Conscious Creativity: The Workbook

by Philippa Stanton

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Conscious Creativity: The Workbook is a companion volume to Philippa Stanton's Conscious Creativity. Released 6th Oct 2020 from Quarto on their Leaping Hare imprint, it's 128 pages and available in paperback format.

This is a companion book, but it works perfectly well as a standalone. It *is* a workbook however, so much/most of the content is guided exercises and less content is devoted to actual technique tutorials. The exercises are grouped roughly thematically: creating (freely, without an agenda), practice, observation, texture, colour, other senses and synaesthesia, and abstract comprehension and synergy.

Each of the chapters contain guided creativity prompts for looking at objects, finding similarities between form and function and opening a creative conduit to expression without throttling or limiting ourselves by internal expectations. The point is to free the reader's creativity and expression. The book is very colourful and appealing with high contrast graphics and lots of pages on which to paint - draw - write - and express. These are -not- limited to graphic arts or painting or drawing or sketching or the like. There are some exercises which will provide some takeaways for the graphic artist, certainly, but the majority are holistic in nature and will have broad applicability to writing, thinking, and being.

There are a great number of activities included here; not all will appeal to all readers, obviously. There are a number of intriguing tutorials which I will try out (writing a note to a stranger and tucking it into a pocket in a piece of clothing in a shop appeals to me very much).

This would make a super gift for a creative friend, possibly in conjunction with some writing or arts supplies. It would also make an intriguing selection for the studio library, maker's groups, or other activity based groups.

Four stars. Definitely full of interesting possibilities.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.