Book Giveaway For An Absorbing Errand: How Artists and Craftsmen Make Their Way to Mastery

[close] Many people carry within their hearts an aching sense that they have something they want to express through art; yet fear, shame, isolation, expectations, and the very real pressures of financial and family commitments often overwhelm the creative impulse in its nascent stages.

Janna Malamud Smith's new book, An Absorbing Errand, draws from her insights as a psychotherapist, her personal life, as well as examples of famous artists and writers' lives––from Julia Child to Charlie Chaplin, Lady Gaga to Michael Jackson, and Shakespeare to Picasso––to examine the psychological obstacles and fears that prevent aspiring and established artists, from growing a sustained, nurturing, and realistic creative practice. 
 
Janna Malamud Smith not only illustrates how these obstacles, once understood, can be turned into prime sources of energy that actually fuel the artist's creative vision and mastery of his or her craft, but she also offers a poignant perspective on how current hot button topics, including social media, the recession, and sexuality impact the creative process.
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