Book Description

Utilizing the combined experience of three traditional artists turned digital imaging pioneers, Digital Art Studio champions combining traditional art techniques with digital media. From their unique position as artists, educators, and technology consultants, the authors provide a wide range of ways to integrate digital processes, using them in unusual and challenging ways to reinvent traditional art techniques. The computer is profiled as the ultimate mixed-media machine, allowing the artist to readily combine an unbelievable array of media. The book covers the basic processes for preparing commercially available surfaces (canvas and watercolor and printmaking papers) and custom surfaces (handmade papers, wood, leather, and antique fabrics). More advanced methods are covered, including transferring digital images to absorbent surfaces and transferring digital images to three-dimensional surfaces. A showcase of the work of artists who have combined digital and traditional materials to produce outstanding work will inspire all artists, new and seasoned alike, to explore the new world of mixing traditional art with digital media. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Learn from Experience
The authors of this book have spent many hours trying different materials, surfaces, and techniques to create traditional art in a non-traditional way. Utilizing digital imagery and studio art materials, they teach us to create art for a modern world. By sharing the results of their trials, we are presented the tools and material lists needed to follow their detailed examples. As an artist looking to take full advantage of both a painting studio and digital production equipment, this book is the kickstart that I needed.

Beyond the Digital Print
Digital Art Studio is a must have book for artists who want to go beyond the straight digital print. The photographs are an inspiration to artists and the "how-to" information invaluable. I am a photographer who is always experimenting and this book is going to be my bible. Danny Conant danny@dannyconant.com

Digital output for multimedia artists
I just received my copy in the mail and I'm overwhelmed with the outstanding imagery and techniques that the three artists of Digital Atelier offer in this book by Karin Schminke, Dorothy Simpson Krause and Bonny Lhotka. 

These are the three artists of Digital Atelier, and their website is mindblowing (www.digitalatelier.com). Don't forget to check the links to the individual artist websites. They started with professional, expensive inkjet printers through corporate sponsorships and grants, and it took ten years since the time these artists started experimenting and exhibiting for the technology to catch up with consumer inkjet printers.

This book is process oriented and is recommended for intermediate to advanced mixed-media artists and photographers who want to explore digital artmaking. They show you how to use your inkjet printer, albeit more expensive and professional models, to print on practically any material: fabrics, plastics, metals, papers, etc.  The past few weeks, I've been studying the techniques and I've ordered the InkAid product so I can create my own substrates for the low-end desktop printer, the Epson C84 with Durabright inks.  InkAid is a special precoat and it was developed by the Digital Atelier artists (www.inkaid.com).  I've been able to create interesting prints with my printer that neither the artists nor InkAid support - but I'm happy to report that they've both been very responsive and helpful with my questions.

You'll still need to know the basics of digital design and composition, but if you ever wanted to make your artwork explode onto textures, layers, collage and 3-D surfaces - this book is it. This is a process-oriented book so you will still have to develop your own digital imagery, compose the layers, and prepare the surfaces before you can print. You will need to have some experience with image editing techniques such as Photoshop, and how to scan, capture or upload images to your computer. This book is concerned with output - and intimate knowledge with the capabilities of your desktop and wide- or large-format printers is necessary. This is not a quick artmaking process. Precoating to prepare various materials for printing on requires time to dry the layers but the effort is worth it.

You will learn various image transfer and "emulsion" transfer (similar to Polaroid) techniques as well as some unusual printmaking and layering ideas: gelatin transfers, frescos, digital overprinting and underprinting, and collage. There's a whole chapter on transferring or printing images onto fabrics for both wearable and non-wearable art. The three artists offer numerous options to pursue and don't promise that their techniques will do everything. Amazingly, they do offer a lot.

You can also work on your printed images with traditional art media - such as pastels, colored pencils, acrylics, even encaustics, but those techniques are not detailed too much. This book assumes you have your own expertise but it offers more possibilities for traditional and digital artists. They position the inkjet printer as a well-placed tool in the mixed-media studio. All the techniques build in complexity and they are demonstrated very well in step-by-step photographs and text. Examples of artwork is numerous and varied and so the art gallery is outstanding.

As a new, self-taught collage artist, I am inspired to rework my best images and create new versions on various "canvases." This book as a great addition to my reference library. The only con to the book, and it's minor at that is some confusion I have with the materials needed for printing on or using as "carriers." Specifically, the list of polycarbonate, plastic sheets, polyester films. I have to take notes to keep track of which technique to try first as I shop for more materials but I am excited to start.

This book has been long-awaited by digital artists and I congratulate Digital Atelier on the launch and applaud the three artists for their generosity.

Digital Art Studio
Finally the perfect book for creative artists looking to combine the newest technology ( digital art) with unusual materials producing the most interesting works of art. Congratulations on those three women artists who have shared their secrets and produced incredible visual effects for the reader. As a photographer, I have recommended this book to every artist I know. Catherine Steinmann.

Simply the best!
Finally - a book for all of us out there who are trying to enter the field of computer art printing and just don't know how!
I am a photographer living in Switzerland using my computer and inkjet printer instead of a darkroom. I have always wanted to broaden my knowledge in the various printing techniques and to explore new possibilities to take my art yet another step further.
There are not so many good art courses on this subject out there- especially if you live in the mountains of Switzerland! - and no books to speak of.
This book is a dream come true! Comprehensive, concise, well structured and beautifully presented. The accompanying photos make it easy to learn the different methods step by step in a very inspiring way. You simply cannot wait to try it all out by yourself.
This book will become the Bible of Digital Art Printing!
A big "Thank You" to the authors for sharing their knowledge and expertise. ... Read more

Book Description

Creative souls want and need a special place for recording and decoding their interior world a place to download all their creative ideas, a place to remember the events of the day, or a place to doodle, to draw, and to dream. This book is an engaging and intimate glimpse into the personal pages of a wide variety of select artists and journal keepers whose works not only provide visual delight and inspiration but evidence the intensity and devotion that such personal journals invite. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Must Have !
This is a great book, very inspiring!! I have several books on the subject and this is fast becoming my favorite. It's so full of color and fabulous art work from several favorite artists of this genre. If you love color and whimsy in your artwork, you will be very pleased and inspired by this book. A must have for your collection.

