Secrets of Rusty Things
Secrets of Rusty Things: Transforming Found Objects into Art, by Michael de Meng, is a visual delight for mixed-media and found object artists.
It’s also an insightful book for fans of Mr. de Meng’s work, or those who want to understand how artists think and work.
What it is not: A step-by-step guide to working with specific tools and materials to create art from found objects. (If you want step-by-step directions, I recommend ‘Altered Curiosities‘ by Jane Ann Wynn.)
Instead, Mr. de Meng takes us on a flying carpet journey into his studio and his creative visions. It’s breathtaking.
For example, the artist explains, “Morpheus is cool. Of all the Greek gods, he is my favorite and, actually, one of the most obscure. I love to envision him flying from dream to dream and transforming his physical appearance…”
Regarding his technique, at one point Mr. de Meng says, “As long as it is still in my studio, nothing is sacred.” A lot of artists will agree with that… and perhaps even more should, to get past their own creative blocks.
Experienced artists will be able to glean a lot of technique tips from the lavish illustrations throughout this book.
However, this book is about Mr. de Meng’s art and his creative process. It speaks to other artists about the passion behind his work, and guides art collectors to understand the depth of meaning in each of Mr. de Meng’s pieces.
Pros
- Well-designed book, loaded with visual inspiration.
- Reading the book immerses us in a richly creative world.
- Opens new doors to found art explorations.
Cons
- If you’re buying this book for step-by-step technique, you’ll be disappointed.
- Photos focus on process, and provide many insights, but I’d like to see additional angles of the finished work.
Summary
If you’re a fan of Keith LoBue or Jane Ann Wynn, this book is a fine addition to your library. It’s like an individual artist’s journal about the creative visions and creative process behind his work. Though it’s not a how-to book for beginners, this book is like sitting next to Mr. de Meng and being inspired by how he thinks and works, and why he chooses the materials and techniques that he does.
Available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
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Finding Your Visual Voice – review
Finding Your Visual Voice: A Painter’s Guide to Developing an Artistic Style
Almost every book about succeeding as a full-time artist tells you to have a “cohesive body of art” before approaching a gallery.
That means at least eight to ten paintings in the same style.
However, if you’re like me, you just paint. You don’t think about style. And, if that’s working for you, that’s fine, but it wasn’t working for me.
I painted realistically for many years, and then realized that I’m more comfortable with a less photographic style. Since I love Impressionist paintings by Monet and Bonnard, I read lots of books about that style of painting and incorporated their tips in my own work.
My art was often well-reviewed and sold in shows. My best works sold for (and were appraised at) about $500. “Not bad,” I thought. It validated me as an artist, and it paid the bills.
Then, I decided to become professional about marketing my art… and I hit a creative wall. Nothing about my art stood out, to distinguish it from… well, every other competent, semi-Impressionist painter of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
After looking at this book in the bookstore for several weeks, I bought a copy.
Then, I glanced at it every few months, got overwhelmed, and put it down again.
Finally, something clicked, and I began reading the book and answering the questions in it. I also looked for more art by the featured artists, to see why I like their work, and what it has in common with my past (and most successful) drawing and painting styles.
All of a sudden, the lights came on. I understood where I needed to go with my art.
For me, it explained how my plein air1 studies connect both my Tonalist2 and Semi-representational3 works. It showed me the areas where I need to practice more, to improve my art. I gave me a sense of the elements in my work that could make a show cohesive, and how I can improve my personal artistic voice to stand out in the crowd.
I stopped being stuck as an artist, and started learning my craft again. I’m growing by leaps and bounds as an artist.
I won’t claim that this book was the complete answer, but it was definitely a pivotal element in resolving my long-term dilemmas and confusions as an artist.
If you’re not sure where you’re going with your art, and you need to clarify that to take your next step as a professional, I highly recommend
SUMMARY
- Discover your unique, personal style as an artist.
- Many styles represented; can be overwhelming at first.
- Vital for artists who need a cohesive body of work.
[rating:4/5]
Order a copy or read others’ reviews at
Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
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1 Plein air (also “en plein air”) means to paint on location, generally outdoors. It’s different from paintings created from memory or sketches, or in the studio using photographs as reference. The phrase, “plein air,” is generally pronounced like “plain air” or “plehn air.”
2 Tonalist paintings tend to be landscapes with soft focus and a limited range of colors that represent the light and dark (tone) of the subject. Tonalism was popular during the same era as Impressionism, and the two sometimes overlap.
3 Semi-representational paintings are usually very stylized and almost abstract, but the viewer can usually guess what the subject is.
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