[DOC] Dreaming From the Journal Page: Transforming the Sketchbook to Art by Melanie Testa in Arts-Photography

Review

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful. sure to become the one must have book for art journalersBy Sue BThis book covers everything youll want to know about how to begin your art making journey through the pages of your sketchbook. Broken into 5 main categories opening with a chapter on "the what" Melanie starts with a choosing a journal. paints brushes. pens pencils. glues and more. Youll find a very helpful chart that cross references techniques with both paper and cloth so you can see at a glance which techniques are compatible with paper or cloth and in some cases both.Chapter 2 is all about color and she has several fun and easy exercises designed to help you get to know the colors in your paint box and how they interact with each other when mixed. Learn wet and dry techniques for working with watercolor and for those who want to incorporate textiles into their art journaling she has directions for easy low water immersion fabric dyeing techniques that include how to create two color gradations and how to create your own hand dyed color wheel.Chapter 3 is jam packed with techniques that include working with resists such as frisket and mediums. transfers using tracing paper and saral paper. carving your own stamps and making them from fun foam as well as working with a ruling pen and stencils and more. Youll also find a section on soy wax and how to use it as a resist on both paper and fabric.There are tips and techniques for drawing covered in chapter 4. She starts with some simple loosening up techniques and learn some easy shading techniques and then moves into some fun and easy drawing exercises that are sure to inspire you to pick up the pencil and start drawing. For those of you who prefer using stitch as your drawn line youll find directions for using your sewing machine to draw your images on cloth to create stitched outlines you can add color to later using the techniques from Chapter 3.The last chapter is the "Throw Downs" chapter and its here where Melanie encourages you to create journal pages rich with imagery and complexity by combining and layering the techniques that shes covered in the first four chapters of the book. Youll find single. double and triple technique challenges that are designed to help take the guesswork and fear out of where to begin and which techniques to combine with each other. The gallery of Melanies work at the back of the book is rich with eye candy and is sure to inspire.Melanie has an easy conversational tone that makes the book an enjoyable and engaging read and the entire book is illustrated with clear. bright. beautiful photographs of step by step directions. examples and artwork. This book is sure to become the one "must have" book for art journalers so whether youre a beginning or experienced art journaler I highly recommend adding this book to you personal library!12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. A luscious read. highly recommended.By Linda T. MintonI just received my copy of Dreaming from the Journal Page. and it is just beautiful. Gorgeous photography on rich. yummy paper. The beauty of the pages. along with the new (to me) and unique techniques (including paper-to-cloth) make this book a keeper for my self-limited bookshelf.How to choose a journal. best mark-making tools. and different types of glues compose the first part of the book. Color theory and techniques are next. with very easy to understand explanations. Some of my favorite techniques are creating easy and inexpensive resists. different types of transfers. the ruling pen (yay!). collage. stamps. stencils. and soy wax ... the last of which I havent tried yet.Finally. there is an excellent drawing section. based on Melanies own artwork and techniques. and several interesting challenges.I must take one point off my otherwise 5-star review. only for the small font used. Im sure this was an editorial decision. not the authors. but these aging eyes need a little larger text. for more comfortable reading.Highly recommended.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Beauty and Inspiration plus some EducationBy Lyric M. KinardDreaming from the Journal Page is a beautiful blend of technique and inspiration for those of us who explore more than one medium. Both her work on paper and in cloth is deeply textured and layered but manages to retain a clean simplicity and purity of focus. I have always loved her deep connection to her subject matter and her love of decorative forms. This book is a look into Ms. Testas process and gives one a glimpse of her work that leaves you feeling uplifted.Melanie guides you through a basic understanding of some of her favorite materials and techniques. She introduces the reader to basic information on paper. brushes. paints. glues. and says. "Your job is to experiment and learn the qualities of each so that you can pair a technique with a planned outcome." Then she goes on to give you a detailed chart of which techniques might work well with which materials. Chapter 2 guides you through playful exploration of color with different media such as collage. watercolors. and dyes. I find her challenges and prompts to be well thought out - giving enough instruction that the reader will not feel lost but leaving room for playfulness.The third chapter runs through myriad techniques such as soy wax resist for dye. and frisket resist for watercolors. She talks about solid grounds and gradations. stamps and stencils. There isnt anything new and earth shattering in this chapter. just good. solid basic information - well written and sumptuously illustrated. Im a confident textile artist but found sparks for new ideas in her techniques that I can use in my own work.My favorite chapters are in the back of the book with page after page from her journals. her textile art. and even some more low key projects such as t-shirts and pillows. I can spend hours looking into the layers of her creations and always come away happier and with a desire to create something beautiful myself.