Art at the Speed of Life: motivation + inspiration for making mixed-media art every day

by Pam Carriker

Need high-energy inspiration when your life gets crazy and your art keeps getting pushed to the back burner? Offering terrific mixed-media art projects, as well as tips for getting organized and inspired, Art at the Speed of Life is a treasure chest of ideas for the artist whose creative goals sometimes get stymied by the frantic pace of modern life. Author and mixed-media artist Pam Carriker proves that art and life can coexist peacefully, productively, and happily. Making things every day can be a joyful reality instead of just wishful thinking. Each chapter in Art at the Speed of Life includes both essays and project ideas from a variety of contributors, including Suzi Blu, Lisa Bebi, Christy Hydeck, Paulette Insall, Cate Calacous Prato. The projects are inspiring, yet easy to complete on a tight schedule, and include techniques such as assemblage, image transfer, and collage. A bonus seven-day journal project helps you track your work as you go. With a unique combination of time management tips and advice, inspiring essays, and projects designed to fit into busy schedules, Art at the Speed of Life will help you live your dream of making art every day.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Crafts, Journaling, Creative, Reference

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2011

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best thing about this book is all the detailed information about making layered backgrounds for mixed media. Unfortunately, it also made me realize that I am probably not patient enough to make those sorts of backgrounds. Oh well. I started to skim about halfway through when I found myself nodding off.

[liberal sprinkles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with ideas, artists' thoughts and inspiration. I like the tips on maximizing the time you have to create art, especially the one on working on multiple backgrounds at the same time. So easy, now why didn't I think of that? Many of the suggestions are, like this one, easily realizable and practical.

Pam Carriker and her guest artists also share interesting techniques, nothing very new but all well-executed and explained. I did learn new techniques on making papier-mache dress collages and Carriker's quicker toilette papier mache, both of which I can't wait to try.

I like how Carriker offers an easier and less time-consuming "Speed of Life" project as an alternative to each chapter's Artist Spotlight project, so if you're really strapped for time, you can try an different method to create a similar piece more quickly.

The instructions for the projects in the book are quite detailed but I feel they are more geared towards the more experienced artists/crafters. The book is also chokeful of information but I sometimes found it a bit overwhemling - there's just so much going on. Maybe I'm doing this too much on the go and not squeezing in enough time to absorb it all.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birthday present! This is my current eye/brain/idea candy. I <3 this book. It makes me want to make art messes all the time, and it makes me feel like I'd totally be awesome at it. It's also trying to make me feel like I can (as in, have time) and actually do it, but it hasn't quite gotten that far yet. I did buy paint, though. :)

...

Loved this book! It's great bedtime reading, I loved starting at the projects and learning exactly how they were done, and it helped me start doing some collage. Yay!

Also, for some reason, nothing in it sticks in my mind at all, so I'll be able to use it for bedtime eye candy over and over!

I just wish the cover was prettier. The picture they used for this book in the Interweave catalog (the project on p. 70) absolutely sold me on it--they should have used that, or at least not such a dark background. All the pieces are pretty, but they come together in sort of an aggressive feel with the lettering style. It doesn't match the feel of the book. Maybe I should collage up my own as my next project. ;)

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts out with a great premise, and very inspirational words from the author and various artists. I like the handmade journal project that continues through the book, and I liked many of the projects included in the book. However, I found the instructions and photographs to be a bit lacking- they needed more detail to really explain the steps involved. I felt there were omissions in the explanations of these techniques that would be new to anyone who would potentially enjoy this book. I think they should have cut down on the "inspiration" from other artists and left more room for project pictures and instruction.

[Rikelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Can't wait to try some of the projects. Filled with lots of eye and soul candy.

