Manual Grayson Perry: Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Girl

Grayson Perry: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl, by Wendy Jones

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Grayson Perry: Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Girl

Perry sets them down with thr forthright honesty of a man unashamed of his desires, actions and experiences. This is where my ambivalence kicks in in.

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Taking his Turner Prize nomination and win as the point of departure, we aren't offered the story of Perry's rise to fame and success. It was interesting also to see connections with Boy George and Marilyn - he lived in some of the same squats as them in London. Notify me of new posts via email. However this is a lesson for me ,everyone likes different aspects of people's personalities for different reasons I like the way he can draw out the essence of people in interview and through his art. The stories of ventures into performance art, and a brief period of drug use are poignant and sometimes very funny.

For me, what I enjoyed and found to be the great strength of this book was this forthrightness but perhaps it was also the weakness. The honesty in places felt as though it started to build into a romanticism of 'this is where I came from; this is where I've been' - a blunt and uncritical confession. Perhaps I wanted some deeper reflections, something better and beyond the moments of commentary.

A better use of his past than what at times felt like a sloppy and sentimental romp. I was disappointed when it ended simply because I wanted it to be longer, to go further. It's not everything that I wanted but it is enough. It is a book I can see myself returning to again, hopefully to add colour and insight to other writings on the artist. May 29, Frank Callaghan rated it really liked it. Grayson Perry is my hero. He has been so ever since I first saw one of his majestic pots at the RA. I had a painting in the RA Summer Exhibition, and there, in one of the rooms was this pot.

It took my breath away. At the time I had no idea who it was by or who Grayson Perry was. Since then I have followed him and his work and become an admirer of pretty much all that he does and says. So I was delighted when this book was given to me as a gift. And I really did enjoy the read. I loved the honest Grayson Perry is my hero. I loved the honesty of his tale; I loved the humour with which it was told; and that much of the time, whilst he always took his creativity and his work seriously, on a personal level this was not always the case, and he was able to stand back and not always do the same with himself.

He could laugh at his situation and what he was doing. His life is revealed to have been a not particularly easy one.

A rather severe upbringing and from a background not entirely conducive to producing a Royal Academician. His tale is not a regular one, and this book is written with a simplistic honesty that simply tells his life's story. So whether or not you are a Grayson Perry fan, it doesn't really matter. Better if you are I guess, but in any event, I think you will find this a pretty good read. It will hopefully make you smile. Dec 30, chris tervit rated it really liked it. So I was delighted to get this book as a Christmas gift. It's easy and quick to read and gives you an insight into the roots of this artist and his transvestism.

Wendy Jones manages to convey his simple, open approach to some complex topics in a fun and frank way. It all sounded pretty tough for a lot of his childhood and student days. I didn't know he shared squatters accommodation in London with Marilyn and Boy George so that was an interesting connection.

My favourite bits were when we moved away from the chronological story and we got some explanations as to why he cross-dresses and why he choose ceramics as an early art form. He eluded to his later psychotherapy several times and I would like to hear more of that but unfortunately the book stops in his early career.

I hopes there is a part 2. He's a fab social commentator - this is what great contemporary artists can be like! Jan 06, Jon rated it really liked it. Comes across as a likeable chap and you get a clear sense that the imaginary and real world of his rather fractured childhood has strongly influenced his art in later life.

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I wasn't expecting to hear about such a 'wild' time at college, living in squats, appearing nude in art spectacles. I also liked his ideas about cool, and that actually being uncool could be cool too e. His intervi Easy going read.

His interviews and recent Reith lectures on Radio 4 underline this somewhat irreverent attitude. PS this books illustrations go up to around If you're looking for a book about more recent life and work then this isn't for you. Although a biography of Grayson Perry, compiled by Wendy Jones, what is written comes from taped interviews in the artists own words and reads like autobiography. I was interested to find out wh Although a biography of Grayson Perry, compiled by Wendy Jones, what is written comes from taped interviews in the artists own words and reads like autobiography.

I was interested to find out what was behind this winner of the Turner Prize who appeared on stage to collect his cheque dressed in a girl's dress and with a bow in his hair.

Now I've found out. There's nothing to see, move along now. Nov 18, Raz rated it it was ok.

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I didn't really love this to be honest. The writing style is very sparse, and while it's interesting looking at life in England during the 70s it's the subject matter that carries it more than the writing itself. I kind of expected that there would be more focus on how Claire came to exist as a persona and the artist's thoughts on his transvestitism now, but for all that he talks about how he found he liked wearing women's clothes as a kid it's a subject that's not really ever brought up again a I didn't really love this to be honest.

I kind of expected that there would be more focus on how Claire came to exist as a persona and the artist's thoughts on his transvestitism now, but for all that he talks about how he found he liked wearing women's clothes as a kid it's a subject that's not really ever brought up again as an adult. Nov 16, Sami Cormack rated it really liked it Shelves: Always have been inspired by Grayson Perry, his personality, his art work and his integrity to who he is.

