What It Is

Feeling stuck? Unsure of what to write? Feel like paging through a book of bizarre and gorgeous pictures? I've got the book for you.

WHAT IT IS by Lynda Barry is an art project, plus memoir of an artist's evolution, plus experiment in creativity. And it's beautiful and weird and I counted at least five pictures of Abraham Lincoln in here and I can only wonder why.

But why anything, in art? I think the randomness of these images is part of what spoke to me. In my favorite part of the book, Barry talks about the voices of doubt that tormented her as she tried to create her comics: voices asking "what is it? is it good?" and berating her if she couldn't answer properly. "Why are you wasting your time on something that's not good?" The voices ask. "You should know what it is. You should know if it's good, and worth the time and effort." The voices are harsh and demanding, stunting creation. I've heard those voices loud and clear.

But I love Barry's way of dealing with the voices: it's the acceptance of not knowing what you are creating that can release you from constant doubt and despair. Embrace not-knowing, and you may be surprised by what will flow from the end of your paintbrush or pen. This is an invaluable lesson for me, even now, and it's presented in such a glorious way in this book.