27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
More Than I Expected, Jun 3 2010
By Calyx Harris - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Journal Junkies Workshop: Visual Ammunition for the Art Addict (Paperback)
I have to admit my bias right off the bat. I really enjoy art journaling books and have quite a few of them. What puts The Journal Junkies Workshop in my top two is that even though the authors teach several of the same basic techniques that other books do, they make it simpler and take it further. Each time.
The section on image transfers is a prime example. I had mostly given up on using image transfer techniques in my journal when I couldn't get them to come out right, even after buying an entire how-to book on them. The Journal Fodder Junkies explain the differences between techniques, materials, and effects clearly and concisely. Now I know which technique to use when - and my eyes never glazed over. Not once. My pages finally have the depth I was looking for. You can tell these guys are teachers through and through.
The focus on process and experience is balanced with easy to follow instruction, plenty of inspirational photographs, and the right amount of open ended prompting. This book is just like one of those games with rules that take ten minutes to learn and a lifetime to master. Is it a great starter book? Absolutely. But it's also a powerful guide and goad for pushing the limits in your art journal pages.
37 of 39 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm a Journal Fodder Junkie!, May 16 2010
By bean - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Journal Junkies Workshop: Visual Ammunition for the Art Addict (Paperback)
I met Eric and Dave a couple years ago at one of their week-long visual journal workshops. I was INSTANTLY addicted. I'm an art teacher who had never heard of the term "visual journal" before and thought it might be a great vehicle for student expression as well as a way to keep art in my personal life on a daily basis. Both are true. Since then, I've involved classes with the visual journal and have kept a few of my own. Other people I've known have taken Journal Fodder Junkies workshops, and they too have become addicted.
I think that what sets apart Eric and Dave's approach (and their book) from others is that they truly use the visual journal for an everyday, everything book. Their pages include the mundane, the profound, the beautiful, and the ugly. Well maybe not ugly... but imperfect, unfinished, misspelled. It's such an approachable style, completely unintimidating, something that truly anyone can embrace. I've read many books on visual journals and related subjects such as altered books or mixed media collage, and have been enticed by the imagery only to find that it set the bar too high--it was too perfect. Not good for anyone who feels even a tad bit unartistic, self-conscious, or nervous to begin. Not good for anyone who tries to emulate the how-to steps only to feel they fail miserably and then they give up.
"The Journal Junkies Workshop: Visual Ammunition for the Art Addict" is a great starting point for anyone who is intrigued by the idea of visual journals. After poring over every page, every word, every image in this book, I feel renewed and ready to tackle more pages in my own visual journal.
52 of 62 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Necessarily Addictive, May 14 2010
By Meli Sufari "meli" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Journal Junkies Workshop: Visual Ammunition for the Art Addict (Paperback)
Here's the thing: North Light Books appears to be heavily tilted towards the female author and reader. Whether it's self fulfilling or that the world thinks only women read and purchase books like this, I'm not sure. BUT I can say that I, though female, do not necessarily do feminine art. If it says 'goddess', 'soul', etc, if it has any of that pseudo spiritual lingo and cute work, it is definitely not for me. I was very excited to see a North Light book by guys and I hoped it would be truly inspiring and edgy. In my opinion, North Light has plenty of journaling books in the catalog already that cover the how-to aspect. I'm not sure that this book offered anything new...I have seen all the techniques a few times in other NL books. The only thing really different was that it was a guy. So, the image he chose wasn't a sweet little girl and it wasn't vintage looking. I did appreciate the perspective and seeing the demos without all the cutesy art. But I was expecting a little more work sample and less 'this is a way to make a background'...
I would say, that if you are on a search for a journaling book and really don't know any techniques to get going and are still afraid to just do what you want, and all that cutesy goddessy type of thing turns you off, this is the book you should get. If you already have quite a few, you probably don't need anymore.
I wish NL would push a few more books by guys out there just so I can get to work that isn't easily identifiable as feminine. A little balance would be nice, North Light. Not all of us want lacey vintage sweet work. But, before you award publication to another artist, please make sure they really are offering something different.