Living Out Loud [Spiral-bound]

Keri Smith (Author), Keri (Author/Illustrator) Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2003

Remember those childhood days spent running in your bare feet, playing make-believe, and most of all, living life with wonderment? That youthful enthusiasm and playfulness are key to discovering who you are and what you love to do. Living Out Loud is the perfect prescription for a creative jump start to your life. Included are games, projects, activities, crafts, postcards, and playful ideas that will send you off on an exciting adventure, where you'll discover inspiration around and within you.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Keri Smith a freelance illustrator living in Canada.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 128 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811836746
• ISBN-13: 978-0811836746
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,870 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Keri Smith is an author/illustrator turned guerilla artist. She is the author of several bestselling books about creativity including This is Not a Book (2009 Perigee), How to be an Explorer of the World -the Portable Life/Art Museum,( 2008 Perigee), Wreck this Journal (2007 Perigee). Her newest book, Mess: A Manual of Accidents and Mistakes will be released fall 2010 by Penguin Books. She is the author of the popular weblog the Wish Jar, and writes on occasion for a variety of magazines. Keri spends her days playing with her husband and son, and divides her time between upstate New York, and the countryside of Canada.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 72 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My breakfast companion December 19, 2003

By Danny Gregory

Format:Spiral-bound

This little book joins me each morning with tea and toast. It is brimming with great ideas, encouragement and wisdom that gets my creative engine turning over at the beginnning of each day. More human and optimistic than The Artist's Way, Living out Loud is a workbook, a playspace,a bible and a cheerleader that gets me excited to make more things in every part of my life. A rare gift.

93 of 98 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Comfort Food for your Creative Soul! January 6, 2004

By Violette Clark

Format:Spiral-bound

When i received Keri Smith's book in the mail i literally jumped for joy! I made a bowl of lentil soup and proceeded to devour "Living out Loud" while devouring my soup. Instantly i knew that Keri's book would become comfort food for my creative soul.

In the tradition of Sark, who inspires us creatively, Living out Loud does the same only Keri's adorable coilbound book departs from Sark by supplying the reader with tear out postcards, cut-out shrines, stickers and juicy tear out Permission cards (this really appealed to the child in me!). For those of us who have the patience of a gnat, you will enjoy the brief topics that are beautifully illustrated. I have been an artist for over 30 years and feel that i have found a kindred spirit in Keri Smith and so will you!!

This book is sure to become my pocket Muse to be used again and again for inspiration and great project ideas. I highly recommend it!

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars So much fun in such a small package! August 2, 2004

By Anya

Format:Spiral-bound

This book is really fun, and has a lot of easy ideas to help get your creative juices flowing. If you are looking for a fun gift for an artist, this book would be perfect. The suggestions are fairly easy and take very little time, and the best part is that you can do the activities alone, or invite a friend to join!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a little bit of sunshine on a cloudy day August 21, 2003

By Dawn M. Mikulich

Format:Spiral-bound

An adorable little hardbound binder style notebook that is full of inspiration. The book contains creative activities, words of encouragement and, of course, Keri's lovely illustrations. It's one of those books that I will read over and over. It's the perfect way to get out of the blahs.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's so good....my daughter took my copy! January 23, 2006

By Reading my way thru life

Format:Spiral-bound

This is a fun book! I ordered this from Amazon about a year ago because I couldn't find it in any of the bookstores. My teenage daughter took mine and is enjoying what's left of it.

There are SO many fun excercises in this book that you can do to be creative. I tore out a few of the postcards from the back with the quotes on them and put them up around the house. I enjoy the dice, they're fun. I love the colorful illustrations, and the color all through the book. There's a "Living Out Loud" Board game that you can tear out and use. One of my favorite things is the "Wish Jar" -and I have made my own...it was a very uplifting way to spend an afternoon! I felt great afterwards! I tore out the "permission cards" and I use them regularly! This book just makes me feel like a kid again! How many books do you have that do that??

I was in the bookstore the other day and noticed they had a copy of this book. It's about time! This book would make a great gift for someone who's already creative, or for someone who wants to be!

This is one of the coolest books I have! I hope you'll buy it and enjoy it for yourself!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Creativity is fun July 31, 2004

By S. Forrest

Format:Spiral-bound|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book on a whim one day because I was getting more and more anxious about my recent lack of creativity. I work as a graphic designer which meant being creative kept food on the table. I was so excited for this book to arrive in the mail and once it turned up I was not disappointed. I devoured the book in 2 sittings but was left looking forward to reading it again! I smiled at all her ideas and I can't wait to give them ago. I noticed I had a reknewed enthusiasm for work too after the first night reading - she has helped me realise creativity is fun...not just a way to earn money! Highly recommend this book to anyone looking to add a little more fun and confidence back into their lives.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars so much light in such a little book October 15, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Spiral-bound

After plowing through it in one sitting (glass of tea in my hand, perched in a comfortable chair) I ran out and bought this book for two like-minded creative friends of mine. It's wonderful, inspiring, beautifully designed and utterly soulful. I used Keri's suggestions to plan an entire Living Out Loud the other weekend when I needed to reignite my inner spark.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative play feeds the artist soul August 5, 2005

By Cheryl Richards

Format:Spiral-bound

I discovered Keri Smith while browsing the pages of my Writers Digest magazine. Her web site won the magazine's Best Writer's Web Site in 2004. After visiting her web site I just had to have her book. I was not disappointed. I fell in love with this book immediately.

There is no one formula for inspiration, but all artists will agree that we must engage in creative play to fill the well. Call it spriritual sit ups or creative exercise, but I call it just plain fun. I especially like the instructions on taking a mini-vacation. The illustrations are delightfully charming and the writings speak to the heart of the artist. BTW, I had to purchase another copy of the book because I just had to share the fun with another artist!