April's Review	Chris' Review	Tammy's Review	Stephanie's Review	Pomaika`i's Review

Review by April

Every time I get the chance to review an educational art or craft DVD, I get very excited because it gives me the opportunity to take an exciting class in the comfort of my own home! This month I had the pleasure of reviewing a Creative Catalyst Production titled Watermedia Collage Workshop by Carrie Burns Brown. Creative Catalyst Productions has an outstanding selection of high quality art instruction videos and art instruction video workshop DVD's. Their main goal is to design instructional art DVD's that provide students with an exceptional art learning experience second only to attending a seminar. Since I love learning new techniques and experimenting with different art mediums, I couldn't wait to get started on this review!

For this review I received the Watermedia Collage Workshop by Carrie Burns Brown DVD from Creative Catalyst Productions. I also received a container of gesso, Phthalo Blue acrylic paint, and Quinacridone/Nickel Azo Gold acrylic paint from Golden to compliment the review. The Watermedia Collage Workshop by Carrie Burns Brown DVD is approximately 2 hours long and is jam packed with a large variety of watermedia collage techniques. Carrie teaches you how to make your own textured papers and personalized stamps, and she also shows you how to sandwich fibers, how to combine and alter pre-existing materials making them more light fast, personal and satisfying and how you can create an assortment of uniquely colored papers perfect for layering and collage work.

My first project uses a combination of several techniques Carrie shows in the DVD. I started out by applying a coat of gesso on my blank canvas and then I used a fork, and a wine cork to create unique textures in the gesso. When the gesso dried, I created a mixture of Golden's Quinacridone acrylic paint, a few tablespoons of water, and a little bit of gesso, and then coated the entire surface which resulted in a beautiful orange/yellow sun like color. The texture in the gesso really showed up beautifully after I painted the canvas. I adhered a piece of tissue paper that I had created using Carrie's techniques to the bottom of the canvas using a coat of soft gel matte medium. To complete the piece, I added a few scrapbooking embellishments, and glitter glue to add some sparkle!

Title: My Creative Escape Canvas
Products used:
Inspiration (Creative Catalyst Productions: Watermedia Collage Workshop by Carrie Burns Brown)
Paints (Golden)
Gesso (Golden)
Soft Gel Medium (Golden)
Glitter Glue (Ranger Stickles)
Mirror, & Chipboard (Bazzill/Heidi Swapp's Creative Escape)
Brad (Karen Foster)
Flowers (Cut from Halmark Card)
Tissue Paper (Walmart)
Rub ons (Hambly Screen Prints)
Ribbon (Personal Stash)
Canvas (Hobby Lobby)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner, K&Company)

Before I started my projects, I actually spent a day coloring and crafting all of my tissue and rice papers so that I would have a large selection to choose from when I started creating. At first I was a little worried that the painting process might be a little to time consuming, however after I laid out my tissue and rice paper and got started I quickly realized how easy it actually was. In fact, I ended up having an amazing time just painting all of my papers and it was quite hard to stop myself because I just wanted to keep creating more! The only time consuming part was waiting for the papers to dry, but if you make a bunch all at once as Carrie suggests, then after they dry you end up with a ton of gorgeous papers that you can use on several different projects.

For my second project, I wanted to focus more on how someone might incorporate these lovely personalized papers on a scrapbook layout. I cut up four different papers I had created into strips and then wove them together and adhered them to cardstock. I matted a larger sheet of colored rice paper and then adhered the woven strip design and a matted picture. On the DVD, Carrie talks about how sometimes you may prefer the top of the colored papers, or you may like the look of the bottom slightly glossy side of the paper. On this layout I used the slightly glossy backside of my papers. I used my finger to spread glitter glue all over the blue background paper and combined with the glossiness of the paper it really added an awesome dimensional feel to the overall design.

