Customer Reviews

Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I ordered this book as kind of an 'add-on' because I was getting a couple of others, saw it had been bought by people who had bought my other choices, and had great reviews. Because there are so many positive reviews for this book, I was really looking forward to it. I was very disappointed with it as a casual buyer, but can understand that it would appeal to many people. This review is really just for people like me, who might buy it not fully realising what they're getting, and be disappointed.

To understand where I am coming from, the books I *do* like include 'Drawing from art: the journal as art', 'The journey is the destination: the journals of Dan Eldon', and 'Artists journals and sketchbooks: exploring and creating personal pages.'As you can see, my interest is in art journals rather than altered books, but I really feel that this book is aimed squarely at scrapbookers who want to start making some more personal work. The book is directed towards multi-taking parents (meaning Moms); there are many references to taking supplies to the kids' ballgames, or worrying about the kids knocking the paint over, and it takes a cute, encouraging, enthusiastic tone that alas, soon felt like fingernails down a blackboard to me.

So, aimed at a COMPLETE journalling beginner, who has done some scrapbooking, but feels that's just not enough any more, then this is a great book. It will talk you through some basic things, and give you the confidence to find your voice. If that is you, then stop reading now, because now I'm going to criticise it. Go read some of those other nice reviews instead.

Ok...

I hated, simply detested, loathed, this book. If there was a no-star option I would have picked it.

A) Why are the authors talking to me as if I have recurring brain damage? Is it because I am a Mom? Are Moms dumb?

B) Do the authors have shares in scrapbooking supply companies? Why do they recommend taking, as an portable travelling ESSENTIALS kit, to take *everywhere* with us; a glue stick, fine-tip premanent pen, scissors, paintbox inkpad assortment, Peerless Watercolour paper cards, coloured permanent ink pens, mini stapler, cosmetic sponges, water brushes, alphabet stamps, mini pump-top water bottle, pre-painted background paper, tape, 3"x5"index cards, and two mini idea-journals you have made. You're kidding me, right? But THEN, they suggest an expansion pack; gel medium, acrylic paint, ruler, flat brush, shipping tags, paper punches, favourite rubber stamps, decorator paper. And she suggests that apart from travelling out with this, you "take it from room to room in the house". Yeah - me and the team of sherpas! I'm not arguing that that isn't a great bunch of supplies to have at home, but you know, you can journal with just a pencil and the journal. That's pretty much all you need to take with you to the kids baseball game. It fits in your jacket pocket!!

C) Journalling is all about examing yourself, your life, and your surroundings, and being honest. The authors do not feature journalling at all. These are scrapbook pages, in a book. They put an ink or paint background down, cut up pictures and glue them, then add stick-on lettering and some rubber stampings. Where is the honest examination! Show me something real! The things that really annoy Linda, or 'push her buttons', are bad eyebrow waxes and holes in the fingertips of dish washing gloves. How Desperate Housewives can you get?

OK, i better stop before I get mad. I'm glad so many people like this book, and i HOPE that it will encourage them to continue journalling. Just remember, to live an authentic life you don't need a tote full of art supplies; just your voice and a pen!

I only say that because I am the definition of that headline -- but VISUAL CHRONICLES made me want to sit down with glue, scissors, and some old magazines...and make something fun. I'm not an artist, but Linda and Karen made me feel like one. This book is inspiring, funny, creative, and wonderful -- and that's if all you do is look at the pictures. The writing is a class above most instructional art books, full of wit, character, wisdom, and enthusiasm. VISUAL CHRONICLES is for artists, aspiring artists and people-who-didn't-know-they-were-artists of ALL ages (and it's a treasure trove of projects for you to do with your kids!).

I have never "art-journaled" before. Have I wanted to? Yes. Have I talked myself in and always out of it? Yes. What I am totally connecting with in Visual Chronicles is the tone of the approach. How can Linda and Karen possibly know all of my reasons/excuses for not giving it a go? They seem to be looking inside my head or something!

The way they approach everything in the book, whether in words or art, is with a loving light touch. There is heart & humor in this book and I deeply feel that, with all that goes on in our lives and in the world, both are so needed.

