It took Leonardo da Vinci 4 years to almost finish painting the Mona Lisa, and historians say that the work never really ended. According to an ancient anecdote, da Vinci ordered clowns and singers to make Ms. Lisa smile.

500 years later and all you need to do in order to have a portrait made of yourself is to send your best picture to an artist through the mail, send a payment and collect it from your local post office.

In this article we will showcase some online portrait painters and their various techniques.

Fed up with your coworkers? Try coworking, the communal workspace alternative to cramped cubicles.

The school of “Less is More” has its unique advantages. A clean and minimal design has the power to fascinate viewers and puzzle them; leave them with unanswered questions and the human wish to solve them. Designers sometimes feel like they are taking un-necessary risks if they don’t spell it out for their viewers, but they will be surprised to find out that this is exactly what’s making them stay. A smart product is always complemented by a smart display. Here are 10 great examples to inspire your next minimalist design.

These are some of the most brilliant, bold, and interesting Tux themed wallpapers around. They are sorted by size, from small to extra-large, to fit your monitor accordingly. Show (and share) your love for Linux and Tux by sporting your favorite on your desktop background. Feel free to add any we may have missed in the comment section below.

It’s Memorial Day here in the United States of America, a day to honor those that have fought so bravely in their country’s name. Regardless of your viewpoint on the military or war in general, a soldier can be a source of great inspiration and an example of courage under fire.

They say the building blocks to life can be seen in the teachings of an ancient mysticism. Aside from magic (both dark and good) and meditation, a way to understand the creation of the universe can be found in what is called the sefirot, or ‘enumerations’.
Artists break boundaries and ignore the faux paus. A few graphic designers have created their own unique interpretations of the basic symbol of the sefirot.

Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein were stars in the old school Pop Art movement. They have inspired many after them to create some amazing advertising-style art. The feel of these Pop wallpapers is that of a classic comic strip full of superheroes and sexy damsels in distress. Presented here is a selection of some wondrous wallpapers done in the Pop Art style a la Warhol and Lichtenstein. These will look fantastic contrasted to the modern, sleek look of the new Apple iPad, or use them as wallpapers on your monitor’s desktop and iPhone/smartphone background.

The only (efficient) way of getting work is by putting yourself ‘out there.’ This involves some serious networking, utilizing your contacts and their contacts in a manner that is not overbearing but still pushy enough to get you some work. Where can you fit in, then, when you are actively looking to interact and even find more work? A conference of course … the place where everyone is trying to sell you something, whether it’s their company or themselves.

Being a contract or freelance web designer, graphic designer, or other web consultant definitely has its ups and downs. If your work is top-notch, well-appointed … if your networking skills are advanced … and if you have a high level of patience and the ability to focus, then you, my friend, may be a freelancer. But ask yourself this: Do the pros outweigh the cons? Let’s take a look, and you can make the decision for yourself.

The idea that a good website requires quality web design seems like a consensus, right? When planning a new website, the design aspect is usually more than important – it’s essential. Companies spend a fortune on web design, and web designers are the new lawyers – every mother in law wants one.