Skip to main content

Book Review

This book wasn't on my reading list, but came as a recommendation from a recent article I read and my interest in them.  

The first half of the book has some great information.  Unfortunately, the second half seemed squeezed in to a certain number of pages because of the extraordinarily small fonts used that resulted in difficulty reading (e.g. instructions for silkscreen printing).  There was also a very light blue grey color used with some fonts that resulted in them being too light for easy reading.  Considering the book was put together by 'zinesters', it is disappointing that they didn't figure this out and correct it before the book was published.  

Much of the book includes articles written by zine makers from around 2006.  The technology discussed in it is now quite old (Xerox machines, duplication machines) so not exactly how someone would produced them (on mass) in the 2020s.  In addition, some of the websites referenced are no longer active.

Overall, the information is still good, and I enjoyed parts of the book.  The changing fonts, however, were distracting and added a sense of overwhelm in terms of content absorption.  I will say that I didn't realize the history of zine-making and just how long an underground activity it has been, what the range of 'whys' are in creating them, the various methods of their distribution, and just how 'big' zine-making has been.    




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Highjacked Blog Photo

My profile photo was highjacked ! For those of you who are blogging, be wary. There are some unscrupulous folks out there who may be using or about to use a photo(s) you've uploaded to an online photo-hosting site. At the time I created a blog, having a URL for a photo uploaded online was the only way to insert a photo in your profile or to create a custom header. There had been no problems for a long while. This morning, however, I did a Google image search for my name and found my photo linked to a totally different blog than my own! It is possible I didn't mark my file with the online photo-hosting site as private, but I didn't expect this to happen. I don't know whether marking it private would have actually averted the situation, but I'm not waiting to find out. I eliminated my membership to that online photo-hosting service today and caution anyone to be careful with uploading images to the internet . If you read the terms of agreement at many sites, you'...
Post a Comment
Read more

Life Book 15 - Week 36 Project Completed (or nearly completed)

This project went in an entirely different direction than the Life Book 2015 lesson.  That's ok because we're also working on accepting those times when we move in our own direction using the lesson purely as a launching point. This piece involved experimenting with collage on a substrate (muslin covered with joint compound), followed with paint, more collage, and then the felt, fabric and beaded plant. This piece was created through a class offered by Tamara Laporte from Willing Arts Ltd. For more information, visit this link:  www.willowing.org .
2 comments
Read more

Get to Work and Get Clear - Stop the Waffling

I haven't painted in some time. So it seemed like the perfect time to sign up for Louise Fletcher's 10-day free taster course titled 'The Creative Reset' that recently started.  She has re-engineered the taster since I took it last, and I'm liking how it is rolling out.  The images below are from our first lesson that were timed studies with additional constraints.  The purpose was not to have finished pieces.  Rather it was to help students identify their preferences and gain clarity about our likes.  This means not choosing to like what others want us to like or think we should, but what we honestly like.     From my six-block painted sheets, I chose one favorite from the first grouping and two favorites from the second grouping.  The step I'm choosing to do is to write down why I like those three in particular.  The reason is because being able to articulate my reasoning will help clarify, strengthen and hone my voice -- not just in art bu...
Post a Comment
Read more