The Final Birthday Card

Here is my birthday Card and soon the rest of the process will be uploaded.

THE PROCESS

This is my sketch.

I used ELLIPS TOOL in order to make the music instrument called KAMANCHE.So, I draw 2 circles in two sizes.I managed to use basic shapes to make this instrument.So just need two recyangles by RECTANGLE TOOL.For the top part of it ,I used PEN TOOL and CONVERT ANCHOR PIONT TOOL(shift+c).First draw a triangle by PEN TOOL and manage to work on its anchores to make the appropriate shape.

To make some shapes exactly the same but in different rotation just go to transform and reflect it.Now,I have the top part of the instrument with the very easy shapes.

To make the wires of the instrument I just used LINE SEGMENT TOOL. In order to make straight lines,you have to press shift and drag the line.so you'll have an straight line.then to make them more,just press ctrl+C+F.you'll have az many line az you press F when you are holding Ctrl+C.Then by the use of SELECTION TOOL, make them separate.

Now im going to color it.Here I just played with the GRADIENT TOOL.As you can see in every picture I showed witch colors I selected.

Now by the use of PEN TOOL,im going to make clouds. First we must add anchors and then by CONVERT ANCHOR POINT TOOL make the lines in the shape of the clouds.Here I just put pictures to show how I made the clouds.All we have pay attention to is to make the layers corectly.so,for each different part i made a new layer to work on them better.

These are some other clouds I made exactly in the same way.

Here Im going to show how I colored them all.just choose the color you loke the most.

After I colored them I drop shadow for some of them to creat a simple depth.Effects->stylize->drop shadow.

Then I used BRUSH TOOL to make some clouds like a background. Brush panel->library->paintbrush.that was the way I used to draw them.

After I controled all shadows I made some sugar candies.Just I used ELLIPS TOOL , SPIRAL TOOL ( to make its centre) and ROUNDED RECTANGLE TOOL.

For the typed part I just used TYPE TOOL.then colorful letters were sth I made.

For the flowers ,first I draw a squre then EFFECTS ,disort n transform, pucker n bloat n ill we show u h i managed the scales.

Then just press Ctrl+C+F+D.and I chose differet colors for each of them to make it pretty.Just I drop shadows and its all done.

the layout

Iran miniature

A Persian miniature is a richly detailed miniature painting which depicts religious or mythological themes from the region of the Middle East now known as Iran. The art of miniature painting in Persia flourished from the 13th through the 16th centuries, and continues to this day, with several contemporary artists producing notable Persian miniatures. These delicate, lush paintings are typically visually stunning, with a level of detail which can only be achieved with a very fine hand and an extremely small brush.
Several features about Persian miniatures stand out. The first is the size and level of detail; many of these paintings are quite small, but they feature rich, complex scenes which can occupy a viewer for hours. Classically, a Persian miniature also features accents in gold and silver leaf, along with a very vivid array of colors. The perspective in a Persian miniature also tends to be very intriguing, with elements overlaid on each other in ways which sometimes feel awkward to people who are accustomed to the look and feel of Western art.
Originally, Persian miniatures were commissioned as book illustrations for Persian illuminated manuscripts. Only the wealthiest of patrons could afford these illustrations, with some Persian miniatures taking up to a year to complete. Eventually, people also began collecting these works of art on their own, binding them into separate books. Many of these collections fortunately survive to this day, along with other examples of Persian art such as Iran's famous pile carpets.
The Persian miniature was probably inspired by Chinese art, given the very Chinese themes which appear in some early examples of Persian miniatures. Many of the mythological creatures depicted in early Persian art, for example, bear a striking resemblance to animals in Chinese myth. Over time, however, Persian artists developed their own style and themes, and the concept of the Persian miniature was picked up by neighboring regions.Many museums of Asian art have Persian miniatures in their collections, and it is well worth visiting to see examples of this distinctive art form in person. Persian miniatures also merit undivided attention; the longer one looks at a Persian miniature, the more details and themes emerge. The study of a single miniature can take up an entire day, as more and more details unfold, and many museums conveniently have detailed guides to the figures and themes in their Persian miniatures

KAMANCHE

Kamancheh in and after Ghajar Period

According to different books in Persian language, it seems Kamancheh had only two strings. Though we don't know when the third string had been added to this instrument, but we know that in Ghajar period, Kamancheh had three strings.

Different books mention to the completion of this instrument. For example, one of the famous Kamancheh players of Ghajar Period, Agha Jan, the father of Mirza Habib Sama' Hozur (very famous santoor and tonbak player) had invented a kind of Kamancheh that had strange strings and keys and it had a long handle and he was used to play that while standing up and he had named that Kamancheh, Majles-Ara!

Some famous Kamancheh players in and after Ghajar Period are: Khoshnavaz Khan, Agha Motalleb, Esmail Khan, Hossein Khan Esmail-zadeh, Gholi Khan, Musa Kashi, Mirza Rahim, Javad Khan Ghazvini, Bagher Khan Rameshgar, Alireza Changi, Mirza Gholamhossein, Safdar Khan, Hossein entitled to Karim-Kur and his daughter, Vajiheh, Farmanfarma the Uncle of Naser-al-Din Shah, Jamileh (the female student of Esmail Khan), Ali Khan, Reza Khan Nikfar, Hossein Yahaghghi and his sister Keshvar Khnum entitled to Farah-Lagha, and at last, Asghar Bahari.

