Living the Creative Life: Ideas and Inspiration from Working Artists [Paperback]

Rice Freeman-Zachery (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 29, 2007

How DO they do it?

If you could ask your favorite artist or crafter only one question, chances are you'd ask about creativity: Where do your ideas come from? How did you get started? What are your tricks for overcoming blocks?

In Living the Creative Life, author Ricë Freeman-Zachery has compiled answers to these questions and more from 15 successful artists in a variety of mediums—from assemblage to fiber arts, beading to mixed-media collage. Creativity is different for everyone, and these artists share their insights on the muse (if you believe in her), keeping a sketchbook (or not), and prioritizing your art, whether you aspire to create solely for your own pleasure or to become a full-time artist.

• Try your hand at creative jumpstarts straight from the pros.
• Glimpse the artists' innermost thoughts and works in progress as you peruse pages from their journals and notebooks.
• Share textile artist Sas Colby's triumph over creative block during an exotic art retreat.
• Learn how internationally acclaimed artist James Michael Starr uses experience from his former "day job" to fuel his creation today.
• Explore the work of Michael deMeng, Claudine Hellmuth, Melissa Zink and the other artists right alongside their insights.

No crafter or artist should live the creative life without Living the Creative Life! The inspiration is contagious.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rice Freeman-Zachery is an artist and writer whose clothes, dolls and jewelry have been featured in shops and galleries in New Orleans, Taos, Albuquerque, Tacoma and Seattle, and whose art has been featured in Lynne Perrella's Artists' Journals & Sketchbooks and Terry Taylor's Altered Art. She writes artist profiles for Art Doll Quarterly, Belle Armoire, Legacy, Somerset Life and Somerset Studio, and her two books, Stamp Artistry (Quarry, Nov. '03) and New Techniques for Wearable Art (Quarry, Sept. '04), feature her own art and that of other mixed-media artists.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (August 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581809948
• ISBN-13: 978-1581809947
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 0.4 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #331,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ricë writes. She has written everything from a collection of poetry for her master's thesis to newspaper articles to grouchy letters to the editor of the local newspaper and everything you can think of in between: the occasional artist bio, blog rants, how-to instructions. The current fabulous gigs include writing artist profiles for "Art Doll Quarterly," "Art Journaling," "Art Quilting Studio," "Belle Armoire," "Belle Armoire Jewelry," and "Somerset Studio"--which allows her to indulge in one of her other passions: asking nosy questions--and five books, including her newest, "Destination: Creativity, The Life-Altering Journey of the Art Retreat" and her other two most recent titles, "Creative Time and Space" and the best-selling "Living the Creative Life," all by North Light Books.

(She also taught college English, so not being able to create italics for those titles makes her a little nuts.)

She blogs at her own blog, "Notes from the Voodoo Cafe," and at "The Creative Life," her blog on her publisher's website, CreateMixedMedia.com, where you can find a new post every MWF. Her own website is voodooandzen.com, and there you can find links to interviews, talks about creativity, and a whole bunch of other amazing and fascinating stuff, including a video answering Frequently Asked Questions.

Ricë interviews artists of all kinds for podcasts at "Notes from the Voodoo Lounge," available on her blog, at CreateMixedMedia.com, and through iTunes.

Whew.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 86 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Happy Surprise! September 16, 2007

By Nagagirl

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a keeper, a touchstone to come back to on those awful, dark
days when I'm sure there isn't a drop of creative energy left. It will sit
in an honored place beside my worktable between Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory and Kaleidoscope by Suzanne Simanaitis. This is where I reach when
the muse sneaks off to play the horses.

Let's face it, many of the books published about collage and mixed media art are profit-driven or a surface scratching prettifying of the creative life. I've bought and been disappointed by several. This book is the real
thing-something to dive into and come up with a pearl of a kick start to
goat-butt you out of your self pitying trough of creative dispair.

Buy the book-you will not be listing it on half.com in two weeks. It will
sit in a honored place for those moments you need something special.

53 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thinking about quitting your job? December 10, 2007

By K. Solheim

Format:Paperback

If you are an artist and thinking about quitting your day job to become a full-time artist, you should definitely pick up this book. If you are thinking about doing art full-time sometime in the future, you should pick up the book. Even if you just need a creative kick-in-the-pants... you get the idea. This is a gorgeous book with tons of dialogue with real working successful artists. It is one of the few art books that I have read eagerly cover to cover.

