Customer Reviews

Creative Space: The Urban Homes of Artists and Creatives

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Urban Homes of Artists and Innovators infuses inspiration with guided examples for any artist who wants to create art in their living space in the here and now. This book is written for all creative types who aspire to create great art no matter what their current living conditions. It offers short biographies of working artists including photographs of their homes where they live and work. Website addresses are provided for further evaluation.

This is not a book about "minimalism" as the author, Francesca Gavin, so aptly states. Rather it is about the collectible state of an artist's mind where living and creating intertwine in their chosen home. The non-visionary may not be attracted to the more is more philosophy that many artists aspire to as Gavin points out, "blank space with clean lines is an easy aesthetic choice for those lacking in creative imagination."

At first glance the bold typeface used liberally in the book is blaring. But after reading and viewing the photographs, the large, black typeface blends with the smaller copy into a perfectly seamless combination. The book is value-packed with color photographs and extensive copy and features more than 30 successful, worldly artists. Also included is an introduction and city guide along with a pre-introduction front and publisher back inset.

Full-size photographs accompany a one-page biography of each artist. There are many examples and ideas for organizing space to accommodate supplies, collectibles, and found objects--all fuel for creative thought. Some of the spaces are large, some small, some cluttered, some not-so. You will be driven to read and view all of the 207 pages.

The important and underlying theme of the book allows the reader to accept his or her own personal space for creating art no matter what the circumstances. There is a theme of collective thought among the artists presented running throughout the book. Artists are inclined by nature with energy and drive to create. This book fills that yearning partly because it presents unity of thought and habit among creative individuals. I would like to see a similar book published featuring struggling artists in shabby interiors.

There are other books and magazines available on creative space, but Urban Homes of Artists and Innovators reflects in its pages the everyday artist who has made art his or her livelihood. It shows by example that creativity is alive and strong in a homogenized world. You will be inclined to put this book in your satchel to take on a journey where you can steal away some time for intimate reading and dreaming.

Normally I adore eclectic, funky and creative use of space and thought this book would fit that bill. I love all things fun, urban and even kitschy and am always interested to see how artists live and what inspires them. So I was surprised to see how uninspiring and flat this book felt. To be generous I found two spaces worthy of attention. Sorry, I gave the book away and can't remember which ones they were. The rest I found to be very dull. Cannot recommend.