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Making Art a Practice: How to Be the Artist You Are
Helping artists catapult into further action, this guide is a treasury of insight and inspiration. Rather than focus on art techniques that build skills or overcome creative blocks through playful activities or writing, this guide walks the artist through exercises designed to develop the personal qualities critical to being an artist in the world, such as courage, the ability to look and see, and connection to the true creative self. This is a hands-on, experiential action book designed to get the reader creating art and exploring a variety of possibilities for being an artist. According to the teachings of this handbook, engagement with art is less about end results or products and more about the self-awareness and competence that frees the artist to seek out and create work that is vital. This is a rigorous programme that allows artists of any skill level to deepen their creative habits and be the best artists possible.
128 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 19, 2015
I hate to say this, it probably is a very good book but I honestly couldn't go any further than the 3rd paragraph in the preface where it says and I quote "We loose our enthusiasm...". For real? OK, I realize I am being petty. I truly did not want that one mistake to ruin it for me, but unfortunately it did take the wind out of my sails in how I approached this book and it did make me "lose my enthusiasm" about it. There is the author, there are editors, yet seriously no one caught this before a zillion copies were put into print? For shame of the publisher! Anyway, I am giving it a neutral rating of 3 stars, because again I am sure the content is actually good if you can get past the mistakes. Note to future authors and editors if you are going to overlook a mistake, at least make sure it is not on the very very first page!
July 28, 2022
So useful and inspirational.
August 25, 2016
This book had so much to offer and I felt encouraged in my forever art journey. So much to comment on, it is a short book but worth the time and effort. I think that the author spoke to my inner critic that tries to convince me that art should be perfect to be accepted or acknowledged. She says the opposite and also gives a lot of good reasons why we don't have to be perfectionists.
May 21, 2021
Great for beginners looking for guidance (while trying to navigate the art world independently).
August 10, 2020
Fabulous book! Full of ideas and inspiration for both growing and developing your own art practice but also one with other.
July 17, 2018
I honestly didn't read it that much just because it's not really where I'm at right now. Lately I have no trouble being creative or getting myself into a creative situation (sketch meet-up, joining a ballroom dance class, shooting film, etc). Also, my photography is more at the business stage where my shoots are motivated by a marketing standpoint in addition to "documenting life" purpose.
This looks like a great book for someone who's always thought about incorporating more art in their life and doesn't know where to start. Lots of great prompts and ideas. I just wanted to write a review so I'd know for the future.
This looks like a great book for someone who's always thought about incorporating more art in their life and doesn't know where to start. Lots of great prompts and ideas. I just wanted to write a review so I'd know for the future.
September 12, 2018
I appreciate that she connected the practice of art with the practice of meditation. She’s convinced me they have a lot in common. She states the creative journey is to “peel away the layers of our personal uncertainty to find the light and strength at our core.” It’s easy to get sidetracked on whether of not what we’re making is any good. But we don’t need to try to judge that. Our journey is the doing, not the judging.
July 30, 2017
3.5
It was good but could have been more in-depth.
It was good but could have been more in-depth.
August 20, 2017
I enjoyed this art book. Gave some very pratical information. Quick read.
January 18, 2020
Stimulating and useful with good insight and beautiful examples of how to start a daily art practice. The principles herein were inspired by the philosophy of yoga practice.
November 8, 2023
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
"SETTING UP / SPACE...
[Creating a work space filled with visual inspiration or music vs. a Spartan environment] We only need to check to see if our environment is lifting us up or weighing us down... Do what's necessary to bring life to the place." (p.31)
"BEGINNING RITUALS...
There are many great rituals - putting music on, writing, drawing, making a cup of tea or coffee, meditating, going for a walk, chatting with an artist friend. Some are simply aural or visual cues that remind us that we're here to work - like the effect the sound of the bell had on Pavlov's dogs... Sometimes, I write about my day's work in a journal, just to be clear. I keep this brief. If I write too much, I use up time and creative energy." (p.33)
ART PRACTICE...
1) Declare our intention to make the art we can and commit to our practice.
2) Explore art-making in all its dimensions, in whatever manner we feel called to do.
