The Art of Aliveness: A Creative Return to What Matters Most

by Flora Bowley, SARK (Foreword)

Are you ready for more joy in your life? Writer Flora Bowley believes that everyone can learn how to create a joy-filled life by practicing what she calls  The Art of Aliveness .Aliveness, in this context, goes well beyond the acts of sleeping, eating, working, etc., inviting us instead to look into the depths of our own experience, embrace what we find there, and commit to bringing our truest self into the world.The Art of Aliveness teaches us how to create beauty out of sorrow, find meaning in the apparent madness that we sometimes find in the world, and choose to build a life we love regardless of the cards we’ve been dealt.In this powerful, moving, and deeply personal book, Bowley shares pieces of her own story and the life lessons she’s learned to help readers cultivate this Aliveness within themselves. Packed with exercises and writing prompts,  The Art of Aliveness  offers readers a way to make lasting change in their lives.If you’re ready to be the artist of your life, this book can show you how.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Self Help, Crafts

224 pages, Paperback

Published March 23, 2021

About the author

Flora Bowley (pronounced bowl-ee) is an artist, retreat facilitator, creative catalyst, and author of five books: The Art of Aliveness, Brave Intuitive Painting, Creative Revolution, Fresh Paint, and Earth is Holding You. Her colorful and layered paintings are also used to design calendars, cards, planners, journals, fabric, and unique product lines sold around the world.

Blending over twenty-five years of professional painting experience with her background as a yoga instructor, healer, and life-long truth seeker, Flora's soulful and unique approach to the creative process has inspired thousands of people to reconnect with their innate creative wisdom and to use that connection as fuel for more aliveness.

Flora has shared her signature blend of art, movement, and creative living practices for over a decade via online courses and in-person retreats in places Bali, Australia, Mexico, Portugal, Morocco, Italy, Ireland, Canada, the UK, and all across the US.

Flora's art and words have been featured in publications such as:

BOOKS: Art Inc., Creative Pilgrimage, Painting in Acrylics, The Empowered Artist, The Handmade Marketplace, Art Abandonment, Paint Lab for Kids, Painted Blossoms, Spirit Almanac, and Wiser and Wilder.

MAGAZINES: Spirituality and Health, Where Women Create, In her Studio, Cloth Paper Scissors, Somerset Life, Business Heroine, Happiness and Wellbeing, dpi, and Professional Artist.

BLOGS + EVENTS: The Chopra Center, The Shift Network, 1440 Multiversity, The Gathering of the Creatives with Julia Cameron, SARK's Succulent Wild World, Creative Bug, The Brave Girl Symposium, Squam Art Workshops, Do What You Love Retreats, The Abundant Artist, Uplift, Creative Living with Jamie Ridler, Raise Your Hand and Say Yes, Unclassified Woman, Highlight Real, Creative Superhero, The Left-Brained Artist, and many more.


Flora lives and works in Portland, OR

Reviews

[Davina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic and vulnerable. An inspiration to live in the present while also appreciating the many beautiful and ugly layers that got you here. She includes some gentle nudges/practices to "try on"/lean into to embrace your own Aliveness. Thank you Flora for sharing your gifts with the world and inspiring others to do the same. Well done!

[Marianne Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really found new thoughts and insights in this book. Many of the creativity, life purpose books have the same themes but there were new ideas that this book gave me. I look forward to reading it again in the future!

[Jaime Lyerly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book when it first released, as I've read some of her other books, and like her art. This book is part self help book, part memoir, and a whole lot of privileged, white woman hanging out in Bali, reflecting on how awesome her life is, while pretending that this will help your life. I very much believe in aliveness, and creativity, and am also an intuitive painter, so I thought this book would be right up my alley.

I know no more about aliveness than I did before, and even though it tries to be practical with the Try This section, it's so ungrounded and vague that it's hard to take the suggestions as helpful. Especially the questions to ask or journal on, which feel like an anchor being presented like a life vest. The last chapter was like a tack on that this would be released during the pandemic, so she had to say something about it. But what is there to say when you have enough money, time, and privilege to just process your feelings in Bali while other people suffer?

So if you are a painter, full of feelings, and have lots of privilege, you may enjoy this frolic into Flora's world.

If you don't have all three of those things in abundance, I'd skip this one.

[Cindy Larimore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Very easy read about living your best life.

[Eline Pullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally loved this honest artist memoir. The book is comforting and encouraging as a warm embrace. Every chapter brings questions that you can use as journal prompts or suggestions for exercises that suit and nourish your creative journey.

Listened the audiobook version: the reading voice was very pleasant.

[Vivian Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like a hug! The key principals that Flora lives by are highlighted in this book, inviting us to look more in depth at our own lives and question our values. The stories shared are vulnerable and universal. Overall, such a beautifully emotional and thought provoking book!

[Ivy Digest · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't relate to this because it mostly refers to painting. Maybe I prefer practical advice with a goal because Flora's suggestions seek to stir up negative emotions for the sake of feeling something. Thus, you feel alive.

While her writing is compelling, Flora's tips seem nebulous--she says beautiful things that sound pointless to a busy, practical, tired working parent. I don't know what to make of this but it did not make me feel alive.
@IvyDigest

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book embodies the art of aliveness. Flora weaves together story, examples, and practices for an experience that feels deep and true. I usually skip over the practice part of books, eager to get to the next chapter. But I stopped and did many of the ones here, and I have plans to do more! I know this is a book I will return to time and again.

[Rachelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Art of Aliveness... this book is meant for a special type of person, searching for meaning, one who seeks opportunities for creative growth, and loves hearing openhearted stories of spiritual retreats. This book is okay. It is one artist's methods of how she instructs at retreats. A few good creative exercises to open up the mind and body, but not much more.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have read Flora's other books, you'll see this one's totally different. It's not a visual gem you can look at forever, this book comes with NO images at all. The book is written in a memoir format, going all the way back to the beginning of her blog (some chapters are literally old blogposts, like the chapter on when she volunteered during Hurricane Katrina, or that time she changed her name) up to the pandemic and how she experienced it. Every chapter ends with suggestions and journaling questions.

I was a bit bothered by the fact she mentioned her retreats in almost every chapter, I understand this used to be her main income source and when the pandemic settles it will probably be her main income source again but that reminder simply keeps showing us what's really missing in this book, the visual story behind her worlds. When reading her memoir fragments I hoped to see the paintings she made during her time as a volunteer, or the amazing installations made at Burning man. Maybe even a cute alter space, some meditation cushions, or her garden.

This book might teach us creativity can be found everywhere (gardening, singing, meeting strangers at a festival) and this might be the book you need if you are in a 'seeking-mode' during the change of your personal seasons. But if you were looking for a visual journal, inspirational images or even a workshop book, this book will keep you unsatisfied.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenge: Non-fiction November 2021 (Style, 3). Part memoir, part how to creatively style your life by filling it with movement, healing, and excavation of the things that make you discontented as well as joyful. At first, the book seems to offer the usual wordage surrounding the concept that we are all artistic creatives; however, Bowley unpacks this concept using some very useful symbolic guidelines such as leaning in, the riverbank, the rooted plant, and the river delta. She generously shares four events in her life to use as examples of her own personal excavation: her more than six months leading volunteer efforts to help those in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, changing her name, seven years participation in Burning Man in the Nevada playa, and the illness and death of her mother. Written during the pandemic, this book is part of the river that we are all trying to navigate together. Use this book to realize that creativity/art is life and life is always a constant creative adaptation.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book several years ago but only got to reading it now. There was some really helpful stuff, especially in the earlier chapters of the book. I can't pinpoint why this worked for me right now, but it was just sort of in line with things I've been thinking about.

I'm not a painter, and I wasn't annoyed by her painter talk. I think what she talked about is applicable across the board.

I must say, the long story about volunteering after Hurricane Katrina made me cringe, because it felt really white savoir.

I'm also super curious about how she was able to afford all of these adventures. I say this because at times it felt like she might have some cultural capital and financial privilege many don't have.

Still, overall this was an interesting read. I think it's the kind of book that needed to be a "right time, right place" sort of read to work for me though.

[Ziggy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book didn't work for me. While the description of the book is focused on aliveness and general creativity, what little actual advice there is, is overwhelmingly painting centric since that is the author's chosen medium. Mostly though, the book is nothing but fluff wrapped in descriptions of the author's world travels and stories of stories of her friends. In the end, I found nothing relatable or useful to apply to myself.

[Whitney Dahlberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love Flora and am familiar with her teachings through various podcasts and her instagram feed. Even though this book is based on somewhat obvious life lessons, I appreciated her personal stories to support these lessons. Her way of communicating is authentic and warm. This book would appeal to artists and non artists alike through her use of painting as perfect metaphor to life.

[Tabitha Vohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flora is my godmother of painting. She gave me courage to put a brush (and just about anything you can paint with) in my hand.

This book is part memoir/part living-well.

It's a warm, sandalwood-smelling hug of a book. Highly recommend!

[Cheryl Sturgis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the tips and stories. Made me feel better about life!

[Viviana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book worth reading.

[Jennifer Shupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book!

[Snazzyjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a blessing. I had a hard time finishing it because I wanted to take the messages in and let them sit with me. I’ll likely read it again. Thank you Flora!

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Flora book yet. Loved this so much! Really spoke to the connection creativity has in helping us live lives of joy. Followed by her Art of Aliveness retreat, it was an epic combination!

[Robbyn Belezzuoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one I’ll read again and again!

[Melanie Serenity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Flora’s energy and attitude towards creativity and life.

[chrstphre campbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

No Art At All ( ( !!! ) )

It’s just pure text babble…. !
: - - - - - : o
Very annoying. !
D-
2 more words required.
Is that enough ( ? )

[Jule · Rating 1 out of 5]

too close to "beyond anxiety" which I read a few weeks ago

[Andria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part self help, part memoir, The Art of Aliveness is a vulnerable read that finds the spark for creativity through the difficult circumstances life throws your way.

Three stars from me because, as well intentioned as I found this book, it was missing something. I'm not sure if it stems from my not being a painter or visual artist? But I found many of the ideas on finding creative inspiration to be too vague to translate to other mediums. I think a painter would have a different experience with this book, as many of the examples are around non traditional modes of inspiration through creating visual art.

Still, a positive read overall, even if I didn't find much to put into practice here.

[Kotarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a creative my whole life and put that to the side for other people.

For me, this book is bible. I felt seen for the first time. These little nuggets are invaluable to living a truly artistic, fulfilling life. I mean, she quotes Brene Brown the vulnerability queen.

I have a feeling I'll be coming back to this book often. And I'm grateful it's apart of my path now.

Second read through is just as good as the first 🥰