You Might Be an Artist If...

by Lauren Purje

With a BFA, solo exhibitions, and work experience at a New York gallery, Lauren Purje has spent plenty of time in the art world consider this her cry for help.

You Might Be An Artist If... collects several years of her comic strips about the ups and downs of life in the arts. Her wry and relatable sense of humor animates every page, tying together flights of fancy, bitter grumblings, motivational pep-talks, self-doubt, procrastination, and inspiration.

Capturing the moments that remind us why we take art seriously — but not TOO seriously — Purje's comics are a perfect handbook for anyone living the creative life.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Art, Adult, Biography Memoir, Humor

144 pages, Hardcover

Published February 14, 2017

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of cartoons and strips focused on the artistic life, with a sense of humor. I think it is best as it was intended initially, maybe, in smaller doses, like one a day. After awhile the constant jokes about the life of an artist made me smile a little less, maybe, but this is still pretty sweet.

Here's an Interview she does with Matt Santori that features some of the comics so you can get a flavor of her sense of humor. http://www.comicosity.com/interview-l...

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a sock-puppet-esque user tried to defame my review of Creative Companion: How to Free Your Creative SpiritCreative Companion: How to Free Your Creative Spirit , and the author's central premise that artists are all free-spirited magical worry-free pixies, I wanted to explore more realistic portrayals of what it means to be an artist -- and "You Might Be an Artist If..." does an excellent job of showing the joys and lows of being an artist, juggling inspiration and everyday realities, in a series of short one-to-three-page comics. Sometimes funny, sometimes quirky and occasionally disturbing -- did I really need to think about how my artist friends might instinctively break down my body's anatomy? Yikes! Throughout, though, Purje gives a view into her life, emotions, and mindset of being an artist in a world that doesn't always reward the best or most creative works.

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Didn't really grab me. Felt like a LOT of variations on very similar points about what it's like to be an artist. Would have been fine at about a fifth of the length.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this graphic novel - of course maybe that is because I relate to a lot of these pages, but that's ok also.

The only part of the writing that bums me out just a little bit is the hints towards true self loathing - this is however a book about someone and their individual self so I respect that, but not everyone who is an artist is down on themselves. Well, I sure hope not. Maybe I am doing it wrong...?

I want to hug her and tell her she is brilliant and f**k everyone who makes her feel bad!

(oh yes, also truly appreciate the clever placement of the word 'F**k. All good stories appreciate that word ha)!

[Katie P · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was in the mood for comics, but these weren't exactly my type.
Which isn't to say that they're bad, because they are not. The 2 stars reflects my personal reaction and experience.
I'm not an artist, so I don't connect as well as I should to make the jokes/comics work.
Also they're a little sad, because artists can be sad and anxious when their line of work is selling parts of themselves and making it be important and good and meaningful and life altering etc.
But without being an artist it made me a little panicked and not in a good funny way.
Too much pressure for me.

Still read it, they're pretty good

[Krystl Louwagie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always prefer graphic novels to collection of shorter comics (even though shorter comics is what I do!). Some of these hit the mark and some felt pretty flat and most were somewhere in between. I think they got better as the book progressed, but maybe that's just you start to understand the creator more as things go on. It definitely made me feel guilty for falling behind on my comics, and hopefully also inspired me to keep going with them a little bit!

[Mintsocute · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book funny because it reflect somewhat to myself as an artist. The sarcastic joke is work if the readers have some knowledge about art. The illustrations are adorable and lively. The narrative is page by page rather than a unify story through the whole book. I am pleased with the simplicity of drawing and text.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute comic collection. I enjoyed this very much in one sitting and found myself chuckling out-loud often. Will definitely be following this cartoonist from this point forward. Also, the collection comes in an adorable smaller hardcover format.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of boring, a lot of references I didn't understand, not super relatable because I'm not really an artist.

[Sokcheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

CUTTEEEE

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a few good points but overall I found this uninteresting

[Katie Odom · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does this have fewer than five stars? Excellent book! Loved and related to every page.

[Grab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncomfortably relatable at moments and a delight the whole way through

[ochalove · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t know if this is so much about being an artist or just having depression.. Obviously everyone will have different experiences, but a lot of this hit the mark for my tastes and experiences.

[Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

CW: self harm

I stopped reading once I got to the casual suggestion of a noose as an "art career move"

[Bean · Rating 2 out of 5]

4.5/10

[fae .:book worm:.]

relatable

[Aaron Allsop · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would say most of the parts I didn’t like it was because how accurate they were. Fun book overall and worth a read.

[Vi · Rating 3 out of 5]

small doses. ok for teens. some humor will go over their heads.

[Thomas Maluck · Rating 4 out of 5]

That title ain't lying. Hand this to an artist and see how hard they cringe or laugh as they recognize themself or a peer.

[Loz · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine. A few ones I identified with and Lauren seems like someone I could happily be friends with, but it is clear I am not an artist and don't really identify with a lot of the specific issues. Clean art that was nicely stylized.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

1/5 inspirational, 1/5 funny, 1/5 relatable, 1/5 pretentious, and 1/5 I didn't get. Overall I think this is a good read to motivate other artists since talking to real people is hard.