No More Secondhand Art: Awakening the Artist Within

The encounters [exercises] in this book are a challenge. As it says, paraphrased here, the person who goes into the exercises, encounters, is not the person who comes out. This is a tool along the same lines as The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. It's not navel-gazing because it puts you to work alone at home or in a group setting.It isn't art. It's very important to accept this as 'image-making' as it's called in the book. A reason to use the term 'encounter' to describe the timed sessions is to regard this process as meet and greet images as information about yourself of which you are unaware until now.In order to do the encounters it took plenty of preparation and problem-solving. I found an interval timer on You Tube that ran for one hour but beeped every 60 seconds and kept track of what minute of the 60 had been completed. Same for the 5 min. intervals later used.I bought newsprint paper at the dollar store so that using 60 sheets of it in one hour was not too expensive or intimidating. Plus, newsprint isn't a glaring bright white which as a blank canvas is another kind of speed bump, maybe. I spread all kinds of media around: colored pencils, graphite, charcoal, markers, and paint but didn't use paint.Another speed bump was an Encounter which instructed to 'choose one convention' that you see among the 60+ drawings displayed. I had to look up the conventions of drawing. For instance, I'd made both freehand and compass circles. A compass circle is a convention. I found good guidance in the Jeffery Camp book DRAW which is another self-study option in itself.Next challenge was how to display the 60+ drawings as a whole 'collection' for 'processing'. The images can be unsettling and perhaps not something you want to share right away or maybe ever with the household? How to display these for guided review while maintaining privacy? I used garment racks on rollers covered with white flannel and pinned the sheets across and down. .The book can be used as an independent self-study BUT do have a plan for support and context if art therapy or other therapy modalities are new to you. It doesn't hurt to mediate before beginning an Encounter. You want new images not ego or over-thinking.The book can also be used as remedial reading for artists and anybody who makes things. It's similar to the Kimon Nicholaides self-study book The Natural Way to Draw which also takes preparation and lots of paper.Yes, I agree with other reviewers that it's wordy. The author in 1989 and feeling his way to communicating this method of getting unstuck, transformation, moving your creative life forward. I'm very grateful.

This is either the second or third time I've bought this book. (Yes, I've gone through several copies... and loaned this book to others, as well.)At this point, the writing may seem a little wordy and dated, but the concepts in this book still make it an important read for creative people. London's messages affirm your creative impulses and help defeat internal (and perhaps external) criticism, too.If you're an artist of ANY kind, I think this book is worth buying, and reading with a highlighter or pen in hand. When a line resonates with you, you'll benefit from going back and reading it, over & over again.I recommend it.

Thought provoking, unusual book. Still working through it but will likely reread. Practical exercises were not as helpful as I expected, but still good... and the concepts and ideas in the first chapters are def worth pondering. Actually borrowed this book from the library and because I couldn't finish it before it was requested by someone else, I bought it for myself.

whether your are an aspiring, emerging, or veteran artist, I recommend this book. It really challenges the foundation of what we are told and taught about artists and art-making. You will realize a new sense of freedom. Art educators: are you seeing the real art of your students from their hearts and minds? Are they making art or learning to follow directions and "do it like the teacher"? are we educating kids to be creative thinkers or expert direction followers? Is one being taught and honored at the expense of the other?Read this book!

I bought this to replace one I gave away. Of all the books about the philosophy of art, or just about art in general, this one has been my bible. It's honest, not preachy and makes the case for finding creativity in process. Definitely not trying to create like anyone elae or try to make anything so it will be admired by orhers.

The language and writing in this book is really bad. Have you ever read a book where the purpose of the book seemed to be a vehicle to show off a writers ability to use five dollar words which rarely say anything intelligible? The whole book could be condensed to a couple dozen pages. If you like rambling prose, this book might entertain you. The Author doesn't seem to understand art all that well either. He opens the book by explaining how he went to an art show held by an art school and he detested all the art there. If someone goes to an art show and doesn't understand what he sees there, you gotta wonder about everything that follows in this book. It's a bit torturous to read. I had to stop.

This is a well written book, full of thought provoking ideas. Peter London is a most fascinating writer, educator, artist, and art therapist. This is a "must read" for those who are on a personal journey to find their creative calling.

Very helpful!

It may be 25 years old now (if my maths is correct), but this is a fabulous book. As an artist who runs in person workshops, I found this book to be inspiring both for my personal practice and for facilitating groups. Highly recommended.

Says nothing to me.

Very good quality and arrived in estimated time.