Create Your Life Book: Mixed-Media Art Projects for Expanding Creativity and Encouraging Personal Growth Paperback – Illustrated, December 19, 2017

The media could not be loaded. I don’t usually tend to leave reviews, but this book deserves to be reviewed. This much anticipated and long long awaited book is finally in my paint covered hands!!!! I bought this on pre-order months ago when Tam announced the release of her book and have anxiously been waiting for it’s release. I finally got it in the mail yesterday and I have read it cover to cover twice.I have been taking LifeBook with Tam since 2012 when she first started her LifeBook workshop. If you have been on the fence about taking an online workshop or class, I highly highly recommend taking the LifeBook course for any artist whether you are brand new to mixed media or have been doing mixed media for a while. But this review is about the book now isn’t it?!?This book is awesome from cover to cover with lots of beautiful color, beautiful artwork and easy to follow tutorials of some of Tam’s best works, along with projects from some other wonderful mixed media artists.... Mystele Kirkeeng, Ivy Newport, Effy Wild, Andrea Gomall, Alena Hennessy, and Roxanne Coble. (All of these artists have participated in the LifeBook course over the years) Tam takes you on a wonderful journey of self-love, self-discovery, self-acceptance, and healing through meditation, art and creativity. I love that she touches on supplies she loves use and what supplies will be used throughout the book, but doesn’t overwhelm you or whack you over the head with them.There are lots of step by step photos in the tutorials which will be especially helpful for those who are new to mixed media. For those who have taken any of Tam’s classes will have seen many of the projects she does throughout the book. That said, even if you have taken Tam’s classes, this book is definitely a must have for your art arsenal!!This book will not disappoint!!!! I would definitely recommend it, and I’m even going to buy this book for a few of my mixed media friends!!!

Beautifully illustrated, well-written instructions and multiples of different type of projects utilizing a reasonable variety of supplies. One need not own everything to be able to work these, and some were fun to substitute other materials for variable results. Delightful to read and very inspiring...each lesson is a great, finished project, but can be built upon with the techniques to create more personal projects, and also those with more complexity. Based on a multi-year, thousands upon thousands of artists compilation of the best of the best, it is not a companion for the LifeBook class hosted every year by the author, but is a stand-alone work utilizing the theme. If one enjoys this, they might really like the classes. I am still working my way through the book, having a great time and enjoying the use of bright color and the ease of drawing faces! I own many art books but find this one is the one I reach for when I cannot think what to do next wither on block or in my art journal....I grab it and there is always something inspiring to get me working again. High marks for beautiful illustration, lovely size, excellent design and writing and uplifting, inspiring messages. Kudos!

Wow! I had been lusting after this upcoming book for months! I have been a big fan of 'Willowing' for many years. I have followed her online presence, enjoying her amazing whimsical art style and how she combines her art with a whole-mind-body approach that I really appreciate. When I found out she was coming out with a book I just knew I would be buying it and using it for inspiration! As soon as it arrived at home, I oohed and ahhed over it and even showed my completely un-artistic husband who thought the colors and style of art was awesome, too!Beyond all of the great detailed photographs, Tamara has many project tutorials for the reader to follow along with and take inspiration from. She also has some ideas and input from other fellow artists inside the book which is awesome (I love to see creative women supporting each other!)I am so inspired to begin my new Life Book for 2018! If you are a fan of Suzi Blu, SARK, or Jane Davenport, you will absolutely adore this book! It's too pretty for the bookshelf!

I want to say that this has got to be the best art journaling book that I have ever seen. Each of the different projects have been wonderful. I have done several so far and I have been delighted. Each one comes with a focus but it isn't a lot of writing. It more mindfulness while doing the art project. What I think I have liked most is the experimentation that it encourages. I had most everything the first several exercises called for and what I didn't have I was easily able to get on Amazon. The book is very well written. It is easy to read. It doesn't go into a lot of psychology fix you stuff, just think about your goals, what are you grateful for, easy stuff. There are plenty of pictures with a lot of different options for variations. I have loved all of my products from each project.

Just got this in the mail the other day - I had preordered several months ago and kind of forgot it was coming. I love Tam's work and have taken several of her online workshops. This book is a very good example of her work and I fully plan on working through the projects. The book is colorful and happy. I've browsed through the projects and think this is a good mix of Tam's whimsical style but also has a good blend of more realistic/different style projects presented by other artists. It should appeal to a wide variety of readers/artists/"makers of things". Personally I think I prefer her online workshops, but I can't always keep up with them so it's nice to have a book form of the same idea to work on as time allows (stupid full time soul sucking job and bills and taxes and car that needs new tires).