Collage Discovery Workshop

Not only does this book include beautiful (and instructive) photographs of Claudine's collage work, but the reader is also treated to many versatile techniques, all presented in Claudine's engaging and thoughtful conversational style, along with very helpful discussions of design issues.

The first part of the book focuses on adding several techniques to your artist "toolbox". For example, Claudine offers explanation and instruction for several different types of image transfer techniques, from transfers using common tape or laminate to more unusual transfers using heat or even Elmer's clear caulk material. And forget about messy glues and decoupage mediums -- Claudine suggests an interesting way of using beeswax in assembling and even coloring your collage. Several other techniques i.e. peeling paint, will lend themselves to applications in many other media. There is also an interesting lesson in assembling a "frame" for your finished pieces that is both simple and effective. I found all of her instructions to be exceptionally clear and easy to follow.

Finally, I found Claudine's collage style to be refreshing. These days it seems that collage means seeing how many interesting or artsy things you can pile onto a canvas or paper. Yet Claudine's style is refereshingly spare, proving that it isn't quantity that counts, but quality. And there is plenty of quality in this wonderful and inspiring book!


WhooooooooHooooooo!!! A REAL learning experience!   December 17, 2003
100 out of 106 found this review helpful

I pre-ordered this book, too, and eagerly awaited it's release. It is EVERTHING I hoped for and waaaaay more! I can't tell you how delighted I am with this book! I had hoped it would TEACH me new things, things to help me improve my technique, and also inspire me to new visions about what I can become/do/create.

Like other starving, self-taught artists, I can't afford to attend many workshops. Yet I'm desperatly wanting to know MORE, MORE, MORE about inventive techniques for creating GOOD art. So I am often left with "book learning" to fill in the gaps, and I have to tell you there are not many out there that really TEACH technique. Most of them are "do this, then do this" to produce a *certain* piece. (Which is fine, but I WANT MORE! LOL!)

In my eyes, Claudine Hellmuth is the modern master of collage, she has taken it to a whole new level, and I hoped her book would TEACH me. Her book has exceeded my wildest hopes. I flipped through it the minute I carefully RIPPED it out of the package and my little heart swelled with DREAMS and HOPE and GRATITUDE. This book is the BEST giver-of-tools to collage artists I have ever seen! Others have already enumerated the contents and the wonderful production value of this work, so I won't repeat them, but if you have a limited amount of money to spend on tools, spend it on THIS BOOK. You won't be sorry!

And now, I gotta go--- I have to go MAKE STUFFFFFF!!!!!!!! :o)


Excellent!!   February 21, 2005
merrymousies (Waterford, VA USA)
28 out of 28 found this review helpful

When I first started playing with Altered books I was also brand new to collage. The neat thing about this book is that it has two parts - it has a techniques part and then the second half is the collage part. There are techniques for doing transfers, glazing paint, peeling paper, stamping in wax, and creating textured paint. Then in the collage part she steps us through how to build a collage - add a picture, then some words, etc. She shows us how to do those altoid tins too which is fun. Wonderful images throughout the book to inspire and the instructions are really clear and step by step. I'm looking forward to Claudine's next book and her DVD!! She's such a terrific teacher.


COLLAGE DISCOVERY WORKSHOP-CLAUDINE HELLMUTH   December 9, 2003
alyce d mcdonald (Louisville, Kentucky United States)
24 out of 25 found this review helpful

I ordered my copy of this book from the prepublication site. I have anticipated the arrival of it and was thrilled when my copy arrived. I have read and reread the pages and am more than excited at the instructions within.
Rarely do you find an artist of Claudine's talent who is willing to generously share the knowledge of her particular craft and tell us her secrets. She has done exactly that. The book is written in excellent step-by-step concise and very understandable instruction with complete lists of what is needed in order to achieve the looks for the collages. All of the items needed are easily obtainable, not items that are impossible to find, most at our local craft and art supply stores. This is the very best workbook on collage I have had the priveledge to read. I can hardly wait to try every single technique.


Having a gifted artist in your studio   December 9, 2003
P. Dusman (Pennsylvania USA)
22 out of 23 found this review helpful

I have been eagerly awaiting the publication of this book from this extremely talented artist and a much sought after collage workshop instructor. It is everything I thought it would be and more. I feel like I am back in Claudine's workshop again seeing some of the innovative techniques she taught us and then seeing more that are new! Everything is so clear in the step-by-step directions and accompanying step-by-step photos. She is truly a generous and wonderful teacher in the book. It is just like she is at home with you right there guiding you through the techniqes. There is so much information packed in here. I love her composition chapter. With photos and step-by-step examples of how she creates her art it will make it easy to say "I get it". If anyone is interested in collage, assemblage or wonderul art techniques then this is a great book for your collection that I am sure you will refer to again and again for inspiration.