Living Artfully
create the life you imagine
by Sandra Magsamen
list price: $25
230 pages
Overview
Really, this book could be called "How to love yourself and all the people around you.” It’s not just about art. It’s not just about creativity. It’s about your entire life, and especially your relationships.
The author has faith in you. Yes, you right there. She believes that you are already creative, and that everyone has the potential to live a happily creative, artful life.
With an uplifting, positive tone throughout, Sandra Magsamen examines our perceptions and understandings of art, as well as the ways that people are creative and “artful” in their everyday lives. Living artfully is just as much about being thoughtful and kind to everyone you encounter as it is being purposefully artistic.
This book will help you figure out how to be more creative and fun loving with your children. How to have fun celebrations with friends and family. How to make the people in your life realize just how special they are to you. How to stop rushing mindlessly, and instead to live purposefully.
The book’s message embraces the innate creativity of childhood and encourages readers to think back on this and to rediscover it within themselves. "That creative spirit still lives within you," Sandra tells us.
Each paragraph is more touching and inspiring than the next. The author is the kind of person you’d want to have coffee with. And by coffee, I mean a coffee date that turns into you sitting there for three hours, soaking in all of her joy and insight.
I finished this book in three nights, simply because I couldn't put it down. I lost sleep, but I was happy. There were so many inspiring and interesting passages -- I was busily underlining and drawing arrows just as I did my college textbooks. It’s one of those books that really makes you think, and that leaves you happy just from having read it. And one that you place in a special spot on the bookshelf, to be re-read every year.
A new look at ART
Within these pages is validation for all types of art, created by artists of all skill levels. Regarding art, Sandra says, there is no high or low, good or bad; "there's only creation, and the joy that comes with it." Communication and expression is what art is really about.
Perfection isn't what we're going for, she says. Our understanding of art is limited; too many people think that if they won't measure up anyway, why bother at all? Sandra encourages us to expand our definition of creativity and to embrace the artist within each of us
"We are creative beings." To be human is to be creative. Sandra repeats this again and again throughout the book. And she believes that everyone is creative – not just those of us who willingly claim the label.
Several times in the book, Sandra specifically mentions an affirmation of the desire to scrapbook -- both for the sake of creating, and for connecting. Obviously, as a scrapbooker, this is nice to read. (And a great passage to underline and show to your husband!)
FORMAT/CONTENT
Overall, the book is incredibly positive -- both the message and the presentation. Throughout are bright colored pages featuring fun collages (which are very scrapbook-like.) The illustrations and art in each two-page chapter intro are colorful, fun, and happy.
One of this book’s greatest strengths is use of quotations. Forty-one of pages in the book are full page quotes – with the words in white on bright colored pages. Some of these quotes are from the text of the book, re-emphasizing key points that have been made. A few are great quotes from other people. Within the chapter text, quotes are featured on what looks like torn pieces of pretty paper, to help them stand out.
The author tells wonderful stories about how different people have discovered their own ways of living artfully, and specifically how they show their love for family and friends. Some were so touching I found myself wiping away tears. Several stories made me smile and even laugh. Additionally, interesting info and tidbits about art and creativity in cultures all around the world are sprinkled within the text.
Chapter Contents:
Preface ~ The Art of Living
1. Messages from the Heart: Making Connections
2. Imagine the Possibilities: Rediscovering Your Creative Power
3. Everyday Art: Creating Moments That Matter
4. Home is Where the Heart is: Making Your Home a Reflection of You
5. Celebrate Life: Artful Ways for Special Days
6. Happy Holidays: New Ways for the Big Day
7. You Make the World a Better Place: Making Your Mark on the World
Epilogue: The Heart of Living Artfully: Ten Principles
In addition to seven chapters, there are four Artful Ideas sections interspersed throughout the book. These contain (on cheery orange pages!) artful ideas: bulleted lists of ideas on specific topics for putting the Living Artfully ideas into practice. There are so many wonderful ideas -- and ok, sometimes they're a little corny. But sweet corny. Below are listed the subjects and sub-categories of these four sections.
-- Everyday artful ideas: for yourself, for the one you love, for your family, for your friends, for work, when someone passes away, for the joy of it.
-- Artful ideas for the home: artful ways to decorate, artful ideas with food, artful gardening ideas, artful ways to organize, artful ideas for the office.
-- Artful ideas for everyday celebrations with friends and family: for every day, for anniversaries, for birthdays, for a new baby, for a wedding
-- Artful ideas for the holidays: for New Year's Eve, for Valentine's Day, for Easter, for Mother's Day, for Fourth of July, for Halloween, for Thanksgiving, for Hanukkah, for Christmas
Who should read this book?
-- Anyone who wants to smile.
-- Anyone with an artistic hobby or lifestyle.
-- Anyone in the category above that feels frustrated or disillusioned about their art.
-- Anyone with kids. Or a family.
-- The people, especially, who think they have no creativity or artistic talent -- we all have something. This book can help you to realize that, and inspire you to TRY.
This book is a GREAT gift idea.
Click here to view book listing at Amazon.com.
Click here to view the author's website.
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