale where he was visiting all morning with other conference participants. Not far away, but in Venice? You travel by boat, nothing is moving fast... This place makes you a believer in fairy tales. Cars are banned, so the only way to move around the 1,500 year old city is by foot or on the water.

We were on our 4th day of this 'time off', for the 1st 3 days we were in a Conference in Bologna named 'The Future of Global Automotive Engineering' invited by the organizers from the Canadian Automotive Institute, it was the beginning of December, there were 11 Canadians invited in this Conference of approximate 380 people from all over the world. Pretty big! It was organized by a consortium of Automobile Manufacturers and it was mostly theoretical meaning that we were presented with theories and opinions of the Engineers representing the Organizers. It was pretty cool nevertheless, we saw some remarkable presentations about our profession.

Much to my surprise that I was invited to this Conference, I am a Tooling Designer owning my Engineering Company in Southern Ontario and a member of several Automotive Associations and... I am glad that I am close to retirement because our Industry in North America is decimated by the competition, mostly Chinese, Asian, South American. Not that they are better than us, they've never been and I don't think they will ever be better, just that they are working for something like 10 to 20% of the prices we charge in North America. This is one of the reasons this Conference was organized for, to look for ways to stay competitive... God help us! Oh, but enough of our troubles, let's get to the purpose of this short article.

Some of us decided to use this chance of being in Italy and go visit some cities around for few days after the Conference. Today was Thursday, we were three guys coming to Venice in a rented car on Highway A13, this was our first day in Venice.

These days a lot of places claim to be "the Venice of..." For example, cities claiming to be "the Venice of the north" include Amsterdam, St. Petersburg, Russia and there are others. But there is only one Venice. And it is beautiful.
Founded in the 5th century and spread over 118 small islands, Venice became a major maritime power in the 10th century. The whole city is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building contains works by some of the world's greatest artists such as Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and others. The physical remnants of the time when Venice was at the heart of a great trading empire are everywhere. There are grand palaces designed to impress visiting dignitaries and magnificent paintings of daily life in the galleries. Cobbled alleys lead to stone bridges over canals so narrow there is barely room for one of the brightly painted gondolas to pass through. The network of islands feels like one big, creaky, aging, ambitious trading ship, tethered to port, but still ready to conquer the world. La Serenissima, (the most serene one), is filled with palaces and art, fine shopping and excellent food. Relax in Piazza San Marco, at Palazo Ducale, visit the basilicas, drink a bellini at Harry's Bar and wander the alleyways and bridges.

Consider an off-season trip to have more of the city to yourself. Now this is important, if you appreciate art you should visit in the winter or early spring or late fall like we did. In the summer time everywhere in Italy there are just too many tourists around, you wait in line for most things.

The Professor had worked in Venice for a while and knew the hidden gardens and galleries. And so we wandered. And admired. The physical surroundings at least.

It must not be easy to live in Venice. It is like trying to live in an amusement park. Your corner café is clogged with transient tourists and poorly trained tour guides stand outside your window shouting historical nonsense to bored couples who just want it to be over with so they can go buy some Murano glass. This will describe the American tourist pretty well, won't it...?!

That's the only reason I can think of for why the Venetians can be so, err, unhelpful. I watched as tourists were seemingly deliberately given wrong directions and a limping man with a cane was left standing on the rocking commuter boat, with no one willing to give him a seat. The tourists were no more considerate, treating the town like a hotel room someone will clean up later.

Yes, the city of Venice was one of the most beautiful I'd ever seen, but the stress of the human interactions quickly got to me. After yet another unhappy encounter the Professor and I had given up and were trying to find a boat back to the train when we met with two of my Canadian colleagues. We all wonder a little further and the Professor finds a local restaurant that he knew about, a little out of the tourist path, very charming, we all eat and argue politics.
We covered everything from climate change's effect on Venice, to the most delicious local cakes. Given enough time (the two colleagues had some engagements) I'm sure we could have solved the world's problems. Or at least, with the Professor's help, predicted them. It was one of those perfect moments, when travel not only makes sense, it seems like the only thing worth doing.
This trip to Venice showed me, yet again, that the most beautiful city doesn't leave as much of an impression as the warmest hearth. It was close to mid December now and the Christmas preparations were in full swing. And the music of Christmas...! Truly believe to be the most beautiful moments of creation of the human race. Why the humanity put so much feeling in a religious holiday. It is truly wonderful!
We all went back to our families with the promise to come back to this ancient and historic city.

Exploring The Types Of Live Theatres



Once upon a time, long before big silver screens, loud speakers and special effects, people flocked to theatres to catch a show. Live theatre goes back a long way. One can travel back in time through the centuries and discover the works of Eugene O'Neill in the, Oscar Wilde, Matthew Lewis, Moliere, Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. Live theatre goes back even further to such attractions as Commedia dell'arte in 1500s Italy.