Linda and Karen, I am reading every word. There is so much to reflect upon, laugh over, learn from and use in real life. You share an attitude and then explain techniques and applications through exercises that are fun and insightful, not intimidating. THANK YOU! I know that so much goes into creating a book. This one is touching people's lives, I can tell! Great editing, fab layout, terrific content. Now I need to DO something with all this inspiration!

As a writer with no discernible artistic talent, I was curious about how my chronicles might be visual, and this book is nothing short of a revelation. I finally know what to do with the pile of concert tickets, boarding passes, and hotel stationery I've amassed over the years. I always knew I couldn't throw these things out because they made me smile whenever I came across them. Linda Woods and Karen Dinino opened a door for me with this book, showing me step by step how to preserve my memories in a way that might even make them meaningful to someone else. I'm no artist, but this book made me feel like one. Anyone out there with a pile of memorabilia or a dusty journal filled with empty pages needs to buy this book. Your chronicles can be visual, and they can even be interesting to the rest of us! Visual Chronicles is the start of something big.

I agree this is a great book to get a person started thinking about how to create a visual journal. It suggests many jumping off points for the creative process. It helps you find aspects of yourself you may want to use as the focus of your journal. However, after I received the book, I realized the photos and suggestions were not very inspiring for someone who has been creating art as long as I have. I feel it is a Visual Journal 101 book and I realize I was looking for a master seminar! The cover suggests something more sophisticated and quite different from the visual depth of the images inside. Get it if you don't have a clue about what and why you want to begin experimenting with journals. But if you have ideas of your own already, I think you'll be disappointed.

Finally, a book on art journaling that is not just a bunch of pictures
of collaborative journals. Visual Chronicles is beautiful to look at
and
fun to read. It's the type of book you want to read over and over
again.
The projects are easy to follow and understand. Some of Linda's
journal
pages are moving and deep while others are so funny you will laugh out
loud. Before reading this book I would've been afraid to write this
review
let alone start an art journal. Now I have done both!

This book is hysterical--you must read every word! Not only do the Sisters show you how to make stunning, colorful journal pages, they show you how to meet yourself, as you have never known you. If you are having a bad day, this book will cheer you up. It's "how-to" and inspiration and "eye candy" all in one.

WOW! Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books is funny and arty and has the perfect balance of inspiration, instruction, and personal stories from these two sisters. The colors are vibrant and the art just bounces off the pages. The only reason that you would want to put it down is to start journaling--even if you have never journaled before. It is cool and inspiring and you will soon realize that "everyday is an artful journey."

I agree with everything everyone else says about this brilliant book - the only thing I would add is that,unlike so many writers in this field, the "sunny sisters" are able to laugh at themselves. Too many "art journallers" take themselves far too seriously - Linda and Karen prove that you can produce beautiful stuff without being pretentious. More power to them!

Me? An Artist? Oh, come ON!! And yet . . . Can it be possible?? Visual Chronicles has awakened the creative GENIUS within me, and has shown me how to express it, EFFORTLESSLY! Don't believe it? Well, neither did my son until he saw MY NEW JOURNAL (in which you can find pages and pages full of my [previously presented in black and white but now] very COLORFUL life!!! Honestly, this book inspired me from page ONE. It made art journaling fun, easy and accessible to ME, making use of things I had around the house but never before recognized as ART SUPPLIES. Thankfully, Visual Chronicles is NOT a collection of elaborate journal pages with explanations requiring special tools and years of classes -- this book is about expressing yourself artfully on a moment's notice, with UNBELIEVABLE results. It got my creative juices flowing, and helped me realize that FEAR was the only thing blocking my artistic self-expression! HAVE NO FEAR (as Visual Chronicles keeps reminding us)!!! For me, that's the absolute, ultimate lesson in Art. No, wait a minute! That's the absolute, ultimate lesson in LIFE!! I'm having FUN, and feeling so darned PROUD of myself!! Bless you, Linda Woods and Karen Dinino!!