The Shape of Content

Rating:
Summary: One of the few truly great primary sources on Modern Art
Review: Ben Shan's "The Shape of Content" in many ways truly defines the thinking of artists in a time that might be considered the height of modern american painting and art. It is an enormously human and genuine dialogue on art of the fifties. Few books so clearly establish how and why one becomes an artist. It is written with soul, intelligence, and great humanism while totally avoiding the sophistry of the critics and journalists writing about art at that time in American society. A great book!

Rating:
Summary: The Creative Process
Review: This book is one of the clearest explanations of the creative process of an artist available anywhere. Shahn speaks of painting, of course, but his lucid, interesting text, his ideas and explorations, apply to artists in any field. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Slow reading
Review: This book was dull and I would not recommend it to someone who is not a fan of Ben Shahn and his work.