The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be the Artist You Truly Are

I have read three of Danny Gregory's books and I love them all. The Creative License is probably my favorite as it's a 'doing' book. It's filled with exercises that start simple and build on one another to teach daily sketching. One of the biggest gifts that Danny Gregory gives is encouragement/inner permission to draw. He seems to have decided to be who he really is. In being himself, he wordlessly encourages the rest of us to be ourselves too, in all of our imperfect glory. This sounds simple and it is but it's also profound. He also teaches the value of drawing as a way of seeing. Or maybe it's more accurate to say that he teaches seeing as a way of drawing. As a result of this book and encouragement from dear friends, I started sketching. I don't do it everyday but I've filled four or five journals over the past several years. Sketching this way brings me deep joy. Perhaps it's because really seeing requires being in the present moment. This kind of sketching also chips away at old rigid perfectionism which is no fun at all. I;m learning to let go and draw what I see. When I do, lovely (not perfect but juicy) things happen! Sometimes I get all tight and rigid and that's okay too. I figure I have to get that out of my system in order to get to the juice. I highly recommend this book and also his newsletter and blog.

Danny's books are full of inspiration, encouragement, and down-to-earth advice. You can't go wrong with any of his books.

This book came to me at a weird time in my life. I was in art school around 2010 and was feeling frustrated/depressed about my progress. There was this general aimlessness about who I was and if I had what it took to be a graphic designer. I wasn’t nearly as disciplined as I was now to be able to take criticism and understand how to be objective about design. But I was also just not feeling confident as an artist and feeling like I made a mistake career-wise.This book jumped out at me at the library and changed how in view drawing, sketching and creativity overall. It reminded me of my observational drawing class and the freedom to experiment with new media and focus on the process and craft of drawing.Just to be clear, Danny writes this as more of a journal and inspirational pep talk, weaving in little techniques and tricks to boost creativity, it’s mostly a messy collection of drawings, quotes and observations. This is, however, not a bad thing. The pages explode with handwriting, drawings, scribbles and inspiration! I love just thumbing through it when brainstorming before I do a watercolor or want to do something different in my sketchbook. It challenges me to keep going even when i don’t feel like it because that is when i happen on original ideas and fun surprises in my work.I still wrestle with graphic design vs illustration, but I always have my sketchbook to turn to when I need to release emotion or capture a quick idea. That’s what this book has given me, the freedom to be quirky and expressive just for the fun of it. If you need something more linear and instructional, Danny has other books that might suit your taste. I also own Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain so that I can reference and sharpen myself.But If you are burnt out or dismissive about your own drawing/creativity, this book is for you. All you need is the want to try and give yourself to a sketchbook everyday. This is art for the sake of creating art, drawing your breakfast or your closet, journaling your thoughts and creating a record of the moment you are in so that you can feel alive again.

I got the book for class, but been wanting to read it before that. Danny Gregory is everywhere on the web, there are a bunch of artist that i love linked to him. And he has a great inspiring story to share with everyone.He promotes journals, but you have to draw on them, everyday, and put down not only what worrys you but the beautiful things in your life as well . That way not only you have a record of your story, but your drawings improve, and you have a record of your improvement.Who cares if your drawings are not the way you think they should be. like he says "shut up and draw"; you'll see you start to get better.The book it self is hard to read,it is not a book to read from cover to end in one sitting. Probably you won't even want to. You might be puting it down to draw your self.

The purpose of this book, in my opinion, is not to teach the reader how to draw. It’s to inspire the reader to draw every day, fearlessly, as a creative and meditational outlet. Engrossing oneself in the practice of capturing detail without expecting perfection is in itself a skill that does not always come naturally. Ultimately, this book inspires the reader to teach themselves how to draw.

Not done reading.

Many years ago I gave myself the permission to be what I was in my heart--a kid, an artist, a drawer, a painter. When I first opened Danny's book and brushed through the pages, I had tears in my eyes. I remember the sad days when I was afraid to try something new. To be something I didn't feel I could...and since I didn't feel that I could do it, I usually didn't.Danny's book tears away at the premise of this fear. Gives you the permission..and suggestions for a creative life....and a journaling life that you never have experienced before. Creativity begets creativity. When you have it and use it, it grows...in leaps and bounds. You forget about the things you "think" you can't do...and just go for it...whatever "it" is!Since giving myself permission to be creative, I have become a watercolor artist, dabbled into pastels, acrylics, oils, crocheting, quilting, knitting, learned how to play the guitar, the Irish tin whistle, and the Native American Flute. Where will this spirit take me now? Who knows...but I will have journals filled with images to indicate my experiences and adventures.Thank you Danny for writing this book! I am sure it will fill my creative spirit with fun for many years to come!Nancy from WI

Wonderful book!

