Prepare the way with posters by Yvonne Coppock

Reviewed by Jacqui Hicks

Prepare the Way with Posters is much more than just a book about posters. Written and illustrated by Yvonne Coppock it is a valuable tool to attracting attention toward your church, but will make you think as well.

The blurb on the back of this book says 'Anyone can create eye-catching posters which will attract attention and stimulate interest in your church and its events'. This book is so much more than a 'how to' book. Yes it does explain how to make posters but it packs an awful lot more into its 156 or so pages.

Firstly the book is split into three sections. Part one is the 'Why?' section ... Why make a poster?  What is a poster?  Why involve the church? etc. The second part is the 'How?' section ... the idea, message, planning, materials and display etc. The third is the Resources section - not a couple of pages as in so many books but pages and pages of where to buy, where to find equipment, where to get materials, books and computer resources.

This book is such a useful one to have, to assist with inspiration for general display as well as posters. Yvonne has illustrated the book with 175 drawings, there are cartoons by Elizabeth Luxton and also over 46 full colour photographs by Richard Dorey.

What is good about this book is that it neither overwhelms you with difficult instructions as a novice nor does it insult your intelligence as a more experienced artist, Each page is stuffed with ideas of how you can take that suggestion forward and make it your own, for instance under collage there are twelve sub-headings for using different types of paper, each with multiple ideas not only on how to use the paper but the biblical themes these might be helpful with. So if you've wondered about flexible curves, waterproof coatings, resist techniques or simply, How do I start? then this is the book for you.