Scan barcode
womanobsessed's review
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Remarkable. Never read anything like it. Feeling quite inspired.
naleagdeco's review
5.0
I can't remember the last time I gave up on a book, and it isn't always that I do so on one of the most important books I've ever seen.
How to describe this book? It's apparently syllabus notes, perhaps private course notes from a professor trying to teach her craft, alongside some anecdotes to try to explain these teachings to the outside reader (and some sketches which might exist for the author to explain things to herself.)
Most writings on creativity in art wind up talking about creative writing. If they aren't (perhaps they are about a visual art) they at least use some kind of sequential linguistics to explain the praxis and whatever teachings the writer would like to impart.
Not so this book. It is a reproduction of a sketchbook, that yellow-lind paper people use to write their rough notes, and almost everything is drawn. There are stories written on the page, but it's clear that the primary communication is some form of drawing.
This enhances the book's feel. Is is one of those books of which pleasure is encoded in its tactile construction. The paper is rough and delicate, like those onion-skin notepads, feeling wonderful to the touch while also threatening to rip on every turn. It's the kind of book you want to protect, to hold at night.
What are the drawings about? Beats the hell out of me. The course the author teaches appears to be on creativity, but it appears that it was not designed for the professionals, the practitioners, or perhaps even the inclined. The book suggests that I, a software developer (an older type, a furtive type, not the kind who invents in his head the next idea to hit it big on Y Combinator or 'disruptive' innovation tech news sites, the type of software developer who loves to solve problems but is incredibly afraid when dropped in the middle of a blank canvas) could gain something if I could go to the class, perform the exercises that make no sense, eat the supplied candy that the class promises I can 'have all I want' of as long as I draw the candy I've eaten (no matter how well.)
Something in this book explains how to think creatively. You can see it in the anecdotes, the author wondering about how a once-favourite assignment become a bore one year, and realizing that she had accidentally suggested a short-cut that removed the whole experimentation aspect. You can see it in how she encourages you to, whenever idle, draw spirals on any blank paper within reach ...
But what I can't see is what the heck the rest of the book is about. What are all these sketches for? What are all these assignments for? Why does the author show me page after page after page of her students' drawings? I'm supposed to be learning something from them, but this is denser than any theoretical or philosophical mathematical book I don't have the acumen to grok.
--
I struggled with this book for two library checkout periods, trying to struggle my way through every page, and eventually gave up less than 50% through. Instead I found all the straightforward bits, read them, understood something that is still novel to my non-creative mind, and moved on. The rest I accepted as something I'll only get when I'm at the right level to get, even if I never actually get there. (As someone who has brute-forced his way into programming language, I am not unfamiliar with this struggle :D)
--
This isn't a book I can read in one go, or rent from a library. This is a mind-process so above mine in this aspect and yet so clearly trying to portray their mental process that I will need to own it, repeatedly go over it, try out some of the stuff, figure out what exactly I want _if anything_ out of it (why do I need to become a more creative personality? What am I going for?) and read it until slowly the onion skins of not-understanding are layer-by-layer peeled from my mind.
--
I feel this is a good gift for humble artist friends. I feel this is a great book for people who like nonconventional graphic novels. I feel this is a good book for people who love Ivan Brunetti (who is mentioned and taken as inspiration often)
How to describe this book? It's apparently syllabus notes, perhaps private course notes from a professor trying to teach her craft, alongside some anecdotes to try to explain these teachings to the outside reader (and some sketches which might exist for the author to explain things to herself.)
Most writings on creativity in art wind up talking about creative writing. If they aren't (perhaps they are about a visual art) they at least use some kind of sequential linguistics to explain the praxis and whatever teachings the writer would like to impart.
Not so this book. It is a reproduction of a sketchbook, that yellow-lind paper people use to write their rough notes, and almost everything is drawn. There are stories written on the page, but it's clear that the primary communication is some form of drawing.
This enhances the book's feel. Is is one of those books of which pleasure is encoded in its tactile construction. The paper is rough and delicate, like those onion-skin notepads, feeling wonderful to the touch while also threatening to rip on every turn. It's the kind of book you want to protect, to hold at night.
What are the drawings about? Beats the hell out of me. The course the author teaches appears to be on creativity, but it appears that it was not designed for the professionals, the practitioners, or perhaps even the inclined. The book suggests that I, a software developer (an older type, a furtive type, not the kind who invents in his head the next idea to hit it big on Y Combinator or 'disruptive' innovation tech news sites, the type of software developer who loves to solve problems but is incredibly afraid when dropped in the middle of a blank canvas) could gain something if I could go to the class, perform the exercises that make no sense, eat the supplied candy that the class promises I can 'have all I want' of as long as I draw the candy I've eaten (no matter how well.)
Something in this book explains how to think creatively. You can see it in the anecdotes, the author wondering about how a once-favourite assignment become a bore one year, and realizing that she had accidentally suggested a short-cut that removed the whole experimentation aspect. You can see it in how she encourages you to, whenever idle, draw spirals on any blank paper within reach ...
But what I can't see is what the heck the rest of the book is about. What are all these sketches for? What are all these assignments for? Why does the author show me page after page after page of her students' drawings? I'm supposed to be learning something from them, but this is denser than any theoretical or philosophical mathematical book I don't have the acumen to grok.
--
I struggled with this book for two library checkout periods, trying to struggle my way through every page, and eventually gave up less than 50% through. Instead I found all the straightforward bits, read them, understood something that is still novel to my non-creative mind, and moved on. The rest I accepted as something I'll only get when I'm at the right level to get, even if I never actually get there. (As someone who has brute-forced his way into programming language, I am not unfamiliar with this struggle :D)
--
This isn't a book I can read in one go, or rent from a library. This is a mind-process so above mine in this aspect and yet so clearly trying to portray their mental process that I will need to own it, repeatedly go over it, try out some of the stuff, figure out what exactly I want _if anything_ out of it (why do I need to become a more creative personality? What am I going for?) and read it until slowly the onion skins of not-understanding are layer-by-layer peeled from my mind.
--
I feel this is a good gift for humble artist friends. I feel this is a great book for people who like nonconventional graphic novels. I feel this is a good book for people who love Ivan Brunetti (who is mentioned and taken as inspiration often)
riotsquirrrl's review
5.0
I definitely want to get a physical copy(mine is a library copy) and try this out myself
meghan111's review
5.0
This book has the same binding as a speckled black-and-white composition notebook, and it's the same size. A combination freeform art journal and a messy memoir about teaching a college class on creativity, this contains artwork mostly by Lynda but also quick sketches and exercises from some of her students.
The exercises are affirming and fun and run along the lines of 2-minute self-portraits drawn on index cards, or 30-second sketches of Batman. (her opinion is that everyone, even those who haven't doodled or drawn a line in decades, can make a pen or pencil drawing of a car and of Batman.)
What makes a sketch good or bad? What makes a drawing have a soul? What does it mean to draw lines and have them mean something to another person? These are such weird questions when you think about it.
The exercises are affirming and fun and run along the lines of 2-minute self-portraits drawn on index cards, or 30-second sketches of Batman. (her opinion is that everyone, even those who haven't doodled or drawn a line in decades, can make a pen or pencil drawing of a car and of Batman.)
What makes a sketch good or bad? What makes a drawing have a soul? What does it mean to draw lines and have them mean something to another person? These are such weird questions when you think about it.
reickel's review
4.0
Syllabus is very good, and if it weren't for Barry's follow-up, Making Comics, then I probably would have loved it. As it is, I don't think most people who have read Making Comics will benefit particularly much from Syllabus. It's cool to see how she got there, how Barry developed this mindset and approach, but the latter work felt better organized and more refined.
Overall, I think they're each plenty good, but with so much content-overlap, I'd recommend just the better of the two. So don't shy away from Syllabus, but actively seek out Making Comics. And then get to creating!
Overall, I think they're each plenty good, but with so much content-overlap, I'd recommend just the better of the two. So don't shy away from Syllabus, but actively seek out Making Comics. And then get to creating!
nssutton's review
3.0
The book has an amazing format and style, making you feel as if you are actually holding one of Barry's composition notebooks in your hands. But ultimately, it was not for me. In another life, I would have the energy to try these notebook exercises and to enjoy what she was offering more completely. The workload! The rules! The jealousy at those who did it! But alas, with a tiny baby and the return to work, it was just not meant to be. I'm mentally filing away this one to revisit during my retirement, that pie in the sky one day out there.
gonzorama's review
5.0
LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. It is weird, it isn't linear, it is often difficult to follow, and it lit a fire under my butt like no other book has done this year. Thank you Lynda Barry.
devanh's review
5.0
Spectacular book, really changed my ideas of creativity and what is “good” in artistic expression. Taken out from library but will probably buy it so that I can do the actually activities daily.
You don’t HAVE to do all the activities, I found it really enjoyable just as a front to back read. Keep in mind it take a couple pages to wrap your mind around the way information is presented, but once you’re past a few pages you know how to process each page as she lays it out.
Really ignited some thoughts and mindset shifts for me .
You don’t HAVE to do all the activities, I found it really enjoyable just as a front to back read. Keep in mind it take a couple pages to wrap your mind around the way information is presented, but once you’re past a few pages you know how to process each page as she lays it out.
Really ignited some thoughts and mindset shifts for me .