14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clean Up Your Art Act, August 18, 2009
This review is from: Green Guide for Artists: Nontoxic Recipes, Green Art Ideas, & Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist (Paperback)
Karen Michel's Green Guide for Artists is an absolute must-have on every artist's shelf. It's an engaging, in-depth compendium of information, safety tips and guidelines, and recipes for creating less hazardous and toxic paints and mediums than are widely available commercially. And what's super cool about that is it harks back to times when artists created and concocted their own paints and mediums as a matter of course, artists like Rembrandt and Michelangelo. The Resources and Recycling pages are phenomenal, there are five chapters on incorporating recycling and upcycling techniques into your everyday technique toolkits for bookmaking and more, and to top it off, there's a gallery of over a dozen artists who are on the cutting edge of both their mediums and an eco-conscious artstyle. The incredible "botanical alchemist" India Flint and the "collage graffiti" minimalist Cat Collier are just two of an illustrious group of dedicated and daring mixed-media pioneers who contributed to the gallery.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easy recipes can be part of the process, May 12, 2010
This review is from: Green Guide for Artists: Nontoxic Recipes, Green Art Ideas, & Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist (Paperback)
Love this book. Like most ardent crafters, I have a studio full of not-so-good-for-people-or-planet paints, glues and who-knows-what else. While I realize these aren't so great to work with and might cause problems, I never thought (duh!)about making any of these items myself.
What I really like about "Green Guide For Artists," are the simple, straightforward recipes, presented clearly and engagingly. Honestly, I could hardly wait to try making many of the items to use in my "Celebrate Green" projects. I'm not a painter, but a crafter in mixed media so the title was a bit intimidating, but even as a crafter, I use many of the items the author covers.
One other thought. Some artists/crafters might not see the point of making your own non-toxic materials. It's possible to buy them. But I realized as I was making some glue, that I could choose to look at the "making" as part of the process of creating. It's actually fun and adds a dimension to my work that I don't feel is there when I use store bought.
Like other reviewers, I really liked the resource section. Personally, though, the second half of the book featuring art projects , didn't contribute that much. It wouldn't stop me from buying the book, but it wouldn't make me want to buy it either!
I recently was interviewed on Fave Crafts radio and mentioned the book as an excellent, helpful purchase. Sure wish it was printed on 100% PCW paper with non-toxic inks. That would have made it even better!
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exellent!, June 17, 2009
This review is from: Green Guide for Artists: Nontoxic Recipes, Green Art Ideas, & Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist (Paperback)
Artists today are also becoming more aware of the impact that the supplies and tools they use have on their environment, living and working spaces. This book is great resource for the artist and crafter who wants to explore using non-toxic earth friendly paints, adhesives and mediums. There is more here than just recipes for paint and adhesives; you'll also find information on how to understand the product safety labels found on art materials and supplies along with web resources for further research. Also included are several green product that encourage you to re-purpose, reuse and recycle what you have on hand. I loved the Papier-mache birds project! Some other projects include making notepads from recycled materials, learn to stretch your own canvas, repurposing unused objects into art and a plastic bag list makers journal.
Project and recipe directions are easy to understand and follow and are accompanied by tons of beautiful full color photographs. An artist gallery provides loads of inspiration and eye candy. An impressive comprehensive 3 page list of resources that include where to buy green art supplies, resources for alternative art materials, artist resources and organizations and more is included at the back of the book.
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