Artistically rich and beautifully photographed, this collection of essays delivered a peek at studio spaces. However, from my perspective, the essays were unsatisfying: many pictures had a staged feel, as if these studios were show pieces, rather than working spaces. I wanted to be inspired with ways to manage my mixed media and textile supplies which doesn't overwhelm my limited space. What I saw were mostly cluttered spaces with very little workspace. There may have been that space, it just wasn't evident in the photo-essays. A few of the photographs had a wider perspective but most of the views were close-ups of whatever engaged the author's interest. This reflected Perrella's interests rather than addressing ingenuity for efficient storage that leaves the space with mental breathing room. And that's just fine, she was curating the manuscript's content, not me. My 3/5 stars reflects my expectation rather than criticizing the quality of the book. ( )

I'm fair green with envy at many of these studios, with their warm clutter, shelves of books, comfy chairs, wonderful worktables, and storage systems. I would have liked to see the artists themselves at work in them, though.