Dan Worley Posted March 23, 2002 Share Posted March 23, 2002 "Art and Fear" is a book a friend of mine turned me onto. I highly recommend it to any artist/songwriter who struggles with the creative process, and who wonders at times why they do what they do, and if they should be doing it at all, and why they sometimes can't finish what they started. I've been a songwriter for 33 years (or should I say I've been writing songs for 33 years), and this book has helped me be more comfortable with the creative process, and has helped me finish projects I didn't think I would ever get done. I've pasted in the Editorial Reviews below: Regards, Dan Worley Editorial Reviews Book Description: An artist's survival guide, written by and for working artists. The authors explore the way art gets made, the reasons it doesn't get made, and the nature of the difficulties that cause so many artists to give up along the way. The author, Ted Orland , June 1, 1997 This book is written by working artists, for working artists Art & Fear is a book about the way art gets made, the reasons it often does not get made, and about the difficulties that cause so many artists to give up along the way. The authors (David Bayles & Ted Orland) are both working artists, grappling daily with the problems of making art in the real world. The observations we make are drawn from personal experience, and relate more to the needs of fellow artists than to the interests of viewers. Do not mistake Art & Fear for a pop psychology self-help book -- we are not interested in freeing your inner child! This is a book about what it feels like to sit down at your wheel or keyboard, easel or camera, trying to do the work you need to do. Simply put, you have a choice between giving your art your best shot and risking that it will not make you happy, or not giving it your best shot and thereby GUARANTEEING that it will not make you happy. What we have tried to do is illuminate the obstacles you face, and offer some artistic strategies for getting past them. Art & Fear has never been advertised and was never reviewed by a major publication, but it has nonetheless become something of an underground classic in the three years since it was published. Our distributor says it has become required reading for at least a few hundred university art courses across the country. (One painting instructor told us that, over the course of the semester, she reads the entire book aloud to her drawing class as background input while they're at work in the classroom studio.) It is now in its seventh printing --This text refers to the Paperback edition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Posted March 23, 2002 Share Posted March 23, 2002 Sounds very interesting, Dan. I'm going to go searching for it today. I'm a super book worm/addict, so you told the wrong guy. I'll check it out and get back. Thanks. Jedi "All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence." The Buddha's Last Words R.I.P. RobT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Posted March 27, 2002 Share Posted March 27, 2002 Hey Dan, I got the book. I'm loving it. Very nourishing right now. I mean I can relate to a lot of the author's statements. I can tell this is going to be a quick read. Thanks for pulling my coat. Namaste Jedi "All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence." The Buddha's Last Words R.I.P. RobT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Worley Posted March 28, 2002 Author Share Posted March 28, 2002 Originally posted by dblackjedi: Hey Dan, I got the book. I'm loving it. Very nourishing right now. I mean I can relate to a lot of the author's statements. I can tell this is going to be a quick read. Thanks for pulling my coat. Namaste JediI'm glad you're enjoying it so far. I've read through it a couple of times, and I find myself going back to it quite often. It really gave me a sense that I wasn't alone in my creative bliss and agony. UPS just delivered my copy of "Songwriters on Songwriting". 600 plus pages featuring writers from Dylan to Zappa. I can hardly wait to get to it. I'm starting off with Dylan and then on to Jackson Browne. This is very exciting. Best regards, Dan Worley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickelg11 Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Thanks for the recommendation -I'll look out for that!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 Hey Dan, I just finished chapter III "Fears about Yourself" in Art & Fear. Man, this thing is off the register. I love it. I can't make it a quick read because there is just too much to absorb. This chapter really spoke to me. Bottom line: Work. It feels comforting to read a philosophy I already believed in. Art & Fear is very supporting for anyone going against the grain. And you can apply certain principles to various aspects of your life. I mean isn't all life a work of art, or better yet, a work of art in progress. There is an art to everything. From parenting to business, to music, to living. I honestly believe this little gem has helped me clear up some pretentious cobwebs floating in my head. Thanks again, Dan. I've recommended this one to all of my friends who are really going for their dreams. Jedi "All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence." The Buddha's Last Words R.I.P. RobT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted April 7, 2002 Share Posted April 7, 2002 That sounds like it could save our collective bacon around here! Very timely. Our two options are to act out of love, or out of fear. Even Guernica is out of love. Ted A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Empty Planet Posted April 8, 2002 Share Posted April 8, 2002 Hey Dan, thanks for this. I ordered it a week ago, got it a couple days ago, and it's just the ticket. Easy read. I've been through the usual years of torment, done the the Artist's Way, yadda, yadda, but this thing is short and sweet and much more to the point, IMHO. Of course, it's also true that a person has to be ready to hear something, and that's definitely me right now, but some of the ideas in this little guy seem to have just blown away one or two long-standing hangups of mine. I had a very cool, very balanced, very productive songwriting/mixing day yesterday (no self-recriminatoin at all!) and I'm looking forward to another today! Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bear Jew Posted April 8, 2002 Share Posted April 8, 2002 Wow... I've been following this thread. I haven't read this book, but I think I might! Jedi... You mentioned there was something in the book about everything in life being art. I couldn't agree more. That's why I try to appreciate the value in all types of music -- everything from N'sync to Bongzilla has something to offer an open-minded listener. It's all art to me. Nice to see someone wrote a book about it. \m/ Erik "To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." --Sun Tzu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Posted April 8, 2002 Share Posted April 8, 2002 Hey Erik, I hope that I didn't mislead you. The book(so far atleast) doesn't discuss everything in life being art. That was just me going a little further with the ideas covered in the book. However, I strongly suggest this one, because it deals with a lot of our insecurities. The authors make plain a lot of the little hang ups that get in the way of us making "better" art. It has been a wonderful companion for me. I hope you check it out, because 1.) I think you would enjoy it, and find it useful, and 2.) I would love to get your take on it. Take care my brother, Jedi "All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence." The Buddha's Last Words R.I.P. RobT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSD Posted April 8, 2002 Share Posted April 8, 2002 I just ordered mine today. Looks like a great book. It sounds like it deals with issues that I I have and didn't realize that other artist had. I'll let you know how I like it. Thanks Dan Dave Dalton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halljams Posted April 20, 2002 Share Posted April 20, 2002 Hi Dan. i just got my copy of this book a few days ago. It is great, really enjoyable, inspiring reading. thanks for the recommendation. Check out SUPERVIBE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george costanza Posted April 2, 2004 Share Posted April 2, 2004 bump bump bumpity bump [re-invigorating the front page] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanfc Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 - I just ordered my copy ! For me part of the thrill of playing live IS the Fear ! Songwriting and the blank page however, are a whole different ballgame whoa ! Costanza, I just realized this thread is 2 years old.. thanks alot for reviving it! Rivera + Fender Strat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperator Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 Yeah, thanks for reviving the post. I just got my copy and began reading today. Excellent book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 Yeah, thanks for pulling this up. I guess my bacon made it through, more or less, (reference to my 2 year old post on this thread), but I didn't get the book then, and am just ordering it now. A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveMusic Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 While at it, get "Guitar Pull" by Phillip Self. My fave of all faves, ahead of the Paul Zollo book, "Songwriters On Songwriting." > > > [ Live! ] < < < Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archer Posted April 29, 2004 Share Posted April 29, 2004 Originally posted by Dan Worley: Originally posted by dblackjedi: Hey Dan, I got the book. I'm loving it. Very nourishing right now. I mean I can relate to a lot of the author's statements. I can tell this is going to be a quick read. Thanks for pulling my coat. Namaste JediI'm glad you're enjoying it so far. I've read through it a couple of times, and I find myself going back to it quite often. It really gave me a sense that I wasn't alone in my creative bliss and agony. UPS just delivered my copy of "Songwriters on Songwriting". 600 plus pages featuring writers from Dylan to Zappa. I can hardly wait to get to it. I'm starting off with Dylan and then on to Jackson Browne. This is very exciting. Best regards, Dan WorleyDan, how are you liking the "songwriters on songwriting"? Me and my two dogs, Remington and Winchester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendrix Posted May 3, 2004 Share Posted May 3, 2004 Based on some posts here about a year ago i read Art & Fear in 2003. There were many good thoughts/perspectives in it. However, some of it I did not relate so well to. I really related to the concept that the artist is embroiled in a creative process- and that art consists of "artifacts" that keep popping out of the process. The artist fundamantally has a relationship with the creative process-while the audience relates to a given piece of output. So, Art is whats produced by artists who are consumed by the the creative process and are trying to make their definitive piece of art. They almost never do...but lots of good stuff may pop out while they are trying. One thing the book did was validate/affirm my approach to producing music. Basically I do this for my own sake/satisfaction. Im addicted to the process and will continue independant of any money or recognition that might ever come from it. Hey does this mean Im officially a recording artist? Check out some tunes here: http://www.garageband.com/artist/KenFava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Vector Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 Thanks for bringing this to my attention - definitely sounds like something I'd be interested in reading. It reminds me of a quote passed on to me by a friend that related to not allowing fear to stop you (I forget to whom the quote was attributed now): "take the fear as a sure sign that you're about to learn something." For a while after that, my friend and I would end our correspondences to one another with "Enjoy the Fear!!!" www.davidvector.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnfindlay Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 Cool-and now its Somatime! good for a bump. JF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggard Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 Just the kind of coincidence that looks like a sign from above! I just entered the forum for the first time to post a topic requesting help on songwriting beginning, and as first thing read your "Art and Fear" lines. Great, I just ordered it from Amazon Germany. There is something for me in there for sure! "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn" Charlie Parker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnfindlay Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 Good for you Haggard! http://www.soundclick.com/johnfindlaymusicproductions JF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Empty Planet Posted June 12, 2004 Share Posted June 12, 2004 Art and Fear rocks, but here's one a friend turned me on to recently that takes the prize, The Art of War. Really a great bit of work. High recommendation. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1590710037/002-6039917-3716808?v=glance Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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