I loved the premise and the ideas shared, but...whenever I started reading it, I fell asleep. Literally. The style wasn't engaging for me, and even though I wanted to read it, I found my mind wandering whenever I sat down to it, had to go back and reread, and then got drowsy. ( )

The best book on Artmaking I have found. ( )

Fresh and urgently relevant. 30 years since publication vanish in a moment. Every page is filled with memorable observations and empowering advice. On the surface it’s a book about making art. In reality it’s a book about living your life fully, as only you can. A treasured and trusted companion. ( )

Lending

Art & Fear is one of those books that I keep returning to over and over again. I buy copies to give away like I’m proselytizing for a creative revival. ( )

It was a fine book, I just don't know how much I got out of it ( )

This book on making art (any kind--visual, written, dance, etc.) is excellent. It really made me think about many aspects of art-making.

A great book about the process of making art and the many challenges that prevent or stop artists from creating as well as instructions on how to push through resistance and get the work done. Very valuable reading for a jaded veteran creator who often wonders, "Should I quit?" After reading this book, the answer is a resounding, "No!" ( )

This book puts into words the battles of artists with themselves to continue to create despite self doubt and lack of approval from the world, exploring the question of why artists quit. ( )

If you are an artist in need of setting up a beginning process this is a great book ( )

Short, thoughtful book of insights for artists. ( )

‎"If you're constantly ruminating about what you just did, or what you should have done, or what you would have done ... You WILL miss your life."- Sam Harris

I'm watching Sam Harris | "Death and the Present Moment" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxAI65YMeUI)... and it made me think about this book. Paralyzed by an inability to just create, without over-thinking, over-analyzing, this particular quote is a useful reminder.

The book itself, offers the usual nudges needed and yet continue to be ignored.

Another quote, this one from Siddhartha:

"Govinda looked steadily in his face, with anxiety, with longing. Suffering, continual seeking and continual failure were written in his look. Siddhartha saw it and smiled. “Bend near to me!” he whispered in Govinda’s ear. “Come, still nearer, quite close! Kiss me on the forehead, Govinda.”

Words of wisdom are meaningless; you need to be "kissed" by art, you can't just think it, or use words to explain... you have to physically do it, to understand it.




( )

A must read for every artist and art appreciator/viewer, because "we all get hung up" soon or later on the philosophical and psychological What is art? What was (is) the artist trying to say? How do artists persevere in a world that is obsessed with art fashion? aspects.

Two of my favourite quotes will serve as displays of the intriguing writing style that so captivated me:
With respect to Academia: wherein most prominent graduate students describe themselves as survivors of their formal education: "The thought of working in the art education system ~ either as student or faculty ~ is about as attractive as standing beneath a steady drizzle of dead cats." (p. 80). (Note: any grad student surviving long enough to achieve their degree would probably agree with this).

And:
In reference to artists' worries about funding and achieving solo exhibitions (when straying too far from the innocuous norm), "the American Revolution was not financed by grants from the Crown" (p.68). Perhaps that observation was meant you weren't supposed to be intimidated by societal acceptance, and the authors do go on to suggest strategies for survival.

Aside from some amusing writing, I found the philosophy encouraging and reassuring. Whether you write music, dance, paint or sculpt, there was a feeling of camaraderie and understanding here that I've never encountered elsewhere. ( )

The intention of this book is to help the artist view the work they do, themselves, and the way they go about it, for example “...fears about yourself prevent you from doing your best work, while fears about your reception by others prevent you from doing your own work.”

How letting fears be in control prevents us from being creative. And for some, it stifles the creative process for good. The message on the whole seemed to be, your not alone in fear. It's as if they are holding up a mirror so you can see what the fear does to the creative process, then they help you navigate the obstacles it places in your way.

Subtitled, “Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Art Making” the first observation that stood out to me, “Working in the service of self.” Oh, how I relate to that one. I want to write and create, but the uncertainty and unpredictability weigh so heavy on my mind that I find it almost impossible to pursue this avenue. "Almost" being the operative word since here I am writing.

I think as you read this book you find the insights that pertain to you will stand out and help you recognize the personal stumbling blocks and that you’ll find value in acknowledging and learning from these.

“...doing something no one much cares whether you do, for which there may be neither audience nor reward.” Gee, since you put it that way. I laughed a lot reading some of the observations because it’s a wonder any of us creates anything, and yet we do. Even knowing how impossible it seems to put value on what is a selfish pursuit we do it. I can’t seems to get away from the need to make something, anything, and share it.

