roma
- Monday, August 27 2007
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My Favorite Book is "The Creative License" by Danny Gregory. I read this book a couple of years ago and it catapulted me into the artistic life I had always dreamed of but was afraid to live. Danny writes of "...the art of allowing ourselves to fail, giving up the expectation of perfection and opening our eyes to the beauty around us".
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I haven't read very many creativity books, so I don't know how it stacks up, but one that I did read that I like a lot is Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones:
http://tinyurl.com/34twnj
If I remember right there's kind of motivational talk in there but also some pretty nuts-and-bolts exercises. I think I remember one in particular that I found helpful, which was to pair verbs from cooking with non-cooking subjects.
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Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (This book blew my mind - brilliant!)
The Path of Least Resistance by Robert Fritz
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I recently became interested in mixed-media art in the form of; inspired sorts of collages, journals, cards, etc. The thing is... it's an attraction that surprises me because you see I'm an artist in the loosely applied interpretation of the word, meaning that I am creative and imaginative, I've been known to collage, and enjoy writing in my journal or blog too. Yet, I'm not engaged in producing ART. Yet, I feel so drawn to the form of mixed-media art and recently purchased two great books that are so fanciful and enlightening to me! (well, one is a bit of a journal or magazine.)
1. Artful Blogging: Visually Inspriing Online Journals , Published by Stampington & Company
2. Living The Creative Life: ideas and inspirations from working artists, by RiceFreeman-Zachery.
I love hearing what other great books or links inspire other group members! :)
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Abs
- Sunday, September 23 2007
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I just read "Secrets of the Zona Rosa" by Rosemary Daniells. The Zona Rosans are a group of writer's, mostly women but a couple men, who get together regularly to go over their writing and to get critiquing from each other. Why it is a favorite of mine is that Rosemary stresses not having to be perfect when you're writing. Her emphasis is on the act of writing itself, not the actual writing. Some people, like me, are so scared to start writing because it won't be perfect. Then they never start. Well this book was the first in my writing books to really get me started! She has sections at the end of each chapter called 'Pilates on Paper' that are exercises to get you going. I have been working on some with no restrictions.
The other thing I like about her is not to think about publishing the work you are doing. Write for pure creativity and enjoyment and for yourself. For what it does for your soul to just be expressing yourself. When she said that I realized that somewhere in my mind I always thought that what I was writing had to be publishable. Now that wall has come down and I can write!
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aluvme4me,
That book sounds like a very clever one!! :) I'll have to check that it out! Writing just for you and not for an "imagined" audience has been just the ticket to stir your creativity, 'eh? I love it!
Chai Girl
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Abs
- Tuesday, September 25 2007
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Sometimes its just a simple thing that makes me have an Ah-ha moment....then open the floodgates!
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I know what you mean, Abs!
I'm the same way...
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Twyla Tharp's book "The Creative Habit" was compelling enough that after I returned it to the library I needed to buy my own copy. It's also a different take from many of the artist/writer oriented ones becaus she relates the basic concepts to her experiences as a dancer and choreographer.
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chris w
- Saturday, January 12 2008
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So many great books on this topic. One I've not seen mentioned; Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon Mackenzie
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An old book but one I've found very inspirational is "If You Want to Write" by Brenda Ueland. Though it's intended for writers, I think it's a worthwhile read for anyone engaged in creative activities.
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ET
- Wednesday, February 6 2008
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In my collection I have a blank book with a strange cover. A rubber dragon's hand and one eye. I haven't written in it as everytime I open it up a story appears on the page in my mind's eye to be read alowed...now that's what I call a creativity book.
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ET
- Saturday, March 8 2008
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Mom just added a new book on sponge art.. I'm looking forward to trying out the ideas and seeing just what I may express from my spirit.
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Andra
- Friday, May 16 2008
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I found a whole new take on the origins of creativity in "Touched by Fire" by Kay Redfield Jamison. She examines the links between manic depression and the drive to be creative. For someone who has lived her life around a few artists who find a mania in creativity it was quite interesting!
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Dan
- Saturday, June 21 2008
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Jamison is amazing. I've read several of her books, have started "Exuberance." Denise Shekerjian wrote a fantastic book about MacArthur Fellows entitled "Uncommon Genius." "You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination" is a remarkable book. It's great for college & high school classes too. Unfortunately there are a lot of mediocre books about creativity. I read Rollo May's "The Courage To Create" years ago. I wanted to love the book, because "The Courage To Create" is a great title. But it wasn't as amazing as I hoped it would be. You don't know how good a book is until you read it!
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I want to read that! "Touched by Fire" sounds like it's one I'd like.
I agree on Dan's comment about "The Courage to Create" -- I was disappointed.
Above is a note on Twyla Tharp's book, and that was a great one for me.
I also like the books by Sark, esp. if I need a little jumpstart.
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