The Artist's Date Book

by Julia Cameron

In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron addressed a complex subject in a way that has allowed millions of aspiring and working artists to tap into their own creativity. With her companion book The Artist's Way Morning Pages Journal, Cameron focused readers on one of two primary tools in her programs. Now The Artist's Date Book directs readers toward the second tool. Encompassing a year of creativity, with illustrations by Elizabeth Cameron Evans, 365 provocative tasks, and ample inventory space, it is whimsical, inspiring, entertaining, and wise. The book leads readers to involve themselves in daily meetings with their creative self, guiding them to authentic growth, renewal, and confidence.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Self Help, Art

384 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 1999

About the author

Julia Cameron has been an active artist for more than thirty years, with fifteen books (including bestsellers The Artist's Way, Walking in This World, and The Right to Write) and countless television, film, and theatre scripts to her credit. Writing since the age of 18, Cameron has a long list of screenplay and teleplay credits to her name, including an episode of Miami Vice, and Elvis and the Beauty Queen, which starred Don Johnson. She was a writer on such movies as Taxi Driver, New York, New York, and The Last Waltz. She wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning independent feature film, God's Will, which premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival, and was selected by the London Film Festival, the Munich International Film Festival, and Women in Film Festival, among others. In addition to making film, Cameron has taught film at such diverse places as Chicago Filmmakers, Northwestern University, and Columbia College. Her profound teachings on unlocking creativity and living from the creative center have inspired countless artists to unleash their full potential.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Julia Cameron's approach to creativity, but I do not love this book. In fact, I hate it. Each page contains a suggestion for an artist's date. (If you are familiar with Julia's work, you already know what that means. Granted, artist's dates can be fun, but not many of these are.) My first problem with this book is that the illustrations are too cutesy and they take up half the page. And the second half of the page is filled with lines so that you can write. Write what? Who knows. Who cares. Next, some of the suggestions are flat out stupid (ie...sew bells on the toes of your sleep socks, glitter your sneakers) and some of them are next to impossible (go pet a horse), some of them are costly (get a massage, paint your kitchen red). I found this book to be completely uninspiring.

[Ilze · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cameron's sister Libby, created "Theo" the cartoon character that appears on all the pages ... I found this book a waste of time, money and paper.

[Sicily · Rating 1 out of 5]

The awkward moment when you realize how overtly racist Julia Cameron. How did I miss the anti Black part on first read I don't know. I loved this book so much I have print and then brought the audible book. But then Cameron says that everyone has their dark sides. "We all have our Africas". 👀💀 Like what, why, your editors didn't, wtf, oh I love it when books are like this book isn't for you... I'm not unpacking this anymore. Anyone else who reads this review will have to lingering in the hell space of wtf was that.

[Elmailona · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Julia Cameron's other books, but this one was a major disappointment. It was basically merely a list of 365 "creative tasks", accompanied by equally many drawings and space "for your notes". In addition to that, an awful lot of the "tasks" were about buying stuff and / or going to all kinds of different stores just for the fun of it. I just can't see what buying a new vacuum cleaner has to do with enhancing creativity. Besides, if you go to all those stores all the time, when will you actually have time to BE creative? But wait, it gets worse. Let's look at some of the prompts:
* Day 97: Buy a goldfish.
* Day 110: Meet a parakeet.
* Day 144: Get another parakeet.

.. long story short: no, didn't get the parakeet nor the goldfish, most likely will not be getting more books from Cameron either.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book in The Artists's Way series, this is a handy, helpful cute guide with a whole lot of different Artists Dates. Spaces to flip around in them and do them, or straight through, however best suits the reader. (I'm, also, endlessly amused each page makes you check off that you did your morning pages that morning.)

[Bonita Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this today at a local bookstore.
I want this book! It's a book filled with 365 reflections, one for every day of the year, by none other than Julia Cameron.. with a little room to write/reflect on ea page! Filled with fun illustrations!

[Betty · Rating 1 out of 5]

Make rice pudding???? I found most of these ideas to be totally uninspiring!