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Born Creative: A Memoir of Paint, Passion & Purpose
A memoir of a spirited author, author, and teacher. After graduation from Otterbein University, she began married life with her childhood sweetheart at a US Air Force Base in France. On their return to Ohio, they started a family and Nita began to raise their four children with little time for anything else. In 1970, her husband Bob surprised her with a gift of watercolor paints. She juggled family life while learning to paint and established a career as a fine artist. Nita's best-selling art-instruction books and videos reflect her passion for motivating people to develop their innate creativity. In this memoir she shares the good news that people are born with amazing creative potential. Her entertaining stories are gleaned from Nita's personal experience.
255 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2020
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 2, 2021
This is a memoir of a life well-lived, a memoir of a woman who was born creative, a memoir of a woman whose life was changed with a gift, a memoir of a woman who became an artist, an author, and an entrepreneur, a memoir of an enterprising woman, and a memoir of a woman who was on the forefront of technology (and stood up for herself...more about that in a minute).*
Yes, I have met and know the artist (thanks to Rob), and he gifted me with both this memoir recently as well as her book on collage (New Creative Collage Techniques) several years ago. Moreover, Rob and I have several of her watercolor paintings gracing our walls. BUT I had no idea of her busy life as a wife, as a mother, and as a budding artist who became so much more than that.
Nita has lived an exciting life, full of art and full of passion. Each section of the book addresses the many sides of Nita Leland. A bit of humor throughout, a few times of when tears threatened to spill (okay, they may have spilled over) at poignant moments, and definitely worth reading.
* One of my favorite passages of the book was her experience when she made an important purchase. Having had a similar experience (or three) with salesmen, this resonated with me (and I suspect it will resonate with other women as well). Sharing the gist of it (spoiler alert):
--I knew what I had come for. We roamed the aisles, searching for my portable computer. A young man approached us with a wide grin. He shook my husband's hand. "I'm Justin. How can I help you, sir?"
"I want to buy a computer," I replied.
The salesman glanced at me and turned to Bob. "How much RAM do you need, sir?"
Bob...looked at me. He knew less about computers than I did.
"64K," I murmured. The salesman winked at me.
"What software do you require, sir? Database? Spreadsheet?"
I clenched my teeth. "Word processing."
Justin ignored me.
My eyes narrowed; I advanced into Justin's personal space, my arms akimbo.
"I came to buy a Kaypro computer and printer," I hissed.
"G-g-good choice, sir. We have two in stock."
I handed the salesman my business credit card. He noticed my husband's name on the card, but ignored my authorized signature.
"You're buying a fine machine, Robert." He tendered the invoice for Bob's signature. I snatched the sales slip and signed it. With a grand flourish, Justin returned the receipt to Bob, who promptly passed it to me.
"You're going to love putting your recipes on your husband's new computer."
I had to escape before I went ballistic. (page 195-196)
Rob's first computer was a Kaypro Two purchased long before I knew him. He still has it; it is about the size of a suitcase, and while it is portable, it weighs only a little less than a refrigerator, but I digress.
I loved this memoir. It gives me even more respect for the woman behind the watercolors that grace our walls. Nita is a woman who has it all, and she tells her story in a manner that is both personal and yet still enlightening. While I could have read it in one sitting, I didn't because I enjoyed reading each and every section as her life unfolded. It is well worth the read, and there are few What-the-tuck trends (one tucking incident on the next-to-the-last page and a few smirks along the way).
see www.pedometergeek.wordpress.com for my extended review by 3/3/2021
Yes, I have met and know the artist (thanks to Rob), and he gifted me with both this memoir recently as well as her book on collage (New Creative Collage Techniques) several years ago. Moreover, Rob and I have several of her watercolor paintings gracing our walls. BUT I had no idea of her busy life as a wife, as a mother, and as a budding artist who became so much more than that.
Nita has lived an exciting life, full of art and full of passion. Each section of the book addresses the many sides of Nita Leland. A bit of humor throughout, a few times of when tears threatened to spill (okay, they may have spilled over) at poignant moments, and definitely worth reading.
* One of my favorite passages of the book was her experience when she made an important purchase. Having had a similar experience (or three) with salesmen, this resonated with me (and I suspect it will resonate with other women as well). Sharing the gist of it (spoiler alert):
--I knew what I had come for. We roamed the aisles, searching for my portable computer. A young man approached us with a wide grin. He shook my husband's hand. "I'm Justin. How can I help you, sir?"
"I want to buy a computer," I replied.
