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    Art Studio Secrets: More Than 300 Tools and Techniques to Inspire Creativity
    Art Studio Secrets: More Than 300 Tools and Techniques to Inspire Creativity
    Art Studio Secrets: More Than 300 Tools and Techniques to Inspire Creativity
    Ebook223 pages2 hours

    Art Studio Secrets: More Than 300 Tools and Techniques to Inspire Creativity

    By Marjorie Sarnat

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Award-winning illustrator and painter Marjorie Sarnat presents an outstanding refresher course in creative thinking, suitable for artists of every level. In this guide, she shares the tips and techniques she's discovered in the course of her personal experiences and explorations. These 300 quick, easily grasped text passages detail methods for adding inspiration and innovation to your creative process. The new, hands-on approaches to materials, painting surfaces, and texture applications can help you find a fresh angle for your style or break through a creative block.
    Every "secret" in this book is expressed in practical terms geared toward boosting your artistic abilities. From sharpening your drawing skills and applying media in unique ways to creating intriguing visual illusions and refining your choices of color and composition, this guide is loaded with advice and fresh ideas. You'll also find cost-saving ways to obtain and manage your art tools and supplies as well as scores of ideas for making art with creative kids.
     
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDover Publications
    Release dateDec 19, 2018
    ISBN9780486836232
    Art Studio Secrets: More Than 300 Tools and Techniques to Inspire Creativity
    Author

    Marjorie Sarnat

    Author and artist, Marjorie Sarnat, is co-founder and Director of Content Development of Jr Imagination, a publisher dedicated to growing the creative potential in children. Born and raised in Chicago, she is an alumna of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and later enrolled in Eastern Michigan University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Marjorie also studied art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and continued her studies with several noted painters. Early in her career Marjorie taught art to children and teens, and served as editor-in-chief of Arts & Activities, a national art education magazine. She has extensive experience designing crafts and collectibles for major manufacturers and has won awards of excellence in the industry. A recent success is her award-winning "Project Runway® Designer Dolls," an open-ended creative craft for kids that she invented, designed, and licensed to a major manufacturer. Marjorie's delightful illustrations are published in activity books for children, and as a fine art painter she has exhibited in art shows and galleries, winning numerous awards for her work. Marjorie has maintained a lifelong passion about creative thinking and the creative process. She received her Certificate of Training for "Putting Ideas into Action" from the International Center for Studies in Creativity from Buffalo State University, N.Y. She has a unique understanding of the subject academically and artistically, and by way of her experience in product development. Marjorie lives in Southern California with her husband, daughter, son, two dogs, and her extensive antique book collection.

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    • 4/5
      Good book, very informative.clear suggestions.GLAD I read it

    Book preview

    Art Studio Secrets - Marjorie Sarnat

    OTHER DOVER BOOKS BY MARJORIE SARNAT:

    African Glamour Coloring Book

    Beautiful Angels Coloring Book

    Creative Approaches to Painting

    Creative Cats Coloring Book

    Creative Christmas Coloring Book

    Creative Kittens Coloring Book

    Dazzling Dogs Coloring Book

    Fanciful Foxes Coloring Book

    Fanciful Sea Life Coloring Book

    Magical Fairies Coloring Book

    Owls Coloring Book

    Playful Puppies Coloring Book

    Textile Designs Coloring Book

    MARJORIE SARNAT

    DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC.

    Mineola, New York

    Copyright

    Copyright © 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 by Marjorie Sarnat

    All rights reserved.

    Bibliographical Note

    This Dover edition, first published in 2018, is a revised and updated republication of the following two works: 151 Uncommon and Amazing Art Studio Secrets to Boost Your Creative Output, in 2011, and 151 Effective and Extraordinary Art Studio Secrets to Ignite Your Artistic Expression, in 2012, by Jr Imagination, Granada Hills, California. Trademarks mentioned in this book are the property of their respective owners. All trademarks and product names identified in this book are used in editorial fashion only with no intention of infringement of the trademark. No such use is intended to convey endorsement or other affiliation with this book.

    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

    Names: Sarnat, Marjorie, author.

    Title: Art studio secrets : more than 300 tools and techniques to inspire creativity/ Marjorie Sarnat.

    Description: Mineola, New York : Dover Publications, 2018. | Series: Dover art instruction

    Identifiers: LCCN 2018032542 | ISBN 9780486826721 (paperback) | ISBN 0486826724

    Subjects: LCSH: Art—Technique. | Creative thinking. | BISAC: ART / Study & Teaching. | ART / General.

    Classification: LCC N7430 .S19 2018 | DDC 702.8—dc23

    LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018032542

    Manufactured in the United States by LSC Communications

    82672401 2018

    www.doverpublications.com

    To my inspiring and creative friends

    and my wonderful husband, daughter, son, and family

    Supportive friends and family are my

    most precious art studio secret.

    Contents

    Preface

    Introduction

    CHAPTER 1

    Creative Acrylics

    CHAPTER 2

    Easy Transfer Techniques

    CHAPTER 3

    Mixed-Media Methods

    CHAPTER 4

    Faux Encaustics

    CHAPTER 5

    Assemblage & Collage Tips

    CHAPTER 6

    Faux Egg Tempera

    CHAPTER 7

    Artsy Effects

    CHAPTER 8

    Texturing Tools

    CHAPTER 9

    Managing Materials

    CHAPTER 10

    At Your Surface

    CHAPTER 11

    Composition Rules & Clues

    CHAPTER 12

    Color Tips & Truths

    CHAPTER 13

    Drawing Secrets

    CHAPTER 14

    Tonal Values

    CHAPTER 15

    Painting in Oils

    CHAPTER 16

    Artist Trading Cards

    CHAPTER 17

    Finding Your Style

    CHAPTER 18

    Creativity, Inspiration, & Idea Sparkers

    CHAPTER 19

    Visual Reference

    Awesome Resources

    About the Author

    Illustration Credits

    The author has an extensive collection of vintage images and illustrations in her personal archive. Unless noted otherwise, that collection was the basis for the illustrations facing each chapter. Images were scanned, optimized, and repurposed from original material chosen from the archive.

    Creative Acrylics: Exuberance, painting © 2009 by Marjorie Sarnat

    Easy Transfer Techniques: Advertisements, The Studio: An Illustrated Magazine of Fine & Applied Art, August 1902

    Mixed-Media Methods: Catalog page detail, Our Little Men and Women, D. Lothrop & Co., January 1885

    Faux Encaustics: Illustration by Ruth Mary Hallock for The Wind by Robert Louis Stevenson, A Child’s Garden of Verses, Rand McNally & Company, 1919

    Assemblage & Collage Tips: Transformation, mixed-media painting © 2011 by Marjorie Sarnat

    Faux Egg Tempera: Easter Eggs as Decorated by the Peasant Women of Slav Peoples in Galicia and Moravia, The International Studio, Vol. 37, 1909

    Artsy Effects: Illustration by C.C. Phillips, Life, May 1909

    Texturing Tools: Crowdsourcing, mixed-media painting © 2012 by Marjorie Sarnat; Legumes, Larousse Universel en 2 Volumes, Tome Second, 1923

    Managing Materials: Photo illustration © 2012 by Marty Safir

    At Your Surface: O’Melveny, After the Fire, photograph © 2008 by Marty Safir

    Composition Rules & Clues: Illustration by Jessie M. King for The Magic Grammar, The Studio: An Illustrated Magazine of Fine & Applied Art, August 1902

    Color Tips & Truths: Photograph © 2006 by Robert Guenther (courtesy of iStockphoto)

    Drawing Secrets: Pen portrait by S. Vierge of Daniel Vierge, The Art Amateur, April 1890

    Tonal Values: An Inca Queen and Princess, engraving from an original work by Harry Fenn, Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, September 1887

    Painting in Oils: Page from D.M. Campana Art Co. Artists’ Materials catalog, circa 1922

    Artist Trading Cards: ATCs by the author, based on illustrations by M.T. Ross in Flower Children: The Little Cousins of the Field and Garden, P. F. Volland & Co., 1914

    Finding Your Style: Catalog page detail, Our Little Men and Women, D. Lothrop & Co., January 1885

    Creativity, Inspirations, & Idea Sparkers: Illustrations by Ernst Moritz Engert, International Studio: An Illustrated Magazine of Fine and Applied Art, Vol. 75, 1922

    Visual Reference: Rearranged illustrations by Irene Rogers using a drawing by G.W. Plank as reference, Art and Life, April 1927

    Preface

    As an exhibiting artist and a member of artist organizations, I am astounded by the wealth of information about making art that we artists know, share, and discover every day.

    No matter how many technique books are written and how many classes one attends, there will always be new twists on old methods, fresh and amazing ideas, and great tips to add to our artistic repertoire. Mix in a steady stream of new art supplies on the market, and it all makes for a rich environment for our creative brains.

    I’ve been collecting tips and techniques throughout my many years as the owner of a product design studio and working as a textile designer, teaching art, illustrating books, and creating fine art. I love it all. Art Studio Secrets reflects my personal experiences and preferences.

    I share my favorite tips and techniques so that you—a unique artist—will find some passages to make your own. Of course, no book can capture the infinite bits of artistic know-how out there. Add your own art studio secrets as you travel along your artistic path.

