Customer Reviews

Art Making & Studio Spaces: Unleash Your Inner Artist: An Intimate Look at 31 Creative Work Spaces

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We all wait with breathless anticipation for a new Lynne Perrella book and this one was, as always, well worth the wait. Once again Lynne takes a subject that has been written about before in books and magazines, and instead of merely adding more of the same, she turns the dial to a new channel, gives the subject that inimitable Perrella tweak, and produces a volume that stands alone. This is not another "here's how to make your studio - complete with measurements and purchasing instructions", this is a beautiful, intimate, colourful view into the studios of 31 incredibly creative people.
The photography is wonderful and the layout as well - I especially love that on one page you see a shot of a large area of the studio and then there will be an extreme close-up of a small section of the same shot. It's like being in the studio, seeing something you love and then walking over to get a better look. Lynne's writing welcomes you into each space and makes it come alive. You leave feeling a deeper kinship with the artist -not necessarily knowing the dimensions or location of each closet, but definitely knowing a bit more about their creative spirit. A wide spectrum of the arts is covered; mixed-media, photography, quilting, print making and others. Who among us can pass up a chance to peek into an artist's studio?

I have taken classes from the eight artists featured in this book including the author, Lynne Perrella. But I have been in only two of the studio spaces shown, so before I got her book, I was more than anxious to see what the rest of my instructors' workspaces looked like. I also was curious as well about other artists whose classes I have not taken yet or have heard about in the media.

The "tour" began with the author's studio. As I looked at each artist's spaces through Lynne's and the photographer's eyes, I began to wonder if that my conception/definition of a typical artist's workspace was pretty limited. In this book, the stores and outdoors were considered as extensions of the creative space for some of the artists. One could think of the whole world (including libraries, museums, stores, et al) as one large studio for the creative people.

This book is more like a photo-documentary on the workspaces of 31 artists (one couple counted as two) - twenty-nine artists are residing in this country (USA) and two are in Australia. Lynne's descriptive writings provided personal observations of the space, and also the details on the artists from various fields: quilt making, photography, mixed media, graphic design, landscape architect, book arts, collage, assemblage, sculpture and even antique restoration. I found it interesting that Lynne would include a restorer's workshop as part of this tour - once again, this book challenged me to rethink my preconceived idea on what typically constitutes a "creative" space.

Due to the limitation of any publication, not every nooks and crannies are shown for all of the artists' spaces. Not only that, I know that some of the studios were really not that neat when the photographs were taken. Very few artists would allow anyone to take pictures if their workspaces happened to be very messy, and I appreciate seeing a number of "messy" studios in the book. However, I have been in another one and I can tell you that it is always that neat and organized at all times.

Since there were no artists shown in the photos, I believe that including them in the photos would give us a better sense of the scale and size of their workspace. Some of the studios were not shown as a whole room but as mere glimpses or partial views.

Even though this book was not meant to be used as a reference or DIY book for better organization or creation of a studio space, I was inspired by how these people effectively utilized the limited space to create a truly conducive and supportive environment for their own personal creativity. it is very interesting to notice the various locations of their "laboratories": garage, separate building, basement, backyard and even a barnyard full of farm animals, to name a few.

I would most likely look up other books for more practical ideas on storage or organizations. However, I would go to Lynne's book for more aesthetic inspiration and ideas on how I can make my own creative space that would truly reflect my interests, my style, and my personality.

I waited anxiously for this book to come out and I am very disappointed in its context. The pictures are gorgeous, but that is about it. The 2 magazines, Where Women Create and Studios, give much better information on an artist's studio than the book does. The artist's studio descriptions don't even tell the reader what type of media each artist engages in and could really benefit from some organization. In my opinion, this is not a reference book, but instead a picture book and I am sadly returning it.

I pre-ordered this book a long time ago because I knew it would be beautiful and well done. Yes, I know the author, have even contributed to one (or 2) of her books and several of her collaborative projects in the past, but that does not influence my opinion of this book.

It was everything I was expecting and more. It is a book about artists' studios as viewed through another artist's eyes, intended for anyone who wishes to enter into the mind of an artist. As the title says, this book is an intimate look. It catches what your eye would, details, the trees, not the forest. An artist's studio is the closest we can get into the head of an artist. it is an extremely personal space. Creating and filling a studio is a work of art in itself. The photos are more telling than any words could be. If there were no words I would not miss them.

As the title suggests, this book unleashes your creativity by appealing to your right-brain. If you want a left-brained approach on storage, organization, how-to, tips and tricks, I recommend Studios magazine by Interweave.

I was excited to get this book because I have been collecting books about artists' spaces. This book was disappointing, not only because of the pictures but also because the writing is convoluted. The pictures were mere "pieces" of the studios; and as an English teacher, I would say the text is like Faulkner's--great for literature, tiresome for an art book. If you like books and magazines such as Where Women Create and Interweave's Studios, then I would say that this book is their "Goth" cousin. Many of the articles ask if the artist accepts visitors to his/her studio, but you have to figure out longitude and latitude to know where it is. There are no pictures of the artists, other than Perella. I don't plan to keep it.

The pictures are fabulous, but it's Lynne's writing that allows you to step inside not only the artist's space but also the artist's mind. We all ask the question where did" he/she get that idea"? This book starts to answer that question by showing an artist's most private space and their most favorite objects that they keep closest, or you might say the things they can't live/create without. It's a book you'll find yourself going back to over and over, for just one more discovery into the mind of an artist.

As one of the 31 artist's that are a part of Lynne Perrella's concept I have to say that my space was honesty represented with a thoughtful eye and well chosen words. If you are looking for inspiration, then Lynne's books are where you should turn, she is a master muse and this book is no exception. Careful study of the photos and attention paid to the descriptions of her visits will give you insights into not just the studios but the work that comes out of them.

This book doesn't take you by the hand, tell you what to use for storage and work surfaces or even tell you step by step how people work in their spaces, it shows you gently, like a Sunday afternoon walk. Engage, interact and follow the thought threads that she has woven. It will open your eyes to the possibilites in your own work spaces or studios.

I have poured over these pages again and again and each time I learn something new. I have to say that after some thought and new ideas gleaned, I've made some changes to my own space, picking up the cues from the book and couldn't be happier.

Studios are a very personal space, a reflection of the artist and their work. Through observation you can glean an amazing amount of information when you pay attention. You've received your invitation it's time to open the pages and come on in.

The best book of mixed media art spaces ever! Large photos, lots of detail of art making and studio spaces. I too want to see the artists and their work, but that's another book! All I can say is well done and I want a sequel.

I think this is Lynne's best book yet. Maybe I'm prejudiced because I will soon be building my own studio. I spent hours pouring over all the details in this book. It is so inspiring to see not just the way an artist arranges their studio, but all the little things they collect.
This book is a visual feast and is an artistic inspiration as well as studio inspiration. It's a must for any artist.

This book is filled with rich, luscious photographs of the work space where magic happens for 31 creative folks, and as Lynne explains in her introduction: these rooms are as unique and distinctive as the artists that work in them.