Book Signing at Common Grounds March 9th

The Art of Living Artfully, is the title of Tom Neel's latest book, and his first book signing will be at Middleburg Common Grounds on Saturday, March 9th from 1-3 pm. Many of you know Tom Neel as an accomplished Piedmont artist. Just as many may also know him for his column - The Artist's Perspective, found monthly in The Middleburg Eccentric. With his wife Linda, the Neels also own the creative website - LiveAnArtfulLife.com, which was once also the name of their gallery in The Plains.

Opening like a memoir, the book quickly becomes Tom's philosophical life approach to happiness and wellness, and an artful guide for anyone in search of a new medium for growth. Each of the book's 17 chapters methodically take you through Tom's artful life approach towards happiness, appreciation, beauty, creative voice, action, putting yourself into art, overcoming obstacles, resourcefulness, practice, productivity, perception, growth, art and aging, and so much more.

As Tom explains, "To understand "the tree" I'm presenting here, it's easier to have a look at its roots first. Let's look closer at the words Live An Artful Life. Live - Not to just exist, not just the time between birth and death, but to live and experience life. Artful - Showing creative skill, cleverness or taste. Life - Again, not to just exist, but to possess the capacity to grow! In other words, to Live An Artful Life is to grow through experiencing the power of creativity, the freedom of imagination and sharing your inspiration with others. It's not only knowing art exists, but it's also allowing artful things to live within and around you—there to inspire you and bring you joy, to be another language or voice."

Additionally, "LIVE AN ARTFUL LIFE" has been designed with specific enlarged quotes to be used as a quick reference and refresher guide. Once the book is read, you can thumb through the pages reading only the enlarged quotes, which highlight the importance of each chapter in a fraction of the time. An example of one such quote is - "After all, a great life is not measured by how old you can become, it's measured in how young you feel while aging."

Those that have read and enjoyed Tom's column will be at home here. Tom shares,"Breaking out of creative starvation can be the key to lowering stress and feeling more carefree. Many of us are simply so caught up in responsibility, that we no longer are capable of feeling a sense of carefreeness which allows us to truly relax and enjoy life. We have been so programmed to levels of achievement by grades, test scores, job titles and financial success, that we miscalculate what success really means." Live An Artful Life is an important re-boot for the middle-aged, a companion for those in retirement, and a stop and smell the roses guide for everyone.

Tom will be on hand to talk and autograph copies from 1-3pm at Middleburg Common Grounds, located at 114 W. Washington Street in Middleburg. For more information please visit ThomasNeel.com/Events. A Kindle version of the book is available now on Amazon.