Customer Reviews

The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be The Artist You Truly Are

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was fortunate to be able to read the proofs of Danny's new book, "Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be the Artist You Truly Are."

First a disclaimer: Danny is a pal. We've corresponded, chatted on the phone, he's visited, we have drawn together. You could stop reading this right now because of that, expecting a bias.

But I also am a life long journaler and I teach visual journaling at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and in a variety of workshops in the schools, so I read almost all the books that come out in this field. I like to provide up to date recommendations for my students.

I think both these things put me in an interesting position to tell you something: reading this book is just like spending time with Danny. His sense of humor comes through. He is silly and playful, wry and sarcastic by turns, but always engaging. Something is always popping out of his brain. He's gathered all this up and put it in a book. And he wants to encourage you to draw and tap into your creativity.

There are a lot of books on creativity on the market. Some of them try cheerleading and cajoling, some encourage you through psychology, and others practically shame you into picking up your art materials. Danny's approach is different. Like the great pitch man he is, he creates an analogy (creative license is like a driving license) and then joyfully explains and expands until you want in. The nice thing about this approach is that you don't end up with two dozen vegematics in your attic like Opus. You'll end up with a visual journal that records what's important to you and you'll be more connected to your life.

Danny's book is organized in such a manner that it can be read straight through or dipped into. There's an introduction which establishes the groundwork for you to view yourself as a creative being. The driving license analogy is introduced here.

This is followed by nine chapters which deal with everything from how to draw (giving you instructions for exercises to get you up and running today) to shock (getting out of a rut), resistance (going on), and identity (self acceptance as an artist). (And lots more.)

Each chapter is further divided into smaller sections, often only a page spread or two, dealing with some aspect of the chapter topic. These sub sections read like brief meditations, parables, or pep talks.

I feel this type of organization is one of the best aspects of the book. It allows the reader to come back to the book for small tune ups so he can get back on the road (keeping with the driving metaphor).

Throughout the book Danny provides his readers with suggestion upon suggestion of things they might want to draw, examine, think about, or respond to. If you are new to drawing, visual journaling, or doing creative activities in your life, this book will help you realize how you've been a creative being all along. Now's the time to reengage your life, dreams, and creative self. Danny's book will give you enough gas to get you a fair ways down the road and the insight to be able to spot refilling stations.

If you already have a creative license and use it daily in your life, the book will still encourage you. Chances are your take on visual journals and creativity is skewed differently because you already understand your process. But a fresh view, another angle, can help you appreciate what you have and enable you to flex your creative muscles even more.

After reading the book I felt that the experience was like being swept up into a brainstorming meeting where there was a lot of laughter and enthusiasm but also serious, earnest work. I believe you'll enjoy this book.

I made all these assessments on the black and white proofs. I now have printed version of the book if full color. It is a visually entertaining book.

Danny can sell an idea and he does it clearly and with humor. I'll be taking this book along to my journaling classes so that my students can benefit from the perspective Danny brings to the topic.

Danny didn't ask me to write a review, but I felt compelled to because there are a lot of "creativity" books on the market. Why buy this one? Many prospective readers will come to this book from one of Danny's earlier books, "Everyday Matters." Others will find this book through Danny's website and blog. If you've enjoyed and found Danny's insights in either place helpful then you'll enjoy this book and it will speak to you in accessible ways that other creativity books might not. If you're reading this review cold, because you've never been exposed to Danny's work, then you must be searching for books that can put you in touch with your creative process. This book will help you in an encouraging way that might just get you over that hump you're facing.

(My quibble with the book is the handwriting font used for the text. I find such fonts difficult to read for any length of time. The great thing about this book however, is that you probably will only read small portions at a time. I mention this so people will understand my 4 [out of 5] star rating. I'm a book designer, we all have our prejudices; this is just another of my disclaimers. Other readers will perhaps find the handwriting font makes the reading experience more like reading an actual journal.)

Length:: 0:18 Mins

This book is full of pointers on drawing, on creating something on paper with ink. There are a lot of ideas on what to draw ,when (now) to draw but not how to draw. Every page feels like a call to put pen to paper.

The text is typeset in a handwriting font, which might make it hard to read for long periods of time. The good thing is this book can be picked up and read in portions from any page.

It's a very inspirational and motivating book to read, especially when in a artist block. As I finish the book, I begin to see objects in life differently. Everyone can have that creative license, as suggested by the book title.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

This book is fantastic! The Creative License is funny, it's inspiring, it's open and honest and egoless, it's encouraging, and it's entertaining. Danny's passion for art and life jump off the pages and tickle you with delight. His philosophies can be applied to any creative endeavor that excites YOU and he genuinely encourages his readers to find their creative passion whether it is drawing, knitting, or blogging (or whatever you dream up).
Thank you, Danny, for writing and illustrating such a wonderful, heartfelt book for the artist in all of us.

