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Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are
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Packed with the signature can-do attitude that makes beloved artist Danny Gregory a creativity guru to thousands across the globe, this unique guide serves up a hearty helping of inspiration. For aspiring artists who want to draw and paint but just can't seem to find time in the day, Gregory offers 5– to 10–minute exercises for every skill level that fit into any schedule—
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Start your review of Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are
Can I tell you something I hate? I hate that Malcolm Gladwell 10,000 hours theory.
For anyone who's avoided it somehow, the way it works is that Gladwell, who we'll get to, poses the theory that 10,000 hours of concentrated, limits-pushing practice is what separates the successful from the amateur, the pro from the bro.
First of all, no shit. If I just picked a huge, giant number, and if you worked on something that long, there's almost no way you're gonna be worse. 10,000 hours, that's over a yea ...more
For anyone who's avoided it somehow, the way it works is that Gladwell, who we'll get to, poses the theory that 10,000 hours of concentrated, limits-pushing practice is what separates the successful from the amateur, the pro from the bro.
First of all, no shit. If I just picked a huge, giant number, and if you worked on something that long, there's almost no way you're gonna be worse. 10,000 hours, that's over a yea ...more
Super motivating book with creative prompts to get you creating. The overall message of positivity and the beautiful illustrations make me happy.
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative is equally as wonderful. Don't miss either.
LOVED.
Recommended.
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Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative is equally as wonderful. Don't miss either.
LOVED.
Recommended.
...more
Art is a business, an industry, a racket.
art is about passion, love, life, humanity—
everything that is truly valuable.
Artistically, I've been stuck in a rut for awhile now. I have ideas, many ideas, but to execute them and create an actual piece of art...now that's a different story.
Making art slows us down enough to see the details, the wrinkles, the world within worlds. Without it, life is just a blur of CliffsNotes, movie trailers, and microwaved entreēs.
So maybe I should start with s ...more
Meh. I start from a position of loving all of Danny Gregory's books I've read (so far) which is most of them. This one just feels like a money grab :( There are some fun illustrations, as you would expect. There are certainly ideas. But absolutely every topic, idea, what have you, is covered in about three sentences. Where Is The truly insightful writing we have come to expect? No in this one! If you are a complete-ist, I suppose you will want to get it. It is not expensive. But just to read it,
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If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.
"Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are" by Danny Gregory
It is about willpower--you have to have the willpower, high self-control, and motivation to get yourself to initially undertake "white-knuckle struggles"--you cannot introduce a new, fully-formed habit in your life from out of nowhere, without actually going through the process of forming the habit and getting through the difficult par ...more
"Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are" by Danny Gregory
It is about willpower--you have to have the willpower, high self-control, and motivation to get yourself to initially undertake "white-knuckle struggles"--you cannot introduce a new, fully-formed habit in your life from out of nowhere, without actually going through the process of forming the habit and getting through the difficult par ...more
That I started this in early July and just finished it last week should tell you something - comfortable writing style, fun drawings, and yet I just wasn't drawn in.
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If you have followed Danny Gregory in Sketchbook Skool and read his past books, this is simply the same philosophy. Nothing new or inspirational that hasn't already been written or spoken about several times. I was disappointed…nothing new here.
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Art should be like breakfast: something you do every day. And if there is anyone who can guide you into seeing art opportunities in your everyday life, it is Danny Gregory.
You can spend a day with this book. You can spend a week with it. A month. A year. Probably a lifetime.
Full of delight.
You can spend a day with this book. You can spend a week with it. A month. A year. Probably a lifetime.
Full of delight.
