Flavor for Mixed Media: A Feast of Techniques for Texture, Color and Layers [Paperback]

Mary Beth Shaw (Author), Tonia Davenport (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 18, 2011

It's time to cook up some creativity!

You're invited to a fanciful feast of color, textures and luscious layers that will tempt even the most discriminating painter's palette. Whether you love experimenting with your own flavors, or following a recipe to a 'T,' Flavor of Mixed Media will be your guide to handcrafting some of your most delectable works of art yet! Artist Mary Beth Shaw will share her mixed media painting techniques for working with color, incorporating many different textures, creating multiple layers, developing a distinct flavor and making all sorts of clever combinations.

In addition to home-style favorite such as collage tips and tricks, and inspiring works by "dinner guest" artists, other things you'll sample from this menu include:

• How to experiment with color mixing and develop your own tasty triads
• Achieving texture with unusual tools such as a cheese grater or stencils or "icing"
• Clever new ways to use what's already in your art-making pantry
• Creating depth to your work with cutout shapes or Plexiglas
• Doodling bookmaking, collagraph printing, actual food recipes and more!

Clear off the counter and get cooking! Let Flavor for Mixed Media tempt your "palette" today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Beth Shaw has been exhibiting in galleries and art shows across the country since 2000. Her mixed-media works incorporate acrylics, pastel, ink, maker and various collage materials. Her pieces have been published in Cloth Paper Scissors as well as in Creative Awakenings by Sheri Gaynor (North Light Books, 2009). Her teaching style and classes have been very well received on the art-retreat teaching circuit.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; 1 edition (February 18, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440303177
• ISBN-13: 978-1440303173
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.4 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #374,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Beth Shaw worked in the insurance industry for 18 years before she went crazy one day and quit her job. While exploring her creative side, she re-ignited a childhood love of art. Today she is on fire as a full time Mixed Media painter, popular international workshop instructor and author of Flavor for Mixed Media.

Originally from the Midwest, the Xavier University graduate lived in San Francisco for five years where she studied art at the University of California Berkeley SF extension. She has participated in numerous juried competitions, group shows and Open Studio events within California and the Midwest. Private individuals and corporations collect her work internationally.

Living in Wildwood, MO, with her husband and 3 cats, Mary Beth is passionate about every moment of life.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars This creative "meal" left me hungry May 15, 2011

By Laura Tringali Holmes

Format:Paperback

This book containes recipes, hence the reference to a meal. They're not recipes to create mixed media surfaces, but to cook real food. There are also cooking analogies scattered about (calling the place you keep your supplies a "pantry," for example), as well as a "guest list" featuring well known mixed media artists, who provide "tabletalk." So the food is a big theme here. If you are the sort of reader who enjoys finding recipes in, say, your mystery books, you won't have a problem with this. As one who would have liked to learn more from and about the talented author, I found it gratuitous.

Aside from the food recipes, the rest of the book contains a slew of step-by-exhaustive-step mixed media recipes for creating background surfaces. The materials required rival the warehouse of a gourmet spice retailer (and many of the materials are just as expensive) . What exactly one is supposed to DO with these laboriously crafted background surfaces is not addressed, which I found enormously disappointing. As a well respected artist, the author undoubtedly could have shared valuable guidance on design. What a shame that she did not.

If a level of complementary information was supposed to be provided by the invited guests, they didn't come through. The guests' commentaries are mostly vague and rather rambling, and I never could figure out why they were included. What they had to say is far more suitable to the feature articles in the magazines where they seem to be endlessly (and more thoughtfully) published. Their appearances in this book brings nothing new to the table, so to speak.

This book had real possibility, I felt, but it didn't even begin to reach its potential. While a feast for the eyes is always a good thing, I do wish this book had delivered nutrition as well.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fest for your eyes!!!! January 28, 2011

By Jennifer White

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Having never taken a class from Mary Beth, this book gives the reader a glimpse in to her amazing creative world. Not only does Mary Beth share with you her unique viewpoint of creating color and texture, but also shares her inspiration of other artists (Misty Mawn, Katie Kendrick & John Hammons to name a few) as well as culinary recipes from everyone. What an amazing combination! Congratulations on a truly stunning and well put together book, Mary Beth... it's beautiful!!!!!

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Recipe for Success! February 2, 2011

By Pamela Carriker

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I just got my copy of MaryBeth's new book and started reading the moment it arrived-right before dinner! Let's just say dinner was a tad late that night because mom was busy looking through the gorgeous artwork and layout of this book. Luckily there are some recipes sprinkled throughout so I could say I was 'working on dinner'. The approach to texture and layering is something every mixed media artist can benefit from. The author uses some fun techniques that can easily be incorporated with things you already may do to further enhance and develop your own art. This is a truly beautiful and helpful book to add to your collection.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for mixed-media artists!!!! February 19, 2011

By Raine Phoenix

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is an absolute MUST HAVE!!! I have lots (and I mean LOTS!) of art books. Most of them I initially skim as soon as I get them, flagging pages of interest to go back to. In "Flavor for Mixed Media" I would have to flag every page! This is one of the select few books that I am reading each and every page from cover to cover. You won't regret this purchase. It's a keeper!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars clear instructions, interesting September 30, 2011

By liberal sprinkles

Format:Paperback

The idea of mixing mixed media techniques and cooking recipes is novel but I felt the food imagery needed to be developed more. Other than the use of food terms like "feast for the eyes/senses", "flavor", "what's in your pantry" (suggestions for alternative things to try), "ingredients" (materials), I was often left wondering how the references to food added to the book, even if I appreciated the recipes and thoughts on eating and cooking.

The book is divided into different "courses": color, texture, layers, flavors (styles), combination (mixing supplies, techniques). In short write-ups, author Mary Beth Shaw introduces 15 guest artists then goes on to explore different techniques and create works inspired by them. The techniques and projects featured include 3D painting, collage painting, using text in an abstract way, working with a clayboard and painting without paint. Many I've seen in other art books but the step-by-step instructions here are very clear and extremely well illustrated with photographs. Some of the materials and media used are very interesting although not readily found in most homes, for instance plexi, wood icing and clayboards.

Flavor for Mixed Media is quite a good how-to book although the artistic recipes are not really fresh. I did like Shaw's approachable writing style and how she personalized each project. There are also some useful tips sprinkled throughout the book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous techniques! August 29, 2011

By Kristina

Format:Paperback

I love everything about this book......the many techniques for adding texture, color, and layers, as well as the added bonus of a few recipes. After all cooking is just another form of creative living.

I had the opportunity to meet MaryBeth this summer at Encausticamp. When I read "Flavor for Mixed Media" I can definitely hear her. The text is written in her voice which makes it feel authentic like she is right there working along side me.

The step by step instructions are especially great for someone just getting started on a creative path.

Don't think twice. This is a fabulous book!