Happy VooDoo Gris Gris
Happy Voodoo Gris Gris: Over 45 Easy-To-Make Lucky Charms & Talismans, by Mademoiselle de la Brindille / Valerie Lefebvre; text by Anne-Claire Leveque.
Sometimes I buy a book because it’s simply delightful. The art is very original, made with refreshing and simple materials, and the book just makes me smile.
This is one of those books.
Sure, some of this artwork has a Voodoo connection. The author talks about magic numbers and pious images used in art. If that bothers you, don’t read this book.
However, if you’d love to include more art in your everyday world and whimsy delights you… this book is a must-own.
It’s also ideal if you’re working on a sacred area in your home, or creating a personal shrine.
For me, this book is wonderful!
- I fell in love with the loops of wire and charms and flowers that comprise the very informal “Unusual center light” on pages 26 and 27.
- My cat (like the author’s) would be fascinated by the “Wishing tree” on pages 38 and 39.
- The “Garland of happiness” on page 40 is something I want over my desk… it’s a truly glorious idea!
Every project (there are 45 in this book) includes a list of supplies and step-by-step directions. They’re not terribly detailed.
For example, “…top-stitch with the machine using turquoise thread” assumes that you have a sewing machine and know how to use it.
However, the informality of this book makes it clear that you can do the same thing with a needle and thread, and no sewing machine.
In fact, you can (and should!) improvise to create your own versions of these projects. This book is the inspiration; you make each project unique.
45 projects including shrines, household decorations, jewelry, fabric art and wearables, and painting projects.
Pros
- Lots of colorful, whimsical photos to inspire you.
- An informal writing style makes this very accessible to beginners through advanced artists (and non-artists).
- On at least every second page, I see something to gasp at and think, “Ooh, I could do something like that…”
Cons
- If Voodoo and alternative spirituality bother or offend you, there are other great books to inspire you. Skip this one.
- Students who want every step spelled out with basic directions and lots of photos… well, this isn’t your kind of book. It’s for free spirits whose lives are very spontaneous and unstructured.
Summary
Every time I pick up this book, I read just a page or two before I have an idea for a very cool project. So, I’ve never actually read this entire book, even though I’ve owned it for over a year.
If words like voodoo, talismans, and magic make you shudder, avoid this book.
However, if ethnic, improvised art inspires you, this is a book you’ll display so you look at it often. It might be on my top 10 list of favorite mixed-media arts/crafts books.
Available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
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Caffeine for the Creative Mind
Caffeine for the Creative Mind is on the very short list of books I ra
te with the full five stars. It’s that good.
Subtitled “250 Exercises to Wake Up Your Brain,” this book offers some tremendously fun and stimulating exercises to get you un-stuck as an artist… in minutes.
This book suggests things I’ve never seen anywhere else. For example: Write down 20 things that smell great when they are cooking.
See? Doesn’t that kick your senses out of the doldrums?
Or how about these:
- Go take 15 pictures of different kinds of barriers.
- Build the shell of a robot out of objects around you right now.
- Choose a song and make a children’s story out of it.
This book offers 250 fresh, exciting ways to refresh your brain and your creativity.
It’s visually inspiring, too. The presentation — a mix of fonts in a very creative book design — makes this book tremendous fun to flip through.
Ordinarily, I try to say something negative (but fair) about every book, even those I rave about. With this book… I can’t think of anything bad to say about it.
Go buy a copy and take it out when you’re stuck. It will work. I promise.
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