ART KITS

Abstract

An art kit to create artwork limited only by the creator's imagination irrespective of the creator's artistic skills, knowledge, and artistic experience comprising at least one substrate, at least one masking appliqu, at least one set of art media and at least one picture frame configured to fit around said at least one substrate. The substrate can chosen from the group of substrates consisting of paper, cardboard, textile, canvas. The masking appliqu comprises a thin flexible plastic sheet held on a backing sheet by a low tack adhesive and at least one shape capable of providing a pictorial theme to the artwork, so distinctive that the art kit can function as a souvenir.

Claims

1. An art kit comprising at least one substrate, at least one masking appliqu, at least one set of art media and at least one picture frame configured to fit around said at least one substrate, whereby said art kit can be used to create artwork limited only by the creator's imagination irrespective of the creator's artistic skills, knowledge, and artistic experience.

2. The art kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises the canvas for said artwork.

3. The art kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said substrate is chosen from the group of substrates consisting of paper, cardboard, textile, canvas.

4. The art kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said masking appliqu comprises a thin flexible plastic sheet held on a backing sheet by a low tack adhesive.

5. The art kit in accordance with claim 4, wherein said masking appliqu further comprises at least one shape capable of providing a pictorial theme.

6. The art kit in accordance with claim 5, wherein said pictorial theme of said masking appliqu is so distinctive that the art kit can function as a souvenir.

7. The art kit in accordance with claim 2, wherein said masking appliqu comprises a thin flexible plastic sheet held on a backing sheet by a low tack adhesive.

8. The art kit in accordance with claim 7, wherein said masking appliqu further comprises at least one shape capable of providing a pictorial theme.

9. The art kit in accordance with claim 3, wherein said masking appliqu comprises a thin flexible plastic sheet held on a backing sheet by a low tack adhesive.

10. The art kit in accordance with claim 9, wherein said masking appliqu further comprises at least one shape capable of providing a pictorial theme.

11. The art kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said one set of art media comprises paint, water colors, pencil color, chalk, crayons, and stickers.

12. The process of creating artwork with a particular theme, using an art kit having at least one substrate, at least one masking appliqu, at least one set of art media and at least one picture frame configured to fit around said at least one substrate, said process comprising the following steps: a) placing strip appliqus around the border of said substrate making sure that said strip appliques are flat; b) using said remaining geometrically shaped appliqus to create a particular theme, by placing them on said substrate to mask certain of its area; c) decorating the non-masked area on said substrate with said art media, even over said appliqus; d) removing said geometrically shaped appliqus; and e) mounting the artwork within said frame.

13. The process in accordance with claim 12, wherein there are a multiplicity of substrates, a multiplicity of appliques, a multiplicity of art media and a multiplicity of frames configured to fit around any one of said multiplicity of substrates from which to choose to create said artwork.

14. The process in accordance with claim 13, wherein there is a plurality of substrates, a plurality of appliques, a plurality of art media and a plurality of frames configured to fit around any one of said plurality of substrates from which to choose to create said artwork.

15. An art kit comprising a multiplicity of substrates, a multiplicity of masking appliqus, a mutliplicity of art media and a multiplicity of picture frames configured to fit around any one of said multiplicity of substrates, marshaled and displayed for access by potential artists within storage containers displayed in such a manner that said potential artists can examine all of the components displayed in their containers, choose which of the components appeal to them, use the components to create artwork, frame the artwork into final work of art ready to be displayed and enjoyed.

16. The art kit in accordance with claim 15, wherein each of said multiplicity of masking appliqus further comprise at least one shape capable of providing a pictorial theme.

17. The art kit in accordance with claim 16, wherein said pictorial theme of said masking appliqus is so distinctive that the art kit can function as a souvenir of the venue where the art kit is used.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] It is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the numerals represent identical elements and wherein:

[0033] FIG. 1 comprises top plan views showing use of one embodiment of the inventive art kit to produce artwork of a tall ship;

[0034] FIG. 2 comprises top plan views showing use of another embodiment of the inventive art kit to produce artwork of a lighthouse;

[0035] FIG. 3 comprises top plan views showing use of yet another embodiment of the inventive art kit to produce artwork of a vase with flowers;

[0036] FIG. 4 comprises top plan views showing use of still another embodiment of the inventive art kit to produce artwork of a robot/lighthouse/rocket ship. And,

[0037] FIG. 5 comprises top plan views showing use of still another embodiment of the inventive art kit to produce artwork of a duck.

[0038] FIG. 6 comprises a flow chart of the process to use the inventive art kit.

