Danny Gregory curated this collection of excerpts from various artists’ journals, artists from all over the world. We got insights into the artists as they share their art, their sketches, their works in progress, their thinking on the page in visual form. So everyone does it differently, of course. It’s mixed media, it’s collage, it’s visual playground. Oh, and it’s from these artists on the road, too, done while traveling, so it’s a view of places, too, on how to convery their experience of pl...

If I were smart, I would start a business making spiral-bound sketchbooks with high-quality paper for artists. A frequent complaint among artists in this book is that it’s impossible to find really good, useful sketchbooks. Many make their own by selecting paper and having them custom bound. There’s goldmine here, but I’m just too lazy to dig it.The sketchbooks in An Illustrated Life are gorgeous, inviting, varied and worthwhile. The interviews, however, are not entirely impressive. They definit...

I wasn't going to buy or read this book. I thought that a compilation of several artist's work would be somewhat chaotic. I knew too, that not all the styles of journalling or sketching/drawing would appeal to me, and I thought there would be more of the unappealing genres that I could not justify getting the book. When favourable reviews started coming through from friends and artists on the internet I was impressed enough to want to look at the book and decide for myself. I had to wait until i...

I am a great fan of Danny Gregory, but I was somewhat disappointed by this eagerly awaited book. While there are some really lovely examples, such as those of Jane LaFazio and Gay Kreger, and a few others, mostly women, I found that too many of the sketchbooks were simply ugly juvenile cartoons, mostly by men. I had the desire to use sticky notes and calculate how many were illustrations and how many these cartoons and how many by men and how many by women. And I decided I really didnt want to s...

It is always interesting to me to see how other artist's think and work and there is no better way to do that than to be allowed to peer into their sketch journals. This book is an invitation to do that. I just wish the artists that were chosen were a little more interesting. That being said, there are some real gems in here, like James Jean, Bryce Wymer and of course, Robert Crumb. I actually bought this and I almost wish I would have just gotten it from the library. It was definitely worth a p...

I wonderful little book about the sketchbooks of artists and writers many of us love. It's fatal flaw however is the lack of humility it gives the subject matter as the author treats each subject as if they sketchbooks are sacred texts. The reality that most won't admit is that these works were created to show people, and those that weren't won't be seen. Artists are fickle and vain and very strategic in the way they let people view their work especially their notebooks. Where this book succeeds...

3.5 stars. Good look at the journals/sketchbooks of 50 different artistically minded people, including (in their own words) how long they've been keeping a journal, why they keep up the habit, and their preferred materials.

Hard to really ever say you've "Read" this kind of book, as it's the sort of thing you keep picking up, leafing through and finding new things in. Maybe it has something to do with the coming of age of the graphic novel, maybe it's that it's a tactile, analog antidote to our digital moment, but the sketchbook has graduated from a preparatory medium to finished art object. There's even a museum devoted to them (the Sketchbook Project collection in the Brooklyn Art Library). If like me you are eno...

I’ve started creating illustrated journals and find Danny Gregory’s various books quite inspiring. This one wasn’t quite as good as An Illustrated Journey. The interviews weren’t as interesting, and many of the sketchbooks used a raw cartooning, doodling style that I didn’t find at all appealing. Nevertheless, it’s always interesting to view someone’s creative work and read about their process and favourite materials.

Really enjoyed taking small dips into this book of illustrated journals. What a bargain for a buck! The art is incredibly varied, although most of it is the work of professional artists and designers. Don't let that discourage you, however. I am intrigued by the idea of keeping an illustrated journal, also by the idea that the practice of daily drawing can grow and enhance your creative powers -- something I've allowed to go dormant for far too long. I took my time with this one, reading all the...

I bought An Illustrated Life initially thinking I was going to plow right through. To me, it's much better in small doses. With as many varying personalities, ideas and "art," it was a little daunting to continually read for longer than 15 minutes. The more I read at one sitting the more the people in the book would blend into one another. I guess I have a really short attention span. Either that, or can't handle the idea of being jolted from one artist to the next. Once I started to get into an...

This book is great. The reason I rated it a 4 rather then a 5 is because it seemed full of professional designers who were in a ways showing off. All the jounalers seemed to responding to a questionnaire in the text which got old and predictable. A couple of nuggets I got were, alternative styles of drawing are from reality and from imagination. One requires drawing in public, in the wild and the other is more private and is usually done in the studio. Cartooning or telling a story in frames is

I'm a big fan of Danny Gregory, a real cheerleader encouraging people to stop being so hard on themselves and get out there and sketch. His previous books, Creative License and Everyday Matters have inspired hundreds of folks. This book is different. It's a collection of sketchbooks from illustrators, everyone from R. Crumb to a French teacher in New Jersey. There is an interview and a selection of pages from that person's sketch books. It's a beautiful and inspiring collection. My only gripe is...

This book is very inspiring. It is true that it is not purely a Danny Gregory book, but as long as you don't go into the book thinking it is going to be purely Danny, it's a wonderful read. I loved having a book full of all these artists and pages of their sketchbooks. I also like that we get to read the artists' thoughts and ideas about their own art and sketchbooks. I like to flip through this book and read in small sections. I did read the whole thing though, but in small segments so I could

Not a book to pick up and read, but more for perusing, to read an interview at a time. A good source of inspiration, especially for those who like to peek into the more secret lives of artists.A bit of a downer in a sense that almost all of these sketchbooks are amazing on their own - seems that many artists suffer from a perfectionist predilection for making everything look good all the time. It was refreshing to see the few sketchbooks that were kind of crappy (LIKE MINE).

If you like looking through other artists' sketchbooks, then this is the book for you. 266 pages, 50 artists, sketches and text - wonderful! I'm actually still working my way through it, because I can only pore over two or three artists at a time before I have to set the book down and think over it for a while.

It’s interesting to see how each artist views the sketchbook as a medium. The texts are explanations by each artist of how they work and why they keep a sketchbook. Some aren’t that interesting, but it works as a glimpse into a wide array of creative minds. It made me want to start my own sketchbook.

I love seeing people's illustrated journals! My favorites are the ink sketches of cityscapes with splashes of watercolor. Also the ones that look like they're from children's picture books. Wish I could draw like that...

I've been listening to Danny's podcast, in which he interviews different artists featured in this book. It's got me very excited for the book's publication.

A great collection of pages from artiists' sketchbooks. it was interesting to not only see some pages but to read about how and where they use their sketchbook. very nice!

This book is not good really boring for me

It's a relief that even many of these very talented artists are afraid of a blank page!

Before these compediums of artists sketch journals came about, this one was one of the pioneers. I like the thought processes behind each feat artist as well. Like one guy who only uses crappy pens to make certain kinds of drawings. Little gems like that I find compelling.

Gorgeous, inspiring book. Bought it.

Inspirational for the sketchbook artist; this is one of those go-to books when I want to get started on a blank page and I can't make those first marks.Highly recommend Danny Gregory's "Everyday Matters" for a glimpse into how great his mind is.

Love this book: examples of sketchbooks and sketch journals kept by a wide range of artists and illustrators. If you're a wannabe sketchbooker they may depress you because they're so much better than your efforts, but mostly they will inspire you and give you ideas. The way to improve is to begin, and to do it, and to carry on. Draw, draw, draw.

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)When I was searching for information about the book, I found a lot of positive reviews. And I really mean A LOT. It's one thing that a book is well liked. It's another when it's so well liked people are actually talking about it.An Illustrated Life is a compilation of sketchbook pages from 50 illustrators all over the world. Each journal is packed with sketches, captions and a narrative as the artist talks about his sketchbook. At 266 pages, some of the scans

I bought „An Illustrated Life“ because of the cover and I wasn't disappointed!It can be used as workbook, for inspiration or just to make yourself happy while flipping through. It’s not a book you read in one piece , but to have a look in it, if you get stuck in your creative progress. The quality of the prints is first-class. I really enjoy just watching them and see the differences between the artists! Every artist starts with a short biography. You get a glimpse to the creative imaginations o...

Yum, the sort of book to savor - a Christmas gift that I had broadly hinted at and was so pleased to unwrap. If you are a scribbler and noodler, you will recognize yourself in these pages, if you are an artist wannabe, this will serve as nonthreatening inspiration. There's a lot of generosity and guidance in these pages.

I lOVE this book--it is inspiring me in my recent efforts to draw every day! Such great insights into the creative process. I will be continually reading this book for a long time--returning to it when I need a boost of confidence in my visual expression. This book would inspire ANYONE---experienced or novice to begin chronicling their lives through drawing.