Today, theatre is still alive and well. Broadway in New York City and London England's theatre districts are among the famous places to catch a show. While it lost some steam somewhere in the late twentieth century, theatre has made a comeback by offering new and exciting scripts and large set pieces on extravagant stage settings as well as smaller theatres performing experimental scripts and scripts that tackle tough topics of today.

There are a few types of theatres you can attend. These run from a small community theatre in your neighborhood to a large Broadway stage. You can also choose from a little black box theater, regional theater, summer stock and shows performed on the go.

A community theatre is generally made up of volunteers who perform on a local level. The actors in these shows are not paid for their time and are instead donating their time for the benefit of the community's cultural well being as well as to practice the skills as they hope to move on to paying gigs eventually. Other folks just love the stage and want to be active in this art.

Summer stock is as the name suggests. Usually a company will run a series of shows during the summer months only. Often, the same cast members are used in all the shows and it gives audiences a chance to get familiar with the actors as they continue to see them all summer long. Some summer stock theaters are members of the actors' union, known as "Equity". Others are not and some will hire union member actors as guest artists to help draw crowds.

Guest artists can be hired to work at non union theaters, as long as they are paid. So while you won't find union members at a community theatre, you may find one pretty much anywhere else. Regional theatres as well as local professional companies will often use a combination of union and non union actors. These actors are generally all professionals, whether members of the union or not.

Regaining popularity is the so called black box theater. It gets its name from the fact that there is usually no or little set dressing and props are used but only when necessary. Lighting plays a key role in such a setting. And of course, script and acting are the main focus. The idea behind a black box is to attack serious scripts and keep the audience locked in on the words being said and not getting distracted by fancy set pieces and wide open spaces. A black box is often described as "intimate".

You may find theatre being performed just about anywhere. Traveling companies may utilize space provided by bigger theaters. Shows may pop up in warehouses, art galleries or museums. Restaurants may host performances. Live theatre is so much a part of the history of humanity. No matter what type of venue you attend, the outcome will be enrichment for you as well as the artists working there.


The Unique Pop Art Portraits World: Impact And Inspiration Together With Astounding American Culture



The domination associated with common culture inside the 1950s seems to have not only enthused men and women to purchase what is popular and to really encourage the majority to match the new traits in music and fashion - popular culture has also significantly inspired painters and artists in participating in an art movement that inevitably grew to become known as Pop Art. This specific art movement questioned the common approaches of fine arts and used the expansive products enjoyed by an incredible percentage of the world's public, which usually included entities which are usually the topic of adverts and items of marketing and advertising. The composition of Pop is centred on separating a particular topic from its known context and in some works of art, mixed with several other items for analysis. This specific form of art is not just following the gratitude of an exceptional masterpiece, but about how viewers will react and also be influenced by its class and deep impressions.

Pop Art portraits exhibit an effect received from Dadaism, an art movement that started in Zürich, Switzerland in 1916 and lasted until 1922. The use of illustrations or photos and objects that may be seen and touched are thoughts of Dadaism and when joined with irony, results in Pop. The appearance of this art movement has done away with the highbrow idea in imaginative works of art via the use of common and inexpensive elements received from distinct cultures. Pop transcends the limitations involving high and low art, dealing with institutional art by means of the use of a wide variety of less academic themes and setting up a brand new standard for art quality. Pop Art portraits are often created by means of the enactment of diverse mechanical techniques in both rendering and also reproduction. Though the themes of Pop are extremely uncomplicated and usually considered as entertainment, the imaginative underpinnings are often tough to understand and so are frequently designed to mock and condemn particular problems and subjects within the world, which in turn result in its powerful effects on the art market.

Popular culture is always following customers and huge devotees of what's hot and what's interesting. The 1950s was always a great opportunity for an excellent variety of artists to make use of pictures which are observed by everybody in their every day activities. This particular period also is an occasion of aspiration in Britain, succeeding the final chapters of war-time rationing and also leading to a profound boost in asset ingestion. This period likewise represents the development of the word "Pop" by way of the British critic Lawrence Alloway to consult the artworks centering on products which has obtained massive awareness. The goods of mass culture rooting from the works of the professional society are inexhaustible resources for Pop Art portraits and up until now, this valuable type of art continues to impact a fantastic volume of people. Pop has been triumphant over Abstract Expressionism which was reigning within the USA and Europe throughout the nineteen fifties and sixties. The greatest Pop event presented within the Sidney Janis Gallery in 1962 developed the existence of this form of art and marked its fantastic influence in history. Pop is considered a forerunner of Post-modern Art and also certain modern artists consider Pop Art portraits as the top instances of early Post-modern Art items.