I guess I understood everything this book had to offer and in that understanding realized I can’t deny wanting to create and figure out what that means for me. ( )

This is essentially a longer version of Ira Glass's pep talk for making art when you know its bad. Bayles and Orland know that we aren't making art like Mozart, but encourage us to make art (great or not) and to submit to continuing to make art (hopefully with a network of support) for the sake of making art. I'll likely read pieces of this again. ( )

'Art and Fear' is the most concise and friendly companion to anyone trying to define themselves as an artist that I have so far encountered. ( )

I truly needed what this book expresses. Though there are several opinions I did not necessarily agree with, its purpose and importance is not diminished. It is well written and straight forward, a quick read, that is essential to any artists, whether struggling openly or not. ( )

This is a great book for ALL people, artist or not, professional or amateur. What I mean by that is, whether you want to start cooking, gardening, dancing, painting -- WHATEVER! -- it helps give you motivation to do so.

I've always been an artist, having a natural drawing talent from a very young age, delving into my art in high school, then studying art in college. I received my commercial art/graphic arts degree and even though I did not stay in my field (I hated desktop publishing, and would rather create fine art), this book has been of great help to me in pursuing art as a hobby and just for fun.

I love calligraphy/lettering, abstract painting (acrylics & watercolor) & some card-making. I still cannot believe all the notes I took from this book. I highlighted and underlined things on nearly every single page.

There are many examples to give from this book, but 2 things have always stood out for me: The first is the example of the 2 groups of pottery students. One group was assigned to make as many items they could and the other group was assigned to just make one, but it had to be perfect. Of course, the first group succeeded because the more times you do something, the better you hone your skill for it. The other group were completely stressed out at making just that one perfect pot.

Another example is the story of the dancer who was a great dancer, and did it because she loved to dance. She never thought of pursuing it professionally, until her teacher suggested she try out for a position (or something to that). That's when she became terrified of failing and questioned herself. She didn't enjoy dancing anymore because of the pressure to perform for others vs. just dancing for herself.

This story is the same as what my b-i-l experienced as a photographer. He takes great pictures (we call him the family photographer because he always has his camera at family functions). Well, one year, I asked him (via email) if he would take a family portrait for me. I offered to pay him, said we'd work around his schedule, etc, etc. (I wanted him to know how much I'd appreciate it). Well, he never replied. I just figured he was too busy. But when my husband asked him about it a few months later, the bil said he felt he wouldn't be good enough and started to feel pressure. I immediately thought of this book and wanted to share it with him so bad! He was the perfect example of someone who just wanted to do what he did for the enjoyment of it and when I tried to make it "professional", he cowarded. (I never did get the family photo, but I warned him that he'll be hired to do my son's senior pics!) ( )

A short note before I begin my review: I'm neither an art student, nor teacher. But art is still a hobby of mine.
This is the kind of book you should read when you suddenly become unsure of your art. Some things in this book you probably already know and some you might assume. To see them written down in an actual book can be quite reassuring, though.
As for me, this book explained quite a lot of things to me that somehow I already knew at some point. Kind of gave me a confidence boost.
( )

great book. i give to all my artist friends ( )

This book isn't a "how to" manual. It's a book about the fears behind art and artmaking. It discusses the fears and other ways of looking at them - in other words, it helps you to confront your fears.

This book is a MUST for the shelf of anyone creative - be you a fine artist, an illustrator, an animator, a graphic designer, a cartoonist, etc. Even now, I still pull it out from time to time to allay the doubts I have. ( )

With pearls of wisdom gleaned from the writings of such as Conrad and Hippocrates, the authors offer artists (and would-be artists) advice and encouragement to follow a calling that is too frequently thought to be more appropriately a hobby. Though the reader addressed is one who aspires to art as a profession, much of what Bayles and Orland offer is as applicable to any undertaking: "Artmaking [dentistry, plumbing, financial analysis, tree surgery] involves skills that can be learned. . . . Even talent is rarely distinguishable, over the long run, from perseverance and lots of hard work" (p. 3). Liberal doses of unpleasant reality are well balanced with insight and reassurance. Art and Fear is the sort of little book that one might keep about for an occasional dose of comfort and motivation. ( )

The paradox of artmaking is that most artists believe on some level that they are (or should be) exceptional individuals with a unique vision, but also that that vision should be one that most people should be able to identify with. This book does nothing to resolve that paradox, but it does present us with reasons to live with the contradiction (of our own ordinariness and our art's timelessness; ars longa, vita brevis) and go on producing in spite of it. ( )

' What is your art really about? Where is it going? What stands in the way of getting there? These are questions that matter...' A guide for everybody, even non artists as they may see themselves as artists again... It's not just about visual arts, but ANY form of artistic expression. ( )

I stumbled upon a reference in a blog I don't recall, which linked to a post in the blog Coding Horror (http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2008/08/quantity-always-trumps-quality.html). I am a former computer programmer, more a technical than an artsy sort, but the excerpt struck a chord.

(read 2 Jan 2009)