Showing posts with label inspirational. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspirational. Show all posts

Ex3: Exquisite Expressions with Photoshop Elements 9 Review

Ex3: Exquisite Expressions with Photoshop Elements 9
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Ex3: Exquisite Expressions with Photoshop Elements 9 ReviewI'm not usually a fan of instructional books, but this one really worked for me. I picked it up because of its beautiful photographs and clean layout, and also because I had a feeling that this book would be packed with an unusual amount of practical information and creative insights (I own two other of Jim Krause's books on photography and love them both). Well, I was right. I think this is the first time I've worked through a book cover to cover--it was like eating candy; every time I finished one of the book's exercises, I just wanted to start on the next one. The user begins each exercise by downloading a sample image from the internet (I ended up downloading ALL the book's images at once so I wouldn't have to keep going back the Web). Each exercise was fun, interesting and almost always relevant to the kinds of things I want to do with my own pocket camera and new digital SLR. I am a low-tech person and had next to no real experience in Elements or Photoshop when I started working with this book. It is clear and straightforward, and I'd say the author does a good job of explaining things for new users without dumbing it down for the advanced readers. I got stuck a couple of times, but then I generally just backed up a step or two in the exercise I was working on and figured things out (the book's step-by-step instructions seem to be accurate, but I had to get used to a few idiosyncrasies in the Elements program itself before I got really smooth with its use). The book covers a ton of different things you can do with your camera, things like exploring different ways of converting color images to black and white, improving the look of just about any photo, rescuing problem images, eye-catching contemporary outcomes, altered realities, abstractions and artful special effects, just to name a few. The book's lessons are communicated through step-by-step exercises and also by quite a few "bonus" photos that are sprinkled throughout its pages (these are especially fun to look at and they gave me a lot of ideas about things I'd like to try with my camera and with Elements). This is a really FUN book, and I have zero reservations about recommending it with a solid 5 stars.Ex3: Exquisite Expressions with Photoshop Elements 9 Overview

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Art at the Speed of Life: motivation + inspiration for making mixed-media art every day Review

Art at the Speed of Life: motivation + inspiration for making mixed-media art every day
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Art at the Speed of Life: motivation + inspiration for making mixed-media art every day ReviewHaving taken several of Pam's online classes, I was excited to see her techniques and inspirational color palette memorialized in print. Art at the Speed of Life concentrates on providing artists with a road map to incorporating art into their every day lives with helpful instructions on creating art in a more efficient manner. Interspersed throughout the book are chapters from some of my other favorite mixed-media artists and they share how to incorporate and manage an artful life in our normal routines as well. Of course it wouldn't be the perfect Mixed-Media book if it didn't also include methods on building backgrounds, adding focal points, and interesting imagery. I'm excited to try many of the techniques, such as toilette papier-mache and beeswax collage (encaustics). Instructions are clearly written and supporting photographs and sketches are meaningful and helpful. Just looking at the contents page, I have counted 22 projects/techniques and I can't wait to sit down and try them all. For me it always comes back to one question, would I buy this book again 5 years from now? For Pam's new book, the answer would definitely be YES!Art at the Speed of Life: motivation + inspiration for making mixed-media art every day Overview

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Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media Review

Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media
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Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media ReviewI've always wanted to try my hand at working with watercolors but most of the books I looked at seem to take the subject so seriously that they were overwhelming and just not that inspiring to me. When this book came up on my recommendations I anxiously awaited it's release because it looked exactly like what I was waiting for and I was right! If you're looking for a book to take you step by step on every aspect of creating watercolor masterpieces then no, this is probably not the book you want but if you're new to watercolors and want a book that takes you through some easy and fun techniques to get you started then you'll love this book.
The author has a nice writing style that is easy to follow and understand and the accompanying full color illustrations are beautifully photographed. You'll being with the basics: types of paper, paint, palettes and brushes and then the book moves right into techniques and projects. Get your feet (or hands!) wet by starting out with working wet into wet and wet onto dry techniques. Then try your hand at dabbing, dripping, blowing and splattering paint. All of these techniques make beautiful backgrounds to write, journal or doodle over and as papers to be torn and used in collages.
That's only a small sampling of what's in this book. Other chapters (30 in all) include subjects such as: using salt to make texture, working with a still life, using high-key or low-key color, using value, printing with leaves, masking and stenciling, collage, opaque and iridescent watercolors, working from a photograph, writing with watercolor, adding watercolor to a monotype, drawing from nature and more.
At the end of the book you'll find a 20 page gallery of work by several contributing artist working in a wide range of styles.
I found this book to be a refreshing approach to the subject of working with watercolors!Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media Overview

