Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking

The book is great . I could relate to so much of it.i would recommend it to any artist.

David Bayles and Ted Orland’s Art & Fear is an insightful and deeply resonant exploration of the challenges faced by artists during the creative process. Far from being a technical manual, this book delves into the emotional and psychological struggles that often accompany art-making, such as self-doubt, fear of failure, and the pressures of external validation. The authors’ conversational tone and relatable anecdotes make the book both approachable and inspiring. They acknowledge the fears and frustrations that all creators encounter, offering reassurance that these struggles are not only normal but integral to the artistic journey. Their insights are not limited to visual artists; writers, musicians, and other creatives will also find their observations universally applicable. One of the book’s most compelling aspects is its emphasis on perseverance. Bayles and Orland argue that the act of creating, even in the face of uncertainty or imperfection, is what ultimately defines an artist. They challenge readers to focus on the process rather than the end result, cultivating resilience and authenticity along the way. While some readers might wish for more concrete solutions to overcome creative blocks, the book’s value lies in its ability to validate and empower artists. Art & Fear is an essential companion for anyone seeking to navigate the complex, often daunting path of creative expression.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It explores the process of making art and everything that comes along with it-- the fears, the successes, the struggles, etc. It provides great insights into why creating art that is truly your own can be extremely difficult because of the expectations of others and the fear you have of being accepted by everyone else. I think this book is a great source of reflection and inspiration because it can help artists like myself recognize why creating genuine art can prove to be such a struggle at times, and that is part of the process of overcoming the struggle. It can provide opportunities to think about what fears you have and address and overcome them through your work. Granted, this book does not provide a checklist of things to do to overcome fear, but it does include various situations where you might come across it so you can recognize it. More than anything, Art & Fear is a novel you can empathize with and ponder over as you consider various obstacles such as the misconception that talent is more successful than developed skills, or being able to be vulnerable by putting your art out there to be critiqued and judged by the world. Art is a very personal process and it comes with a lot of risks and sacrifices. It is scary to give a little piece of yourself to something that may not even be considered art by the rest of the world, but this book will help you face those fears and give you the opportunity to come to terms with them and turn them into strengths.

The fear to which the authors refer in the title is the fear that an individual may have that will lead him to quit being an artist. The authors believe that artists quit either when they believe their next effort will fail or when they lose the destination for their work. This is a book about the process of making art. This book is a road map, not a survival guide. The authors provide a list of the obstacles that the artist will encounter in making his art, but they do not provide methods for overcoming these obstacles. In fact they seem to say that the artist must expect these obstacles and if he or she wants to make art, keep plowing through them. The book is beautifully written with flowing, majestic language that brooks no questions about the authors' pronouncements about the difficulties the artist faces. As factors that interfere with the ordinary individual's ability to make art, the authors dismiss fear that you are pretending, or that you lack talent or that you must seek perfection. Ordinary people, they say, can learn to make art. Similarly they dismiss the artist's fear of others, whether because the others lack understanding, or acceptance, or approval of the artist's work. The pithy statements that fill the book can certainly provide a ready source of affirmations if that's the way one deals with fears. For example the authors say: "Vision, Uncertainty, and Knowledge of Materials are inevitabilities that all artists must acknowledge and learn from: vision is always ahead of execution, knowledge of materials is your contact with reality, and uncertainty is a virtue." And they say: "Unreal expectations are easy to come by....Unfortunately expectations based on illusion lead almost always to disillusionment." Although the book is brief there are many opportunities for deeper contemplation. For example the authors distinguish between craft and art. Consideration of this distinction may help the artist to realize whether he is really creating art or just doing the same old thing. And yet as the critic Mark Schorer noted, "technique is discovery". Squaring away the distinction is important to an artist. Who should read this book? Not the consumer of art. The authors make it clear that there is no relationship between looking at art and making art. Probably every aspiring artist. It might be that the list of difficulties could lead one to quit before starting. But foreknowledge of the difficulties of making art may help the would-be artist to take those difficulties in his or her stride. Certainly the practicing artist will benefit from reading the book, with its message not to despair when fear occurs, but to keep pushing on if one really wants to make art.

Et ça fait du bien de savoir qu'on est pas seuls à se poser ce genre de questions, existentielles ou non. Un très bon livre qui fait du bien au moral, et qui peut aussi être très instructif. Pour tout ceux qui se posent beaucoup de question et qui se demande s'ils sont vraiment des artistes ou s'il sont fait pour ça. Comme on dit souvent : si vous avez déjà pensé à tout laisser tomber, rassurez vous ... vous êtes bien un artiste ! Ne lâchez rien ! :)

I read that this was a cult, underground book and got the impression it would somehow discuss alternative or abstract concepts. It turns out, on the contrary, to be a ‘wow’ concrete, down-to-earth piece of art about facing the difficulties every artist faces but few overcome. Worthwhile knowledge for life, not just for making art.

Excellent read, eye opener, I definitely can see my strength and weakness, I got a good tuneup and a good beating. It nailed my surrounding influences and did it without no holding back. That said, YES I highly recommend this book as an artist, songwriter or whatever thing is your thing. I used a highliner to mark things that hit the mark and I need to keep in mind as well as revisit.

No tuve la oportunidad de asistir a una escuela de artes para educarme. Lo hice gracias a maestros particulares y autodidactica. Todo lo que hubiera querido escuchar de algún maestro o escuela de artes que no se te dice , está en este libro. Muchismas gracias

This is the first art book I have read that can only be classed as a great comfort. Creating any kind of art full or part time is hard on so many levels that only artists ( like the authors themselves ) know how draining and frustrating it can be. Opening this book up to the first page I felt a sense of relief that I was not the only one out there with these secret unarticulatable thoughts. This pocket size guide is basically a map of sorts to the very difficult life that being an artist is. With this map come very funny, intelligent, observant and warming advice and insights aimed at showing you yourself through the eyes of others. These authors clearly care about other artists as their very clear compressed observations are straight to the point and very filling food for thought. Because art just gets harder after leaving art college/school ( 98 percent quit eventually they say ) it is great to know why this is. Having less or no fellow artists to relate to or confide in after leaving school is a large part of it so having a book like this is a warming comfort and a joy to read. It is like having two very helpful and caring tutors you can turn to when you want to throw in the towel...unlike many real tutors who just make you want to plain quit. This book is a keeper and not very expensive. I recommend this to all artist / musicians / writers etc of all mediums. You won't let it go if you buy it. If you like sensible helpful advice you can relate to that is well above average quality this book is for you.