Green Guide for Artists: Nontoxic Recipes, Green Art Ideas, & Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist [Paperback]

Karen Michel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2009

The Green Guide for Artists inspires artists to make better eco-conscious choices within their work and their studios and shows them how. The book has four sections: The first contains recipes for DIY art supplies such as ones for mixing your own non-toxic paints and adhesives and making your own papers from recycled paper. The second offers safe and green practices for the workspace.  The next section shares a fresh look at using recycled materials through creative step-by-step projects and a gallery section. The final section contains a resource guide for eco-friendly materials and supplies, including websites and forum links.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karen Michel is a mixed media artist. She lives in New York, where she runs a 10-year old nonprofit art center for kids, the Creative Art Space for Kids Foundation, with her artist husband Carlo Thertus. Along with sharing her love for the arts with children, she also teaches adult workshops to beginners and established artists alike. Her books, paintings and collages have been exhibited internationally and have been published in various books and magazines, including her own book, The Complete Guide to Altered Imagery.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592535186
• ISBN-13: 978-1592535187
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #776,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Karen Michel is a mixed media Artist and Author who creates work from recycled and repurposed materials, mojo and sunshine.

Karen reside by the sea shore in New York. When she's not creating, you can usually find her & her 5 year old assistant hunting seashells and locomotives..

To view her artwork visit www.karenmichel.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Clean Up Your Art Act August 18, 2009

By S. Fishburn VINE™ VOICE

Format: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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy recipes can be part of the process May 12, 2010

By coachwriter

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exellent! June 17, 2009

By Susan Bleiweiss VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars great resource! July 10, 2009

By ~lela

Format:Paperback

i am so excited about this book! karen is an inspirational artist and an outstanding teacher.
i have been interested in making some of my own paints and mediums and find this book to be an excellent resource. there is a thorough resource section of the book with purchase links as well as information links.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars creative greening November 27, 2009

By K. Carter

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

After seeing a copy of this book in a friend's studio, I bought one for myself. The introduction helps us understand why recycling and turning off lights is just the beginning of taking care of ourselves. We must go to the beginning of the process: where did this stuff come from in the beginning? This book also belongs in my permanent collection for the recipes. In addition to ideas for using what we already have, there are instructions for making paint and adhesives, and suggestions for repurposing in the practice making of art.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars every artist should own this October 9, 2009

By Ingrid I. Roze

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

this is a very helpful book. full of information and ideas re: toxicity without making it overbearing and super-scientific and then it gives you alternatives. a good introduction that does not make you feel that you need fifteen more books to pck up where this one left off.

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of great tips May 27, 2013

By Melissa J. Woolsey

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Less of an art how to as a way of incorporating a green life style into your way of creating art. Karen Michel is awesome

3.0 out of 5 stars Will try to resell January 9, 2013

By Frieda Anderson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Not what I expected. My fault for not reading the information well enough. It is fine for what it is.