LIST OF ELEMENTS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE IDENTIFYING NUMERALS

[0039]

TABLE-US-00001 NO. ELEMENT 10 Art kit 20 Substrate 30 Masking appliqu 40 Art media 50 Frame

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0040] Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1-5, they each generally depict a different embodiment of the art kit respectively, in accordance with the present invention at 10. The figures show how each of the embodiments of the art kit allow amateur artists to use their imagination and built-in trait to express themselves through art work they create based on their own vision and personal experience, irrespective of the level of artistic skills, knowledge, and artistic experience they may, or may not have. The inventive art kits produce clearly identifiable recognizable works of art, with the potential of boosting the self-esteem of their creator. While the kits suggest how their components can be used to create art, such suggestions are meant to be examples only. They do not limit the artists' expressions. If these art kits are available at a particular venue, they allow the artists' expression through art work to happen, while they are still on site, at the venue, when visiting. These art kits allow the final artwork to be framed in real time, on the spot and act as an individual artistic memoir, a souvenir or memento of the artists' experience at the venue, after it is complete, to be preserved for generations to come.

[0041] Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1-5, the inventive art kit comprises at least one substrate 20, at least one masking appliqu 30, at least one set of art media 40, and at least one picture frame 50 configured to fit around said at least one substrate once the art work is done and ready to be displayed.

[0042] The substrate 20 is the blank canvas on which the artwork will be created. It is the support material for the painting. It could be paper of varying thickness, a cardboard, or painting canvas. It must be capable of retaining art media 40, which may be paint, water colors, pencil color, chalk, crayons, stickers and so on. Good examples of papers that could act as a substrate are water color papers with (ROUGH).(NOT) and (HP) surfaces. Various textured and untextured paper can also be used as substrates. In all cases the card/paper substrate may be tinted, if desired, with various colors.

[0043] The at least one masking appliqu 30 comprises a thin, flexible plastic sheet held on a backing sheet by a low tack adhesive. Optionally, the appliqu may be a single shape or it may comprise multiple geometrical and free-form shapes that can be combined into various items capable of providing a pictorial theme to the artwork. The appliqu 30 is removed from its backing sheet and removably fixed on the substrate 20 to define both a masked and a non-masked region on the substrate 20. The non-masked region surrounds the masked region formed by the placement of the appliqu 30 on the substrate 20. The appliqu 30 provides the pictorial content for the artwork. It is generally impermeable to the art media 40, so that it provides an effective barrier to prevent or inhibit the art media from reaching the masked regions of the substrate 20.

[0044] The art media 40, such as paint, water colors, decorations, stickers, and so on can then be freely, unilaterally and arbitrarily applied to the non-masked region of the substrate 20 all around the masking appliqu 30. The sky is the limit on the ways the art media 40 can be used or applied on the substrate. The only thing limiting the application of the art media 40 on the substrate 20, is the author/creator's imagination and the appliqu 30. Thereafter, the masking appliqu 30 is removed to create a sharply defined image, flanked and outlined by the decorated, previously non-masked regions of the substrate 20. Optionally, the negative space created by the removal of the appliqu, is then also filled in with art media, such as paint, color, decorations, stickers and so on. See for example, FIG. 1 where the sails of the sailboat are colored yellow, after the appliqu 30 is removed. The appliqu 30 and the negative space it leaves behind, creates the theme or topic of the artwork, with the assurance that it will be an identifiable, recognizable subject by a viewer, once the work of art is completed. The result is artwork ready to be exhibited and admired within the frame provided in the art kit.

[0045] Referring more specifically to FIG. 1 the process of using the inventive art kit to create artwork with a nautical theme, comprises the following steps: a) placing the strip appliqus 30 around the border of the substrate 20, making sure that they are flat; b) using the remaining geometrically shaped appliqus 30 to create, for example, a tall ship, by placing them on the substrate 20, tacky side down, so that they do not shift around on the surface of the substrate 20. The placement of the appliqus 30 define both a masked and a non-masked region on the substrate 20, the masked region being the tall ship; c) decorating the non-masked region on the substrate 20 with the art media, i.e., crayons, water paints, oil paints, pencils, stickers and so on, by drawing in additional elements such as a mast and clouds and by painting in the sky or the ocean, without worry, even over the appliqus, which protect the masked area; d) allowing the artwork to dry if necessary; e) removing the geometrically shaped appliqus 30, and if desired decorating the blank space revealed by the appliqus' removal; f) removing the strip appliqus 30 from around the border of the substrate 20; g) signing and dating the artwork; h) mounting the artwork within the frame provided in the art kit; and i) hanging the frame to display the artwork. If the artwork is completed, as for example, at a maritime museum, then the artwork can be further marked with information about the museum, the date of the visit, etc., and the artwork can function as a souvenir at the museum.

[0046] There are no limits on how the non-masked area of the substrate can be decorated. There are no limits on how the geometrically shaped appliqus 30 can be used to create a nautical theme. The possibilities are endless limited only by the author's imagination. The art kit only liberates what its users can do.

