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

I love this book so much! I bought it a couple of years ago now and am still even now referring to it and re-reading it. The book is not so much a 'learn to draw book' teaching loads of technical lessons but is rather a book that focuses on trying to get you excited and inspired to draw. This book is aimed at those who have always admired others having drawing in their lives and have always wanted it too but don't know how or are too scared to get started. For this reason, I can understand if some people would find this slightly patronising. Me personally, I find no hint of the author being patronising but instead see his enthusiasm for the subject being poured out by the bucket loads on the page. You really get a sense that the author is routing for you and this makes it a greatly encouraging book. What I like as well is how the author doesn't allow you to just sit reading the book the whole time but almost straight away is encouraging you to draw, feel the fear-as a lot of people do, and do it anyway! This book is a very personal book from the author as it is clearly all based on his experiences of drawing. Throughout, he's constantly giving you advice as you develop in creating an illustrated journal (this is something that he really encourages) and also a nice sense of mutual understanding when it becomes a struggle. A few people have been commenting about the capital letter writing. I can see how this isn't to everyone's preference as a lot of handwriting style font can be hard to read. However, I didn't actually notice hugely the fact that all the text was in capitals, a sign that it clearly didn't bother me. I've had no problems reading the text as it's all well laid out and easy to understand. I actually love that it's all written in this style as it further adds to the beauty of this book. That is one thing that is definitely worth mentioning. The whole presentation is just brilliant. Clearly a lot of time has been put into the look of this book and this certainly doesn't go unnoticed. Just looking at the drawings and presentation of this book alone I think is a great source of inspiration. So even if you find you can't get on with the text, the book itself will allow you to take something hopefully away with you. As an art student myself, this book has played a great part in my development in the subject. If you need a boost of confidence and inspiration to get yourself drawing, this book is definitely worth a look at. I just hope that you find it as inspirational as I have.

I am so grateful for this book. I did a textile degree many years ago, and somehow, during it, the love I had for drawing was squeezed out of me by tutors pulling me this way and that. I have missed drawing more and more, yet every time I have tried to begin again, those whining tutor voices invaded my head, I would get upset and give up. Danny Gregory is the friendly, gentle, encouraging voice I have needed to replace those negative voices. Since taking the plunge to buy the book (spurred on by another reviewer who said he was finally drawing again every day) I have drawn every day for 2 weeks.....and I am enjoying it.All the angst and frustration that blocked me before has gone, and I am back in touch with the peace and enjoyment it used to give me when I was younger. This is a delightfully friendly book, packed with drawings (which I wasn't expecting)and is not trying to make you a brilliant artist, just someone who is creatively engaged for your own pleasure. He focusses alot on journalling, rather than making works of art to share and impress, and that suits me right now, it takes the pressure off while you find your feet. If you want the techniques of drawing, you need another book; some of the exercises he uses are basically from Betty Edwards - drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, and if you are already well motivated, then you may need a book like that. He admits himself that the book will not take you through all the skills needed for drawing, and makes really good recommendations for other books. This book is more about the joy of it, about getting you to see the place drawing can have in your life, how it helps you to engage at another level with your life and the people and things around you. If you want to draw and don't think you can, or can and don't, or have some block, like I did, then this is definitely the book for you.

The book looks lovely, with colourful illustrations and funky hand-written font, but I feel appearances have been given too much emphasis, and the font (all in capital letters) is really tiring on the eyes and brain. There are some powerful pieces of advice here, and I love the positive spirit of the book, but I couldn’t stay with it for long because of the presentation. Also, the book is based upon the single idea of documenting one’s life in a sketchbook, and while this is a great idea, I think it’s a limited response to the dilemma of using one’s creativity more fully. I’m glad I bought it, and will dip into it again, but for me it’s not as helpful or relevant as other books on creativity.

This book attracted me from other reviews as it seemed to be targeting what I wanted - an insight into journalling - regular sketching and also a way to free myself up from bothering what my sketches looked like ....being too critical. This book did the trick...the lovely pictures have encouraged me to "just sketch and enjoy the process". I am exploring different media, and taking my sketch book to work to sketch everything from bags of crisps to people chatting. Who cares if they are any good, they are moment in my life. Check you do not mind reading a "handwriting type of block font",(see block lettering "giving your self permission" on the front of the book- that is what it is like inside) But it is clear to read and anyway you need to keep stopping to pick up your pen and draw! Happy drawing!!

This is the book for you if you can get over your inhibitions and insecurities and just go with Danny's flow. Anyone who doesn't like Danny Gregory's books has no soul or playful nature. Don't ignore all the lessons in his books because you think it's not cool to draw or write or follow any other kind of atistic venture, because believe me it is sooooh cool to take the advice given here and run with it, taking it in your own direction, producing art work of your own and not having to worry about what other people think of it, or beat yourself over the head with it because you don't think it's any good. As Danny said "there's no such thing as a bad drawing" You just have to enjoy the process of doing it and catch the bug which is easy to do if you keep an open mind and laugh along with Mr Gregory's infectious instructions. This book is absolutely fantastic as were his others and i would recomend it to anyone with a sense of fun and an ability to look at life with a kind and compassionate eye.

This book is crammed with pretty and quirky little drawings. There's a lot of text too, which I like cos it means it'll last a little while. There are exercises which take you through much the same steps as Betty Edwards ("Drawing on the right side of the brain"). Very useful. He expects your drawing skills to be rather unpolished, but the exercises are helpful at any level, I'm sure.

Lots of thought and experience here, but I found it just too much hard work to read. The main text is printed in capitals, in a mock handwriting typeface. The end result for me was it is slow and difficult to read, and that makes it inaccessible for me, normally an avid reader. Sadly, I am returning it knowing there is good stuff in there but I will have to find another way - I will check out the Kindle version.....

I borrowed it loads of times from the library till I finally got my own copy. He's funny, inspiring and so encouraging, full of ideas. It's like he's talking to you and he gets you enthusiastic and wanting to just do the hard work of picking up the pen and drawing. very motivating.