An Artist's Life: Unlocking Creative Expression

The path to discovering and developing the artist within

During her fifty years as an artist and teacher, Mary Whyte has discovered that tapping our personal well of creativity and passion is the most important lesson—much more so than how to paint an eye, clouds, or steam. In An Artist's Life, Whyte guides art makers and art lovers past stifling obstacles and self-doubts to see the world with fresh eyes and create their most original and expressive work. A touchstone for developing the habits we need to live our most creative, inspired, and meaningful life, this is a transformative lifelong art lesson that artists of all kinds, as well as non-artists seeking a more creative and fulfilling life, will return to again and again. The book includes seventy of Whyte's acclaimed portraits and new, never-before-seen works.

© 2025 University of South Carolina Press (Ebook): 9781643366036

Release date

Ebook: 14 October 2025