“All it takes to become an artist is to start doing art.”
–from On Becoming an Artist
On Becoming an A... read full description
–from On Becoming an Artist
On Becoming an A... read full description
reviews
Jan 14, 2010
Jennifer
rated it: 
Quotation:
"How do we get from beginning some new activity to a personal renaissance? Learning what things stand in the way of our comfortably engaging in some leisure activity, and how to break down these roadblocks as we experience them provides the practice we need to deal with our more familiar stresses and fears. Once examined through this new lens, many of our 'problems' fall by the roadside. We can, it turns out, pursue art for art’s sake and art for life’s sake, and it matters l More...
"How do we get from beginning some new activity to a personal renaissance? Learning what things stand in the way of our comfortably engaging in some leisure activity, and how to break down these roadblocks as we experience them provides the practice we need to deal with our more familiar stresses and fears. Once examined through this new lens, many of our 'problems' fall by the roadside. We can, it turns out, pursue art for art’s sake and art for life’s sake, and it matters l More...
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Oct 21, 2011
Clara
rated it: 
Langer, who is a psychologist and researcher at Harvard University, is known primarily for her work on mindfulness. Here, she outlines the obstacles to creating art mindfully--unnecessary obstacles of our own making that stop us from fully enjoying the creative process or that keep us from making art altogether. Her arguments resonated strongly for me, even though no one issue was particularly novel or earthshaking. I realize that I may simply have been at the right place at the right time, so
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Dec 17, 2011
Sdb
rated it: 
I was hooked from the beginning. I am an artist and a student of social psychology so it wasn't much of a stretch. The ideas presented are not all new but were backed up with Langers form of experiment which sets out to illuminate the edges rather than re affirm the common results. I have no doubt this is not for everyone but if you are interested in examining behavior you will find a lot of clear examinations and revealing results in this book.
I went on to find the British tv spe More...
I went on to find the British tv spe More...
Nov 14, 2011
Angela
rated it:
Solid and interesting. I liked the quotes best. As well are the examples of artwork both famous and by the author herself, which show the imperfections of perfect art. Some of the scientific reason was dense but useful for the rational side of the mind. Decision making tips fantastic. Mindfulness at its best!
Dec 12, 2011
Marsmannix
rated it: 
I had high hopes for this book but i can sum it up very briefly: be yourself and don't care what people think.
It reads as though the author decided to cull concepts from her academic studies and add pithy little blurbs to make it a popular, saleable book.
skip it.
It reads as though the author decided to cull concepts from her academic studies and add pithy little blurbs to make it a popular, saleable book.
skip it.
Nov 07, 2010
Connie
rated it: 
I read this because someone else had referred to it as inspiring. I slogged my way through it, hoping it would get better. It didn't. Maybe it was a case of the wrong book at the wrong time.
Oct 07, 2009
Joseph
rated it:
This book is more about 'Self Esteem' than it really is about creating art.
Oct 10, 2009
Deb, the Word Muse
rated it:
Dr Langer is a professor of the psychology at Harvard. Her use of the term "mindfulness" is a way of asking the reader to be present and pay attention to what is going on - actively engaging the world.
For me her discussion of evaluation was well worth reading, I recommend this to anyone who has had someone else look at their art/writing and evaluate it from their point of view. It sounds simple, but this is a complex idea rooted in culture and the individual.
For me her discussion of evaluation was well worth reading, I recommend this to anyone who has had someone else look at their art/writing and evaluate it from their point of view. It sounds simple, but this is a complex idea rooted in culture and the individual.
Aug 08, 2011
Kim
rated it:
I don't think it cut deep enough for me, but I did find parts of it helpful and interesting. It reads more as a memoir in some regards. This book best for a beginner mindset.
Apr 09, 2008
Kathy
rated it:
A helpful book, though I was a little disappointed that her definition of mindfulness is decidedly not Buddhist. She makes a great argument for being mindful and practicing mindful creativity, but falls short in showing exactly how one becomes mindful. She also tends to descend into semi-academic language, which lessens the impact of the book. Overall worthwhile, if a little disappointing.
Jun 18, 2011
Jocelyn
rated it:
Insightful, practical, uplifting. As a writer who dabbles in art, I felt like this book really helped me to understand and engage more mindfully in the practice of creativity on a level that I had not yet reached or appreciated. I found mountains of gems in here, both from the author and from quotes the author brings in to highlight certain ideas.
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Dec 20, 2011
Sonja
rated it:
It wasn't what I expected. "Becoming an artist" was more of a secondary theme. It was more about the author's research on mindfulness. You almost need to have read about mindfulness before reading this book, because she doesn't describe the concept completely.
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