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How to Be an Artist

The New York Times bestseller

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How to Be an Artist

By: Jerry Saltz
Narrated by: Jerry Saltz
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About this listen

Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Jerry Saltz is here to explain to you how to bring art and creativity into your life, with irreverent, inspiring and priceless pieces of advice on getting on in art.

As the witty and passionate chief art critic for New York magazine, Jerry Saltz is often approached by artists, both amateur and professional, asking him for advice: How do I get started? How do I get better? Is what I'm doing even art at all? They want to know, in short, how to be an artist.

Now, expanding on his viral cover story for New York magazine - and drawing on his decades of immersion in the art world - Saltz has the answers. How to Be an Artist is an indispensable book of practical inspiration for creative people of all kinds. Brimming with dozens of brand new rules, prompts, exercises and tips designed to break through creative blocks, ignite motivation and conquer bad habits, this book is designed to help artists of all kinds - painters, photographers, writers, performers - realise their dreams.

Includes such advice as:

  • Make art for now, not the future
  • No, you don't need graduate school
  • Recognise convention, and resist constraint
  • Get lost
  • Listen to the wildest voices in your head
  • Know what you hate (it's probably you)
  • Finish the damn thing!
  • How to recover from critical injuries
©2020 Jerry Saltz (P)2020 Octopus Publishing Group
Art Creativity Witty Inspiring
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Critic reviews

"I wish I had read these rules 40 years ago and carried them around like a bible. By chance or design I've followed most of them at some point but it took me a lifetime as an artist to find what worked. They are the generous, loving, enthusiastic, bullshit-free advice of a master communicator, just reading them makes me want to charge back into the studio." (Grayson Perry)

"Being an artist is a lonely pursuit - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the rest of your life. Most of the time it hurts. This book will help the pain." (Tracey Emin)

What listeners say about How to Be an Artist

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loved it

I binge read it. every word was valuable. I related to all of it. thank you

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Loved it! Actually made me work!

Brilliant no-nonsense pep-talk style nuggets of wisdom in manageable snippets that motivate and inspire. Excellent! 😍

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Powerful and helpful

I’m at the beginning of my art journey/career and I can honestly say I’m sure I’ll refer back to this book in the future and start the exercises right away. Thank you.

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Fab book

A real gem. Jerry cuts to the chase and is very motivating in the unending artists’ search for truth

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Excellent

all the artists will finally stop feeling sorry for themselves and will start creating ...
great kick in the b*tt

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Fabulous tips for any artist

every artist of every genre should read this, so many great bits of advise. read by the artist, east to listen to and take notes from.

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For artists everywhere

I love this audiobook. It's the perfect companion to Julia Cameron's The Artists Way and Stephen Pressfield's War of Art. If you are serious about becoming an artist, this book is for you. I love the deadpan delivery from the author Jerry Saltz. I love the message. I love the challenges he sets for the reader/listener. I have just listened to it for the first time and am about to listen again from the beginning. This book is wonderful and whether you are an aspiring artist or an artist who is struggling to make an impression, you need to get this book. Please don't delay.

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An essential listen

If you’re an artist, use Jerry’s wisdom as your guide and roadmap. You won’t regret it.

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To the point - a quick jump-starter!

Loved the book for its simplicity and to the point suggestions, food for thought, exercises and overall structure. If you are someone who doesn't like to over think and needs or wants to get down to action then this is a great book.Whether you want to start making art or are already an artist.

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Encouraging & realistic

A short yet helpful listen. I especially like that Jerry evenly quotes female as well as male artists. Of course the feeling is that he favours male artists (a little obsessed with Picasso) however he touches on many useful points. I particularly loved the 12 people bit. I won't expand on this - listen for yourself!

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