Yes, you do need this book
I don't care how many books you have on altered books, artists' journals, etc., this is a book you'll come back to over and over again. It presents material in an orderly fashion, though never in a predictable one. Not only is each technique or idea explained, but there are examples of each. The only people who might not benefit from this book are the ones who need a literal cookbook of instructions: "Take item A, place three inches from top of item B, on the left." Highly recommended both as inspiration and an easy-to-use reference work.

Art Play
I have been familiar with Lynne's art for years and have never tired of it. She has an ability to keep it fresh by constantly pushing herself to try new things. This book is a fine examole of that. I was so pleased that this was NOT "how to: book but more of an inspiring and motivating book. The book sings with color and what a treat after a sepia over dose in some of the paper craft magazines of late. I have had the wonderful experience of taking a class from Lynne and this book was able to accomplish the same feeling of renewal and excitement that her class did for me. I tell my students in my journaling and collage classes that what I like about teaching is that I get to see the world through many sets of eyes and this book provides this experience with the fine artists' work included! You need this book!!!!

Who says money can't buy happiness?
Money can definitely buy happiness. I used some to buy this book, and am I ever happy that I did. I've been carrying it around with me for a week and I haven't finished reading it all yet. There's so much to see, and such interesting artists to meet within its covers. It would have been great if Lynne Perella had just shown us her own work, but nooooo, instead she has generously incorporated work of many other artists, which gives this book a lot of richness and depth. It's very inspiring to see how simple art materials like acrylic paint and colored pencils can be used in such a fresh way--techniques anyone can learn are presented in an unpretentious, non-intimidating format. Would-be artists are going to be motivated to get out their stuff and start splashing paint around!

If you are at all interested in loosening up your own artwork, or just wondering what's up with all the current buzz about journals and book arts, I highly recommend you grab this book as soon as possible, because a couple of similar titles have sold out almost as soon as their first printing was released, and this one might too--it's that good! Buy this book--you won't be sorry!!

Exploring and Creating
Here is a book that is both literate and illustrative. Lynne Perrella masterfully writes and provides visual images of how artists journals become. The writer puts you at ease as she explores her own journal development and the work of others. She lends credence and creates excitement about a carved stamp by featured artist Anne Bagby and the advantages of using a repeat image to underscore its potential. Ms. Perrella is an extremely respected visual artist. I find her equally able as a writer. My single disappointment was not having enough, something I rarely voice in books of this genre. I'd like to see more! ... Read more

Book Description

His internationally best-selling Griffin & Sabine saga is treasured for its blend of lyrical storyline and compelling, imaginative art. Now Nick Bantock gives a short course in visual creativity in Urgent 2nd Class. A tour through the techniques and materials which constitute his signature style, Bantock shares with readers numerous ways ways of using old paper ephemera -- maps, letters, postcards, ledgers, scraps, photos, and many more items -- to create their own idiosyncratic art. Written for people of all artistic skill levels, the materials mentioned are all easily found and inexpensive, and the processes are simple enough to do at home (and with access to the most advanced machinery used in the book, a photocopier). An inspirational guide to the simple artistic techniques which can alchemically transform ephemera into remarkable works, Urgent 2nd Class is the handbook for a new generation of visual poets. ... Read more

Book Description

Inside readers will find more than a dozen innovative techniques and step by step demonstrations of 12 different collage projects specifically designed to help them achieve the modern, eclectic collage effect that's so popular today.

Collage Discovery Workshop shows readers how to rust or antique any object for collage and includes four recipes for creating amazing collage backgrounds from peeling paper to textured paint and so much more. In addition, five different image transfer techniques--for layering vintage photos and other art--along with creative excercises, journaling prompts and tips on altering books are included. Projects consist of the following:

*Collaged tin refrigerator magnets
*Heritage collage to honor a friend or relative
*Miniature candy tin assemblages
*Shadowboxes
*Beeswax collages

For stampers, paper and altered books artists--crafters of any skill level--Collage Discovery Workshop opens up whole new worlds of creativity. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

At last!!
At last a collage book that consists of more than pasting down little torn pieces of paper! But who would expect less from the amazingly talented artist and generous teacher, Claudine Hellmuth. Beautifully designed and visually exciting, the book offers perfectly clear directions on techniques to get you started....then, takes you to the next level of composition. All of it is clearly explained even for an absolute beginner while still offering much for more experienced artists. Claudine shares many of the same techniques taught in her wonderful workshops. If you can only buy one collage book, this is the one to buy... hands down. Thanks Claudine for sharing your wonderful gift.

One of the Best Books on Collage Published in 2003
I just got my copy of Claudine's long-anticipated book, and I must say that I find it to be one of the best technique books on collage, mixed media and painting that I have ever seen. For sure, it's one of the top five art and craft books published in 2003, and I feel that it will have a very long shelf life in bookstores for years to come. It's classic in the sense that the author covers the basics thoroughly, discussing tools and materials with frankness and good humor before going on to assist the reader with preparing her canvas (or other supports) for a collage. She gives excellent advice on painting a rich background, as well as using papers, old maps, even a sheet from a telephone book to create the first layer of a collage. If you've ever started a collage or other artwork with fear of the blank canvas, Claudine gets you over that in a hurry! She also includes lots and lots of tips and techniques on surface preparation and alteration, making this a great book for anyone interested in keeping an artist journal or scrapbook. Using photos, layering imagey, composition styles, and using 3-dimensional found objects in your art are all included. And the best part--this book is FULL of Claudine Hellmuth collages! I love her paintings and you will, too. She takes the mystery out of this art form, and I for one am deeply appreciative.
One final note: The book designers went all-out for this one. It's an approachable "craft" book in that it provides lots of how-to, but the page layout design is top-notch so it should provide plenty of inspiration to artists working in all types of media.
A great book from a great artist!

