Thursday, January 24, 2013

Artful Reading Club - January 2013


My January book was:  The Collage Workbook  -  How to Get Started and Stay Inspired by Randel Plowman.




  I was excited that I was able to purchased this book used on Amazon instead of paying full price....$8.99 which included shipping.  Since it was an art book, it may get glue or paint on it so the bargain price was great and the book was in great shape.

I absolutely love this book.  I love collage work but am not very good at it.  He tells you how to get started, which tools you need and what kind of materials you can use in collaging.  He gives you ideas on how to store your  material, but I determined I need to sort mine more than he does.  He instructs you through various creative processes to try including layering 101.

The great parts of the book are the 50 Creativity Exercises he provides with examples.  You can look through and see which ones appeal to you or you can try all of them.  I decided I want to do a collage as my art project to go with each one of the books I read for the Artful Reading Club.  Also included are free clip arts you can use.

So my first collage to represent The Collage Workbook was exercise #4 - Color Charge.  You were instruction to experiment with applying color to a collage that's primarily black and white.  A few strokes of bright can make a collage pop.

Here is my Color Charge Collage:

I was very happy with my black and white collage with the triangle pop of color.  I decided on using 6x6 size on my collage.  Basics: black cardstock paper, torn old book pages, pattern paper, magazine images, glue stick and distress ink.

I highly recommend this books if you are interesting in learning a lot of collage techniques.

28 comments:

  1. This turned out great!! Love the pops of color with all the neutrals! Thanks for sharing. *hugs* =0)

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  2. Wow...that collage page looks fantastic....and a book with 40 projects sounds a great buy :D XXX

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  3. Wow that's fabulous, we've just been doing a collage project on Collabor-art and it's been sooooooooooooo hard to stick to the 'rules' we were set, so this book might help me deal with being out of my comfort zone!

    Loving the artwork and yes that splash of colour really does make it pop!

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  4. Awesome collage Cindy... and love the sound of the book you reviewed... adding it to my wishlist...

    Jenny ♥

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  5. ha! guess what book I bought on Amazon last week and turned up in the post yesterday? :D I just started reading it last night before bed, but haven't even got to any of the exercises yet, am still reading through the recommended supplies list. I am very pleased you have given it a positive review :)

    I love love love your penguin collage - fantastic!

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  6. Appreciated this favourable review so much, because collage is one of my favourite art activities, and there is always a new angle one has never thought of - like your terrific 'colour change'. I've looked at this book on Amazon a few times and wondered whether to get it, so your review and lovely collage encourage me to get it. This challenge is proving to be an expensive business - it's all Darcy's fault.
    Will check you out again.

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  7. Great collage! I really think I want to read through/work with this book too... ♥

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  8. I have this book and have yet to read it thoroughly or do any of the exercises from it. Perhaps I should have before I embarked on this month's art project LOL. I want to take the time to really get into this book myself. Your collage is beautiful!

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  9. Love the collage you made using the book.

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  10. I keep looking at this book - you may have convinced me to get it.

    Love your collage. That penguin is so striking anyway and then that pop of colour - fab.

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  11. Thanks for the informative review. You inspired me to open the book and try the lessons. I also own it. Love the collage you created. You made it look easy to accomplish. Can't upload under my wordpress name, using my google acct. Michelle V.

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  12. And this is why I love the Internet. Some 15 or so years ago, it might be hard to see all of this art. I never knew there were books about subjects like this. I'm not too artsy, but it's always nice to see where inspiration can come from. I like your collage, too. Very cool!

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  13. Great collage, i adore the penguin image you used, and yes the bright splashes of colour do make it pop. I have heard this book promoted online in ustream shows and I am intrigued, i think this one may have to go on my wish list.

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  14. Lovely to read your positive review on this book. It sounds like you are going to have a really great time doing the exercises, 50 of them is certainly a lovely number to have to work through. If your #4 is anything to go by you are going to end up with some beautiful pages.

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  15. I so enjoy Plowman's collages...and I love your black & white with a pop of color using the orange fleurs...FAB great choice!

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  16. Sounds like you had a fabulous time reading and exploring your book this month. Love your collage. I love how you tucked one of the orange flowers under the wing of the penguin.

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  17. Terrific start! I have made a note of the book and think I might get it. Your penguin is superb.

    Janet xx

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  18. Love your collage page. The book sounds very good, just getting into journaling and collage so this is now on my wish list. Thanks
    Jen x

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  19. Awesome contrast. I love the black and white, with the sharp orange that jumps at the eye. And the penguin? Well, I want to pet it ;-)

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  20. I love your collage and may end up borrowing the general idea to do something in my journal! The book sounds great too. Thank you.

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  21. I'd not heard of this book but I love what you've done with your artwork.

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  22. i'm not one for craft books but i do love collages, the one that you have created is amazing x

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  23. This is another new book to me and I am going to have a look if there are some on Amazon.
    ManonX

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  24. This book sounds fab and useful for perhaps starting off the mojo and I LURVE the penguin collage. Brill use of colour!

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  25. your bits of red on this collage really look striking against the black and white! collage is fun and i imagine there is much to learn about it. the book you reviewed sounds like a good place to start.

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