Cate Coulacos Prato is an expert at helping us strip away our self-consciousness and hush our inner critics so we can produce art that captures the subject we all know best: ourselves.
Prato’s Mixed-Media Self-Portraits: Inspiration & Techniques, a collection of her own thoughts and articles by other artists, takes us gently into this sensitive area. It helps us first to understand the importance of the artist’s self-portrait. Then the book guides us through exercises that encourage us to discover what is waiting to be revealed. And, finally, it leads us through the mechanics of creation.
Along the way, we get to see the work of those who have taken the leap before us. Textile artists will be particularly interested in examples of the work of Karen Fricke (shown here), Kathie Briggs, Linda Edkins Wyatt, Kelli Perkins, Yvonne Porcella, Jane LaFazio, and Janet Ghio. But every medium, technique, and style illustrated in the book is inspirational, adaptable, valuable.
The book retails for US $22.95 – a small price for so much useful information and eye candy. ISBN 978-1-59668-082-1
This looks like a really interesting book.
I love it when authors/bloggers can find the intersection between art and craft.
It seems to me that this book is ‘right on’.