Mixed Media Revolution: Creative Ideas for Reusing Your Art

I finally bought the kindle version as I have not received the physical book I ordered. Someone messed up in the packaging department.So far I find the book interesting and a nice edition to my Mixedmedia tools and techniques. We do live in a time where people should be more conscious of what we are doing with all our stuff. I have always liked the idea of recycling materials into art.Lots of pictures with instructions on a lot of techniques using and reusing your supplies you would normally toss out.

A very big, big yay to Darlene & Sandra!!!! love this book! As a beginner mixed media explorer and still learning about what does what, this book is perfect. it gives a whole range of mixed media techniques and ideas on how to use them with examples of the authors' artwork as illustrations of some of the techniques - and then it leaves if up to you and your own creativity on how to use them, which is how it should be. The books that have very detailed instructions on how to make a specific piece of mixed media art can have their place - it does help sometimes when you're learning a new technique. But what you often end up with is an exact copy of someone else's art and not your own. The tools and materials used in Darlene and Sandra's book are also generic, which is a big, big plus. Very tired of books that use specific commercial products to get a particular effect, which are usually expensive and/or hard to get in my neck of the woods. I highly recommend this book..I also have their Surface treatment Workshop book which I love for the same reasons. Can't wait to get their new one which I think comes out in a couple of weeks.

I have purchased stacks of mixed media books lately as my husband is having a new art studio built for me and I am wanting inspiration into new ideas.I have to say this is, unfortunately, my least favorite book of my purchases.First, the instructions are lacking. It might show a photo of a finished piece...Let's say a work that has the same pear but printed out all different ways. The headers, I felt, were more like things I would have said to my class of kids as an art teacher. Such as in this case "Multiply Me: Let's play a game. If you see an individual person walking near you, what do you think? If it was twins would you feel different? What about triplets? Something about seeing multiples piques our interest." (Odd for an adult book, good for a kid's book)It then shows a work I like with 6 pears printed differently but overlapping and simply gives the instructions to print out the same image several times, differently, in a photo program.That's it. I have no idea how it was then compiled, what kind of paper was used, was this adhered to canvas or wood or what? And how? Why do some look like they are on transparent paper? What type of coating would be used over the paper to finish the work? etc.On very complex works, they included a tag you are supposed to scan with your iphone then read the instructions. Now I could get art examples all over the internet but I bought a BOOK because I like to use idea books where I can mark the pages with art that spurs my creativity. I wished the instructions could have been included in the book which they could have had some of the images been made smaller.As it stands, it's more a very basic book with examples of their art but little info on how to create ones like them that work for me. In fact, many of the instructions were for things with other artists: Like give a work you are unhappy with to another artist and let them finish it. That doesn't help me in my studio by myself. Also, other instructions were for odd things like doing a project with your used transparency films...They could have taken instructions everyone could use and given an instructional tour through mixed media. I felt it more a book on things they have done in ways that worked for them but might not be workable for most.Here's how one instruction goes: "You will need a background image and an image printed on glass. Put the two together with the glass piece on top and frame."Now how many of us have those two things handy to start this project? It advises you'll need to take a printmaking class for that image on glass you'll need.And yes that's really the full instruction for the project. That's what I mean.I didn't mark many pages of this book. Most were very abstract artworks that I felt more arts and crafts than my personal style. I wish they had shown more varieties of styles than they had for further crossover to different art tastes. There is a lot of collage and the rest abstract art. This would be great for a beginner but since the instructions are so lacking, it really is better suited to those already familiar with art and how to finish the works, yet the works are so simplistic and abstract and student-craftsy in my opinion that many may not enjoy it.That said, I would have loved the book to spur ideas when I was a school art teacher. It really would have given me new ideas of things I could try for school projects....like taking a plastic cutting board and cutting it into tiny pieces and ironing it onto a canvas.Note: I just lowered my rating to one star after being informed that you are required to read the author's first two books prior to using this one. Now it makes even less sense.

This book is full of ideas for the artist and it has step by step instruction for every technique! Love the step by step photos too! Anyone wanting to expand their artistic repertoire will surely welcome this wonderful book into their art library....it will not be on your shelf too long! It is a great referral book as well! You will be surprised at what you thought you knew from this Mixed Media Revolution! So refreshing!!!! For the beginner or the mature artist! I feel you are never too experienced to learn! Buy this!!!! Fast delivery and packaging was safe! Thanks so much for being professional and reliable!!! I am very happy with this purchase!!!

I first heard of Darlene McElroy from surfing through You-Tube( how toos) The book shows she is not afraid of messing up and neither should you. Be involved in the process not the product.

I highly recommend this very innovative book. She gives fresh ideas and tells what products she uses to get results.I have other books by her & am never disappointed.I highly recommend it.

This book gives great techniques. I would recommend it highly to those of you who really like mixed media work.

Amazing book full of interesting ideas to try. The authors are both extremely talented and share their wealth of knowledge.

Thanks