    Introduction

    This is a book for artists who love to get their hands wet with paint, dusty with charcoal, or sticky with glue. You may be reading this on an electronic device, but no computer tricks and tips are included among this eclectic group of secrets.

    Art Studio Secrets is intended for avid artists of all levels. Here are methods to inspire your artistic imagination along with practical tips for managing your materials and achieving the results you want. Many passages are reminders of the all-important basics.

    Entire books have been written on the topics you’ll find in this book. I reduced the information to its essence so busy artists can easily find, remember, and adapt a secret to their creative needs.

    Of course, in art there are no rules that will always be true. Let your personal vision be your guide as you find what works for you.

    Making Art with Kids

    More than thirty-five art studio secrets are labeled Kid-Friendly. This means that kids can usually do them successfully. Supervision is always recommended. Where Kid-Friendly with Supervision is mentioned, supervision is essential.

    As a mom, I know that making art with your child is rewarding and fun! Giving your child access to exciting art materials to explore will spark his or her creative talents. You will be amazed by your child’s natural aesthetic instincts.

    A Word about Safety

    The art studio secrets are intended to be quick to understand and easy to apply. With the exception of oil paints, most of the materials clean up with just soap and water. As much as possible, I have avoided processes that involve harsh chemicals. Nevertheless, there are precautions you should take when working with some materials. I’ve learned the hard way. It’s far better to avoid problems.

    Goggles: Wear goggles and/ or a breathing mask when you work with fine powders and glitters. All it takes is a cough, a sneeze, or a breeze to propel finely ground substances into your lungs or eyes.

    Breathing Mask: Consider wearing a breathing mask when you work with fine powders and harsh chemicals in markers, glues, paints, and solvents.

    Gloves: If you are concerned about skin contact from your paints, get a box of disposable latex gloves from a drugstore and wear gloves while you paint. They’ll feel strange at first, but you’ll soon forget that you’re wearing them. There are also hand creams that act as barriers so that chemicals won’t absorb into your skin.

    Ventilation: It’s important to have good ventilation or air filters when working closely with art supplies. Paints, glues, markers, charcoal dust, and materials that may seem innocent enough can be irritating to your respiratory system. Consider wearing a breathing mask as well, if you are sensitive.

    Markers: Solvent-based markers contain harsh chemicals, even when labeled nontoxic, and can make you feel dizzy or ill if you use them for long periods of time and without good ventilation. These markers are not appropriate for kids to use; water-based markers are safer for kids and sensitive people.

    Oil Paints: Caution is especially important when working with oil paints. Protect your skin from contact with the paints if you have sensitive skin. Everyone should take precaution against leads and other toxins that are sometimes present in the paints.

    Oil Paint Thinners: Turpenoid is an odorless thinner for oil paint and a less toxic alternative to turpentine. However, it, too, can be harmful. There are a few other products on the market, such as Gamsol, but they all need to be used carefully to avoid harm. Children should not use such products, even with supervision.

    Cleaning Oily Brushes: To clean oily brushes, wipe off as much paint as possible with a paper towel. Rinse brushes in Turpenoid, then wash them with soap and water until they are clean, all the way down to the ferule. Use a bar of Lava soap or a soap made specifically for cleaning oil paint brushes. Art soaps are available where art supplies are sold.

    This is by no means a comprehensive list. Use common sense. If you’re not sure, remember, safety first.

    CHAPTER 1

    Creative Acrylics

    Acrylic paints are an infinitely versatile medium. They can be used in either opaque or transparent applications—or anything between. There are multitudes of paints and mediums available. Acrylic paints and mediums are strong adhesives, so they are ideal in collages.

    Most colors are not toxic if you keep them out of your mouth. Wear latex gloves if you are concerned about skin contact. Several lines of acrylic craft paints claim to be nontoxic; you can find them online.

    Almost every acrylic product is compatible with every other, so you can experiment to your heart’s content.

    About Acrylics for Kids

    Let kids use acrylic paint. They’re not any messier than tempera or watercolor paints if you catch drips before they dry and remember to rinse the brushes often. Acrylics clean up well with soap and water.

    The creative results are highly satisfying for kids because acrylics offer endless possibilities for expression.

    1 RAISED PAINT TECHNIQUE

    Use dimensional paint in pointed-tip bottles from craft stores to draw embossed lines, or make raised dots and marks on your paintings. Let dry and paint over the raised paint with acrylics, varying your colors as you paint over the raised lines and marks. You can achieve a variety of interesting effects with this easy technique.

    After the raised paint is dry, you can create another effect with glazes. Allow the glazes to pool near raised areas, creating darkened accents near raised lines.

    Kid-Friendly

    2 ACRYLIC SKINS

    Mix

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