From the author of Wreck This Journal, an interactive guide for exploring and documenting the art and science of everyday life.
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Dec 02, 2011
Stephen
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A few friends were given this journal of sorts in a Foundations Art program at Alfred University. I decided to pick it up to see what might be inside.
I feel this text is for the stunted artist, perhaps one that needs faith in self to become an artist or the wayward youth unfocused. Perhaps it is right to give this text to those beginning their academic adventure into the art world, but I feel that having made the great leap to decide on going to college for art, the text may seem tri More...
I feel this text is for the stunted artist, perhaps one that needs faith in self to become an artist or the wayward youth unfocused. Perhaps it is right to give this text to those beginning their academic adventure into the art world, but I feel that having made the great leap to decide on going to college for art, the text may seem tri More...
Oct 18, 2011
Hope
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Found this book while wondering around Barnes & Noble this afternoon. It was a very quick read, obviously, as I was able to finish it while sitting there. It was fresh, fun, quirky, and had great ideas on how to explore the world around us. It listed a number of fun "experiments" and activities to engage with the world, and to inspire your creative juices. I rather liked the approach of looking at an artist as a COLLECTOR. This really resonated with me. I collect. Images. Thoughts. Wor
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Jan 30, 2012
Caitlin
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5 stars for Keri Smith's, "How to be an Explorer of the World," because the title stays true to its content. Appropriate for all ages, Smith suggests a variety of activities and observations one can perform to awaken their senses and imagination. If you're looking to find (more) curiosity and creativity within yourself, I wouldn't pass this up as it will surely lead you there. All of the suggestions in this book, although eccentric at times, are possible regardless of your budget or lo
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Aug 23, 2011
Littlevision
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My mother would hate this book because it encourages me to continue all of my annoying habits, like keeping bits of string and sticks and rocks and rolled glass and buttons and dead growths from trees.
She would like people to believe I am a hoarder; really, I just find the world interesting and like having interesting things at my fingertips.
I'm not at home right now, so mainly this book made me wish for my glass-jar collection, which I purchased at a yard sale for $2 right b More...
She would like people to believe I am a hoarder; really, I just find the world interesting and like having interesting things at my fingertips.
I'm not at home right now, so mainly this book made me wish for my glass-jar collection, which I purchased at a yard sale for $2 right b More...
Dec 29, 2011
Lynn
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Love. LOVE. I so LOVE THIS BOOK.
The subtitle is "Portable Life Museum", and the "museum"-part of it is a bit misleading: This is no coffee-table-book, no framed artwork you merely look at like you do in a museum, this is stuff you do.
The book is crammed full of wonderful ideas on how to explore the world you know and stretch those boundaries into yet unexplored territory (and create art by doing so) - and having fun doing it.
And fun it is.
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The subtitle is "Portable Life Museum", and the "museum"-part of it is a bit misleading: This is no coffee-table-book, no framed artwork you merely look at like you do in a museum, this is stuff you do.
The book is crammed full of wonderful ideas on how to explore the world you know and stretch those boundaries into yet unexplored territory (and create art by doing so) - and having fun doing it.
And fun it is.
More...
Nov 01, 2011
Jamison
rated it:
this is a very frustrating book to find at the library.
this is a "do, and see, and discover, and explore, and create, and put it all in one book" book. a "rip it apart, and put it all back to-gether in different pieces" book.
a "buy me, now! and discover" book.
with the quote "how to be an artist" on the back cover, you would think the book is aimed at.....artists. it is, but i see prompts for writing, and chances for More...
this is a "do, and see, and discover, and explore, and create, and put it all in one book" book. a "rip it apart, and put it all back to-gether in different pieces" book.
a "buy me, now! and discover" book.
with the quote "how to be an artist" on the back cover, you would think the book is aimed at.....artists. it is, but i see prompts for writing, and chances for More...
Nov 30, 2010
jess
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This is one of those books that is great for creative people or people who want to develop creative habits/perspectives. It is a collection of exercises gathered mostly from external (well-cited) sources that will give you a method of moving through your life like an explorer. By following all the exercises in here, you could create a portable museum of your life, certainly, and there is advice on how to even have showings or exhibitions of your museum. I can see this ultimately being more usefu
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Sep 16, 2011
Sarah
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How to explore your world, without really having to go anywhere. This book encourages you to pay attention to the ordinary, the overlooked and the everday. Look in corners, around your house, and up to the sky. Notice patterns, similarities, differences and how things work together. Smith offers prompts for cataloging and contemplating our world, our place in it, and how our perception is constantly evolving and shifting. Excellent exercises for budding artists and/or creative types. Good
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Apr 25, 2011
Eling
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While I sort of felt like I was cheating by not actually completing the "explorations" in this book (or even writing in it, because I got it out of the library), I really liked the idea of getting out and paying attention to/collecting the everyday in your life. Definitely the type of book that I'd like to eventually get & work through, but for now I'm content to be inspired in a more general way. Fun stuff to give you a little creative kickstart and/or perspective refresher.
May 24, 2011
Myhoa
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I loved this fun book. Often we overlook the details and don't know how to catalog our lives. Blogs are great at being effient and scrapbooking is more a capial industry than it is a creative outlet. This small book is amazingly wonderful in suggesting ways to see and document the world around you. It has changed the way I see my everyday evnironment and new ones too. Not to mention the ideas are fun and creative.
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Mar 24, 2010
Jennifer
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Picking this up today and starting it - - I could have sworn I had read it before - - maybe - - it is the basis for a class on Big Picture Scrapbooking "Everyday Adventures" with Tami Morrison that starts on April 15th. . .join us!! www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com
Read thru the book last night - which has given me some ideas for the BPS class. . . with this book - Tami will definitely make this FUN!