68 of 70 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars interesting mix of artists September 20, 2007

By sarah cook

Format:Paperback

There's a very interesting mix of artists in this book, which I really like. They all give their wisdom and pieces of their lives so freely and that is a rare thing these days. Most artists want to keep their creative secrets to themselves. There are some clever suggestions from the artists for ways you can jump start your own creative juices as well as tips from the author. This book is a definite must have for artists who want to know what it is really like being a working artist.
My biggest complaints are about the design of the book. It is very small which makes the text hard to read. Some areas of the pages are dark and textured which makes the text even harder to read. The cover of the book is a good representation of the inside of the book. The earthy colors dull the bright art by some of the most lively artists. The color scheme works great with the art by Michael de Meng and James Starr but it does a huge disservice to the more whimsical artists like Linda Woods and Violette. Despite those flaws, this book is definitely worth getting. You just have to read it in a well lighted room.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Living the Creative Life September 8, 2007

By D. Boschert

Format:Paperback

What an amazing book. In the art/craft/creative publishing industry this book is a breathe of fresh air. If you're the kind of creative person who wants to really create your own art and your own life -- rather than simply reproduce someone else's projects or methods, this book is for you! Rice interviewed 15 working artists. As a an art quilter, I am thrilled to see Bean Gilsdorf, Wendy Huhn and Susan Shie included. The book is full of a dynamic discussion of questions like: Where do your ideas come from? Do you believe in the muse? Do you use a sketch book? Plus, the layout of the book is deliciously inspirational. It feels like a journal or a conversation or a scrapbook -- or the very best combination of all of those things. And it's a perfect little square format.... just right for stashing in tote bag along with a sketch book and a bit of embroidery. The photography is stunning and the artwork is endlessly inspiring. I see something new every time I peruse the pages.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Art Pick Me Up of the year! October 5, 2007

By Amy Nelson

Format:Paperback

I haven't bought many of the art/craft books that have come out this year because they are all too much alike, the same art, the same approaches, the same stuff. This book, which I bought because I know one of the artists and have taken a class from another, was fabulous! I read it during 2 weeks where I was creatively burnt out. I savored each chapter and at the end felt so jazzed that I was ready to get back into the studio. Great work on picking the artists, the questions, the art and tying it all together! If you only buy one art book this year - put this at the top of your list!

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Cool insights, difficult design September 15, 2007

By Donna V.

Format:Paperback

I was excited to get this book and "get inside the heads" of some of my favorite artists and authors, like Linda Woods and Claudine Hellmuth, and I've really liked some of Rice's other works. There are a lot of cool insights from the artists in the book, who you can tell shared honestly and openly. The design of the book was very distracting, though. It was really hard to read in places, with small print, or the background was too dark and it was hard to read. The overall palette of the book is dreary and murky, really at odds with what the artists are saying. I love the way the artists shared inspiration, but I really hated having to grab a flashlight and magnifying glass to read the book.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So cool! October 4, 2007

By gipsygal

Format:Paperback

I totally love this book. I'm new to the creative world, and am really looking for ideas and inspirations from established artists, this book quickly has become a "go to" for me! I've started to carry it with me to look at if I'm sitting waiting. The book is packed full of visuals, and I still find little things in all the illustrations that I didn't see the first time! Awesome! Buy this!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Inspring! October 4, 2007

By Penny L. Arrowood

Format:Paperback

I have enjoyed Ricë's articles and profiles for several years, now; but the book has given me even more appreciation for her sparkling wit! Unlike many 'creative guides' this is not a workbook -- rather a suggestive reference for your own unique, personal, creative journey. It is so very helpful to read how SO many different types of people approach creativity! Featured were some of my current favorite artists (Sas Colby, Michael DeMeng, and Claudine Hellmuth) with the built-in bonus of some NEW favorites (James Michael Starr & Melissa Zink). Neat 'do this' additions keep you from sitting still, thinking "that's cool" by making the different techiniques highly approachable! Lavishly illustrated and easy to read, I highly recommend this for any artists' bookshelf.