Daily Rituals: How Artists Work
Ratings31
Average rating3.4
The format surprised me. It's really a compendium of one creative person's routine after another. Looking for patterns, gleaning insight from an artist's routine, or understanding the connection between an artist's routine and his or her productivity are exercises left to the reader.
I found it very inspiring to see how people were able to get things done despite having serious challenges in their lives. The general lesson is: don't wait for inspiration, just put in the work every day, even if it's just a few hours.
The rituals were interesting, but thought there would be a bit more behind it then just 2-3 pages on each person, no sort of commentary or analysis.
If you are a writer or an artist of any size or sort, and you are curious about what are the routines other writers and artists (of any size or sort) established to help them achieve fame, fortune, and all the other things that writers and artists—perhaps secretly, perhaps not—hope for...If this is you, then this is your book.
I've read it all, and let me tell you, there's no one True Way to Make Art. Some work at night; some work in the day. Some organize their workspace down to the location of their pencils and pens; some work in any available space. Some work crazy-fast; others barely produce anything each day.
That seems to take the pressure off, somehow. And it's really fun to read about all the ways these folks work.
Interesting read! This is a compilation of blurbs about 150 different “artists,” which include painters, writers, scientists, politicians etc. I first skimmed the entries of my favorite historical figures, then went back to learn something new. Some patterns that seemed to be common across many artists and across all fields were: getting up early, keeping strict schedules for work time (if they weren't fitting it their art with another full time job), and taking walks(!). All and all, they were obsessive and systematic about their art. They did it with the mentality that they had to do it. It was work. They just loved it.
I have finally cracked the secret to becoming a creative genius -
* Take amphetamines whenever you want to be in an “artistic zone”
* Smoke no less than 50 cigarettes a day
* Take Valium to help you sleep for a couple of hours
* Die in your 30's and be remembered ever after
Hurray to me!
About the book: Daily Rituals is an entertaining and illuminating collection of the daily routines of great minds and artists. Including the work habits of people such as Jane Austen, Ludwig van Beethoven and Pablo Picasso, it offers insights into the best ways to maximize efficiency and prevent writer's block, as well as tips on how to get by in the creative world.
About the author: Mason Currey is a magazine editor and freelance writer. His work has been published in The New York Times and Slate.
My highlights:
Drugs and stimulants allow artists to work longer hours – or just to relax. corydrane, a popular concoction of amphetamine and aspirin.
Finding inspiring surroundings is important for creators. daily routine: waking at 4 a.m., working for five or six hours, running or swimming in the afternoon, then listening to music and reading before falling asleep at 9 p.m.
Connecting with the body is a popular way to free the mind. while walking that he had his best ideas