Introduction
Written by Julia Triston and Rachel Lombard, the title How To Be Creative in Textile art holds a lot of promises. This is surely a massive area to tackle….Can this Batsford published book deliver?
Textile Art, what is it? Can it be defined? This inspiring book deals with the subject as a whole. Consider yourself creative? Or maybe you want to feel more so? Again, this is the book for you….lets dig a little deeper.
Who’s the book for?
There isn’t a rule here. Without giving too much away as regards the content, this tome could be useful for Artists in Mixed Media as well as Textiles. There is a definite Art side to the book. As for the level it is aimed at, it could be understood and picked up by a keen beginner as easily as an established experienced embroiderer.
Content
The book is divided into four parts, each covering one or two chapters.
Part One cleverly leads us by the hand, guiding us, without telling us what to do.
The book is formatted to push us through a step by step process, for example in Chapter Three, we learn about design development, while latterly in Chapter Six, we discover how to finalise our work.
What makes it special?
Personally, I like it when an author opens our minds to possibilities, yet does not force us to repeat exactly what we see; rather we are allowed to personalise our outcomes. I see this as a sign of a good author, one who lets our minds grow.
Ideas…we all need them! On this page we are given a few suggestions, yet they are not hard and fast rules….
Photography
As with many a Batsford book, photography is of a high standard. High pixel imagery, some covering nearly a whole page.
Anything wrong with the book?
It is very hard to pick fault. It will come down to personal preference, as the authors have covered the theme within a relatively small number of pages, which is quite a feat.
My only concern was is there was enough balance between the two authors work and other artists…too many illustrations of one type over another? Personally I don’t think so.
Conclusion
This isn’t just a publication to read once and file away. It is a book to keep going back to, for inspiration or simply that start we all may need at times. The authors have provided a wealth of inspiration, not via their own work alone, but from many other contributors too.
Contemporary? Yes definitely, yet this is timeless and cannot be boxed into a certain age or time period; this is one for now and one for years to come.
Grab your copy and open your mind with How To Be Creative in Textile art.