Pop slowly became well-known within the U.S. together with The United Kingdom yet both countries have various meanings and styles of the specific type of art. The Independent Group plus Richard Hamilton launched Pop in Britain by means of their resistance to modernist art, design and architecture. British Pop traces its beginnings from the American automotive design as well as its emphasis on "planned obsolescence," and the continued creation of entities that can eventually exhaust and also be exchanged by fresh items inside the marketplace. The upbeat standpoint of British Pop artists will be the cause of their preference for subjects which are apparent representations of direct action like assemblages and occurrences. The themes are often dedicated to American Pop Culture and technology, as seen and interpreted by an outsider. However, American Pop is strengthened by its own culture, influenced by the components, activities and life within American culture. Pop accumulated reputation along with the pop music phenomenon of the fifties and sixties, generating celebrities and musicians as cutting edge objects for Pop Art portraits.

One of the most prominent icons in Pop will be the American artist Andy Warhol. Identified as the "Pope of Pop Art," Warhol did not only leave the art world with works of art but with common declarations on popular culture that continues to impact society. Immortalizing Marilyn Monroe and her stunning face on canvas in 1962 labelled the age of Warhol Pop Art. Putting a Campbell's Soup Can and Tomato Juice Box in prints, Warhol Pop Art items are best degrees of irony and parody of classic American popular culture. The American Pop culture in Warhol Pop Art can be considered cunning, potent and highly important power that moves and changes every single person's way of life as a means of increasing the prosperity of contemporary society.

The continuous manufacture of cutting edge images from televisions, journals, newsprint and Hollywood perked up Warhol's enthusiasm, making a quote, "In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes." Warhol Pop Art identified popular culture as an image that can be consumed and may solely stay alive if numerous copies are reproduced. Warhol in no way disclosed the true definitions regarding his artworks and gave his audiences the opportunity to give life and perception to his masterpieces. Pop culture can be a media condensed culture for Warhol and the blemishes of his designs because of the silkscreen technique are representations of the disordered problem of the contemporary society.

These days, Pop Art continues to go on, just like pop culture. More and more images are being created daily and also the control of contemporary technology concluded in far more objects subject to Pop's criticisms. The facts of how Warhol developed the artistic style to life style continues to dominate the mass media saturated culture, with most of his artworks implanted in everyone's brains and replicas being offered for sale at on-line outlets over the World Wide Web. While using the American culture still influencing the global pop culture, this specific form of art continues to criticise as well as scrutinise.


Automotive Schools - Your Pathway to a Career in Fine Art Transport



There are many reasons to be attracted to a career in trucking - so many that Statistics Canada reports that "truck driver" is one of the most commonly reported occupations for Canadian men. But did you know that an interest in the art world can be one reason people attend auto training schools?

A specialization of the transport industry is fine art shipping. The graduates of automotive schools who work in this niche have to be able to navigate galleries and museums as well as they can the roads.

Sometimes, these graduates of auto training schools are artists in their own right, forging connections with agents and dealers across the country, while working in an environment as respectful of their artistic ambitions as of their training gleaned from automotive schools. One Canadian fine art shipping company has even initiated a practice of investing in their truckers' artwork, buying a major piece here and there as a show of support and recognition.

Fine art shipping companies offer specialized services with extra attention to the "fine art" of packing. The graduates of auto training schools who work in this kind of environment must become well versed in internationally accepted museum-grade practices, which dictate:

allowable air moisture
temperature
bracing
cushioning

Graduates of auto training schools who work in the fine art shipping industry often work in teams of two for deliveries, alleviating one of the potential downsides of a career in trucking: feelings of loneliness and isolation. This is because the truckers are trained in how to properly remove and load this special cargo.

Job applicants are generally expected:

to have the necessary grade of driver's license
to be bondable
to have a valid passport
to pass a drug test
to pass a police background test
to have an interest in the art world
to have good people skills

Graduates of automotive schools who follow this path will also need to have discretion. They will sometimes be working in such delicate situations as transporting an irreplaceable collection on loan from another country.

Most automotive schools don't provide training on the specialized kind of packing that art, antiques and other artifacts require.

But information on such tools of the trade as bubble pack, Glassine paper and polystretch film can be acquired on the job.

So, if you have a lifelong interest in the arts and a love of the road, you may want to consider local automotive schools as way to break into a career in art transport.

Contact the Canadian Automotive and Trucking Institute for more information on their Transport Operations Specialist Program.

Percey Evans is a freelance writer who works for Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools.


