I’m not saying that vegetarianism is the answer. The answer is healthy eating. And that might mean cutting back on eating animal products. Let me clarify: If you have high cholesterol, it definitely means cutting back on animal products.

Believe me, I know how hard it is to go from eating burgers and cheese fries to a meat and cheese free meal. I used to eat eggs and turkey bacon for breakfast, a burger for lunch and a roast for dinner. I’d switch it up and maybe have chicken, turkey or cold cuts, but you get the idea. I was thirty years old and had high cholesterol. Sure, I wasn’t a kid, but that’s too young to be on your way to heart disease (in my humble opinion).

So, I went “cold turkey” and started eating only plant foods – ever. But you don’t have to go that far. If you want to live a healthier life, just replace some of the meat in your meals with some healthy plant-based products and be sure to load up the rest of your plate with veggies.

So, here’s one of my favorite bean burger recipes. It’s very good, but it doesn’t taste like beef. It’s not meant to, so don’t expect it. Having said that, I think you’ll appreciate the subtle flavors that make up this tasty burger. This recipe makes about 4 burgers.

1 can white beans (rinsed and drained)

1 carrot, grated

1/4 cup dry rolled oats

2 tbsp. sunflower seeds

1/2 tbsp. olive oil

1/4 tsp. coriander

1/4 tsp. cumin

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. onion powder

Pinch cayenne pepper

Salt and black pepper to taste

Add the rolled oats, sunflower seeds and spices to the food processor and process for about 1 minute. The mixture will still be chunky. That’s okay. Add about ¾ of the beans oil and process. Transfer the mixture to the plate and add the rest of the beans. Mix to combine with your hands and form into burgers.

Heat up your skillet to medium-high and spray with coconut oil cooking spray (which withstands heat well). Cook the burgers for about three minutes per side. Lower heat to medium-low, cover and let cook for another 10 minutes.

Studying for an art degree at college can mean a dramatic change in your life. A traditional college most often requires that you move to the college; live in a dorm room and attend college when and where your teachers decide.

Studying at an online art college can be a lot easier. You can live in your own home, keep your daytime job and even spend time with children, family or pets. An online college is a great way to earn your degree because today, they offer many of the same degrees as traditional colleges and are just as respected as traditional colleges. Here are a few online colleges with art programs that you might want to consider attending.

Academy of Art University – The Academy of Art University is the largest art and design academy in the United States. They currently teach some 18,000 students and offer majors in Acting, Advertising, Animation & visual Effects, Architecture, Art Education, Fashion, Fine Art, Game Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture and Design, Landscape Architecture, Motion Pictures and Television, Multimedia Communications, Music Production and Sound Design for Visual Media, Photography and Web Design & New Media. The Academy of Art University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as the Council for Interior Design Accreditation and the National Architecture Accreditation Board.

The Art Institutes – The Art Institutes are a very large chain of schools that include the Art Institute of Pittsburg and the Art Institutes Online. The colleges offer majors for associate, bachelor and master in Advertising, Fashion & Retail Management, Culinary Arts, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Interactive Media, Media Arts & Animation, Game Art & Design and Hotel & Restaurant Management. They are regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges.

Brooks Institute – Brookes Institute (formerly known as Brookes Institute of Photography) is an art and design school that offers programs in photography, film, visual journalism and graphic design. The school is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Independent Schools and Colleges. Also, Brooks Institute does not accept transfer credits from other schools, so if you were intending to transfer, you should consider another school.

International Academy of Design and Technology– The International Academy of Art and Design is an accredited college of art and design. They are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Independent Schools and Colleges. They also have more than 20 campuses around the United States. Degrees offered include Advertising & Design, Computer Animation, Computer Forensics, Digital Production, Digital Movie Production, Digital Photography, Fashion Design & Marketing, Game Design, Graphic Design, Information Technology, Interior Design, Merchandising and Recording Arts.

Westwood College – Westwood College has 17 campuses and an online school. They offer classes in six separate schools of learning including the School of Design.  They are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools and offer art degrees in Computer Aided Design, Interior Design and Graphic Design with majors in game art, animation, web art and visual communication.

Whether you’re taking online courses or attending a physical school, being an art student means that you are creating art. Sometimes you might even create more than what you need for school. As a student, you’re probably also short on cash. The best way for an art student to make money is to sell their art (or give art lessons).

Here are the five steps you need take before you sell your art online.

