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What It Is | 
 enlarge | Author: Lynda Barry
Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $16.31
You Save: $8.64 (35%)
New (23) Used (5) Collectible (1) from $16.31
Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 3814
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 209
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.1
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.6 x 0.9
ISBN: 1897299354
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.5973
EAN: 9781897299357
ASIN: 1897299354
Publication Date: May 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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Product Description
“Deliciously drawn (with fragments of collage worked into each page), insightful and bubbling with delight in the process of artistic creation. A+” —Salon
How do objects summon memories? What do real images feel like? For decades, these types of questions have permeated the pages of Lynda Barry’s compositions, with words attracting pictures and conjuring places through a pen that first and foremost keeps on moving. What It Is demonstrates a tried-and-true creative method that is playful, powerful, and accessible to anyone with an inquisitive wish to write or to remember. Composed of completely new material, each page of Barry’s first Drawn & Quarterly book is a full-color collage that is not only a gentle guide to this process but an invigorating example of exactly what it is: “The ordinary is extraordinary.”
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
like Lynda Barry's book of secrets, but just for you December 21, 2008
This book is done in the format of notebook pages that are profusely illustrated and jam-packed with handwritten lessons and musings on creating art. I'd say that this book is great for art of pretty much any medium, and that is why it is so effective. Have a look at the Look Inside! option here to see if you like the look of the thing. If you do, then run out to buy this.
The main point of the book is about drawing on your memory to create, and how memory plays a huge part in making art, how it engages your senses and challenges you to think about something. What did you notice? What did you remember? It is a very simple, but tough exercise because you will learn something about yourself in the process. This book focuses on creation rather than technique or any other aspect of art. While you might not think this is enough, I think it is plenty because so many of us were told we did not have the talent and just never continued. There is no reason that not one of us cannot participate just because we aren't participating at some external standard. All your tools are here, and Lynda Barry wants to show you how to access them. A very beautiful and exciting work.
and yes, there is a magic cephalopod (squid) to come help you. if you won't take lessons from such a creature, you are no fun.
Get Out of Your Can! October 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
When I heard that Lynda Barry, one of my comics artist heroes, had a new book I rushed out to get it. It's big and beautiful and bound with a hardcover that begs to be cherished. I devoured it in a day, but will go back to it many, many times as it's filled with densely collaged images that inspire as well as activities that promote creation of your own. Part philosophical discussion on image making and why we do it, part "how to" on writing or drawing your own stories, it is also sprinkled with autobiographical comics of Barry's own artistic journey.
This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in the process of making art or writing stories. For those too scared to let themselves create, even Barry shares her fears and neurotic tendencies to judge her work, but gives prompts that help those in search of that "strange floating feeling making lines on paper" can only give. She encourages you to just stay in motion, and no need for precious materials - most of this book was made with ink on yellow legal pads and each page is filled with line drawings of sea creatures, birds, extravagant patterns, and images that provide a glimpse into her crazy creative mind, and make you want to go make stuff.
My favorite page is when she posits a hypothetical scenario where you open an old can of pork and beans and a genie offers to release you from your own can. "If a genie offered to free you from a dull, canned life, what would you say?" If you say, Yes please!, then go get this book. It may not instantly make you an award-winning author or acclaimed artist, but it will help you get one step closer to living "out of the can".
a creativity bible October 13, 2008
I've given five copies of this book (so far) to friends and loved ones. I wish everyone would read this book. The world would be a better place.
It's a great book about creativity, the imagination, self-expression, memoir--authentic and beautiful. You can't help but love Lynda Barry.
Help me, Magic Cephalopod! October 13, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I don't think I've ever sat down and read straight through a book of writing exercises. And, at a very basic level, that's what "What It Is" is. And I sat down and read through the whole thing, while taking time to digest it. It's about writing, drawing, images, memory, creativity, a magic cephalopod, and Lynda Barry's life. All done on a yellow legal pad of paper.
This is a great book for anyone who's ever felt stuck writing or drawing (or just in the creative process). Barry's collage work in the first half of the book gets you to ask yourself questions about imagery and memory. The second half has writing exercises and tips for how to make more for yourself. They're excellent and I can't wait to start using them. It's also probably the only time I'll ever cry over instructions for a writing exercise.
If there's anything that takes away from the book, it's that I wanted to see more about Barry's life. The short passages about her childhood and education are very interesting, but take up only a small portion of the book. It's somewhat depressing to hear that her comics became such a source of concern/depression for her, but I can understand that feeling of it becoming work and the pressure to only make "good" art. And I love her moments where she's talking with her husband and thinking of all the stuff she forgets, but goes over conversation she had years ago where she said awful things.
Okay, that's my awkward ending... go read this book.
Eureka! September 23, 2008
"What It Is" is one of the most surprisingly encouraging and inspiring books I've come across. Good job, LyndaB!
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