Syllabus
Syllabus
Lynda Barry
Elizabeth Gilbert
I love this book so freaking much I bought it twice. I suggest you do the same. - Elizabeth Gilbert
+
1
All books

Syllabus

Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor

Lynda Barry
By
Lynda Barry
4.4
3191
ratings on Goodreads

In "Syllabus," Lynda Barry masterfully opens the door to the intricate world of creativity that intertwines with the simplicity of pen, paper, and the human spirit. Through a collection of vibrant entries from her own notebooks, Barry invites readers on a profound journey into the heart of artistic exploration, a practice she has honed and shared over decades, beginning with the guidance of her teacher, Marilyn Frasca. This book is not merely a showcase of artistic achievement; it is an intimate guide on how to navigate and delve deeper into the "image world" that resides within us all, a realm where the act of writing and drawing transcends mere activity to become a vital pathway to presence and discovery. Barry's work transcends the traditional boundaries of art instruction, offering instead a luminous exploration of the process as a form of meditation, a way of seeing, and ultimately, a method of being fully engaged with the present moment. Through her unique blend of wisdom, whimsy, and practical advice, "Syllabus" emerges as a compelling testament to the power of creativity to uncover the richness of the world around us and within ourselves. It stands as an invitation to readers and creators of all levels to reclaim the joy of artistic practice as a life-affirming act of observation and wonder.

Read more
Released
2014
21 Oct
Length
200
Pages

1

recommendations

recommendation

I love this book so freaking much I bought it twice. I suggest you do the same. - Elizabeth Gilbert
I always start my class with a coloring assignment using crayons to color three pages from a variety of coloring pages pinned to the wall. Pick 3. Color them densely, trying to get as much of the crayon on the paper as possible. Students find it frustrating because crayons are surprisingly hard to work with, but they usually have some fun doing it. Until...when the finished pages were pinned to the wall, all of the pages were colored just the way I assigned— but all the joy was gone. Something went wrong.What was it?This: I told them to color hard in order to do it right. And go straight to using force— thinking I was showing them a short-cut—— this took away the way of coloring they would have found on their own. By telling them just how to do it, I took the playing-around away, the gradual figuring out that brings something alive to this activity, makes it worth-while, and is transferable to other activities.I realize now the best results came when I gave no instructions except, “spend time on this assignment.” That was 3 years ago. Why did it take me so long to figure this out?
— Lynda Barry, Syllabus

Similar recommendations

View all
Save The Cat!
Save The Cat!
Blake Snyder
5
people
person
Collected Poems
Collected Poems
W. H. Auden
3
people
person
Show Your Work!
Show Your Work!
Austin Kleon
3
people
person
The $12 Million Stuffed Shark
3
people
person
A Collaboration with Nature
2
people
person
Adventures in the Screen Trade
2
people
person
Alright, Alright, Alright
2
people
person
Catching the Big Fish
2
people
person
Book of Longing
Book of Longing
Leonard Cohen
2
people
person
Easy Riders Raging Bulls
2
people
person

This site is part of Amazon’s Associates Program. Purchasing books recommended by successful individuals through my links earns us a small commission, helping keep the site running, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!