Customer Reviews

Life, Paint and Passion

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the best book I have read on what it means to truly enter into the creative process. Although painting is the medium talked about, this is for anyone who is interested in getting in touch with their own creativity, whether you have never painted, or if you are an accomplished artist. I was inspired by the examples of how to go beyond opinion to get to what is authentic and true. One of my favorite quotes from the book is "Beauty is in the honest gesture." I love this book and have given it to friends.

Michelle Cassou and Stewart Cubley have done for painting what Betty Edwards(Drawing on the right side of the brain) has done for Realistic drawing. Given us direct access to enhanced, hot-wired visual expression and the creative process. These books heal the wounds inflicted or indeed self-inflicted in the struggle for creative expression in or out of art school. That treasured page where Michelle describes her encounter with the children in the Paris artclass. Her journey from despair to inner sanctuary and healing in a moment will stand with pure contour drawing (see Edwards) as two powerful transcendent becons ligthing the path to bliss. The bliss that I have experienced painting and drawing in the presence of Mother Nature. Such a simple act, offering such tremendous rewards, so rarely performed. There aren't enough stars in a Starry Night for these books.

I stumbled upon this book while I was getting a Master's in Art. Needing to work through the issues of ego and being a good enough artist, I found myself constantly turning to the pages of Life Paint and Passion.

Subsequently I have introduced the book to my students grades 11 and 12 and the reaction was phenomenal. One of my students commented that this book changed her life. It may sound overstated, but the fact is that she may be right.

For young artists as well as old, relying on the process can be daunting. Life Paint and Passion allows one to feel free enough to trust painting in the moment.

For all artists this is a remarkable work, for teachers it is invaluable. I am now ordering copies (at the request of my students) for the entire class.

As long as you open the book, there are warm flowing of creativenes embracing you... The book is just like a key, allow you to open and enter the gate of the wonderfull world of creativeness, which belongs to everbody on the earth. The principles are just simple, but being neglected by most of people and thus our life have missed the most wonderful parts - the great joy and happiness from the deeper parts of ourselves, and from the contacts of universe - the simple, cheerful, pure world which is full of love. It is a wonderful book bring us towards the essence of living...

a solid well written understanding of our ability to be. through art, which is in us all author Michell helps us let go, removing the rules, walls, limits that are consistently pushed on us from childhood. this is a book to free your spirit and cleanse your soul, so what are you waiting for? Q. To Be or Not To Be. BUY IT NOW.

This is an inspiring book on letting go and letting art come from you without your internal critic or judgements on meaning or technique. It is about Learning from Art; and letting art take you where it will. It is about discovery and play -- ultimately it is about how to get into the Process of Creating.... and stop worrying about the "product"

This is one of those books that I read and instantly thought of five friends I wanted to share it with. And it also helped jump start me to believe in making what I make; not to worry if it is too dark, too silly, too profane, too honest and vulnerable; and not to try to direct it to what I think it is supposed to be.

The book contains short chapters about challenges and personal accounts. It can be just as beneficial to open the book to any page and read what is there as a jumping-off spot. It does not tell you "how" to create your work -- but it shares why, and it also shares methods for loosening the restrictions and the blocks. "What" you create will come from you.

Sometimes living in the world is a challenge with all the other concerns and critiques of other people...but if we keep growing and learning and making/creating -- it can keep us going! Art is a respite for me; it is what gives me meaning and value in my life, it is what gives me energy. This book puts these ideas in an inspiring perspective with some humor, some philosophy, and some common sense. Don't let anyone keep you down -- and don't keep yourself down!

Artists, writers, educators, and anyone who loves any of the arts would benefit from the viewpoint of this book. No experience is necessary, just the desire to create for the fun of it -- for the play and joy and experience.

When I was first reading this book, I was quite skeptical; I kept putting it down, and picking it up. The author would be explaining a point she was going to make, and I was skeptical becasue she seemed to be "way out there". But when she made her point, very eloquently I might add, it was like a 300 watt bulb went off in my head. After a few false starts, I read the book from beginning to end, not able to put it down. I couldn't wait to let myself make art, unencumbered by any outside interferences, like acceptance, rules, or judgements, both internal and external.

You defintely have to be in "acceptance mode" to read this book. But that is what art is all about! I found it liberating, sensitive, insightful, and provocative. A real gem.

So if you are initially disappointed, confused, or put off by the author's journey, stick with it - it is well worth the ride! I took each chapter individually and thought about it -the book can't be judged by any one chapter alone. They all fit together in a very amazing way. :>)

Told by "experts" that she would never be an artist, Cassou decided to take a kindergarden art class in hopes of being able to teach children. What she discovered was the freedom to create art in her own way. Thankfully, she shares these principles with us as she continues to be an artist true to her own calling.

The book literally "fell" into my hands off of the bookstore shelf. It was a time when I was experiencing a creative block. Within a few hours, inspiration had once again become my friend. The book is well written and worthy of being in the personal library of anyone interested in how to jump start the creative process.

This is a fun, playful book on the joys of the creative process- specifically painting. Cassou describes in the beginning of the book her disillusionment when she tried taking traditional art classes. Having felt the same emptiness and soulessness when I've taken traditional art classes, I was intrigued by this book.

However, as an artist, it was hard for me to really be motivated to try some of the methods on my own-it was hard for me to let go of the "trained" part of myself during the process. Eventually I did take a workshop with someone who specialized in this method of creativity, and the I was pleased with the (painting) results. So while it isn't necessary to take a workshop, it may be worth it for those who may have a resistance to trying these techniques on their own.

I highly recommend this book for those who have always considered themselves "non-artists". You definitely have nothing to lose trying Cassou's & Cubley's method, and you may find they you have an easier time than "artists". The book consists of short chapters where the authors describe both the challenges and insights when teaching their students. The book also includes some color plates of the authors' various past student's art work.

If you're looking for more of an art therapy type book, I highly recommend "Art Is A Way of Knowing" by Pat B. Allen in addition to this book.

I purchased this book because I had signed up to take a 3 day workshop based on this book. I am a poet and writer but have never painted. I doodle. I was surprised to find that the foreword was written by Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones. Life, Paint and Passion is the equivalent of Writing Down the Bones for Artists. I recommend it to both writers and artists who want to free up their creative juices and to get in touch with the source of their creativity.
For me, the writing process has become more important than the finished product. I can lose myself in writing for 3 to 4 hours and wake up refreshed. This book suggests that the same is true of painting. The creative process is more important than the finished product.
To quote from the book: "You are not defined by what you paint; you are the creative channel through which it flows."