This is a fantastic book on believing in your ability to be an artist. It also teaches you to do art on a daily basis to stretch and grow in the varied mediums.

I have kept journals for years, but never art journals. I was amazed at all of the fantastic work that can come from drawing on a daily basis. I even started drawing with pen rather than pencil to allow the mistakes to be there and not be afraid of them.

I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't believe they have any talent in art and for those who do and have been told over and over again that they just aren't quite right for 'today's art market'. Get out there and draw!

The idea behind this book is great: "start drawing and start a journal." However you can skip to page 142 before you get any good advice. The earlier chapters are just stuff like "draw the details of the bottles in your medicine cabinet"or "draw something else that isn't particularly interesting." I understand the point behind it is draw what you see, but that is the only drawing exercise mentioned.

This book might be useful if you are new to drawing and making journals, but I would recommend just starting the journal without this book. You'll either like or dislike the opinions in this book. I did not like that creativity was describe as being the most important thing and then be told to draw the medicine cabinet. I also didn't understand why people can't experience creativity across all fields of there interest. Though it was better latter in the book when the author gives examples and tells the reader drawing has helped in other parts of his life, like taking guitar lessons with his son.

I recommend a book on drawing instruction and working on your own. And yes, keep a journal. You need a book of drawing exercises and drawing warmups. Something like figure drawing or drawing from reference, or drawing from the imagination. Let people discover their own meaning for drawing. They'll get it naturally. I think those last 2 sentences are what the author was trying to say. But he takes 200 pages to say it.

I have drawn and painted most of my life. The past 5 or so years, however, have been years of artistic drought for me. I had read of writers block, and figured I was just going through an artist's block of my own. I hoped it would go away, but the years passed, and I just couldn't seem to create with joy. I received Danny's book as a gift and read the first part with wonder and excitement. As I finished the book I began to journal as Danny suggested. It stoked the furnace of my spirit and I am painting again! This may sound corny to someone who hasn't experienced this, but to me the ideas and encouragement I received have been blessings. Thank you Danny. I would reccomend this book to anyone who currently draws, who used to draw as a child or who'd like to draw. What an inspiration!

I learned to draw when I was a teenager and I felt good doing it then. But for some reason, I felt very insecure to start drawing again, and to even keep a sketch book.

This book helped me realize that I can draw like before or better, that I am already creative and also that it was only me telling myself that I couldn't do it what was stopping me. That I just needed to start doing it.

This is a great book for people that are new to sketching and journaling or for the ones that want to try it or the ones that are afraid to retake it, or that lost their confidence on the way.

This book helps you feel empowered and to get working right away. It has great advice on drawing, journaling, keeping a sketch book, getting rid of your critics (including your inner one!), and feeling good about your efforts.

I strongly recommend this book. It has been very useful and enjoyable for me

I have been always fascinated with the sketchbooks and journals of the great thinkers and artist. From DaVinci to Tosla, from Will Eisner to Frank Frazzetta, from Frank Lloyd Wright to Frank Gehry and every artist and inventor who decided to keep a record of his/her vision of this world.

For a long time I thought only privileged minds with "something important to say" were able to accomplish this almost mythical task. Gregory's book really inspired me to start an illustrated journal myself.

I have been drawing and writing almost everyday since I got the book. I don't know if someone's ever going to read my journal, but I don't care. This book has helped me discover WE ALL have "something important to say."

So do yourself a favor, purchase this book along with a blank notebook and a pen. Trust me, you're going to know what it feels like to be a creative genius and you won't care if someone else thinks otherwise.

To start I must say I have read and thoroughly enjoyed one of Danny Gregory's other books "Everyday Matters". Enjoying the book so I purchased "The Creative License" but was sorely disappointed at the very beginning. I noticed Danny Gregory loves to talk about Danny Gregory. In one of the first pages he takes the time (an entire page) to list to the reader how many different things he excels at and how much money he has made. I did not find it pertinent to the book nor did I find it in any way something one would find in a self-help categorized book. This issue was one of the setbacks of the book.

The other aspect I did find effective was the way Mr Gregory presses the reader to follow his direction and create a sketchbook journal his way. He commands the reader to draw various things at times and usually is pretty specific. Im not sure how others may learn and grow through drawing but in my case I do not find direct instruction to be overly helpful in growing artistically. This book serves as more of an instruction manual than a creatively freeing process. The drawing are good and the pages are laid out nice, some may have difficulty with the hand drawn font though.

The books title says "giving yourself permission to be the artist you truly are" but after reading through the book it felt more like "Danny Gregory gives you permission to be an artist just like himself".

When I flipped through this book, I was in love with the typography and art featured at first glance. I decided to take an "educational" approach when I started working with this book because I really wanted to take his teachings and instructions seriously and make it all work. I'm glad I did because achieving my goals through use of this book became second nature. I've been recommending this book to everyone I know!