Title: Soda Pop Princess
Products used:
Inspiration (Creative Catalyst Productions: Watermedia Collage Workshop by Carrie Burns Brown)
Paints (Golden)
Gesso (Golden)
Soft Gel Medium (Golden)
Rice Paper (Loew Cornell)
Glitter Glue (Ranger Stickles)
Chipboard (Heidi Swapp)
Glitter Brad (Making Memories)
Pen (Staedtler Triplus)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

Right after I watched Carrie demonstrate how to sandwich fibers in between the tissue I knew I wanted to give it a try. I did not have artist tissue paper to work with as recommended, so I placed 2 sheets of regular tissue paper on bottom, created a grid like pattern using some thick hemp cording, and then placed 2 more sheets of tissue paper on top of that. I spritzed my paper with water and then painted it using a mixture of Quinacridone acrylic paint, water, and gesso. I was absolutely thrilled with the results and I thought this specific paper was so striking that I simply just trimmed off a large square and adhered it to a 12x12 sheet of cardboard. I wanted to create a wall hanging so I added an extra large butterfly transparency, a couple of embellishments, and then used a yellow glitter pen to accent the lines around the hemp cords.

Title:Simplicity
Products used:
Inspiration (Creative Catalyst Productions: Watermedia Collage Workshop by Carrie Burns Brown)
Paints (Golden)
Gesso (Golden)
Transparency (Heidi Swapp)
Rub on (Fancy Pants)
Flower (Prima)
Rhinestone Brad (Karen Foster)
Tissue Paper (Walmart)
Hemp (Hobby Lobby)
Pen (Sakura Gelly Roll)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

What I liked most about this DVD, was that you can take all of the wonderful techniques Carrie teaches and use them in multiple ways on a variety of projects. For example, although I loved the look of the collage pieces Carrie put together while instructing, I wanted to create projects that were more influenced by that of a scrapbooker. I wanted to incorporate everything I had learned and apply it to my scrapbooking creations. Of course I definitely plan on creating more papers, and making collages of my own in the future because I fell in love with the whole process. When I first saw the DVD, I thought I was just going to learn how to put a collage together, but what I ended up learning from this DVD was so much more and I am truly thankful for the experience and gained knowledge! If you are interested in learning how to create your own stunning papers, and learning more about working with paints and multiple acrylic mediums, then this DVD is a must!

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Review by Chris

Two hours of creative inspiration – that’s what you’ll enjoy when you watch Carrie Burns Brown as she creates amazing pieces of art in Creative Catalyst Production’s new DVD: Water Media Collage Workshop. In this DVD, Carrie instructs the viewer in creating gorgeous and unique collage pieces from start to finish. Some of the techniques included are creating palettes of color harmony using just three primary colors, using paint to create papers or to personalize purchased materials to suit the individual project and final project presentation. Carrie brings many years of training and experience along with a passion for her work to this outstanding DVD.

The main thrust of the DVD, aside from creating unique water color collages, is creating personalized, hand-colored papers using tissue paper and other “found” items. Carrie demonstrates how to create a wide, yet harmonious, color palette using just three primary colors: red, blue and yellow along with white and black. I know many of us learned this principle in elementary school, yet Carrie brings it to a new level through the use of shades of color and the addition of various texture mediums to add depth and dimension to the paints and the final projects.

After watching the DVD and noting certain sections which I wanted to re-visit, I was excited to get started. To begin, I created several sheets of hand-colored papers, using several of the techniques demonstrated by Carrie in the DVD.

These three images represent some of the papers I created using art-grade white tissue paper. I painted one sheet with black gesso on both sides, creating a soft, flexible paper with the feel of leather. Another sheet has pieces of twine embedded between two layers of tissue paper. Two are multi-colored sheets which can be torn and cut up as I wish. Another sheet was created by laying a piece of white tissue paper on top of one painted with black gesso, and pulling it off. The “pull off” leaves areas of white which can later be painted.

My first project was actually my most ambitious – a multi-colored canvas. I used one of my hand-painted sheets which I had embellished with metallic paint to cover the canvas. I added painted designs using different found objects (a spritzer bottle cap and a pencil eraser), along with some 3-D embellishments and letter stickers.

Sparkle Canvas
Products used: Inspired by Carrie Burns Brown’s Water Media Collage Workshop DVD by Creative Catalyst Productions
Gel Medium and Acrylic Paints (Golden)
Stickles (Ranger)
Letter stickers (Making Memories)
Punch (EK Success)
Canvas

I used another sheet of painted tissue paper as a background for a card. I layered on a small transparency, some mesh and an old photo to complete the collage.

