No More Secondhand Art: Awakening the Artist Within

by Peter London

This book is about using art as an instrument of personal transformation, enabling us to move from an inherited to a chosen state of being. Peter London offers inspiration and fresh ideas to artists, art students, and art teachers—as well as to people who think they can't draw a straight line but want to explore the joys of creative expression. Inside every person, he believes, there is an original, creative self that has been covered over by secondhand ideas, borrowed beliefs, and conditioned behavior. By freeing the capacity for visual expression—a natural human language possessed by everyone—we can awaken and release the full powers of that original self. Among the topics and exercises included are:

   •  How to increase the ability to visualize, fantasize, and dream
   •  Obstacles to the creative encounter and what to do about them
   •  Experimenting with art media as true mediators between imagination and expression
   •  Making masks to reveal the hidden self
   •  Painting with "forbidden" colors
   •  Arranging found objects as metaphors for one's life

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Writing, Self Help

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A basic book about the creative process, but both times I've read it I've literally dropped reading the book to begin something creative. It inspired me to write my first song.

One of my favorite parts is at the beginning, when the author Peter London talks about walking through a museum of great Master paintings as a graduate student of painting and art history. "The compositions were taut; nothing was superfluous, nothing missing. The landscapes, still lifes, and portraits depicted all that is thought beautiful. The symbols and classical allusions were erudite and cleverly employed. Beyond doubt, the entire exhibition hall had the unmistakable feel to it of a sanctuary of learning and of beauty. We walked through the show, scrutinizing the works with ever slower and heavier tread, and came away quiet and joyless, as if life had been somehow drained from us. Why?" His discussion that follows was both confirming and eye-opening for me. London asks (then answers) "Why is it that dexterity, knowledge of art, and taste do not necessarily add up to what we seek in art?"

[Erik Akre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter London eloquently affirms the transformative power of the Creative Encounter, when the artist honestly and mindfully engages in the act of creating an outward manifestation of inner reality.

The book taught me (or retaught me since I had forgotten) how trustworthy is every thought or impulse employed in the act of creation, and how meaningful is the infusion of sacredness the artist gives to the entire process--the process consisting of its trinity: inner being, outer object, and media intermediaries.

Art is sacred because life is sacred, and each of us speaks from our own particular place in the overall holy picture. Our lives are holy as unique expressions of the universal being, and our art is a particular manifestation or incarnation expressing any portion, large or small, of the infinite range of who we are as cosmic beings.

One cannot be "wrong" when expressing oneself this way. One can be authentic or inauthentic to varying degrees. One can move closer or further away from the heart of oneself. The reflective, honest, and opened process leads further and further in, toward that heart.

This was an excellent book, intended I believe for art teachers primarily, but really for anyone seeking deeper meaning and self-knowledge through art-making.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the encouragement to trust ourselves to "be art", and
stretch beyond or outside of what someone else thinks we
"should" be doing with our creativity.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book though it is on the far end of making art only for yourself and no one else. If you want to make art for a living you have to keep others in mind at least a little, otherwise your work won't be marketable. Good insight into who we are as creatures of the gods and how when we create whether through art, music, dance, yoga, or other spiritual rituals we are getting a natural high by doing what we were designed to do. Some good thoughts, some not so good thoughts. Eeeh. Like I said 3 star.

[James]

This book is about using art as an instrument of personal transformation, enabling us to move from an inherited to a chosen state of being. Peter London offers inspiration and fresh ideas to artists, art students, and art teachers—as well as to people who think they can't draw a straight line but want to explore the joys of creative expression. Inside every person, he believes, there is an original, creative self that has been covered over by secondhand ideas, borrowed beliefs, and conditioned behavior. By freeing the capacity for visual expression—a natural human language possessed by everyone—we can awaken and release the full powers of that original self. Among the topics and exercises included are:    •  How to increase the ability to visualize, fantasize, and dream    •  Obstacles to the creative encounter and what to do about them    •  Experimenting with art media as true mediators between imagination and expression    •  Making masks to reveal the hidden self    •  Painting with "forbidden" colors    •  Arranging found objects as metaphors for one's life

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heady, and good. Inspired me to stop checking out art books from the library and actually spend some time figuring out what my own questions are. Also inspired me to read No More Secondhand God: And Other Writings which is a diversion for me.

"In art, the thing just made is really new; it has never been seen before by anyone, including the author."

Inspiring. The philosophy is a bit aggrandizing, hence the 3-stars as I find anything overly argumentative in the logic-department- and this from an art book, criminy- to be a bit self-righteous. But definitely deserves a read, and has been the inspiration for many other wonderful books, including Art Is a Way of Knowing and Trust the Process, which are two that I fall back on in my work and creative life.

[Robin Helms · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book to inspire and awaken the artist within. The only criticism is that it reads like a textbook (which was required reading for my art class).

It will always remain a good reference book and muse when I need inspiration!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book to play with when you're in a creative mood.

[Kevin Casto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to help you understand creativity and why we must persist in our creative endeavors even when they become hard.

[Zakfoster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grounded philosophical discussion of why we create

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

couldn't read it. academic style of writing

[Amy MacDonald]

You really need to do the exercises ("creative encounters") to get the most out of this book. My schedule hasn't allowed for this.