Book Review: Art Matters by Neil Gaiman
reviewed by Jodi Taylor
Art Matters - written by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Chris Riddell.
This book review is for the very excellent – and, for me, very relevant – Art Matters, by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Chris Riddell.
I bought this little book – and it is a little book that fits snugly into my hand as if it belongs there – when it first came out, several years ago now, because I always buy everything by Neil Gaiman. Like Terry Pratchett, Jasper Fforde, Ben Aaronovitch and T Kingfisher, everything he writes is a must-have. Half the time I don’t even stop to read the blurb before clicking on ORDER.
I had no idea it would have such an impact on my thinking. From almost the very first words, I felt this book had been written for me.
A couple of pages in, the author tells us we have an obligation to daydream. We have an obligation to imagine.
If I can digress for a moment – Neil, where were you when I was serving my umpteenth detention for daydreaming in class? I really could have done with you in those days.
And then he tells us he never had a career plan either. That it’s OK to embark on something without knowing what you’re doing.
Digressing again – this is practically the story of my life.
Then he says it’s OK to break the rules – I’m assuming here he means the rules of creativity, not armed robbery or arson or that sort of thing. His argument is that if you don’t know what’s allowed then you don’t know what’s possible or impossible. You just go ahead and do it.
And then he starts on Imposter Syndrome.
Anyone who regularly listens to me boring on about something or other knows that I frequently find my own small success quite unbelievable. And improbable. Impossible, even. Every book I publish increases my fear that this is the one that people won’t like. The one where people will discover that I’m not a good writer at all. There will, obviously, be mass outrage, people will return my books, there will be widespread public condemnation and Amazon will make me give back all my royalties, and I’ll die in a shop doorway somewhere, penniless, cold and abandoned, and clutching the only remaining copy of any of my books.
(A vivid imagination is sometimes not quite the gift people think it is.)
Anyway, dragging myself back to the point, imagine my surprise on discovering that I am not alone in this fear and that it is actually shared by one of my favourite writers. And if his fears are quite unjustified then perhaps mine are as well, And everyone else’s.
I used to wonder whether my insecurity was a result of my age and/or gender. Women my age were brought up to be modest. You never boasted of your achievements. Resources were directed towards boys. There was very much a feeling that educating girls was a bit of a waste of time – we were destined for marriage and motherhood and only the very minimum of education was necessary for scribbling a shopping list.
I turned more pages and things got even better. Apparently, it’s perfectly OK to say, ‘No,’ occasionally. That there’s a difference between accepting a challenge and mindlessly saying yes to everything because you feel you must. Because it’s expected. I was spreading myself too thinly. Just like cheap margarine I wasn’t covering the bread very well.
And the book isn’t just for those who make art for a living – it’s for everyone even if art is not your primary function. Obviously we all need to pay the bills but there are moments – sometimes few and far between but they can be found if you seek them out – and then the world is golden. Because you’ve created something. A story. An image. A garment. Some music. A garden. A world. Whatever. Because your art is something only you can do. So find your voice. Find your style. Make art.
For me – enjoy it all is the best advice in the book. Stop worrying about the next book. Or, in my case, don’t start worrying about the next book until I’ve at least finished the current one. Good advice – because, being me, I do worry about the next book. And the one after that. And the Christmas story. And the personal appearances where I’m convinced I’m not really interesting enough for people to turn up. I – we all – need to stop. Relax. Enjoy it all.
And make good art.
Because art matters.
Available in hardback, paperback, kindle and audiobook formats
I love this book, too, and the speech he gave to those graduates... reassuring, encouraging, and challenging.