Discover the Work That
You Alone Were Born to Make

My new book, Art From Your Core: A Holistic Guide to Visual Voice, has been released by Intellect Books of London, “publishers of original thinking.” It’s distributed by The University of Chicago Press, and is also available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc. (Sharing and reviews on Goodreads or your place of purchase are greatly appreciated!) You can also complete this form to recommend it to your school or local library. Here is a video of a paper given at the 2023 FATE Conference in Denver, CO., as part of the panel "Reskilling for Creativity: Approaching Innovative Ideation as Core Foundational Skill." It makes an argument for including the search for visual voice as an integral part of Studio Art Foundations Programs. Wholesale information here.

Early reviews for the book:

“The art world is full of static. In the art market, there's the buzz of money and the fear of failure. In social media, there's the continuous jostling for scraps of praise. In art criticism, there's the fear of a bad review. In academia, there's the pressure of learning, the guilt of not producing, the competition for jobs. In the gallery scene, there's the expectation that your work will be consistent and on schedule. It's disempowering and distracting, and the result is thousands of artists who produce what they think the world wants. This book is like a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. It will let you concentrate on what you desire, who you are, what art does for you, what you need to make. So go back to your studio, shut down your social media, and clear out your library. This is the only book you need.”
--James Elkins, author and E.C. Chadbourne Professor in the Department of Department of Art History, Theory, and Criticism, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

“ ‘Art from Your Core’ provides a poignant reminder to artists that living and expressing their truth through art is fundamentally important, and ever more so in a world where authenticity and the value of lived experience are under constant assault. Kretz draws upon decades of expertise in teaching and making art to offer this invaluable resource that supports the artist-creatively, psychologically, and professionally. This is a must-read for artists and art students at any stage in their career.” 
--Micol Hebron, Artist, Activist, and Professor, Los Angeles

“Like the layers of an onion, Kate Kretz peels back the levels of art and art making through an invasive and comprehensive dissection. Not unlike a scientist searching for the core of discovery, she unwraps and peels back those layers of thoughts, considerations, opportunities and conundrums that artists face making art from the core. Part guide, part philosophical musing, and part “how to” she makes real and understandable the complex and complicated world of the contemporary artist.”
--Joseph Seipel, Dean Emeritus, School of the Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University

"Kate Kretz is your erudite, generous guide to “cultivating the core” of every creative soul. Art From Your Core is filled with amazing insights and exercises—useful for beginners and experts alike, no matter the medium—that will encourage you to look differently at the world, into yourself, and find your voice as an artist. With wisdom gleaned from thinkers and makers ranging from Seneca to Sontag to El Anatsui, this book is a precious toolbox to help you uncover the unique, genuinely felt art that only you were meant to make."
--Maria Elena Buszek, PH.D., Author, Professor of Art History, President's Teaching Scholar, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER

“What's interesting to me then is... you're making work that scares you, you're making work that is looking at the world around you and just recognizing the challenges that you face, then you write the book, that is almost like a kind of Excalibur, it's almost like you're giving people a sword with which maybe they can cleave their way through this madness.”
- - Jamie Chalmers (MrXStitch), from his podcast interview with me at Needlexchange

This book guides artists through the discovery and development of the art that they alone were born to create. Through real-life examples and exercises, we tear down the cultural, educational, and psychological obstacles to finding authentic visual voice, stripping away years of assumptions, external and self-imposed limiting parameters.

We learn how to listen to the Universe and get out of the way when work wants to come through us. We construct a core foundation, unique to each artist, one that will grow along with them in their artistic practice. Artists will discover their own singular visual vocabulary by mining their personal history, psyche, and world view to reveal new creative directions, and learn how to intensify and develop their core ideas to make them more resonant and complex. We explore methodologies to tap into the subconscious, cultivate breakthroughs, create environments to maximize the gestation of ideas, instill bravery, and do meaningful research to produce deeply layered works of art.

While designed for college students, professional artists will also find it allows them to get to that illusive “next level” in their work; the one that calls to them, haunts them in their dreams, yet remains unarticulated in their practice.

In addition to helping undergraduate and graduate students who are looking to identify, articulate, and hone their vocabulary, it can serve as a tool for more established artists to step up or refresh their practice. It is the kind of book that artists will keep on the studio shelf, to pick up time and time again, as their responses to the exercises will change throughout the course of their career.

There are extensive lists, exercises, and questionnaires, anecdotes of art-historically significant artists and detailed descriptions of the methodologies they employ to tap into the subconscious, various types of research on creative breakthroughs (and how to apply it to your own process), helpful suggestions to create an environment / lifestyle to maximize the gestation of ideas, and how to do meaningful research to produce deeply layered works of art. While the tone of the book is often earnest and spiritual (in an “art is religion” kind of way), Kretz is aiming for a straightforward, accessible, kind-but-no-nonsense tenor, with some humor, and nurturing “tough love” when needed, to say some of the things that artists need to hear, but few people have the guts to tell them.

Podcast with Intellect Books youtube link

Mr X Stitch podcast on youtube link

Feedback from early Visual Voice Workshops:

I came to this workshop because, despite earning a BFA in painting, I feel like I've never really been taught how to explore, research & develop an idea. I feel like there was an assumption in my program that ideas just happened, and if you had weak ideas, you were a lost cause. I feel like I have been given a lot of rich ideas to sit with, develop, & mine, as well as information to use to refine ideas & work. 
- Lauren S.

It was challenging, threatening, inspiring, stimulating - all good things!  Inspired me to break my established creative routine. Gulp!   - Mary T.

Many times along the way - during the day - there were "light bulb" moments for myself. The exercises were very helpful, and will be useful going forward. Your knowledge / willingness to share is much appreciated. I feel well-fed (artistically), and motivated to continue on the path! Thank you!   - Marlene B.

Workbook questions were illuminating, saw patterns I did not know were there. Discussions about how artists think made me understand some of my own behaviors.  - Cynthia S.

Very well structured and informative... many things resonated with my views & experience.
- Desha J

It was great to dig deep... So much to think about & directions to go that it will keep me going for some time.   - Fannie W

I've been circling around an artistic problem, but have not been able/willing to jump into it. Looking forward to reading your book, and approaching my problem from these perspectives. Also ... hoping to explore this throughout the summer, so I can examine ways to use this in my classroom. Thanks... It was great! Publish your book! Artists/teachers need it!  - Wendy M.

I love it! Thank you for giving us so much information.  - Rhonda P.

I loved having the creative process & suggestions for it broken down. I liked the exercises & that feedback was offered... that it was objective & not competitive. I liked the expanded look at work by contemporary artists.  - Roxanne

Overall this was an enjoyable & very informative/educative workshop. I especially enjoyed the “Mind’s Eye Memoir” exercise: it was very attuned with the "dig deep" subject of the workshop. The slides were so informative.   - Poorvi