Living Out Loud - Kick-start your creativity

via Amazon.com

​Author, Illustrator & Guerrilla Artist

If you haven't come across Keri Smith before you're in for a treat! She's a 'rebel' artist and author who helps and encourages people to find their passion and creativity, while not following the rules.

From the titles of some of her books you'll be able to tell: Wreck this Journal, The Guerilla Art Kit and Tear up this Book! This one, Living Out Loud is my favourite. There are lots of books out there that I love about tapping into your creative spirit, but most of them are 'how to' books, this is a 'do it' book instead.

We've all grown up...

Smith believes that unlike children, we've forgotten our passions, ignore our instincts and have lost our joy. To help us reconnect with our centres and remind us of our natural inspiration and true selves we should learn how to play again.

Now you may be ready to move towards something new, recreate a moment when you lost all track of time and throw yourself into something you really enjoy, but do you know what that is and do you know how to do it? No, probably not - or you'd not be searching for a book to help - you'd be doing it!
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Well this book is the one for you. Learning to play might sound scary - ridiculous even, but that's the point. What Smith is really trying to do here is get you back in touch with yourself, to a time when it didn't matter what you thought, or what others thought of you... And she even touches on ways in which to make sure you have support through the process.

Just do it!

But this book is about fun, not thinking about it! It's split into four sections, Starting, Connecting, Letting Go and Dreaming Work and then there are subjects and topics under each heading. There are written sections plus lots of activities; so not only does she give you the ideas to get your creative juices following, but also the tools.

The great thing about this book is that it's spiral bound, so it opens up flat. You can follow it through or just dip in and out of it. There are cards and pull-outs, stickers and instructions, and it's all so beautiful too, but in a fun way; not so precious that you'd never want to use it, but frame it instead!

I love this book. I can always to turn to it when I feel stuck or uninspired. If I get caught in a rut and don't know what to do with myself I can pop this off the bookshelf and it will always make me smile and inspire me.
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I personally recommend it - it's great fun and you tap into yourself more than you realise. You won't regret it, join in the fun and enjoy!

Inside Living Out Loud

Pictures from my copy of the book.