The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be the Artist You Truly Are Paperback – Illustrated, January 1, 2006

This book came to me at a weird time in my life. I was in art school around 2010 and was feeling frustrated/depressed about my progress. There was this general aimlessness about who I was and if I had what it took to be a graphic designer. I wasn’t nearly as disciplined as I was now to be able to take criticism and understand how to be objective about design. But I was also just not feeling confident as an artist and feeling like I made a mistake career-wise.This book jumped out at me at the library and changed how in view drawing, sketching and creativity overall. It reminded me of my observational drawing class and the freedom to experiment with new media and focus on the process and craft of drawing.Just to be clear, Danny writes this as more of a journal and inspirational pep talk, weaving in little techniques and tricks to boost creativity, it’s mostly a messy collection of drawings, quotes and observations. This is, however, not a bad thing. The pages explode with handwriting, drawings, scribbles and inspiration! I love just thumbing through it when brainstorming before I do a watercolor or want to do something different in my sketchbook. It challenges me to keep going even when i don’t feel like it because that is when i happen on original ideas and fun surprises in my work.I still wrestle with graphic design vs illustration, but I always have my sketchbook to turn to when I need to release emotion or capture a quick idea. That’s what this book has given me, the freedom to be quirky and expressive just for the fun of it. If you need something more linear and instructional, Danny has other books that might suit your taste. I also own Drawing From the Right Side of the Brain so that I can reference and sharpen myself.But If you are burnt out or dismissive about your own drawing/creativity, this book is for you. All you need is the want to try and give yourself to a sketchbook everyday. This is art for the sake of creating art, drawing your breakfast or your closet, journaling your thoughts and creating a record of the moment you are in so that you can feel alive again.

I bought this book in 2007. Every few years, I pull it down and reread and start drawing again. Great tips, ideas, his journey, and inspirational. For those that want to draw or be creative. This is the book you want.

I have a lot of really good books ... but this one goes a step beyond. I've been inspired by the work of Danny Gregory for a while, but I wasn't sure I really wanted this book at first; I tend to abhor those preachy "you, too, can find unleash your inner creativity, blah, blah, blah." This book has been a huge and wonderful surprise. It has the honesty and openness of his other books, but goes a step further; the simple discussion of the reluctance many of us feel - and the why behind it, and how to get around it. There are creative & easy exercises, wonderful ideas for incorporating quick sketching into brief moments of the day, insight into what drawing is (and isn't?), bits on writing, contemplation and so much more. And the whole journey is interspersed with his wonderful recollections of moments & experiences in his own life, along with his wonderful artwork. I cannot let go of this book. Have read it cover to cover and still find inspiration in returning again. Thank you Danny Gregory. There are a handful of books I know I will keep for a lifetime. This is one of them.

Inspiring, fun

I have read three of Danny Gregory's books and I love them all. The Creative License is probably my favorite as it's a 'doing' book. It's filled with exercises that start simple and build on one another to teach daily sketching. One of the biggest gifts that Danny Gregory gives is encouragement/inner permission to draw. He seems to have decided to be who he really is. In being himself, he wordlessly encourages the rest of us to be ourselves too, in all of our imperfect glory. This sounds simple and it is but it's also profound. He also teaches the value of drawing as a way of seeing. Or maybe it's more accurate to say that he teaches seeing as a way of drawing. As a result of this book and encouragement from dear friends, I started sketching. I don't do it everyday but I've filled four or five journals over the past several years. Sketching this way brings me deep joy. Perhaps it's because really seeing requires being in the present moment. This kind of sketching also chips away at old rigid perfectionism which is no fun at all. I;m learning to let go and draw what I see. When I do, lovely (not perfect but juicy) things happen! Sometimes I get all tight and rigid and that's okay too. I figure I have to get that out of my system in order to get to the juice. I highly recommend this book and also his newsletter and blog.

I learned to draw when I was a teenager and I felt good doing it then. But for some reason, I felt very insecure to start drawing again, and to even keep a sketch book.This book helped me realize that I can draw like before or better, that I am already creative and also that it was only me telling myself that I couldn't do it what was stopping me. That I just needed to start doing it.This is a great book for people that are new to sketching and journaling or for the ones that want to try it or the ones that are afraid to retake it, or that lost their confidence on the way.This book helps you feel empowered and to get working right away. It has great advice on drawing, journaling, keeping a sketch book, getting rid of your critics (including your inner one!), and feeling good about your efforts.I strongly recommend this book. It has been very useful and enjoyable for me