1.       Create Your Art

Most of the time when you create art you should do it because you want to. If you are good enough you can also do it because you want to make money but often that will produce poorer quality work. Make something you love and make it to the best of your ability. If you can work with different elements, try researching what is selling at the moment (i.e. what type of painting, what colors, what designs, etc.)

2.       Photograph Your Art

Unless your art is digital photography you will have to take pictures of it. Make sure that photos are high quality with good lighting. You can use a free program such as windows photo editor or iPhoto to lighten up the photos to make them more visible. They don’t have to be perfect so long as people can see your art clearly. You will want to take at least one photo from every angle, even if you don’t post all of the photos online you can choose the best one and you can send interested buyers more photos if they like.

3.       Post Your Art Online

Now you should post your art online. Think of a nice description for your art, a good title and post it for sale on a site. This should also include the asking price. Good sites include eBay, Sistino, Boundless Gallery and Original Art Online as well as Deviant Art. Try to remember that most sites will take a percentage of what you sell with some as low as 1-2% and others as high as 40%. Usually, the higher the percentage rate that is taken, the more expensive you should make your art. A good rule of thumb before deciding on a price is to consider the cost of materials and then multiply times five to cover your time.

4.       Share Your Art

If you don’t share your art then no one will see it. Try posting it on your Facebook, Twitter or etc. If you are on a sight like DeviantArt feel free to talk to other people. Many of Deviant Art’s users are simply fans of art who want to browse and buy. Making connections will get people looking at your art and lookers turn into buyers.

5.       Make A Sale

All that’s left for you to do is make a sale. Remember that in many cases you will have to charge shipping. You should also remember to pack your artwork very carefully so that it arrives in pristine condition (postage isn’t always kind to its parcels). Try communicating with your buyer to ask why they liked a piece and why they bought it, it could help you to improve your art!

Whether you’re asking how do I be an art teacher or just want to know how to be an artist; taking online art classes could be your answer.

Online art classes allow you to study art through your computer so that you can learn without ever leaving your house.  Classes include free courses, paid courses and full online college courses that you can use to get a degree.

Free Art Courses

Free online art classes are easy to find online. All you have to do is type in the right keywords and they come right up. Free online art classes will generally include the basics of drawing, pottery making or some very basic individual steps in art. Examples include making paints or how to construct/sew something specific. These are good if you are more interested in crafts or illustration.

Paid Courses

A paid online art class is one step up from a free art class. Usually a paid course will run from one to three weeks and will basically be a quick online seminar of art techniques or how-to’s. These can include painting, illustration, online design, inspiration and much more. Finding them usually requires a quick search which can be done with your web browser.

If you are looking for paid online art classes then you should consider looking up a specific art studio or etc. Remember to always verify that the art teacher is genuine and that you will be receiving your money’s worth before you pay anyone for an online art course.

Online College Art Classes

The most prestigious of online art classes, the college course is also the most expensive.  These can range from an Associate to a Master degree in level and can cover anything from Fine Art to Applied Art. Idea’s for majors include graphic design, illustration, creative writing or even choreography. There are an estimated 20-30 online art degrees that you can study.

If you are planning to study at an online college there are a few things you should consider. First, always make sure that the college is accredited.  An accredited college will teach you according to a strict minimum standard for your degree and will therefore be more legitimate. You can also avoid scammers by going through an accredited college.

A few good schools that offer online art classes are Full Sail University. Here you can expect to pay about $20,000 per study year and there are about 40 different study options for online tuition. You can also take single courses at Full Sail University if you already have your degree.

Another great school to study at is any of the Online Art Institutions. The Art Institutions have a long record of providing quality education. They also have campuses all over the United States should your tuition require you visit a campus every now and again.

Discovering art online is easy. There are hundreds of museums and art galleries that are not just accessible online but can be seen for free as well.

Online art galleries are useful for students who are studying art, for collectors who want to buy art and even for people who just want to look at it!

Here are 5 great online art galleries:

Gallery Today

Gallery Today contains an impressive number of modern art artists. Prints are available for sale and can be viewed by artist, theme, style, size and even price. There are a wide variety of different styles of art on this site which makes it great for exploring and discovering the works of modern artists.

Novica

Novica is an online art gallery dedicated to sponsoring cultural art from all over the world. They are sponsored by National Geographic and feature the wide range of style and cultural diversity that one could expect from the magazine. You can find, purchase and view anything from rare musical instruments to paintings to mirrors and masks. If it can be considered art than you can probably find it on Novica.

Scotland Art

Scotland Art displays the arts of Scotland. The site mostly contains modern art from up and coming Scottish artists. You can view and purchase original oil paintings as well as prints from most of the artists. Scotland Art also contains a small art gallery of famous Scottish artists.

DeviantArt

DeviantArt is the world’s largest amateur art gallery. While many people believe that amateur is bad, you can easily find hundreds if not thousands of talented photographers, illustrators and painters. DeviantArt allows models, artists and designers to work together to create low cost art. You can usually purchase prints or even originals through DeviantArt.

The Gallery of the Arts

The Gallery of the Arts is one of the world’s largest online art galleries. The Gallery of the Arts features both known and unknown artists.  Art is showcased for competition, viewing and can be purchased through the site. Art can be searched by artist, theme, art style, material or etc. The site also features large, high quality photos of art that you can browse through to your hearts content

As an artist you need money for college just as much or more as the next time. Art scholarships are scholarships that are designed specifically to provide student aid to people who are studying some form of art or who wish to begin an art and design career. There are literally hundreds of these scholarships out there so why don’t you have a look around; you can most definitely find funding for your college study.  Best of all, most art scholarships will cover study at distance learning programs as well as more traditional colleges.

L. Ron Hubbard Artists of Future Contest

L. Ron Hubbard features two art scholarships. The Illustrators of the Future Scholarship and the Writers of the future Scholarship; each competition offers winners a workshop, a gala to attend and a scholarship prize (usually 1 gold prize + 3-4 secondary prizes). Winners of the Writers of the future contest will be published in a novelette. Quarterly prizes are $1,500 per winner, annual $5,000.

Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships

The Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships Scholarship offers $15,000 to the winner of a national poetry foundation. The competition is held by the National Poetry Association and all applications should be submitted by March 31’st of the year you wish to compete. Students who compete must be between the ages of 21 and 31 and have a U.S. citizenship. All applications are considered; however; there is only one winner.

Michael Jackson and Rhythm Nations Scholarships

The Michael Jackson and Rhythm nations scholarship offers need based aid (up to full tuition) to students studying in a variety of fine arts programs. If you plan to study any of these programs then you should apply for the scholarship. Applicants are judged on talent and skill.

-          Performing arts

-          Communications

-          English

-          Fine Arts

-          Mass Communications

-          Music

-          Performing Arts

-          Theater Arts/Drama

-          Vocal Performance

-          Visual Arts

Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card $10,000 Scholarship Contest

The annual create a greeting card scholarship contest offers a $10,000 prize to the winners of the contest.  Submissions begin on March 6^th. Applicants must be 14 years old or older and have parental permission to join the contest should they be under the age of 18. All applications are submitted under the conditions that 1. They are completely original works and in no way infringe upon someone else’s copyright and 2. Any cards submitted will grant full rights to the competition for reproducing and selling the design. Winners receive $10,000 scholarship towards the college and study of their choice. The scholarship is open to all legal residents of the U.S. and outlying areas.

Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Competition

The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Competition is a unique, one time, $4,000 scholarship that offers tuition aid to any deserving art students. Any students in the 12^th grade or enrolled in a college may apply. Applications include submitting a short story, poem, original song, drama or original artwork. Students must apply as one applicant (no joint applications) and may only submit one entry per person. Submissions are judged and students are given scholarship based upon artistic merit and skill.

As an art student or just as an art lover, you are into art and want to find out more about it.   The internet is the easiest way to do it because; whether you know it or not, there are literally hundreds of places you can discover art online.

So, instead of packing up to go visit an art museum or gallery, relax; type up your favorite search bar and start looking for these great ways to discover art online.

Online Museums

There are hundreds of online museums with full online galleries that you can look at. Some of these include the Smithsonian, the Louvre and the National Museum of Dolls. Look around, you’re sure to find something that is interesting enough for you to spend time at. Best of all, most online museums are 100% free (donations optional) so not only can you see art in the convenience of your own home but it’s free as well!

Online Art Galleries

Do you have a favorite art Gallery you like to visit? If so, they probably have an online website with their art images. If you don’t have a favorite gallery, it’s pretty easy to look them up online and even to look them up specifically in your area. This is great not only for discovering art but for discovering places you might like to go and see in real life.

