Green Guide for Artists: Nontoxic Recipes, Green Art Ideas, & Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist

129 Pages·2009·105.44 MB·English

by  Karen Michel

G R E E N
G U I D E
FOR ARTISTS

F O R A R T I S T S
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GALLERY PROFILES BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
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NONTOXIC RECIPES,
GREEN ART IDEAS, &
RESOURCES FOR THE
ECO-CONSCIOUS ARTIST
© 2009 by Karen Michel
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the
copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of
the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by the producer, publisher, or printer for any in
fringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been
made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccura
cies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting
of the book.
First published in the United States of America by
Quarry Books, a member of
Quayside Publishing Group
100 Cummings Center
Suite 406-L
Beverly, Massachusetts 01915 -61 0 1
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.quarrybooks.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Michel, Karen.
Green guide for artists: nontoxic recipes, green art ideas, and resources for the eco-conscious artist /
Karen Michel.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59253-518-7
ISBN-I0: 1-59253-518-6
1. Artists' materials. 2. Art- Environmental aspects. 1. Title.
N8530.M53 2009
702.8'6- dc22
2008049266
ISBN-13: 978-1-59253-518-7
ISBN-I0: 1-59253-518-6
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Cover Design: Collaborated
Layout & Production: Megan Cooney
Photographs: Glenn Scott Photography, pages 1-89 and page Ill; Timothy S. Allen, pages 90,102,
and 103; India Flint, pages 92-93; Abigail Doan, pages 94-95, Jean-Yves Vigneau, pages 96-97; Cat
Collier, pages 98-99; Jennifer Khoshbin, pages 100-10 1; Jane Ingram Allen, pages 102-103; Susan Lenart
Kazmer, pages 104-105; Bryant Holsenbeck, pages 106-107; Jana Trent, pages 108-109; Nina Bagley,
pages 112-113; Lauren Ferguson, pages 114-115; Deedra Ludwig, pages 116-117; Jude Hill, pages
118-119; and Basia Irland, pages 120-123
Printed in Singapore
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
This book i s dedicated to my mom,
f or all she self lessl y gave me in lif e and spirit,
and to my s on, Nico.
r hope to do the same f or him.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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INTRODUCTION
8
CHAPTER 1: GREENING YOUR STUDIO
10
PRODUCT SAFETY 12
PAINTS AND MEDIUMS 14
ADHESIVES 19
PAPER 20
CANVAS 21
SAFETY IN THE STUDIO 21
CHAPTER 2: GREEN RECIPES 22
MAKING PAINT 24
PAINT RECIPES 34
ADHESIVE RECIPES 44
CHAPTER 3: GREEN PROJECTS 48
REPURPOSING UNUSED PROJECTS INTO ART 50
PAPIER-MAcHE: A FRESH LOOK AT AN OLD MEDIUM 56
BOOKMAKING: NOTEPADS AND JOURNALS FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS 70
USING FOUND OBJECTS IN YOUR ART 80
USING PHOTOS IN YOUR ART 82
CHAPTER 4: ARTISTS' GALLERY 90
RESOURCE GUIDE 124
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 128
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 128
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Handmade paint on repurposed wood
IF I KEEP A GREEN BOUGH IN MY HEART,
THE SINGING BIRD WILL COME.
-LAO-TZU
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I I
r~TRODUCT or~
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The inspiration for this book came about on my journey toward Every choice we make about art supplies matters. For
trying to make more mindful choices for my artwork and to walk example, many oil paints and solvents contain petrochemicals,
upon the Earth as gently as possible. and even acrylic paints can contain toxic heavy metals and
As an artist, I am passionate about the creative process. In biocides, which can pollute our home environment and seep
art school, I was so excited about being in a studio environment into our groundwater.
and painting all day that the dazed feeling I had after class-the From recipes concocted in their own studios, artists of the
result of so many students working with solvents in poorly ven past created astounding works of art that have sustained to this
tilated studios-didn't even faze me. I remember wiping my oil day. We can do the same. We can create wonderful art pieces
paint brushes on my jeans and painting with oils in my studio from materials that leave little or no impact on the environment
apartment, not far from where I slept. I often handled question and, if used properly, won't compromise our long-term health.
able art materials with my bare hands and, for many years, used While doing research for this book, I came to realize that
art materials in unconventional ways without really considering many people view the "Green Movement" as a marketing tool,
the consequences. created to get consumers to choose certain products over others.
Things changed when I started paying attention to our This movement is really a revolution about consuming less, reus
global environmental crisis and especially when I became preg ing more, and being mindful about the impact our choices have
nant. Not only did I begin to examine the products I used in my on the environment and on our health.
home and on my body, I also took a hard look at my art supply Making the decision to "go green" in art making will mean
shelves. How did the materials I used in my art affect not only different things to different people. For some, it might mean
my immediate environment but the environment at large? What making their own paints; others might choose to eliminate certain
kind of world was I creating and leaving for my child? These colors from their paint palettes or use scrap wood for a canvas.
questions sparked my interest in learning more about art materi No change is too small or insignificant; even the little changes we
als and about how I, as both artist and consumer, could make make every day add up. My goal is to inspire you to examine your
better choices. art-making process and make room for some greener choices. If
these greener choices work for you, pass the knowledge on!