How to be an Artist

by Michael Atavar

HOW TO BE AN ARTIST is a book that develops your creativity and helps you, stage by stage, grow your own creative potential. Michael Atavar draws on his extensive experience as an artist and coach to offer you exercises, tips and extensive lists of choices in order to make your vision real. In three expansive sections, he moves you from beginning an idea, through developing a vocabulary, to working with your own intuitive process. For beginner or experienced practitioner, everyone can benefit from this encouraging and practical volume. Put it in your pocket, it will change your life.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Writing

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2009

Reviews

[Denise みか Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was AMAZING. If you need inspiration, motivation, direction, reassurance, or other such assistance as an artist of any kind, read this book! I won't name names, but there is a similar book I had to read last year as part of a university course and I was very disappointed in it for several reasons. As I grew nearer the end of How to be an Artist I thought repeatedly how it was doing what that other book OUGHT to have. This book hit all the marks, it hit home, and I'm definitely keeping it in my library so that I can reach for it every time I start to feel lost. Perhaps one of the best things this book taught me was that such feelings are natural for an artist and nothing to be ashamed of. All I need to do is keep working and I'll get through every difficulty! Now, I need to go out and buy a little pocket sketchbook so I can start putting some of the tips I read to work...

[Dridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book in a museum’s gift shop and was quite smitten by it: I loved the cover, the small size, and the blurb on the back sounded attractive. Who wouldn’t fall for such a promising book title?

I wouldn’t say it is a bad book but I also can’t say it was great; it actually felt like a lot of filler material towards the second half. I enjoyed hearing about the author’s approach to artistry which is a lot about imperfection and being in the moment, I completely share these values. But I don’t find the book life-changing at all. The author simply doesn’t write “deeply” enough - every chapter just goes a few pages and contains maybe 60 sentences at most. In a way this is fantastic, because his writing is very condensed, but it also doesn’t give me as a reader enough time to ponder on some ideas and to actually make them develop in my brain. (And bear in mind that I was reading this over multiple months!)

I finished around October 2022 but can’t say for certain anymore.

[Calista Caron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contrary to the title, this book does not tell you how to create art, but is rather for people who are already artists, looking to be on the art scene.
The author gives great tips on how to put yourself out there, as well as how to change your mentality +become more productive.

[db · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring and useful book for anyone who wants to create.

[Gemma McAndrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

[Cat Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Atavar is a British multi-media artist and he's written a succinct, invigorating, wise and encouraging book about creative process and life as an artist. All artists face doubts—a natural part of creative process. I particularly like how Atavar sees what we sometimes perceive as negatives as key to the forward journey. He says, for instance, "Not knowing is actually a plus. It means your practice is fluid, still changing." He can be practical and says relying completely on art for a living may well compromise the art. He sees art as a journey to true expression and asks us to be vigorous in our attentions to what we're doing. The book is small, beautifully designed and written in a way that rewards random forays into it. But read the whole book—it's a great companion for the journey.

[Kanaida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've just graduated university and I was struggling with 'How to be an artist' In the real world. But this book made me see things more clearly and feel more confident in what I was doing. Also the list of creative ideas thought out the book really helps with creative block.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful and practical handbook for making art and, dare I say, living life. I carry it around with me like a kid with her favorite blanket.