Danielle Krysa

Artists can get stuck in all sorts of headgames, most of which they heap upon themselves. Danielle Krysa's book is an irreverent look at the "truths of being creative" and gives an oft-needed push out the rut in which artists often land.

Written in a down-to-earth, "get real" style, the advice is such that all artists can heed. Sections such as "Don't let the paper push you around," and "Embrace Creative Potholes" can inspire artists to get going with their art. And serious advice such as show more "Don't share big ideas with small thinkers" and "Criticism of your work is NOT criticism of you" are wonderful concepts to remember.

I enjoyed reading this book, which tackles serious subjects that can derail artists in a lighthearted way. Artists of all levels would appreciate this book from beginning to end. It is a refreshing way to tackle those pesky pitfalls for artists of all types, and I would recommend the book to artists in all genres of creativity. show less

Fun little book that I actually found inspirational. It felt like a hug and a push to do creative work--the stuff I've put on the backburner since having kids. No more excuses! This book covers self and outside bullying, jealousy, motivation, and so much more. I'm ready to put creative time on my calendar and get to work.

Your Inner Critic is a Big Jerk is a blunt yet pleasant self-help book for anyone in the creative arts. Krysa writes as someone who has personally experienced artistic blocks--in fact, giving up on art entirely due to a professor's harsh criticism--and the whole book has a vibe of a friend taking your hand to talk sense into you.

The book itself is well-made and would work well on a coffee table. It's hardcover, with a front cover that is enough by itself to make a person smile. The design show more inside is, again, friendly. Pages are not filled with text and there are frequent, colorful illustrations. It's a fast read because there do tend to just be a couple paragraphs to a page--the blank space is soothing, but the author also encourages people to use the space to make notes. There are a few areas where there are activities or questions, but it's not hardcore in that way.

As an author with a loud inner critic, I found the book encouraging without being obnoxious as some books like this are. I'd consider getting this for author friends who were struggling through Imposter Syndrome and other similar afflictions. show less

I really enjoyed this little book, a whole lot more than I thought I would. It is like sitting down with a supportive friend. I don't think any of the advice was really novel, per se, but it was great to hear from others who have overcome (or manage) their jerky inner critics. Although I could not relate to the part about jealousy (I'm inspired and intrigued by those better than me), it made me learn even more how to be helpful to others struggling to create; and that kindness comes back show more 20-fold. The tips to be more productive were the most helpful for me. My only small complaint is that the book seems mostly geared towards collage artists such as the author. The thought of going out and cutting out little images from magazines makes me kinda nuts and it would be the anti-thesis of sparking me, but I think it would be really good for those into collage or similar kinds of mixed media. Overall, I really liked this book and think it's just incredibly necessary. It is so, so, easy to fall into the Jerky Inner Critic Pit of Despair and simply ... not create. Any help in that regard is just wonderful. show less