WE LOVE books!

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I recently discovered poet Nayyira Waheed and instantly fell in love. I wasn't a big poetry fan, but she has changed that. Waheed's ability to express so much with incredible feeling and power in few words is remarkable. Sometimes they are a single line on an otherwise blank page but their meaning is not sparse -- I return to them again and again. 

Importantly, Waheed's is a strong voice sharing experiences and struggles of black women through powerful, engaging words.  Simply put, her poems fill me with awe and I consider her as an artists of words.  I began with her first book, Salt, but quickly purchased Nayjama, her second book. They are both treasures I feel everyone should own. 

salt. by Nayyirha Waheed

nejama by Nayyirah Waheed

This is an easy to read, easy to follow guide fo visual artists needing to write an artist statement and more. It's not easy to capture what your work is about in words but Amorose breaks it down and makes the task feel manageable. After reading many guides on this, I consider this one to be the best. A must for artist wanting to share their work in a professional manner.  

Art-Write by Vicki Krohn Amorose

This book by best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert is a gift to all creatives. Sharing her own creative process and experience, Gilbert offers wisdom and often unspoken truths about the joys and unique challenges artists face. She identifies the paradox that exists for artists: "My creative expression must be the most important thing in the world to me (if I am to live artistically), and it also must not matter at all (if I am to live sanely)." Understanding the emotional rollercoaster that creatives  experience, Gilbert offers valuable guidance on how to manage yourself on the ride.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

This may be a love it or hate it kind of book. You could say there's nothing new here, just more "believe in yourself" self help from a whacky artsy type. Sure, Victore can be in-your-face, maybe at times even irreverent, but he's also a successful self-taught, independent artist and designer whose passion and hard work got his work exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and in the permanent collections of the Louvre in Paris and the Library of Congress in Washington, DC (not to mention his list of famous corporate clients). While there may be nothing new here, per se, there are worthwhile passages for creatives looking to strengthen their courage and confidence, such as this one: "Play serves both the creator and the audience." This is an easy read (although changes in text size can be a bit jarring) with page-long messages, lessons and advice gathered from Victore's experience. And Victore is something not all successful artists are: honest, genuine and willing to share his experience in the hope that you succeed too. 

Feck Perfuction: Dangerous Ideas on the Business of Life by James Victore