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The Art of Being Bill: The Many Faces of Awesome

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The Art of Being Bill is the first illustrated collection highlighting Bill Murray like you’ve never seen him before: Bill Murray at The Last Supper, Bill Murray as an Indian god, and nearly 150 other fitting tributes that will amuse and inspire you.

Are you Murray obsessed?What better way to celebrate all that is Bill Murray than through art? Bill Murray art shows have been popping up across the country. Join in the celebration with The Art of Being Bill.

Just like Murray himself, the artwork in The Art of Being Bill is both poignant and funny, with over 100 artworks, including details about each piece; inspired quotes; and his incredible film history. This is the ultimate gift book for the Murray addict and art lover in your life.

176 pages, Hardcover

Published October 9, 2018

53 people want to read

About the author

Ezra Croft

2 books1 follower

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Valerity (Val).
1,117 reviews2,776 followers
August 25, 2018
Who hasn’t loved a Bill Murray movie at some point in their life? This book is a cool combination of Murray-themed artwork and written insight into his many different movie roles. The 150 pieces of art are curated from “The Murray Affair” a traveling Bill Murray art show going around the country. All of the art is fairly good, I especially like the first one depicting him as a knight, and the one of the multiple Bills at a long table, kind of like the Last Supper. Probably best for Bill Murray fans, this art book was fun and decently executed. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, authors Ezra Croft & Jennifer Raiser, and the publisher for my fair review.

Race Point Publishing
Pub: Aug 28th, 2018

My Bookzone blog on Wordpress.com: https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
Profile Image for Claudia.
1,013 reviews783 followers
August 26, 2018
Who doesn’t know Bill Murray? Everyone had seen at least one of his movies. Either he plays a leading or a supporting role, he makes an unforgettable appearance.

The book is based on an art show, in which various artists contributed with works dedicated to him.

This album is divided in 8 parts, each depicting a trait of Bill Murray, the artist: The Jester, The Thinker, The Intense, The Charming, The Exasperated, The Melancholy, The Complex and The Legend. Under each of these themes, there are some iconic movie roles reviewed by the author and some ‘behind the scenes’ trivia and of course, various works of art, most of them portraits.

Some are good, some not quite, however some are exquisite. It would have been great to see also the story behind the art, what part of Murray’s movies or life was the inspiration, but we are given only the title and the artist’s name.

Among my favorites are these:

Bill’s Last Supper by Tom Carlton


Bill-M by Anna Tombacz (don’t know if it’s visible here, but the portrait is made from movie lines, the letters being highlighted more or less)


Even if you are not a fan of his, you’ll like the album. The imagination and skills of some of the artists are amazing. (I would have loved to see them live).

>>> ARC received thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Race Point Publishing via NetGalley <<<
Profile Image for Literary Redhead.
2,734 reviews697 followers
July 17, 2019
😎😎😎😎😎

I feel too cool for school for having receiving an ARC for “The Art of Being Bill: Bill Murray and the Many Faces of Awesome” by Ezra Croft, Jennifer Raiser. Because EVERYONE knows Murray is the coolest 😺 ever! And this fab book? It’s the first illustrated art collection showcasing Bill as you’ve never seen him before: Indian God, Last Supper attendee, and in nearly 150 other fitting tributes.

Just like The Bill Himself, artwork in The Bill Murray Experience is both poignant and funny, with an array of pieces and details about each, inspired quotes, and his incredible film history. This is the ultimate gift book for the Murray addict — and for anyone who just wants to be cool by association. Like me! 5/5

Pub Date 28 Aug 2018

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Race Point Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine!

#TheArtOfBeingBill #NetGalley
7,046 reviews83 followers
August 14, 2018
A really unique book that is all about Bill Murray. Between a filmography/biography, an homage and pop arts this book just presented lots of artworks with Bill Murray face... like I said... unique. The arts s great, lots of different styles and very some amazing works by talented artist. If you love Murray or maybe even if you just love arts. This is an interesting book to look at!
Profile Image for Diane Hernandez.
2,497 reviews45 followers
August 21, 2018
Bill Murray’s movie career is explored along with various artists’ interpretations of him in numerous media in the Art of Being Bill.