Let me tell you ; I didn't even start reading it, and I already fall in love with the book.The main reasons are ;Deeply connected with nature,Living simple lifestyle,Living now in the momentThere is no second chances in today world.In first 20 pages he said it all clearly, and I couldn't stress enough how similar my struggle was as an artist.It's absolutely ok to be dreamer, and live the life you deserves, not what other people expecting from you.I will make sure to update reviews, once I'm through the book.I'm fan of simple to the point facts about art, and creativity in general.He is honest, personal to himself, and share his discoveries with world. It's not about creativity alone, it's about you, us, world around you. Mature creative expressions is equal to small child expressions.My motto is " Never stop growing up, find child within yourself" , as is on my blog.Great buy, very pleased.

読みながら楽しく絵の描き方を学べます。おしゃれな一冊。おすすめです。

In dem Buch geht es darum, dass einen Danny Gregory anspornen will, eine Journal/Sketchbook zu führen. Er stellt Methoden vor, wie man das zeichnen lernen anstellen soll und schreibt auch darüber, dass die ersten Skizzen echt bescheiden aussehen. Er spricht also über die Dinge über die eigentlich niemand redet und die einem keiner zeigt. Die ersten misslungenen Zeichnungen die schlechter sind als manche Kindergartenzeichnung. Und er erklärt auch warum das so ist und warum man dennoch eine Chance hat. Gott sei Dank wird in immer mehr Büchern erwähnt, dass Zeichnen zwar wie alles ein Talent sein kann aber es dennoch jeder lernen kann. Es handelt sich um eine erlernbare Technik die wie alles was man lernen muss Zeit kostet und mit misslungenen Versuchen in Verbindung steht. Leider wird beim Zeichnen immer erwartet dass man entweder traumhaft zeichnen kann oder es heißt, man wird es nie können, weil man nicht dazu geboren ist. Auch dieser Mythos wird hier aufgeklärt und auch ein bisschen darüber gesprochen wie man mit solchen Menschen und solcher Kritik umgehen soll.Das Buch ist wahnsinnig ermutigend und der Autor erzählt über seine abgebilderten Sketchbuch-seiten bzw. über den Text vieles über sich selbst, seine Vergangeneit, seinen Werdegang usw. Ich finde schon alleine die Tatsache spannend von einem Menschen in auf einem anderen Kontinent und ganz anderer Umgebung mitzuerleben, wie sein tägliches Leben aussieht. Was holt er sich zum Frühstück? Geht er zu Fuß, nimmt das Rad, die Ubahn etc.? Wie sieht die Wohnugn aus? Was arbeitet er? Wie sieht sein Büro aus? usw. alleine deswegen finde ich es eigentlich sehr cool. Aber generell empehle ich es jedem der zeichnet oder zeichnen will, weil es einem einfach ein ganz tolles Gefühl gibt, einem den Druck nimmt und die Kraft gibt Dinge anders anzugehen, Dinge entspannt zu sehen.Euer Geld ist in jedem Fall gut investiert und ich wünsche euch allen ganz viel Freude beim Lesen.Hinweis: Danny Gregory schreibt in einer quasi "Handschrift". Diese ist nicht immer vollständig zu entziffern. Lasst euch dadurch nicht den Wind aus den Segeln nehmen. Ihr verpasst keine wahnsinnig wichtigen Details und diese "Handschrift" vermittelt euch einfach wie authentisch dieses Buch geschrieben ist :) Eine Computerschrift würde das ganze Buch versauen, das werdet auch ihr mir nach dem Lesen versichern

I wish this book was translated in Italian and used in schools! Moving, exciting, deep, witty... I found myself laughing and with watery eyes while holding my pencil and performing my own creative license, thanks to Danny Gregory's teachings. It took me 20 years to start drawing again, I am glad I started with this book.