Green Guide for Artists

I was so impressed with this book when I thumbed through it at the bookstore that I broke my cardinal rule of checking online prices first and paid book jacket price. Beautifully illustrated in color, this book provides a solid basis for artist and crafters wishing to maintain a more green workspace.

While I paid more for it in a brick and mortar bookstore than I would have online or Kindle, I still couldn't be happier with my purchase. Truly a fantastic addition to my arts and crafts library with wonderful nontoxic arts and crafts recipes and beautiful color images.

Many of the readymade supplies we buy for our arts and crafts business are toxic to use and create a hazard if disposed of improperly. This fantastic book by Karen Michel provides nontoxic recipes for paints and adhesives, gives resources for buying eco-friendly arts and crafts supplies and has an impressive and inspiring gallery profile section. If you want to green your arts and crafts workshop this book is a fantastic resource to add to your arts and crafts library.

You also have to keep in mind that the majority of our customers want to buy eco-friendly arts and crafts items. Using nontoxic paints and adhesive or recycled paper is a big selling point to include in your art and crafts marketing plan. Customers love to hear that you recycle supplies, which of course, is nothing new. We've done this to the extent possible from the start of our arts and crafts business since it reduces our cost of goods sold.

Straight from the kitchen, you'll learn how to make arts and crafts supplies using flour, gelatin, eggs and honey. Plus, if you're not familiar with essential oils, the author gives recommendations for the best essential oils such as lavender and rosemary that you can use in your arts and crafts workshop to retard bacteria and chase away bugs.

One caveat while drooling over the paint recipes: just because they are nontoxic doesn't mean you don't have to take precautions. If using powered pigments, you must wear the appropriate protective gear to avoid inhaling the pigment. The author covers the steps you should take as part of the pigment safety section of the book. The author mentions wearing a dust mask and I recommend seeking protection beyond those clamshell masks that you can buy at the hardware store. In any event, make sure the mask is a NIOSH approved particle respirator.