Bill’s life (in movies at least) is broken up chronologically into eight chapters: the Jester, Thinker, Intense, Charming, Exasperated, Melancholy, Complex, and finally Legend. Each of Bill’s movies are described in a one-page movie synopsis accompanied by the movie poster and a short behind-the-scenes’ blurb. Then two to four artists offer their interpretation of Bill at that point in his life and career. Using seeds, pastels, pencils, paints and software, each picture is engaging. At the beginning, Bill was portrayed as a clown, a suave player and even a punk rocker. By the end, the representations became increasing melancholy and regretful—just as Bill appeared in his later works.

The art varies widely in media, style and quality but each are valid interpretations of their subject. The text does a excellent job exploring the experiences of an aging comic actor’s early attempts to be taken seriously (i.e., The Razor’s Edge) to actually being taken seriously later in his career (i.e., Lost in Translation). It is easy to see the same trajectory in other comedians’ lives that did not end as well (i.e., Jerry Lewis and Robin Williams). Overall, the Art of Being Bill is more than just the sum of its wide-ranging artwork and provides a thoughtful reflection on life itself. 4 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Race Point Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Profile Image for Teena in Toronto.
2,470 reviews79 followers
August 17, 2018
The Art of Being Bill is a unique book about Bill Murray. Croft is a Bill Murray superfan. He's seen all of his movies many times. Murray has inspired artists to create their interpretations of him and a couple years ago Croft started putting together Bill Murray art shows, with artists selling their works. This book is for anyone who wasn't able to attend an art show.

There are a couple parts to this book. One is the full-colour artwork (including paintings, tattoos, etc.) and it's grouped in chapters according to the personalities that define Bill Murray ... the jester, the thinker, the intense and so on. Included are tidbits of information. For example, Murray once short a short promotional video for his son's school where he ad-libbed with nearby stuffed animals.

Raiser highlights many of the key moments in Murray's movie history from Meatballs in 1979 to The Jungle Book in 2016. There is a one page description of the movie along with the movie poster, and "behind the scenes" information relating to the movie. For example, with Meatballs, the cowriter/producer didn't know if Murray was even going to show up to shoot the movie three days before they were scheduled to start.

This is an interesting book if you are a Bill Murray fan (which I am).

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/08...
Profile Image for Vanessa.
3,229 reviews27 followers
August 15, 2018
What a Happy, fun and colourful book The Art of Being Bill by Ezra Croft, Jennifer Raiser......Warning.......it will make you smile. I loved this book and would look great on my coffee table so others can browse and it will make for a good conversation.
This book gave you a good insight to a lot of his roles he played on the big screen, I didn't realise Bill Murray was in so many good films and I just loved all the artwork, photos etc of him. Each portrait picture of him is so different to the next and shows what a lovely man he is.

Well Done Ezra Croft, Jennifer Raiser and Quarto Publishing Group for a fantastic book.

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Race Point Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy.
Profile Image for Cassandra.
332 reviews11 followers
May 11, 2019
Any Bill Murray fans out there? Cause if there is, let me tell you, this book is for you! Filled to the brim with stunning artwork, movie posters, and details on all of his films. Perfect for a coffee table book. You can pick it up, and read a few pages at a time, and put it back down for later. I definitely recommend it if your a fan of the actor.

Thank you to NetGalley, as well as the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Mindy.
1,117 reviews
August 14, 2018
What a great book! Not only do you get insight into some of the roles Bill Murray played but the many artist renderings of the man just blew me away. Each portrait was vastly different from the next, much like the roles he has portrayed. I believe this does an excellent job of showing off the many facets of Bill Murray.
Profile Image for Teresa.
986 reviews13 followers
December 20, 2018
I love Bill Murray. I have seen pretty much all of his movies and loved him as a child on SNL. This books takes a whole new look at Bill. With over 100 sketches of Bill in many of his roles you get to see a whole new Bill Murray. Even if you are not a huge fan of Bill Murray this book will bring a smile to your face. The sketches put Bill Murray into all kinds of situations like the last supper, there are tidbits about the films depicted, quotes and more. This is a quick read and would make a great gift for any of Bill Murray's fans.

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com and chose to leave this review.
Profile Image for David Wineberg.
Author 2 books877 followers
August 15, 2018
Bill Murray inspires. He inspires fans to different kinds of heights than other film stars. They love him as much for his films as for his real-life antics. In films, he is WC Fields, adlibbing his way to a star turn while remaining in character and respecting the fourth wall. In real life, he is a high school class clown, showing up unexpectedly, gate-crashing, not showing up where he committed to, and thrilling the unsuspecting with his antics. This book is not about that.

