The Bottom Line
Pros
- Written by an artist specialising in mixed media techniques.
- Explains how to do each technique yourself.
- Large photos of the results of each technique to inspire you.
- Includes work by a range of artists.
Cons
- If you don't like mixing your media, don't open this book.
- A lot of the techniques are based on photos, but you can apply them to paintings.
Description
- Paperback book, 128 pages, ISBN 1-59253-117-6, published by Quarry Books
- Author Karen Michel is a mixed-media artist based in New York.
- Karen Michel is also artistic co-ordinator for Cask (Creative Art Space for Kids Foundation).
Guide Review - The Complete Guide to Altered Imagery: Mixed Media Techniques by Karen Michel
- Altered Imagery Using Photography
- Altered Imagery Using Your Computer
- Altered Imagery from Found Sources
- Altered Imagery Using Printmaking Techniques
- Project Gallery
The chapters on working with found sources and printmaking techniques are the longest, and for me the most interesting, but then of course I'm biased towards techniques involving art materials. But if you're new the possibilities of altering images on your computer, that chapter is an easy introduction.
Here are a few of the techniques and tips include in the book, chosen at random: monoprinting over a collage, painting on photos rubber block prints, using fabric in a collage, unifying a work with a background, using bleach pens. Each with a photograph of an artwork using that technique (or a combination of techniques).
The Project Gallery showcases artwork by the 'guest artists', and is something you're likely to refer for inspiration to even after you've mastered all the techniques in the book. (Not that that's going to happen overnight!) It's a book that'll certainly alter the way you think about creating imagery.