Be True card
Products used: Inspired by Carrie Burns Brown’s Water Media Collage Workshop DVD by Creative Catalyst Productions
Gel medium and acrylic paint (Golden)
Mesh (Magic Mesh)
Transparency (Magic Scraps)
Stencil (Stampers Anonymous)
Adhesive (Ranger, Glossy Accents)

Finally, I collaged the cover of a photo album, using torn strips from a variety of hand-painted tissue paper. I tied some beads on the ends of the embedded twine and stamped images on top of the papers. Some rick rack and a design of Mizuhiki cord completed this project.

Photo album
Products used: Inspired by Carrie Burns Brown’s Water Media Collage Workshop DVD by Creative Catalyst Productions
Gesso (Bob Ross, black)
Paint (Golden fluid acrylics)
Stamps (Tim Holtz; Inkadinkado)
Ink (Ranger, Adirondack pigment, pitch black)
Metallic Paint (Liquitex, bronze)

Although I enjoy collage, I don’t consider myself very good at it. Part of my difficulty lies in the selection of colors and materials. Creating hand-painted papers allowed me to create exactly the colors I wanted and to add the depth and dimension I desired. In this DVD, Carrie inspires the viewer to create custom products from a limited supply of materials. Carrie's teaching style is logical and sequential; her voice is soothing, which at times was actually an inhibiting factor in my being able to pay attention. I found that if I took frequent breaks to stand, walk around and get something from the kitchen, I could re-focus my attention to the DVD. Carrie always offers her ideas as suggestions only, encouraging the viewer to choose their own materials or ideas. She also offered a number of alternative suggestions through-out the DVD, to encourage individuality in creating the personalized papers or collage projects. I know that I will be referring to the techniques shared in this DVD time and again for inspiration in my art.

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Review by Tammy

Since 1993 Creative Catalyst Productions has been bringing artists, with a desire to teach, into our homes. Creative Catalyst Productions is fully equipped with professional digital equipment and a guest room for the artist to stay while taping over the 3 – 5 day period. Carrie Burns Brown is just one of the many artists who have had the pleasure of filming her artistic talent at Creative Catalyst Productions.

Carrie Burns Brown is a native of Georgia who now resides in South Carolina. Ms. Brown has studied art it seems most of her life and has "painted, exhibited and conducted classes from South Carolina to California by way of Greece for thirty years." She had studied art at several universities throughout the country along with an extensive teaching career at the Greenville Museum School of Art, Grand-Strand Springmaid Beach Workshop, and most recently she has joined the teaching staff of White Rock Summer School of the Arts, White Rock, B.C., Canada.

Carrie Burns Brown is recognized for her water media collage and the reason that collage has recently regained popularity in the artistic world. Ms. Brown loves to create new textures and designs in her collage work and will show you how easily this can be done on her Water Media Collage Workshop DVD.

Carrie Burns Brown begins her 2 hour DVD workshop by explaining Color Families. I found this segment to be the most helpful and one that I will be able to use in all of my artistic endeavors. With only three basic acrylic colors, red, blue, and yellow, Ms. Burns teaches you how to easily create a rainbow of colors, tints, and shades.

By diluting your acrylics with water you get beautiful transparent colors and when adding white Gesso to your color you will get tints and black Gesso will give you shades. By combining two acrylic colors such as blue and yellow you will then get various shades of green depending upon the amount of water and whether you have added white or black gesso to your combination.

Carrie Burns Brown goes on to explain how some of the most beautiful papers she has purchased are light sensitive and fade over a short period of time. This brought her to the realization that she could create her own papers using acrylics such as Golden or Liquitex and when applied to artist grade tissue paper she could achieve any color and/or texture that she could imagine. Ms. Burns demonstrates how to stain the papers and also create interesting textures using household items such as coffee grounds, newspaper, and string, and light bulb boxes.

Ms. Burns continues to demonstrate her abilities to make beautiful art out of simple everyday supplies by texturing paper using Gesso. Of course she doesn't leave it there, she then demonstrates how to stain the textured Gesso paper which in my opinion, looks like a beautiful piece of art in itself. She also demonstrates a unique way of making her own stamps from cardboard and how to stain and create beautiful textures on rice paper.

After reviewing the Water Media Collage Workshop DVD by Carrie Burns Brown, I was ready to begin creating my own papers, textures, and collages. Once my papers were stained I began creating my collage by applying various tissue colors using Gloss Medium.

