Rating: 
Summary: Parasitic
Review: There is a certain class of books and authors that are parasitic on the real or imagined problems of their readers. This book purports to address "What is your art really about?", "Where is it going?", and "What stands in the way of getting it there?" It does so in prose that is by turns maundering, platitudinous, and smug. The tone can be breezy and self-referential ("the authors would like to employ this sentence to proclaim a self-imposed moratorium on cynicism in their future discussions") in a way reminiscent of a high school newspaper. You get platitudes like "a good work of art inevitably calls the viewer's own belief system into question. Is this threatening? Is the Pope Catholic?" Why not speculate on the woodsy habits of bears? The authors let you know they are more educated than you: ah, so J. S. Bach committed to writing a prelude and fugue in each of the twenty-four keys! Twenty-four; well, well. And they have insight into Bach's thought processes that show him to be just a good ol' boy: "'Let's see, I haven't begun to work on the F-sharp minor yet'". What a load of malarkey! You can get this book for $12.95 list, or for a dollar less (and SIGNED! which must give them a small thrill) from the authors directly. But don't do it. Don't waste your time. Paint a picture. Write a poem.
Rating: 
Summary: Simple and effective
Review: I hesitate to add another review to the well-thought-out ones already here. But I wanted to shout THANK YOU to the authors. You have spoken directly to me and given me what I need to get moving. I really recommend this book to anyone who is stuck, no matter what you are trying to produce.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing.
Review: I can say no more without insulting this book. It is a must for every artist!
Rating:
Summary: Dont know what you fear as an artist
Review: This book took years for the authors to write. It shows in their thoughtful statements found on every page. They help you see what you fear as an artist, why you fear it and how it holds you back. This thin book, contains wisdom which is distilled and refined, there is not a wasted sentence. It took me a long time to read because I constantly had to stop and think before I could read on. I strongly recommend this book for all visual and performing artists.
Rating: 
Summary: There's still the work to be done...
Review: I agree that this is a very clearly, respectfully, and unpretentiously written book that can serve as a companion to any artist. Making art can otherwise be a lonely,daunting undertaking. My concern for readers of this book, as with readers of The Artist's Way, is that it can be a pacifier. If it gets you to your work sooner and with greater courage and confidence, all the better. But if it substitutes for the process itself--makes you feel better but does not get you "working"--then it's something to pick up but let go of. There's a growing genre of books like this out there, some (such as this one) better than others. The sage advice gets recycled, as do the homilies from famous people. And again, that's fine, as long as they get us to a place where we are working with more energy and joy, but perhaps not so fine if the internal process becomes more interesting than the art-making. Did you paint today? No. But I reread passages of Art & Fear...
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Boost!
Review: There are so many concepts in this book, that I think if I read it 5 more times, I would get a "different" boost each time. The thing that stood out to me, the first time - was "KEEP WORKING" - even if I don't feel like it, don't know where I'm going or what I'm doing, just to be prolific. That's what I needed at the time. I'm going to read it again soon - for that "boost" that I need, and I'm sure something else will "hit" me. It's an amazing book, one I'm going to buy for EVERYONE of my friends who are artists. Really. Highly recommended by a fellow artist.
Rating:
Summary: Very Useful Insights
Review: An excellent guide to the pitfalls ALL artists face in "doing art", with useful advice on how to avoid them. Inertia; self-doubt; fear of criticism/ failure/ success; they're all here. Each reason for NOT producing finished pieces is manageable, IF you recognize it and know how to deal with it. I found this book extremely practical, and immediately useful.
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Summary: Dissapointed and Afraid
Review: This book I was richly anticipating due to its wonderful reviews but alass! I was utterly dissapointed. Granted the book pin points the fears that go through an artist mind everyday, but tell me something I DON'T know. I'm aware of the voices in my head now tell me what to do about them. I am a student struggling with my work and the fear that I wont get a profitable job when I embark on a career. This book actually discurraged me from believing that an artist, unless allready financially secure, cannot gain profits from his work and that to do it is for the sake of art not income. Well thats great and wouldn't that be perfect, but unfortunatly, poverty is real and so is my desire to create. Don't tell me to except it as a hobby when I just signed my soul to...debt in art school. In conclusion, I found this book not motivating, it points out the real fear but offers little advice, this coupled with bizzar comparisons to Mozart I feel it would searve me best as a fire starter in my cold and heatless studio.
Rating:
Summary: A Small Gem
Review: I wish I had discovered this book long ago. The authors speak like wise fathers about the thinking of a person trying to make art. And they are wise indeed. For example, on the topic of perfection the authors explain that good work is not perfect work. Human beings have warts: "Without warts it is not clear what you would be, but clearly you would not be one of us." And there is no particular magic to the tools of great artists. "Whatever they have is something needed to do their work -- it wouldn't help you in your work even if you had it." If these issues are on your mind, this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Great book that I should have read earlier.
Review: As a relatively young artist with more debilitating insecurities than Franz Kafka, this book has been a revelation for me. It truly helps you look beyond the cannibalism, the critics, the dilettantes and focus on what's truly important; your work (without undermining your intelligence with the usual inspirational, substanceless talk). Self-doubt is almost essential for any artist's progress, but this helps debunk all of those irrational fears that leave you berating yourself and staring at a blank canvas for hours. Art & Fear is a simple, concise book with such a broad reach that it could never be labeled as your standard "self help" book. highly recommended for artists of any medium.
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