Kindle
$15.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Paperback
$15.40
Buy new:
$15.40
FREE delivery Monday, May 6 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: The BAP Goods
List Price: $19.95 Details

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Save: $4.55 (23%)
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, May 6 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$15.40 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$15.40
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon
Ships from
Amazon
Sold by
The BAP Goods
Sold by
The BAP Goods
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE delivery Monday, May 6 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Used: Acceptable | Details
Sold by Shakespeare Book House
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Acceptable
Comment: Item in acceptable condition including possible liquid damage. As well answers may be filled in. May be missing DVDs, CDs, Access code, etc.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Pat B. Allen
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Art Is a Way of Knowing: A Guide to Self-Knowledge and Spiritual Fulfillment through Creativity Paperback – April 11, 1995

by Pat B. Allen (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 196 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$15.40","priceAmount":15.40,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"15","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"40","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"Q2wKkHf8nxjrJmd8iptenyBrYPHi8kHm%2FRoInyr8AUZLuVnuSWFycCK9JawsNM2vqSUsQ%2FDPc2xcm9W5pusHli79NYft1ShRl9g3DXfSVk318pu9iyRl53DfIwXz70JYi%2BDfv3Kr2J9PuaPTSnSSpe0uXEet%2Bmi%2FRNsH0zuWX%2BGUyjwcd8Z%2BgU76hZOzM7DA","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$11.18","priceAmount":11.18,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"18","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"Q2wKkHf8nxjrJmd8iptenyBrYPHi8kHmTLu4RMxD0HBoeQnKCh4WqyZyQCZJiqjJbcuRhtCxyzwxj6EZ6cFst8QrfFUBaMGRHtSZtI9XwZ1Pqg4lLRnu705Tws5GMVX77C%2FIIYjmB4Jr2HO6eidB3113Y38fcHGqlKGZ6tpTCsG0fU6VGTwt56pUQtQbxSwg","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

An expert in art therapy offers this “wonderful” guide “for anyone, artistic or not, who is interested in using art to know more about himself or herself” (Library Journal)
 
Making art—giving form to the images that arise in our mind's eye, our dreams, and our everyday lives—is a form of spiritual practice through which knowledge of ourselves can ripen into wisdom. This book offers encouragement for everyone to explore art-making in this spirit of self-discovery—plus practical instructions on material, methods, and activities, such as ways to:

   •  Discover a personal myth or story
   •  Recognize patterns and themes in one's life
   •  Identify and release painful memories
   •  Combine journaling and image making
   •  Practice the ancient skill of active imagination
   •  Connect with others through sharing one's art works

Interwoven with this guidance is the intimate story of the author's own journey as a student, art therapist, teacher, wife, mother, and artist—and, most of all, as a woman who discovered a profound and healing connection with her soul through making art.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Shambhala
  4. Publication date
    April 11, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.59 x 8.95 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1570620784
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1570620782
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

Art Is a Way of Knowing: A Guide to Self-Knowledge and Spiritual Fulfillment through Creativity
$15.40
Get it as soon as Monday, May 6
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by The BAP Goods and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
Art Heals: How Creativity Cures the Soul
$20.82
Get it as soon as Friday, May 3
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Art Therapy Sourcebook (Sourcebooks)
$15.04
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 4
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

An art therapist and member of the art therapy faculty at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Allen gives excellent instructions on using image-making as a way to understand personal fears, dreams, and identity while giving us a look at her own life and image-making process. Especially useful for nonartists, Allen's text explains which art materials to purchase and how to begin a drawing or sculpture. Led into the field by the mother of art therapy, Margaret Naumburg, Allen tells the story of her life and struggles: coming to terms with her mother's death and her father's alcoholism, finding and understanding her feminine side, dealing with a loss of tenure and a change in professional identity. Through it all, she shows how image-making has helped her to understand herself, her emotions, her relationships, and her dreams. Allen has produced a wonderful book for anyone, artistic or not, who is interested in using art to know more about himself or herself. For public and academic libraries.
Elizabeth Caulfield Felt, Washington State Univ., Pullman
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Allen has produced a wonderful book for anyone, artistic or not, who is interested in using art to know more about himself or herself."—Elizabeth Caulfield Felt, Washington State University, Pullman, Library Journal

"Art Is A Way of Knowing has a practical, hands on, and experiential feel to it. It is like a guide book or a manual for those interested in self-exploration through creative activity. Allen persistently invites the reader to join her. I found her to be an encouraging and competent guide."—American Journal of Art Therapy



"Finally, a self-help book that is true to the passionate and turbulent movements of the soul in the process of creation."—Shaun McNiff, Ph.D., author of Art as Medicine

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shambhala (April 11, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1570620784
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1570620782
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.59 x 8.95 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 196 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Pat B. Allen

Pat B. Allen

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Pat B. Allen, Ph.D., A.T.R., is an author, artist, art therapist, and teacher who connects to the Creative Source through art and writing. Her two books - Art Is a Way of Knowing (Shambhala 1995) and Art Is a Spiritual Path (Shambhala 2005) - explore the borders between art, psychology, spirituality, and social action. Author of numerous professional articles, Dr. Allen lectures and delivers workshops throughout the country using the Open Studio Process which she has developed. Her artwork has been exhibited in a wide variety of juried and invited exhibits.

Dr. Allen has been a Registered Art Therapist (A.T.R.) since 1977. She earned a Ph.D. in Art Therapy from Union University in 1986. Dr. Allen served on the faculty of the Art Therapy Department of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago from 1988-2011. Dr. Allen was a co-founder of the Open Studio Project in Chicago and founder of Studio Pardes in Oak Park, IL, where she provided a community art space for herself and others to explore the creative process, and from where she directed the Facing Homelessness Mask Project.

Her current interest is in researching creativity through close study of nature and she is at work on a humorous novel about the resurgence of feminine energy in the evolution of consciousness. She divides her time between Oak Park, IL and Ojai, Caliifornia.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
196 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

modesta e murphy
5.0 out of 5 stars Very pleased
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Like new Looking forward to reading it Thank you
Helpful
 Report
Gabriella
5.0 out of 5 stars love pat Allen
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2022
Verified Purchase
im getting my masters in art therapy and this was one of my required texts for one of my classes. I will always love and appreciate pat allen and im glad I have this in my professional library now.
Helpful
 Report
Cheryl L.
5.0 out of 5 stars Following the universal need to create art for the souls expression
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is an excellent book looking at art therapy and expressive arts facilitation. The book starts out by providing an overview of how to work with different art materials and provides prompts and exercises to increase your comfort level with using art for expressive purposes. The book then looks at the writers personal journey to follow the need to create art for expression that is deeply rooted in all of us- but something we tend to loose as we "grow up" and start censoring everything creative. I completed EA training at Salve Regina University and this book was recommended reading and I would also strongly recommend it.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
taletreader
3.0 out of 5 stars Lots of knowledge, but almost too much
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2011
Verified Purchase
I would recommend it for an art therapy class or if you're definitely interested in techniques related to art therapy, but maybe not so much if you just want something to casually pick up and read. There are a lot of personal references the author makes so it's not so much of a textbook, but she also goes into detail about different ideas for art-making, which I didn't particularly like. She also goes into a lot of detail about her own work career which put me off. However, it did lead me to realize how much I need to get my priorities together and figure out exactly what I'm striving to do career-wise!
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Alice Y. Rudnick
5.0 out of 5 stars As described with fast delivery
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
As described with fast delivery
Helpful
 Report
EE
5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Insightful
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2015
Verified Purchase
LOVING IT! Right from the first chapter I learned something about MYSELF! Shocked at how easy to understand this teaching is. Starting with discovering my beliefs about imagination! Couldn't believe how negative I've been all my life. Can't recommend this book enough. If you are struggling with the frustration of why you can't seem to achieve any progress in whatever creative process you are trying READ this book! You won't regret it.
13 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Donna Kearns
5.0 out of 5 stars More philosophy related
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2020
Verified Purchase
Philosophy of art therapy. Very enlightening
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Watergurl
5.0 out of 5 stars Pat Allen is brilliant
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is a book I would definitely recommend. There aren't a lot of books about the personal journey of an art therapist. This book is a great one which will help anyone who reads it to be more free in the creative process.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

bogisb
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in Canada on January 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
The author makes you understand how the practice of your personal art will give you insignt about yourself
Customer image
bogisb
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in Canada on January 4, 2020
The author makes you understand how the practice of your personal art will give you insignt about yourself
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
One person found this helpful
 Report
Paola Ricci
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in Italy on February 7, 2019
Verified Purchase
this is not just a book on art therapy, the usual book with exercises and tests, sort of society game using paints and colors. this book is the never ending journey of a woman looking for her deep self, an art therapist who is the first client of her self, a person who asks personal, difficult questions and sometimes doesn't fear to admit she didn't find answers. this is a great ,intimate book, where art has a leading, respected role in the searching of a life path. and the therapist is generous enough to share it with her readers.
One person found this helpful
 Report
linda eastwood
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting
Reviewed in Australia on May 24, 2022
Verified Purchase
Good teaching aid
Report
Molly Edric
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2013
Verified Purchase
Pat Allen rather bares her own soul in writing this book, which is part biographical and part a guide to using creativity - paint, clay, paper etc - to draw out your inner recesses - childhood traumas and anxieties, personality characteristics that trouble you etc. Her own experiences with these various methods (which are for everyone and not just for people who can draw and paint - a scribble will often do) provide real encouragement to try the process for yourself, and when I tried it, I was amazed at the results and the insights that came with them. The writing is clear and accessible, and the blend of personal experience (along with lots of illustrations of her own work) and practical advice made compulsive reading for me.
4 people found this helpful
 Report
Ren
5.0 out of 5 stars Class requirement
Reviewed in Canada on December 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book was for a class requirement (Art therapy). It suited the topic well and I even learned from it, so...good job, book!
Report