Once the background on my canvas was complete I added my heavier textures and since I am a scrapbooker at heart, I added a photograph as my focal point on this collage.

Title: Friends Collage
Products used: Water Media Collage Workshop DVD (Creative Catalyst)
Canvas (Coloron)
Acrylic Paint (Golden Acrylics & Liquitex Acrylics)
White Gesso (Golden)
Black Gesso (Bob Ross)
Gloss Medium (Winsor & Newton Galeria)
Tissue Paper (Hobby Lobby)
Stickles (Ranger)
Journaling Card (Pink Paislee)

I loved the look that I achieved with layering the different stained sheets of tissue paper and I thought they would be even more beautiful if I could reflect light through them somehow. Years ago I would create vellum lampshades to fit over wine glasses and I remember them being so radiant especially at night when the tea light was lit. I decided to see how well the tissue would adhere to the vellum. I noticed that the Gloss Medium was causing the vellum to warp so I waited until the piece was dry then ran a warm iron over the back of the vellum and it flattened out very well. I then added some Stickles to my lampshade for texture and shimmer.

Title: Tea Light Lamp
Products used: Water Media Collage Workshop DVD (Creative Catalyst)
Vellum (Paper Studio)
Acrylic Paint (Golden Acrylics & Liquitex Acrylics)
White Gesso (Golden)
Black Gesso (Bob Ross)
Gloss Medium (Winsor & Newton Galeria)
Tissue Paper (Hobby Lobby)
Stickles (Ranger)
Lampshade Pattern (Mirkwood Designs)

Ms. Burns demonstrated how to create additional depth and interest to her papers by using either homemade stamps or purchased stamps. She also suggested that an archival quality ink be used when stamping on the papers. I decided to try this technique on the stained newspaper.

Products used: Water Media Collage Workshop DVD(Creative Catalyst)
Tissue Paper (Hobby Lobby)
Adirondack Pitch Black (Ranger)
Stamps (Club Scrap & The Angel Company)

My original intent was to create a card but as I began working on the cardstock that I had previously painted and textured with black Gesso, my project began taking on a different artistic flair. I continued to add color and then a few pieces of tissue and textured papers along the way and my background seemed to become a collage of its own. I finished the piece by adding some stamps along with Stickles and my background was now a piece of art in itself. While I see many opportunities to create smaller pieces of art within this collage, I think I am going to keep it for awhile and just admire it.

Title: Collage on Gesso Paper
Products used: Water Media Collage Workshop DVD(Creative Catalyst)
Acrylic Paint (Golden Acrylics & Liquitex Acrylics)
White Gesso (Golden)
Black Gesso (Bob Ross)
Gloss Medium (Winsor & Newton Galeria)
Tissue Paper (Hobby Lobby)
Stickles (Ranger)
Stamps (Club Scrap, Inkadinkado, & Sugarloaf)
Adirondack Pitch Black (Ranger)
Encore Metallic Copper (Tsukineko, Inc)

Throughout the Water Media Collage Workshop DVD Ms. Brown encourages the viewer to use art tissue paper but I was unable to find it locally. Ms. Brown stated in the workshop that is okay to use gift wrap tissue as an alternative as long as it is strong and lightfast. Since gift tissue was readily available this was the product that I chose to use throughout my review. I did find that the gift tissue paper that I was using would tear easily so I used an extra light touch when applying the stain and had much better results. If you would like to purchase the Art Tissue you can visit Carrie Burns Brown's store at the Creative Catalyst Productions website.

Carrie Burns Brown's instructional DVD makes you feel as though you are sitting in the room with her as she creates her many stained pieces of tissue and other products. I only touched the surface of what Ms. Burns taught on her DVD and I am looking forward to continuing to explore the world of Water Media Collage.

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Review by Stephanie

Have you ever wanted to take a class, but couldn’t find the time to do so? Have you ever wanted to learn a new technique, but couldn’t find anyone teaching a class locally? Have you ever taken a class and just did not get enough information? Have you ever wanted to get additional information from an instructor about the techniques taught in class? Have you ever wished you could take a class on your terms, on your time schedule and in a location that is comfortable for you? Well, have I got some great news for you! The Water Media Collage Workshop by Carrie Burns Brown is an awesome DVD from Creative Catalyst Productions Inc. This instructional DVD is filled with lots of information, instructions and techniques that you can watch, stop and replay over and over again! How awesome is that – learning new techniques in the comfort of your own home, in your pajamas if you desire, pausing and restarting whenever you want to. And, the wonderful part of this home study course is that you can follow right along with Carrie as she teaches the techniques.

