Mixed-Media Collage: An Exploration of Contemporary Artists, Methods, and Materials [Paperback]

Holly Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

More than 60 new mixed-media collages by leading mixed-media artists.

Mixed-media collage artists are embracing, unearthing, and reconstructing the flotsam and jetsam of modern life with abandon, integrating discards along with a range of art materials and novel techniques to create compelling, new works. Original, idiosyncratic, and delightful, this catch-as-catch-can approach to making art is inspiring and can have eye-catching results. It can also have its own set of technical challenges. Mixed-Media Collage takes you into the studios of five talented mixed-media artists: Laurinda Bedingfield, Barbara De Pirro, Paula Grasdal, Sharon McCartney, and Teesha Moore. The artists reveal their own step-by-step processes, offer tips on working with unconventional materials, and share their insights on creativity and finding inspiration. A deluxe gallery features forty never-before published mixed-media pieces, complete with detailed descriptions of the work and the materials used to create them.

• In-depth chapters detailing the work and techniques of Laurinda Bedingfield, Barbara De Pirro, Paula Grasdal, Sharon McCartney, and Teesha Moore
• Techniques for making faux encaustics out of acrylic gel medium (no hot palette or wax required), adding stitching to paper, layering surfaces, finding inspiration in texts, building shrines and book-page panels out of sew-through interfacing, using simple printmaking techniques to create one-of-a-kind collage materials, building three-dimensional photo collages, and more
• A special feature by best-selling author Jennifer Crusie, who shares her thoughts on the connections between writing and collage, as well as several previously unpublished assemblages she has used as a tool to plot and edit her books
• A humorous essay by best-selling author Alisa Kwitney, who shares her thoughts on the connections between writing and collage, and explains why she canÆt use collage as a tool for anything

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Holly Harrison is the author of Collage for the Soul: Expressing Your Hopes and Dreams Through Art, Altered Books, Collaborative Journals, and Other Adventures in Bookmaking, and Complete Bathroom Design. A contributor to Metropolitan Home and other magazines, she has also taught at City College in New York and edited both fiction and nonfiction books. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her family, where she hides her secret collection of Elvis-themed art.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592533167
• ISBN-13: 978-1592533169
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.4 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #635,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Bag of Goodies October 9, 2007

By Kimberly A. Hambric

Format:Paperback

Definitely a grab bag of goodies: Nuts, prizes and candy (literally). After reading other reviews, I had to put in my 2 cents. Yes, some of the pieces in this book are more "crafty" than others. The cover of the book makes no claim to presenting art rather than craft. The word "art" covers more ground today than in the past & I would consider most of these pieces works of art. Duchamp's mounted urinal entitled "fountain" was considered art in its day (and probably still is). Art is in the eye of the creater and the beholder. If you're not creating or beholding, then why bother to complain. So what's the matter with the pieces presented in this book? What's the matter with craft anyway? Geez.

The techniques explained might not walk you start to finish and help you achieve the exact works of art presented here. They do provide starting points for the reader to come up with their own artworks. Sorry, there are no step-by-step methods to transfering photos to lampshades. There are loads of insights into how each artist creates. I purchased this book to read each artist's "spark", their methods, and their tools. I also want to look at the beautiful photos again and again.

My only complaint about this book is that there is not enough fiber art.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Has a Major Focus on the Creative Process and What Inspires the Artists January 3, 2008

By christinemm - The Thinking Mother TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

After a quick introduction to collage and collage tools, the book is divided into two sections.

Section one features in-depth profiles of five artists. Each artist is interviewed and interesting questions are asked about their creative process, their inspiration and why they choose to use the materials that they do. Multiple pieces of their artwork are shown. One project is featured with stepped-out directions and photos so you can learn their technique.

The five artists profiled and directions for their project are:
1. Laurinda Bedingfield: 3D collage book sculpture with photographs
2. Barbara DePirro: using acrylic gel medium to create the look of encaustic
3. Paula Grasdal: printmaking and collage
4. Sharon McCartney: mixed-media multi-paneled wall hanging
5. Teesha Moore: mixed-media journal page

Section two is a gallery of two pieces of artwork from 20 different contemporary mixed-media artists. The information includes brief technique explanation, inspiration, and a list of supplies used.

The strengths of this book are that there is a great variety of type of artwork represented. This is not a book of fads and trends. It was clear to me that each artist is following their own voice and making their own unique kind of art that they enjoy working with. For this reason I treasure the book, because there are other publications on the market which seem to display the `trend of the season'. This book is fresh and unique. Just seeing different types of artwork and seeing these artists using their own inner voices to guide their art (even if I personally didn't love the look of all of it) made me want to go and make some art.

The book closes with some essays on the topic of the artist on the Internet. Directions on how to do photo transfers and how to do encaustic collage are provided.

The book has a products resource guide, a vendor listing and a directory of all the artists featured in the book.

The paper in the book is high quality glossy paper. The layout is very nice and the photographs are in full-color. This was very nicely put together.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in mixed-media collage. If you love to read about what inspires artists and about people's creative process you will really enjoy this book.

On a more personal note...
My personal take-away from this book is a feeling of freedom of expression and a desire to go make my own personal style of art. In the past I have felt uncomfortable when I was creating art that was not the current trend, especially after reading certain books or a certain art magazine. Also while doing mail art swaps I have been criticized for making art that is not the hot fad of the day, for using different colors or materials than some people were. I personally don't plan to copy the work of these artists even though there are stepped out directions for five projects. What each of us takes away from a book is unique and that is alright.

I also really enjoy reading about what inspires artists and what their creative process is like. I smiled when I read that one artist creates while sitting on her living room floor with images all around her. I prefer more talk of the creative process and inspiration rather than the books that only feature the finished art piece yet leave me wondering, "What was the artist thinking, why did they make that?".

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing October 23, 2007

By S. Busuttil

Format:Paperback

I am not quite sure what I expected from this book. Yes, I did think there would be the same type of collage and craft but what I did not expect was the same old hats on people, heads on other bodies (refer to T.Moores stuff on the cover and inside) techniques that have been done to death to name a few negative points. It was a grave disappointment. It would seem there really has been nothing new from this area of paper arts for an awful long time.

A few good points about the book is that it uses some male artists in a predominately female field. Further, the photography and lay out is very good. It also discusses faux encaustics. Sadly, I bought it and sold it in the same week.