Living the Creative Life by Rice Freeman-zachary (2007, Paperback)

I have been a professional artist, designer and writer since 1981. Over the past 27(!) years I have amassed shelves of books claiming to encourage and develop creativity. I've been to a Julia Cameron (The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity) workshop, read books and magazine articles, tried journal keeping, sketching, and dozens of other techniques purported to enhance creativity.
Where did all this get me? Wanting. Wanting to talk to other artists about how they actually worked. I wanted to talk about workspaces, priorities, making time for art, how they dealt with creative block, and a whole lot more.

So what comes along to answer these questions? Living the Creative Life: Ideas and Inspiration from Working Artists by Rice Freeman-Zachery.

In Living the Creative Life: Ideas and Inspiration from Working Artists, Rice Freeman-Zachery interviewed 15 successful artists in a variety of mediums--from assemblage to fiber arts, beading to mixed-media collage. Since creativity is a different kettle of fish for everyone, having input from 15 artists is invaluable.

Beginning with the first chapter, I can guarantee you will want to put this book down and try out some of the suggestions and exercises that fill the book.

These exercises range from giving up tv, movies, magazines and newspapers and instead reading, sitting quietly and letting the ideas flow in to developing rituals when it is time to work. Beautifully designed, this book will help you find your own way in the art world by listening and learning from those have gone before you.

I recommend this book without reservation. No crafter or artist should live the creative life without Living the Creative Life! The inspiration is contagious.

This book is a catalyst for inspiration and creativity. It shows the different works of artists and how they come up with ideas. It has little sections through out the book that is intitled TRY THIS! and gives you little assignments to try on your own if you are looking for a direction to jump-start a new vision of what you can create. It gives you ideas on mediums to try and styles, many collage, many mixed media. I enjoy just looking through the book. Love it!