Nowadays, there are many art auction houses available online such as sotheby and ebay. However, before attempting to bid for a fine art auction, there are some points you need to take note especially if you are a beginner to art auctions.

If you are new to fine art auctions, you might first decide what it is you like to collect. Is it abstract art, oil-based painting, impression art etc?

You also might want to read up on the art category that you prefer to buy. Take for example, you are into abstract art. It would help you in your art auctions if you knew more about abstract art history, the various abstract art movements. The best way to start would be on the internet. One such site is www.artsconnected.org. They provide comprehensive search tools for visitors to research on their favorite art category.

The other way is to browse the various art magazines, books, periodicals. You could go to your local bookstore, amazon or even the local library. Visit a few fine art auction houses and get a feel for the type of art you are interested in. Art Auction houses will usually provide detailed information on the art piece being auctioned.

How Do I Know The Art Piece I Like Is Real?

Ok, so you finally found an art piece you like. The next question you are probably asking is how do I know it is authentic? Since the value of an art piece is subjective depending on the person looking at it, it would be best if you can afford it to get a professional art appraiser to value the art piece.

For large fine art auction houses such as sotheby, you can be assured that the art piece is already appraised and is authentic. However, if you are looking for an art piece at smaller auction houses or online art auctions such as ebay, you do need to be extra careful. Particularly so for online art auctions where there are many fake art pieces being auctioned.

If you like a fine art being auctioned online, the best way if possible would be to communicate with the art seller before buying. Online art auctions usually keep a track record of the art seller’s sales history and can help you to determine whether the seller is a reputable person.

“John Lennon & Yoko Ono Bed-In for Peace”

Ask any girl. Those rules were bent Friday night when I happened upon old flame David Goldman still going strong at his Boy’s Co exclusive opening of “All We Are Saying” - a fashionable evening featuring the original photographs of “John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s Bed-In for Peace” by the late photojournalist Gerry Deiter.

These extraordinary photographs, providing the backdrop for the theme of the evening, were on display through the sagacity of the Elliott Louis Gallery’s owner Ted Lederer - who single-handedly dragged them out of Deiter’s vault for a first-time showing on May 26, 2004 – thirty-five years after John Lennon and Yoko Ono went to bed in a suite in Montreal's Queen Elizabeth Hotel, and invited the entire world to join them in seeking an alternative to violence and war in solving global political and social problems.

May 26, 1969. That month the battle of Dong Ap Bia, a.k.a. Hamburger Hill was exploding in the Vietnam War. Race riots occurred in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. French Foreign Legion paratroopers landed in Kolwezi, Zaire, to rescue Europeans caught in the middle of a civil war. U.S. National Guard helicopters sprayed skin-stinging powder on anti-war protesters in California. It was two years after the Summer of Love.

John and Yoko were in room 1742 of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. Early in the Bed-In, a reporter asked John what he was trying to do. John said, "All we are saying is give peace a chance." Putting sounds to the thought, he rented an 8-track tape machine from a local music store and, on May 31 while in bed, recorded the first solo by a single Beatle,” Give Peace a Chance”, - the recording was attended by dozens of journalists and various celebrities, including Timothy Leary, Petula Clark, Dick Gregory and Canada’s Tommy Smothers.

Gerry Deiter was there for the entire eight days. He was assigned to photograph the Bed-In for Peace by Life Magazine but Life never ran the feature. Ironically, it fell victim to a bigger story - the death of Ho Chi Minh, leader of North Vietnam.

Deiter kept the negatives and transparencies locked away for more than 30 years. He had been living aboard a classic wooden motor yacht cruising the wilderness of the British Columbia coast photographing and writing when Ted Lederer, with the help of family and friends, prevailed on him to bring this archive to life and offer the work to the public at the Elliott Louis Gallery in 2004. This amazing work offers up 25 images in colour and black and white that celebrate John and Yoko's example of peace and love.

What brought the Boy’s Co show together were Goldman and Lederer meeting up on the field where their sons play soccer. It was a confluence that allowed for a new generation to have a special glimpse of an older one.

Disenchanted fan, Mark David Chapman, murdered Lennon on December 8, 1980. The world is still at war. This retrospective clearly speaks to Lennon’s prescience.

Good on Deiter, Goldman and Lederer for keeping his mission in our faces.

Devorah Macdonald is a freelance writer living and working in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her professional career began as a disc jockey in California, Seattle and her hometown of Vancouver BC.

