Art & Fear

Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland
I read this book for my photography class and I found it fascinating. Art and Fear is a book of things we already know but need to be reminded of. I liked that it explains how we have to pursue our development as artists. It is written in a straightforward manner, easy to read and understand. The book gives you inspiration to fight for being an artist and not to quit even when feel like it.
What I found interesting was common sense things we forget about and need a book to remind us. For example, the authors remind us that art making can be learned. Most of the succeed artists are ordinary people like us, not some kind of prodigies. We are all flawed and that makes our approach to our artwork unique. Another reminder was that by making work we learn how to make it and start to understand ourselves. What I found most true about myself in this book was the idea that most often vision races before execution. My ideas are so much better in my head than when executed.
Even though, I am just starting being an artist, I have already been through the whole head–in-my-hands thing, wondering what should I do and how would be accepted by the others. This book helped me realize that the essential idea of being an artist is understanding yourself and believing in the process that leads to your finished work. Criticism might hurt but it shapes you and your art. Moreover, what does not kill us makes us stronger (or makes us do better artwork).