[Kate McKinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivid Inspiration & Imagery for Creative Projects. The author presumes a specific level of knowledge & possession of a certain amount of art supplies (which I don't own), so this is a little discouraging at the outset, because I'd planned to work right alongside her w/the projects in the book (but I don't have gesso, canvasses, acrylic paints, heat guns, etc..). So I found I had to either simply be a witness to her projects; or make my own modifications using ordinary household items as creative substitutes for those on her items-lists. Despite these setbacks, her abstract vision/concept is uplifting & wonderful, really getting creative juices flowing. I ended up using it as an idea book.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two “art at the Speed of Life” books are absolutely wonderful. I had a blast working through both. Honestly though, I wish I had purchased the print version, because I can see myself revisiting various activities within each book.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nudge for those of us who like making art but get stuck.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for anyone who is new to mixed media or art journaling. It is packed with projects, and well as various techniques and art inspiration from various artists.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my “speed”.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

great ideas for making art-making a part of your life

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all the pictures and projects. I was very anxious to try the ten-minute journal. I am not familiar with watercolor paper, and I didn't know which weight of paper to buy and the book suggest a weight(s). I purchased what I thought was a thinner/lighter weight. When I went to fold it multiple times I had problems and paper's folds became too thick, and I couldn't fold it. I placed a sack of flour on the fold to help fold the the paper but eventually, I gave up and I scored the paper along the folds and separated in thirds and prepared the pages this way and then recombined the pages. I'll try to find a thinner/lighter weight next time, if available, or maybe just stick to alternating old books. Other than that, I do enjoy the book very much

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting in depth articles but got a whole book of one page, overly simplistic snippets that I didn't find very useful. The book is beautifully illustrated with contributor art projects, so there is some inspiration to be found there. However, all of the artists create such similar pieces that even that inspiration is limited. The suggested projects require a ridiculous amount of supplies even though the book features and article on minimizing your craft stash! This book was okay to browse through but overall I was disappointed.

[Charlou · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It is your excitement about materials, colors, and textures, your enthusiasm when you see work you like and ooh, you want to run home and do it, too. This makes you an artist."
Suzi Blu

I'm not, and I do not want to be, a mixed-media collage artist, but I found the artists stories about inspiration and motivation encouraging.

It is this simple:
1. Find little bits of time.
2. Play

[Natashya KitchenPuppies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book as I was inspired by the substrates or backgrounds that the author creates. There are different ideas from different artists and several step by step projects. I don't know that people would necessarily have the ingredients for each project but there is much to be inspired from nonetheless.

[Palma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would never have bought this book because I suspected that it would be like the rest of the 'mixed media' art books that mostly feature and showcase work rather that teach anything. It was gifted to me. It has a few instructions and tips but nothing that you wouldn't already find on the internet for free.

[Linda - (PinkTofu) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutley fabulous, love it, great projects great reading!! so glad I bought it. If you love mixed media then this book is one to add to your shelves. I couldn't put it down when it first arrived.

[Josh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't care for it.... I thought it might help me to understand mixed-media & found art stuff, but it just reinforced my dislike for it. the writing wasn't very good & I can't think of anything I would call "redeeming" in it...

[Tena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories are fun to read and inspirational; however, most of these artists have told their story in several books that are on the market right now as well. Not a whole lot of different, but still interesting.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book - the way it's structured, the visuals, the idea sparklers - and I love that it's brought me to Carriker's blog, too, which is an extension of the book. So much to explore and discover!!

[Nancy Noyes-ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, so much so, it is now in my studio collection. It has been a great addition, our daughter took it up on a whim and created a award-winning piece for the fair. There are so many inspiring ideas. You won't be sorry to read, or like us, own this book!

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book and quite helpful if you are wanting to begin altered art and similar.

[Cheryl Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it was full of inspiration for the making of mixed-media art and really easy to undertsand and follow instructions

[Karen Schlosberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very inspiring but a little short on instructions. more like an outline for a more detailed project how-to.

[Kaye Dewar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for all mixed media artist!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best "how to" book on art Journaling I've found so far. I'm trying each lesson and posting the results on my blog. paintonmywalls.blogspot.com

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but I felt that it needed something more... more instructions, more pictures, and more projects. I did like the ones she included, and I can't wait to try them out.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative and inspiring!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

just received my copy in the mail. WOOT!!! I can hardly wait to look at it.

[Linda Mamula · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE THIS BOOK!!!