The salesman glanced at me and turned to Bob. "How much RAM do you need, sir?"
Bob...looked at me. He knew less about computers than I did.
"64K," I murmured. The salesman winked at me.
"What software do you require, sir? Database? Spreadsheet?"
I clenched my teeth. "Word processing."
Justin ignored me.
My eyes narrowed; I advanced into Justin's personal space, my arms akimbo.
"I came to buy a Kaypro computer and printer," I hissed.
"G-g-good choice, sir. We have two in stock."
I handed the salesman my business credit card. He noticed my husband's name on the card, but ignored my authorized signature.
"You're buying a fine machine, Robert." He tendered the invoice for Bob's signature. I snatched the sales slip and signed it. With a grand flourish, Justin returned the receipt to Bob, who promptly passed it to me.
"You're going to love putting your recipes on your husband's new computer."
I had to escape before I went ballistic. (page 195-196)
Rob's first computer was a Kaypro Two purchased long before I knew him. He still has it; it is about the size of a suitcase, and while it is portable, it weighs only a little less than a refrigerator, but I digress.
I loved this memoir. It gives me even more respect for the woman behind the watercolors that grace our walls. Nita is a woman who has it all, and she tells her story in a manner that is both personal and yet still enlightening. While I could have read it in one sitting, I didn't because I enjoyed reading each and every section as her life unfolded. It is well worth the read, and there are few What-the-tuck trends (one tucking incident on the next-to-the-last page and a few smirks along the way).
see www.pedometergeek.wordpress.com for my extended review by 3/3/2021
August 3, 2024
This is an incredible book -- my new Most Favorite. Extremely well written by a woman coming of age in the 1950's. It's her story of pursuing creativity by dancing around her desire to paint and draw. The old lie, "I can't paint or draw because I'm not creative," song and dance that we tell ourselves permeates Leland's decisions.
Leland's adventures in theater and writing in college developed her skills to write such a warm, engaging memoir. Leland eventually pursues watercolor classes as a busy mother of four children in the 1960's and '70's. She pursues classes at the art center after she was told that daytime BFA classes are only for "serious" students. As a mother wishing to pursue a second degree during the day while her children were in school, Leland is galled by being considered, "Not Serious." She fires into action, forsaking time to make homemade desserts to squeeze in more time to practice painting.
I cheered on Leland as she took one class after another, entered art exhibitions; formed art groups that hung their own exhibitions; bought one of the first personal computers and taught herself how to use it, so she could write a book; then wrote more books; taught herself color theory; developed methods for selecting harmonious color schemes; invented a unique color wheel, found a manufacturer, and sold them herself. Leland is "Joy" and her mops without the benefit of the Home Shopping Network.
Nita Leland overcame painful health issues and forged her career, becoming a successful national watercolor, color, and collage workshop instructor. This book is full of grit and tenacity. As an aspiring watercolorist, my feeble efforts to attack my passion are milk toast compared to Nita. Leland is an accomplished writer, so the book is easy to read. You will be fist pumping, "Yes, Nita!" throughout.
Leland must be in her 90's now, but her website is still up there. I ordered her other books and I can't wait to read them. Go Nita! You are esuch an inspiration to all of us!!
Leland's adventures in theater and writing in college developed her skills to write such a warm, engaging memoir. Leland eventually pursues watercolor classes as a busy mother of four children in the 1960's and '70's. She pursues classes at the art center after she was told that daytime BFA classes are only for "serious" students. As a mother wishing to pursue a second degree during the day while her children were in school, Leland is galled by being considered, "Not Serious." She fires into action, forsaking time to make homemade desserts to squeeze in more time to practice painting.
I cheered on Leland as she took one class after another, entered art exhibitions; formed art groups that hung their own exhibitions; bought one of the first personal computers and taught herself how to use it, so she could write a book; then wrote more books; taught herself color theory; developed methods for selecting harmonious color schemes; invented a unique color wheel, found a manufacturer, and sold them herself. Leland is "Joy" and her mops without the benefit of the Home Shopping Network.
Nita Leland overcame painful health issues and forged her career, becoming a successful national watercolor, color, and collage workshop instructor. This book is full of grit and tenacity. As an aspiring watercolorist, my feeble efforts to attack my passion are milk toast compared to Nita. Leland is an accomplished writer, so the book is easy to read. You will be fist pumping, "Yes, Nita!" throughout.
Leland must be in her 90's now, but her website is still up there. I ordered her other books and I can't wait to read them. Go Nita! You are esuch an inspiration to all of us!!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews