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Living the Creative Life: Ideas and Inspiration from Working Artists
How DO they do it? If you could ask your favorite artist or crafter only one question, chances are you'd ask about Where do your ideas come from? How did you get started? What are your tricks for overcoming blocks? In Living the Creative Life , author Ricë Freeman-Zachery has compiled answers to these questions and more from 15 successful artists in a variety of mediums—from assemblage to fiber arts, beading to mixed-media collage. Creativity is different for everyone, and these artists share their insights on the muse (if you believe in her), keeping a sketchbook (or not), and prioritizing your art, whether you aspire to create solely for your own pleasure or to become a full-time artist. No crafter or artist should live the creative life without Living the Creative Life ! The inspiration is contagious.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
27 people are currently reading
1749 people want to read
About the author
Ricë Freeman-Zachery
10 books25 followersRicë Freeman-Zachery lives in Midland, Texas, because the weather is warm and the mortgage is cheap. Her name rhymes with “Lisa” and no, her hair is not naturally orange. She's been writing since she was five and she 1) got her first diary and 2) her daddy taught her how to print in all capital letters, much to the later chagrin of her elementary school teachers. Her fourth book, Creative Time & Space: Making Room for Making Art, is currently on its way everywhere. Her day job is interviewing and writing about artists for a variety of magazines. She’d be ever-so-happy if you’d stop by and visit her and her friends at voodoonotes.blogspot.com.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 6, 2009
June 27, 2008: I opened this book tonight and have not even read much of it yet but I started to cry. Cry because it evoked such a feeling of home for me. That this is truly the art I have inside wanting to come out. The pages are beautiful - truly inspiring.
Reading again: Jan 09
Reading again: Jan 09
March 17, 2010
I was perusing in the bookstore (not looking for a book on this subject matter or anything in particular) when I came across this book. First, I had to pick it up because it is so beautiful. The artwork and the overall design of the book felt like an inspiration without having even read anything at that point. Second, as a creative person by nature, I was feeling like I needed a little inspiration.
A few things to highlight:
* I love that the author actually discusses the workspace. I feel that most artistic people feel like they need their workspace to draw out a level of creativity before they can even start a project. Giving the reader things to do to better their workspace (even as simple as a coat of paint) is brilliant.
* The journaling section is absolutely fantastic. You can use this to inspire your other art, or actually make the journal a work of art in itself. I found this a great way to jumpstart artistic ideas!
* Photos of other artists' work. Brilliant. I love some of them. Like most of them. Respect all of them.
If you are an artist that is stuck in a rut and needing some inspiration, I highly suggest this book! Or, if you have a creative friend, it would make a thoughtful and well received gift.
A few things to highlight:
* I love that the author actually discusses the workspace. I feel that most artistic people feel like they need their workspace to draw out a level of creativity before they can even start a project. Giving the reader things to do to better their workspace (even as simple as a coat of paint) is brilliant.
* The journaling section is absolutely fantastic. You can use this to inspire your other art, or actually make the journal a work of art in itself. I found this a great way to jumpstart artistic ideas!
* Photos of other artists' work. Brilliant. I love some of them. Like most of them. Respect all of them.
If you are an artist that is stuck in a rut and needing some inspiration, I highly suggest this book! Or, if you have a creative friend, it would make a thoughtful and well received gift.
December 14, 2016
I needed some inspiration and have loved the author's interviews in Rubberstampmadness. The book is excellent, the photos are amazing, and I'm going to read it again some time when my muse is with me. Because reading it while I was muse-less brought up a lot of my art demons. I looked at the photos and everything was so polished and I'd wonder what kind of adhesives or paint they used, but mostly I thought...."I don't think this way. At all. Maybe I really don't know what I'm doing."
March 5, 2009
I'll be honest...normally I detest these kinds of books. Maybe it's because nowadays, they seem to be quite cliquey, the same artists over and over, the same old yadda yadda yadda...but Rice managed to get a nice cross-section of people in on this (unsurprising, really, given her somewhat catholic tastes I suppose) though there are a few of those "familiar names."
September 6, 2018
I was hoping to get some tips on making time for art between my day job, cooking, chores, parenting....Instead it’s about living more creatively by trying to think of chores as a creative act, one example is paying your bills. Really?
March 1, 2022
The imagery is stimulating. I play with paint, paper, glue and love to read about techniques, but am greatly influenced by the images. I enjoy insights into the lives of working artists and tend to scour the Internet as I read - I seek out those presented in the book and learn firsthand from their websites. This one will remain on my studio shelf to be perused on occasion - a stimulating apetizer when I need a boost. - GInn
May 4, 2020
It has a lot of fluff about and from the authors and not a lot of how to or journal prompts.
June 20, 2022
it's a wonderful book, i love it, really good book, I highly recommend it
March 10, 2009
What this book has going for it is the direct comments by the artists that Freeman-Zachery interviewed. They were honest and not in the least bit interested in romanticizing their lives as artists. I didn't love the art that some of them made, but there were a couple of artists whose work got me intrigued and sparked an interest in exploring some media that haven't appealed to me before. There are some gems scattered through these pages, and since I read it mostly on the bus or standing at bus stops, I didn't write any of them down -- I'll have to take it out of the library again and re-read one day.