Google Images

Google Images is actually a great place to find art. You can find everything from Picasso, Rembrandt, photos of Michelangelo’s work to more modern and contemporary work. Most likely if it is on the internet it will come up in Google Images and you can browse to your hearts content. Usually you can find a lot of amateur art as well but by typing in specific artists, art years or etc. you can come up with a lot more specific results.

Artist Websites

Another great place to find online art is through artist websites. Many modern artists have their own websites or blogs and will post photos of work as it finishes. Sometimes this work is also for sale (if you have the money) so you can collect it. Who knows, it might be worth a fortune in a few hundred years…. Not that you will appreciate it.

Photo editing software can be expensive and programs like Photoshop often aren’t covered by your scholarship or grant. If you do manage to afford it, you have to download the program to your computer which can take up valuable space and RAM, especially if you have an older computer.

FotoFlexer

FotoFlexer is a very advanced online image editor that allows you to do pretty much anything you want with your photos. Whether it’s retouching, distorting, adding muscle, lowering weight, drawing on the photo or whatever, FotoFlexer can do it. Best of all, it’s 100% free and like all of the photo editors on this list; can be used right from your browser.

PickNick

PikNick is another cool online photo editing tool with lots of options. The browser allows you to change the language to English or Spanish so you can work with whatever is more comfortable for you.  Features full photo editing tools including re-touching, blemish remove, scale and resizing. However; PicNick will be merging with Google +.

LunaPic

LunaPic is a free online photo editor with touch up, liquidize, paint and animation effects. You can upload photos from your computer or straight from the web (whatever you like). The editor is completely free and even allows you to create, add effects to and edit collages.

iPiccy

The name might sound funny but iPiccy is a fun, free and easy to use photo editor. The app allows you to upload, edit, add effects, paint, add stains and change color to photos straight from your browser. Ipiccy is also free and does not require registration (no passwords or usernames required.)

DrPic

Dr.Pic is not only a free online photo editor, but it also hosts your images for you. This means you can save your images and store them online. The app also allows you to crop, change color, fix red eye, resize, blur, add frames and much more.

Web Designer Job Outlook & Salary
The starting salary for the average web designer is around $46,000 per year and with a little bit of experience and additional training a web designer can earn as much as $143,447 per year. The average payment for a web designer is usually between $50,000 and $80,000 per year respectively.
In most cases, web designers who work for large companies in big cities will receive the highest pay while freelancing web designers and designers working in small or rural communities will earn the least.
Web design is a constantly expanding field because of the growing popularity of the World Wide Web, the internet and its use by large corporations for sales, marketing and advertising.  Web design careers are expected to grow by around 12% by 2018 which is a faster than average growth and will include new jobs opening up, higher salary and different fields of work opening up.

1. Gain Work Experience

Gaining work experience is probably one of the most important reasons to take an internship. Work experience allows you to figure out what you need to know to continue and succeed in your career and will allow you to learn hands on work that you would otherwise learn after you graduate. This puts you ahead of anyone who chose not to take an internship!

2. Learn What It’s Like

Studying as an Intern will allow you to get a good feel for what your job will be like after graduation. This will be either encouragement for you to finish your major so that you can start working more quickly or might give you enough time to switch majors if you find out you absolutely hate the job…  Think about it, wouldn’t it be nice to know what your job will be like now instead of having to wait until you finish studying? An Internship makes this possible!

3. Enhance Your Resume

You’ve probably noticed it before; most job advertisements contain a “Work Experience Required” clause.  This makes it difficult to gain work experience without already having it which in the long run can make it difficult to actually find a job. Taking an internship will allow you to place the work done during your internship in your resume and can therefore be used to find a job! While you will not gain a great deal of work experience from the average internship, sticking to the internship period of 3-6 months will show a potential employer that you are ready to work and dedicated to doing your job even if you are not being paid for it (Internees are not paid).

4. Practice in the Real World

While studying online is easier and can usually be cheaper, you don’t always get a great deal of real world practice. Working at an internship allows you to put your thoughts and ideas into practice in the real world. This means you can see what works and what doesn’t!!  Most of all, you will be able to test your art and see if it works!

5. Meet New People

The biggest disadvantage of studying for your art degree online is that you have a limited chance of making connections that could lead to future jobs. Working at an internship allows you to make these connections and if you impress enough people, even guarantee yourself a high paying job after graduation. Working hard on your internship can lead to very good things after you graduate which is one of the single most stimulating factors towards working on an internship!