A recent study has found that art can have a positive impact on both mental and physical health, but what about its ability to improve our lives in more profound ways? Can learning from artists really help us become better versions of ourselves?
Katy Hessel's latest book, "How to Live an Artful Life", promises just that. With 366 daily aphorisms from artists like the young British masters known as YBAs (Young British Artists), the book aims to teach readers how to infuse creativity into their daily lives. The author is no stranger to the art world herself, having sold her "dirty bed" for a tidy sum.
The first day of Hessel's book coincided with my own existential crisis: no work lined up, exercise skipped, and life feeling decidedly bleak. A quote from Joan Baez about taking action as an antidote to despair seemed particularly apt. However, my attempts at creating something during the day were met with failure, and I decided to take a break.
The next day's reading suggested that we should be porous, allowing ourselves to be open to new experiences. While this resonated with me on an intellectual level, I struggled to put it into practice when faced with my own procrastination. Yet, I couldn't deny the allure of tidying up – and a quote from YBAs about smashing expectations if necessary seemed like just the thing.
It wasn't until I stumbled upon "Survival Notes: Life Lessons from Contemporary Artists" by Lydia Figes that I found some genuinely practical advice. Figes' book is based on interviews with artists who share their own daily rituals, such as taking a deep breath or puttingzing (a vague term that roughly translates to messing around) in the studio.
One particular ritual struck a chord: tidying up before starting work. Ellen Gallagher and Julie Mehretu both emphasized the importance of cleaning their spaces, and I found myself wanting to do the same. Vacuuming and organizing my workspace had an unexpected effect – it made me feel calmer, more focused, and even able to concentrate on the cryptic crossword.
Perhaps art isn't just about creating something beautiful; sometimes it's about finding the beauty in everyday tasks like tidying up or taking a deep breath. Even Missy Elliott's music seemed to be the perfect accompaniment as I whizzed around my living room with vacuum cleaner in hand.
Katy Hessel's book promises 366 days of inspiration from artists, and while it may not have transformed me overnight, it did offer some valuable lessons about creativity, productivity, and even procrastination. And who knows? Maybe the next time I'm faced with a blank page or an empty cup, I'll remember to be porous, smash expectations, and vacuum my way to success.
The books discussed in this article are "How to Live an Artful Life: 366 Inspirations from Artists on How to Bring Creativity to Your Everyday" by Katy Hessel (£16.99), "Survival Notes: Life Lessons from Contemporary Artists" by Lydia R Figes (£14.99), and "What is Art For? Contemporary Artists on Their Inspirations, Influences and Disciplines" by Ben Luke (£29.99).
Katy Hessel's latest book, "How to Live an Artful Life", promises just that. With 366 daily aphorisms from artists like the young British masters known as YBAs (Young British Artists), the book aims to teach readers how to infuse creativity into their daily lives. The author is no stranger to the art world herself, having sold her "dirty bed" for a tidy sum.
The first day of Hessel's book coincided with my own existential crisis: no work lined up, exercise skipped, and life feeling decidedly bleak. A quote from Joan Baez about taking action as an antidote to despair seemed particularly apt. However, my attempts at creating something during the day were met with failure, and I decided to take a break.
The next day's reading suggested that we should be porous, allowing ourselves to be open to new experiences. While this resonated with me on an intellectual level, I struggled to put it into practice when faced with my own procrastination. Yet, I couldn't deny the allure of tidying up – and a quote from YBAs about smashing expectations if necessary seemed like just the thing.
It wasn't until I stumbled upon "Survival Notes: Life Lessons from Contemporary Artists" by Lydia Figes that I found some genuinely practical advice. Figes' book is based on interviews with artists who share their own daily rituals, such as taking a deep breath or puttingzing (a vague term that roughly translates to messing around) in the studio.
One particular ritual struck a chord: tidying up before starting work. Ellen Gallagher and Julie Mehretu both emphasized the importance of cleaning their spaces, and I found myself wanting to do the same. Vacuuming and organizing my workspace had an unexpected effect – it made me feel calmer, more focused, and even able to concentrate on the cryptic crossword.
Perhaps art isn't just about creating something beautiful; sometimes it's about finding the beauty in everyday tasks like tidying up or taking a deep breath. Even Missy Elliott's music seemed to be the perfect accompaniment as I whizzed around my living room with vacuum cleaner in hand.
Katy Hessel's book promises 366 days of inspiration from artists, and while it may not have transformed me overnight, it did offer some valuable lessons about creativity, productivity, and even procrastination. And who knows? Maybe the next time I'm faced with a blank page or an empty cup, I'll remember to be porous, smash expectations, and vacuum my way to success.
The books discussed in this article are "How to Live an Artful Life: 366 Inspirations from Artists on How to Bring Creativity to Your Everyday" by Katy Hessel (£16.99), "Survival Notes: Life Lessons from Contemporary Artists" by Lydia R Figes (£14.99), and "What is Art For? Contemporary Artists on Their Inspirations, Influences and Disciplines" by Ben Luke (£29.99).
I had a weird day the other day where I just felt really lost. My motivation was basically gone 
, no work lined up, exercise skipped... it was like everything was weighing on me at once 
. But then I saw this article about Katy Hessel's book and it made me think... maybe art isn't just about creating something beautiful, but also finding the beauty in everyday things? Like, tidying up my space could actually be a form of self-care 
. I tried it out and honestly, it worked like a charm! 
Now I'm not saying I'm some sort of productivity guru or anything, but having that routine made me feel more focused and calm. Maybe learning from artists can really help us become better versions of ourselves? It's all about finding that balance between creativity and chaos 
.
. But hey, if reading about artists like Ellen Gallagher and Julie Mehretu can inspire me to tidy up my space before work (who knew vacuuming could be so therapeutic? 
), then I'm all for it! Maybe it's not about creating something beautiful, but finding beauty in the mundane tasks that make life more manageable. Just don't expect me to start painting masterpieces anytime soon 
.
Like how tidying up can actually help you focus and be more productive? 
It's like, we don't have to be "artists" to appreciate the value of a clean space or taking a deep breath. Those books seem to be saying that creativity is all around us, just waiting to be tapped into 
And I think that's a pretty powerful message for someone feeling stuck in life 
Like me! 
. The book is right, we don't have to be perfect artists to benefit from their wisdom. Sometimes it's just about taking small steps towards becoming more aware of ourselves and the world around us 
. Procrastination is like that too - it's not about achieving something huge but about facing our fears and doubts head-on 
.
. Can we just admit that sometimes our 'inner artist' is just a fancy way of saying we're lazy and don't wanna put in the effort 
Think about it, art is everywhere - in nature, in architecture, even in the way we arrange our bookshelves. It's all about perspective and finding that beauty in the mundane.
It's not just about productivity either - it's about having fun with life. When was the last time you did something just because, without any external pressure or expectations?
gotta say, I'm loving this whole art thing being good for mental & physical health vibes... but what really gets me is how it can be a game-changer in our daily lives 
. And honestly, even on my worst days (like the day I was feeling super lost 
), reading some inspiring quotes from artists like Joan Baez or YBAs really helped me shift my perspective 
.
. Like, who knew tidying up before work could be a thing? 
.
. Even Missy Elliott's music was the perfect accompaniment while I was vacuuming 
. And what even is the point of having a quote every day? Are we just going to sit around reading quotes all day? 
.
.