Make Your Mark: Explore Your Creativity and Discover Your Inner Artist

by Margaret Peot

Book Overview

Looking for ways to nurture your creativity? In Make Your Mark, author and artist Margaret Peot teaches wonderfully simple art techniques that yield beautiful and unusual results. Book jacket.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811838234
• ISBN13: 9780811838238
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (CA)
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 1.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.6" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

A Treasure to Savor

Make Your Mark is truly a book to savor for many years. After getting it as a gift, the first thing I did was simply read it all the way through. The author has a warm and encouraging tone, and it is easy to imagine her standing by you as you are guided through a variety of wonderful and interesting techniques. You don't need to be an artist or good at drawing to make use of this book, although if you are, you'll find these projects interesting and appealing. At the moment, I'm really into the gorgeous techniques that I've gotten spray painting with stencils. I can't believe how beautiful the effect is spraying through lace (cheap lace works really well), which I did on fabric, which is what I had around the first few times I tried this technique. The other technique that appealed to me from the beginning is spray painting with lemon juice. I just loved the idea of the art work going in the oven for a brief stint, and watching it magically come alive. It's like baking, only the gratification is instant. This technique leaves kind of an aged looking mark on the paper, which is enhanced by darker edges where the lemon juice is sprayed heavily. The variations include adding salt and water. It's pure fun. I can't wait to try some other techniques. An interesting and wonderful byproduct of working with the techniques in the book is that I just felt relaxed and loosened up creatively, and I was able to transfer that creativity to my work as a chef. I found my creative juices just flowing. There are also chapters on all kinds of stenciling, rubbings, printing, water printing, paste papers, pattern dyeing, and collage, enough to keep one happily occupied with projects for a very long time. Each technique clearly explains what materials you need, available at most art stores, and the artist thoughtfully provides a glossary of places to get the materials. I highly recommend this book for people of all ages, whatever your level of creativity is, for just a wonderful way to have a lot of fun!

great for whole family

I loved this book - it was so well laid out & the images are so appealing. My daughter ( & husband!) & I have had a lot of fun trying the different techniques. My daughter particularily loved the fish rubbings, as did the cat! A great book for those interested in creative projects & who want more than the usual parenting magasine projects

A true inspiration, beautiful to look at and to hold

Although I've never had a particular talent for visual arts, I picked up this book because the author seemed to speak to my fear of making a mistake as soon as I set pen or pencil to paper. It doesn't matter whether I'm writing or drawing, or even taking notes on a class, I always fear that the first mark I make will be wrong, somehow. I think, if the paper stays blank, the future is still ripe with possibility! But in this book, Margaret Peot gently takes readers by the hand and disabuses us of this notion, showing how real beauty comes only when human beings breathe life into their creations. And for those of us who have left-brain tendencies, who like to keep things organized, systematic, and orderly, there's room for us, too-you can line up your toys with as much order as you want and it will still be art. Who knew that you could do so much with dried fettucine, leaves, erasers, paper cups, feathers, and grocery bags? But even if you never do a single one of her exercises, the act of simply reading through this book and looking at the stunningly innovative and creative products of Peot's fertile imagination will set your own creative juices bubbling, whether you're a painter, a writer, an actor, or a musician. The book itself is printed on heavy paper, with lusciously reproduced artwork on large-format pages-an inspiration in itself. As a veteran (an unsuccessful, disappointed veteran) of The Artist's Way, I highly recommend Making Your Mark as a smoother, more creative, more accessible alternative.

Creativity for everyone

I've really enjoyed leafing through this book. It's reminding me of all of the things I'd forgotten from my college art classes. Ms.Peot also helps remind me to look for creative inspiration in the everyday objects of life, a luxury that doesn't take time or money just observation. This book also takes the intimidation and guess work out of buying art supplies. Being in a craft or art store for the uninitiated can bring about the same anxiety as standing in a wine shop before a dinner party...what to buy?! Ms.Peot's clear instructions and buying guide make art approachable and take away any excuses for not Making your Mark.

I can't draw , but know what I like once I make and see it

This book is inviting, encouraging, and instructional. The "No Drawing Necessary" stamp on the cover drew me in. Author Ms. Peot has given me the tools to make and do things that leave a mark, a pleasing one at that. The book inspires the reader to create art works using familiar items from home and the natural environment. Its cookbook-style recipes empower the reader to walk the aisles of art supply stores with confidence and knowledge. I look forward to applying the techniques taught in the book to beautify diaries, scrapbooks, travel journals, and gardening notebooks.