Fantastic read for those who know of his Art work, his Turner Prize, Claire his alter ego. Would also recommend for those who don't know him as it really is a fascinating read and really does make you thing about where you came from, how you were brought up, peer pressure etc. Jul 15, Ronnie rated it it was amazing. The very candid autobiography of GPs early life, well written in his voice, funny and sad but never boring, it's a wonder he survived!

It has made me understand his early work, which now seems to be more like therapy, and his journey to being the great artist and social commentator that he now is. Mar 23, Ruth rated it really liked it.

Grayson Perry: Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Girl

A great read that left me wanting MORE! I already adore Grayson Perry, but this open and revealing biography made me love him even more. I was thrilled to see that this book, so full of the potential to shock and offend, garnered glowing reviews from the Daily Mail as well as the New Statesman — wonderfully reinforcing my deeply held prejudices about the intellectual honesty of the DM.

He is best known to the world at large as the man who collected the Turner Prize in dressed as a little girl in a 50s frock. The works of art for which he is best known are beautifully shaped pots, transfer printed with words and images of startling frankness and challenge. In a world cynical about modern British art, he seems to have disarmed both cynicism and outrage, and I think that this book helps me to understand why. It brings the reader directly in touch with a mind and personality that are original, independent, brave, fiercely honest, spontaneous and creative.

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In the case of Grayson Perry, I think that it is his candour that evokes the response in me — the sense that he is mining his very self to create what he is putting before us. He is both deeply thoughtful and wildly playful in his public persona, as Grayson and as Claire, and in his work. He provokes a strong sense of what it is to be an artist, to live his life as one, and what it means to provide a commentary on the world through his chosen artistic medium.

Reading this book has helped me to crystallise these reactions and explain them to myself. And by any standards, this is a superb memoir of childhood and youth, a potential classic of the type in my opinion, and a wonderfully absorbing read. It is brilliant insight into a uniquely vigorous and original mind. Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl.

This is a book I definitely want to read — Grayson Perry is always thoughtful and always interesting and I really like what he has to say. Those exquisitely beautiful vases … with their glorious shapes, textures and colours … and the subject matter so stunningly at odds with it all. He truly does make you stop and think not to mention stop and blink — something many artists strive to do but never quite succeed. Why is transvestism more accepted in the UK than in the U. That is, I know the name and I know he collected his prize dressed as a girl. I find that fascinating in itself — did he do it for attention or just because?

The story tails off a bit towards the end, with less detail as it approached the present day it was written in , but this doesn't diminish it. It's definitely worth a read. Mar 17, Christine Busuttil rated it liked it. I was a bit disappointed with this really, but then maybe getting to form an opinion of someone by their TV persona was part of my problem. However this is a lesson for me ,everyone likes different aspects of people's personalities for different reasons I like the way he can draw out the essence of people in interview and through his art. This book however was more about how important dressing up is to Grayson and how he really experimented with his art when younger.

Much prefer him now! I also think I was a bit disappointed with this really, but then maybe getting to form an opinion of someone by their TV persona was part of my problem. I also think I missed out on the lovely pics of his earlier art work by getting the kindle version. May 11, Steve Roberts rated it really liked it. I'm a big fan of Grayson Perry so was interested to read about his early life and influences.

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This autobiography is a searingly honest account of his troubled upbringing and struggle with becoming both an artist and transvestite. I think most people will identify with his teenage angst and finding an outlet through student excess. Of course not many of us end up as Turner prize winning artists later! Jul 28, Peter Jones rated it really liked it. Informative, gently funny and an easy read May 05, Pauline rated it it was amazing.

I found this biography to be very honest, open and interesting. It gave me an insight into Grayson Percy's early life and how his experiences affected him. I think it is a great testament to his resilience and intellect that he developed his skills and has become the great artist that he now is. S R Barrett rated it really liked it Sep 09, Jonathan Baker rated it really liked it Nov 05, Elizabeth Galton rated it really liked it Sep 06, Julie Fielding rated it liked it Jan 21, Katherine Smith rated it liked it Feb 18, Richard Weston rated it it was amazing Oct 08, Jenny rated it really liked it Nov 01, Amy Jordan rated it really liked it Jun 20, Stargazer rated it liked it Oct 19, Shona rated it it was amazing Apr 01, Mrs Joan Overy rated it liked it Sep 07, Gamin rated it it was amazing Mar 02, Susan Kassab rated it it was amazing Jun 13, Sarah - There is nothing that upsets me more than a bad book!

Christine Cook rated it liked it Jul 27, Jamie Gray rated it it was amazing Mar 13, Trish Morris rated it it was ok Aug 08, Rachel rated it liked it Oct 03,