Delightful!
Since I had signed up for a workshop by Claudine Hellmuth, I was eager to have her book beforehand. I was so delighted with the book(and later with her class)....the book is filled to the brim with great ideas and illustrations for making collages. I have been an artist for over 25 years, and have seen about everything, so this book was a revelation, impressing someone who is hard to impress at this stage. Her instructions and suggestions are so clear to read, that one who had not taken the workshop could do as well as one who had. I recommend it most highly and would give it more than 5 stars if that were an option!

This is a great beginner's book! (And advanced, too!)
This is my first book on collage, and I am impressed! (Believe me, I am NOT easily impressed! :)) Collage Discovery Workshop goes through the ABC's of collage clearly and gives equally clear advice on the equipment needed to get started. I will now be able to go to my local craft store or Internet site well armed for what I need. As important, the book discusses theory of collage, helps to train a potential-collage artist's eye on scale, color, and what (should) look good. I am just thrilled with this book, and appreciate that the authors were willing to share their years of knowledge and trials and errors with the public. There are a lot of collage books out there that I have flipped through....this is one of the really good ones!

Well worthwhile...
I have been searching for any and every book to guide and inspire my interest in altered book making. I don't own this book yet, but I borrowed it from my library. Inspire me it did! I can't wait to get my own! The book provides very clear instructions how-to photographs,as well as composition exercises. The only reason I felt this book was four out of five stars was because I wish it were longer than its 126 pages! Anyone who may doubt the value of this book should get their hands on a copy before writing a pessimistic review. Thank you, Claudine, for a fine book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (10)

Those stars are so cute!
This is the type of book you get if you are new to this AB (altered book) craze. Bev Brazelton, basically hits the hammer on the head here with her 18 ideas for altering books book, but if you are looking for something with more detail, I hear that Beth Cote's ( Another lady!) Altered Books 101, 102, and 103, are all exceptional choices, which even go beyond just books, and basically go into everyday things that you can open, like for example a cd case. But none the less, this book is worth your money. Bev's book is easy to follow, with simple little tricks like matchbox drawers, turning a book into (literally) a window to another world, Bev inspires us to turn a AB (altered book, once again) into a journal that tells a story about us. Beth Cote's book helps you take little thems and give them a vintage, colorful twist. So if you want to go AB crazy, I suggest giving both of them a try.

The Best I've Seen
I'm not understanding some of the (insubstantial) negative comments here. This book's about artistic technique, not a Theory of Everything or required reading. I am an experienced artist specializing in mixed media journals, making it all up on my own rather than getting it from books (partly because I didn't know good guides by real artists existed in the "Crafts" section of the bookstore). This book is especially interesting to me because it works well on a couple of different levels. The "how" part has easy-to-understand instructions and well done photography that make it quite suitable for beginners, but doesn't alienate artists who just never thought of that particular technique. As another reviewer pointed out, the tips are useful, rather than mere pull-quotes or boxed filler to balance the page (which I'm so used to from "Dummies" type books that I almost skipped them entirely. Don't.). The truly impressive examples of the author's altered books that she has chosen to present here showcase her personal artistic style, which, by the way, you don't necessarily have to like--and definitely don't have to copy--to benefit from the techniques illustrated throughout the book. The assumptions she makes that the reader is going to know something about composition and color, and her understanding that each reader will have a "why" that is different and personal, are assumptions more geared toward confident artists. I also appreciated the well-written, laid back presentation. It added a spark often absent in instructional material (or bestselling fiction, for that matter). As a writer, it was very refreshing to read a book devoted to the visual. It has a lighthearted and playful feel that celebrates experimentation, rather than drilling the reader on all sorts of practice exercises in the effort to summon painful memories, or analyze the thing to death in pursuit of the "why." She is not in the business of telling people what their motives, meanings or inspiration should be in creating their work. The author presents herself as an artist, rather than a pretend psychologist. Books on the writing side of this art form are just dreadfully serious. I highly recommend this book to collage beginners; to experienced artists who have not worked specifically in the realm of altered books; and to writers who want to punch up their journals. I look forward to Brazelton's next book.

This is like Altered Books for Dummies...
...and I like it! This book allows someone new to altering books to view techniques up close in beautiful photographs and get a clear understanding of where to start.

I've really enjoyed looking at some of the advanced completed projects that are shown in magazines, but I've been a little intimidated because I didn't know where to start. Reading this book alleviated those fears and gave me a good solid foundation from which to grow as an altered book artist.

Worth owning
Bev Brazelton's book walks the reader through some essential altered book techniques and she does it well. If you are interested in altering, this is a must have for your bookshelf. It is clear, well organized and shows excellent examples.