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Working Spirit 2010 Wall Calendar Review

Working Spirit 2010 Wall Calendar
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Working Spirit 2010 Wall Calendar ReviewInviting art, stirring quotations, standard great space to add notes each day of the year -- this has been my favorite calendar for several years.Working Spirit 2010 Wall Calendar Overview

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Live with Intention 2010 Wall Calendar Review

Live with Intention 2010 Wall Calendar
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Live with Intention 2010 Wall Calendar ReviewThis calendar is exactly what I was looking for. It has beautiful artwork and inspiring sentiments. The calendar is also well laid out and very clear. I purchased the Live with Intention date book in 2008 and that was also a really nice book. Either would make great gifts.Live with Intention 2010 Wall Calendar Overview

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Splash 10 Passionate Brushstrokes Review

Splash 10 Passionate Brushstrokes
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Splash 10 Passionate Brushstrokes ReviewBook ten already! I wonder if the folks at North Light thought Splash would last from January 1991 to May 2008 for the latest edition. Especially when you consider the number of books out there. Put 'watercolor painting' into Amazon's advance search and more than 8,000 titles pop up, try 'watercolor instruction' for more than 800!
I mentioned in my review of book nine that I thought the contents rather subdued in comparison with previous editions and ten does rather continue that impression. I must admit that I have no idea about the criteria for inclusion in this series but selection is probably based on what is available and maybe there just aren't many eye-stopping paintings around. I'm thinking here of Deborah Rubin's tram painting in book eight or Hosey Hutson's beautiful painting of the side of a barn made up from 7-UP signs in book six.
So what does this latest book have to offer. There is certainly no reduction in quality from the ninety-nine artists included and the range of styles is as wide as previous books. Dan Burt's included again (he's also in book seven and eight) with his amazingly flamboyant casual brushstrokes and so is Soon Warren's glass bowl with flowers done in an almost photorealist technique. Ted Nuttall (also in book eight) contributes a lovely portrait rather reminiscent of Charles Reid's style: an apparent casualness of color and brushstrokes that makes it look so easy but is in fact the epitome of creativity and professionalism. John Salminen lives in the Minnesota woods and so is intrigued by big cities. He has two paintings that nicely capture the feel of a metropolis, his starting point are his own city photos. As with previous editions all the artists write about their techniques and inspiration.
Book ten is the same size as the others, printed on good paper with a 175 screen. The paintings are divided into seven sections with the usual favorites: landscapes, still life, flowers (with some really good exhibits) and people. I always thought the design of the series rather good, clean and uncluttered but this book has a rather annoying design conceit: there are three examples of display type printed on the paintings. This seems to me a totally unnecessary idea, empty areas of a painting are there for a reason and not to be considered as an optional place to add text. I've not noticed this in previous books.
Despite the fact that this tenth book (like the ninth) doesn't quite come up to the creative exuberance of the previous eight it still has plenty of wonderful watercolors to inspire you and the series still continues the very high painting selection one has come to expect.
***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.Splash 10 Passionate Brushstrokes Overview

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2012 Live with Intention Wall Calendar Wall calendar Review

2012 Live with Intention Wall Calendar Wall calendar
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2012 Live with Intention Wall Calendar Wall calendar ReviewI used the Live with Intention calendar in my therapy office in 2011; just had to find and purchase it again for 2012.2012 Live with Intention Wall Calendar Wall calendar Overview

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