Mixed-Media Master Class with Sherrill Kahn: 50+ Surface-Design Techniques for Fabric & Paper

I liked the book, it's in full color with gorgeous pictures of the authors wonderful work. Looking at art in general inspires me to go create and this book does stimulate my creative mojo....but that's due to the pictures of the authors work, not the techniques offered.I don't know if my assumption is wrong, but I thought a "master class" meant it would be more advanced techniques. And by "advanced" I meant techniques you're not use to seeing or reading about in other books/magazines. There really wasn't more than one or two techniques out of the 50+ in the book that I wasn't already familiar with (and those were due to a specific product she was using, not the actual technique of what she was doing with them). I've only been doing mixed media for a year, so I was quite shocked how "old" and "common" some of these techniques are.For instance--the first section tells you you can use cheesecloth, paper, tissue paper, lutradur, and TAP in your collages. Anyone not know that already?The second sections tells you can use chalk, oil, paint, markers and Inktense (the only thing I hadn't heard of) to add color...is that new to you? Third section talks about resists... anyone not know you can use masking tape, crayons or wax for this? Then we're on to stencils, rubbings and print making. Do you need a new book to tell you to use stencils? what about wrapping rubber bands around something and then using as a stamp? These things are talked about in every other book and magazine I get/read, it's nothing new. Many of these techniques are actually in her earlier books, like using fun foam and rubber stamps and such.So, while I enjoyed the artwork I did not get a single new technique out of this book.

This is the best book Sherrill has written to date. I am a fabric person and this book leans more toward the inclusion of fabric into the design and execution of each project. I can also see how it could be applied to fabric alone. I emailed her about how fabulous this book is and she informed me that this will be her last publication. Get it if you like to have inspirational books in your surface design library. She is a fantastic teacher and after going thru the book oohing & awwing . . .this is truly a Master Class. Even if you're a beginner at surface design, the directions and pictures are very clear. Now if I could just get the time to do nothing but surface design, I would be in hog heaven!

I have her other book. After checking it out of the library, I knew it would be a good reference book. It had very good content. Very informative. Very colorful. I checked Amazon,s reviews and wanted to purchase it.

Once again Sherrill has managed to reveal her step-by-step methods in creating interesting fabric/paper art. Useful to those of us who like to dabble in techniques and materials, this book shows the stages of the pieces and creates great excitement in her 'what if' approaches. The only reason it doesn't rate 5 stars is that many of these techniques are in her other books and on her website impressmenow.com but to see the finished pieces and to find inspiration--this book is worth the price. I appreciated the supply list and materials/resource content in the book and will add it to my collection of her other, now dogeared books.

Ms. Kahn has added to and expanded on the techniques used in her earlier books. Her directions for each of the many techniques illustrated are clear and definitely useful. Most collage artists should at least find a few techniques they might not have encountered or twists to what they are already applying to their art.Besides "flat" collages I use her techniques for the covers of handmade journals and cigar box shrines and chipboard boxes for special gifts. The techniques could also be applied to paper crafts such as scrapbook backgrounds. Another artist's book that I've found a useful companion to Ms. Kahn books would be "Altered Surfaces" by Chris Cozen.

This is one of those books that you want to have on our table when you start your mixed-media journey. I wish I had it on mine when I first started. Ten years have elapsed since the book was first published, but some of the techniques and content are still relevant and many of the techniques and supplies were unknown to me.This is a how-to book. I consider it good for for both mixed-media newbies or people who usually work with mixed-media but want to expand their technical repertoire.Kahn says at the beginning of the book that her aim is just to provide us with techniques so that we can try them and/or incorporate them into our artwork, and she stresses that they're just techniques to use to create pieces that will then be incorporated into our artwork, so they're not intended to create masterpieces or finished pieces on their own.GREAT THINGS> Greatly photographed and edited.> Kahn goes through every technique, from the use of different subtracts, techniques to create resist, use of different art supplies, ways to create textures, rubbings and hand-printing techniques, you name it.> The book reads quickly, but this is one of those books that I want to keep at hand to come and apply some of the teachings in my work.> Kahn has an amazing knowledge of how different paper and textile substrates work, so she's able to properly advice on how the same technique works on different materials.> The abstract artwork displayed on the book is gorgeous and very much my cup of tea.> The tutorial to make a folding book.> She uses inexpensive supplies most of the time, so that's great as I think this pushes us, or at least me, to try things without worrying about having this or that fancy supply.> The last section of her book has examples of ho Khan put together some art pieces using the techniques she describes throughout the book. They're so beautiful.SO-SO> We live in a world bombarded with video-tutorials and some of the things presented here are already popular and well-known.> The text is not justified, something that always bothers me.> Some of the brands that Kahn mentions might be very common in the US but not elsewhere. I would have loved having a replacement mentioned, or just a generic product mentioned.> Thermofax machines were becoming uncommon when Kahn wrote her book and I don't think they're that common today. I have never heard for them, anyway. So, I don't think this is something that the average artist has access to.

Has so many techniques to try. Really enjoyed working through this book

This is an unusual and extremely comprehensive book.The contents cover projects which are all do-able in and around the home.I am happy to recommend this to everyone. Delivery was also prompt, in deed faster than advised to arrive in time for Christmas.I was particularly impressed by this level of caring and service.

I made the mistake of purchasing the book in Kindle format ,not suitable for a craft book! Apart from the format being too small I can't turn pages back and forth to follow up ideas. This is my second book by Sherrill Kahn. I enjoy her use of colour but find the some of the techniques very basic and not sufficiently developed so I think it would be more suitable for anyone new to mixed media wanting to experiment with different materials.

I bought this book by mistake for an online copy. I would have preferred the hard back version.I do not find it easy to switch through similar techniques and find it difficult to use. However, the book is producedwell and covers lots of aspects of mixed media.

I bought this for my kindle which is great as I have so many books the bookshelf is groaning! The book is well written, loads of illustrations and great guidance on achieving the results. I have every intention on working my way through the different projects as love the mixed media results of Sherrill. A really useful reference book with plenty of inspiration.