Art Books That Will Inspire Your Work
Dear Wonderful, Creative You:
Each month I focus on a theme that I think will help students solidify their creative practice in my membership, The Gathering. This month, we have been focusing on reflective practice. Reflective practice is a habit of pausing to think and write about what you are learning, and its meaning – in this case – reflecting about our art.
What does reflective practice have to do with art books? I’ll tell you by telling you about my reflective practice. My reflective practice happens at a special table, in the morning, with my breakfast and coffee. I make it feel bountiful. There are flowers, a few art materials, and inspiring books. Each morning I read, write, draw, and paint. It’s an expansive time that is part reflection, part reading, part creation. It’s a way to stir the creative pot at the start of the day. I read and look at books that remind me that I’m an artist – books that make me want to create.
I’m excited to share art books that will inspire your work – at least I think so! I’d love to know which books have bolstered your creative practice – tell me in the comments.
Just Draw Botanicals: Beautiful Botanical Art, Contemporary Artists, Modern Materials
- From soft, airy colored pencil papayas, to hyper-realistic renditions of hydrangeas and monochromatic leaves, this little book will make you want to run outdoors, grab the first botanical you can get your hands on, and draw and paint all day.
Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life With Words
- I am a big fan of highly inspiring books that set you off on a creative tangent just a few paragraphs in, such that it takes months or years to finish reading. It’s like lingering over a delicious ice cream or a piece of chocolate cake. Poemcrazy inspires me to write more poetically, but it also inspires me to think poetically. It makes my life more rich and creative and therefore feeds my visual art as well. This kind of stirring of the pot is good for creatives of all kinds.
- I happened upon this gorgeous book recently, and couldn’t put it down. I’ve kept it on my art table since and its beautiful nature-based illustrations have inspired me to take some of my observational drawings a little further into the realm of fantasy and ornamentation. I think you’ll find it equally inspiring for your work.
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Big Magic – Creative Living Beyond Fear
- This is a book I refer to frequently with my students – Elizabeth Gilbert talks about the ways in which we humans are innately creative in a way that feels essential and logical. She also shares valuable insights about the inner critic that have been helpful for me and folks in my community. This would be an excellent book to encourage your creative life and action.
The Practice: Shipping Creative Work
- This book is an ode to practice and the beauty of what happens when you embrace it. Our work is only as good as the practice and love we put into it. “The magic of creative process is that there is no magic. Start where you are. Don’t stop.”
Bound: 15 Beautiful Bookbinding Projects
- For anyone who loves to work in books and wants to make their sketchbooks, I highly recommend this book. Rachel Hazel paints an inspiring picture of her artistic life with gorgeous photos of the shore and her seaside home. Each page feels tactile, beautiful, and approachable. She makes bookbinding feel incredibly creative and possible even for those of us who hate to measure. (Though we still have to measure – sorry!)
This is another book to be taken in little bite -sized bits, but it’s SO full of creative wisdom. I think it’s the best advice for artists about how to learn from others WITHOUT copying. In the internet age especially, we are all inspired and influenced by each other, but it’s about putting all the different influences together through your particular hand and seeing what emerges.
I have several of SARK’s books, and for me they are all about opening the doors of possibility and giving your creative dreams a voice and a path. I have the original edition of this book, and on page 43, she invites you (in her handwritten script!) to write in the book: “5 wonderful things that could happen if you let your dream come true.” Here’s some of what I wrote over 20 years ago:
“Get known as an artist.”
“Speak to audiences about creative process and art and healing.”
“Do workshops.”
“Go on splendid vacations.” (I just taught art in France this past September!)
It’s going well, SARK! Thanks so much for helping me to dare to dream! This is one of the books that helped send me off to art therapy school, and eventually, through a very circuitous route, brought me to where I am today. I still refer to it periodically as you can see.
Tell Us Which Books Are On Your Art Table in the Comments!
I would love to hear which art books have been elemental for you and your practice. Tell us about it in the comments.
Creatively Yours,
Amy
P.S.
Click here to see all the books I recommend on Bookshop.org
Click here to see all the books I recommend on Amazon.com
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I love Stop, Look, Breathe, Create by Wendy Greenhalgh
It is mindful art practice guide that focuses on drawing, photography, and writing. It is beautifully illustrated as well.
Oh Wendy is wonderful. What a great one to add to the list. I will have to check it out. Thanks Jennifer! xo
Hello Amy Thank you for the list of books I have the Bound:15 by Rachel Hazell and all 3 and the workbook by Austin Kleon and the Poemcrazy also
YAY – so glad you like these ones! xo
I like Life, Paint and Passion: Reclaiming the Magic of Spontaneous Expression by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley
Oh those sound intriguing! Thanks Donna!
