Art & Fear
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From the Author
This book is written by working artists, for working artists
Art & Fear is a book about the way art gets made, the reasons it often does not get made, and about the difficulties that cause so many artists to give up along the way. The authors (David Bayles & Ted Orland) are both working artists, grappling daily with the problems of making art in the real world. The observations we make are drawn from personal experience, and relate more to the needs of fellow artists than to the interests of viewers. Do not mistake Art & Fear for a pop psychology self-help book -- we are not interested in freeing your inner child! This is a book about what it feels like to sit down at your wheel or keyboard, easel or camera, trying to do the work you need to do. Simply put, you have a choice between giving your art your best shot and risking that it will not make you happy, or not giving it your best shot and thereby GUARANTEEING that it will not make you happy. What we have tried to do is illuminate the obstacles you face, and offer some artistic strategies for getting past them. Art & Fear has never been advertised and was never reviewed by a major publication, but it has nonetheless become something of an underground classic in the three years since it was published. Our distributor says it has become required reading for at least a few hundred university art courses across the country. (One painting instructor told us that, over the course of the semester, she reads the entire book aloud to her drawing class as background input while they¹re at work in the classroom studio.) It is now in its seventh printing. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Art & Fear is a book about the way art gets made, the reasons it often does not get made, and about the difficulties that cause so many artists to give up along the way. The authors (David Bayles & Ted Orland) are both working artists, grappling daily with the problems of making art in the real world. The observations we make are drawn from personal experience, and relate more to the needs of fellow artists than to the interests of viewers. Do not mistake Art & Fear for a pop psychology self-help book -- we are not interested in freeing your inner child! This is a book about what it feels like to sit down at your wheel or keyboard, easel or camera, trying to do the work you need to do. Simply put, you have a choice between giving your art your best shot and risking that it will not make you happy, or not giving it your best shot and thereby GUARANTEEING that it will not make you happy. What we have tried to do is illuminate the obstacles you face, and offer some artistic strategies for getting past them. Art & Fear has never been advertised and was never reviewed by a major publication, but it has nonetheless become something of an underground classic in the three years since it was published. Our distributor says it has become required reading for at least a few hundred university art courses across the country. (One painting instructor told us that, over the course of the semester, she reads the entire book aloud to her drawing class as background input while they¹re at work in the classroom studio.) It is now in its seventh printing. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Art & Fear is an easy book to rave about, but it is a particularly difficult book to write about. The authors have chosen their words so well, that it seems as if there ARE no other words with which to talk about this subject or this book. I'll try anyway, fully knowing that whatever I might say surely will not please me as much as what I have read in their pages. And this is part of the message of Art & Fear, one of the lessons to be learned - just do it and learn from it.
Art & Fear is an unpretentious little paperback, written by two lifelong friends who have been artists, as well as other things, for most of their lives. Both of them have their feet firmly rooted in the real world that we all live in (however high their ideas and ideals might fly), and both of them have keen insights into what enables individuals to produce good art and to continue to produce good art, and what stumbling blocks stop many individuals. These insights are of value to artists in any medium whatsoever, and are in fact likely to be of significant value to many individuals who don't think of themselves as artists at all. One doesn't need to be an artist to be struggling with goals that seem beyond your reach and a lack of appreciation from others; it's just a little more pervasive in the artmaking world.
Reading this book is like sitting down with the authors for a long and lively conversation. You'll learn something of them, and something of yourself, and good things are sure to come from it. I've actually found it too good to keep to myself - I'm on my 6th copy now, as I keep giving them away to friends!
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is now a must for all of my art majors. It underscores the messages I give daily on staying focused on internal issues (the process and being honest with oneself)and to not be led astray by external pressures (end product and audience reactions)for justifying the work and defining the self. For those who need to get on track, this is the book for you!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book address the fears that are common to all artists, most specifically why am I not doing my work? It is succint and well written. It is enlightening and comforting while addressing the problems many artists face. It's one of those books you will keep around and refer to again and again for inspiration. 117 pages of great therapy and the right price.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I'm not scared anymore!
This book is fabulous. After 15 years of burying my creativity and feeling pretty lousy about it, I read this in desperation. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Curls
inspiring book
I'm half way through this book but I'm really glad I bought it. I find it strangely inspiring in that everytime I pick it up and start reading I end up getting very inspired to do... Read more
Published 5 months ago by K Mac
OK for visual artists but not writers?
I bought this because I read an article which recommended it, but it wasn't really what I needed. It would be great for painters and sculptors and so forth but I was interested in... Read more
Published 14 months ago by margaretcarroll58
Worth the read
This is a great book, and one that is easy to dip in and out of. I really enjoyed it and found it easy to relate to. Read more
Published on 27 May 2010 by Solas
Keep it by your bed, kettle, anywhere
No matter what your art discipline, this book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered why they are bothering. This is my second copy, so I have one to lend out. Read more
Published on 12 April 2010 by Evelyn Rowland
Art & Fear
A friend recommended this book, glad they did. Easy to read and at the same time good recalibration. A quick way to hit "reset" when I'm stuck in my own personal rut.
Published on 29 Dec 2009 by Basta!
Art and Fear
This is a very accessable and readable book. Not an earnest self-help guide just a pragmatic and at times humerous account of the highs and lows of making any form of art. Read more
Published on 15 May 2009 by mayker
Dense, difficult and discouraging
As a self-taught artist who is often paralysed by terror while painting, I hoped this book would provide practical guidance for knuckling down to work. Read more
Published on 7 April 2009 by eeksqueak
worthy of 5 stars? oh Yes.
An ability to convey the vast majority of conscious and subconscious artistic thoughts in such a concise way is to be marvelled at, a truly great book NOT to be judged by it's... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2001
Every artist should read this book!
This book changed my life. Every art enthusiast, student, teacher, closet artist, and working artist can stand to benefit from the information contained within this book. Read more
Published on 28 May 1999
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