What It Is by Lynda Barry
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Book Reviews of What It Is
Book Review: Get Out of Your Can!
Summary: 5 Stars
When I heard that Lynda Barry, one of my comics artist heroes, had a new book I rushed out to get it. It's big and beautiful and bound with a hardcover that begs to be cherished. I devoured it in a day, but will go back to it many, many times as it's filled with densely collaged images that inspire as well as activities that promote creation of your own. Part philosophical discussion on image making and why we do it, part "how to" on writing or drawing your own stories, it is also sprinkled with autobiographical comics of Barry's own artistic journey.
This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in the process of making art or writing stories. For those too scared to let themselves create, even Barry shares her fears and neurotic tendencies to judge her work, but gives prompts that help those in search of that "strange floating feeling making lines on paper" can only give. She encourages you to just stay in motion, and no need for precious materials - most of this book was made with ink on yellow legal pads and each page is filled with line drawings of sea creatures, birds, extravagant patterns, and images that provide a glimpse into her crazy creative mind, and make you want to go make stuff.
My favorite page is when she posits a hypothetical scenario where you open an old can of pork and beans and a genie offers to release you from your own can. "If a genie offered to free you from a dull, canned life, what would you say?" If you say, Yes please!, then go get this book. It may not instantly make you an award-winning author or acclaimed artist, but it will help you get one step closer to living "out of the can".
Book Review: Help me, Magic Cephalopod!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't think I've ever sat down and read straight through a book of writing exercises. And, at a very basic level, that's what "What It Is" is. And I sat down and read through the whole thing, while taking time to digest it. It's about writing, drawing, images, memory, creativity, a magic cephalopod, and Lynda Barry's life. All done on a yellow legal pad of paper.
This is a great book for anyone who's ever felt stuck writing or drawing (or just in the creative process). Barry's collage work in the first half of the book gets you to ask yourself questions about imagery and memory. The second half has writing exercises and tips for how to make more for yourself. They're excellent and I can't wait to start using them. It's also probably the only time I'll ever cry over instructions for a writing exercise.
If there's anything that takes away from the book, it's that I wanted to see more about Barry's life. The short passages about her childhood and education are very interesting, but take up only a small portion of the book. It's somewhat depressing to hear that her comics became such a source of concern/depression for her, but I can understand that feeling of it becoming work and the pressure to only make "good" art. And I love her moments where she's talking with her husband and thinking of all the stuff she forgets, but goes over conversation she had years ago where she said awful things.
Okay, that's my awkward ending... go read this book.
Book Review: like Lynda Barry's book of secrets, but just for you
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is done in the format of notebook pages that are profusely illustrated and jam-packed with handwritten lessons and musings on creating art. I'd say that this book is great for art of pretty much any medium, and that is why it is so effective. Have a look at the Look Inside! option here to see if you like the look of the thing. If you do, then run out to buy this.
The main point of the book is about drawing on your memory to create, and how memory plays a huge part in making art, how it engages your senses and challenges you to think about something. What did you notice? What did you remember? It is a very simple, but tough exercise because you will learn something about yourself in the process. This book focuses on creation rather than technique or any other aspect of art. While you might not think this is enough, I think it is plenty because so many of us were told we did not have the talent and just never continued. There is no reason that not one of us cannot participate just because we aren't participating at some external standard. All your tools are here, and Lynda Barry wants to show you how to access them. A very beautiful and exciting work.
and yes, there is a magic cephalopod (squid) to come help you. if you won't take lessons from such a creature, you are no fun.
Book Review: Way exceeded my expectations! The coolest book I own!
Summary: 5 Stars
I ordered this after reading about it on Kelly Kilmer's blog, where she highly praised this repeatedly and made me think that I was missing out on something wonderful if I didn't buy it.
So I bought it, and what I found out is that I had been missing out on something wonderful!!
I couldn't be more happy that I bought this book! First of all this book surprised me in that it is nicely sized 8.5 x 11 (approx) and it's much THICKER than I had imaged it, and it's HARDCOVER.(I was expecting a soft cover magazine type book)So, after I admired the outside, and opened it up, I was even more impressed and excited with what I found!! Yes, I thought I was in comic book/collage/art journal/writing prompt heaven!! With so much to look at, I just about wore myself out trying to look at/read everything. -Which is also a nice thing about this book, I am highly doubting that you'd run out of things to look at or read here.
This is kinda like looking at one of your school friends notebook, or journal, except SO MUCH BETTER! There are comic book pictures, random thoughts, journal prompts, drawings, ideas, etc, etc, etc. This is an awesome and inspiring book. This tops the list of coolest books that I own!!
Book Review: IT is versitle!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is not simply for fun. I plan to use it as a tool to teach composition to high-school students. On the surface, it might seem quite chaotic, with its scattered and bewildering illustrations and text. Upon further examination, the method behind the madness is revealed. Barry takes a very creative approach to exploring metacognative concepts and applies the product to a sequential and orderly system for composition. Through the zany imagery of this book, the reader is eventually lead to a deeper connection with personal thoughts, memories, imagination and creativity. Finally, detailed steps are presented for turning those thoughts into flowing composition. Barry takes a typically dry, boring topic (composition) and presents it in a fascinating style. The text and graphics are bold and intriguing. IT breaks the mold in (a)typical Lynda Barry style.