Vancouver Magazine, in an article titled ‘Video Vixen’, hailed her as having “the best female voice in radio locally,” going on to compare her world-weary delivery with Linda Ellerbee, formerly of the ‘Today Show’ and the award winning ‘Nick News’.

A ten-year retirement devoted to creating three children, “one of each,” according to Macdonald, now allows time write on music, movies and television.

Her most recent creation, “Peggy Lee to Pink,” a radio formatted show under development subtitled “Top That Taylor” - a missive to teen percussionist and discographer daughter Taylor - promises to offer many future music reviews.

Art has different meanings for different people. But one thing is common for all; everyone loves and appreciates good art. Again good art also holds different meanings for different people. Well, it all boils down to individual choice and selection. So, if you want to buy a piece of art then you must know whom to approach. Yes, the art master is the best guide for you in this matter. Mirek Klabal is a New York based art master and dealer who has been helping people by showcasing the best art and helping them in buying them.

The art world is infested with fraud art masters and this is exactly why you have to make a proper selection when looking for a reputable and knowledgeable art master. So ask many questions about the art dealer before you set about buying a piece of art from the dealer. Dealing with Mirek Klabal means that you are tension free during every step related to the purchasing of art.

Mirek Klabal has art galleries located in New York, which has a huge collection of art masterpieces. If you are looking for Chagall, then Mirek Klabal has a huge collection from which you can buy. He has a huge collection and so you must be wondering why on earth someone would share his or her collection of Chagall. Well this is where Klabal is different and way ahead form all the other art maters and dealers who are working as art dealers.

Klabal firmly believes that sharing things with others, whether its art or any other thing, is a source of great joy. He is one person who believes in really doing what he feels, not like other art dealers who say great things buy fall shy of actually executing it. Just make sure that you make a wise choice and do not fall prey to fraud art masters and dealers while buying a piece of art.

You must be very careful when buying Chagall or any other art masterpieces due to the presence of a large number of fake art pieces. Well, it is so easy to get duped if you do not posses proper knowledge about the art masterpiece that you are purchasing. You may think that you have made a great bargain and deal only to find that the piece of art is absolute fake. Leaving aside the monetary loss, you will feel cheated and hurt if you do not get the original piece of work done by your favorite artist, so take great caution beforehand.

Art master Mirek Klabal is a great source for you to go to buy the kind of art that you have always wanted to possess. Mirek Klabal works in conjunction with different art dealers and mostly works towards selling masterpiece art to customers. He is a great person to go to get advice from about whether or not another art dealer is a fraud.

Ancient Egyptian Art is one of the most recognized, admired and collected art in the history of the world. From delicate gold jewelry to vivid paintings to massive statues dozens of feet tall, for over 5,000 years Egyptian art has fascinated, delighted and awed generation after generation with its beauty, style and mystery. While genuine ancient pieces of art are rare and extremely valuable, modern Egyptian artists make beautiful art and jewelry that is inspired by some of the greatest recovered works from ancient sites, and which adheres strictly to the styles used by ancient artists. Jewelry in gold and silver with inlaid stones are fashioned after pieces of jewelry recovered from ancient tombs. Papyrus Paintings are painted in vivid color on genuine papyrus, made using the same principles developed thousands of years ago on the banks of the Nile, where the papyrus plant grows to this day. Paintings are executed in the style of frontalism, one of the most striking characteristics of ancient Egyptian Art.

Frontalism

Frontalism is the style in which every known piece of ancient Egyptian art was produced. In paintings, the style of frontalism means that the head of the character is drawn in profile, while the body is drawn from a front view. However, even though the face is in profile, the eye is drawn in full, as it would be seen from the front. The legs always face the same direction as the head, with one foot forward and one back.

Ancient Egyptian figures, especially of gods and pharaohs, are noticeable for their very formal, even rigid stance and posture, but their faces are always serene, regardless of the scene in which they are depicted. There were very strict rules about how a god or pharaoh could be represented, which even included a prohibition against anything being drawn in front of the face or body of the pharaoh, even when the scene depicted clearly required it for any kind of realism. Realism was simply not a goal of ancient Egyptian Art. It is these very formal and stylized rules that have made Egyptian Art one of the most widely recognized forms of art in the world. Over thousands of years Egyptian artists adhered to this one style, which is quite remarkable, especially as compared to the extreme differences in art expression that have occurred in the modern world in just the past 100 years or so. The only acknowledged variations are in the portrayals of animals and common people as compared to the more formal depictions of pharaohs and gods. As can be seen in many Egyptian paintings, animals and common people or slaves are represented in a more natural manner, though still within very strict and formulaic rules.

This frontalist style is the primary reason why ancient Egyptian art is so easily recognizable, and its appeal has lasted through many centuries to this day.

How the bottom of the foot contacts the floor is very important. Whether standing on a stretched leg, or in a plie, the ankles and soles of the feet should not be tense. The tension in the ankles will be correct if the turnout is held from the top of the thighs, down to the knees, by the back of the thighs and inner thighs.

The foot may be naturally high under the arch, or flat along the floor. The foot should not be rotated towards the outer ankle joint in an effort to show an arch lifted off the floor. It doesn't matter if the foot is flat, when you are standing on it. It is important that the foot and ankle are not tensely trying to hold a position. Ankles may fall in if the arches are fallen and many peoples' are. Holding the turnout from the thighs will lift the inner ankle slightly, but that isn't the point.

There are very simple exercises to strengthen the sole of the foot, aside from the numerous tendus, degages and sautes in a class.

But let's go to turnout first. Ideally the 180 degree turnout of the foot positions comes from the turnout of the legs inside the hip joint - and it actually does for the most flexible dance student. Children and adults who take ballet once or twice weekly should never be allowed to turn their feet out more than their thighs can turn out. A good teacher will NOT allow this. In choosing a ballet teacher, extreme forcing of the foot turn out is easy to spot, even when the legs are straight; the knees will be pointing in one direction and the feet will be turned out to another direction. In a plie, or knee bend, even a slight exaggeration of the foot turnout is noticeable to an untrained eye, and the ankles will be rolling forwards and down as well.

A conscientious teacher will not allow unrealistic foot positions at the expense of healthy knee ligaments and ankle muscles. A constant sprain/strain of the knees and ankles is occurring with a forced turnout.

A well-trained teacher will instruct students to work with the flexibility that they have, and will teach stretches that may improve it. I say may, because some people do not get much more flexible with stretches, no matter how dedicated they are, yet most will see improvement. The importance is being able to HOLD the turnout that you have, while moving through adagio, jumps, and pointe work. And anyone can do that if they understand how to do it, and have the concentration to do it repeatedly.

Good technique DOES matter even if you are studying for enjoyment, with no professional aspirations. Straining off balance, working the muscles incorrectly and getting injured hardly leads to enjoyment. The overall development of strength and attainment of grace is more attainable if the basics are correct.

A wonderful exercise to strengthen the turnout is as follows: lie down on the floor on your back, feet in first position, flexed as though you were standing. Because there is no weight on the feet, you can turn your feet out for more feeling in the turnout muscles at the top of the thighs. Press the back of the legs into the floor, and move the legs, feet still flexed, slowly outward toward second position. Keep pressing the back of the legs into the floor, and don't let your back arch. You may only be able to go an inch , - but you'll feel those turnout muscles! Do that ten times every day and you will be much stronger standing up and doing the regular class movements. You won't regret investing time in this exercise.

At the tender age of 11 Harry Potter has hit just about every bookshelf, console, movie screen, and imagination as entirely possible. His name is bigger in our muggle world as it is in his fictional world.

It seems as though there is no end to the kid phenomenon, with his heroics echoing from every Harry Potter audio book in the globe, and all of the children mimicking his every move with their replica Harry Potter wands and round glasses, with mum going red with anger at the thought of her brand new brush being split into pieces. But that is not all, even the adults are now in on the act, collecting Harry Potter memorabilia at every chance that they get.

Think about the adventures he has been through. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, he once again faced up to his nemesis Lord Voldemort, at the same time saving the world from total chaos. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the goblet spat his name out and entered him into the Triwizard Tournament, a tournament he didn't want to enter but really had no choice, only to witness a murder. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban where he comes face to face with the dementors who seem to have a lust for Harry's soul. And of course Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, where he witnesses the death of Professor Albus Dumbledore, a life taken away by the treachery of one Severus Snape.

Now Harry has to go off on yet another journey, Lord Voldemort is now at his strongest, and according to the prophecy it is either Voldemort or himself who dies. JK Rowling has won many awards for feeding the imagination of children with her series of Harry Potter books, and rightly so. Just take a look at her long listings: The Hugo Award, the Bram Stoker award, the Whitbread award for best childrens book, the Anne Spencer Lindburg prize, and 3 year winner of the Smarties prize.