As I am new to craft DVDs, I did some research on Creative Catalyst Productions Inc. and discovered that they have been creating art instruction videos for about 15 years. Where have I been? Creative Catalyst Productions provides artists with a way to share their creative knowledge through DVDs. Crafters then have access to the artist’s work on a DVD to watch and review on their own time schedule. At costs ranging from $29.95 - $39.95, these DVDs can provide crafters an awesome opportunity to learn new techniques at an affordable price and in the comfort of their own homes.

This video is approximately 2 hours in length and is broken down into various classes making it very easy for you to understand what Carrie is teaching. Carrie teaches the art of color choices, making colors work and using collage as an effective piece of artwork. She makes it very easy for you to just take out paints and play. She also teaches you what to look for and how to incorporate different elements into your work.

My first project was an Art Journal. Watching the DVD and following along with Carrie, I painted tissue paper. The varying colors were created by adding water or gesso until I had a color I liked. Once dry, I worked with the tissue paper, tearing and layering until I was happy with the results. I then adhered the tissue paper to chipboard with Liquitex Gloss Medium, which Carrie recommended. Once the project was dry, I gently sanded the edges and then used stamps to add some additional creativity to my journal. Because of the design of the tissue, the stamps did not fully cover, but I absolutely love the result. This is creativity at its best!!! A vellum quote became the focal point for my journal and I also attached that with Liquitex Gloss Medium. I was a little alarmed at first because I initially experienced some bubbling; however, once the vellum dried, the bubbling disappeared. I then took 12 business envelopes and bound them with the chipboard covers to create an Art Journal which will hold miscellaneous quotes, items of interest and bits of information I may wish to use in upcoming projects.

Title: Art Journal
Products used: Tissue paper (craft store)
Paint (Golden)
Gloss Medium (Liquitex)
Stamps (Donna Downey)
Ink (Staz on)
Quote (Flair Designs)
Binding (Zutter Bind-It-All)

Next, I wanted to alter some chunky wood letters I had found. I painted the letters brown, then using the same process as noted above, I layered strips of painted tissue paper on my letters until I had the desired result. Once I was satisfied, I coated the letters and tissue with Liquitex Gloss Medium and allowed them to dry. Sanding the edges got rid of the left over tissue papers.

Title: ART
Products used: Letters (MPI Wood)
Tissue Paper (craft store)
Paint (Golden, Delta)
Gloss Medium (Liquitex)

My next project entitled “Friends” uses the same process as noted in my previous projects, but I incorporated some corrugated paper and leaves. I used Liquitex Gloss Medium to adhere these additional elements. Finally I painted the edges of a piece of acrylic and attached it to my background collage with ribbon. Adding a photo and some rubons completed my wall hanging.

Title: Friends
Products used: Tissue Paper (craft store)
Paint (Golden)
Corrugated Paper (The Paper Company)
Rubons (My Minds Eye)
Gloss Medium (Liquitex)
Other (Ribbon, Acrylic sheet)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

I loved this DVD and enjoyed watching Carrie at work. This is one DVD I would recommend without hesitation. It was very tastefully created, full of useful techniques and information and I loved following along with Carrie in the comfort of my own home! Each time I play the DVD, I find something new I want to try. I would highly recommend this DVD – it’s a definite must have for your creative collection.

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Review by Pomaika`i

Creative Catalyst Productions is a husband and wife team that produces many art instruction videos. Their website states that "the products are professional quality art teaching videos, beautifully packaged for top quality presentation and designed to provide students with an exceptional art learning experience second only to attending a seminar."

I was interested to read about the making of these videos. Each artist prepares their own "workshop," pays their own way to the Creative Catalyst Productions studio, then from the moment they arrive at the studio/home are treated as guests for the 3-5 days it takes to film. Artist receive royalties from the DVD sales as well as other benefits. What a great way to benefit both artists and students by creating a video workshop, a convenient alternative to books or attending a costly workshop.