According to some books , we see that Kamancheh was very popular and important in Persian art and folk music. After the introduction of Western violin to Iran, unfortunately everything changed! Though the forth string was added to Kamancheh after seeing that violin had four strings, but many instrumentalists put the Kamancheh down and started playing violin. It is interesting to mention that even most of the students of Hossein Khan Esmail-zadeh such as Reza Mahjubi, Rokn-al-Din Mokhtari, Abu-al-Hasan Saba, Ebrahim Mansuri and so on were violin player.


Anyway, there were some compassionate artists such as Aref Ghazvini that was not happy for what was happening to Persian art music and warned about the danger of abolishing the Persian art music and its important instruments like Kamancheh, Santoor and Tar.

As historians mention, the late Asghar Bahari, gave a new life to Kamancheh by playing this instrument in many concerts and gatherings and radio and TV.

It is fortunate that today we have many Kamancheh players in such a way that today there is no need to be anxious about being abolished the art of Kamancheh playing.

KAMANCHE

. Kamanche is played in many different cultures and regions, like in Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey,...and with different pronounciations and different names, like Kamanche or Kamancheh or Kamantche in Iran, Kamancha or Kamantcha in Azerbaijan, Kemanche or Kemancha or Kemantcha in Armenia, Kabak Kemane in Turkey, Ghijak (Gijak, Gidzhak,...) in Central Asia, Rababa in Arab countries.... Kamanche is played both in classical and folk Music.

KAMANCHE

. Derived from the Persian words kaman, 'bow' or 'arc', and cheh, 'little' is an ancient spiked fiddle which is ancestor to most modern European and Asian bowed instruments. It can now be found throughout the area stretching from North Africa to China. The instrument's name varies from region to region (e.g. kamange, saz-e Keshmiri, joze, ghiczak), as does its shape (it can be spherical or cylindrical and have an open or closed back).
The Iranian classical kamancheh has a spherical shape, its bridge resting on the surface of a soundbox covered by a membrane of animal skin. The soundbox has no standard size and can be made entirely from one piece of wood or from many ribs. Its rounded body, made from different kinds of wood (e.g. mulberry, walnut, oak, or maple), has a spike on bottom to support the instrument.
The kamancheh's four metal strings are generally tuned in fourths or fifths. The instrument is held vertically and the bow, made of horsehair, moves horizontally, with the performer rotating the instrument when he or she moves from one string to another.

Did you know about birthday history?

Birthdays are original, personal, noteworthy traditions. Some people like to forget them. Others prefer smaller celebrations. But for some, the day must be a flag-waving, band-playing joyous merrymaking occasion.

We are so used to celebrating our birthday every year that it seems like it's been a tradition almost forever!! But there too is a birthday history, and a place and time it all began...

When early people had no way of keeping track and marking time (except by the moon, sun or by some important event) little attention was paid to the anniversary of a person's birth. Everyone realized, of course, that people grew older as time passed; but they didn't mark any special milestone for it. Only when ancient peoples began taking notice of the moon's cycles, did they pay attention to the changing seasons and the pattern that repeated itself over and over and so they began to mark and note time changes. That's the start of birthday history.

Eventually, the first calendars were formulated in order to mark time changes and other special days. From this tracking system came the ability to celebrate birthdays and other significant anniversaries the same day each year.

It is also said that Birthday celebrations began as a form of protection. It was a common belief that evil spirits were more dangerous to a person when he or she experienced a change in their daily life, such as turning a year older. To protect them from harm, friends and family would gather around the birthday person and bring good cheers, thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits. Noisemakers are thought to be used at parties as a way of scaring away the evil spirits. The birthday history custom of lighting candles originated with people believing that the gods lived in the sky and by lighting candles and torches they were sending a signal or prayer to the gods so they could be answered. When you blow out the candles and make a wish this is another way of sending a signal and a message.

Even though historians are certain that people have observed their birthdays for quite some time, there are very few records of such celebrations that still exist. The only ones documented in birthday history are those birthdays of kings, high-ranking nobility, and other important figures. Common people and especially children never celebrated their birth when the idea came about. This trend has been explained by a theory that nobility were the only people wealthy enough to throw such celebrations, and quite possibly were the only ones thought to be important enough to have been written about or remembered. Some historians believe these early birthday bashes resulted in the custom of wearing birthday "crowns" as time went on.

The Germans are given credit in birthday history for starting celebrations of children's birthdays. These celebrations were called "kinderfeste". The word "kinderfeste" is derived from two German words 'kinder' meaning children and 'feste' meaning festival or party.

More in birthday history: The song "Happy Birthday to You" was composed by two sisters, Mildred and Patty Hill, in 1893, but nobody really paid much attention to it until the original words "Good Morning to You" were changed to "Happy Birthday to You", words that are sung in virtually every home across the world at least once during the year.

