Brave on the Rocks: If You Don't Go, You Don't See

by Sabrina Ward Harrison, Hilary Swank (foreward)

"In the continuum of life and trying to discover my true self, Sabrina reminds me, through her brave, insightful, and heartfelt honesty, that we are all connected in this journey. We are connected through an intertwining sameness called the struggles and joys of finding and becoming our authentic selves. When I read her words, I felt acknowledged for my journey and for being a woman in these complex times... Thank you, Sabrina, for sharing your gift with us. May we all continue to share our journeys together so we know we are not alone."
--from the Foreword by Hilary Swank, actor

From the acclaimed twenty-five-year-old author/artist of the stunning visual memoir Spilling Open comes the all-new multimedia installment of her intimate journey Brave on the If You Don't Go, You Don't See.

Picking up where Spilling Open left off, Sabrina Ward Harrison tells us about the surprising reaction to her first book. Via her readers' letters and e-mails, she realized that through her journal she had become an identifying voice for women around the world. However, along with recognition came a certain pressure to uphold her new image. Overwhelmed by her attempt to live up to what she thought she had to become, Sabrina decided to head out on her own. She chose as her destination Italy, a place she had always dreamed and written about, a place she felt she could go to "recolor" herself. In her journey she discovered a universal identity with other travelers and a particular kinship with the women she met. But back home she struggled to keep her newfound confidence intact as she navigated her life.

Harrison writes and illustrates with a powerful and creative voice. Her thoughts are real and brave. She explores with sensitivity questions of love, faith, growing pains, being true to oneself, and what it means to be unique. With unfaltering honesty, she allows us to witness and share in her reconnection with herself, her growing and reaching, and, ultimately, her voyage home again.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Journaling, Memoir, Self Help, Writing, Biography Memoir

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2001

Reviews

[Erin]

I am surprised the average rating of this is above a three. The art is great, the writing is just supplementary. I own it and flip through when I'm about to draw or sew or paint, but I don't think I'd ever bother actually reading the words again. It's like reading a friend's journal entries, and she's not even that good of a writer.

[Kj]

I read all of Sabrina's books-she is a great inspiration. Our stories need not be the same for art to speak and pull us toward our better selves.

[Marti Bledsoe Post]

This book is bringing together life advice I'm finding everywhere around me - it quoted a quote that our minister quoted last weekend and then it quoted an author I'm learning about and preparing to read.

I feel like the Universer is conspiring to bring things to my attention through this brave young author!

[Bonita Rose]

another one on my wish list! Love this girl's style.. so artistic and so full of real truths!

[Rhi]

A two star shocker.
Really was not worth my money. Which is a shame, because I love Sabrina's other works.

[Che]

Inspiring. I'll pass it along. Don't feel it must be in my permanent collection. Worth Sharing with a friend.

[Dianne Trautmann]

A fascinating look into the life of this wonderful artist, a follow up to her breakout success “Spilling Open” and the fallout she experienced from its success. I’m glad I have added this to my collection of artists art journals.

[Carol Keller]

It seems unfair to give a rating to someone else's art journal. The art is beautiful. The ideas are worthy of consideration. I really like the look of the words in pencil. Thumbs up but I won't give stars.

[Donnajo]

A book of art and words. I've read other books of her's. They are colorful pages telling her story. A story she tells of discovering herself.

[E.]

I bought Spilling Open when it came out because I was a big SARK fan at the time and she wrote about the wonderful Sabrina Ward Harrison.

I finally read all of the text in Brave on The Rocks: If You Don't Go, You Don't See this weekend. My inscription on the inner cover is "Emily / Feb 27, 2004 / B&N, Long Branch / She put out another book! I'm glad she was so successful! / I wish my artwork looked like this"

It surprised me that so much of what she wrote about, and drew about, is her loneliness, her fears she can't sustain the recent successes, and her escape to Italy. "I wish someone from my Normal Life was Here!! right now telling jokes. Meg would be so nice! Dad would be reminding me to Be Brave on the rocks. I guess this is the whole point, It's weird to think that no one I know - knows exactly where I am right now. Far. Gone."

Her writing is not linear, and the eye keeps moving. But that's the point. She's expressing what she's feeling however it comes out. It's searing and beautiful. She's wonderfully sad and lonely in parts, in a way that invites the reader to respond viscerally. I've been where you are, is what I thought. Thank you for helping me delve deeper into it.

If you don't like art books, or reading something that's not presented in straight lines, this isn't for you. Those are the low stars in the reviews. It is hard in the beginning, her loops and angles, but it doesn't take long to be engulfed.

[everinasweater]

in freeform art journal style (don't expect to see lined-up paragraphs or even tons of text on each page), sabrina speaks to the artist spirit with her willingness to spill out (as in her other books) her insecurities, hopes, desires...all while encouraging you to be willing to do the same in your own life, whatever your occupation.

*visit her website at www.sabrinawardharrison.com to see her work

[Lina]

Nearly illegible handwriting that you struggle to decipher just to be disappointed by how mediocre the words are. This might be readable if it was a sister’s secret diary, but without the personal connection and thrill of being caught it lacks any pull. The doodles are somewhat nice to flip through but not really anything to write home about either. I’m confused as to why it’s rated so high.

[Kate]

my best friend lent this to me at the very beginning of our best-friendship. i hate to walk on rocks and pointy surfaces in general...the story she wrote about her father and why she named it as such is beautiful.

[Darby]

I haven't read the first book and so maybe I am biased because of it. I have seen lot of bad reviews of this one. But I enjoyed it. It came along at time I was needing it. Her art inspired me. Her thoughts were thoughts I have had as an artist. It was what I needed it to be and that is all.

[JenD]

This book just tickled my visual sense. I love the artwork along side this honest journey of finding oneself. I pick up this book every now and then to find inspiration. It's an easy read, but it's raw and real.

[Katarzyna L]

This girl is the coolest!

[Whitney]

I didn't find this one as moving as Spilling Open but it's still an inspiring and beautiful accomplishment.

[WitchyFingers]

An interesting combination of art/semi-self-help/journal. I liked her first one better.

[Kelsey]

While this was not my favorite, it is still an extremely inspirational book. Instead of being with the art books in the book store it is in the Self Help section, and I think its for good reason.

[Rikelle]

Sabrina's stuff is so amazing. Her artwork is so raw and fresh. I love her words and how she just puts herself out there for all to see. This is such an inspiring book.

[Hope]

Sabrina Ward Harrison was a pioneer in the art-journal movement. Her work is raw, fresh, soulful, original and honest. A visual feast.

[Colleen]

Very good, inspiring. Also visually beautiful.

[Raina]

This is the book which inspired me to go to Italy, and specifically the Cinque Terre, for my great post-college adventure. It influenced me in all kinds of ways.

[Kelvin Paul]

i'll just wonder to read it.

[Mandy]

Sabrina Ward Harrison is amazing. Its that simple.

[Julie Leggett]

I thought this was better than her first book Spilling Open.

[Hailey]

so so so so so lovely. i relate so much to this book that its not even a coincidence it was published a few days after i was born.