The Masks of My Muse

The seeds for this book were germinated in the beautiful region of Tuscany. Here in Italy I lived my own three-dimensional life of discovery, dedication and discipline as a sculptor. I write about this community that spiritually embraced me with my own passion for the marvels of marble. It shows any reader how to nourish the mind and the spirit and motivates one to develop original ideas in any media of choice. Sculpture is only used as a metaphor or stepping stones to help find your own path for self-actualization and self-expression. With each passing year, more and more books and articles about the creative process are published. So why would I want to write another? And why might you be interested in reading what I have to say? This book was compiled in my years of teaching and researching the nature of creativity. It encompasses many of the theories, both past and present in a distillation of the many diverse writings on the subject. I believe that creativity can be taught and I have developed a unique method of doing it through my eyes as a sculptor using "Creative I's as explained in the Workbook section of this book. The focuses of the suggested activities are provocative words beginning with the letter I that will motivate you to discover new ideas for yourself. In summary, this book is for people who are open to discovering new perspectives and new ideas to stimulate their minds by keeping their creativity flowing. You do not need special ability or talent to participate in the thrill of a satisfactory creative experience or to enjoy the "Aha " discovering something for yourself or even about yourself. By sharing your joy with others in a group or workshop you might find your own "fifteen minutes of fame" if only with your peers, networks, classes, friends, or family. Perhaps even an anxious world might be receptive of your newest innovative thing. GO FOR IT