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| Painted Pages by Sarah Ahearn Bellemare |
This book is filled with such beautiful works I could probably spend hours just flipping through the pages while sipping my coffee (I did spend a lot of time at several sittings but not hours - yet!). Author Sarah Ahearn Bellemare invites the reader into her studio for a look at her workspace, her tools and her creative process. You'll see her mood board, her colorful scrapbooks, lots of gorgeous photos of her works in progress, completed canvases and even some pieces by several guest artists.
I like the book. There're lots of examples of collages and mixed media works, as well as quick prompts to get you started on creating and trying out new materials. Basically, the advice is: don't think too much, just try it out. Collage with scraps or clippings, paint with colors, experiment and have fun.
But, this is not a how-to book. There are no step-by-step instructions to show you how a work was conceived and completed. The book's introduction does say it is about getting the reader to find their own way to make art and be creative. The author nudges the reader in that direction with a peek into her process and and explanations - though somewhat superficial - of how a chosen text (eg Pablo Neruda poem) or idea (eg, bird ephemera) inspired the final work.
Ahearn Bellemare has a very distinctive style: it's very pretty, bright and breezy but there's not much variation in her art. You have to like it to enjoy this book, I think. Here are some photos of Painted Pages.
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| workspace, from Painted Pages by Sarah Ahearn Bellemare |
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| from Painted Pages by Sarah Ahearn Bellemare |
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| from Painted Pages by Sarah Ahearn Bellemare |
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| from Painted Pages by Sarah Ahearn Bellemare |
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| from Painted Pages by Sarah Ahearn Bellemare |
You can see more of the author's works at her website, blog or Etsy shop.
More from the book in Google Preview.
Painted Pages: Fueling Creativity with Sketchbooks and Mixed Media
Author: Sarah Ahearn Bellemare
Publisher: Quarry Books (May 1, 2011)
ISBN: 978-1592536863
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buy at The Book Depository (free shipping worldwide)
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[ check out my posts on art ]
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by liberal sprinkles