3) Work with the mind. Overcome self-limiting and often unconscious beliefs by creating a positive experience that becomes our new modus operandi.
4) Grow our art. We come to know who we are and what we want to do. What do we care about?
5) Connect with the world. (p.16-17)
► The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment's Notice by Todd Henry – creativity, projects, focus
► The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath – peak experiences, insight, connection
► A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Webb Young – creativity, work
► 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School by Matthew Frederick – visual design, architecture
"SETTING UP / SPACE...
[Creating a work space filled with visual inspiration or music vs. a Spartan environment] We only need to check to see if our environment is lifting us up or weighing us down... Do what's necessary to bring life to the place." (p.31)
"BEGINNING RITUALS...
There are many great rituals - putting music on, writing, drawing, making a cup of tea or coffee, meditating, going for a walk, chatting with an artist friend. Some are simply aural or visual cues that remind us that we're here to work - like the effect the sound of the bell had on Pavlov's dogs... Sometimes, I write about my day's work in a journal, just to be clear. I keep this brief. If I write too much, I use up time and creative energy." (p.33)
ART PRACTICE...
1) Declare our intention to make the art we can and commit to our practice.
2) Explore art-making in all its dimensions, in whatever manner we feel called to do.
3) Work with the mind. Overcome self-limiting and often unconscious beliefs by creating a positive experience that becomes our new modus operandi.
4) Grow our art. We come to know who we are and what we want to do. What do we care about?
5) Connect with the world. (p.16-17)
► The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment's Notice by Todd Henry – creativity, projects, focus
► The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath – peak experiences, insight, connection
► A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Webb Young – creativity, work
► 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School by Matthew Frederick – visual design, architecture
June 5, 2014
Making Art a Practice is the latest book to be removed from my bedside. Unfortunately, it is one of those books I now have to place on my wish list to have my own copy.
First off, I believe everyone is creative in some form. It might be not painting the Mona Lisa, but fundamentally I believe everyone is and can be creative. And that we need to use that creativity to achieve balance in our lives.
Cat Bennett, the author, says "Our goal is simply to know ourselves as the creative beings we are and to make the art we're inspired to make. It's never to late."
That's a comfort to me, considering I'm 56!
Bennett outlines five main aspects of the book:
"The first is to declare our intentions to make the art we can and commit to our practice."
Explore art making in all it's dimensions.
By practice, over come the negative and make it all positive.
Growing our art.
Connecting with the world.
While a lot of what is said in the book isn't new to me, such as taking time to view other's work and to draw inspiration from that (artist date - Julia Cameron), there was one thing which drew me right from the beginning - letter of commitment.
While there are 30 practices in the book, the first one was probably the most interesting to me - a Letter of Commitment. You are to write a brief, one page letter to yourself, writing out what calls you right now, what you intend to do, what materials you will use, where will you find inspiration, and how you will begin. Then you put it in a red envelope and put it under your mattress to 'sleep on it'.
There is supposedly some feng shui involved with this practice, but also the act of putting what your goal is, in writing, gives you a direction and purpose.
The book focuses on traditional art forms, but I feel it could encompass just about any endeavor, like writing, sewing, walking. I just need to get a red envelope now!
First off, I believe everyone is creative in some form. It might be not painting the Mona Lisa, but fundamentally I believe everyone is and can be creative. And that we need to use that creativity to achieve balance in our lives.
Cat Bennett, the author, says "Our goal is simply to know ourselves as the creative beings we are and to make the art we're inspired to make. It's never to late."
That's a comfort to me, considering I'm 56!
Bennett outlines five main aspects of the book:
"The first is to declare our intentions to make the art we can and commit to our practice."
Explore art making in all it's dimensions.
By practice, over come the negative and make it all positive.
Growing our art.
Connecting with the world.
While a lot of what is said in the book isn't new to me, such as taking time to view other's work and to draw inspiration from that (artist date - Julia Cameron), there was one thing which drew me right from the beginning - letter of commitment.
