The Motivation of Art: Painting a Positive Self-Portrait, (Hardcover)

This book provides action steps to eliminate the self-doubt that affects how you see yourself as an artist. You'll discover that artistic skills aren't beyond your ability. It's time for you to dispel society's old ideas and dismiss misleading and inaccurate beliefs about art, artists, and art education that are holding you back to reveal a motivating environment calling you to action. History's greatest artists will lead the way as you begin on a new journey to realize your true potential.

The first half of the book identifies the myths and misinformation that lead to self-doubt and contribute to limiting self-perpetuating beliefs. Aspiring artists will learn to recognize the social narratives that are undermining artistic efforts and realize how they're delivered through pop-culture stereotypes and pseudoscience art lessons.

The second half of the book offers tangible and realistic actions that have motivated artists for centuries. The plan I offer on the path to a new routine is supported by brief biographical sketches and motivational examples of how so many artists overcame obstacles, hardships, and personal struggles.

Motivation leads to work, work leads to improvement, improvement leads to competence, competence leads to confidence, and confidence leads back to motivation. It's the positive, self-perpetuating cycle of "The Motivation of Art!"