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How to Be an Artist

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How to Be an Artist

Written by: Jerry Saltz
Narrated by: Jerry Saltz
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About this listen

"Inspiration leaps off the pages from Jerry Saltz's new book on creativity.... This book is for the artist or non-artist, for the person who gets plain English, for the person who understands that practical talk can coax out the mystical messages that lie underneath." (Steve Martin)

Art has the power to change our lives. For many, becoming an artist is a lifelong dream. But how to make it happen? In How to Be an Artist, Jerry Saltz, one of the art world’s most celebrated and passionate voices, offers an indispensable handbook for creative people of all kinds.

From the first sparks of inspiration - and how to pursue them without giving in to self-doubt - Saltz offers invaluable insight into what really matters to emerging artists: originality, persistence, a balance between knowledge and intuition, and that most precious of qualities, self-belief. Brimming with rules, prompts, and practical tips, How to Be an Artist gives artists new ways to break through creative blocks, get the most from materials, navigate career challenges, and above all find joy in the work.

This useful audiobook will help artists of all kinds - painters, photographers, writers, performers - realize their dreams.

©2020 Jerry Saltz (P)2020 Penguin Audio
Arts & Entertainment Creativity Inspiring
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What the critics say

"How to Be an Artist has relevance way beyond the art world. With his typical clarity and compassion, Jerry Saltz outlines a path for anyone who wants to dedicate their lives to chasing something they believe in. Even as a chef, I have Jerry’s advice ringing through my brain at all times." (David Chang)

"In How to Be an Artist, Jerry Saltz is so right-on it scares me." (Cindy Sherman)

“Inspiration leaps off the pages from Jerry Saltz’s new book on creativity. One wants to say he’s revealing secrets, but really, he’s revealing intuition - intuition formed from decades of thinking about art. This book is for the artist or non-artist, for the person who gets plain English, for the person who understands that practical talk can coax out the mystical messages that lie underneath.” (Steve Martin)

What listeners say about How to Be an Artist

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Inspired

Assuming you listened to this as an artist (@kezliegh), it's super inspiring. At times it brought me to eye stinging realization.
Assuming you listened to this as an art enthusiast, maybe you thought 'Artists are weird and I love/hate them. I'm going to read everything Jerry Saltz has written now.'
Assuming you listened to this as regular human (maybe an artist bought this for you in order to understand them better), it's something amusing to think about. 'Are people really out there carrying around a book of hands?' 'Jeff Koons makes how much!? Balloon animals!'

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Art is a verb

Written from the heart of someone truly in love with art making, living in the very pulse of art, and living life with Art as a verb active and dominant in his life ❤️

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Thank you Jerry Saltz.

An inspiring and thoughtful book for all creatives,
from a writer who knows the art world deeply and broadly and also understands the artist mind intimately. Full of wise words and sage advise supported by quotes from other artists. This book fees like a pep talk from your favourite uncle. Definitely worth reading at least once.

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Blunt

Short, blunt and funny - a good push to get ya going. Appreciate the no nonsense approach and general principles, even if some of the specifics didn't apply to me.

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Jerry Saltz is Brilliant!

Straightforward, quirky, and excellent advice for any artist at any level in their career! A must read.

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Thought provoking and energizing!

I enjoyed the authors perspectives on how to beat back the demons and self doubt. I also found his admonition about art as not being feeling but doing very helpful

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New book staple

This book is short and amazingly dense. I will read this over and over again. there is so much to learn and much internal work to do. Awesome guidance and self development wrapped together so wonderfully.

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A confidence builder

I love Jerry Saltz! He’s a straight shooter who says it like it is. Even after over 40 years as a artist I need someone like Jerry to encourage me to keep working and to stop being a big baby! Thank you for your passion Jerry!

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for the uninitiated and those needing a push

Some of the art making cliches here are squirmy but Saltz has a genuine enthusiasm and really wants to be useful. Much of it seems best aimed at first-year undergraduate studio art students, I feel, but even then it's quite a lot of posturing and bluster to take in.

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