An Artist Empowered

An Artist Empowered 
by Eden Maxwell, avaialable as an e-book on Amazon.com

For every artist the questions will arise at some point. The questions that go to the heart of the artist's sense of self and meaning. The questions that will challenge the ego in its most primitive form.
 The questions are:
1) Why am I an artist?
2) Where does my art come from?
3) What is the intrinsic value of my art?

The artist may be able to answer these questions. When or how such answers will come is unknown. When they are truthfully answered the artist may find fulfilment.

Eden Maxwell is a profound thinker and artist. He has also written an astonishing book.There is no point in denying that The Artist Empowered is a singular achievement. A giant work that will take time to read and digest, but will leave you better for it. Maxwell has had a long career and has seen that world from it cruelest to his enlightened present. He has experienced corporate America and rejected it. He seems to have made peace with his calling to create art. Yet there is no arrogance about Maxwell. He shines light on questions we need to answer for ourselves and he is not judgmental in his writing.
 
A central theme in his work is how an artist will have to deal with rejection, the opinions of others and our view of ourselves as artists.  He rejects the idea of the starving artist as no more than social conditioning. An artist can live a good and honest life like anyone else. Genius is dedication - remain true to yourself and follow your calling in whatever way makes sense to you.
 
I spent a considerable time completing this book. It is substantial, but compelling too. I found that I had to put the book down often to make notes or simply to think about what the author had said. So much rang true - how fear is a part of our ego and that all great art is self-taught since nobody can teach you to be original. Follow your intuition not your ego. Your intuition is always positive, but your ego can destroy you. If you are interested in the artist's calling and are seeking a path to find meaning then this book may hold the answer.

"How do you know if you are meant to be an artist? If someone can talk you out of being an artist then don't be an artist."

To listen to a recording of an interview with Eden Maxwell where he explains his ideas follow this link.

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