Though I’ve never met him, Danny Gregory isn’t a stranger to me. I had come across his works of visual journaling a few times prior and was later given The Creative License by someone very special. During that time, many years ago, my creative-self was at an all-time low and they hoped this book would be the cure I needed.
They were right, more or less.
Of course, the book didn’t cause me to jump for joy and create masterpieces with determination and vigor right after reading it, but it had the motivation and the pep-talk that I found lacking in my daily life where dreams were being crushed left and right (my own and others). It reminded me that creativity and drawing are more skill than talent and resulted in a couple of sketchbooks being filled. If the motivation to draw was what Gregory set out to do with his book, then I can tell him, “Congratulations! You did it!”
Upon opening the book, it’s immediately clear that the book itself is modeled after a visual art journal. It’s beautiful and in full color, but it sacrifices easy readability for pretty layouts. The entire book is in a “handwriting” font which makes it a little difficult to read, partially because it’s in all caps. It definitely forces you to read more slowly (no easy skimming).
Gregory’s writing feels personal. It’s like an uncle trying to teach a stubborn person (you) a lesson on how to approach creativity. He’s sarcastic, enthusiastic, says obvious things and is blunt about it. He uses many metaphors to illustrate his theoretical ideas and opinions. You’ll hear about driving, evolution, etc. and how it’s just like drawing or being creative.
He believes everyone is creative by nature and shows it in different ways, that every single little decision is creative, and that there are creative opportunities in the everyday. He brings God into the picture once or twice and I don’t recall any foul language. There’s a page covering starving, suffering, drug-addicted artists (don’t worry, it’s mild) when he covers his thoughts on judgment and identity, but that’s as dark as it gets.
Although drawing is the method Gregory uses to train his creative muscle daily, the point of the book isn’t to learn to draw. It’s to be inspiring and to give motivation through visuals and writing. He wants you to pick up the pen and start drawing right now because it’s that easy to take the first step in believing. It’s that simple to start a habit.
Some of the exercises provided are super detailed and very exact at how he wants you to proceed; others could stand to use more clarity. The book feels like 10% instruction, 20% telling you to appreciate all the little things in life, and 70% inspirational content.
As for some more personal opinions:
I was eating some pita chips when I discovered the very uplifting chapter about journaling. It made me stop and closely observe the chip, which I still remember very clearly, before scarfing it down. Throughout the whole chapter, he talks about how he keeps his journal filled with happy fun times – commemorating and celebrating life through all the good and bad. I like to record all the ups and downs in their up and down state. In any case, keep a journal, itโs awesome (visual or otherwise!).
My favorite page is 171. It’s where I feel Gregory’s really writing from, in the deepest, darkest corner of his heart where the fears are buried. It’s where you learn the book is as much for himself (other than, you know, fame and fortune) as it for the audience he’s writing to. My least favorite page is 90, where he compares “sketchy approximations” to “looking through a dirty window before opening the door, ignoring details in order to create a nice picture.โ No sir! A sketch is most successful as a quick gesture that captures the feeling of the moment or relative proportions. It can be very deliberate, even if it’s not an exact contour!
With that said, using just a tad of open-mindedness, you could literally open the book to any page and be inspired. The Creative License is the first of Gregory’s books I’ve ever read (he’s written 13 as of this writing) and it likely won’t be the last.
TL;DR – The Bottom Line
4/5 For people who are interested in visual/illustrated journaling.
The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to be the Artist You Truly Are
Favorite Quote: “Remember: Focus comes with confidence, confidence comes with practice, practice comes with commitment.” Pg. 138
Type of Book: Creative Self-Help
Author: Danny Gregory
Published: 2006
The Good: Beautiful pages, Inspiring, Motivational
The Bad: Can be hard to read, A little preachy