Three Things : Creative Books (+ a giveaway)
Three books to inspire, challenge and fill you up creatively this week:
True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling by LK Ludwig : I got to meet LK at Artfest last year and enjoyed her art just about as much as her personality. I ordered this book last night and am looking forward to some new ideas (it's been quite awhile since I picked up my art journal). After looking through the next book on the list (see below) I have some good ideas for backgrounds to try.
Acrylic Revolution by Nancy Reyner : This book is packed full with techniques for working with acrylic paint. I have been looking through it the last couple of evenings, dreaming about potentially doing some painting, and being really inspired to get out my paints and try something new and different (new + different for me).
Taking Flight: Inspiration And Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings by Kelly Rae Roberts : I was lucky to see an advanced copy of this book on my recent girl's weekend and I can't wait to get my own. There are a bunch of mixed media how-to's as well as a lot of words (of which you know I am a fan - I like to know the thoughts behind the actions whenever possible). According to Kelly Rae, "this book isn't a traditional how-to book, but rather a book that dives deeper into telling our stories about how we came into the creative life - as a way to inspire others to stretch their wings and see what is possible for their own creativity."
Here's one of the Amazon reviews on this book:
Kelly Rae Roberts is an amazingly talented artist and apparently
equally gifted as a writer as well. This book is a journey from her
soul right into yours. It's part journal, part sitting around getting
deep with your girlfriends, part interviews with other talented artists
and part art instruction. So very different from other art books, even
from the same publisher. It goes above and beyond and straight into
your heart & head, making you think about your own creativity.
And until you find your creative spirit, the how-to make art
sections are very clearly thought out and well written. I know that I
will be able duplicate even the pieces that had materials I've never
used before.
This book is a treasure that I know I will refer to again and again.
I have two copies of Taking Flight to give away this week. To be entered into the drawing leave a comment below and let me know about your favorite creative technique is these days (it can be scrapbooking, mixed media, anything). Comments will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5pm Pacific and the winners announced shortly after.
[ Three Things is a weekly product series : check out the archives here. ]
Lately, I've spent time needlepointing my eleventh (and last) grandchild's Christmas stocking, making guests' favor bags for my youngest daughter's December wedding, and making sets of greeting cards with an accompanying card holder/calendar for my three daughters' and a friend's birthday presents. Your blog always fills my head with new ideas/books/projects. Not enough time!!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hi Ali,
My favorite technique these days is using Gesso as a resist and painting over top...gives great effects....also watercoloring lots lately too.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I just recently tried digital scrapping and I am totally hooked! I love it and have done more pages in the last couple of weeks than I have in the last year.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I'm all about photography!
Thank you for the give away opportunity!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hi Ali,
I have been loving combining my scrapbook pages with mixed media techniques...paints, image transfers and even using things around the house. I have really been inspired by paulette insall and claudine hellmuth for help in this area..so much fun to get messy! I'd love to win this book! Thanks for the opportunity!!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Favorite creative technique? It's gotta be surfing the web, visiting my favorite sites in search of inspiration.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Well, for now sewing is still my art passion but my friends have been edging me into scrapping and mixed media paper arts. I still feel over my head in those realms so maybe this book is just what I need!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My favourite technique right now is anything that has to do with acrylic paint - I just bought my first can of gesso a few days ago and I can't stop playing - and I also tend to use my sewing machine for everything. :) Thank you for telling us about these books..!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My favirot technique...well I dont think its really considered and tenchnique but I love going around all my favirot artsy blogs to get inspiration and ideas before I scrap.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I would love to have this book to be able to give it away to a friend who is a fantastic artist. She is so much into mixed media and words - and also a fantastic scrapbook artist. I don't get to see her much anymore, but she inspires me greatly everytime I do get to spend time with her.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
HOnestly? My kids and I have rediscovered the joy of crayons, paper and a hot pad. Melting those crayons on that paper can make some "beautifu" works!!!!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Favorite creative technique? It has to be surfing the web, visiting my favorite sites in search of inspiration.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
oh yeah, my favorite "technique" right now is taking classes - esp online ones. Learning, learning, learning...just has me getting up in the morning.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I love stamping anything I can get my hands on with acrylics:corrugated cardboard, packaging bubbles, buttons, leaves...
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I'm loving creating more collage type pages and even doing small framed photo collages for around the house and especially Christmas themed ones - Christmas is BIG in our house.
I love to dabble with acrylics and have painted a couple of canvases for myself. This year has been a whole new creative awakening for myself and I'm just riding with it and hoping it continues. I'd love to get my hands on one of these books to keep the creative juices flowing.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My thing lately besides learning to knit is hybred scraping love both the paper end and the digi side especially correcting and changing the photos. But to find the time...
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I'm big into mini books right now, can't even seem to figure out how to fill a normal sized page these days... ;-)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Thanks Ali for a chance at inspiration! My current medium is cardmaking -- I like the instant gratification that comes from a finished card. I'm mostly doing a lot of stamping at this time. :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
That sounds like a book that would totally boost my creativity!! My favorite technique is to use staplers and bling to make my page look prettier :) And by the way, I just have to tell you that I have just ordered your new book from the site you recommended a while ago, can't wait for it to get here :D
Sign in or sign up to comment.
having a daily photo blog in addition to my 'regular' blog has inspired me to LOOK harder and more often. I think the requirement of at least one daily photo has really improved my 'seeing' and I thought it was just for a year, but I am now thinking it is forever... or at least as far forever as I can see... generally day after tomorrow
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My favorite technique right now is using my little sewing machine on my scrapbook layouts and cards as well. And since I am creating rather than sewing something that has to 'fit', I am much more easygoing and free about the process.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My favorite medium lately is found words. :)
That book looks like it will be full of eye and soul candy.
Can't wait until you put together a book like that. :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I find my creativity comes from telling my stories. I was so focused on getting caught up that I was losing the stories of the pictures I was taking now, and my most favorite pages of all time are the ones where I wrote the journaling relatively close to the time the pictures were taken. They are so rich with details, things I would have forgotten if I had waited two years to make the page. Once I write the journaling, the rest of the page just comes out.
Rachel
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I'm really excited about quilt journaling. I have a kit for a 9 X 9 page and once I get a photo printed on fabric, I'll be ready to go!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali, you've inspired me to start creating art pieces similar to those in Life Artist. I've used up a bit of my stash and they look great around the house. Thanks!
Sign in or sign up to comment.