[0047] Referring more specifically to FIG. 2 the process of using the inventive art kit to create artwork with a lighthouse theme, comprises the following steps: a) placing the strip appliqus 30 around the border of the substrate 20, making sure that they are flat; b) using the remaining geometrically shaped appliqus 30 to create, for example, a lighthouse, by placing them on the substrate 20, tacky side down, so that they do not shift around on the surface of the substrate 20. The application of the appliqus 30 on the substrate 20 define both a masked and anon-masked region on the substrate 20, the masked region being the lighthouse. The appliqus 30 leave very little room for error because they are pre-cut and so generic that anyone can put them together; c) decorating the non-masked region on the substrate 20 with the art media, i.e., crayons, water paints, oil paints, pencils, stickers and so on, by drawing in additional elements such as clouds and rocks, and by painting in the sky or the ocean, without worry, even over the appliqus 30, which protect the masked area; d) allowing the artwork to dry if necessary; e) removing the geometrically shaped appliqus 30 and if desired decorating the blank space revealed by the appliqus' removal; f) removing the the strip appliqus 30 from around the border of the substrate 20; g) signing and dating the artwork; h) mounting the artwork within the frame provided in the art kit; and i) hanging the frame to display the artwork. Once again if the artwork is completed at a maritime tourist venue, as for example during a visit to a lighthouse, or a maritime museum, then the artwork could be further marked with the date of the visit or the name of the venue. It can now function as a souvenir of the venue noted thereon.

[0048] Once again, there are no limits on how the non-masked area of the substrate can be decorated. There are no limits on how the geometrically shaped appliqus 30 can be used to create a light house theme. The possibilities are endless limited only by the author's imagination. The art kit only liberates what its user can do.

[0049] Referring more specifically to FIGS. 2-5 the processes of using the inventive art kits to create artwork with flower, robot/lighthouse/rocket ship and duck themes, respectively, comprise steps that are similar if not identical to the steps set forth above.

[0050] Another embodiment of the art kit comprises a plurality of substrates 20, a plurality of masking appliqus 30, a plurality of sets of art media 40, and a plurality of picture frames 50 configured to fit around any one of the plurality of substrates 20, once the art work on any one of said substrates is done and ready to be displayed. The components can be packaged all together, or laid out all together to accommodate more than one author or creator, as for example when the art kit is used as part of an entertainment or education event attended by a group of participants, as for example a wine night, or fund-raising social event. Or, the components can be packaged all together or laid out to provide a single author with the flexibility of creating multiple works with multiple art themes.

[0051] Another embodiment of the art kit comprises a multiplicity of substrates 20, a multiplicity of masking appliqus 30, a multiplicity of components or sets of components of art media 40, and a multiplicity of picture frames 50 configured to fit around any one of the multiplicity of substrates 20, once the art work on any one of said substrates is done and ready to be displayed by its creator. Due to their number, each multiplicity of each of the components can be marshaled and displayed for access by potential creators or authors within large containers such as bins, buckets, barrels, and so on, either at tables, kiosks, or booths, or stores. Thus, potential artists, authors, creators can just walk up to the tables, kiosks or booths, or into the stores, examine all of the components displayed in their containers, choose which of the components appeal to them, follow the process set forth above to create artwork, frame the artwork and leave the kiosk, or booth, or store with a final work of art ready to be displayed and enjoyed. The tables, kiosks, booths or stores could be set up within large themed venues, as for example within large amusement parks, and the multiplicity of components of the art kit can provide the potential creators/authors/artists with the ability to create similarly themed artwork, capable of acting as souvenirs of the venues, within which they are created.

[0052] There is no question that the inventive art kit described herein above, accomplishes all of its objectives. It permits amateur artists to use their built-in trait to create a recognizable, identifiable unique work of art, irrespective of their level of artistic knowledge, skills, and expertise. There are no formulas to follow and no numbered boxes to fill in. It captures the vision of the amateur artists who use them, helping them create identifiable recognizable subject matter. Because it is tabula rasa, a blank slate, it results in artwork from the creator's own imagination and experience, creating individual artistic memoirs that are unique to its creator. It stimulates and encourages the imagination and self-confidence of the artists who use them, irrespective of their level of artistic knowledge, skills, and expertise. It permits their users to mix colors, match colors, and apply artistic license to the color or distribution of color or intensity thereof in the various picture areas, without fear or concern, and with total artistic license. When the themes of the art kits are matched to various venues of interest, anywhere in the world, the art kit allows travelers to produce works of art on site, at the locations and venues they are visiting, or the events that they are attending, which works of art can also function as individual artistic memoirs, souvenirs, favors, or gifts. Its outcome will always be an identifiable subject, as well as unique to its individual creator.

[0053] While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, they are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Since certain changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a literal sense. Practitioners of the art will realize that the sequence of steps and the embodiments depicted in the figures can be altered without departing from the scope of the present invention and that the illustrations contained herein are singular examples of a multitude of possible depictions of the present invention.