Collage Unleashed by Traci Bautista
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Book Reviews of Collage Unleashed
Book Review: The cure for art inertia is at hand !
Summary: 5 Stars
This is quite a fantastic book. If you've been a fan of Sabrina Ward Harrison's books, for example, but couldn't figure out how to achieve those kinds of effects, this book will help you. I'm a novice but there were so many projects and ideas I wanted to try. Actually, it became overwhelming, especially at the end with the more advanced techniques using stitching and bookbinding, but there's plenty here to keep everybody going for a long time. Mainly Bautista shows us how to layer, layer, layer, and reminds us not to worry about finished effects. Also, she's a great fan of "leveraging" her art, which means to make numerous photocopies at various stages and keep the copies so that she always has a ton of stuff to work with and can build on previous ideas with new work.
I started to feel depressed and enervated as I went through the final chapters, but eventually it dawned on me that I had to go make something ... RIGHT NOW! This book is just so stimulating and serves both as inspiration and encouragement, and as an idea sourcebook. Bautista is funny and light, in contrast to some of the self-serious, angst-ridden artists. She believes in experimenting and having fun, and her enthusiasm is wonderfully infectious. Thanks, Traci!
Book Review: Very impressed
Summary: 5 Stars
I used to buy just about any art journaling book that came out because 5 years ago they were few and far between. Not so anymore and I've gotten more picky - trying to match my purchases with my tastes a bit better.
I had stayed away from this book because it seemed many of the reviewers seemed to know the author or took her classes - which would make them perhaps more biased to like her work. Some books on collage just drive me nuts too - if I see another collage done with someone taken from an old timey photograph wearing a pointy clown hat I will puke!
I picked up this book at a local store though and looked through it and immediately knew I had to have it. You might not exactly want to copy her style but she has a TON of good ideas. She does combine many techniques and maybe you don't want to use them all (like fabric and sewing) but you will probably be tempted. I love her doodling style. The back of the book even has some pages meant to be photocopied and used in your own artwork and pages to use to make stencils, etc. This is one of the best books on collage I've seen - maybe THE best book.
Book Review: This Book is Deceptive . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
Deceptively simple, that is. When I glanced at in the bookstore, I put it back on the shelf. Too messy, not enough instructions, not enough "projects," I thought. Then I saw the author on a craft show demonstrating one of the techniques, and thought it looked like fun. I bought the book, and I can honestly say it has changed my approach to my art. I've had this book for 6 months and I get something new out of it every time I look at it. All of the projects are aimed at getting you to play, to experiment, to let loose and have fun and just create for the joy of creating. I didn't "learn" how to make textile art from the book, but the samples in the book inspired me to begin painting fabric, drag the sewing machine out, and dust the cobwebs off of it. I didn't "learn" how to make my own journals from the book either, but I needed something to do with all those fabulous monoprints I was creating! I love this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn to loosen up, experiment, and have fun creating art.Book Review: Normally, I don't go for craft books, but
Summary: 5 Stars
with this one, I made an exception to my rule. And I'm so glad I did! Unlike most craft books that just go step-by-step showing one the precise way to make something, this has more. Yes, the detailed instructions are there for those who want them, but more importantly, Traci has a lot of bright off-the-wall ideas, and that's why I bought it. Traci spent a lot of time teaching art to kids, and that shows in her style. That may sound like a bad thing, but believe me, I mean it as a compliment! I'm sick of craft books advising us to buy expensive materials to use. Traci's methods feature cheap items (like plain paper towels) and they look better than the expensive things in other books. Many of Traci's instructions call for "any mark making tool", and she includes items like "coffee stir sticks" in that category. You just have to love her for that - how many of us would be creative enough to think of a coffee stir stick as an art tool?Book Review: Love, love, love this book
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is so much fun - an explosion of color, texture and cool images. Every time I pick up the book, I notice something new. And when you read/look through the book, you actually feel like her methods are ones that you can do. Looking at a finished piece of hers may seem overwhelming, but she breaks it down into each component and gives you the freedom to create what you want to. I also like that she uses supplies that are not hard to find and are not expensive (crayons, paper towels, muslin, glitter pens...). She does include fabric examples, but you don't have to be able to sew to enjoy this book. I haven't sewn for years, and although this has made me excited about getting my sewing machine out again, I feel like I could create exciting art without it. And the more I look through her book the more original ideas I get of my own, which is very exciting to me. She has provided a springboard for my creative endeavors.