Secrets of Rusty Things


Book Description

If you've ever wanted to learn the secrets which turn a tap handle into a mysterious woman from the sea, which transform plastic aquarium plants into subterranean roots stretching far beneath the known world and those which can make an icy cave from a bourbon box, then prepare yourself for inspiration that will have you checking your trash bin, twice. &break;&break;In Secrets of Rusty Things, renowned assemblage artist Michael DeMeng guides you down the intuitive, curious and often rock-strewn path of an artist's creative process, where illusions are just as important as any other aspect to the art. You'll discover new ideas of where to look for, not only discarded objects, but new items that you may not have previously seen as having a place in a future work of art. You'll be inspired by ways to add meaningful symbolism to your artworks' stories both through the use of color and shape. And you'll see how an ancient tale can parallel the artist's plight and invoke a new piece of art. &break;&break;From the pondering of each ancient myth and its connection to the modern-day artist, to the gluing together of objects, to the paint that unifies and disguises the original bits and pieces, this is an intimate view into the creative process unlike any workshop you've ever attended.




Box Art


Book Description




Altered Art


Book Description

Contains techniques for creating altered books, boxes, cards, and more.




Objects of Reflection


Book Description

Use souvenirs, keepsakes and everyday objects in your own brand of storytelling. Objects of Reflection brings you a new form of visual journaling–that of assemblage–by creating art that is extremely personal and evokes your fondest memories. Inspiration pours from every page as author Annie Lockhart takes you on a journey inside of her own heart, sharing her stories for building pieces with tiny treasures and common objects. Specific elements of each project are displayed in a legend, detailing what each object symbolizes and will have you thinking about what similar objects might represent to you. In addition to providing insight on her own art-making process, Annie will guide you through her favorite step-by-step techniques for attaching elements with simple materials like string, wire and tape; aging objects to give them a bit of charm; adding texture with modeling paste and more. Dare to color outside the lines. Discover a new way to tell your own story and start using objects as "words" today. You'll also receive insight on valuable lessons such as: • Quieting your harsh inner critic • Seeing the beauty in objects that are broken • Looking at the things you love with new perspective • Realizing art need not be permanent to be enjoyed




Living the Creative Life


Book Description

How DO they do it? If you could ask your favorite artist or crafter only one question, chances are you'd ask about creativity: Where do your ideas come from? How did you get started? What are your tricks for overcoming blocks? In Living the Creative Life, author Ricë Freeman-Zachery has compiled answers to these questions and more from 15 successful artists in a variety of mediums—from assemblage to fiber arts, beading to mixed-media collage. Creativity is different for everyone, and these artists share their insights on the muse (if you believe in her), keeping a sketchbook (or not), and prioritizing your art, whether you aspire to create solely for your own pleasure or to become a full-time artist. • Try your hand at creative jumpstarts straight from the pros. • Glimpse the artists' innermost thoughts and works in progress as you peruse pages from their journals and notebooks. • Share textile artist Sas Colby's triumph over creative block during an exotic art retreat. • Learn how internationally acclaimed artist James Michael Starr uses experience from his former "day job" to fuel his creation today. • Explore the work of Michael deMeng, Claudine Hellmuth, Melissa Zink and the other artists right alongside their insights. No crafter or artist should live the creative life without Living the Creative Life! The inspiration is contagious.




Altered Curiosities


Book Description

Discover a curious world of assemblage with projects that have a story to tell! Step inside Altered Curiosities, where a wisdom tooth gets its own shrine, a honeybee lights up the room and a taxidermy eye becomes the eye in the back of your head. As author Jane Wynn shares her unique approach to mixed-media art, you'll learn to alter, age and transform odd objects into novel new works of your own creation. Step-by-step instructions guide you in making delightfully different projects that go way beyond art for the wall—including jewelry, hair accessories, a keepsake box, a bird feeder and more—all accompanied by a story about the inspiration behind the project. You'll also learn to: Find your personal symbols and incorporate them into your work. Alter toy figures to create curious new creatures. Master simple soldering techniques that take you beyond the soldering iron. Apply beautiful patinas and etchings to brass and copper. Transform cast resin into pieces that look like metal. The endless possibilities of assemblage are yours to discover! Let Altered Curiosities inspire you to create a new world that's all your own.