The Art of Being Bill is a combination filmography and traveling art exhibit. The art is all Bill Murray, by his fans. It has sculpture, photos, graphics and paintings, all featuring Bill Murray. He can be Yoda or Hamlet or a film character he created along the way. One is a black and white maze of his face. The styles are all over the place, giving the exhibition great character. And the book is organized by moods, not chronology, giving it a different perspective as well. When there is trivia to add to some painting, superfans Ezra Croft and Jennifer Raiser are only too pleased to immortalize it on the page.

The filmography is interspersed, not in its own section. It is chronological, consisting of a page with a poster and a page with a description, but hardly the studio version. There is passion and awe on display in every one. There seems to be nothing Bill Murray has done that isn’t some way superlative in the eyes of Croft and Raiser.

The final section consists of profiles of the numerous fan/artists who think Bill Murray worthy of their efforts.

So The Art of Being Bill is a coffee table book, but one with far more heart and character than your typical museum catalog.

David Wineberg

For images from this book, see this same review at https://medium.com/the-straight-dope/...
Profile Image for Aubrey.
74 reviews5 followers
August 16, 2018
THE ART OF BEING BILL is not only full of Bill Murray artwork, but it also includes behind the scenes tips information about every movie he has starred in.

Living with a huge Bill Murray fan has convinced me that he really shines no matter the role he takes on; Ezra Croft’s introduction reinforces that idea with personal anecdotes that will connect the reader to the information and art within the book.

The stories and the art all show Bill’s lovable, multifaceted personality. The chapter titles even use fabulous adjectives to describe him (the jester, the thinker, the intense, the charming, etc.)

My favorite depiction of Bill is a painting entitled “Dropkick Murray” in which he is wearing all black, leather, and metal, as well as sporting a funky spiky hairdo.

Fun facts:
- Ed Murray, his brother, was an extra in Caddyshack and they started a golf apparel company in 2017
- There is even a Steve Zissou cake made by Avalon Cakes!
- His favorite car is a vintage Maserati
and much, much more.

Overall, I really enjoyed browsing the fabulous artwork by all of the various and extremely talented artists. THE ART OF BEING BILL is a great gift idea for the Bill Murray lover in your life!

This review was originally post via Aubrey & Co. here:
http://www.aubreysalyers.com/single-p...

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Laura.
3,205 reviews348 followers
December 23, 2018
This not the sort of book one can read in one sitting. I will give you a warning that indulging in what is between these covers will tempt you to try your own hand at creating art and will definitely prompt you to indulge in watching more movies starring (and even support casted by) Bill Murray.
The version I read was an arc, a pre~ polished and final version. At times it comes across as jerky and disheveled, but before you know it you have caught Murray~fever and can not turn away.
The artwork is as eclectic as the man himself. The content a commentary on the life~s work of Bill Murray so far, with behind the scenes glimpses at the man himself and anecdotes about each production. After reading this book you will discover nuances in each film you rewatch.
The authors seem to have a fanatical fascination and explain their deductions with brilliant turns of phrase. A few of my favorite: you need a sextant just to parse the plot
as smooth as the slime ghosts leave behind
pays off like the Dickens
reveals itself through a periscope rather than a cinemascope
the depth charge is imperceptible

If ever I hear about a Bill art showing near me I will be quick to buy tickets.

Thank you to Quarto Publications and Netgalley for my review copy.
Profile Image for Annie.
4,743 reviews88 followers
November 29, 2019
Originally published on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Art of Being Bill is an exhibition catalog and anthology of commentary about Bill Murray and his long career as a cultural icon. Released 9 Oct 2018 by Quarto on their Race Point imprint, it's 176 pages and available in hardcover format.

I can't think of a more versatile actor than Bill Murray. He's been a significant part of movies which run the gamut from poignant drama to utterly silly slapstick and everything in between. He's a gifted actor with an incredibly mobile and expressive face. Combined with the many graphic arts interpretations included in the book, this is a smorgasbord of everything Bill. The varied artist interpretations are as distinct as the artists themselves. There is also a lot of commentary and background information about his movies which was new to me.

I really wish I could've seen the exhibition when it was live.