Classic Car Galleries - Timeless Beauty and Endeavour



There is a timeless appeal about a classic old car. These cars have outlasted fads and trends and are conversation starters wherever they go. Models that are no longer in active production, that boast of a well maintained body, a smooth running engine and all the car peripherals in perfect condition are few and far between. Classic car galleries both online and in print are one way to find out which old time cars are available in the market and for how much. It is difficult setting a price for the car. Market availability and condition are primary deciders of the value. The more rare and well maintained, the higher the price. Of course one must remember that classic cars do not appeal to everyone. Only those who have an honest appreciation of the intricacies of a classic car will value the automobile.

Information regarding the year, make, specifications and car interiors are described in detail. In fact browsing through a classic car gallery is often like stepping into a time machine and hurtling back into years gone by. We can almost visualize the evolution of automotive technology, how each model was an improvement upon the last, how human endeavor strove to better their previous achievements each time setting new standards of speed and comfort and fuel efficiency. The trajectory of automobile history can be traced through these cars. The preponderance of the German vehicles, the large, comfortable American models, the sleek Italian cars, the pragmatic French Cars....each distinct, each reflective of the times in which they were engineered as they showcase the attitudes and sensibilities of that time.

Classic car galleries offer a sweeping overview of mankind's tryst with automobiles, his constant struggle to improve upon his previous creation. It is almost like walking through a museum or art gallery only instead of canvases and artifacts the showpieces are all cars. Owners, car enthusiasts, curious onlookers....no one can be unaffected by the sight of these gently curving sleek gleaming beauties. The old time car galleries thus bear witness to the struggle of the human mind to strive for excellence, to the passion of the creators and the collectors, to the interest and zest of the vintage car enthusiast. That they exist is a pointer to all of this.


How To Enhance Your Automotive Hobby Experience By Collecting Car Art

What with the explosive escalation of labor and parts costs to build a collector car or do a proper restoration of a car or truck, collecting automotive art and prints may be a substantial alternative to actually owning a great automotive icon. Artists from around the world are currently selling great works, and you can utilize them in collecting reasonable and provocative car art. You just have to be willing to make the effort to find them. Perhaps this article may prove helpful to you in that pursuit.

It matters little what type of car or truck you love to follow. There are artists who have depicted your favorite vehicle in one form or another, and you can find those artists using the resources suggested here in this article. You may favor restored vehicles, or maybe custom cars, hot rods, muscle cars, pickups, legal classics, vintage racers, drag racing vehicles, vintage antiques, or even foreign sports cars. Trust me.....it has been rendered in oils, water colors, or ink art work by someone somewhere, and you can buy it now. You just have to be able to locate what you want.

Thanks to the wonderment of the internet, typing in just a few key words into your search engine can reveal page after page of resources to review. You don't want to look at just the first page that pops up. You may find that the first five or ten pages reveal hundreds of sources of art work. Take time to look at a lot of these sources. Behind non-descript titles might lay fabulous renderings, many of which have found their way into the leading automotive magazines in America and other countries.

It amazes me how much it costs to get prints of the top art work when that art is done in color by a "name" car artist. Original works can run into the hundreds of dollars or even the thousands of dollars. But there is one way to enjoy it all much more cheaply.......buy the print of the original art. I know of famous painters who sell the actual original for $5000-$40000, but the print may cost only $35-$150 each. And the print may look every bit as stunning when hung on the wall and viewed from ten feet out. Many artists provide 10-20 printed renderings, while others sell up to 40-50 different prints on their website.

The artist who resides overseas from America can give you an exotic take on certain foreign sports cars and legal classics, and I find that particularly attractive if one is to diversify the type of vehicle held in one's collection. Some of the greatest prints or originals of Ferraris, Mercedes Benz, Masserati, Lamborghini, Jaguar and others come from those who reside overseas. Their inspiration probably comes from national heritage or from photography taken at some of the greatest concours competitions held overseas. Of course, many mingle with wealthy car owners and use photography of the cars owned by their friends as inspiration.

Here in America, older cars have always held court in the arena of favorable public opinion, and there seems to be a tremendous surge in custom cars, hot rods, muscle cars, trucks, and drag racing vehicles specifically. It seems everyone is into nostalgia, and what better way to preserve it all than through art prints or originals. Outdoor and indoor shows across the USA are filled with vehicles that look like they stepped right out of the fifties or sixties. The automotive hobby is alive and well, thank you very much.

Ever hear of a "rat rod"? This is a fairly new phenomenon. These are cars and trucks that have been heavily modified, made reliable with late model drivetrains but don't have much in the way of power accessories. And these vehicles are just as likely to be unpainted as painted. Primer finishes seem to prevail. If rat rods give the impression that unfinished is cool, they have succeeded in their message. And the lower you can make the vehicle by top chopping, body sectitioning, and chassis lowering, the better. Rust is the patina of choice, and headers packed with muffling steel wool (because there is no muffler system) is the order of the day. These cars and trucks look pretty obnoxious, and of course you'd be stylin' to the max if you had tattoos up the gazzoo and your lady had a pin-up demeanor about her. Go to any super market or bookstore and you'll see at least three or four publications devoted to rat rods. Be prepared to grin.