It was back in 1990 when JK Rowling admitted was when she first thought of Harry Potter. She was quoted as saying "Harry Potter just strolled into my head, fully formed". Since then a quarter of a billion books have been made, all of the books have been translated into 61 different languages, and Harry Potter mania has been distributed to over 200 countries.

Well done Joanna (JK Rowling), you deserve your merits, and I'll tell you why. Harry Potter is one of the very good reasons for our kids taking an enjoyment in reading again. Your imagination, exciting ideas and ability to be able to make the most of every twist and turn in a story is fuel enough to feed the imagination of every single child on the planet.

The paper plate is a great party supply that should be considered almost a requirement for the event. Actually every host and hostess should make use of paper plates for their party fun. Hosts and hostesses will be glad to have the ease of clean up after their parties plus the plates themselves can usually be picked out to match the party’s theme. Guests will also appreciate paper plates because they can easily throw out one plate when it gets too greasy or covered with leftovers in order to get themselves a fresh plate for their second or third helpings.

Paper plates are made to fit any party theme. There are paper plates that fit with children’s cartoon shows such as Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street. Kids love colorful items and these themed plates make a bright, colorful accent to children’s parties. Plus the kids get the bonus of seeing their favorite cartoon character every time they clean their plates. Adult parties can often find appropriately themed plates as well. Mardi Gras themed paper plates are brightly colored and designed. Older birthday party plates usually feature the number of the birthday in bold across the plate. The 30th, 40th, 50th and 75th birthday party plates are most often designed like that with the number in a bright blue or purple color on a black background.

You needn’t worry about the paper plates not holding up to the many different kinds of foods you’re liable to have at your party. Most party plates are coated with a thin layer of wax or plastic to make them more resistant to wetness so they won’t go all soggy with barbeque sauce. This also helps to preserve the images printed in ink on the paper.

Be sure to place lots of waste receptacles around your party or event area. Guests are only likely to throw something in the trash if they have a waste bin in their line of sight. Not many guests will go searching for the trash.

Laughter is an automatic response to the sight of masks made with the look of antique feathers and sequins in a costume's design. It is nearly impossible not to smile at this soft finery.

Many hosts find that they have a hard time deciding on the right party favor to give out at their party. Sometimes they just can’t decide on the party favor they like best, sometimes the ideas just fly out of their heads when it comes time. There are also a lot of in-between problems that can cause small annoying difficulties with picking out party favors.

Its best to peruse the many different kinds of party gifts there are, so that you have the most information at your disposal when you make your choice. There are lots of party favors out there. You’ll find simple items like personalized pencils, pens, beads and glow sticks are cheaper, but they aren’t very big and won’t fill in a loot bag very much. Other gifts like wrap around sunglasses and fuzzy dice work well for a summer event while being of a good size for a party favor. Then there are the larger party favor items. These are the feather boas, and party hats of the party gift arena.

Guests just love the whole loot bag idea because they get lots of little items that kind of add up to one big item. You can also save money by putting together a loot bag, because it’s easy to fill with mostly candy or cookies. Mix up the loot bag selection a little by filling the loot bags with different kinds of items or with items in different numbers.

Also pick out party favors that match up with your party theme. If you are having a casino parties then get some decks of cards and dice to put in your guests bags. A Halloween party or Fourth of July party loot bag can benefit from the addition of glow sticks, bracelets, and necklaces. Even the bag that your favors go into can match up with the theme. Black or orange for Halloween, and Red, White or Blue for Independence Day.

An oil painting is an expression on canvas that can reflect many things, from real life to abstract, and it one of the greatest gift ideas. Painting in oil is an almost lost art medium in the burgeoning digital age. Contrary to popular belief, painting in oil does not require that the artist to be a professional. Rather oil is a medium that is malleable, making it fun - even if it’s not always the easiest medium to use.

Where to Find Oil Paintings

An oil painting can be purchased for many occasions and does not have to be expensive. Depending on the size of the painting, its age, and the artist who painted it, oil paintings can range in price and value. Original oil paintings can be found in shows, such as at an artist expo, from a private dealer or at an antique auction. Original oil paintings can even be found online.

