True Colors: A Palette of Collaborative Art Journals [Paperback]

Kathryn Bold (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

"Sort of like Mardi Gras, where there are daytime parades, and nighttime reveleries, and pauses for banquets, and full-dress balls, and promendades - but it's ALL Mardi Gras."

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Stampington & Company (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971729638
• ISBN-13: 978-0971729636
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #773,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional volume of contemporary art January 23, 2005

By Art lover

I've only thoroughly explored the first third of this book, taking my time with it to carefully savor its wonderful pages. Skimming the remainder only whets my appetite to continue and soak it all in.

The whole concept of a team of talented women working for an extended period of time to produce their art journals is fascinating, and the results are a feast for the eyes. My only slight reservation so far is the work of Ms. Moore ... "outsider" art or not, it comes across to me as careless, as if this project didn't mean as much to her as it did to the others. She admittedly doesn't "put a lot of thought" into her work, and in my opinion, it shows.

It's hard to have a favorite artist amongst this group, each has a unique style and vision that is expressed at levels of genius on some pages, and naturally, a bit more tentatively on others. Certain colors seemed to have evoked a greater emotional response than others. Sarah Fishburn seems to be the most technically accomplished and her work is truly inspirational. Lynne Perella, Nina Bagley, and Claudine Hellmuth also shine as sure-footed and confident in their artistic personas. Ms. Perella's white pages are mind-bogglingly lovely, I keep going back to look a them again and again.

The volume is produced on beautiful paper and is a credit to Somerset Studio. Obviously a labor of love for their entire staff, this book is definitely worth the price of admission.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Year Later - And It Still Inspires Me!!!!!!!!! March 20, 2004

By Tana Mitchell

The day you first sit down with this book you are nearly overwhelmed by the sheer sumptuousness of the color. The next day you wear your psychic sunglasses and take in the quality of the artists' work - the precision, the paper engineering, the page-by-page progression of pure art saturation.

And then, it slowly dawns on you. You are holding an honest-to-goodness work of art. A compilation, yes. But also a cohesive, thoughtfully authored and produced work of the finest short stories told via the hands of our best current multi-media artists. Artists like Sarah Fishburn (my personal fave), and Monica Riffe and Karen Michel. It is a Sotheby's catalog of women book artists/journalers. It is stories and lives amidst paint and paper and talent.

There are glimpses of memories, some containing grief as raw as fresh meat. Others encapsulating childhoods so precious we wish they had been our own. So whether you are craving a little color in your life, or you are a fan of collage/journaling, or you support contemporary women artists, buy this book. And if you cherish those rare honest glimpses into the lives of others, buy this book. Because, like me, you'll find yourself looking at this book over and over again not only for the rich artistic inspiration it will provide you, but also for the sense of connection you will feel with the artists who have shared their souls with us.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rewarding investment. (and delicious,too) April 16, 2006

By Karmagold

Consider this book for what it promises. Buy it for what it delivers.

The physical quality of TRUE COLORS -- from it's binding to paperweight -- is all first class. In addition, the layout is design-smart, with a good balance between copy and photos, all of which are sumptuous. Best of all, the tone is intelligent but relaxed, like a conversation with a trusted friend. Instruction is often spare (but accurate) and techniques/examples are generous to the point of overflowing. For top quality content TRUE COLORS leads the pack. (I agree with reviewer Carrie that it would've been nice to see some mid-stage, not-yet-perfect examples, but alas, that wasn't the intent of this project.)

If you have any trepidation at all about buying this book, consider the Who's Who of featured artists: Lynne Perella, Anne Bagby, Lisa Hoffman, Claudine Hellmuth, Nina Bagley, Sarah Fishburn, Karen Michel, Monica Riffe, Teesha Moore, Linn Jacobs, etc. Still not sure? Many of these artists have their own websites. Take a look. Then you'll see why TRUE COLORS is so praiseworthy.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Breathtaking. September 9, 2003

By Julie Lovisa VINE™ VOICE

Don't let the price of this fabulous book by Somerset Studio (also a fantastic magazine!) fool you - it's worth every penny and more. It's 288 pages are crammed full of lavish, full-color photographs of sixteen collaborative art journals, each with it's own color theme, that were passed from artist to artist to fill with their personal visions. The artwork is of the highest caliber and you will be continually amazed at the level of creativity. If this doesn't push you to higher levels with your own artwork, nothing will!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideas, ideas, and more ideas November 22, 2005

By Learning All The Time TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Of all the altered book/stamping/scrapbooking books I own (a jillion), and all the magazines I subscribe to (also a jillion), this is my HANDS DOWN favorite book. I look at it often - and I can't say that for the other books in my studio (okay, not a studio, just a way-overcrowded corner of the basement).

Anyway, this book is one of THE books that launched a thousand imitations (particularly in the scrapbooking world), and it is still the leader of the pack.

What I love most about this book is its coherent completeness. Most artist/altered journal books show just the BEST pages from many books, so you never really get a sense of how any single artists book gels, of how the artistic vision plays out.

THIS book is different! You get to see 15 (or is it 12) artist books in their entirety! You can look at each thematic book and get a sense of how many different ways the theme (in the case of True Colors the theme of each book is a specific color) can be interpreted. Or, you can track each artists' work in each of the 15 books to get a more complete sense of their artistic style and vision.

There is so much to learn here. Study the construction of each of the 15 beautiful books - simple, complex, they are all divine. Turn to any page and study the use of color, of paint, the use of embellishments, the building of a unified theme. It is really amazing and so inspiring. (Note, however, that this is NOT a how-to book, and techniques are not provided.)

Worth every penny. It will give you countless hours of pleasure and inspiration.