What did you drive in high school or slightly beyond? You'll find artists drawing up a storm doing Chevelles, Corvettes, Mustangs, GTOs, Buick Gran Sports, El Caminos, Dodge Chargers, Rivieras, Gran Prixs, old shoebox Fords, early Mercurys, etc. And then there are the incomparable inline six-powered Chevys, Chevy stepside pickups, Ford and Dodge trucks, and the wide range of drag racing cars out there. Top fuelers, funny cars, altereds, gassers, super stocks, and modified street machines were all the rage from about 1957 through 1975 or so.

Where do we find these artists and their works? Well, start by going to your local bookstore and reviewing what is on the newstand featuring the current monthly series of car magazines. There are easily 30-40 different magazines out there, and it seems the editors can't do some articles without help from an artist submitting a rendering or two to emphasize the article or accompanying pictures of particular car or truck types. Then there is the internet, within which you will find lurking all types of art, online magazine issues, and websites of the artists themselves. You'll find great renderings submitted by such artists as Thom Taylor, Dave Bell, Kenny Youndblood, Rick Wilson, Steve Sanford, and dozens of other household names in car art.

Some artists produce books filled with art work by not only the author but by many others in their chosen field of influence. Thom Taylor in particular has some great stuff out there for you to research and view. My personal favorites are Steve Sanford, Dave Bell, Chip Foose, and Darryl Mayabb. Then there are the high end artists who produce iconic art depicting the greats in autodom, artists like Kenny Youngblood. And don't get me started on all the tremendous artists who specialize in cars favored in car auctions and foreign racing cars. The list seems endless.

One of the deterrants to collecting auto art is price. Assuming the original piece is out of the question for you, your next logical step is to buy prints of original artwork. But there are choices here, too. Do you want color, or is line art without color sufficient? Colorization will lead you down a path of print cost ranging from $10 per print to $125 or higher. The problem with this is that everybody seems to regergitate the same subjects presented the way in the same size format. The best prices seem to come in the smaller sized renderings. This can be disappointing, to say the least, if you want a wall hanging to be of decent size and presence.

I personally prefer art that is a bit bigger than conventional 8" x 11" format. I like clean black ink art, whether it'sw colorized or not, and I want it to not have a busy background. This allows the vehicle to be the center of attention without distractions. I also want it to be large enough to be seen well even if I am fifteen feet away. Some folks like smaller art, and you can certainly reduce the size of your print at your local postal place. Most have great duplicators that will allow you to enlarge or shrink your print size. And make sure you get your print in a size where it is easy to find a frame to fit it.

So, where might I resource the largest choice of auto art? Galleries are a great start, and all you have to do is type in some key words in your computer's search engine, like "custom car art prints, hot rod prints, drag racing prints, foreign car art work", etc., and the search is on. You can also resource various leading car magazines, like Super Chevy, Hemmings Motor News, Hot Rod Magazine, Truckin' Magazine, Classic Car Magazine, Lowrider Magazine, Rodders Journal, or even Jalopy Journal or H.A.M.B. (both one and the same), and you'll be a happy camper. One source I love is HotRodHotlineNews.com. They don't necessarily have art resources, but you'll get an incredible car and truck fix that will hook you into that website forever. From there, you'll get ideas about which art work to pursue in the open marketplace.

If you attend indoor cars shows or various swap meets throughout the year, artists quite often rent space and pass out cards and sell prints directly on the spot. It's a great way to get your prints fast and be able to meet the artist in person. The very best artists take requests by doing special commissions for drawing your personal car or truck, or issuing a rendering of a vehicle type you desire and want to hang on your wall.

Prints have a great edge to them. You can interchange prints inside a wall frame and display piece. If you have several prints of the same size, you can change out your art work throughout the year so you don't get bored seeing the same old thing every day of the year. Let's say you're into muscle cars. Get a Mustang, a Chevelle, a Corvette, a GTO, a Charger, a Challenger, a Cougar, and rotate the art throughout the year. It's a great way to enhance your bedroom, living area, shop, or office. It's a great and proud way to promote your interest in cars and trucks, even motorcycles. I am amazed how many attorneys, doctors, accountants, home builders, etc., display what interests them automotively by posting car art in their work place.

Along the subject of posting key words into your internet search, don't restrict yourself by being shallow in the words or phrases you use. Let's say you really dig custom cars and trucks. Don't just type in "custom cars" and leave it at that. You'll get a pittence of response. Throw out a variety of words and terms. Use commas to separate the terms/words, and do not put a space after the comma. Search engines work that way, so you should, too. In this example, I would type in........"custom car,custom car art,custom car art prints,custom truck,custom truck art,custom truck art prints"......the results will surprise you.