While there are 30 practices in the book, the first one was probably the most interesting to me - a Letter of Commitment. You are to write a brief, one page letter to yourself, writing out what calls you right now, what you intend to do, what materials you will use, where will you find inspiration, and how you will begin. Then you put it in a red envelope and put it under your mattress to 'sleep on it'.
There is supposedly some feng shui involved with this practice, but also the act of putting what your goal is, in writing, gives you a direction and purpose.
The book focuses on traditional art forms, but I feel it could encompass just about any endeavor, like writing, sewing, walking. I just need to get a red envelope now!
June 27, 2022
Loved this book! I savored it slowly and will be using it to propel me in the coming months to stretch my art skills.
February 7, 2015
This is an amazing book for anyone who is or has ever dreamed of being creative in just about any way. This book is based mainly in the realm of visual arts but would benefit anyone creative who has ever doubted their ability to make authentic creative work.
A powerhouse of positive and inspiring short chapters. I did not put it down once. I have learned more about the authentic creative process from this and Cat Bennet's other book, The Confident Creative than I ever did in my four years of Art School.
Well worth the read
A powerhouse of positive and inspiring short chapters. I did not put it down once. I have learned more about the authentic creative process from this and Cat Bennet's other book, The Confident Creative than I ever did in my four years of Art School.
Well worth the read
December 18, 2013
I was lucky enough to receive Cat Bennett's Making Art a Practice through a First Reads giveaway. The book offers suggestions aimed at grounding an art practice in the now moment, finding one's true artistic self, and diving into the thrills and chills of making art. I'm in my sixties, and that part hasn't grown old for me yet. I'm looking forward to using exercises from Making Art a Practice to up my game, as it were, and break through into another level of expression.
July 18, 2021
A quick but excellent read. This author provided some good suggestions for keeping creativity flowing no matter what type of art you participate in. I marked a lot of suggestions to try out; I really liked the idea of starting an art club (Bennett participates in a Saturday Art Club where they get together on a regular basis for 3 hours at a time to try out different art techniques). This is one I am happy to have on my shelves so I can keep referencing it as needed.
April 8, 2014
This is a beautiful, well-presented book, with many wonderful ideas & suggestions for making a daily,creative practice. However, for me, it was only the last third of the book that I felt was applicable to where I am in my creative journey (thus my 3 star rating). I would highly recommend it though, for someone who is just beginning their creative journey.
November 2, 2019
3.5 stars. Not terrible, not great. Definitely geared towards beginning artists. I found that I have already accomplished most of the pointers in the book. A lot of the sections were really hard to get through because it came across as a lot of rambling and generalities about art and creativity. There are better books out there for this kind of thing.
November 30, 2015
A nice book, full of many great ideas on how to create. I especially like that it mentions the importance of being in the present; I also like that you don't have to read the whole thing at once - you can come back, pick and choose, and there's always a good idea to get you going.
December 27, 2013
A must-read for any aspiring or wannabe artist. This book contains 30 exercises that will cause you to think outside the box. These span through various fields of art - dancing, painting, writing - so that it can be read and re-read by a variety of art disciplines.
April 27, 2015
This book was probably intended for someone who was new to creating art, so it didn't exactly apply to where I'm at. Still, it had some inspiring passages and good advice. I would probably lend this to a new artist, though, or someone who doesn't believe they can be an artist.
February 19, 2022
This is a great book to help get through creativity blocks. Cat Bennett describes the practice of art to the practice of yoga. Something to incorporate into our daily meditative routine rather than a special or occasional event.
January 5, 2014
I would personally recommend this book to any artist to get further inspired to both understand art and themselves as well.
July 25, 2015
I liked this book. Helpful for understanding what the "creative process"is. Good practical advice wether you need a jumpstart or some new ways of exploring.
August 31, 2015
Love this book! Wonderful pep talk for anyone struggling with insecurity or self-consciousness. Will definitely want to re-read this...
November 24, 2015
"sublime pie"
January 2, 2016
Really sweet and thoughtful quick read... encourages and inspires different ways to uncover or unblock creativity.
September 12, 2015
Really enjoyed the ideas presented in this book. Helpful ideas to get creativity flowing again.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews