Customer Reviews

Art Without Compromise

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I'm reading it for the second of the next hundred times. Like Roland Barthes, it will be a touchstone at critical moments forever. Thank you. There are so many resonances, things to and with which we connect-- history, place, chosen environments. Your book is wonderful, smart, concise, inspiring and even sassy. I selfishly can't imagine anyone who could appreciate it more. That said, I'm sure it will influence all the best souls.
Truth spoken to those excited about celebrating truth.

Wendy Richmond's art is both a reflection of our social selves in the public sphere and a practice filled with the formal beauty that comes with years of working and thinking about art making. Her book, "Art Without Compromise", is a primer for artists and designers with insights for anyone interested in the arts but its spirit of generosity is what sets it apart from other books of its kind. Wendy Richmond is an artist, a teacher, and a writer. There is an openness and respect for the work of others that is uncommon in the artworld; a serious consideration of peers and of students alike. The book covers a surprising amount of ground looking at the creative process, at the intersection of contemporary art and technology, at cross disciplinary collaboration. In its role as primer it is filled with useful information, practical, theoretical, conversational. But again, it is the spirit of the book and Ms. Richmond's engagement that we care about most. There is a commitment to art making and to visual art in particular. There is a great chapter on the subject of visual thinking and a consideration of why visual thinking is a second class citizen in the United States. There is a voice that encourages artists to allow themselves the time and space to develop their own vision and to trust their own notions of what is important. This is not a utopian voice but the voice of someone who has worked in the commercial world and who understands the pressures exerted on artists to compromise and to second guess. It is a book that considers authenticity as subject matter but describes authenticity best by way of example.

This book is an important resource for artists. Read it cover to cover or skip around and focus on different chapters. Either way it provides new ways to look at your work, its context and content. It will make you think, and then push your art-making forward.

this book will challenge you to think differently and more deeply about the work you do, the life you lead, and the world you inhabit on a daily basis. an invigorating read!

This book is a collection of loosely associated essays, supposedly on the general topic of making art.

First the good news. I found one interesting idea here: She suggests making a pile of photocopies of your work and assembling it all in various configurations to review. I might even try that.

But if you've ever done much thinking or reading about the art making process at all, you won't find much here that's satisfying. The author manages to remind us on practically every page that she, oh my gosh, taught at Harvard (well, at the school of education). She name drops. She quotes well-known material from her reading. But she rarely if ever provides insight of any quality that seems to grow out of her own experience.

She seems most comfortable in the tech world, but most of her observations on the intersections of art and culture and technology were facile and dated even in 2009, when the book appeared.

I would give it a pass.

I'm an artist who's been struggling with my work a bit lately. Feeling a bit isolated and tired, I needed a jump-start. This book was exactly what I was looking for. It was enjoyable, intelligent, thought-provoking, and inspiring. I'm going to read it again and give it to every other artist I know.

I'm not an artist, though I do some writing. Nevertheless, this book changed the way I look at the world, opened my eyes and my thought processes, allowed me to see how I might see and do things differently in my life and my own field. Art has to engage the public, and the public is very different now in this age of technology. Wendy Richmond takes her wealth of knowledge (of art as well as history and literature) to really look at the world from both global and very minute and personal perspectives. What is art now? How incorporate technology to make art that allows you to maintain your artistic integrity, vision, and skills, yet also engages? Richmond clearly loves looking and thinking about everything, and her writing is engaging in the way of a great and intimate conversation.

I love it! I find the writing personal, to the point, helpful to all artists and designers, and an insightful companion to one's daily trials in the field of creative work. I am so glad that Richmond wrote this!
-Jeanne Dunn, artist and lecturer
San Diego, CA

I picked up Wendy Richmond's new book + I cannot read it fast enough but I don't want it to end and then there is so much meat to each story that I quickly remind myself to read s l o w ly. Wendy's style of connecting words, relaying sentiments and stories is so inspiring and compelling.

Muriel Cooper!!!! INCREDIBLE. I love, love this character profile!

I feel that Wendy writes about her thoughtful and perceptive insights and is such an acute observer of what is also around everyone else (what some may call the obvious) but not many people are feeling or are seeing what she notices. It is entirely relate-able and I love, love her language.

In reading each story no matter what order, Wendy has woven all of her loves to make a dynamic career that continues to inspire and fuel her art and in-turn inspires the reader. This book is a treasure!! WOW!! I know I will re-read this book many, many times. What a treasure. Thank you for this gift.

Art without Compromise is a delightful read...bite-sized essays treat many of the themes that dance around in the working artist's studio with wit and thoughtful consideration. It is empowering to read both because of the can-do messages and the ease she has articulating big ideas.