In today's world the birthday party is eagerly awaited by every grownup and child.

The Super Cow

What a shy cow!

The Final Calendar and My Description

Norouz is the time of nature’s transition.

When spring comes everything going to change, cold colors will be replaced by warm colors of this season. As I chose blooms, you can see them in different colors everywhere in spring. It seems the earth is waking up again. everything is new and fresh like grasses I selected for my calendar.

We, Iranians, as I know, believe that human are a part of the nature. So, when spring comes and nature keeps on changing, human will vary. Now, I selected some elements we have in our Haft Sin (seven elements begins with sound S). When the time is near the New Year, families gather together around their tablecloths to celebrate this event. Every person wishes to be better for the next year. For example if we put vinegar which is the symbol of tolerance, it means we wish to be able to tolerate problems more than last year in next year. If we have apples, it means people wish and pray to be healthy and beautiful just like the meaning of the symbol apples related to. We put garlic to protect ourselves from illness and evils in next year. WE ALL WISH TO CHANGE AND BE BETTER .IT SHOWS HOW WE AS HUMAN HAVE TRANSITION IN OUR NEW YEAR.

I draw a clock to show the exact time of our new year.ALSO, IT’S THE TIME OF TRANSITION.I make the clock like a bowl of goldfish which means good luck.

Eggs are some part of this tablecloth. They symbolize NEW LIFE.

Candles are to light our way to go straightly forward in next year.

Coins are to mention to be more successful in our future.

THAT ALL REASONS SHOW WHY” NOROUZ IS THE TIME OF NATURE’S TRANSITION”.

THE PROCESS

First of all, I started to work on my clock.I used ellips tool and draw a circle and made the stroke in red color.Then I chose Effect->3D->extrude and bevel and just set the shape and clicked ok.Then I draw a bluse circle inside the red circle smaller than the first on.Now again I draw a gray circle smaller than the blue one.each of them should be in different layers.

Now with the PEN TOOL (p),I made the triangle and then I reshaped it by CONVER ANCHOR POINT TOOL.I fiiled the shape by red GRADIENT color then I duplicate its layer and filled the copy one with darker red about to black.I put the copy layer under the origional one and moved it.After these i chose the origional red color layer and pressed Ctrl+C+F to paste a copy of it in front with the same gradient,then with DIRECT SELECTION TOOL(A), I reshaped it and chenged the opacity of it.

I selected all parts of the left part and pressed Ctrl+C+f then Object->Transform->Reflect. So,I hade the same shape for the right part.But just I arranged it.After that I draw again a triangle and filled it with the white to gray gradient and reshaped it byDIRECT SELECTION TOOl.I did the same for this part to make it well to the right.

I continued by working on goldfish.I just worked with PEN TOOL and draw the fish the same as the sketch.Then I pressed Ctrl+C+F.Just worked with DIRECT SELECTION TOOL and reshaped it to my appropriate point.I filled it with the GRADIENt of orange,yellow and redish orange colors.Then i chose the first shape and filled it with the same gradient but I made some colors darker.I draw the tail and other parts of it the same as former steps.

I chose the gary circle I made before and fill it with the gray to white gradient.I made it radial and changed the opacity.I draw some other shape on the glass with the same gradient but lower opacity.

For the plate,I made an oval shape ,same as before,Ctrl+C+F,.I reshaped the second one and made a duplicate layer and made it behind the origional shape.I just worked on colors.

For the grass, I just used BRUSH TOOL and I fill it with different green colors to make more real.next step was to chose ALL of the grasses and then Effect->stylize->drop shadow.The ribbon,I draw it by PEN TOOl,colored it with red color and then MESH TOOL to add some shadows.

I draw rest of the ribbon by PEN TOOL and filled with GRADIENT.For the Garlic, I draw it by a circle and reshaped it by DIRECT SELECTION TOOL the same as my sketch and then filled it with brown,yellow and white gradient of radial.But I just changed the type of its stroke.The top part is made by BRUSH TOOL.

For the apple I filled the shape in red color after I had drawn it by PEN TOOl.Then I worked with MESH TOOL to make some shadows and lights for it.

For the blooms,I draw each petals seprately and filled them bydark and light pink gradient and for the centre its just the purple circle witch is blure.

The process of making the pitcher and the vinegar in it is just the same as the tutorial we've learnt .i just changed the shape of it.

For eggs,I draw a circle then changed the shape of it like an egg with the DIRECT SELECTION TOOL.I presses Ctrl+C+F ,4 times.I chose the upper one then I draw a star on it.Window->Pathfinder .selecting both the star and the egg, I chose Intersect Shape areas.I did this step sveral times to make stars on my egg.Also,I used gradient for both the egg and the stars.

For coins ,I draw a circle and filled it with the white,yellow and brown gradient of radial.At last for the candle,I draw it by PEN TOOL and colored it by green gradient.the flame is made by MESH TOOL.

The only thing I have to say is about the numbers .I've done them by TYPE TOOL.But first I arranged rulers to make them in line.