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“This book articulates things artists know in their being, but haven’t had words for, addressing the beautiful complexity of what drives us to create and what we encounter when we do.”
-PATTI SMITH
As an artist and creator, I feel like I’ve been waiting for this book my whole life.
— WAYNE ADAMS
A profound meditation on the creative process, blending art, spirituality, and discipline in a way that resonates with artists and seekers alike.
— AIREA D. MATTHEWS
Carey Wallace has genuine insight and wisdom into the creative process. This is a book that will be helpful to anyone who finds faith and making deeply intertwined.
— CHRISTIAN WIMAN
Drawing on classic spiritual disciplines like manual labor and poverty and fasting, Wallace offers surprising ways for contemporary art-makers to fashion lives devoted to their craft.
— JOE HOOVER, SJ
I recommend this book to everyone, from the artist who’s struggling to create; to the multidisciplinary act too full of ideas. May we all dare to be inspired.
— BL SHIRELLE
We all know the feeling of inspiration. It’s what tells a painter what to paint and a singer how to sing—and what prompts us to throw a handful of something new into an old recipe.
But what is inspiration? When we train artists, we pick them based on talent and train them in technique. We talk very little about the crucial creative spark of inspiration. Where does it come from? What does it want from us? How can we get more of it?
In The Discipline of Inspiration, Carey Wallace meditates on this mysterious spark found in the work of artists across genres and throughout history. She also offers practical methods—including silence, community, and rest—to help everyone access inspiration more consistently. Readers from all walks of life will discover the transformative power of inspiration in both their art and their lives.
