Your Renaissance

I love Art and artists, but don't always understand what I like or dislike about them. I have always had a fondness for the Renaissance and the reason I chose this book. This book combines wellness and art in a unique way. Written by an artist and wellness expert, Your Renaissance gives us an opportunity to understand a bit about the more famous of the great Italian artists of this period. I found it to be an enlightening journey which informed and also gave me pause to find my own inner peace. What a beautiful book. I highly recommend this book, the illustrations even in kindle form are sharp and beautifully shown. Many thanks to the publishers, Netgalley for an ARC and especially the author for an inspirational work.

This is a book that offers a unique perspective on Renaissance art. It analyzes famous Italian painters and their artwork through the lens of wellness. The Renaissance era was a time of rebirth when the human form was used to explore the inner world and their connection to the outer world. Viewing Renaissance artwork as a way to connect more deeply to yourself creates greater self-awareness. The author explains this using 8 steps that can initiate an individual into a better understanding of who they are. She uses 8 examples of famous Renaissance paintings and their painters to show how this can be done.

This is a very unique analysis of art that may feel like a bit of a stretch for some. On the other hand, it is enlightening and curious. The advice feels a little generic but I think it's not about the tips the author gives, but rather the techniques and explorations of art that matters.

Art is healing and that is what this book demonstrates.

Highly original!

An utterly beautiful book of paintings, mediations and musings on how great artists painted and the effects they sought to achieve.
At a meta-level I think this book is more likely to affect you philosophically and softly rather than offer much serious value in practical self-help techniques.

But, if you have the patience to slow down and read it you may find yourself changed for the better by great art... Which perhaps is what they intended.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book! A self-help book focused on Renaissance Art? Count me in! I am an art history major and loved that those concepts could be combined with self-help. I loved that each chapter focused on a different artist, and I thought that the connections that Garau made between the artist and our own lives. Because of the wealth of information provided on each artist, I felt that it was sometimes a bit difficult to pick out the main points. I found the tips laid out at the end of each chapter to be helpful for that. I would definitely love to reread this book and go through the steps closer, as well as have it to refer back on. It was a really interesting journey!

This book is an exciting combination of art and wellness. In 8 steps, it gives us a path to follow on our way to know ourselves better and to turn to new directions if we need it.
It is written very clearly with a positive and supportive tone, so the reader can go through each step and take a breath to reflect when needed.
Many steps start with a short life story of one of the greatest Renaissance artists, and include their chosen paintings (made available only by certain museums). We learn about these masters' lives and how their characters shaped their lives and careers. The author continues with what we can learn from those lives and from those works of art on our way to renewal and gives a few tips to consider at each step.
This book does not give a simple recipe for happiness, but it provides insights and tools for everyone to look deeper in their own lives and to revisit from time to time. And it shows that Renaissance artists can be real inspirations still today.
This is a book that appeals to the reader's eyes, mind and soul. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I will be happy to recommend it to my friends.
Thank you for providing an advanced copy via NetGalley.

I don't read self-help books. They are not for me! Really, really not for me lol. But I found the concept of this one intriguing and taking into consideration it's a slim one, I've decided to give it a go.

My initial interest has been rewarded on 2 plans. Firstly I've really enjoyed reading about some of the most famous painters of the Renaissance. Despite their fame, turns out I knew very little about their background. The concise chapters work very well in giving the readers enough material to quench their curiosity but they are also intriguing enough to inspire some to do further research. The inclusion of illustrations is another well thought detail.
Secondly I've found the 8 steps very realistic and doable. In fact I've incorporated many of this steps in my life over the years as a result of my personal experience and other scientific studies/books I've read. I really think there's good advice to be had in this book, given in a pleasurable, attractive manner.

*Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher.