Off the Shelf Book Review – The Artist Within A Guide to Becoming Creatively Fit, by Whitney Ferre’

Review by: Gina M. Smith

At first I thought I was just busy.
Then I thought I was just procrastinating. Then I started to feel  guilty for taking so long to review this
book. Then I felt even guiltier when I realized the book just wasn’t my cup of
tea. But maybe it will be yours.  It is
called The Artist Within A Guide to
Becoming Creatively Fit, by Whitney Ferre’, 236 pp.,  2008, Trade Paper Press, an imprint of Turner
Publishing Company, $15.95.

                Book reviews are certainly
subjective- subject to the reviewer’s (or reader’s) personal tastes, unless one
is reviewing specialized subject matter and has the necessary credentials.  This is a friendly blog, not the New York
Times’ best-sellers list. And Vintage Indie is grateful for the books we
receive to review. So rather than being too subjective, I’d prefer to stay as
objective as possible here, because this could be the book that changes your life, as the author hopes.  Or as Ferre’ says, “This book is the mustard
seed that can grow into a really big thing.”

                Ferre’ founded The Creative
Fitness Center, which has been recognized on HGTV.  Ferre’ says of her creatively fit movement:
“it is an idea that warrants our national attention. We need a community that
feels confident in its ability to create change. We need a national community
that is creatively fit.”

                She says the book is geared
toward anyone, writer, architect, entrepreneur, painter or business
leader.  I have to carefully remind
myself of her disclaimer as I try to gently write my review. “This book is not
for artists. This book is no more for the Martha Stewarts of the world than for
the Alan Greenspans. This book is for all the people who can’t even draw a
straight line.”

                Ferre’ uses the exercises in the
book to unlock creativity in corporate settings. If you are one of those people
who never liked touchy-feely business seminars about trust and dreams and your
personal color, you may not like this either. What you may like better, though,
is that you can do this workbook on your own, in private, without your boss
asking, “and what color were you?”

                In fact, if you like to work on
your own, you may enjoy this workbook. All the exercises can be done alone. If
you have a need or desire to be introspective in new ways, this could be one of
them. There is no doubt the book is legitimate, of course. Ferre’ uses the
eight principles of design – emphasis, balance, proportion, unity, harmony,
contrast, rhythm and repetition- for the eight main chapters of her book, with
two “creativity workouts” or assignments/exercises per chapter.

                As
you will see, the book is printed entirely in black and white, except for the
triptych on the cover. It is clear the black and white is an intended element.
The author does not want to influence the reader’s thinking or the reader’s
efforts in working through the exercises. And of course, there are not “wrong”
answers anyway. But for me, subjectively speaking, I found the lack of color or
sample results less than motivating. It didn’t compel me to do the exercises.

                There’s
plenty of room within the book to play along, including many blank pages for
doodling. However, the author does suggest you do your work in a journal or
with the art supplies she lists at the beginning of each chapter.  The exercises range from torn magazine page
collage, leaf rubbings, altered art sculptures with stuff from your ‘junk
drawer,’ molding clay into recognizable objects, a twinchie paper quilt and
much more. Any of the projects would be fun and a good challenge for one’s
creativity.

                To
get the novice or person who is sure he or she couldn’t possibly do these
projects all warmed up, Ferre’ uses the opening of the book to take the reader
through simple, insightful exercises. Once again, you may not feel moved to do
the work.  But, if you’ve purchased the
book to address your desire to be more creative, then I’m confident you’ll want
to play along. The exercises are best done in order. The book builds on the
skills assessed and developed in the opening, and the exercises become more and
more involved. So it’s not really a book you can pop open and start anywhere as
I so often like to do.

                But
if you seriously want help in becoming more creative and if, like Ferre’, you
believe creativity is necessary for change, and if your life or your workplace
could use some change, you may want to work through The Artist Within.

– Contributing Editor Gina Smith aka Lilly*s of London*ish,
started making jewelry about six years ago and has since tied this in
with a love of vintage finds, Blythe, crochet and altered art in her
etsy shop.
Growing up in an antiquing family gives her a background and
appreciation for all things vintage, especially dinnerware, jewelry and
Americana advertising prints and products

{All contributed content Gina Smith © Lilly*s of London*is