Art and Fear

"Making art is a high calling but is also difficult and emotionally demanding. The authors of Art and Fear examine some of the perils of art making with great insight. They discuss reasons people either don’t ever make a start in making art, or quit in the process. Many of us just talk our way out of a promising future with self-doubt and unrealistic expectations, when it’s really non-magical qualities like perseverance and grit that are essential to becoming an artist. “The authors believe that art can be taught, and moreover learned, and the traps that waylay our efforts can be avoided or managed with some cheerful guidance.” Geniuses may only be born once a century or so, but great art gets made all the time. And even genius is only expressed with hard work. Just think of the degree of application pursued by someone like Van Gogh . The authors believe that art can be taught, and moreover learned, and the traps that waylay our efforts can be avoided or managed with some cheerful guidance. This is a good book to end our discussion and prompt people who are hesitant about making art to actually get out there and put pen to paper or brush to canvas. It’s a movement that’s changing continually as it catches hold of the public imagination and being applied in ways that nobody really could foresee a generation ago. It’s adapted for different forms of art that appear to bear no direct relation to nineteenth century models, becoming allied to concept art, gaming and film industries, digital and fantasy artists. And it’s becoming more specialised in some ways, with ateliers being created to pursue specifically drawing or still life. We are seeing a huge amount of growth and interest so who knows where that may lead. My job is to support each Atelier student’s personal goals, practice and desire for artistic excellence, however they choose to apply it. Our atelier attracts all sorts of people, some have goals to become career painters, others plan on disappearing into the studio and making art, drawing and painting only for themselves for the rest of their life. My books aim to address practicing and aspiring artists of all levels. Now that my latest book Figure Drawing Atelier is out, I’m looking forward to spending more time in the studio again myself!"