A great source of art work in the automotive field is any website that might feature automotive artists worldwide. To find such sites, practice typing in key words in your computer's search engine. You can use such words as "automtoive artists featuring hot rods", or "automotive artists featuring muscle cars,", etc. You can continue on and you will soon find multiple pages offered to you to review. It is critical that you take the time to review many pages and not just the top one or two. Most times, great sites which have just what you seek are buried along with other content, and they don't reside in the first page or two under those key words. I have found great content by dedicating and hour or two to review content of the first 30-40-50 websites that pop up. If you find the first few give you the vehicle type(s) you seek, you're lucky. And get in the practice of writing down the website URL's that seem to be the most interesting to you. The content of these sites change, and you want in on the news several times a year. To be able to pop back into your favorite sites is priceless. Add those URL's to your persoanl list of "favorites".

I do automotive art, and I am forever amazed at how widely varied the prices and shipping and handling fees are. It pays to shop not only for subject matter and how it is presented, but shop to get the biggest bang for the buck. Of course, I expect the artists who have been out there the longest to command the highest prices. It's just Hollywood... some get the most ink, so to speak, and they can claim a higher degree of pedigree with their art. I also look for art that is timeless. I want my purchases to look as timely and "with it" in ten years as they do today. Not many people seek a rendering of a 2010 Mustang, since subsequent ones might have more to offer visually. But, the iconic 1965-69 Mustangs will always have a huge following.

Pay attention to the artists who give you a discount off the print cost per piece if you bulk order multiple renderings. It is annoying to pay a full-boat fee to an artist who should be discounting to you. You weren't a customer before, and you expect an enticement for doing business with the artist. The most aggressive artists eager to promote their works will offer this up front without being asked.

As mentioned earlier, many artists will do commission work for you. They can draw up a vehicle per your description, or better yet, they can do a rendering of your personal vehicle (past or present). All they need is a photo to guide them, and you're all set. Turnaround time for completion should be 30 days or so. I try to do it quicker, but even a 45-day wait is not too much to ask. The best artists are going to be busy and you'll have to "take a number". These rates can vary from $25 on up to as much as maybe $120-$150 per view, so expect a wide range of charges.

If you don't mind paying a fee on the higher end of the scale, you are probably going to get an artist who has a series of vehicles which have been built using his or her art work for the basis. That can be a big plus. Name artists attached to your rendering, resulting in your building the car later, can mean the difference in getting into a magazine feature story or not. Magazines, just like car owners themselves, are attached to their egos. That is why only a select few numbers of car builders, car designers, and car owners get their vehicles in the magazines almost guaranteed. That may not be a bad thing. Great art work leading to quality construction yields a superior show or street machine. The magazine crowd will pay to have that at their fingertips.

Getting the Right Multi Car Insurance Policy at the Right Price

If you own or operate multiple vehicles, then according to the law you will need insurance coverage for each and every single one of these. The best way to do this is to simply purchase a multi car insurance policy that will cover all of your vehicles under one contract. The problem with doing this though is that you'll need to do substantial research up front in order to make sure that you aren't getting ripped off or undersold. If you're confused about where to start then this short guide will walk you through all the things necessary to ensure that you get the best multi car insurance coverage you need at the right price!

A few things you should do...

One of the most important things you should do before looking for multi car insurance quotes is to determine exactly the type of coverage you need. This is vital to your search because many insurance companies love to "upsell" you on your policy right before you sign on the dotted line. If you don't have a clear conception of what you need then it may be easy for you to give in. This is especially true once the insurance agent begins explaining all of the "benefits" of having this new shiny item included in your policy.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that you should get multi car insurance quotes from as many different companies as possible before signing any type of document. This may seem like a major hassle, but doing so could stop you from making a very costly mistake that you'd likely come to regret later on down the road. The best way to do this is to simply make a list of the top insurance companies that you'd prefer and then go to work calling around for a quote. Do not make a decision until you've received a set price from each of them and have enough information to make an informed purchase.

A few things you shouldn't do...

Although the cost of your multi car insurance policy is undoubtedly important, you should not make this the primary factor in deciding which company you choose to buy from. In certain situations the lower cost could be indicative of problems with the actual policy itself. For example some comprehensive insurance policies may not be as comprehensive as you'd like. In addition to this there are several other things like rental car re-imbursement in the case your car gets stolen. This may not seem like a "big deal" at this moment in time, but you may find yourself in the unfortunate situation of waiting weeks, or perhaps even months for your insurer to pay out. In the end you could end up spending more money than you would have if you would've chosen a more comprehensive multi car insurance policy to begin with.

