Your Art Will Save Your Life

By: Beth Pickens

Narrated by: Beth Pickens

Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

As a teenager visiting the Andy Warhol Museum, Beth Pickens realized the importance of making art. As an adult, she has worked as a consultant empowering artists. Intimate yet practical, Your Art Will Save Your Life helps artists build a sustainable practice while navigating the world of MFAs, residencies, and institutional funding.

©2018 Beth Pickens (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Good Read.

I was very interested in this story, and encouraged. I could relate to most of what she said, and more importantly, I felt better afterwards.

thanks for your art

This short book is a gem. There are artists who create art. I believe that there's artists whose art is supporting art. I'm inclined to include Beth Pickens in that category. How else could she know so well. Thank you for your art. Thx for writing this book.

Way too political way too often

I get it, trump is an ass. And I even get why you would give us a backstory that you wrote this book because of the 2016 election. But to mention the frump administration every few minutes .... I had to shut it off and I don’t even like trump. I fully agree with the author that he’s a moron...

Too political too often. It’s off putting to your main goal of writhing about art 🤷🏼‍♀️

Interesting but too political

I was an interesting listen but got too political for me near the end.

Well written and on point.

Great book, well read. There is hope. It’s alive in all artists. Woody Guthrie said the same on his guitar case.

Good for recent art grads

Loved that this book took me right back to queer SF on the 90s and am grateful it was written as a gift for current generations to glean some great ideas and encouragement from emotionally sober socially committed activist artists. Lots of really essential perspectives are in here, a sort of post-Artists way boost with a lot of bits about how to “get thru” the Trump administration. I get the sense that writing this gave Pickens a proactive healthy outlet at a time right after Trump took office, so in a meta way sort of does the very thing the artists reading are encouraged to do- use your art as a means to process the current circumstances around you, and further, in generosity, offer your own process as a gift for others. Thank you Beth for writing this. Personally it had me remember writing salons in Sf when I was in college and first debut doing spoken word at sister spit with such a fondness that I so wish I could go back and time travel to our 22 year old selves to high five them for all they are setting forth in a brave new world. Thank you for teleporting this ol’ gal who now hides out happily in the Deep South. Lol.

Pretty Good

Pretty good stuff. Don't make it tougher on yourself. Push yourself to do the work. All presidents suck really.

Artists / Activists

Pickens name came up in a podcast so I wanted to familiarize myself with her work. Often I multitask and listen to books at an increased speed. This book needs more thought from me. Im going to play it again with more intention. There are important reminders throughout that artists are those that take time for their artwork. And, artists have space to be activists. Pickens inspires us to be kind to ourselves, support other artists, and build community. A worthwhile read for anyone needing inspiration to move forward and honor their art.

More people need this - living their art

Thanks for this reminder to feed the artist in me with some practical steps on how to do this

Slow Start

You may have come to this book with the idea that it's strictly about art. It's not. It's also about contemporary politics; but only a little. I almost gave up on this book thinking that it wasn't addressing me or my needs, But after the first chapter it shifted to be about exactly what I expected. While I am a very political animal and the author's politics align with mine succinctly I wasn't looking for a book about activism. A little redundant I know; but if you picked this up and gave up on it too soon. get back to it. The advice in here is solid and inspiring. Artists MUST make art and this little gem helps when self doubt starts to creep in.