The Artist Unique


Book Description

Make your mark your way! Every artist seeks to stand apart from the crowd. But how? Let author Carmen Torbus inspire you to new creative highs in this collection of hands-on techniques and heartfelt stories from 16 artists who have worked through their own artistic struggles and stalls to emerge triumphant, with looks uniquely their own. Whether art is new to you, or you have been at it awhile and are having trouble discovering your own style, this encouraging book will guide you to experiment with different mediums, techniques and possibilities to make a mark that is exclusively yours. Inside you'll find: • 17 of the artists' favorite mixed-media techniques shown step by step, with suggestions for how to make them your own • Beautiful finished art illustrating how individual artists use and combine these techniques in their own work • Easy worksheets to help reveal your artistic skills, strengths and preferences • A quick-start guide to various mediums, mark makers and creative paraphernalia • Lots of tips and advice for putting yourself into your art Embrace who you are and find out what defines you as an artist. Make your art far from ordinary--become the artist UNIQUE!




Rusty's Story


Book Description

“Why do they keep locking me up?” Rusty’s Story is Carol Gino’s account of the extraordinary life of the woman she undertook to help – the woman who ended up teaching her an invaluable lesson about the will to live, the strength of hope… Rusty used to wonder if she would make it through the day, seeing danger in everyday living. Rusty has epilepsy. She was twenty when Carol Gino met her and learned of her past ordeals: the stigma of mental illness, the drugs that took away her self-control, the treatments that only worsened her symptoms. Carol and Rusty set out to prove that illness can be overcome, and that there is no substitute for love and care. From Library Journal While many advancements have been made in understanding and treating epilepsy, the disease is still surrounded by an aura of dread. Rusty was a teenager when she was stricken with epilepsy. Misdiagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, for years she suffered more from inappropriate medical treatment than from her condition. The reader is mesmerized as Gino passionately relates Rusty’s plight. Despite repeated incarcerations in a frightful state mental institution and the toxic effects of drugs, she never lost her sense of humanity or her strong desire to help others. Gino’s deep distrust of the medical establishment, her fervent attachment to nursing, and her conviction that the patient knows best are themes that are interwoven into the emotional story of Rusty’s fight for a normal life. – Carol R. Glatt, Helene Fuld Medical Center Lib., Trenton, N.J




Semiprecious Salvage


Book Description

Unearth treasures of the past to create stunning found-object jewelry. Embark on an expeditioner's journey back in time to uncover tattered silk, faceted stones and other forgotten items, and learn how to give them new life as a pendant, ring or brooch. Found objects can be beautiful both for the unique, unexpected look they add to your work and for the stories we imagine them to tell. In the pages of Semiprecious Salvage, you will discover the excitement of reclaiming remnants of the past and reinterpreting their beauty in wearable works of mixed-media art. Step-by-step instructions guide you through the basics of wirework and creating basic jewelry findings, then encourage you to don your boots and get digging as you mix and match elements to create one-of-a-kind treasures. You'll learn to: • Age modern "flashy" objects to create the distressed look of pieces with a past • Combine jewelry elements with new and vintage fabrics for a soft, romantic touch • Master the use of a soldering iron and a propane torch in crafting metal jewelry • Incorporate plaster and resin into your work for added depth and intrigue Reinvent your artwork with your own Semiprecious Salvage and start sharing the stories of your own found objects today.




Mixed-Media Mosaics


Book Description

Imagine beautiful mosaic pieces with tiles that you easily create yourself! Mixed-Media Mosaics offers a fresh, new approach to a traditional art form. By making your own tiles from polymer clay, you control the size, shape, color and even the texture, resulting in beautiful finished pieces that include tabletops, boxes, jewelry and shrines. In addition to learning traditional tiling techniques such as working with grout and cutting glass tile, you'll also explore creative options for personalizing tiles: • Discover the magic of mica powders and the regal look they can give to mosaics • Learn quick and easy ways of adding paint to handcrafted and commercial tile • See how easy it is to create molds and cast your own relief tiles • Find ways to add personal meaning to your work with the addition of text tiles • Experiment with the addition of beads, jewelry and other embellishments by embedding them right into the tile! Whether you'd like to complete a mosaic tabletop for your patio, a jewelry box as a special gift, or simply experiment with jewelry, you'll find the inspiration you seek in Mixed-Media Mosaics. Start creating your custom mosaic pieces today.