Practical Creative Freedom
As a novice to altered book making I was pleased that I had waited before I bought a book about the craft. This book was elementary in it's step-by-step instruction, yet inspiring as you follow the authors creation. The process was easy to follow, and I loved seeing my paper scraps and word musings turn into a visual creation of me. This book was well worth my $$. ... Read more

Book Description

This book describes a new technique, developed by the author, which makes it possible to adhere collage elements without liquid adhesives. This technique eliminates wrinkling and drying time from collage-making, offering new opportunities for creative spontaniety.Also included is information on "paperless" transfer of printed and photocopied images, alternatives to adhesives, archival concerns, framing and presentation of finished works, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A New Approach is A Fresh Approach
Painter, printer and collage artist Jonathan Talbot's book, Collage A New Approach, is a fresh approach to introducing anyone to the art of collage.
Living up to his quote in the book, 'Technique is but a small part of collage making', the author takes his readers hand and then fills it with inspiration, information, the love and joy of creating works of art and the courage to share that work with others.
After reading Talbots book, I read it again. Then I began following his easy step by step instructions on a variety of techniques and was thrilled with the results.
If one, (like myself) is an artist or considering taking up art for the first time, Talbots book is must tool for all. The author gives answers to questions a reader may not even have thought to ask.
Talbot has removed the word, 'fear' from creating and displaying ones work by giving the reader his years of experience and insight into the art world.
The author has included an introduction to the history of collage and collage artists, a list of materials, books by other collage artists and websites to artists creating collages today.
Talbot doesn't just give a list of tools, he actually took the time to explain what they do and how to use them correctly.
If success is measured by the quality and generosity of knowledge an artist shares with others, then Jonathan Talbots book, Collage A New Approach will certainly prove successful and an asset to those who read it.

Invaluable Little Book for Collage Artists
The subtitle of this attractive, concise little book is "Collage Without Liquid Adhesives." The techniques explained in the book were a real eye-opener for me (I'm a collage artist myself). Most traditional collages are made using liquid adhesives, which means you have to be really careful when you position each item in your collage. Once you've glued each element down, you're "stuck" with that arrangement. However, Talbot has devised new techniques that are extremely liberating and foster your creativity. Photos and diagrams throughout make every step crystal-clear. A number of exciting new techniques are explained (including a great image transfer method), and there are excellent sections discussing various adhesives, varnishes, and other supplies. Mounting collages and archival concerns are also covered. One of my favorite parts of the book is the Appendix, which gives contact information for sources for all the materials and supplies you need to make collages, as well as a great list of books about collage and collage artists. The Appendix alone is well worth the price. I recommend this book to every artist I meet, whether beginner or professional.

Very informative and well-written
This book has more solid information than most of the collage books out there. I appreciate the detailed references to products and the step-by-step instructions. Most collage books fill space with projects that are often not things I would ever make, although the techniques used are of interest. I prefer this book for I don't have to read through projects to glean ideas (although that has its place too).

The image transfer is SO easy! I bought the paper he recommends but use a clothes iron and the backing paper that contact paper/stickers come on instead of the tacking iron and release paper. I love the freedom to choose my own images to transfer and being able to use them without destroying the originals.

I highly recommend this book-- just remember that you can do this process with a home iron, sticker backing paper, magazines and any brand of gloss gel medium. You don't have to go out and buy everything he recommends and you can get all of your images from magazines although I highly recommend the special paper for greater image choice.

not what I expected at all
I was hoping for samples of his work and ideas on how he creates his artwork. Instead it was a dry lecture on his philosophy of collage and how he approaches his artwork. Helpful perhaps to advanced collage artists who already have technique and style and are looking for a new slant, but totally useless to me!

Terrific Technique
Jonathan Talbot's book is small but it is packed with "user" friendly information on the creation of collage. His work is excellent and his instructions easy to understand. Reading the book inspired me to take his workshop. I'll carry what I learned from both into my own collage tapestry, weaving my imagination around his techniques. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

If it were only as easy as reading a book!
Exquisite paintings of wildlife make this book worthwhile in itself, but Kalon Baughan also supplies fascinating insights into how he paints. Though most of us can only dream of painting animals that capture the animal's soul, there are many useful hints and techniques that even rank amateurs can use.

Simply the best
How to review this book is a problem. It is simply the best book on the subject that I have ever seen. It goes through the usual informative sections on animal anatomy and several step-by-step demonstrations and details. It is here where this book stands out, in the detail of the demonstrations. From detail information on the underpainting technique to detailing, drybrushing and using washes it covers everything in an easy to understand manner. If you want to paint wildlife and have not had an expensive course in a high quality art school then this is the book that you want to buy.

Painting the Faces of Wildlife Step-by-Step
I was at the Texas Woodcarver's Guild Spring Roundup in Fredericsburg, TX, recently and saw a copy of this book. As a woodcarver I would rate this book as excellent. The book has excellent detailed pictures of faces of various animals. As a carver, I must pay attention to exact details such as hair color and texture, eye size and color, ears details, and all facets of wildlife characteristics. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn wildlife details for painting, carving, or general knowledge.

A well done Wildlife Art book
This is a great book. It is well thought out and well done. I am not an artist but I enjoy wildlife art and have many different pieces of artwork. Knowing some of the history and research behind the paintings adds to the enjoyment and appreciation of the artist's work. I recommend this book to anyone who loves wildlife art and art in general.

"stepping into nature with Kalon Baughan"
Kalon's book is full of drama, which is quite a feat for a "HOW TO" book. His passion for what he does shines through in his text as well as in the expressiveness of his awesome paintings. ... Read more

Book Description

Artists and creatives of all kinds who are looking for new ways to liberate their artistic imagination will love this book. Readers are invited to playfully explore various aspects of visual art, such as light, color, texture and design through a series of imaginative art projects. Artists will experiment hands-on with dozens of techniques and mediums in new and unconventional ways including: * Capturing whites with crayon and wax resist * Glazing and floating colors * Portraying the patterns of nature with sedimentation and precipitation * Loosening up with gesso painting and printing with plastic * Constructing a new piece of art from old work * Experimenting with three-dimensional assemblage * Creating a street map In addition, artists are prompted to challenge their imaginations by building new painting surfaces, creating their own personal symbols and more. Further inspiration can be found in a gallery of work by more than 30 contributing artists. Celebrate Your Creative Self is a fun, no-fail guide every artist should have. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great exercises, misleading title
Like the other reviews state, this exercises in this book are great; in many ways, it IS a workshop in a book. However, I think the title, the subtitle in particular, is slightly misleading. There isn't much in this book to really "unleash the artist within." Instead, the exercises provide more of a "how to" achieve this or that effect. If you want a book to tell you how to create paintings using a less than "normal" technique, this is the book for you; if you want a book, to "unleash the artist within," I would keep looking.

Get It!
Everything in this book is fabulous: pictures, instructions, suggestions. . .It's like having a workshop in your home to attend when you have a few moments.

No Experience Necessary!!
Even if you are not entirely sure which end of a paintbrush goes into the paint, with this book you can learn to create a painting in an afternoon which will convince your friends you've got an M.F.A. If you've ever bought art supplies and books and not used them because you felt you could not create satisfactory representational images, give yourself a break and try these techniques of meaningful abstraction. Compared to the cost of a workshop, this book is inexpensive and well worth every penny. It's packed with worthwhile content. I truly believe every person who loves art has all they need inside them to make great art themselves. It's not about expensive materials or years of education--which are great if you happen to be fortunate enough to have them--all you really need is the passion for color and paint. You don't even need a brush. Start where you are and go for it! P.S. That piece of stiff cardboard that comes in the bottom of your Amazon box makes a great painting support with some canvas taped to it!

A Workshop in a Book!
This book is a must for anyone wishing to explore different methods and ideas.The book is beautifully laid out and is a pleasure to look at.The artist presents her ideas in clear concise language with many good illustrations.I liked the small 'boxes' that contained suggestions or comments.There is also a helpfull list of materials used with each project.If you are unable to be at a workshop with Mary Todd Beame this is will help create one in your studio.It is a book that you will return to often for ideas and inspiration.

Simply Inspiring!
I've been a three dimensional artists for almost ten years, but have been intrigued by many other mediums of art for a long time. Mary Todd Beam's book is the best book I've seen to help you feel comfortable trying new techniques and inspire using these methods in your own unique way. When I got this book I couldn't put it down... it is now in my studio and I love the results from my experimentation. I highly recommend this book to both novice and accomplished artists. ... Read more

Book Description

Art and Photography is the first book of its kind to survey the major presence of photography in artistic practice from the 1960s onwards. Today photography is art's pre-eminent medium, yet it took the whole of the last century for it to acquire this status. On its invention, the photograph was considered a purely mechanical, 'artless' object which could not belong among the fine arts. Despite its increasing use by the century's most significant artists, only since the late 1960s have art museums gradually begun to exhibit and acquire the photograph as an artwork. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Readers of both genders and all generations will find timeless innocenceand age-old wisdom in the scrawling, sprawling words of Sabrina Ward Harrison.The format here is a personal journal in which Harrison allows readers to be privy to her colorful pages of free-flowing collages, photographs, and wildlyhandwritten words. Harrison explores many of the typical questions, confusions,and insights that accompany the journey from adolescence to womanhood. At timesher angst feels a tad clichéd ("I am afraid to show you who I really am,because if I show you who I really am, you might not like it--and that's all Igot."), but her gutsy presentation and honesty make her words feel fresh andhard-earned, especially in passages such as this:

I think God leaves me alone to let me find my own strength becauseno one else can give it to me. Sometimes it is very lonely. But I know thelonely times teach me the most. I must let go in order to let anything in. Noone can love me, for me. Take a big walk protected in the trees. I miss the timebefore today.

Reviews (53)

excellent book, creative and well-written
"Spilling Open" by Sabrina Ward Harrison is a truly amazing book. After reading it, I realized that I shouldn't hide myself or act like someone I'm not. I could completely relate with Sabrina most of the time in the story; going through the same experiences or problems as her. This book opened up a whole new window to me - a window of Sabrina's life.

Still Spilling
Sabrina Ward Harrison's book, Spilling Open, is an inspiration to me and has helped me through numerous times of hardship. This book is chock full of emotions, experiences, doubts, and love. It reminds me that everyone has days when they feel useless and that everyone will come out of those hard times a stronger person. Thank you Sabrina, you have helped a lot of people with your expereinces shown in this absolutely amazing journal.

Amazing
Sabrina's books are amazing: the art, collages, and writing are beautiful and beautifully blended together into these dreams of books. Her books are extremely intimate and personal, which is what makes them vulnearble, honest, and moving- there is a true connection in these books that is rarely found. Her books are such an exploration of herself, and because they are so poignant and deeply-delving, there is raw human truth and universality. Yes, her books are about herself- on the surface. Just as the concept of radical self acceptance may seen adolescent or simple- on the surface. But to truly live that concept is difficult and rare- these books take you through that process of moving past some cliche ("accept yourself") and into the marrow. Beneath the surface, the book goes beyond being about Sabrina, into being about every person. Sabrina's journals are truly exceptional- the brave writing, the power of each word, the watercolors, photographs, calligraphy and collages.

Amazing
Beautiful...a piece of art in itself! It's a very personable book, but at the same time it's so fun and creative you'll want to put it out for guests to look at too.

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALING FOR THE CREATIVE EDGE
I was fortunate enough to meet the author at a seminar she gave at the 92nd street Y in New York. I saw a small article in the New York Times about the workshop, jumped into a cap and was at the seminar 1/2 hour later. It was modestly priced and the book came as part of the deal. This is an extraordinary journaling method that seems to be a cross between keeping a diary, scrapbooking and artistry. We started our 'journals' in the class and I still add to mine. What makes this so different is that the author encourages you to use your creativity not just cut and paste or write. Without seeing this book you can't possibly realize how creative you can be. Bored with life, think you're in a rut on your job, just fired? On Vacation -- this is the book you need to buy immediately. Also see if you can buy a blank journal (don't know if Amazon.com sells them) but I'm sure you can find one at your local bookstore or stationery store. Or make one using your typewriter paper by putting it into a three ring binder. Don't worry you can decorate the binder so it will be a piece of art to cherish. You can share your journal with others or just keep it sacred and hide it in your underwear drawer or under a plant because by using it you will grow creatively. Yes, the author is an artist but what's so fascinating is once you 'get' how she does her journaling, you'll realize you can be an 'artist' too. No classes required.
This is journaling for the multimedia person. Add an audiotape or use these techniques on a personal web-page or blog and you breakthrough the clutter of print. Ever thought that your life was too boring for a journal? Ever get overwhelmed in presenting your thoughts or is it just too difficult a time to find the right words to write? Then this technique can help you breakthrough to express what's inside and to create a glorious journal of memorabilia for the future. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Rather than a project-driven craft book, Collage Techniques is an exciting presentation of the medium as a fine art. From the famous practitioners (Matisse, Picasso, Hockney) to the many accomplished artists represented throughout the book, the images are stunning, sometimes startling. A thorough coverage of materials, supplies, and basic methods lays the groundwork of the first section; chapters then focus on various types of papers, fibers, photographs, and technologically enhanced imagery that can be incorporated. The second section explores design considerations for various subjects (still lifes, landscapes, human figures, social commentary, abstract imagery, three-dimensional works). There are no step-by-step objects here, but instead an amazing collection of work that utilizes collage by bringing together painting and sculpture and provides colorful, inventive, thought-provoking inspiration for experimenting with the medium. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

#1 COLLAGE BOOK!
This is a fabulous book on the collage medium. Everything is
thoroughly covered from collage history, technique and
guidance for design, etc. This book will also inspire
you with its fine examples. I am very pleased with book
and highly recommend it to others.

Add me to the list
I ordered this book after reading reviews of collage books.
The praise of this book, I find, is well deserved. It comments
on many techniques and provides examples with color photos.
I feel I can take off on my own now, and don't need technical
advice, even though the book is not a technical read. A good
addition to anyone's bookshelf.

A Beautiful Overview of Collage
I had heard that Brommer was a highy respected collage author and teacher, so even though I am not an artist or illustrator, I figured that this book would be a good one for me to have. I was right!

Brommer covers almost every facet of collage art, beginning with its history/background, progressing to the various collage techniques, and also elaborating on the materials used to create collages. These materials include painted papers, Japanese papers, found objects, photographs, etc.

Rather than a how-to book, this is a book that presents many finished pieces in all their beauty, and explains how they were done by these very accomplished artists. It is a terrific resource and a lovely addition to any art library.

Great for inpiration and ideas, wonderful varitey
This is a great book for any collage artist looking for inspiration and ideas. It is packed with a wonderful variety of collage examples and techniques.

The book starts out with some brief history and attitudes toward collage. Then the author explains materials and tools. This includes an overview of papers, adhesives, surface media and finishes. Basic collage techniques are also covered.

In the next section you are shown numerous collage pieces using a wide variety of materials including washi, stained, prepared and found papers, photographs, fibers and fabric. Concepts are discussed from the point of view of both technique and subject matter. Although not a project book per se, there are a number of examples of artists working in a step by step sequence that can be followed.

Design elements and principles including line, shape, color, texture, unity, variety, balance, emphasis, pattern, rhythm and contrast are covered. The book wraps up with sections discussing specific subject matters such as still lives, flowers, landscapes, people, social commentary, architecture, abstract and three-dimensional pieces.

Paper suppliers are listed in the back. While suitable for a beginner, this is a great intermediate level book with much to offer for those with some collage experience as well.

This is a "must read" book for the beginning artist!
This book gives encyclopedic information on collage and art principles, and other artists as well. There are step-by-step demonstrations,that are easy to understand, yet there is enough advanced techniques for the experienced artist. Well worth the price, and inspirational. ... Read more

Book Description

Originally trained as a sculptor, Thomas Demand approaches photography as a means of preserving ephemeral paper constructions but inevitably the camera becomes central to his creative process. At first glance, Demand's works seem to present fragments of a hyperreal and familiar place but, before long, they reveal their true identity: a wholly artificial world reduced to generic forms. Large immaculate photographs of interiors and architectural exteriors—a world peopled with inanimate objects and bathed in uniform lighting—are mounted on Plexiglas, which underscores the materiality of the photographic object. For each of his reproductions, Demand constructs life-size models using paper and cardboard, and these forms always allow signs of their true nature to show through. 50 color illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

"The larger struggle we are witnessing today . . . [is] an ecological drama where the outcome rests not only on our realization that the natural physical environment is one and the same as our bodies, but that nature itself is a form of Mind." -- Bill Viola

Chosen to represent the United States at the 46th Venice Biennale, Bill Viola, a New York artist living on the West Coast, is recognized internationally for his work in video and sound installations. This book brings together a selection of essays, notebook entries, drawings, and descriptions of projects that map Viola's personal course through the readings, observations, experiments, and associations that form the groundwork for his art. Each work illustrated is accompanied by a description by the artist, as well as comments on the work's origins from the artist's notebooks. For the last 25 years, Viola has used innovative multimedia technologies to explore the phenomena of sense perception as a language of the body and avenue to self-knowledge, integrating many disciplines and philosophies to reveal contemporary art's relevance to the modern world. His views have deep roots in mysticism, poetry, philosophy, Eastern art, shamanism, Chinese Taoism, Sufism, and Zen Buddhism. Viola's chief concerns today are to draw attention to the upset ecological balance of nature by focusing on the connection between our inner and outer lives, on the conception of the self as part of the whole. Published in association with the Anthony d'Offay Gallery, London ... Read more

Reviews (2)

a brillant contemporary artist
Bill Viola is one of the most interesting artists working today. His work brilliantly blends technology and spirituality and this collection of his writings provides a glimpse into his thought process.

A brilliant artist and thinker
It is so refreshing to read what an artist's work is about from their own point of view, and not from a critic's. This book takes that a step further, by including sketches, a plethora of quotes, and facsimiles of Viola's legendary notebooks. Unlike most new media/video artists, Viola uses technology only to get beyond it, to provoke his audience to ponder the larger questions in life. He is an extraordinary thinker as well as a pioneering video artist. As an artist I find his writings -- and proof that he's an ordinary human being, with a messy notebook -- incredibly inspirational. The ideas in this book will keep you going for years. ... Read more

Book Description

Presenting 9 innovative and fun collage projects from professional collage artists, this book is a visually exciting class in one of the world most often used and admired art techniques.The beauty of collage art is its appeal and accessibility at every level of sophistication.Anyone from the hobbyist to the fine artist can use collage techniques to add creativity and dimension to their work. This book provides creative instruction and inspiration through a wide range of projects from nine collage artists. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Lush, be inspired!
I've had my share of disappointments with collage books. So much of the rubber stamping craft craze has moved into what we call "Collage".
I was afraid this book would be hyping rubber stamp and craft company
products. Never have I been so WRONG!

This book is by and for artists who are working on original ideas. The "how to's" are not for cookie cutter projects but informative in recipes (wheat paste glue) and techniques. All work in this book is by serious,
original artists.

This book has me planning two days off to play around with some of my own ideas using the techniques of application of paint and materials in this book.

You won't be sorry, buy the book!

Releasing my "Inner Artist"
I have long been interested in collage and recently decided to try my hand at it. To facilitate this, I got several books on the subject. This was one of the nicest and most complete.

Atkinson's beautiful book was a great help. I liked the way collage artists showed, step by step, how they created their collages. The photgraphy of the pieces was excellent, making it a very visually appealing book.

My only disappointment was that the book did not cover what materials to use, what glue to paste with, what different kinds of papers are available, and preservation of the finished work. This is not the fault of the author....she never claimed that the book was a beginner's guide.

Overall, this was a great resource book.

Collage for the conoissier...
This book is dedicated to those who already know the first steps of collage works: what materials to use, what glue to paste with, what elements to include... but it gives an amazing amount of ideas and new approaches that are awesome. You can't miss this publication if you are collage-prone. It's a delight for the eye and helps you understand how artists use their skills and imagination. Take a look!... Am I wrong?

WONDERFUL SOURCE OF INSPIRATION!
Artists (aspiring and professional) know the value of a good book filled with inspirational ideas and images. In this book, Jennifer L. Atkinson has put together an incredible collection of collage examples. This combined with easy to read descriptions, ideas and thoughtful insight makes it a favorite of mine. The author really helps bridge the gap between fine art and craft. I've read several books on this topic and this one has quickly moved to the top of my list. It will be a valuable tool and resource for years to come.

Must have, tons of inspriational art & ideas
I own several collage books and this is definitely on my must have list. It is packed with full-color photos of inspirational & imaginative collage art from a variety of talented artists.

The book is divided into sections focusing on paper, fabric & found object collage. Collagraphy, in which the collage itself serves as a plate for transferring the texture to a print that can be further embellished is also included.

Each section features two projects that are both described & demonstrated step-by-step with color photos. I especially like one made entirely of paste papers. I was able to create a stunning abstract artwork with ease.

Resource & school lists along with an artist directory are nice bonuses. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking excellent instruction & fresh ideas to create their own collage artwork. ... Read more

Book Description

"The authors do a splendid job of showing precisely how technologies like computer games, digital photography, film television, the Web, and virtual reality all turn on the mutually constructive strategies of generating immediacy and making users hyperaware of the media themselves. . . . The authors lay out a provocative theory of contemporary selfhood, one that draws on and modifies current notions of the `virtual' and `networked' human subject. Clearly written and not overly technical, this book will interest general readers, students, and scholars engaged with current trends in technology." -- M. Uebel, Choice

Media critics remain captivated by the modernist myth of the new: they assume that digital technologies such as the World Wide Web, virtual reality, and computer graphics must divorce themselves from earlier media for a new set of aesthetic and cultural principles. In this richly illustrated study, Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin offer a theory of mediation for our digital age that challenges this assumption. They argue that new visual media achieve their cultural significance precisely by paying homage to, rivaling, and refashioning such earlier media as perspective painting, photography, film, and television. They call this process of refashioning "remediation," and they note that earlier media have also refashioned one another: photography remediated painting, film remediated stage production and photography, and television remediated film, vaudeville, and radio.

More about this book ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This book will change the way you watch CNN
In Remediation, Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin analyze new technologies and their implications for American society. Although the book emphasizes the ways in which new media can be conceived in terms of recent literary and cultural theory, the theoretical discussions do not pervade the work. Therefore, the book can still be quite useful to those who don't wish to delve too deeply into theory. In fact, Bolter and Grusin acknowledge the different emphases of the book's chapters in their introduction and offer readers a guide to help them make the most of their experience with the book, with respect to the readers' goals. The three sections of the book discuss the authors' theory of remediation, the place of new media in American society, and the place of the Self within the context of new media.

In the first section of the book, Bolter and Grusin offer the notion of "remediation" as a way of thinking about new media. What they term "remediation" is "the formal logic by which new media technologies refashion prior media forms" (273). Bolter and Grusin attempt to contextualize their theories about new media within the framework of modern preoccupations with what they term "immediacy" and "hypermediacy." The desire for immediacy is a desire for a transparency in media that obliterates or lessens the perception of the media themselves in the viewer's mind. The reality of hypermediacy is the preoccupation with media itself and a hyper-awareness of the media through which our information comes. Bolter and Grusin place the logic of remediation within the context of our historical preoccupation with these trends. The new media discussed are primarily the visual: computer games, digital photography, photorealistic graphics, digital art, film, Virtual Reality, mediated spaces, television, and the World Wide Web. Discussing each of these media in great detail, the authors devote the second section of the book to demonstrating the way that the idea of remediation plays itself out in each. Bolter and Grusin examine how each new medium refashions older media and how they are often refashioned themselves. For example, they show that animated computer graphics draw upon the tradition of film and that film is now starting to draw upon the new offerings of computer graphics. They cite as their evidence a film such as Toy Story. Another example they point out is the remediation that occurs between television and the Internet. The Internet uses patterns established by television in order to determine how to appeal to viewers, and television uses new strategies of windowing images with the scrolling tickertapes and texts it has borrowed from Internet styles. Within the remediations that both new and old media undergo, Bolter and Grusin demonstrate how the twin desires for immediacy and hypermediacy are at work.

