Stones have been worn by both women and men since prehistoric times. Just as in the jewelry of modern times, beautiful stones, rare and colorful, are most often the dominant feature of a piece with a metallic setting for ornamentation.

The stones used in the crafting of fine jewelry are generally divided into two classes- precious stones and semi-precious stones.

These terms are used heavily in the commercial world of jewelry when considering variety and value. While artistic merits are only a matter of opinion, the value of a stone is what it will bring in the marketplace. It should also be mentioned that many people, collectors and general consumers alike, prefer the rare to the beautiful.

These stones are simply rocks (minerals) taken from the earth, and after they have been enhanced by the artisans cutting and polishing, the finest and rarest of them are what we call gems.

Precious Stones

The most precious stones are the diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. The pearl is oftentimes classed with precious stones. Although strictly speaking while it is not a stone it holds an esteemed place in jewelry.

Semi-Precious Stones

A large number of stones used in jewelry are known as semi-precious; the most important ones are as follow: amethyst, lapis-lazuli, turquoise, aquamarine, topaz, moonstone, peridot, opal, tourmaline, zircon, chrysoberyl, alexandrite. Others of less importance although much used are: chrysoprase, jade, garnet, agate, azurite, malachite, bloodstone, coral, carnelian and many others. These stones while comparatively common and inexpensive are indispensable to the worker in jewelry. The variety of colors to be had in these stones make it possible to produce unusual designs of artistic merit and to adapt them to the personality and costume of the wearer. For more detailed information regarding gem stones the reader is referred to “Gem Stones” by G.F. Herbert Smith, also “The Curious Lore of Precious Stones,” by George Frederick Kunz.

For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com

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Body jewelry and body piercing practices have been observed by various groups of people all over the world throughout the centuries. For some tribes it is a rite of passage, for others it is an indicator of social status. For many, body jewelry is used to enhance personal beauty and as devices to rise above the rest of the pack. Today’s celebrities have been at the forefront in making body jewelry much more mainstream and acceptable – even desirable.

“What’s a little pain if it’ll make me look hip” seems to be the prevalent thought among the young and the old who are turning out in increasing numbers to participate in the body jewelry trend. Not so long ago, only punk rockers and those with ‘bad boy’ images, such as former NBA star Dennis Rodman, were seen sporting body piercings in mainstream media. Today, body jewelry is endorsed by pop celebrities with mass followings, including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Fiona Apple and Lenny Kravitz. Britney Spears has an extensive collection of navel rings, and Christina Aguilera is said to wear the most interesting body jewelry in areas that are covered by her clothing.

Some celebrities with an otherwise ‘serious’ image are nevertheless fans of body art. Actress Camryn Manheim of the television drama ‘The Firm’ sports multiple earrings on the cartilage of one ear. Gillian Anderson, who played the cynical and skeptical FBI agent Dana Scully in the television series ‘The X Files,’ has a pierced belly button. Performers with tongue piercings include former Spice Girl Melanie Brown (Scary Spice) and dancer Jimmy Gulzar, while supermodels Christy Turlington and James King are proud of their piercings. Some sports celebrities also wear body jewelry, including WWE wrestlers A-Train and Billy Gunn, as well as football player Ricky Williams.

Body jewelry has also been used throughout the ages to enhance sensation, and by extension, sexuality and sexual performance. Genital and nipple piercing in both men and women, while not as widespread as nose, ear, tongue, navel and eyebrow piercing, still has its own following. Singer Janet Jackson has stated on the Oprah Winfrey talk show that she likes the sensation that her pierced nipples give her. Other celebrities with pierced nipples include rock musicians Axl Rose and Tommy Lee, Icelandic singer Bjork and rapper Lil Kim. Pop princess Britney Spears likewise has a pierced nipple.

Celebrities, whether they like it or not, are oftentimes looked up to as role models and the influence they wield over their fans is considerable. Fans emulate their idols’ preferences: from clothing, mannerism, even to the wearing of body jewelry. More and more, they are playing a leading role not only in the direction of today’s fashion trends but also in the shaping of modern pop culture.

Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com

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Nothing is quite so liberating for an artist - or aspiring artist - than a good light, several large sheets of medium textured drawing stock, and a handful of soft, ‘moderately black’ charcoal sticks. There is something natural, basic, and elementary about working with charcoal.

Perhaps when one of our caveman ancestors first pulled a lump of charcoal from the communal fire pit and drew the first charcoal drawing on a cave wall, he (or she) triggered a gnome mutation that has vibrated down through the centuries into the present.

Other media - oils, pastels, acrylics, watercolors, etc. - have all changed over the centuries, but charcoal has remained simply charcoal, an impure form of elemental carbon that results from burning woods in low-oxygen conditions. How could we not be all naturally drawn to this artist’s tool?

Charcoal as a medium is fast, direct, and responsive. It’s with very good reason that beginning art students are encouraged to sketch with charcoal to practice line flow, contours, shading, light and shadow, and emphasis. Bold and frequent application of charcoal is the best way for a new artist to find his or her personal technique and unique style.

Charcoal it is one of the least inhibiting of drawing media. It can be used to produce bold and fluid lines, a wide range of textures, and achieve subtle shadings as well.

All three of the basic drawing techniques can be practiced using charcoal: contour drawing, gestural drawing, and volume drawing.

Contour drawing, or drawing outlines of varying thickness to define a subject and express shadow and strength. This has its painting equivalent in Chinese ink brush drawings.

Gestural drawing, or ‘scribble’ drawings to express motion or emotion, the most painterly approach and a good warm up for working in pastels or oils.

Volume drawing, with consists almost entirely of shading to produce a chiaroscuro effect, applying no lines except perhaps when a cross-hatch technique is used to show texture. This is an excellent warm up to watercolor painting.

Probably due to its availability, versatility and low cost, charcoal became the common practice medium used throughout the ages and throughout the world by all the great artists of their time, always found in their sketchbooks but rarely seen in a finished work of art.

Modern art has however embraced charcoal as a popular medium for finished charcoal paintings and charcoal drawings. Charcoal portraits are especially effective in capturing a subject’s character and subtle expressions.

Reproductions of the charcoal drawings and charcoal paintings of famous artists have become much admired, and valuable, artworks in their own right; the sketchbooks of Leonardo da Vinci for example.

Original and reproduction charcoal paintings and charcoal portraits are extremely durable once they have been mounted behind glass or sprayed with a fixative, or fine spray lacquer.

A very intriguing and unique gift would be to commission a formal photographic portrait to be reproduced as an original charcoal portrait

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