Customer Reviews

In This House: A Collection of Altered Art Imagery and Collage Techniques

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I am a jewelry designer, attempting to branch out, for fun, into mixed media. I was immediately attracted to this book because of the appealing cover, and, additionally, because I am familiar with the authors. Angela Cartwright and Sara Fishburn are already well known in the art world. They imbue beauty and energy into their projects.

I particularly liked the fact that I received a template in this book so that I might design my own house, just like the ones the reader can wander all over, here and there and everywhere, in the world created within this book.

"A Collection of Altered Art Imagery and Collage Techniques" is the subtitle for In This House. However it is much more. If you liked fairy tales as a child for example, you will fall in love with the manner in which the authors have laid out this book.

To begin with, in order to unite the artists who participated by creating individual houses, each house with its separate style and name, there is a map, entitled "Shortcut through the Neighborhood", so you can see where you will be off to.

I sometimes wonder: what is a house?

To me, a house is representative of a person's soul, identity, dreams and hopes. To gather together in a community such as the one these authors present, the work of a number of artists, all designing the art/dream houses they choose for themselves, is an illumination. It is more than just what altered art can be. It is a mirror held up concerning what humanity is, for us to see. It is what we are and can be.

The houses, which are named by each artist, ("A Family House", "The Wonderland House", etc.) unfold from the same template so the reader can see how they are set up and how the designs are arranged upon each one. There are artist's tips and explanations. There are lists of raw materials, such as fluid acrylics, jumbo rick rack, and rusted found objects.

There are many quotes in this book, some of which moved me intensely. Here is one: "home is heaven for beginners" --Channing Pollock.

The illustrations, which are by Alice Scott-Morris, bring everything together in a delightful way. It isn't cutesy, nor is it pretentious. It's a really nice job. A gift from a bunch of super artists.

You have to look long and hard at In This House, even study it, in a sense, for it to impart you all the potential there is has within it. That potential might help draw out the beauty you have within you. It is worth owning In This House, as it is a terrific book with a truly unique and lovely concept behind it.

It was very interesting to see the different styles of each artist. The picts were a very big size so you could see all the details. Some of the techniques used on the houses were explained. There were a lot of tips, quotes, and how-to facts. I really liked how the book was arranged. You got to find out a little bit about each artist and the type of art she does. You can tell that they all have their definite styles. I will keep going back to this book to glean ideas for my own artwork. A lot of the techniques used on the houses can be translated into other types of collages and mixed media art. There is a bonus at the end of the book: a house template and collage images that you can use in your own artwork. The collage images are really nice color images. I can think of lots of things that I can do with that! Whether you do mostly ATCs, fat books, collages, textile art, or other mixed media art, there is something in this book for you!

At last, a ground breakng book in the world of mixed media! "In This House" takes you on a "home tour" unlike any you have ever experienced. The book is your tour guide into (to name a few) a stark, gothic mansion; a nostalgic family home; a French art studio; a crystal like, snow conservatory; a mosaic miasma of photographic delight. After the home tours of 13 innovative artists, you are allowed to peek into their heads and delight in some of the secrets that define their inimitable styles. Alluring photography, enticing artwork, and captivating writing are simply icing on the cake. Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn are to be commended for introducing us to some new talent, as well as envisioning a book that blends art and technique without screaming "how to" instructions at its readers. Purchase your "ticket" to this home tour, and you're sure to fall in love with every house in the neighborhood.

I have thumbed and rethumbed through the pages of In This House. There are only positives as far as the eye can see. The illustrations throughout by Alice Scott Morris are magical, classical, and fanciful. They perfectly reflect the mood of the many houses of this "neighborhood" created by different artists in a variety of ways. As soon as I got a peek into the pages, I had to run to my studio and begin making a house. I loved the textured ones and started putting texture around my collaged, vintage photographs, added colored pencil and paint. It just took off. Then I was back to the book, soaking in more of the wonder. This is an altered artist's dream book. I long to have my friends help me to build a neighborhood, to sew the houses together into a journal of memories.
I can't say enough about how visually enticing this book is. It is totally addictive, in a very good way. I love Angela's and Sarah's neighborhood!

Angela Cartwright, Sarah Fishburn and company have put together a book that is not just for the mixed media/altered art community. It is a wonderful journey through the "homes" of each artist, filled with color, imagination, emotion, imagery and text. It is sure to quickly become a favorite on any bookshelf.

I knew if it was written by Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn it would be a good book. and this book goes way beyond those expectations! It's wonderful! Eye candy! Packed full of inspiration! You will read every square inch of the text and the visuals will greatly inspire you!

Seriously, I do. I want to move to the neighborhood that holds all this magic, wonder and pure talent. Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn put together a magnificent book that will call me back to review the delicious pages for years. The realm of wildly creative artists who took part in this project is fantastic - from Nina Bagley to Lesley Riley, Erika Tyesse to Susie LaFond. Each of these incredible artists produced a vibrant, comfy House, with every detail perfectly captured in top-notch photography. You can't fully appreciate these Houses unless you study the pictures, examining each abode inch-by-inch, until you feel like you are sitting at the piano in Susie LaFond's "Lake House", smelling the luscious whirlwind of scents in the quaint kitchen of Sarah Fishburn's "French Studio", or giggling over the children's antics with Ms. Bea Keeper in Jen Osborn's "House for Naughty Children".

There is absolutely no way to discover all the treasures these Houses contain in one pass of the book - no, this stunning neighborhood of amazing Houses must be visited multiple times in order to get the full experience. This neighborhood puts the Welcome Wagon to shame - every piece invites you in for an intimate peek into each artist's soul. And although each House is as unique as its creator, the neighborhood melds together because the Houses are so in sync.

This is one of my very favorite books - the richness of your experience is further increased with the sidebars present for each House. The plethora of quotes sprinkled throughout the book enhance your journey and make you stop to dream about what your own House would look like. In This House is not only inspirational, but also a how-to book of sorts - with the house template and wonderful art included at the back of the book. The "Guide to the Tool Shed" (Glossary) adds much value to this book - it's a great reference and sure to make even the most novice altered art visitor feel at home. "The General Store" - where to purchase LOADS of cool supplies - is an invaluable resource for those unsure about where to find mouth-watering provisions.

Go for a visit in this beautiful, one-of-a-kind neighborhood - where the homeowners go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. Just make sure you wear comfy shoes!

After receiving my copy of this enchanting book, I knew that I had better set aside some time to devour every little detail. I wasn't able to put the book down until every last delicious page was turned. The oversized pages and super-clear images made it wonderful to take in all the little details that each artist put into their houses. The prose was a beautiful complement to all of the gorgeous eye-candy. Each of the the well-known and talented artists added their own unique styles and techniques. Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn have put together a winner!

I'm not an artist, but due to the circumstances of my life I have seen many, many art books. This one is soooo different from your typical "art" book. Is it inspiring from an artistic perspective? Yes. Does it share really cool technique ideas? Yes. But it goes way beyond that to be a really good, visually fascinating book to read and pore over even for someone like myself who will never use any of the techniques. If you love the idea of home, or want to create a beautiful home, or have ever lived in a house, this book is for you. It's a great gift book, because it is beautiful and can spark conversation about what home means. Highly recommended!!! And I can't wait to see what the authors have in store for us next...

Positively enchanting with it's imagery and chock full of tips and techniques, Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn have put together a page turner that will both inspire and delight the reader to no end! Contributing artists are all top notch and outstanding in their fields making this a wonderfull showcase of eye candy that will have you picking this book up over and over again for inspiration!
In This House ivites the reader/artist in, and once there - you won't want to leave!