I can’t count how many times I’ve turned to a book when I’m feeling low, when my art spirit is eager but tired.  Discouragement is common amongst artists. So many I speak to are just striving and striving, but not necessarily thriving. The creeping threat of burnout, wondering where the joy went, how to approach the easel day after day is a thread I follow over and over.  It’s lonely and every day means beginning again. There is a reason the notion of the anguished artist has permeated history.

Some of my books were pure technique driven, some were focused on encouragement for the creative, some were about regaining time and a feeling of “slowness” (a consistent topic I turn to).

Wonderful reads for the artist's library - my 2019 highlights! Click To TweetWithout further ado, my top books of 2019 to add to your artists library (affiliate links):

1. World Enough and Time by Christian McEwan

I can’t recommend this book enough.  It made me cry, laugh, reminisce, slow-down, and is underlined and highlighted so many times.  I took it on a workshop business trip and was writing in it so vigorously that the man across the airplane aisle leaned over and asked if I was a professor. I said “No, I’m an artist and teacher.”  He said “I’ve never seen someone do that before,” (indicating my writing in a book?)…exactly what this book is about.  If you desire slowness, a sense of returning to a place before everything in technology dominated our lives, read this book!

2.  Clear Seeing Place by Brian Rutenberg

A great and easy read. More of a memoir than a how-to or inspirational, this book was a kick-in-the-pants on how this artist lives, breathes, and gets things done. This artist loves art, he loves making art, he loves talking about art.  It’s infectious!

3. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Life-changing. Simply put. I have opened this book up so many times for the wisdom contained.  Anytime I run into a person who says “I’m not creative, but I wish I could __________(insert word here), I tell them to run, don’t walk to get this book in their hands.  It’s encouraging and it’s also work.  Morning pages are something I desire to write consistently and I fall on and off again.  But if my art spirit is low, I just have to let these words wash over me and I feel a breath of fresh air.  If there is one book I wish I had written, it’s this one. (and maybe To Kill a Mockingbird….) 😉

4. Keep Going by Austin Kleon

I love Kleon’s books, graphic art, and newsletter. He brings a much-needed relaxation to the hype of the moniker “artist.” I keep up with his thoughts weekly on his popular newsletter and website and appreciate his take on tackling the need to record, document, draw, paint, write. This is the third in a trilogy of books he’s written and I hope he keeps going.  He also has Show your Work and Steal like an Artist – both fun easy reads with tons of good tips.

5.  Perspective Made Easy  by Ernest R. Norling

A wonderful little book *packed* full of information for those wanting to learn the ins and outs of perspective.  Diminutive, easy and clear to understand, wonderful sketches and illustrations. A must for your artist library!

6. Painting Brilliant Skies and Water in Pastel by Liz Haywood-Sullivan

The pages of my book are worn, I have bookmarks and notes scribbled in.  Paperclips have bent the pages.  I adore this book and it’s even better because I know Liz and she is not only an amazing artist, but an encouraging and passionate spokesman and teacher.  I don’t think this book is only valuable to pastelists as there is a wealth of information regarding composition, color, and design within.  Wonderful book!

7. The Painterly Approach  by Bob Rohm

Another technique book and this one focuses on oil painting.  I am not an oil painter but this book is similarly disheveled and worn. Rohm’s use of color, how he tones his canvases, his sense of light and perspective…I could go on and on! I loved this book so much I purchased the Bob Rohm Great American set of pastels and found several of my all-time favorite colors for painting skies.:)

8. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

The author of Eat, Pray, Love delves into self-help and how to unleash our inner muse.  This is an easy, sparkling read with a no BS attitude about creativity and inspiration. Since she is a writer, most of the ideas are on writing but could be easily applied to many forms of making. The more I read, the more I liked it.

9. The Creative Habit – Twyla Tharp

I’ve probably had this book longer than any others in the list.  I first turned to it years and years ago when I was in the business of photography, being keen on Tharp since she has a dance background (and I have an actor/dancer background).  It’s so amazing how so many art forms intertwine to create a tapestry of creativity.  Initially, Tharp is unforgiving and strict in her ideas.  She is a serious technician. For those needing to make a space to learn or make anything, this is a wonderful book on the power of habits, making time, and perseverance.

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I loved turning to these books last year for a little extra push of creativity.  Those daily doses of reading are powerful elixirs, healing and invigorating to an artist’s soul. I’m already excited about discovering new books for 2020! Not only for my artist’s library, but personally, too. Because of the first book on this list, I want to return to the art of slowing down, pulling out a book to relax into a space of discovery. In addition to my art books share on Patreon, I’ve committed to reading at least one book a week, be it fiction, non-fiction, YA, thrillers, self-help, etc.  I’m already 5 books into 2020! I’ve decided to share these personal reads on my Instagram under the hashtag #bethanysyearofbooks – follow along and send me any book recommendations you have!

xoxo,

Bethany