Episode 108: Ideas For Your Bookshelf

We talked last time about the role that art-related books play in the lives of artists, and the importance of continuing to educate ourselves in various ways. This week we turn our attention to the specific titles and authors recommended by Rebecca, as well as other artists who weighed in on our Facebook poll asking for input about significant art-related books. Many artists are very passionate about their books and recommendations, which were wide-ranging. Here is the complete list of the titles discussed in the episode: Art History/Art Movement related Kiki’s Paris: Artists and Lovers by Billy Klüver Overlay by Lucy Lippard 3 books about abstraction: Pictures of Nothing (Kirk Varnedie) The Spiritual in Art: Abstract Painting 1890-1985 Kandinsky’s Concerning The Spiritual in Art Contemporary art: My Art World (John Seed) Discovering the LA Art World by John Marcella Grant About or By Specific Artist’s work Ninth Street Women (Mary Gabriel) Artist bios by Ross King and Irving Stone (Agony and the Ecstasy) fictionalized Sean Scully Inner: collected writings and interviews Agnes Martin: Pioneer, Painter, Icon by Henry Martin Several books about Lawrence Carroll who died in 2019, influential abstract sculptor Memoirs: Hold Still by Sally Mann My Life by Isadora Duncan Just Kids by Patti Smith Old in Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over by Nell Painter Daybook by Anne Truit Turn by Anne Truit Prospect by Anne Truit Inspirational Books about Creative Process/Creativity in General The Goldfinch by Donna Tart The Alexandra Quartet by Lawrence Durrell Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott A Gentle Plea for Chaos by Mirabel Osler Creative Habit by Twyla Tharpe Free Play by Steven Nachmanovitch Niamh O’Conner’s YouTube recommendations: -Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland -Letters to a Young Artist: Straight Up Advice for making a Life in the Arts by Anna Smith Deavere. (Also one with the same title by Julia Cameron.) -What Would You Be If by Patricia Fitzgerald. Others also, watch on YouTube. World Enough and Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down by Christian McEwen Trust the Process by Shawn McNiff Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon Brave Intuitive Painting by Flora Bowley Expressive Drawing by Steven Aimone Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edward Other Inspirational Books on Art, Life Dancing With the Gods by Kent Nerbaum The Invisible Embrace of Beauty by John O’Donohue The Unknown Craftsman: A Japanese Insight into Beauty by Soetsu Yanagi Technical Info and Background— Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finey Living Craft: A Painter’s Process by Tad Spurgeon How to Write About Contemporary Art by Gilda Williams Cold Wax Medium: Techniques, Concepts & Conversations by Rebecca Crowell and Jerry McLaughlin This is just a random sample of artists who saw and responded to my Facebook post but hopefully we have given you some ideas for excellent new reading material. Art books especially heavily illustrated ones tend to be expensive, so it’s a good idea to check sources for used books including the used listings on Amazon and other online sources like Abe Books. And of course, it’s great to share your books but put your name inside and check up on the loan before too long—there are many tales of woe of books loaned to other artists that became buried in someone’s messy studio.