I was assigned to do a review on "Water Media Collage Workshop" by Carrie Burns Brown. Um...I don't paint, I don't do collage very well, even in my altered art experience, this is a style I struggle with. This workshop is suitable for all levels (good, since I have no experience in this). The DVD came packaged in a transparent plastic folder with a full color DVD case insert. There was a pocket for the DVD and envelope so that it was held securely. The art shown on the cover was gorgeous, but served to intimidate me a little because, I don't consider myself a "fine arts" type. What on earth was I going to do, I braced myself for a hard time ahead.

I started watching the DVD right away. I was sure that I needed the whole month to get this review done. I was very worried, but the moment I started watching the DVD, Carrie Burns Brown put me at ease with her down to earth style and clear instructions. It is clear she has a gift for teaching as well as a passion for creating her collages. I love the format of DVD much better than a book because sometimes I have difficulty translating written instructions into doing. With this DVD, there is no doubt about techniques, everything is shown in living detail.

Water Media Collage Workshop is a multi faceted workshop. The overall result is a finished collage, but each step in preparation of our materials is a project of its own, and can be used for things other than collage. There are 28 chapters dedicated to the teaching of techniques, one chapter for credits and the last for web resources. Each chapter is on the DVD main menu with titles that can accessed on demand. This is essential for referencing when you are in the middle of a project and have questions.

Carrie Burns Brown covers all aspects collage preparation, from color family information to staining your own paper, creating textured paper, using gesso to texture paper, making stamps, working with corrugated textures, brayer techniques, collage making and more. If you are not sure you want to dive head-first into this medium and don't have tons of money to spend on handmade paper, don't worry, Carrie Burns Brown gives you lots of valuable information for creating your own collage supplies. You probably have most things in your stash already. The only things I did not have on hand were acrylic paints and a paint brush. The chapters on texturing papers and on creating gesso paper are a great alternative to purchasing the expensive handmade papers until you can collect some of you own. I chose that alternative as I do not have a stash of handmade papers and did not wish to purchase any at this time.

Carrie Burns Brown developed her techniques for staining and texturing papers because she was not happy with the colorfastness of purchased handmade papers. I am so glad she did! My favorite chapter was creating string paper. Did you know that you can create wonderful paper with strings inserts very simply? Amazing!

The Water Media Collage Workshop DVD is very professional. From the camera work and editing to the menus to the music, everything is just as advertised. I am not sure how I feel about the video container. I like the flatness of the transparent folder, however since most of my DVDs are in conventional cases, I wonder how I will store this one. I will probably get my own case and transfer it. Not a big problem and I might actually like this flat method of storage better. I'll have to wait and see.

I procrastinated on staining my papers because it requires a fair amount of room to stain and dry your tissue paper. I just don't have that kind of room in my studio (maybe if I cleaned up a little...). I finally commandeered our kitchen floor, the only place in the house that doesn't have carpet (and is big enough). I thought that this process would be tedious. I had never mixed paints before, but I followed the directions on the video and everything turned out beautifully! I could not stop creating different colored papers! This was totally fun! My favorite part was peeling the colored tissue papers off the plastic garbage bags (floor protection). It was so cool!

I found that for each technique I tried, I followed the video instructions and things worked out exactly as they should. Now that's saying a lot for the amount of detail included in the DVD workshop! In addition to explaining her tips and techniques, while she is working, Carrie Burns Brown has a chance to carry on a "conversation" about her thought process, from creating her papers to designing her finished collage. I really appreciated the insights shared.

While I was working on my projects, I found myself going from one chapter to another to reference information on the technique I was doing. One suggestion I have to make the DVD more user friendly would be to have all the steps in a project process in sequential chapters. For instance "Making Stamps" and "Sealing the Stamp" would follow one after another, and "Staining the Paper" and "Removing Dried Papers" would follow sequentially. The chapters are titled, so it is easy to go from one chapter to another, but it takes extra time to go to the menu and search. I think that it would also be nice for continuity during viewing the whole video since I like to see the whole process in order, rather than skipping back and forth between projects. This is a personal preference of course, and does not in any way diminish the value of this video.

