Mixed-Media Self-Portraits [Paperback]

Cate Coulacos Prato (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008

Featuring artwork from a wide range of contributors, this resource explores creative self-portraits through fun and easy exercises and essays that instruct and inspire artists working in all media. Examples of collage, fiber arts, and mixed-media artwork offer visual inspiration while essays throughout the book act as a guide to personal and artistic self-discovery. Step-by-step techniques and creative prompts are used to direct artists through different approaches to creating self-portraits while exercises utilizing collage, drawing, photography, and stitching will jump-start the creative process and get ideas flowing on paper and fabric, encouraging artists to express themselves in new ways.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In artist and magazine editor Prato’s first book, examples of self-portraits, in nonvisual and visual media, introduce chapter 1, beginning with a quote from Oscar Wilde: “Of course I’m enjoying myself. There’s no one else here to enjoy.” This book is about showcasing different media and encouraging crafters to reveal at least one part of their personalities through art. Exercises follow, using digital images, a “who lives here” quiz, color symbolism, even caricatures to warm up visual inspiration. The last chapter, promising hands-on instructions, is a bit of a misnomer; the author skillfully mixes the how-to’s (fashioning different role dolls, for instance), artisan samples, and self-portrait ideas (e.g., pick from a birth-year book or a mini-assemblage, among others) in a collage that can be hard to follow. The occasional missteps in book layout and design are more than forgiven by the immense range of expression and, at the very end, a nine-item gallery of self-portraits. --Barbara Jacobs

Review

"This book is about showcasing different media and encouraging crafters to reveal at least one part of their personalities through art."  —Booklist

"The ideas are inspirational. The book makes you want to go and grab your markers . . . and play. It's so inventive and wonderful."  —CraftLit: A Podcast for Crafters Who Love Books

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596680822
• ISBN-13: 978-1596680821
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a writer, editor, wife, mother, collector of vintage fabrics and objects, and (underneath the sarcasm) an optimist. I think I began writing when I realized it was a way of speaking without being interrupted. Hurray! I love the "voice" that writing gives me, and so it was fate that after years of toiling in daily journalism, my first book was about exploring the self: Mixed-Media Self Portraits (Interweave, 2008). I also contributed to Pam Carriker's book Art at the Speed of Life (Interweave, 2011).

I'm captivated by home decorating and design and have been rearranging the furniture in my dwellings ever since I was big enough to push my white canopy bed across the floor when I was 8. Because I can only afford one house, I spend most of my time redecorating mine and writing about other people's. Fortunately, my job as editor of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios Magazine allows me to peek inside artfully decorated homes on a regular basis.

I bring writing and design together in my blog In The Studio with Cate (http://clothpaperscissors.com/blogs/in_the_studio_with_cate/default.aspx) and on Twitter@StudiosMagazine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This Book!, October 21, 2008

By 

Tuscanyblue "fiber artist" (Sonoma, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mixed-Media Self-Portraits (Paperback)

I pre-ordered Mixed-Media Self-Portraits and was thrilled when it finally arrived. It was worth waiting for and everything I hoped it would be. I'm a mixed-media artist and have been wanting to do some self-portraits for a long while but didn't know where or how to start. The title says exactly what the book is about: inspiration and techniques. Just thumbing through the pages makes you want to jump right in and create your own self-portrait. There is a whole chapter just on drawing eyes! But first you are shown amazing self-portraits other artists have done. Next are warm up exercises to get you in the mood. Finally, hands on instructions for creating your own self-portraits. If you need inspiration to get you started, this is the book for you.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than self-portraits, November 4, 2008

By 

Belinda Spiwak "Crazy Art Girl" (Aurora, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mixed-Media Self-Portraits (Paperback)

I could not wait for this book to come out. I am always looking for new sources of inspiration. This book is a keeper! The book has a nice selection of artists with different perspectives. There are different self-portraits using different media. Cate Prato has done an excellent job with this book! It is not often that I find an art book that I keep going back to as a reference and for inspiration in what I am currently working on.

It can be a difficult thing to look at yourself in the mirror and turn that into a piece of art. This book gives you a great jump-start on the process.

The book starts out with a bit of history behind self-portraits. Don't skip this part. It was very interesting to me to read about other artists' self portraits. There is a little section on getting yourself out there and on blogging. I am a huge blogger myself. Love to keep one and love to read other artists' blogs.

Some of the artists do not do just one self-portrait. Some do several different ones and some do variations on the same picture. There are all sorts of tips in the book to help you - such as digital imaging. I enjoyed reading the thoughts behind each self-portrait. Some of the reading was very personal. You could see it in the very revealing self-portraits.

As I said before, there are a lot of tips and techniques to help you get started on your own self-portrait. There is even a short quiz to help you think about yourself. There are some detailed exercises to help and inspire you. The techniques are easy to follow.

You do not have to be able to draw to make use of this book. I am a mixed media artist that cannot draw diddly. I used a headshot I had, altered it on the computer, and used that to create several different self-portraits of myself.

I really liked how different materials are used in the self-portraits. The pictures are very large and are in color. I love to work with fabric. I really loved seeing how I could incorporate fabric into a self-portrait quiltie or art doll. I will have to see how I can create my own copper self-portraits.

I loved the details and colors of Kelli Perkin's journal dolls. It was a very original idea that I am going to have to try. Kelli's section on how to draw your own self-portrait looks very fun. I am going to try that and see if my self-portrait comes out as well as hers does.

I recently bought Kelly Rae's book. Her part in this book was an added bonus. She does a wonderful job of layering, making use of textures, and blending colors. Debbi Crane's masks really spoke to me. I thought about the different masks we all wear every day. I do a lot of assemblage and thought it was great that there was an assemblage section to the book. Self-portraits can make use of found objects and be 3D!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible vehicle into self-discovery!, November 1, 2008

By 

E. Franz "City Girl Em" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mixed-Media Self-Portraits (Paperback)

When I saw this book was due out in mid September, I jumped on the opportunity to order one. I am a doll artist, very interested at the current time in delving into my persona and pulling interesting elements about myself out and transferring those into images which I can use to create a piece of art. What is more interesting than ourselves? This book should be considered a self portrait bible of sorts. It's amazing!

The book starts out discussing a little bit of history of self portraits and why they are important for each artist to do. The book is written in a very fun, and easy to decipher way-it's not like reading an art history book. Quite the opposite, the book is very entertaining to read with many illustrations, photos and examples of work to inspire the reader. It's filled with lovely images, incredible color and a fun layout.

Chapter 2 gives exercises such as using color to describe your personality, a "Who lives here?" quiz, a quick drawing lesson on the scale of anatomy in relation to drawing the human body and many exercises with instructions to do self portraits with specific themes. This to me is wonderful, because she gives you the instructions with just enough information to allow you total freedom to make each one of these self portraits a true work of art. There is also a section on how to generate ideas. Many projects are 'led' by well known mixed media artists such as Kelly Rae Roberts, the Artgirlz and Loretta Benedetto Marvel among many others.

The self portrait projects are so diverse, ranging from digital photo alteration, to fabric, to art dolls, to caricature, to art books, to masks, assemblage and so much more. It's truly a plethora of inspiration and will reach virtually any type of artist out there.

What is so wonderful about this book in addition to the actual self portrait art projects is the way the book promotes self acceptance, self-love and art therapy through the creative process. I absolutely love this book. If there was one additional thing I'd get to rescue out of a burning building besides personal photos, etc, it would be this fabulous book. Don't hesitate a moment longer. Click on 'add to cart' now so you can have this great book in your hands within a week. I assure you, you will not regret it. In no time, you will be itching to start a self portrait!