Surface Treatment Workshop: Explore 45 Mixed-Media Techniques [Paperback]

Darlene Olivia McElroy (Author), Sandra Duran-Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 2011

Breaking the Surface

Pondering how to begin a new piece of art? Surface Treatment Workshop has the answer! The authors of Image Transfer Workshop are back to show you 45 stepped-out mixed-media techniques that will add depth and texture to your artwork. These techniques are the perfect jump-off point for creating art you will love to look at, and, in some cases, touch!

In this comprehensive guide, you?ll find:

• 45 techniques. Exciting new applications such as the use of WonderUnder, pulled paper and plaster-dipped gauze will provide you with fresh ideas--many previously unpublished.
• Multiple variations. Each technique features swatches and descriptions to take the techniques in multiple directions with multiple mixed-media products.
• Inspirational style. Fully stepped-out projects from two artists will show you how to combine the techniques into finished works of art that can go in any artistic style.

Take Surface Treatment Workshop with you on your artistic journey for beautiful beginnings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Darlene Olivia McElroy is a mixed-media artist and painter whose work focuses on man's primal origins, sins and religious conflicts. In the past 20 years she has written for numerous publications, and has taught art classes. She is a member of AHA (Association of Hispanic Artists), Santa Fe Artists Voice, FOCA (Friends of Contemporary Art).

Sandra Duran Wilson is a painter and mixed-media artist. Making her paints and paper from materials found in nature is a direct result of her passion for combining art and science. Her mixed-media pieces employ painting, printmaking, photography and collage. Sandra has degrees in both science and art from the University of New Mexico.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (May 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1440308241
• ISBN-13: 978-1440308246
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.5 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Mixed-Media
  • #3 in Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Mixed Media
  • #59 in Books > Self-Help > Creativity

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

127 of 129 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Home Run for McElroy & Wilson April 10, 2011

By K. Babcock

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have been a fan of Ms McElroy & Ms Wilson since I first got my artsy little hands on Image Transfer Workshop: Mixed Media Techniques for Successful Transfers. I value that book tremendously and was more than a little stoked when I heard they had another compilation on the way. As much as I adore Image Transfer Workshop, this new book is equally fantastic (just on different subject matter)!

I cannot agree with the other reviewer about the illustrations, though. At all. I LOVE the photos and work used as examples. I don't care if it came from class students or so-called "professionals" - I thoroughly enjoyed all of it and in my opinion, each piece pictured serves as inspirational reiteration of the projects/ideas/techniques presented. Beyond the Introduction and a short instructional on How to Use This Book, there are two major sections: Techniques and Inspirational Projects. The Technique section in broken into three sub-categories: Additives (Aluminum Foil, Drawing Grounds, Ventilation Tape, Faux Encaustics, just to name a few), Resists (Rubbing Alcohol, Petroleum Jelly, Salt, White Craft Glue, etc), and Subtractive or Combination (Painted Leaf, Rust, Sanding, Tyvek, etc). With the Inspirational Projects section containing 4 additional projects spanning ten pages, resources, and an index, this book is as thorough as it is fun to read and look at.

The photos clearly show how to use the suggested materials, as well as finished samples. Samples provide adequate examples of a technique, in my opinion. With all the parts I love about this book, advanced and experienced artists beware - I doubt you'll learn many (if any) new techniques. It's a great compilation of techniques, don't get me wrong. There just aren't any new-to-me techniques - although I always enjoy seeing new ways each technique can be presented and used. I like Surface Treatment Workshop because of the vast array of techniques it covers all in one place.

On a final note, it's been my experience that if there is something in the book you have questions about or don't understand, emailing Ms McElroy will produce a thorough response, quickly. I'm really glad I got this book - as much for the cool techniques as for the wonderful photographs.

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Hit From This This Author Team! April 17, 2011

By Marie VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love this book! I was hesitant about it because the author's previous book "Image Transfer Workshop" is, in my humble opinion, one of the best books I've invested in (and I invest a lot in books!) and I wasn't sure that a new book could live up to that opinion. I am SO happy to report that this book is another home run, totally out-of-the-ball park winner of a book.

The lay out is very well considered and the instructions are superlative - perfectly illustrated with photos that relate directly to the image. I couldn't wait to begin experimenting! One of the things that intrigued me as I read through the book was a description of Venetian Plaster - something I had never heard of before - "...Venetian Plaster gives you a unique finish that cannot be replicated with any other medium....". A tall order in my opinion. I got some of this miraculous stuff though and experimented and now have a new favorite mixed media tool. You can see my experiment from using the instructions on my other blog - [...].

I can't wait to try more surface treatments from this book. It's a must have for the bookshelf of artists of all sorts - especially for fine arts, mixed media artists and visual journalers. You just can't go wrong by buying this book!

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great December 13, 2011

By Louis Gedo

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found the instructions to be somewhat confusing at times and somewhat unprecise at times. Perhaps this is because I am new to many of the techniques presented, As just one example of confusing and unprecise, under the Gels section, the reader is told to apply a thin layer of gel in the first sentence but in the very next sentence tells the reader the gel, both matte and gloss, needs to be dragged. But the reader isn't told why and where one would use both a gloss and a matte gel. Unless you know already, that type of instruction is a little too vague for artists like me. A subject like this would best be handled by a video instruction DVD because one cannot possibly convey in writing what can be conveyed through a video presentation. Next time I will wait for a DVD.