A Great Christmas Gift Idea

Christmas is a time of giving. Why not give a gift that will be fully appreciated? Whether you commission a painting to be done by an oil painting artist or decide to paint one yourself, an oil painting is one of the greatest Christmas gift ideas for a wife or other significant woman in your life such as a mother, a sister, a daughter or a best friend. Find out what she likes – landscapes, portraits, still life, modern art or another style and contact an oil painting artist who specializes in that particular form.

Have it Commissioned

An oil painting artist will usually charge a bit more for an original oil painting, however, the cost may be worth it to have a painting that will become a Christmas gift for your wife that she will never forget. Discuss your preferences with the oil painting artist and even consider bringing elements from your home or other things that hold meaning and have the artist incorporate them into the original oil painting they create for you. When you commission a painting, the oil painting artist is paid to create an original work that reflects your choices and style, so make sure you take part in the creative process as much as possible

Do it Yourself

If you decide to create an original oil painting yourself as a gift idea, keep in mind that perfection is probably not the best goal for a beginner. Rather, strive to be true to your creativity. While a portrait may be a more difficult challenge, painting a landscape or still life is generally not seen as difficult (even if you, the oil painting artist, have little or no previous experience.)

Where to Find Supplies

Supplies such as a canvas and frame, oil paints, brushes and other necessities can be purchased at any art store for much less than it would to commission an original oil painting as a Christmas gift for your wife. If you decide to commission an original oil painting as a Christmas gift for your wife, make sure to find an artist in enough time to complete the project before the holiday.

When deciding whether or not you will commissions an original oil painting as a Christmas gift for your wife or if you will be the original oil painting artist yourself, consider the cost and then think about the meaning, which will most likely be more priceless than the original oil painting itself.

Art is the reflection of your ideas, thoughts and feelings. In fact, it is the best way to paint your emotions on the canvas. You can express more with pictures than with words and this is the perfect way to describe the beauty in Mirek Klabal’s collection. Mirek Klabal’s collection is the master piece and gives you an opportunity to view mesmerizing paintings. Art is the only means of expression that knows no boundaries. The main aim of art is to show the reality and fantasy in the most exquisite manner. Indeed, art is meant to woo the senses and heart.

An art dealer truly understands the meaning of the beauty reflected in paintings. Mirek Klabal is a good art master, who has a huge collection of creative art that can catch your senses. He has an expressive collection of Chagall’s paintings in the world. In fact, Mirek Klabal’s art gallery in New York is the most happening place for buying quality piece of art. An art dealer deals in the most beautiful paintings available. And his main aim remains to promote art and its relevancy in one’s life. Mirek Klabal art gallery signifies the destination point of art that defines the true meaning.

Art dealers have a special craving for art and they also have a passion for art. There are various art dealers that have a series of paintings that represent a certain period or time, while many others have a collection of modern art. The art dealer has to cater to all types of customer likes and preferences. An art dealer can be considered as the hub of creativity. Art dealers have a deep understanding of the particular talents for the individual artists.

The art dealer coordinates with various artists to develop a network. The art dealer also links-up with the distributors and buyers, who have a special interest in the field of art. Mirek Klabal is a well-known name in the field of art. His art gallery defines the true meaning of art. When dealing with Mirek Klabal, you are in safe hands. Customer satisfaction is the main target of the art dealer. After all, he has to cater to the huge masses and has to be cautious about their passion for art.

Submitting your artwork to the art dealers is not an easy task. You have to select the appropriate art dealer for this purpose. After all, you are taking so much pain to create a painting and if the art dealer does not value your painting, you will not get the deserved recognition. Submission is not the only significant part, buying is also necessary. If the buyers will not buy your paintings, then you won’t have a market. Basically, it depends on the network of an art dealer that creates base for the carrier of an artist.

The world of art has its own lifestyle. If you are an art lover, then you can enjoy the complete enthusiasm. The word art itself signifies life beyond human ideology. You can express every thought in the light of colors. The art has the power to give a way to your innovations and creativity.

Alain devoted himself more and more to writing the poetry and texts which he loved whilst at boarding school. Being a daydreamer, his mother decided to send him to a French college in England. Following problems with his registration he did not enrol but ended up staying in London where he worked in a pub. This time in London helped him to come out of himself. On returning to France, he took up the guitar and composed several songs. It became a passion. He lived in a squat whilst going for auditions but they came to nothing. He listened to all the great English and American singers of the period with admiration which also influenced him.

In 1969 he met his future wife, Françoise and they were married in 1970. The same year his son Pierre was born. He continued to sing in cabarets and bars of the Rive Gauche, the literary and intellectual quarter of Paris. He made very little money but his wife encourage him to persevere. Finally in 1971, he landed his first contract with the Pathe-Marconi label but he still did not find success.

