Art Books Reviews » Fiber

Shibori by Lynne Caldwell

Susan Hardin — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:49:33 +0000

Shibori, A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Color & Texture on Fabric by Lynne Caldwell is one of the better books written for artists interested in learning the art of shibori from beginning to some intermediate techniques.

Summary

Comprehensive lists of tools, materials and techniques for four types of shibori
Very good step-by-step instructions accompanied by clear photos and illustrations
Exciting projects designed to show practical and creative applications for garments and household accessories

For those who don’t know, Shibori is the ancient Japanese art of dyeing cloth using various methods of manipulating fabric to create areas that will resist the dye bath, producing an exciting variation of patterns and textures, in other words, Japanese tie-dye.

This book deals with four different shibori methods: folding and clamping, arashi – pole-wrapping, bound resists and stitching and gathering. These four methods provide an endless variety of patterns and textures, limited only by the artist’s imagination. It is almost magical to unfold the fabric and discover the exciting and beautiful textures, resulting in designer fabrics that can be used in countless projects of textile design.

The author provides an introduction to the types of dyes and fabrics used, and comprehensive lists of inexpensive and easily obtained tools and materials to create unique designs in fabric. An introduction to each of the shibori methods outlines the procedure and illustrates the effect, then is followed by step-by-step instructions accompanied with clear and concise how-to illustrations and photos of finished examples.

The possibilities in patterns and color combinations in shibori are unlimited and this book offers many, including combinations of the techniques, finishing instructions and project suggestions. The manipulation of fabric and dyes in the shibori methods is unpredictable, exciting and rewarding, and addicting once you have started to experiment.

This book is a fabulous resource for artists who wish to learn the basics of shibori and advance to intermediate techniques and projects.

PROS: Rich in material to start any artist into the magical art of shibori.

CONS: The realm of dyes, dyeing procedures is complex in itself and the beginning dyer may need additional reference to learn the dye/fabric combinations best suiting the artist’s ideas. However, the sources of information on this subject are plentiful, including information from the supplier sources listed in the book.

As a working textile artist, I highly recommend this book as an efficient learning tool and reference book to keep on the shelf.

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Creative Batik by Rosi Robinson

Susan Hardin — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:42:43 +0000

Creative Batik by Rosi Robinson is a must have for the beginning batik artist and an excellent reference to keep on the shelf for inspiration and instruction in the modern methods of producing batik art cloth.

Summary

Short history of traditional batik
Detailed chapters explaining materials and tools
Easy to follow step-by-step projects, accompanied with beautiful colored photos

Modern batik methods make this art form accessible to any person interested in creating exciting art cloth and garments.

Batik is an ancient Javanese art form and in its traditional practice required many steps of dyeing and waxing, dyeing traditionally done with repeated dip dyeing in natural indigo (blues) and soga (browns). Included in a brief history of batik, its origin and practice, are color photos showing beautiful examples of traditional batik cloth.

Traditional batik involves repeated waxing, dip dyeing and boiling the wax out of the cloth, however this book illustrates simpler methods of applying wax and dye and removing the wax with everyday household tools and materials.

You will learn six different techniques used in modern batik: using hard wax, stamps, brushes, etching and cracking, discharging and drawing with wax using traditional canting tools.

Projects include step-by-step easy-to-follow instructions, materials and tools lists illustrated by clear colored photos. The variety of projects – scarves, art cloth, lampshades – will start you well on your way to creating beautiful art-to-wear, wall hangings and designer household accessories. The possibilities are endless! As extra eye-candy and inspiration there is a gallery of beautiful photos of finished batik pieces.

Batik is a fun, exciting art form and the use of modern materials and methods makes this art technique available to anyone. Keep this book on the shelf for reference and inspiration for future textile projects.

Creative Cloth Doll Faces

Li Hertzi — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:30:40 +0000

Creative Cloth Doll Faces by Patti Medaris Culea

Great Directions! I am not a direction reader… My bookshelves are full of wonderful how-to books that are dripping with rich and juicy directions upon which my eyeballs have never rested! BUT those same eyeballs have experienced pure joy while pursing the pictures… and figuring out for myself how to do the projects.

Patti’s book was no exception at the start; I just looked at the pictures and went for it.

Now, I have to put a giant disclaimer in here as I was looking at those pictures before most people. I am IN THE BOOK.

Even so, was I following the directions? Of Course not! But when I finally got the book, I tried several of the techniques first without the directions and then with them. WOW! Her directions are clear, concise and lead you step-by-step down a path at the end of which sits a delightful doll, guaranteed.

Beautiful, Inspiring Photography! The book is FULL of beautiful photography of dolls by many well-known and skilled artists for your inspiration. Arley Barryhill, Sherry Goshon, Anne Mayer Hesse, and Angela Jarecki are among the inspiriting artists with dolls in the galleries

Helpful “Author’s Suggestions”! Little boxes are scattered throughout the book full of tricks and hints. (These alone are worth getting the book. You can reference them when sewing almost anything!) Techniques ranging from creating intricate beaded stars to using oil pastels for face painting and everything in between! Bravo!

Three Patterns! All three of the dolls beginner, intermediate, and advanced are appropriate for their rank This is not always so in doll books and I appreciate the diversity. The easiest doll is a basic pancake doll while the advanced is much more complex and even includes a nice pair of shoes.

Artistic and Easy! Patti was a portrait artist in an earlier incarnation and it shows in her skilled rendering of the faces and her understanding of the nuances of personality. Each doll comes with detailed directions on making that exact face and the gallery dolls show that you can take off from there and go somewhere else.

