The Art of Aliveness: A Creative Return to What Matters Most

Flora Bowley is one of my favorite artists and this is well written

This book has been on my Kindle untouched for a while. Ten months ago I lost my husband. What grief can do to you is surreal. Slowly I’ve been coming back to life and was led to read this book. From the forward by Sark to the very end it touched and inspired me in just the way I needed. Flora’s deeply personal stories and exercise suggestions were moving and inspiring. I’m so grateful she wrote this book. I will definitely refer back to it in the future.

I have been following Flora Bowley's blossoming career as an artist for about 15 years now and gobbling up her other publications (and art pieces) along the way but this latest release feels like the most well-timed blessing in my own life. Part memoir/part spiritual road map to a life more well-lived, this little book really packs so many insightful gems into its 200 pages. While I consider myself artistically inclined, I have always felt like there was something holding me back from really letting my creativity flow and this book has helped me to identify what has been at the root of that which has largely fear: of failure; not being good enough; having to work at something instead of being naturally talented at it; etc. etc. So often I would sit down to create a piece of art only to get stuck part way through and then give up because it wasn't living up to the high expectations I had set for myself when it comes to making art. If it wasn't flowing easily or turning out the way I wanted then why even stick with it, right? Well, Flora has figured out a beautifully succinct way of translating the lessons she imparts to her art students into a guide for living and I am so here for it. Each chapter gives really helpful prompts to help you figure out what is holding your creativity back that can be applied not only to your canvas but your day-to-day navigation of this crazy world we live in as well. I am excited to now go back and reread many parts of this book so I can apply these simple principles for aliveness to all the realms of my life. Thank you Flora for sharing your art and some of your more life's personal story with us. What a gift you have given us!

Overall this book is about a woman who healed from trauma by being creative and she gives suggestions on some creative things the reader can do to heal themselves some include journaling and painting.She also teaches art therapy classes as well.She also includes some of her personal stories as well as,well as some other people's but of course she doesn't mention there real names.The actor Flora Bowley teaches how to create beauty with sorrow.Parts of the cover are colorful and the book price was reasonable enough under ten dollars.So if you are going through a hard time and you like to be creative this is the book to get.

This was a wonderful read and so encouraging for my heart that wants to add more ART to my life. Its a great story and so much permission giving to be unique - LOVED IT!

This book, which seems marketed as a collaboration with SARK (she wrote the forward, and it's pretty powerful) is just meandering tales, with vague 'moral of the stories'.. all text.. no pictures. There are some activities or musings to try, but not really having to do with art or even creativity except in the MOST generalized sense. Which won't scratch your itch if that is what you associate Flora Bowley with - i.e. visual art.I am starting to get really irritated with all these monetized, liquid, runny acrylic-pouring, or journaling, wimpy 'advisors' that are steering people (women!) vaguely OFF course and OUT of art as much as they are encouraging them to consider everything in life as 'creative'. I have such mixed feelings every time I buy a Flora Bowley or similar (it's a genre now) book.Maybe the good material or technical advice is saved for the expensive paid workshops and courses. But this book - NO! Instead, get one of her how-to books, (USED) which don't have that much how-to but def enough to start creating.. & are more directly encouraging/useful than this semi-autobiography.

I fell in love with Flora and her teachings from her Bloom True course. Her teachings expand beyond painting and are lessons for LIFE! And this book is exactly that. Flora outlines her creative tools she uses everyday to live a life full of more joy, play and healing! I highly recommend this book for anyone on a spiritual journey to their own healing. We are all born creative and some of us loose the ability to tap into it as we grow older. This book will show you the small ways in which you can tap into your creativity and start to bring it into your day to day without ever needing to pick up a paint brush or paint;)

The media could not be loaded.  This book is an invitation to own your creative process inside your life, to marry the two together in a commitment to ebb and flow with the waters of life, emotion, ecstasy, grief, loss, risk, and adventure. I’m reading parts of it with my teen and preteen and sharing it with anyone who intends to live in full color, to hold pain and joy at the same time, who need the nurturing voice of a friend who has built a robust community of folks fo finding their deep selves within the creative process. Creativity is so necessary to healing and The Art of Aliveness doesn’t hold back.

Such an enjoyable, thought provoking honest read. I enjoyed how the author shared her honesty about being real in life ! The exercises are well thought through and are helpful in gaining an insight into our own lives and how we can be more Alive and present. Thank you for the inspiration Flora Bowley :)

This amazing book is full of wisdom about life choices, fulfillment, self discovery! For sure, not just for painters but for anyone trying to figure out what life is all about! I have recommended to several people and gifted it to a former student who is going through some challenging times. Buy this book and share it!

I really enjoyed the focus on process and experimentation. This was a beautiful glimpse into the artist's life along with helpful prompts to encourage creativity in all aspects of life.

As always, Flora delivers insight and inspiration.