Customer Reviews

Advice to Young Artists in a Postmodern Era

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had the privilage of studying with Dr. Dunning the last two quarters of his teaching career. I can only give the highest praise for this book. Dr. Dunning's knowledge is supported by experience, not only his own, but that of the thousands of students he has prepared for sucessful careers in the art world. The advice he gives in this book is the same that he has taught to university art students for over 30 years. The stories he tells are real, the analogies varied and all sucessfully illustrate his points. This isn't a book full technical terms, but one written for anyone to read and understand (and often even laugh with). Though written from the perspective of a painter, Dr. Dunning's knowledge and insights are very applicable to any of the fine arts as well as disciplines outside the art world. The information on setting up your studio alone is well worth the price of the book. Save yourself the costly expense and time of making avoidable mistakes and learn from Dr. Dunning's vast knowledge. Read this book!

I wish I had read this book five years ago when I entered art school. Many lessons I learnt from the world of hard knocks are very intelligently and caringly explained in this book. I've had so many profound realizations at every page its amazing. This is not a "feel good" self help book, but a well written honest distillation of wisdom gather by an artist and teacher over several decade. If you want to nurish you creative soul BUY THIS BOOK!!

A fount of wisdom and research, this book is the finest of it's kind I have ever found. I reccomend it as essential reading to my students, and have personally found it a life preserver of honesty. Little guideance is given to artists at the beginning of their careers, in or out of school, and they often use myths and stereotypes to guide them. Without sentimentality this book cuts to the reality of what is essential and what is rubbish. The chapter on Artists and Teachers is a revelation of hard won insight about this eternally frustrating yet essential stage in an artist's development. It has made me a better teacher. Up to date on the art marketplace, this book is also a consice reading of fascinating research that has been done on the professional development of artists. While many books seem to offer either ameturish feel good ideas about developing "creativity", or dry business practices advice, Dunning has written a book for pursuing professional success, economically and artistically.

His efforts are an enormous gift to thoes who would pursue this most difficult of paths.

Mr. Dunning brings art to the forefront with his practical approach to aesthetics, postmodernism, color theory, and being in business (to name just a few). I read this book for a Computer Imaging class at Northern Arizona University, and the thoughts and discussions it provoked were extremely worthwhile....not just for basic knowledge, but for understanding ourselves and expressing ourselves through our art. Thank you, Mr. Dunning...I'm reading your Postmodernist Theory next!

..called "The Roots of Post-Modernism".
Not sure why Amazon doesn't hold it anymore, it is one of the best art theory, packed with enlightening discourses and anecdotes.

It illustrates art history from the unique perspective of drawing two parallel approaches to art- the retinal, visual-based and the conceptual, language-based - and through this thread it explains how current post-modern art has ancient origins conceptually, and why 1950's abstract expressionism might have more in common with 19th-century Neoclassic painting than with, say, Yoko Ono or Jeff Koons.

I wish that I had found this book years ago. It is well written in an easy style. It is full of practical advice to encourage not just artists but more like advice for life and living. It is about finding the joy of studying.
I am envious of the students who were able to take his classes. The author makes art accessible to the amateur artist and peels back the pretensiousness of the art world and invites you to take part.
The only section that perhaps could be updated is the part about the internet and making your own website. Today it is much easier to launch sites yourself without the need to get someone to organise the layout and upload it.
This will be a book that I will treasure and keep flicking through to give me the little nudging I need.

I highly recommend this book to all students. I've seen too many people while I've been a student who come up unsuccessful as an artist. They fall into many of the pitfalls addressed in this book. The book addresses a lot of ideas that seem obvious once you read them, but you never seemed to notice. It's a short book with rather large text for all you non-readers who may be unsure of picking up a book. Easy and enjoyable read.

William Dunning does an excellent job of offering advice to young artists. He uses tangible examples to present concepts and ideas that relate directly the issues artists face when entering the "real world". As a student I have been enlightened by this book, and I was able to apply some of his concepts directly to situations in my life.

True as that may be, if you write a book with young artists in mind, this is really the most awfully designed and outdated cover you can possibly come up with. I am glad I bought it anyway (after some hesitation, you must know), as the book makes some really good points for an artist/art school teacher to think about and refer to. I agree that painting is used in the majority examples, but that does not generally seem to be a problem although it once again suggests that contemporary artists do nothing but painting. Furthermore, when discussing 'success' in art practice, this would be both achieved and pursued quite differently for a painter than for, say, a video artist. The author has also wanted to squeeze in some of his research on color, which isn't that necessary for his argument. Overall, very worthwhile to advise to my students, yet as I teach in a (Dutch) art school, it is likely my design-loving students might get past the cover. Please, Please, get a contemporary artist or designer to give this book the topical cover it's content deserves!

If you are a student studing art today- YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK. Dunning gives excellent advice that is practical for the world today. Clear and concise this book is a must have for artists of the postmodern era.