Four stars, definitely a good choice for film fans, catalogue fans, or Bill Murray fans.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Profile Image for Janine Brouillette.
164 reviews3 followers
September 15, 2018
This is an essential book for all Bill Murray fans. the book highlights the legend of his craft with pictures and paintings that were featured in art shows. His Mona Lisa Smile has led to a showcase of artwork portrayed in this book that is worth the price of the book alone. The book is organized by the many personalities that define Bill Murray: The Jester, The Thinker, The Intense, The Charming, The Exasperated, The Melancholy, The Complex, and The Ledgend. The co author Jennifer Raiser highlights 24 of his movies with a movies poster and a one page of fun filled information about it......did you know that Scooter, the groundhog, bit Bill Murray twice.
Profile Image for Megsbookclub.
1,539 reviews27 followers
September 21, 2018
I really enjoyed this fun book, The Art of Being Bill. As a Bill Murray fan this is a great collection of artwork and descriptions of his movies throughout his career. This will be released Oct 9th! The artwork spans over his incredible career from Caddyshack to Ghostbusters to Groundhog Day to all the Wes Anderson films! I highly recommend this book to any fans as the artwork is creative and amusing!
My brother and I were in Chicago this summer cheering on the Cubs and Murray was at the same games that weekend. He is so iconic it was cool just knowing we were at the same place at the same time!
Profile Image for Jackie.
246 reviews
September 5, 2018
This book is a playful, positive examination of the many iconic roles of Bill Murray, from SNL to today. I loved the artistic illustrations throughout the book, and learned many facts and facets of Bill Murray's life. Anyone who stands in awe of this comic actor's talents will enjoy reading this book. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Astoria (Jax).
654 reviews33 followers
October 24, 2018
I haven't watched a recent Bill Murray movie in years but he was a huge part of my childhood. I happened to see this book on the library shelf and really just wanted to flip through it to see all of the art pieces. There's a full page for a good chunk of his movies, if not all of them and the photos are so much fun.
Profile Image for Neile B.
73 reviews7 followers
March 21, 2019
Many artists contributed over 100 artworks of the essential Bill Murray, including details about each piece. His film history is in chronological order and there is good information from each movie that you might not have known before. I love the book cover, all the illustrations inside, as well as the thickness of the pages, very well made. This would make a great coffee table book. 4.5 stars.
Profile Image for Mrs C.
1,286 reviews31 followers
August 28, 2018
Lots of fan art make this a winner for Bill Murray fans. The book also takes a look at all his movies and provides a synopsis and some fun trivia.

Thanks to the publisher for access to the review copy.
Profile Image for Samantha.
371 reviews8 followers
August 16, 2018
This is a beautiful book. The art work is inspired and the editorials throughout show the depth of understanding and love from a true Bill Murray connoisseur.
Profile Image for Theremin Poisoning.
259 reviews15 followers
November 21, 2018
What is it about Bill Murray? <3 I have always loved him and I just love him more all the time.
Profile Image for Janey.
304 reviews
November 23, 2020
A wonderful book for any Bill Murray fan. Great artwork, fun facts, all his movies listed in order with a synopsis of the plot. I really enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Laurie.
754 reviews22 followers
August 18, 2021
Definitely 5 stars. The text was great and the art was fabulous!
Profile Image for Bryan Summers.
127 reviews8 followers
August 17, 2018
A collection of fan art of Bill Murray. I guess this is for Bill Murray fans. I wouldn't call myself a fan. But I like Bill Murray in the Bill Murray movies that I like. There is a picture of Bill Murray as a Mormon Missionary holding a Book of Murray. I did love that.
Profile Image for Linda Smith.
257 reviews25 followers
August 20, 2018
Call him eccentric, a nice guy, an oddball, a mystery or just misunderstood, Bill Murray is a lovable curmudgeon. This book is a quirky homage filled with artwork portraying Bill in various roles. The authors added a bit of background relating to each film he has appeared in as well as trivia regarding production.
From Meatballs to Ghostbusters to Groundhog Day to Hamlet - Hamlet!!! -you get the lowdown on just how versatile Bill Murray truly is as an actor. (Personally, St. Vincent is one of his finest films in my opinion but Stripes is an enjoyable but of fluff and humor as well. That one and Ghostbusters are the epitome of Bill Murray.)
All told, this is a fun diversion and an amazing display of talent. Perfect for film buffs and artists, this one is a short read that leaves you just feeling happy - which would probably please good ole Bill.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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