A list of art books that will inspire

Browse through our shared collection of books that we love. Some are for inspiration, some for exploring techniques, and others contain practical guidance for navigating the art world.

The Artist Way ~ Julia Camron
One of the first books Pamela read when she started to create, a must read.

The Artnotes Collection ~ Tara Leaver @taraleaver
One of Pamela's favorites. Tara is a lovely artist who is very intuitive.

Steal Like an Artist ~ Austin Kleon @austinkleon
A great read if you want to build a more creative life.

Colorflow ~ Ivy Newport
A beautiful book of color palettes/inspirations with gorgeous reference images.

One Color a Day ~ Courtney Cerruti
This book is for all watercolorists, a place where you can experiment with mixing colors on the pages provided.

1500 Color Mixing Recipes ~ William F. Powell
A must have for all artists whether you’re and oil painter, acrylic painter or watercolor artist this will help with all your color mixing struggles.

Mauds Journey A Life from Art ~ Maud Morgan
Maud shares her autobiography that inspires everyone.

Art and Fear ~ David Bayles & Ted Orland
Written in 1993 It asks you the tough questions about your art.

The Artists Mentor Ian Jackman ~ Ian Jackman
More of a concentration on an artist’s inspiration rather than how to.

The Daily Book of Art ~ Walter Foster
365 readings that teach, inspire & entertain, gives us information on artists and exercises to do.

Draw Like Da Vinci ~ Susan Dorothea White
Learn how Da Vinci draws, thinks, approaches his subject matter, then incorporate his formula into your own works, full of information and exercises.

The Human Figure in Motion ~ Eadweard Muybridge
1955 - Close  to  5000  photos  of humans in motion (undressed). it's an amazing source book for virtually any pose you'd need for a reference.

I'd Rather be in the Studio ~ Alyson B. Stanfield
Ria's most dog-eared book! Spending time in the studio is all most of want to do. This book shares self-promotion ideas which is a must, especially in today's market.

Living the Artists Life ~ Paul Dorrell
Practical resources for artists covering the many hoops to jump through in an artist's life.

The Illustrators Bible ~ Rob Howard (illustrator)
Tips, tricks and time saving techniques in all mediums.

Business and Legal Forms for Illustrators ~ Tad Crawford
Step-by-step instructions and advice on negotiating a contract for use of work. Ria has found this beneficial in creating contracts for clients seeking commercial use of her work.

Painting Brilliant Skies and Water in Pastel ~ Liz Haywood-Sullivan
Beautifully illustrated book about bringing life to water and skies in pastel.

Pastel School~ Hazel Harrison
A practical guide to the use of pastels covering the full range of techniques for both the beginner and seasoned artist.

Painting Classic Portraits ~ Luanna Luconi Winner
Techniques for achieving accurate facial shapes and proportions with demonstrations. Luanna covers every step of the process in a variety of mediums.

The Encyclopedia of Pastel Techniques ~ Judy Martin
A practical a-z directory of useful pastel techniques. Contains illustrations of each technique that was applied by professional artists.