I absolutely love art books and will take a look at all of these. I would suggest the addition of Drawing Your Own Path by John Simon – which wasn’t at all what I expected but was something better. And two that are more how-to style with steps and activities that I think are very rich with accessible ideas are If You Can Doodle You Can Paint by Diane Culhane and Drawing in Black and White by Deborah Velasquez.
John Simon is wonderful, Leah. Thanks for bringing him into the conversation here and or the other suggestions! xo
Right now I have two books I got at our local Library……Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses got me out of my head and into the world by Gretchen Rubin. Also, Art From Your Core…A Holistic Guide to Visual Voice by Kate Kretz. Both are new books and I am just beginning to get into them. Thank you for your list of suggestions. I am a real book lover.
Thank you so much for featuring my book Just Draw Botanicals in your inspiration collection 🙂
OH wow, Helen! What a pleasure to have you find this. I have both this and Drawn From Life and I find the both so inspiring. Thank you for being here and for your work! xo
And in return a big thank you for the resources you share.
Lovely to see you at this year’s Sketchbook Revival too.
Hi Amy. Great list you have there. My current favorite is The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. Short chapters, loving it.
That’s been speaking to a lot of folks, Marsha. I’m glad for it! Thanks for the suggestion here. xo
The one I come back to again and again is The Art Spirit by Robert Henri. I was introduced to it when I was in college by a ballet teacher that would read passages to us before every class. It is the kind of book that I can pick up and open to any page and find a bit of wisdom and encouragement. I took this from the first paragraph, “Art really understood is the province of every human being. It is simply a question of doing things, anything, well…where there is the art spirit there will be precious works to fill museums. Better still, there will be the happiness that is in the making.”
The Art Spirit looks very intriguing Cheri. I hope to check it out and I LOVE to hear that your ballet teacher quoted from it. What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it.
I can’t wait to delve into all of these suggestions! I don’t know if these have been suggested by Amy or others in previous posts, but I like Picture This – How Pictures Work by Molly Bang, and Cover to Cover – Creative Techniques for Making Beautiful Books, Journals, and Albums by Shereen La Plantz..The latter has easy-to-follow instructions.
Oh yes, I read Molly Bang’s book last year and was equally impressed. The Cover to Cover book I had not seen, thank you Amy! xo
Hi Amy, Thank you for sharing your books. I have to mention The Artist’s Way from Julia Cameron. I have heard about it in the past several times, it is very famous. However, it was absolutely worth it to read the book and feel the inspiration and get the insights direct from the author.
Have a blessed day.
Anna
I would put The Artist’s Way on every single list, but I think it would be boring, so I am glad you added it here! It’s foundational for so many of us!
I followed the path outlined in the Artist’s Way when it first came out about 25 years ago and it was life changing. I have just retired so I revisited the path this spring. What a gift! Thanks Amy for your suggestions.
Oh that book is a gift to all! I worked with it at about the same time, Anne! I’m glad these books speak to you. Cheers!
There are 3 books I’ve explored in past months. “Color In and Out of the Garden”, Lorene Edwards Forkner. “Birds in Watercolor, Collage, and Ink”, Geninne D. Zlantkis. “ETCETERA etc”, Sibella Court. I’m so grateful for books. They are my treasures.
Hey Anita: Yes, books are friends, and in this time of screen staring, I think it’s so powerful to focus on books. For me especially ones I can hold in my hands. OOh, I follow Lorene on Instagram, thank you for bringing her book to our notice! Cheers!
Draw Yourself Calm is one of my very favorites! I also love Botanical Line Drawing by Peggy Dean. This is such a fun post, thank you for sharing and for asking others to share.
Hi Alexandra: Aw, I’m so happy to hear that you love Draw Yourself Calm! And Peggy Dean’s book looks fun and practical! Thanks for the idea!
As mentioned by Marsha above, Rick Rubin’s “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” is not an art book, per se, but one full of inspiration and tips no matter what art or craft you make. The chapters are one or two pages which are just perfect to include in a daily practice. Along with Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, I believe it should be required reading for anyone who considers themselves a Creative!
I’m so glad it’s speaking to you Renee! xo
Some great recommrndations!! I have several of the books on the list along with the classic DRAWING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN by Betty Edwards.
Yes Lois, that one is wonderful, thanks for adding it here! xo
So in the morning I love to sit down after I wake up with my cup of coffee and my drawing book and just work on a picture I am doing or doodle flowers on a big sheet of spiral bound paper.
That right there is my creativity for the day, before my day starts getting rambunctious with my 3 kids.
This workshop inspirers me to look at drawings of other artists.
So thank you.
OH yes I love that too! I’m so happy you found some inspiration here Jessica! And if you haven’t already, I hope you join us for a slow drawing workshop this week! xo
I have just started reading “The Artist’s Way” by Julie Cameron – what a classic and must read!
How wonderful, Rhiannon. I will have to check this one out!