The Art of the Miniature: Small Worlds and How to Make Them

This is a book any beginner in miniature art should read. Its inspirational, informative and very interesting. There are many pictures in the book which also serves as a visual treat to stimulate and evoke the artist in anybody. The author, Jane Freeman of this book has not only elevated making miniatures as a pure art form but sanctified its stature with her amazing creations. While reading this book, I noticed one thing very special about this book, the author has a talent which lures us to look at everything in life with the creative eye.

...and this is the true strength of the book. Jane Freeman's work reflects her classically trained background and does not sit well with the often twee world of miniature 'craft'. If anyone can bring miniatures out of its association with children's toys, Freeman can! This book showcases the work of Freeman and other artists who work in miniature form in brilliant photographic colour and quality on every page- not a single, irritating and pointless black and white among them. I turn to this book when I feel the need to be 'freed' from the conventions of miniatures, namely expense, scale, and realism in the traditional sense of the term. Freeman's talent for producing the essence of what is most important in life is second to none in the miniatures world, and her flair for finding alternative uses for rubbish is ingenious. My work took quite a different turn after the influence of Freeman, from heirloom creations of the Australian past, to scenes of my own life which actively engages the onlooker by requiring their interpretation. This was my most expensive miniatures book purchase, and one of the most valuable. Highly recommended.

Jane Freeman works mainly from found materials and transforms them into wonderful miniature worlds, mainly roomboxes. Many of her works are in private collections as well as museums. I've learned many techniques from her earlier publications in miniature magazines and this book was a bonus, both for her ideas and I wondered why she wasn't publishing anymore in what used to be known at Nutshell News, now Dollhouse Miniatures. I believe her artistic ability transcends miniatures and as one reviewer said "this book is candy for the eyes". Yes, I am interested in miniatures and this is a "must have" for the miniaturist.

Even if you're not into dollhouses or miniatures (which I'm really not), you should check this book out. It's amazing what the artists in this book have come up with--scenes elevated to extraordinary. There is a room box for every taste, from recreated and reinterpreted Van Gogh and Matisse paintings to office cubicles and Chinese restaurant facades. There are more traditional rooms like kitchens and bathrooms, but there are also diners, dentists' offices and even a funky Frida Kahlo house. Are the projects intimidating? Mostly. Are they inspiring? DEFINITELY. There are fantastic things that spark ideas in here, even if you have no intention of ever making a room box yourself. It's a great book to peruse if you're interested in collage and assemblage, and if you like miniatures there are all sorts of directions and ideas for how to make something out of virtually nothing. When I bought this and showed it to a friend, she looked at it and said, "That's...creepy." She meant it in the best possible sense--this stuff is so realistic you can't imagine someone made it. BUY THIS BOOK! It's a lot of fun, even if it is sort of creepy.