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Clear Seeing Place: Studio Visits
From the salt marshes and moss-draped live oaks of the South Carolina Lowcountry to the New York art world, Clear Seeing Place takes the reader behind the studio door to explore the making of a painter in intimate detail. Brimming with the joy of process and a love of art history, Brian Rutenberg reveals the places, people, and experiences that led to the paintings for which he is well known today. This book is packed with ideas, observations, techniques, and career advice all thoughtfully arranged into six sections designed to inspire artists of all levels, as well as anyone interested in creativity. Clear Seeing Place is a companion to the artist’s popular YouTube series, “Brian Rutenberg Studio Visits,” and is a love letter to painting written by a painter.
322 pages, Paperback
Published October 19, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 18, 2022
This is a profound resource for any artist, especially painters. Rutenberg is down to earth but a gifted writer who cites many different artists and inspirations throughout the book. He writes of nature in vivid pictures, and his brightly abstracted landscape paintings mimic this. He gives practical advice and is raw and honest while also being enraptured with the joy of being alive and being able to make work as a painter.
June 5, 2020
Art will save the world!
March 2, 2021
Not recommended. So much of this ~310 page book is filler: 52 pages with a single quote/photo/title; 64 blank pages; large print text throughout; name dropping; self congratulating; and irrelevant anecdotes.
On page 138, the author mentions suffering from synesthesia. But it is never once mentioned again. No details, whatsoever. This would have been quite interesting to read about, rather than the anecdote about shaving images into his pubic hair. (Yes, there is frat boy, crass humor also taking up space within these pages.)
Without much to praise, I'll close with my two favorite quotes from the book...
p. 165: "Great art can arise from discontent and cynicism, but it can also be born of wonder and serenity."
p. 303: "Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place." -- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
On page 138, the author mentions suffering from synesthesia. But it is never once mentioned again. No details, whatsoever. This would have been quite interesting to read about, rather than the anecdote about shaving images into his pubic hair. (Yes, there is frat boy, crass humor also taking up space within these pages.)
Without much to praise, I'll close with my two favorite quotes from the book...
p. 165: "Great art can arise from discontent and cynicism, but it can also be born of wonder and serenity."
p. 303: "Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place." -- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
April 10, 2023
My 2019 review:
Passionate, intimate, honest, irreverent. Since I’m not a professional artist and will never have shows or have to deal with gallery owners, some parts of this book were more interesting to me than others. I especially liked the parts about technique. However, there’s something here for everyone. I listened to the audiobook, which the author, himself, narrates. It was great to hear his views in his own voice. I listened to some chapters two or three times.
Read again in 2023:
I started listening to the audio again this year and decided to get the text version as well, because I wanted to highlight favorite passages. I ended up reading and listening simultaneously to much of the book. As noted in my original review, some sections were more or less relevant to my own art-making, but again, there's something here for everyone.
Passionate, intimate, honest, irreverent. Since I’m not a professional artist and will never have shows or have to deal with gallery owners, some parts of this book were more interesting to me than others. I especially liked the parts about technique. However, there’s something here for everyone. I listened to the audiobook, which the author, himself, narrates. It was great to hear his views in his own voice. I listened to some chapters two or three times.
Read again in 2023:
I started listening to the audio again this year and decided to get the text version as well, because I wanted to highlight favorite passages. I ended up reading and listening simultaneously to much of the book. As noted in my original review, some sections were more or less relevant to my own art-making, but again, there's something here for everyone.
March 15, 2021
This is the best book about being a painter I’ve read to date. I’ll be reading parts of it again. Highly recommend it.
March 4, 2018
Uneven throughout, but thoroughly devolves in the second half with paragraphs such as this: "One of my best friends is a famous actor. One morning, he and I drove through sheets of October rain from the Upper West Side to Milburn, NJ, to see CanCan, the musical, at the Paper Mill Playhouse while our spouses worked in Manhattan. The show knocked my eyes out. The previous night, I’d seen the comedian Gilbert Gottfried onstage, and his performance summoned the same feeling. There is something about consummate, polished professionalism that brings a work of art to life regardless of the audience." Nothing further about the famous friend, and the chapter ends at the next paragraph.
October 17, 2021
An amazing book. Every page has something on it I want to or have written down in my journal. I am a visual artist and find the authors insights astounding.
Its VERY difficult to find painters explaining in print, their experience of the world and how it inspires their work, and I am so thirsty for it. I had read books about artists lives, daily habits and come away feeling alone. And the passages are always too short.
Rutenbergs understanding of the need for solitude, for following ones instincts and his ability to express his mind and what art is, is phenomenal.
Its VERY difficult to find painters explaining in print, their experience of the world and how it inspires their work, and I am so thirsty for it. I had read books about artists lives, daily habits and come away feeling alone. And the passages are always too short.
Rutenbergs understanding of the need for solitude, for following ones instincts and his ability to express his mind and what art is, is phenomenal.
November 2, 2019
I love this book. But then I also love Brian Rutenberg's online studio visits and this book may be the transcripts of those. He is accomplished, funny,hard-working, funny, talented, funny, wise, funny and deadly serious about what it takes to be a painter. He tells a lot about his own life and career and gives some advice to other artists. But even if you're not an artist, you'd love this book. It's a great read. And it made me laugh out loud a lot!