It didn't make it to my "purchase" list for two reasons. Although the book pays lip service to the idea that people can be creative in many different ways, it has a somewhat condescending tone towards creative efforts that don't fall into the fine arts category. The comment that "craftiness is where you see something in a book or magazine and figure out how to do it yourself" almost got the book sent back to the library before I got through the first chapter.
I also found the design of the book to be seriously annoying. Note to book designers -- don't use small, fine, italic type set against murky/dark patches of color -- not even as a way to distinguish sidebars from regular text!
It didn't make it to my "purchase" list for two reasons. Although the book pays lip service to the idea that people can be creative in many different ways, it has a somewhat condescending tone towards creative efforts that don't fall into the fine arts category. The comment that "craftiness is where you see something in a book or magazine and figure out how to do it yourself" almost got the book sent back to the library before I got through the first chapter.
I also found the design of the book to be seriously annoying. Note to book designers -- don't use small, fine, italic type set against murky/dark patches of color -- not even as a way to distinguish sidebars from regular text!
June 17, 2010
The format of this book surprised me more than anything. I expected a chapter on this and a chapter on that all neatly organised into little sections (especially given how public Rice is about her preference for order) as this is how most books like this are set out.
But it reads more like sitting round a table with all the people in the book, with Rice guiding the conversation and everyone chipping in their point of view when they have something to add.
It's one of those books that, 3 pages in, you decide you really ought to grab a pencil and paper and start making notes lest you forget that really good idea you just thought of when you read that page. It points things out to you that you already know, but rarely take note of and adds some fabulous ideas for actually doing things instead of just thinking about doing things. All from real, live working artists, who fit every genre - self employed, working mums, bachelors, traveling artists, ones with a studio to work in - you name it, it's covered. And Rice really knows her subjects too. She takes the time to find out what makes them different and then pulls that information out in a very skillful way. There's no lengthy diatribes about what she thinks, she just links the ideas together into a cohesive whole.
But it reads more like sitting round a table with all the people in the book, with Rice guiding the conversation and everyone chipping in their point of view when they have something to add.
It's one of those books that, 3 pages in, you decide you really ought to grab a pencil and paper and start making notes lest you forget that really good idea you just thought of when you read that page. It points things out to you that you already know, but rarely take note of and adds some fabulous ideas for actually doing things instead of just thinking about doing things. All from real, live working artists, who fit every genre - self employed, working mums, bachelors, traveling artists, ones with a studio to work in - you name it, it's covered. And Rice really knows her subjects too. She takes the time to find out what makes them different and then pulls that information out in a very skillful way. There's no lengthy diatribes about what she thinks, she just links the ideas together into a cohesive whole.
February 11, 2008
I am still reading this book. Reading this book is like watching The Sixth Sense, you don't catch it all the first time. Each chapter is broken into sections of a Creative Life...Work areas, The Muse, Processes, Etc. Heck that is enough information alone.
Rice Freeman Zachery doesn't stop there, she loads each page with images and work from several artists who were interviewed in the publication. Perhaps the best addition to the book is the "try this" sections, with little tips and exercises to get your creative energy sparkin'.
Rice Freeman Zachery doesn't stop there, she loads each page with images and work from several artists who were interviewed in the publication. Perhaps the best addition to the book is the "try this" sections, with little tips and exercises to get your creative energy sparkin'.
June 22, 2008
The book has been most helpful in showing me the many paths there are to life as a creative person. The illustrations are beautiful and the comments from other artists of various types is energizing.
Mom
Mom
Read
December 12, 2008Nice comprehensive overview of several contemporary fine artists and crafters and their process.
July 25, 2008
This is another wonderful inspiring book and really interesting to read how the Art-life really is as an artist! I sure loved it!
September 2, 2008
Okay, so "art" is more than "craft" but there's plenty of inspiration for craft in this book about how working artists find inspiration, create their works and let them go. Besides, it's pretty.
December 1, 2008
Interesting from the standpoint of how the various artists organize their time and studio. The work of the artists was too crafty for my taste.
January 27, 2009
You should really take a look at this bookk! this is one of our very good family friends! She is the best author and artist! Check out www.ricefreemanzachary.com
February 27, 2009
Lots of ideas in this one
December 28, 2009
Hmmm...
I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but I was disappointed in this book. The only thing I really liked about it (including most of the artwork) was the little Try This boxes.
I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but I was disappointed in this book. The only thing I really liked about it (including most of the artwork) was the little Try This boxes.
December 28, 2012
Rice is a phenomenally talented lady and this book explores othet great talents. It gives inspiration and something for me to strive towards.
July 16, 2010
This book is very inspriring. It gives great ideas and support from major artists. The book really makes you think about your creativity.
September 21, 2013
A mildly interesting book about Creativity.
August 15, 2011
Not quite what i was expecting...Yes, I the artists are good and some advices are useful but it's really not my type of art.
March 21, 2012
Beautifully designed, and full of inspiring art philosophy.
January 24, 2016
Very inspiring and beautiful to look at too.
September 24, 2012
very motivational
January 25, 2013
Although I don't paint like these artists...I found many of the ideas useful.
April 28, 2013
very uplifting and inspiring book for artists that encourages to think creatively..
March 26, 2020
Inspiring and filled with creative inspiration, regardless of your preferred media or style. This is a book that I revisit frequently... best with a nice cuppa tea in hand.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews