Description

Think Like an Artist by BBC Arts editor Will Gompertz – wisdom and smart thinking from Da Vinci to Ai Weiwei

Why do some people seem to find it easy to come up with fresh, brilliant ideas? And how do they turn them into something worthwhile?

After spending years getting up close and personal with some of the world’s greatest creative thinkers, the BBC’s Arts Editor Will Gompertz has discovered a handful of traits that are common to them all. Basic practices and processes that allow their talents to flourish, and which we can adopt – no matter what we do – to help us achieve extraordinary things too. It’s time to Think Like An Artist and …

Become Seriously Curious
(Caravaggio’s discovery of optical lenses changed art for ever.)

Think Big Picture and Fine Detail
(Turner transformed a masterpiece with a tiny dab of red paint.)

And realize … It’s Nearly Always Plan B
(Mondrian spent years painting trees before becoming a master of abstraction.)

‘Will Gompertz is the best teacher you never had’ Guardian

Publisher Review

Will Gompertz is the best teacher you never had * Guardian * The Shock of the New redone a la Bill Bryson . . . richly detailed and highly entertaining * Daily Telegraph on What Are You Looking At? * Hugely accessible . . . writes about difficult things without letting on that they are difficult * Independent on Sunday on What Are You Looking At? * A romp through art history and the creative mind ... full of entertaining anecdote * Guardian * Gompertz doesn't have it in him to be boring. He clearly loves art too much and his book ... succeeds as a short love letter to art. The pictures are wonderful * The Times *