Who's Your DADA?: Redefining the Doll through Mixed Media [Hardcover]

Linda O'Brien (Author), Opie O'Brien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

Inspired by the "Dada" notion of making art from materials that would not typically be combined or expected to go together, and driven by a similar sense of irony and humor, this exciting book by Linda and Opie O'Brien shares their unique approach to making mixed-media dolls. It is not only a "must have" volume for anyone interested in found object art and the human form, it is a thoughtful and provocative exploration of the power, symbolism, and cultural significance of dolls and representational figures.

 

The authors share detailed techniques for using surface embellishments, creating faces, heads, and limbs, using molds and molding products, and building and transforming disparate objects into whimsical, inspiring dolls. Starting with a variety of substrates—a wood block, a canvas, a tin can, a book, and a box construction—readers are guided step by step through five types of doll constructions.

 

Included:

• Complete instructions for making a box construction doll, a wood block substrate doll, a two-sided canvas frame doll, a tin can doll, and a book doll
• Numerous variations on each of the core projects for further experimentation
• An inspiring gallery of mixed-media dolls from leading artists who discuss their methods and share their very personal answers to the question: "What is a doll?"

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Originally from New York City, Linda and Opie O'Brien are full time artists living on Lake Erie in Ohio with their cat Angelus and his cat Angel. They teach workshops nationally and internationally. Their work includes jewelry, Dada dolls, artist books, assemblage, collage, masks, music, and more, and has been featured in numerous books, magazines, galleries, exhibitions, solo shows, museum gift shops, and private collections.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592535623
• ISBN-13: 978-1592535620
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Dadaism

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jumpstart your creativity!, March 31, 2010

By 

Linda S "art addict" (Scarborough, Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Your DADA?: Redefining the Doll through Mixed Media (Hardcover)

Looking for a way to jumpstart your creativity? Linda and Opie Obrien's "Who's Your Dada?" will inspire you to create your own found object work of art! As a lifelong artist, aficionado of mixed media and assemblage art, and a voracious reader of art, sculpture, and craft books and magazines, I cannot recommend this book more highly. Linda and Opie welcome you into their incredibly imaginative, inspiring, and amusing world presenting not only their unique take on the "Dada doll" but also an intimate portrait of their shared artistic journey. This truly wonderful book invites you in and introduces you to a whole new set of friends. You will want to spend more time with this amazing couple and the cast of unique, talented, and quirky fellow artists who populate the pages of this book with their personalities and creations.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who's MY DaDa?, December 3, 2009

By 

M. Magness "girl gone thread wild" (AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Who's Your DADA?: Redefining the Doll through Mixed Media (Hardcover)

I am a HOOGE fan of The O'Brien's! Their book was such a treat to explore.. I usually stick to cloth only dolls, but the explosion of using TRASH in my art these days is ever growing- their style is ADDICTIVE as well as humorous! Unfamiliar with the tools needed for tin/metalwork, I picked up a copy of their book which is fun to read and extremely informative! The ideas/projects are NON-stop.. quite easily you can expand upon the information they give so to apply this knowledge to YOUR OWN UNIQUE STYLE. I highly r'cmnd this book to anyone who is looking for inspiration in the world of art dolls! Go buy it NOW!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ** I found my DADA!! **, November 28, 2009

By 

Isabella Vlacci "Baronessa" (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Who's Your DADA?: Redefining the Doll through Mixed Media (Hardcover)

I always look for books that will inspire and spark my creative energy. There is no doubt that if what you are looking for is a book that explains techniques, supplies, and do's and dont's, with mind blowing photographs of the resultant material variations come to life, well look no further coz this book is it!

I found this book to be a treasure trove of possibilities and I would describe it as a photographic journal of artistic representations (there are over 30 of the most cutting edge artist examples featured here people!) that you will be able to go to this book time and time again. Am I excited about having found this book? You bet!!.. and you will too.