My first project was a collage created on matte board. For the collage I used tissue paper that I stained, gessoed and stamped using a variety of techniques from Water Media Collage Workshop and a decorated lightbulb container ("Corrugated Textures" chapter). To create the collage, I followed directions from the "Collage" chapter. I was very pleased with the way my project came out as I had no prior experience with most of these processes!

Title: Collage
Products used:
Inspired by Water Media Collage Workshop DVD(Creative Catalyst)
Acrylic Paint (Golden Acrylics)
White Gesso (Golden)
Gel Matte Medium (Golden)
Black Acrylic (Plaid)
Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Golden)
Pearl Ex (Jaquard)
Watercolor Paper (Strathmore) Tissue Paper (Craft Store)
Stamps (Club Scrap, Queen Kat Designs, Hero Arts)
Adirondack Pitch Black (Ranger)
Leaves (Gold Leaf)
Tassel (Sonnets) Other (Handmade paper, Charm, Feather, Beads, Lightbulb container)
Handmade paper (Unkown)

My second project was done on a large piece of watercolor paper. I cut the completed collage into pieces that would fit my album cover. I created simple collages for the inside covers (not pictured). It was easy to attach the fossil leaves by watching the "Top Layer Details" chapter. My covers were pieces of chipboard in which I punched holes and painted the edges. By following the directions given on the Water Media Collage Workshop DVD, creating was very simple!

Title: Collage Album
Products used:
Inspired by Water Media Collage Workshop DVD(Creative Catalyst)
Acrylic Paint (Golden Acrylics)
White Gesso (Golden)
Gel Matte Medium (Golden)
Black Acrylic (Plaid)
Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Golden)
Pearl Ex (Jaquard)
Watercolor Paper (Strathmore) Tissue Paper (Craft Store)
Stamps (Club Scrap, Queen Kat Designs, Hero Arts)
Adirondack Pitch Black (Ranger)
Leaves (Gold Leaf)
Ribbon (Offray)
Other (Handmade paper, Chipboard, Charm, Lightbulb container)

My last project is a mini collage on a gift card folder. I used my prepared papers and combined them into a collage on the front and inside of the gift card holder. I love the transparent look of the tissue papers.

Title: Gift Card Holder
Products used:
Inspired by Water Media Collage Workshop DVD(Creative Catalyst)
Acrylic Paint (Golden Acrylics)
White Gesso (Golden)
Gel Matte Medium (Golden)
Black Acrylic (Plaid)
Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Golden)
Pearl Ex (Jaquard)
Tissue Paper (Craft Store)
Stamps (Club Scrap, Hero Arts)
Adirondack Pitch Black (Ranger)
Leaf (Gold Leaf)
Gift Card Folder (Creative Imaginations)
Handmade paper (Unkown)

I "enjoyed very much" Carrie Burns Brown's "conversational" teaching style, her skill level and experience and her excellent teaching skills. It was an education to watch her work and very interesting to listen to the information she was sharing. She has a charming way of speaking with wonderful "Southern" expressions that are a bonus.

I can honestly highly recommend Water Media Collage Workshop with Carrie Burns Brown. Not too sure about the $39.95 price tag? Think of it this way. If you were to sign up for a workshop with this same artist, you would end up paying at least $300 for instruction, then on top of it you must pay for your travel expenses and time off from work. If you can't afford a retreat right now, this DVD is the next best thing, and you get the added benefit of being able to watch it over and over again in the comfort of your own home, in your pajamas if you like.

Even if you are not a painter or collage artist, you will learn many skills and techniques that are transferrable to many other paper art areas like scrapbooking or card making. I learn much better from a video than from books, and with the proliferation of You-tube and other video tutorials, I would gather that many other people do as well. If a rank beginner like me can create projects like these in the review the first time out, I would have to say that Carrie Burns Brown is a miracle worker. Anyone can do this! Did I mention that it is addicting too? I created enough painted papers to keep me busy for a long time to come. I just couldn't stop myself. It really is fun and relaxing too! To paraphrase Carrie Burns Brown, I think you'll enjoy Water Media Collage Workshop, very much!

My experience with this DVD has been so positive that I will not hesitate to consider purchasing one of the other DVDs that Creative Catalyst Productions has to offer from a variety of artists and media. You can check out their other offerings at www.ccpvideos.com.

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