1973 marked the end of the young singer's hard work. He made the acquaintance of Bob Socquet, the artistic director of RCA who was very interested in the repertoire of the disillusioned Alain Souchon. Bob Socquet had just written "L'amour 1930" for a romantic Italian singer but he encouraged Alain to sing this song at the Rose D'Or of Antibes contest. It was his first success.

Alain then met Laurent Voulzy, a young musician born in 1948 and brought up on Anglo Saxon music whose career had not yet taken off. The relationship between these two singers immediately took off. Their personalities complemented each other and their work improved very quickly. Alain was the stronger at the lyrics whilst Voulzy provided the music. They cut their first album in 1974 called "J'ai 10 ans" which emphasised the elegant style of Souchon and the modernity of Voulzy. After years on the cabaret scene, Alain Souchon is finally recognised for his talent and in 1975 cuts a second album called "Bidon" for which Voulzy wrote all the music. This was an enormous success. By 1977 he had continued success with the album "Jamais content". The song "Allo maman bobo" headlines his style of male brittleness which the singer asserts. Another song "Poulailler's Song" evokes racist humour. In spite of the fact that Souchon is an incorrigible dreamer, he liked to tackle certain problems.

The writing together of Souchon and Voulzy also had divided benefits for Laurent Voulzy who in 1977, obtained success with "Rockcollection" in collaboration with Souchon. The two men isolated themselves in Brittany for several weeks at a time to write new albums. They worked well together and in 1978 Alain Souchon brought out another album "Toto 30 ans". This album is darker than usual but the public still warms to it. The singles "Le Bagdad de Lann Bihoue" and "Papa Mambo" are huge successes. This disc also marks the first step of Alain Souchon towards the cinema as the film director Francois Truffaut commissions him to write the title song of his film "L'Amour en fuite".

In 1978, Alain's second son Charles, was born. Several months later, in January 1980, Alain is invited to sing at l'Olympia which is indeed a triumph. In November he returned for nine nights where Laraunt Voulzy joined him once to sing two new songs together.

In 1980, the album "Rame" was released on which Alain Souchon's old friend Michel Jonasz sang with him on the title song "Jonasz". Since 1974, the two artists had been writing regularly together and shared the same vision. This year also sees his first forage into an acting career in "Je Vous Aime". With Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Depardieu and Serge Gainsbourg, Alain Souchon plays a fragile and melancholic person. His acting is so much appreciated that Jean-Paul Rappeneau then called upon him to star in the film "Tout feu tout flame" with Isabelle Adjani and Yves Montand. This film is a success but it is in the 1983 film "L'Ete Meurtrier" where he plays a character fatally in love alongside Isabelle Adjani that brings him real fame.

During his time in film, he had stopped writing but in 1983 returned to singing with the album "On avance" which was a little different from his others, having his friends co-write several songs. "On est si beau" with Michel Jonasz, "Les papas des bébés" with Louis Chedid and "Casablanca" with David McNeil. Only the very beautiful "Saute en l'air" was co-written with Voulzy. From the 20th September he played at l'Olympia and then went on tour around the country.

At the end of 1984, the Souchon and Voulzy isolated themselves between Brittany and Saint Tropez to write the album "C'est comme vous voulez" which came out in 1985. In between times, Alain Souchon left the label RCA and went to Virgin. At 40 years old, Souchon's music became less morose as is testified by the title "J'veux de cuir". But tenderness remained principally in his work as was seen in the song "La Ballade de Jim".

In May 1986, after playing in the Palais des Sports at Paris, he went on tour with the singer Veronique Sanson from 11th November to 11th December. The two singers develop a duet called "Chacun mon tour" which was a success not only in France, but in Belgium and Switzerland as well. In 1987, in the film "Comedie" by Jacque Doillon, he plays a companion of Jane Birkin. Alain Souchon made regular visits back to cinema but the role in "Comedie", even though less known, is one of his most touching.