I'm a fan of the author, but if you've read his other books, there is nothing new in this one. If the last time you made any art was in Kindergarten, this might be the book for you. This little book, while delightful to peruse, seems rather like the author had all these journal pages, and decided to create a book around them. Check out of the library rather than buy material. I'd highly recommend two of his books - The Creative License and Everyday Matters - to anyone interested in being more cr
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A couple of ideas intrigued me but the majority of this book repeats the basic idea that you should carry a sketchbook with you everywhere and draw at any given chance you get. Now I draw and sketch when I truly have to but I find it restricts my creative bent so I do it in extreme circumstances only. This book and the 'ideas' contained were so boring and samey and nowhere near inspirational. An utterly one dimensional effort.
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Like, it's fine. it's a fine book. It says what every person who has a secret burning desire to create needs to hear: stop talking about it and pick up your pen. I mean, he's right. Every movie I watch is 2 hours I spent not making art. Time, as I get older, grows increasingly fleeting and precious. So the basic premise of the book is this: hoard your time, snatch fifteen minutes here and there, and spend it like a miser. Make art your wealth, and do it for life. You'll regret living any other w
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Just do it
I loved the section on not letting perfectionism stop you. Just pick up the pen and paper and you'll be shocked it will come forth. ...more
I loved the section on not letting perfectionism stop you. Just pick up the pen and paper and you'll be shocked it will come forth. ...more
More like a crash course in art confidence than technique. It's about looking things around you with fresh eyes and managing 5 minutes a day. Encouraged to pick up the pencil and brushes again. Timely read when we need to stay indoors!!
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"Creativity isn't a luxury. It's the essence of life."
{The preface}
This book is for people who don't have time to read it.
You don't have a second to catch your breath.
To smell the roses or the coffee.
Your life is getting more full and more crazy.
Which is why you need to add one more thing to your to-do list:
Make art.
Seriously, art? Yup.
{art with a small "a", I might add.}
This book is full of ideas of finding time for art and illustrating the beauty found in everything, every day. It has e ...more
{The preface}
This book is for people who don't have time to read it.
You don't have a second to catch your breath.
To smell the roses or the coffee.
Your life is getting more full and more crazy.
Which is why you need to add one more thing to your to-do list:
Make art.
Seriously, art? Yup.
{art with a small "a", I might add.}
This book is full of ideas of finding time for art and illustrating the beauty found in everything, every day. It has e ...more
I like Danny Gregory and his approach to drawing very much, but this book seemed to be just a shorter version of The Creative License. There really wasn't much new, though what there is is fine. Even Danny rehashed inspires and encourages me, so I'm not sorry I read it, but if you've read some of his other books, there's really not much added here.
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Excellent, another wonderful book by Danny Gregory. Its full of ideas on finding time for art, plus many ideas of things to draw to document your life. Full of humorous anecdotes and fun drawings. If you want to draw this is a great place to start. If you already sketch this is a great resource.
It felt like more of a list of all the things one could draw ("Look! There's stuff everywhere! Now draw it!") than something particularly inspiring. It could be useful to some.
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Such a sweet read. A quick-paced, down-to-earth inspiration for anyone wishing to draw or draw more.
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“Art with a big “A” is for museums, galleries, critics, and collectors. art with a small “a” is for the rest of us. Art is a business, an industry, a racket. art is about passion, love, life, humanity— everything that is truly valuable. Art is sold, resold, put under the gavel, and insured up the wazoo. art with a small “a” is not a product. It’s a point of view. It’s a way of life. Art ...more
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“Art with a big “A” is for museums, galleries, critics, and collectors. art with a small “a” is for the rest of us. Art is a business, an industry, a racket. art is about passion, love, life, humanity— everything that is truly valuable. Art is sold, resold, put under the gavel, and insured up the wazoo. art with a small “a” is not a product. It’s a point of view. It’s a way of life. Art ...more
An inspiring book about drawing - actually about making art. I do like the author's perspective that everyone can create art. You don't need to be the Artist, but you can definitely enjoy creating art. Embrace the errors the imperfections, mix things up, experiment methods and mediums you haven't tried. Exploring your potential. I like this book and suggest you read it, and hopefully, you will start drawing something after reading this little book.
