[close] Creativity is one of the great mysteries of life. Everyone may possess it to some degree, but why do some people seem completely in touch with their creative powers while others struggle to connect with it at all? How do you unlock your creative potential--or maximize it, if you're already utilizing some level of it? This inspirational book--meant primarily for painters but full of sage advice for other types of artists and crafters, too--teaches how to release your muse by exploring the basics of the language of art and by applying the Zen principles of blending body, mind, and spirit and of following an intuitive rather than purely logical approach. The author's own lyrical, vividly colored paintings (as well as works by other artists) complement her highly readable discussions of self-awareness, instinct, mandalas, harmony, and mindfulness, as both important general concepts and as they pertain to landscape, still life, and figural art. In short, she teaches you how to know yourself as a creator, and to recognize that "creative vision really is your natural birthright" and that "art has something to offer everyone ... as a means of self-knowledge." --Amy Handy [close]