Art Without Compromise

Combining 24 years of research and insight from her columns in Communication Arts magazine, artist, educator, and writer Wendy Richmond challenges artists to investigate their work through multiple lenses in her newest book, Art Without Compromise*. Her commentaries, exercises, and wide-ranging references to contemporary thinkers will inspire artists to change the way they think about their creative landscape, from personal goals to cultural influences to technological realities. Her insights about major cultural figures, from Roland Barthes to Susan Sontag to Walker Evans, introduce their philosophies into the context of contemporary art making. Like a Malcolm Gladwell for artists, Richmond helps artists to look closely at what they see every day--in their own art making and in the world around them. In the process, she helps artists to develop an uncompromising commitment to finding and protecting their own unique process for making their strongest and most relevant art. This thought-provoking and inspirational book covers such topics as: developing a solid creative process through “Visual Reflection Notebooks” and “Bring Play to Work”; understanding the artist’s unique identity in relation to the larger culture; building systems of support and collaboration; explaining how an artist’s needs and passions can lead to innovation and authenticity; using language to inspire visual creativity; responding to the Internet and changing concepts of what is public and private; and accepting digression as a creative necessity. Through the exercises and techniques outlined in Art Without Compromise*, the reader will develop new confidence to pursue individual goals and inspiration to explore new paths, along with motivation to overcome creative blocks. With a revised understanding of the relevance in their own work within the sphere of contemporary culture, the artist will come away with a clearer perspective on his or her past and future work and a critical eye for personal authenticity.