September 5, 2017
Fantastic in every way. Informative, funny, inspiring, irreverent, and read like a memoir.
May 15, 2020
A few terrific morsels, but the rest. Eh? Just ok.
June 15, 2023
A good friend in my art group handed me this book to read. I told her I didn’t think I wanted to and gave it back. She then handed it back and said read it anyway! I am so glad I did. What a delightful, educational and easy read. I also suggest that you watch his YouTube channel as a follow up to his book. Sadly after all the reading and going through his videos, I find that he was in my area for an art talk and showing at Hampton Galleries in Greenville, SC. It would have be so nice to have met such a successful New York artist from Myrtle Beach, SC. and to boot, I love his work!
I hope enjoy Brian Rutenburg’s book and you might even want to have a pencil ready to take a note or two.
I hope enjoy Brian Rutenburg’s book and you might even want to have a pencil ready to take a note or two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2024
Everyone, especially every artist should read this book. I listened to Brian read his book on my drive from Richfield,UT to Denver, CO. The beauty of the drive added to the experience. Brian gives great advice, is very insightful, and works his craft. He is an American abstract artist who believes that daily work, talking with others (especially other artists), being kind and respectful, and empathy are essential for an artist.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian...
Book 106 for 2024 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ + ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian...
Book 106 for 2024 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ + ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 26, 2021
Excellent memoir; not only is Rutenberg a gifted artist but a wonderful writer. I kept my highlighter handy! As a native New Yorker & also an alum of the School of Visual Arts myself, I really enjoyed reading about his experiences to which I very much related. A wonderful journey into the mind of an artist!
January 18, 2025
When people think of snobbery and performative drama when they think of the art world and artists respectively, it is because of what is written in this book. Unhelpful for artists who were hoping for some tangible advice. Just self aggrandizement and snobbery about the bohemian NY lifestyle. Boring.
October 5, 2019
Part memoir, filled with humor and great info, wonderful stories, many art history references. Loved it, and cannot wait for Brian to release his new book in 2020!! Highly recommend for anyone interested in painting, at any level, in any medium.
December 17, 2021
Favourite book of 2020. Most inspiring book of 2020. Most educational book of 2020. Every painter should read this book and art lovers who want to know what an artist is actually doing when they make art written by an incredibly articulate painter.
May 31, 2023
Outstanding! I think anyone could find this author and book interesting. Short essays relating to art and life. Very down to earth. Advice for artists and life stories. A very interesting read which always left me feeling hopeful. I suggest and look forward to rereading.
June 2, 2022
Loved it!
January 3, 2025
An honest look into the life of an artist.
September 22, 2022
Highly recommend this book to anyone who considers themselves an artist in any medium. Brian is an articulate and thoughtful writer, who clearly has spent a lot of studio time thinking while painting and eventually putting his thoughts in book form.
Funny, entertaining, self-deprecating and kind. And I like anyone who knows when to use the F word to best effect. Sparingly, when it is merited.
A new art hero of mine. I hope to someday travel to NYC and, if I’m lucky, see his paintings in person. His writing is as valuable as his art, and I’m extremely grateful that he took the time to share it with those of us on the same path. Thank you, Brian, for the beautiful book that will retain a permanent place in my library and that I’ve dog-eared to the point of ridiculousness.
Funny, entertaining, self-deprecating and kind. And I like anyone who knows when to use the F word to best effect. Sparingly, when it is merited.
A new art hero of mine. I hope to someday travel to NYC and, if I’m lucky, see his paintings in person. His writing is as valuable as his art, and I’m extremely grateful that he took the time to share it with those of us on the same path. Thank you, Brian, for the beautiful book that will retain a permanent place in my library and that I’ve dog-eared to the point of ridiculousness.
January 20, 2021
It's not a memoir, but filled with his stories, and not poetry, but very poetic, and not a how-to, tho he guides with some wisdom gained of long experience. Brian Rutenberg is self describedas "Gomer Pyle on speed." You get that distinct impression from his writing. Short, pithy, folksy and filled with the kind of advice that only a real artist can dispense, it all seems so easy yet us other artists just can't seem to put it all into practice.
April 2, 2018
I guess you just have to be subjective when you read a book like this because it's so personal. I enjoyed it - thought there was a of truth in it. I'm not nearly as experienced a "maker" as the author is, but I felt like he was being authentic from his own view and he did it with humor and didn't take himself too seriously.
March 28, 2024
Self indulgent!
It is hard to believe that someone should think that their life is so compelling that a book should be written. There are lots of artists with more interesting lives.
It is hard to believe that someone should think that their life is so compelling that a book should be written. There are lots of artists with more interesting lives.
June 30, 2017
Colorful, penetrating (often wry) reflections on human nature...the creative process... and growing up in the marshes and reeds of the low country. Made me laugh, made me cry and made me think.
November 10, 2017
Interesting and entertaining book. Not sure if it made me want to persevere or just give up. Definitely gave me a lot to think about.
August 18, 2018
Am a writer. Know nothing of contemporary painting. Yet found the book useful and entertaining. A manual for all creatives.
November 13, 2019
Some good insight into the artists life. He's a little salty, so not for all of my friends, but I like his no nonsense approach to art.
April 8, 2022
Fantastic read for any artist. Beautiful book.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews