Creative Illustration Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists: Seeing, Sketching, Storytelling, and Using Found Materials [Spiral-bound]

Katherine Dunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2010

Whether you have experience drawing or are completely new to it, this exciting workshop-style book provides practical, inspiring, and creative exercises which will expand your drawing skills and provide a framework for integrating illustration with other mixed-media techniques, With a focus on drawing what you love and what is familiar, you will be led through the development of several illustration exercises, which launch from jotted notes and eventually blossom into unique mixed-media creations. You will become familiar with a wide variety of media and approaches to drawing, learn how to work through "creative blocks," and discover ways to scan and layer your illustrations using a computer.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Katherine Dunn lives in Oregon and writes a well-followed blog “Apifera Farm: where animals, art, and lavender collide.” In her fourth year, her blog was named a Blog of Note. She often creates a short story based on characters right outside her window, illustrates it, and posts it on the blog. Katherine’s illustrations have appeared in magazines, theater, and retail outlets. Her clients have included the LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Target, Neiman Marcus, Charles Schwab, Utne Reader, and Hallmark. Her originals are shown in national galleries and are also showcased in Sundance Catalog and have been awarded in Communication Arts, Print, MNAIGA, 3x3 Magazine, and American Illustration. She recently was part of the Society of Illustrator show in NYC.

http://katherinedunn.us/

http://www.apiferafarm.blogspot.com/

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 144 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books; Spi edition (November 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592536360
• ISBN-13: 978-1592536368
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #86 in Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Mixed Media

More About the Author

NOTE: See interior spreads of Creative Illustration Workshop now at www.apiferafarm.blogspot.com

Katherine Dunn says that her world is a 'collision of art, animals and farm'. She has been a full time artist since 1996, but when she moved to Oregon in 2002 her world changed. There she had meant a landscaper, married him, and the two set out to buy property and....well, they kind of had a plan. They opted to grow 4000 lavender plants as a crop, and the rest of their acreage they developed into grazing fields for their young flock of sheep. Their goal was to be more sustainable, improve the land, and work and live on something that had a heartbeat.

Apifera Farm is nestled near the coastal range, within the vineyard/agricultural area, 50 miles west of Portland. They raise Katahdin sheep to maintain their fields and to provide some meat. The couple eats 50+% vegetarian meals, but wanted to grow their own meat, and also wanted to know how that their animals were able to die on their own land, humanely. They use no pesticides and practice pasture rotation. Their sheep naturally fertilize the lavender fields. Apifera is also home to Pino the donkey who throws a Pie Party each year to help raise funds for senior animals in need. He has become an entity of his own, sharing his story on the blog and through puppet shows put on by Katherine.

Katherine's art is both for the gallery world, and the illustration market. The many animal muses from her farm inspire both art and writing, and she also creates puppets and felted creatures to use in her puppet movies. Her first book is coming out in 2010 called Creative illustration Workshop [Quarry Books] which focuses on her inspirations and art. Her paintings are also showcased on Sundance Catalog. Visit her art at www.katherinedunn.us, see more of the farm at www.apiferafarm.com and follow her life as artist-farmer at www.apiferafarm.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable Resource, October 22, 2010

By 

Catharine B (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creative Illustration Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists: Seeing, Sketching, Storytelling, and Using Found Materials (Spiral-bound)

As a fellow artist what I found so interesting about Katherine Dunn's book is how she describes her own artistic process. This is different for individual artists, of course, and Katherine is able to describe her own process of looking with care, diving in and allowing a piece of art to emerge as her ideas change in the making. She also offers interesting techniques in Photoshop for layering in found objects and images from previous works to add content and texture to a new work. I love her ideas for creative block--trying another kind of creative project to free up the mind and she gives a wonderful example using puppet-making. The book is lavishingly illustrated throughout with full-color examples of Katherine's evocative, narrative paintings. For many of these paintings, Katherine shows step-by-step how she created them which will surely inspire artists and illustrators seeking to experiment with these techniques in their own work. It is also a wonderful compendium of Katherine's work!

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, Inspiring and Insightful Book, October 21, 2010

By 

A 70's Girl - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative Illustration Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists: Seeing, Sketching, Storytelling, and Using Found Materials (Spiral-bound)

This is a delightful book from start to finish. The art work is fresh and invigorating. As someone who loves to write, but who has never experimented with drawing, this book is absolutely inspiring. I love the way she helps you overcome potential road blocks, with freeing exercises and ideas to help you find your own inner stories and express them creatively. It is beautifully illustrated with page after page of colorful, and thought provoking art work. I would recommend this book to anyone. Especially to those who are looking for a way to help ignite a bit of creative fire.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You don't have to be an artist to love this book!, October 19, 2010

By 

Cathy Loup (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative Illustration Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists: Seeing, Sketching, Storytelling, and Using Found Materials (Spiral-bound)

I'm a longtime fan of Katherine Dunn's work, and this book is a delightful glimpse into the heart, mind and spirit of a gifted artist. The gorgeous reproductions of her paintings, illustrations and collages are accompanied by insights into the creative process, and exercises to inspire creations of your own. Although I'm not an artist, Katherine's wonderful book is making me more aware of the beauty all around me.