At the end of 1988, Souchon and Voulzy again exiled themselves, this time to Monaco. The work resulted in the album "Ultra Moderne solitude" brought out in 1989. Alain Souchon based his new songs on the prestigious scene of the Theatre des Champ-Elysees. Amongst them was the song "La Beauté de Ava Gardner" which was voted best title of the year by the Victoire de la Musique. In September 1989, Souchon gave a recital at the Casino de Paris that resulted in the live Album "Nickel" released in 1990. After touring, a film or two and some rest, Alain Souchon returned to the musical scene in 1993 with his new more political album, "C'est deja ca". This album, which is dominated by the sound of the guitar, was an enormous success. The song "Le Fils" was co-written with his son, Pierre who sings in a group called Cherche Midi along with Julien Voulzy. In October 1993, he takes part in a concert to raise money for children suffering from AIDS.

At the beginning of 1994, the second track of the album "L'Amour a la Machine" was a big success. A little later, during February, he is presented with the award for Best Song of the Year and Best Male Artist at the Victoires de la Musique, after which he sold more than a million copies of his album. He returned to play at L'Olympia from the 17th May to 11th June. From October he fills the four thousand seats of the Zenith for three evenings. At the end of this success, a live album is released at the end of October 1995. At this time, more than a million albums had already been sold. In the end, 200,000 spectators came to see him sing on his last tour.

In February 1995 on the 20th anniversary of the Victoires de la Musique, Alain Souchon received the award for best "Chanson Originale" for his song "Foule Sentimentale" from 1993. In 1996, he obtained the award "le Prix Vincent Scotto" given by the SACEM (Societe des Auteurs Compositeurs) for his song "Sous les Jupes des Filles". In 1995, Alain Souchon and Laurent Voulzy sang with their respective sons, Pierre and Julien on the album "Sol en Si", started in 1993. Then in 1997 before going on tour, Alain Souchon returned to the Casino de Paris with "Sol en Si", alongside the singer Zazie.

Carving out popular songs, Souchon made yet another album with Voulzy in November 1999 called "Aux ras de paquerettes". These songs were a little more pessimistic than usual, the music a little more nostalgic. On the occasion of a new CD, Alain Souchon's son Charles, set up an internet site. Very lively and funny, this site holds surprises such as the sale of his platinum disc received for his last album. An admirer put a bid in for 8,700francs and Souchon donated the money to help injured birds following the shipwreck of the oiltanker Erika.

The tour of 2000/2001 consisted of 140 dates. Finishing at the end of 2001, he began again in January with an acoustic formula with only 3 musicians. Following this success, in March he gave 6 concerts in the Casino de Paris which were a sell out.

On the 18th April 2002, Alain Souchon began his tour "Tout simplement" at the Palais du Sports in Paris interrupted by the Festival du Printemps de Bourges and then continuing through the Autumn ending up with a triumphal finish in Paris in November. 2005

More and more people of the younger generation are following Alain Souchon's example. This sixty year old is still making music and in September of this year went back in the studio to record a disc called "The Vie Theodore" on which his son Pierre co-wrote three of the tracks.

Arthur Golden’s 1997 book, Memoirs of a Geisha, and the 2005 movie it inspired, teased non-Asian women, making them curious about the beauty secrets and powerfully attractive qualities of geisha, of Japanese women, and perhaps of Asian women in general.

Many Japanese-inspired fashion and beauty products were introduced immediately before the movie reached the theaters. Coach offered a Japanese silk-and-mink kimono hobo bag. Cole Haan featured stiletto boots covered in antique Japanese silk. Banana Republic launched a limited-edition holiday collection inspired by the movie’s wardrobe, including a silk floral kimono sash-tie top, a quilted geisha bag, an Asian-style tassel necklace, and a satin kimono dress. Facial and body creams featured cherry-blossom-themed packaging and the same image of the movie’s star, Zhang Ziyi, that graced billboards, newspaper ads, and even the cover of a special edition of the book.

In late 2005 American women heard a lot about the Japanese geisha. Yet what relevance could the geisha have for American women beyond a book to read, a movie to watch, and some expensive boots to wear? My investigation into the history of the geisha in both Japan and Korea, combined with my research with over four hundred Asian and American single women and men, convinced me that the Asian Geisha (my term for the blending of the Japanese geisha and the Korean kisaeng) offers many lessons for American women who want to be married, soon, to their Good Men. The golden age of the Japanese geisha and her attitude toward men dates from 1841, when she was accorded by law the status of “entertainer” or “artist.”

I have adapted Asian Geisha practices somewhat to fit twenty-first-century Western/American culture while continuing to emphasize the geisha’s performance or entertainment skills. In particular, I have upheld the concept of the Asian Geisha, as embodying the archetypes of beauty and femininity.