This book will be a great addition to any doll artists library.

Learn more about this book and read others’ reviews at

Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

“Fixed on the Scent of Light”

This is one of the dolls I made for Patti’s book and to my delight it won a blue ribbon at Dimensions in Dollmaking! She is based on a poem by the mystical Persian poet, Hafiz.

THE SCENT OF LIGHT

Like a great starving beast
My body is quivering
Fixed
On the scent
Of
Light.

She was created in cloth and then I painted, stamped, and embossed a sheet of J.Jill tissue that had a nice shiny surface and collaged it onto the doll. That created the basic background. Then I printed the poem in several different fonts and sizes, painted and stamped the page, cut out bits and pieces and collaged them on to the doll.

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Art Doll Adventures – review

Aisling — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:51:01 +0000

Art Doll Adventures: Exploring Projects and Processes through Cultural Traditions by Lisa Li Hertzi

First, a disclaimer: I know Li (she’s one of our expert reviewers) and she’s a very good friend. That said, I’d rave about her book even if I didn’t know her.

See, I’ve been making art dolls since childhood, and selling them since the early 1970s, so I’m always interested in books about creating dolls of all kinds. I’m also bored out of my mind by vapid, cookie-cutter dolls.

Since I’m venting… the other problem that I have with many dollmaking books is that they’re either too much by-the-numbers, or they’re so advanced, even experts gasp in awe when they see some of the projects.

So, I opened the package with Li’s book and held my breath as I opened the cover. I mean, I hate to write a negative review about a friend’s book, but I also need to be honest.

Whew! (That exclamation should be in neon lights.)

I love this book. Really, it’s one of the few dollmaking books that I can recommend to absolutely anyone with any level of experience, even a total beginner.

Well… okay… If you’re looking for dolls with sweet, realistic faces made from skin-toned fabric, with the correct number of fingers and toes, this probably isn’t the book for you.

For anyone else: Get this book. I mean it. Skip the rest of this review and order it right now. (That’s an Amazon.com link, btw.)

Need more info?

Okay, here it is: Li features all kinds of wild & wonderful cloth dolls, including lots of designs inspired by tribal and primitive art and archaeology. The colors (and sometimes beading) are vivid and juicy.

Li has provided lots of detailed instructions, not just about the dolls, but about the techniques of making them. She doesn’t just say, “Rub ivory black into the crevices,” she has a photo showing exactly how to do it.

This book isn’t just about dolls, either. There are many very cool, fabric art projects.

One of them is a fabric color wheel… unlike any color wheel you’ve ever seen. Then, there’s the Agreements Book Screen, which is a paneled fabric book that’s also a backdrop for displaying your handmade dolls & figures. And, an Etched Petroglyph ATC made from fabric and acrylic artist’s supplies, as well as instructions for a simple, layered-fabric ATC.

If you’re interested in making contemporary cloth dolls and figures, this book belongs in your collection.

If you’re a total beginner and you can buy only one book, this is an ideal choice. It includes full-size pattern pieces, and detailed, illustrated step-by-step directions.

Or, if you’re a professional dollmaker and you’re looking for inspiration, this is one of those books that you’ll consult again and again. Even the step-by-step instructions feature illustrations and tips that make me say, “Ooh, what a great idea!”

I especially like that the basic designs are really simple.

You won’t get bogged down with teensy little sewing details. You won’t spend 20 minutes trying to figure how to attach pieces A and B to piece C.

And, you’ll have plenty of energy left for creative embellishments that will make the figure uniquely yours.

I don’t usually write such long reviews, or rave this much about a book unless it’s truly one of the best in the field. Art Doll Adventures gets my 100% enthusiastic recommendation as a must-own book for dollmakers at all levels.

SUMMARY

Fun, innovative, highly original cloth doll projects.
Great for beginners and advanced fiber artists alike.
Nothing insipid! Dolls, ATCs, fabric books & more.

Doll artists with figures in this book include: Inez Brasch, Patti Medaris Culea, Sue Farmer, Cody Goodwin, Linda Hansen, Jan Hayman, Judith Harmon Hertzi, Barb & Doug Keeling, Kathy Kenny, Elizabeth McGrath, Leslie Molen, John Murphy, Rosie Rojas, Rivkah Rosenfeld, and Isabella Zambezi.

[rating:4/5]

Order a copy or read others’ reviews at
Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

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Colourwash Quilts by Deirdre Amsden

Aisling — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:28:33 +0000

Colourwash Quilts by Deirdre Amsden is a superb and inspiring book for advanced quilters.

If you enjoyed Strip Pieced Watercolor Magic, but you are ready to try more complex, innovative or original designs, this is an ideal book.

In this book, author Deirdre Amsden spends far more time explaining how to design your quilt than the details of constructing it.

Although she gives many examples that you can copy by following her directions, this is not a book offering by-the-numbers instructions. In fact, many of the quilts that you make from this book will be one-of-a-kind, and designed on graph paper, or an enlarged grid.

One of the reasons that I like this book so much, is because the author uses wide range of fabrics in modern and historical inspired patterns. She talks about her pattern, color and value choices as part of the design process.

She also is a daring with colors. On the cover of the book, you’ll see color opposites — such as blue and brown — placed next to each other. You’ll see other similar, startling combinations inside this very exciting book.

This is a visually dazzling book if you love color.

There are books that talk you through projects so that you can create the quilt that you see in the photograph. This is not one of those books.

Instead, this is a book that you will browse for inspiration when you want to create an award-winning quilt that is innovative as well as a unique art statement.

[rating:4/5]

Order a copy or read others’ reviews at
Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

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