There are quite a few people who have earned “big” reputations in the paper arts and stamping industry, but there is no reputation as special as Sherrill Kahn’s. She is widely thought to be the “nicest” person in the business, and that description is well-deserved. If you meet her, she is more likely to tell you how pleased she is to meet you, than to expect the reverse.

Nevertheless, I was a little worried about meeting Sherrill. From what mutual acquaintances had told me, I thought there might be a cosmic boom or other atmospheric disturbance. Both of us have something of a reputation for pushing the art envelope - she being the Queen of “What If?” and I being the Princess of “Why Not?”

And so it happened.

Minutes after Sherrill and Joel, her husband, entered our gallery, both husbands had to back up to get out of the way of the sparks, and, nearly two hours later, they had to pry us away from our brainstorming - which had already produced a maelstrom of creative possibilities!

And that’s what Sherrill's book is all about - creative possibilities. It is not a book about taking defined steps to get to defined places, nor is it a loosely constructed send-off to “do your own thing”. Sherrill has created a beautiful balance between instruction and inspiration. She puts unusual tools at your disposal with enough explanation for at least a beginner’s level of confidence, and then suggests projects that can be taken in several different directions - so you can go wherever you want with them.

The first half of the book explores types of paints, inks, and dyes, and the various tools that might be used to apply them to a variety of surfaces: sponging, printing, stamping, brayering, etc. - on all sorts of fabric and paper surfaces. Household objects are included along with the more commonly used art tools.

Each chapter is illustrated with brilliantly colored examples of Sherrill’s own work, both finished pieces and details that demonstrate the result of this or that technique or tool.

And speaking of techniques, the pictures in this book could not be more clear and illustrative, as shown by the examples to the right. It’s almost as if Sherrill is in the room with you - showing you how to do it. And, what I find very inspiring, is that Sherrill uses unmounted stamps from her own exquisite collection of “designer” rubber, so we get to see these great images in action. A wonderful thing about her stamps is that they are double thick and can be used without mounting.

The second half of the book is project oriented - with fun and interesting things to make: coffee mugs, dolls, journals, jewelry etc.. The step-by-step directions are very clear and easy to follow, but lots of latititude is given as well. Usually, a choice of paint type and art surface is available so you may choose what is more readily available to you.

Once you finish with the projects in “Creating With Paint”, you feel enabled to “go forth” and apply some of these painting techniques to whatever may happen across your path, adding your own influence to what Sherrill has shown you. What if you tried using this kind of paint on that kind of surface? What if?