The final section on the Self attempts to discuss how the presence of the new media in our society affects individuals' perceptions of their own identities. By allowing people to engage in different discourse communities with different levels of immediacy and hypermediacy, the new media allow for a remediation of the notion of self and community. Bolter and Grusin specifically point to the immediacy of Virtual Reality as a starting point for empathy with other people and beings. If a person can use Virtual Reality to play the role of a gorilla, that person gains a new concept of his or her identity with respect to his or her experience as set apart from that of a gorilla. Bolter and Grusin also examine in detail whether the new media have implications for the mind-body split that is central to the theory of Cartesian dualism. Some argue that technologies such as Virtual Reality emphasize the split by creating a disembodied environment for the mind to inhabit. Bolter and Grusin, however, ultimately claim that such technologies cannot allow people to escape the perception of their own bodies. In fact, by allowing for new ways to conceive of the body and the mind, new media allow for a remediation of the body that is parallel to the remediation of the Self.

Overall this book offers interesting theories about the way technology functions in our society. It is, therefore, a good starting point for anyone who wants to consider the implications of using this technology and thereby becoming complicit in the culture's striving for immediacy and hypermediacy in our interactions with technology. Those implications would continue further for us as we remediate our old styles of teaching or otherwise interacting with technology to suit the newer forms that will inevitably appear.

Of course, to be concerned about how your use of technology fits into this framework, you must first be convinced by Bolter's and Grusin's arguments that remediation is a force at work in our society. Personally, I find their arguments convincing in their simplicity of structure and in their wealth of evidence. Although the discussions of Lacanian, Freudian, feminist, Marxist, and other theoretical approaches can be at times heavy-handed, underneath there is an insightful commentary on the way technology functions in our society.

Remediating without knowing it!
This book was most enligthening, it explained in a very structured form, what it is we were doing when creating content for new medias. As Moliere said, "doing prose without knowing it", I have used my newly acquired epistemology of remediation extensively to better explain to our young designers what it is they were doing when "re-mediating" clients'content for a new media application, be it Web, Multimedia apps or art-tech.The authors are themselves professors/researchers an use a very didactical stream of thoughts which has been exceedingly usefull to me, to better convey concepts for which I had a feeling, but nowhere near the "theory of remediation" that the authors convey.

As an art/tech buff, who happens to earn a living with technical content remediation and hard core applications programming, the book reconciled me with a new perpesctive on the similarities between these activities. Grusin and Bolter are challenging us to excellence in remediation whatever the final purpose.

The most important concept that the authors brought to me, was that more and better remediation has often nothing to do with more technology, and much more to do with better and more effective (or intelligent) ways to communicate.

In my view this book is a must reading, and a reference book for anyone producing content with a certain degree of awareness. If you believe that the new media demand a "different" attitude,this is a textbook for you. ... Read more

Book Description

The first comprehensive history of the theory and practice of collage.

Almost a century after its invention, collage has never been more popular. It picks up the discarded scraps and residue of everyday experience, turning them into art—a truly modern art, the artistic equivalent of the fragmented nature of contemporary life.

Beginning with the seminal moment in 1908 when the young Picasso first took a piece of brown card pasted with a "Magasins au Louvre" label and invented a new kind of picture, Brandon Taylor tells the story of how progressive artists have consistently used the medium to create challenging and provocative works, developing a cut-and-paste aesthetic that would go on to influence other, more traditional art forms such as sculpture and architecture.

The whole sweep of the twentieth century is here: cubist, dadaist, and surrealist collage; the experiments of the Russian constructivists and Eastern European avant-gardes; the hard-hitting political satires of interwar Germany; the raw, aggressive styles of the United States' East and West coasts in the 1950s; the burgeoning pop aesthetic in 1960s America and Europe. Taylor ends his authoritative account by addressing the question of why the ideas behind collage are so much in harmony with the digital age. 200 illustrations, 80 in color. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is an extremely literate and somewhat scholarly look at the past, present, and future of the emerging art form of interactive narrative, where storytelling, visual imagery, and reader interaction meet. With an abundance of illustrations, including a comic strip that runs timeline-style along the bottom of each page, and a corner flipbook, Pause & Effect looks at what defines visual narrative, how it has developed through the centuries (from the religious paintings of 13th-century artist Giotto to the first-person shooter games of today), and the principles involved.

The book has four parts. In the first, "Theory," readers learn about perspective (both emotional/inside-the-skull and dimensional/outside-the-skull), Aristotle's definition of dramatic structure, the Freytag triangle (complication, climax, denouement), the three interactive narrative structures (nodal, modulated, and open), and other fundamental issues. The second part covers the 2-D topics of image and icon, including several examples of narrative imagery from the history of art (e.g., Velázquez's Las Meninas and Duchamp's Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2) and basic principles for designing a narrative that facilitates the four steps of interaction (observation, exploration, modification, and reciprocal change). The third section looks at the 3-D areas of place and space (how architecture and dimensional imagery affect narrative), as well as case studies from theater, game design (Deus Ex 2), the Internet (the graphical MUD Ultima Online), and more. The last section discusses the practical issues involved in developing int