Mixed Emulsions: Altered Art Techniques for Photographic Imagery

This is a wealth of ideas and I have been inspired by many of them in my own works and for future works.I think it's next to impossible not to come up with new ideas in looking through this book. At nearly 200 pages, it's rich with ideas you've likely never seen before.I majored in art, owned a studio, and taught art for 5 years. Still there are methods in here I've never seen and want to do and, quite frankly, are very simple to do.In many of the examples, there is no instruction needed. Take for example "Gel mediums"...It has an example photograph of an art piece and tells you to brush on gel medium, lay an item (like a key, or cut out), then brush on more gel medium, let it dry and repeat. This creates layers on your work that appear to have items floating on top of it.However, in some respects more instruction would be helpful. In "mosaic" for example, it shows a watercolor painting, cut up into squares and then adhered to something...canvas? wood? that is painted. While you may like the look, it simply tells you the idea is to cut up an art work and reconfigure. But it doesn't say, for example, how to adhere it to the base piece, or what the base piece is. Did they use spray adhesive? Mod Podge? Is it canvas or wood? A more advanced artist might come up with their own ideas as to how to do it but that's not why one buys an instruction book and a less advanced artist may not even know what spray adhesive or mod podge is.But don't let the few things that are left unexplained stop you from loving this for the other items that are explained. I can't tell you how I appreciate all the new ideas. And I don't find them craftsy and tacky, but original and very artisticI did find that when I found an art example in here that I loved but the instructions weren't detailed enough, I could easily use it as a stepping stone. It showed an example of an art work done by printing on organza and then adhering it to your canvas. This was dreamlike and fantastic...but again, it simply said you can do this, and here is what it looks like. I wish they gave a web address for full directions on each art piece but they didn't ....so you can google "printing on organza".If the other items that are so simple to do and have such good instructions weren't so fantastic I would lower my rating but I came away from reading this book so full of new ideas I'd never thought of and full of new ways of doing things and works I wanted to complete that I simply fell in love with it. It is FULL of ideas.But more than that, the works are fantastic..you can get very non-professional looking when you play in mixed media and it can be risky. These are artworks you'd stop and look at and love in a gallery. Yet are easy to do on your own. That makes all the difference.And because there are so many different ideas, some can be done with items you already have at home.

When I was little, my mom was hired to "color" BW photographs for a local photographer with special paints. With her extra photos to practice on, I played around with the colors and chemicals and had such fun, often making the unknown ladies' lips horrendous shade of reds or purples to blues that clashed with their dresses, hair color, and/or glasses. I still laugh when I think about it and little did I know how my play would have actually been valued as a unique artform so popular today. This book brings back the FUN when playing with photographs printed on various media. Fun while doing art allows for creative freedom of trial and error. What I found to be extremely important about this book is that it gives you IDEAS to play with and test on your own. Suggested products, often those you have in your typical art box, can produce unique imagery when combined with photographic imagery. The importance of art today is the factor of playing with products to see what works and what doesn't AND how to make it look apppealing to others and draw them into the image for various reasons. No - this book doesn't give step-by-step information for each product used, but it allows you, the artist, the freedom to try things for your self.I love the numerous TIPS provided throughout the book - many are common sense, but others really come in handy in the understanding of the product application on various media (i.e. what works well or what doesn't work - e.g. antiquing with walnut inks - using different types of pens and implements to vary the writing/marking style, using a spritzer for various spattering patterns, crumpling the paper before inking to get a crack-line ink pattern, etc.). These tips may give those who want a more detailed step-by-step info a heads up if they are afraid to try things on their own. So consider the Tips handy information to work from during your creativity process with photograph art.Many sections have a linear TIMELINES on how products were developed and used over recorded history (e.g. oil painting on images; woodblock prints to modern printing and stamping; development of acrylics; use of oil pastels and pencils in art; development of the felt tip markers and their uses; stencils; inks; history of paper;...and so much more to list here). Additional information on where to get products and what products were used on various projects throughout the book is provided on the latter pages along with a section of "Portfolio of Art" showcasing numerous artists along with an excellent glossary for reference.Last - the author and I encourage all artists interested in the modification of photographs in mixed media art to really explore the possibilities. Combine products and techniques. Test new things out. Feel free to EXPLORE, CREATE, and EXPAND your horizons and see what you can do to make photographic images sing with a special theme all your own. Use your old photographs (that is those you don't care if they get ruined), photocopy them, scan them onto different products (silk, handmade paper, vellum, etc.) and then use modifying products to create something that speaks to you. Angela Cartwright's book "MIXED EMULSIONS" can give you the courage, as it did for me, and will inspire you to go in paths you may not have thought possible when exploring art using photographic imagery as the basis of each art piece created by you.Anyway - isn't that what ART is all about?

Though I am able to make a lot of different crafts as I've been a teacher in France during several years, and author of one book released in 1999 in French, I precise, I always had problems with using photos in my crafted items, as I often had very bad surprises. That's why I bought this book, to learn, to know more about working on and around photos.I also like to find something different and original, not always the same "how to do this or that", and I must admit I learned new things with this book, it made work my imagination, it is original, we feel the author knows her stuff very well, but there are also other artists' creations, and it is really very well explained, even for beginners.So, I recommend this book which is, I think, useful, even absolutely necessary in any crafter's studio or home.Yael"Une Nouvelle Vie Pour Vos Objets" Authors : Yael Bolender and JP Delpech, Didier Carpentier Publisher on Amazon Canada and France

I found this book to be chocked full of tips and techniques. I am new to using photography in my art this way. I was used to some pretty tried and true techniques. This book is shaking me up and giving some new ways to look at photographs in art. Angela's tips were especially useful which makes expermenting easier and more fun.I look forward to trying most of the techniques and using them to update my process.Easy reading and great examples. Another good technique book to add to your studio and USE!

We are in a world of electronic and technological wizardry - but you still can't beat getting your hands dirty and getting out the glue and sticky backed plastic -

My friend got this one for me & it's been my mixed media bible. An all you need to know on materials & techniques