The Artist's Life
The Artist's Life
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This book delves into the lives, growth, and inner workings of creative artists, sharing stories about the lives of those who have built their career in the arts. Drawing from interviews with more than 60 expert artists from varied domains - including Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize winners - these detailed, intimate, and surprising anecdotes shed light on creativity from both personal and professional perspectives. Chapters focus on the influences of family and school on creativity, through early discoveries and passions that led to growth and development. In their own words, interviewees describe the joys of 'making it' in the creative world alongside the realities of the business, from finances to relationships and possible legacies. Taking a narrative approach that reveals the hidden truths about being a creative artist, this book offers a unique window on creativity for researchers and artists alike.
- Presents unusual and fascinating stories from artists about their childhood, education, artistic passions, and career trajectory
- Helps readers learn about creative artistry from both personal and professional perspectives
- Features interviews with more than 60 artists across a wide variety of disciplines and accomplishments
Reviews & endorsements
‘This book is a real gem! It was so much fun getting lost in reading about the rich and complicated lives of extraordinary artists. I feel transformed and uplifted just by this reading this work.' Scott Barry Kaufman, author of Transcend and Rise Above
‘This brilliant book provides new and surprising insights into the creative processes of creators and performers in the arts and letters. It will be of interest not only to people in the arts and letters, but to creators and audiences in any field of endeavor. If you ever wanted to understand what sets creators and performers apart and how they think and feel – what makes them who they are – this book is the place you will find out!' Robert J. Sternberg, Professor of Psychology, Cornell University, and Honorary Professor of Psychology, University of Heidelberg
Product details
- Published: November 2025
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN: 9781009626033
- Length: 198 pages
- Dimensions: 230 × 151 × 12 mm
- Weight: 0.308kg
- Availability: Available
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Part I. Childhood:
- 1. Supportive parents: my parents had more faith in me than I did
- 2. The extended family: we all ended up in the arts
- 3. Parents who came around: once they saw I was serious
- 4. School through an artist's eyes: you passed because you're just going to be an artist
- 5. School struggles: some of my teachers were almost obstacles
- Part II. Discovery:
- 6. Sudden insight: I knew this was my life
- 7. Specific inspiration: I practiced what I heard on the radio
- 8. The winding path: I was a Renaissance kid
- 9. Eventual serendipity: all these things just opened up
- Part III. Career:
- 10. Finding their niche: I didn't realize there was a place for that
- 11. Becoming a professional: that was where I honed my craft
- 12. Making it big: sometimes you just get money ideas
- Part IV. Realities:
- 13. Navigating personal relationships: art is a selfish activity
- 14. Making money: how are you going to eat your creative writing degree?
- 15. Different creative areas: don't want to box myself in
- 16. The artistic identity: a leap of faith
- 17. The role of culture: so many rich untold stories
- Part V. Reflections:
- 18. When artists fail: we're in the failure business
- 19. Inspiring creativity in others: I want people to have the same joy I have
- 20. Looking backward, looking forward: I've left enough of a thumbprint on the world.
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