Read thru the book last night - which has given me some ideas for the BPS class. . . with this book - Tami will definitely make this FUN!
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May 03, 2009
Lyz
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An art teacher friend loaned this to me--I need to get my own copy! This "activity" book is about observing, documenting, collecting... noticing and being amazed at the little things... how to look at the banal around you and see it as if you were a tourist, new to your own world (in a fun, adventurous way). This book is fascinating as an adult, and would also be interesting to do with wee people.
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Dec 12, 2011
Carrie
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I LOVE this book! This was a re-read. I am using it in preparation to teach "Creative Activities for Young Children", which I haven't taught in a number of years. I plan to use this book with my adult students as they nurture their own curiosity in order to learn how to support curiosity and creativity in young children. If you haven't seen this, check it out. It's wonderful!
Dec 18, 2008
Cynthia Agnieszka
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Amazing book! I like how this book incorporates science and research principles to discovery while keeping an open mind to everything around you. "science" is really not lofty and only for those wearing white lab coats, through this book I realized that everyone is a scientist in using one's own senses to see and observe. If only we could all share what we find!
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Oct 24, 2008
Tami
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This book is a must-read for fans of Keri Smith's freespirited style, as well as for anyone needing a nudge to approach life in a more fun and creative way.
The premise is that "artists and scientists analyze the world around them in surpisingly similar ways" - an interesting observation!
The book is broken down into 59 individual "field studies" - activities that invite the reader to observe the world in fresh and offbeat ways. Readers are encouraged t More...
The premise is that "artists and scientists analyze the world around them in surpisingly similar ways" - an interesting observation!
The book is broken down into 59 individual "field studies" - activities that invite the reader to observe the world in fresh and offbeat ways. Readers are encouraged t More...
Feb 01, 2012
Alexis
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Am housesitting and one of the joys of housesitting is going through other peoples' bookshelves (with their permission) of course.
My friend is a visual artist and has a lot of interesting books. This book is part SARK, park Julia Cameron. It has lots of fun quotes and exercises and is designed to get people to look at the world differently.
A fun little book.
My friend is a visual artist and has a lot of interesting books. This book is part SARK, park Julia Cameron. It has lots of fun quotes and exercises and is designed to get people to look at the world differently.
A fun little book.
Apr 12, 2010
Alexis
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I REALLY love this book because it opened my eyes to a brand new way of looking at everything. Every picture I took throughout this book I always though where does this fit. I analyzed the details to find all the places it fit. I turned my explorations into a scrapbook although I have only gotten to complete 15 so far....
Dec 29, 2009
Gail
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Fun book about how to be more creative and more observant of your surroundings and to document and observe the world around you. As if you've never seen it before. Take notes. Collect things you find on your travels. Document findings. Notice patterns. Copy. Trace. Focus on one thing at a time. Record what you are drawn to.
Jun 29, 2009
Samantha
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I really enjoyed this book- I've read several times now. I'm only now going back through and tinkering with the exercises. I read this before I read into "Wreck This Journal," which is also cute. Of the two, I prefer "How to be an Explorer," for inspiration jolt. Some of the "explorations" are very similar to those in "Wreck This Journal," though this book hits closer to the adult in me :-)
May 28, 2011
Oaki
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Well, it is a very interesting book for adults that are dull and have forgotten their childhood, but I'm a teenager (I'm 18 years old), therefore I usually do on a regular basis everything that this book taught. So, well written, but futile for me. Anyway, good book for those people.
Jun 20, 2010
Monica
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This is a fun book about how to be more creative and more observant of the world around you. Pick up "trash" that interests you, stop and listen to things, look for patterns. This book makes you stop and actually look at your surroundings-not just aimlessly wonder through them.
Dec 13, 2008
Tori
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I love this book. I already loved Keri's other book about Guerilla Art, so I had to have this one. What an amazing inspiration to live life for all the little ignored things. So interactive and inspiring, this book was perfectly what I needed to read on a Friday night.
May 07, 2011
Viktoria
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a great book with little exercises to look closer at everything around you in everyday life. this is fun and not just for artist or art teachers! it opens your eyes (and ears) and makes you think about the world around you. I actually started to look at things differently.
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Sep 17, 2011
Danalia
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I really love this book! It is filled with exploration tasks that spark creativity, but the ultimate message of the book is to take pause from all of life's busyness, and notice what is around you!
Aug 16, 2010
Sue
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Bought the book from the Ready Made magazine article, since it looked really interesting. Going to use the exercises (some as they are, some a bit more loosely fashioned) to help myself see and experience the world around me more fully, esp. appreciating the cityscape more.
Jan 19, 2010
Rose
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This book has lots of activities and imaginative assignments about observing and documenting what you see around you. It would be especially inspiring for writers, I would think.
Aug 21, 2011
Even though I did not do every single activity in this book, I still enjoyed reading it, and I am sure I will get to finish all of the activities another time :D
May 09, 2011
Lydia
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I can't wait to use some of these activities with students. Just like Wreck this Journal and This is Not a Book, Keri Smith continues to think outside the box.
Jul 29, 2011
Becky
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I read, Z flipped through. Both inspired. After all, it's hard not want to play with art, observation, collecting, and documenting when you are on the grand company of Leonard Cohen, John Cage, Maira Kahlman, and Einstein.
Jan 11, 2009
Elena
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From a digital scrapbooker's perspective, I like the idea of paying more attention to the everyday, the stuff of life, and appreciating it all. But overall, the book itself wasn't that great, and some of the activities were a bit silly.
