May 292013
Unfurling, A Mixed-Media Workshop with Misty Mawn: Inspiration and Techniques for Self-Expression through Art
Unfurling is a creative workshop in book form, offering a unique mix of motivation and technique exercises to get your creative juices flowing. Written by Misty Mawn, these pages will inspire anyone who wishes to open up more to the process of making art. The book begins with art exercises in drawing and painting that include portraiture, contour drawing, backgrounds, layering, and working with a still life, followed by collage and image transfer techniques. The second section offers exercis
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Video Review,
Customer Video Review Length:: 2:46 Mins
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|Simply Incredible,
When I heard that Misty was including so many topics under one cover I was concerned that her book might look unfocused but boy was that not the case. She has gone into depth in the areas of painting, journaling, book making, mixed media collage and more; honestly, it is hard to put into words how stunning and comprehensive this book is. It is not just a class in a book it is weeks of classes in one book. This is a beautiful, soulful, deeply inspiring book and I can’t recommend it enough.
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|Sure I wont be popular, but….,
I see many of the review are written by Misty Mawn fans. I can see why many would be fans of her work. But doing great work does not necessarily make for a great teacher, or ability to write a great book on mixed-media “workshops”.
Some of the book I like, but was not up to the quality of Misy Mawn’s work, and I see nothing at all new.
Content consists of:
-The first 40 page on how to draw and/or paint. You cannot teach drawing, light and shadow, how to mix “skin tone” colors in only 40 pages. There are reasons that whole books, college majors, etc are devoted to this SKILL…hardly a “technique” IMO. And for many who are not comfortable drawing, this is big drawback (those who are, dont need this big section). I truly wished she HAD glossed over HOW to draw (which she really is not qualified to teach, IMO – got my degree in illustration, so that may color my view), and talked more about how to incorporate your drawings and paintings into mixed media projects: inspire me to use pencil and water color and paints together. What do the mediums do when blended…inspire me to try colored pencils that become water color paint when mixed with wet medium, etc. WHAT DO THE MEDIUM DO? How can I manipuate them seems more appropriate and not intimate people depending on their varying skills with drawing.
-I really dong want to learn how to make a coil clay pot (definitley not mixing media here), or how to sculpt a doll out of paper clay. I want to know how to MIX these with other media (that IS the title of the book)
-An origami section on how to fold a happiness crane, under origami. That is all she diagrams how to do, and shows photos of other, simple (MUCH more original and fun) folded things. FOUR pages on how to fold a Crane…yikes. Again…no examples of how to MIX them into other Media.
-One section gave a VERY basic bookbinding lesson. Again…something that I would buy a book or take a class dedicated to this subject. Not a handful of pages. I was disappointed to learn how to make a basic, white paged book with a black cover. Why not combine a skill with actually MIXING media? Would have at least, incorporated some visual inspiration.
-And once again, there is a lesson on transfer with Gel medium (not particularly original, and sadly the only image transfer taught).
I feel like she is trying to NOT show any of her “SECRETS”. How did she do….? is what I would love to see. Give me a demo on a GREAT piece you made. I can figure out how to achieve the drawing or computer or sculpting skills on my own. I would have loved to see techniques that were truly MISTY MAWN. Not techniques that any first year art teacher would teach you.
An artist who inspires so many with her work, really did not seem to have her “A” game on here. For basic art lessons to inspire you to learn more from other sources: this is a fine book.
I would definitely have NOT bought this book had I seen it in person first.
(I am sure I will get some “hate” comments since MIsty’s fans seen to have really stacked the reviews here…but this is what I see, and sadly disappointed).
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