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  • Art & Fear

  • Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
  • By: David Bayles, Ted Orland
  • Narrated by: Arthur Morey
  • Length: 3 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (305 ratings)
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Art & Fear cover art

Art & Fear

By: David Bayles, Ted Orland
Narrated by: Arthur Morey
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Summary

What is your art really about? Where is it going? What stands in the way of getting it there? These are questions that matter, questions that recur at each stage of artistic development - and they are the source for this volume of wonderfully incisive commentary.

Art & Fear explores the way art gets made, the reasons it often doesn't get made, and the nature of the difficulties that cause so many artists to give up along the way. This is a book about what it feels like to sit in your studio or classroom, at your wheel or keyboard, easel or camera, trying to do the work you need to do. It is about committing your future to your own hands, placing free will above predestination, choice above chance. It is about finding your own work.

©1993 David Bayles and Ted Orland (P)2012 Tantor

What listeners say about Art & Fear

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Valuable insight from experienced artists

For me this book featured many new, valuable and thought provoking ideas about the process of art-making. Along with Steven Pressfield's 'War of Art' and Juliet Aristides' books on classical art methods, it is the most inspiring writing I've encountered so far. It takes you to the heart of your fears, and then points out the choices you have to make if you choose to make art. Given the focus on the fears inherent in art-making, I found it somewhat depressing in places, but ultimately uplifting. The authors aren't offering any quick fixes or guarantees - just telling it like it is. I agreed with 90% of their propositions, but I found one or two of their underlying assumptions questionable. Overall, this deserves a five star rating for the amount of thinking and questioning it made me do - a great book.

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12 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An astonishing, essential book for any artist

I'd heard this book mentioned many times, but had always assumed that it was just one more among the many titles that claim to reveal the secret of making good art. It turns out there is no secret, except to make (and persist in making) art that interests you. Having heard the audio version, I can say it really spoke volumes to me - albeit that the narration sounded slightly 'robotic' at times - and I'll be purchasing a paper version to study and meditate on in greater depth.

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4 people found this helpful

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Every artist should read this for their own sanity

A great self help book for the struggling artist. Will help you to take value in your mistakes and see art as a journey. Very enjoyable and enlightening !

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4 people found this helpful

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Big huge smiley face

For anyone, even the most amateur, attempting to create something they love, this is so perfect. Also 5 stars for the deadpan delivery. Love it.

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3 people found this helpful

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  • 07-02-15

Great stuff!

Got off the back of Robert Rodgriguez (movie director) recommending in an interview with Quentin Tarantino. Really good advice here!

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3 people found this helpful

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An encouraging book for artists

An interesting read and well narrated. It said everything I felt about being an artist and why I have to make Art for myself rather than for others.

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2 people found this helpful

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brilliant. penetrating stuff.

my second, listen and it's even more pertinent.
insights that are non-prescriptive, other than keep on keeping on!

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1 person found this helpful

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Inspiring and to-the-point.

A great book that doesn't mince words, gets straight to the point and leaves me inspired every time I read it. It may be 25 or so years old, and focuses on various types of art, but I think so many artists can gain valuable insights into themselves and their work. Some feat for such short book.

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simply amazing!

it's a great tool for the contemporary struggling artist! it gives you strength and courage! great book!

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Art &Fear

Excellent wish there were more audio books on this subject. Its amazing how many books are written on artists and yet most don’t cover what inspires them together with their approach to their subject.

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1 person found this helpful