我最近开始在速写本上画画，有一定程度是受这本书的影响：《早餐前的艺术》(art Before B ...more
我最近开始在速写本上画画，有一定程度是受这本书的影响：《早餐前的艺术》(art Before B ...more
Wow! I don't know why I didn't read this sooner. As an artist I've read a lot of art books. They can be hit or miss. This book was a quick read but still filled with useful tips and inspiration that will keep you going back for more. I'm so glad I finally read this!
Longer review to come! ...more
Longer review to come! ...more
A deceptively simple little book, it definitely covers all the bases with the "anyone can do art. Lower case a 'art', don't worry about upper case A proper 'Art'" .. a D it does all that with a disarming conversational style and a reassuring air; as a pleasant surprise is the book goes a step beyond the stay positive platitude and has hidden some very valuable little art lessons about contour drawing, negative space and measuring in among all the feel-good text.
Thus it's an easy recommend for a ...more
Thus it's an easy recommend for a ...more
Not what I expected. This is a book that encourages you to create art everyday via drawing/sketching. Later in the book, other art mediums are introduced for you to enhance your drawings. I thought it was going to be more about unleashing the creative process. It still is a very cool book and a quick read. A lot of the exercises will keep you loose.
Good for getting the creative juices flowing, and quench the excuses, like "I don't have time, I can't draw", etc.
A quick and easy read, and a great way to get started. ...more
A quick and easy read, and a great way to get started. ...more
Liked it well enough to get me a small sketch pad and some decent drawing pens...
This book can feel a tad disorganized at times, but nonetheless I think everyone should read it. Even if the extent of your interest in art is the halfhearted “I wish I could draw” everyone throws out, read it. And do it. Do everything the author says. I think it’s an important way to approach mindfulness and connect with your life. Anyway, the pictures are really cool
This was a quick and inspiring read. Danny really does give you a zillion ideas to be more creative, and many of them don't take a lot of effort or cost, so it's all very accessible. The point of the book is to fit art into your life so you can DO it and not just think about doing it or wish you were doing it. I'm excited to work some of his zillion ideas into my sketchbook practice.
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A marvelous book that breathes a fresh air unto my perspective on art. Reading this book is therapeutic in the sense that it rekindles my childhood interest for art, which was buried by much discouragement from the adults back then. Thank you Danny Gregory for redeeming my once-lost & now-found passion in art.
Quick to read, hands on, inspiring little volume that I hate to part with. It's another art resource from Danny Gregory that I would return to again and again. It offers broad based suggestions for when you're short of ideas but want to create, experiment or practice art. Good sketches, a nice starter tool list that is very helpful. Tips on how to use the tools. All in a short, sweet format that even kids could use and enjoy.
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This is a motivational workbook, meant to be a guide. It is for anyone that doesn't think they have time to do anything creative. Perhaps, you have children or a demanding job and keep putting off those things until you retire. Mr. Gregory puts it simply, if you can watch TV, go on a coffee break or spend hours on your computer, you can find 15 minutes a day to draw. He says give yourself a month and see how you feel afterwards. Plainly put a good sketchbook is the price of a pack of cigarettes ...more
Cheerful little book, impossible to dislike. However, I have the impression the artist had all these sketches sitting around and didn't know what to do with them, so he put them together in this book, with the title and intent as afterthoughts. I enjoyed listening to his interview on NPR and hope to sketch more as a result.
There is still a stigma, though, of people drawing in public. Our culture, regardless of what our leaders say, is hostile to the arts and views them as a waste of time and mo ...more
There is still a stigma, though, of people drawing in public. Our culture, regardless of what our leaders say, is hostile to the arts and views them as a waste of time and mo ...more
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“It’s ironic that people speak of artists as dreamers. I think they are the most grounded people around. Conscious and present. As an artist, you really see life, connect with its beauty, and create something that shares those observations with others. You notice things.”
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“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life.” -Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird”
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