These are just a few tips to help you get the best deal on your new multi car insurance policy. Following this advice will ensure that you never come to regret your decision.


The Value Of Business Car Insurance Cover

If your business relies on transport to either get the goods to its destination or your business is focused on transporting individuals, goods for a 3rd party or any other business which features vehicles as an integral part of its core business then you need you seriously think about the importance of business vehicle insurance. Having the right business vehicle insurance can make all the difference on the planet, it can mean the difference between a healthy growing business and a company that falls apart after a serious incident. A company that features automobile related activity as part of its primary business simply cannot afford to operate without business vehicle insurance.

If your business depends upon automobiles running smoothly as well as efficiently in order to make money then you need to ask your self what would happen if one of your primary business vehicles was involved in an accident. What would the maintenance cost be to repair this main automobile and just how would it impact your business's bottom line? It is also important to discover what type of vehicle insurance coverage will be needed to properly cover you before your company actually becomes operational.

After you have answered these kinds of questions you will have a much clearer idea of the kind of insurance coverage that you will need. Automobile insurance can range from the third party only kind of coverage all the way through to fully comprehensive coverage. There are many fully comprehensive vehicle insurance plans which will include a clause whereby the insurance provider will pay for the hire of a temporary replacement vehicle if your primary business vehicle is damaged as well as out of operation following an accident and while it is being fixed. This is an essential requirement to think about if your business critically depends upon your primary company vehicle being on the road every day.

If the core focus of your business is about transporting people like a taxi service or perhaps a tour operator then you'll need to consider other facets of vehicle insurance which will cover personal liability in case of an accident which injures your passengers. Another very important facet of business vehicle insurance coverage is goods in transit coverage. If your main company focus is actually delivering goods from one destination to another or moving completed products to their market point then you'll want to get adequate goods in transit coverage that will protect you if your goods are stolen or hi jacked while in transit. If some of the goods that you're carrying contain dangerous chemicals or toxic as well as potentially dangerous products you will have to ensure your insurance coverage will cover you in the event of any sort of accident or accidental spillage or even leakage.

There are lots of elements to business vehicle insurance and it is up to you to ensure that you have exactly the right coverage for the right kinds of situations that your business will be facing or perhaps be involved in on a daily basis.


The St Barbe Museum and art gallery invites visitors to explore and learn more about the New Forest and Lymington area of Hampshire through the ages



Vintage cars have always had an appealing allure to vintage car collectors. This is because of the fact that these cars have had a rich history that has influenced much of what has happened over the last a hundred years. Such world changing events like the World War 1 and 2 as well as the coming of the industrial age used cars especially, as a means of transportation. Moving 100 years ahead to our time, cars have seen a major revolution. Recent advances have turned cars from what they used to be, means of transportation to full-featured machines that come installed with the latest gadgetry.

Classic car museums however give each and everyone a glimpse into the world of vintage cars. These museums give one a unique and spectacular journey into the automobile evolution as well as its impact to our current period. One of these is the Petersen Automotive Museum. This museum takes one into an entirely new existence that started just 100 hundred years ago when the mass production of cars begun. The museum has a number of exhibits, one of them being the Treasures of the Vault Gallery. This gallery expected to run until mid 2009 contains some of the most important vehicles to ever assembled. Pit Crew docents will highlight the stories that lie behind these exotic automobile collections. Tours are offered to families, car clubs and to social groups on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. The Art Wall Gallery also part of Petersen, showcases cartoon masterpieces of the lowrider car. The depictions are beautifully done with lifestyle themes that feature skeletons, graffiti and tattoos all done in an urban lifestyle atmosphere.

The museum tries to bring the motor sport community together by organizing events that feature sports cars, automotive art and classics all of which will leave vintage car lovers entertained and having a better understanding of the vintage car history. One of these is the celebration of the 1934 Ford 75th anniversary on early in 2009. This roadster show will display hot rods never before seen as they are unveiled for the first time. An Italian motorcycle collection is also expected to be open in mid 2009. These shows will definitely offer all viewers a closer look into classic cars and their lasting glitter. These events are also excellent opportunities to see cars unveiled that have never been shown the public by private car owners and vintage collectors.

The Northwest Vintage Car & Motorcycle Museum is comprised of vintage trucks and car enthusiasts and is open to various people that either, own a vintage car and those that do not. The museum's newsletter was voted the best automotive division 1 newsletter in the US by the National Association of Automotive Museums. Undoubtedly, this reflects well on the Museum's collections. The museum will especially appeal to car enthusiasts and visitors looking to see cars 25 years old and above. These are just some of the many museums that have kept the vintage line of cars alive.

Find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Visit us today for money-saving tips and receive free quotes for cheap car insurance for young drivers from respected insurance companies.

