This kind of book is a bit difficult to review/describe. With a title like We Need your Art, you might think Amie McNee’s book might be some kind of how to manual on drawing or painting. You’d be mistaken. And the ‘art’ in the title actually refers to almost any creative endeavor. However if you are a creative, you’ll likely find yourself quite inspired as McNee stresses how important your work is no matter how you view it: good or bad. It’s the acts of creativity that are vital and deserving of your time and respect. No matter what your creative outlet, start believing in yourself and treating yourself like the artist you are! Thank so much to the publisher for allowing me access to an ARC of We Need Your Art.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/we-need-your-art-amie-mcnee/1145986850?ean=9780593833001&bvnotificationId=8eb74fcb-fead-11ef-b0b7-12a919b2f5cd&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/339961889

I am still working on claiming the title of artist for myself as it's something I enjoyed in high school, put aside for 20 years, and have just started returning to in the past couple years. So there were pieces of this book that I didn't feel applied to my current level of engagement. However, many many sections really did speak to me around the fears and hesitations and resistance. I was highlighting sections. Reading this book helped me pick up my watercolor painting for the first time in several months - something I had been eyeing but was avoiding. I think that reading this book helping me return to an almost-daily art practice is about the highest praise I can give. Thank you Amie.

Though quite different in tone, I have to say Amie McNee’s We Need Your Art left me with a similar feeling as Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art. This is a book about embracing your love of creativity—no matter what form it takes: writing, music, painting, etc.—and pushing through the resistance. Why? Because it’s important…to you and to society as a whole. McNee is by no means saying any and everyone will see success or ever earn a dime in their area of passion but rather how and why the very act of being a creative is important and helpful, both personally and to society in general. And in that sense I found it quite inspiring. I’d like to thank PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin | Penguin Life, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something.

This book is brilliant. If you've ever thought about making art in any shape or form, do yourself and the world a favor and get it; it could change your life. I'm confident it's changing mine and I'm only halfway through.

Amie's voice is so compassionate and understanding yet also sensible and urgent. Her writing is this rare combination of someone cheering you on and equipping you with tangible practices. Each chapter so far offers journaling prompts to explore your own narratives around making art and your identity as an artist and invites you to consider how you might want to change those moving forward. Her journaling prompts are so powerful, and I've found engaging with them to be deeply healing. For the first time in years, I'm enjoying making art, something I had stopped believing was even possible for me. I'm so, so grateful for this book.

To the skeptics: This book is not merely motivational, it's not your run-of-the-mill advice repackaged. There's something really special here. You'll see what I mean as soon as you crack it open. From the introduction:

If you follow me to the end of this journey, my hope is that you will never doubt your creative calling again.


And I really do think that's on the menu here. One other thing, if you don't like journaling prompts, if this all sounds a bit heavy, you're in luck: reading this feels light, feels like freedom. If you're still reading this and you're not sure if this book's for you, it's for you. Don't disqualify yourself. Read it.

Engaging, accessible, and timely. A recommended purchase where art and writing craft titles are popular.