St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery



The St Barbe Museum and art gallery invites visitors to explore and learn more about the New Forest and Lymington area of Hampshire through the ages. Since opening in 1998 the museum has developed a name for itself as playing host to one of the most interesting and exciting exhibition programmes on the south coast.

The museum focuses on the social history of the Hampshire area, primarily basing exhibitions and gallery showings related to the Lymington, Boldre, New Milton, Milford-On-Sea, Barton, Sway and Hordle areas. A range of photographic collections, prints and original drawings tell the story of the people, events, stories, places and iconic businesses both past and present.

The St Barbe museum houses hands on displays appealing to all ages and interests, charting the development of the area in its capacity as both a market town and a port. Stories of smugglers, boat builders, gypsies and salt makers who have used the area are told in vivid detail plus may exhibitions with works borrowed from national and regional collections.

The Timeline Gallery takes visitors from the present day all the way back to prehistoric times, and tells of international and local events which helped shape the landscape and community to become what it is today.

The Main Museum Displays look back at the people, activities and industries that helped the Lymington area of Hampshire thrive as a town and port through the ages.

The Sea To Land exhibition reveals the surprising past through a world famous fossil collection, revealing an area once covered by a sub-tropical sea home to sharks, whales and alligators - fortunately a very different story to modern day!

Sea Fishing reveals the methods used by local people over the years, and how they have adapted their fishing methods the changing environment of the Solent and Channel waters.

The Sailing the Solent exhibition will appeal to those interested in the boating and yachting communities over the years, and uncovers traditional boat building methods and practices. This museum exhibition includes a traditional Lymington scow, a type of flat bottomed boat often used to haul freight.

The Boat Building area includes a full size pilot boat complete with lights, radar and wheel. Here the museum looks at famous boat builders including Thomas Inman who built the boats Alarm and Arrow for Captain Joseph Weld who was born in 1598 and was noted for his participation and negotiations of the Pequot War of 1637.

The Marsh and Mud museum exhibition looks at how the local salt marshes were changed from the leisure area of local sportsman to a nature reserve. It features an original gun punt used for wild fowling in the creeks and shallows of the Solent.

The Tale of Two Towns unveils the development of both Lymington and New Milton through the ages. Lymington became a thriving market town and port after being granted its charter in 1200. Milton remained a quieter area up until the development of the railway in 1888, the 'New' being added in 1897.

These are just some of the wide range of exhibitions and displays at the St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery. As a quality assured visitor attraction visitors of all ages can enjoy the museum and what it has to offer.

Philip Loughran writes on a number of subjects from travel to law, automotive to education. For days out in Hampshire and things to do in Hampshire he recommends Hampshire Museums.

The Art Of Buying Artwork From Local Galleries

If you are looking to buy wonderful art pieces, the place to go would be the art galleries. You are most likely to stumble upon many original works. These art fairs or exhibitions will also be providing you access to various artists. When you are living in a metropolitan area, there will be so many art galleries. You can visit those galleries and buy the art pieces. Sometimes, these art pieces can also be purchased online. The art shows conducted by these galleries are only for a short time. Thus you need to visit them on a regular basis.

Make your visits weekly, if you can. Art galleries often utilize themes in these shows. For instance, you can find art work which will be depicting the historic events of the city or the natural sceneries in the area. It could even be something that is abstract that not a lot of people would be able to understand at a glance.

Do not be reckless when it comes to buying pieces that have abstract themes connected to them. Those who buy the art pieces can either save it for posterity or sell them again at a higher price. You can also buy art pieces from mortgage houses. They are more expensive, though. If you feel that it is worth it, you can buy them. It is possible that you do not get pictures of the required pattern all the time. That is why you should widen your scope and go to as many galleries as you can.

When you find a picture that you like, the first thing that has to be noted is its authenticity. Then you need to find out about the artist as well as the price. This price will then be compared to the rest of the artworks being currently sold in the gallery, especially the artworks produced by the same artist. If you find the piece to be authentic and if you feel that it is sold at a reasonable price, then it can be bought without any hesitation. You must remember that all those things you see in the art gallery are not meant to be sold. Look for the NFS mark on the art pieces themselves in order to distinguish those that are meant for sale and those that aren't. NFS means not for sale, and it is placed on art pieces that the gallery has no intention of selling.

If you found yourself drawn to the works of one artist and you want to buy other pieces by him/her, you should approach the gallery owner. They will be able to provide you more information on the other art work of the artist. When you buy two to three items prepared by the same artist, you might even be eligible to get a small discount. These are galleries are more open to giving discounts, particularly on purchases made in bulk. Just think of the amount of savings you will make when you take advantage of this. You can even ask some of these art galleries to ship your art work to your place.