I just treated myself to The Work of Art, a new book full of interviews with contemporary artists working in many genres, from Sondheim to Kara Walker to Twyla Tharp. Every interview focuses on the practice of making art. A fabulous book ( plenty of photos of journals, notes, sketches) that I will be diving into again and again.
Amazing - I did see this book recently come across some feed or post or store somewhere because I recognize the cover. Looks like a great addition to your library. It’s this one, right? : The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing https://a.co/d/1Dt52xK
Thank you for all of these new recs! Anything by Lynda Barry gets me to stop thinking about myself and to start making marks on a page. I have used her exercises with my students (who typically have no interest in art and are convinced they cannot draw) to great success. It was her books that gave me the courage to start sketching, to stop criticizing my page and practice true*observation*.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful books! Especially Edith Holden and Auntie Theresa's Mother's Diary--how special! I too am obsessed with Maira Kalman (my friend got me the chapbook of Women Holding--SIGNED--for my bday!). I also regularly revisit Lauren Redniss's beautiful books.
Oh Sara Midda... I have In & Out of the Garden, her Baby Book (which inspired me to hand draw my own for my baby) and TWO old copies of her South of France Sketchbook, none of which I'll ever let go of... thank you for reminding me to pull them out again!!
I have an unused South of France diary that I cant bear to write in. I am usually not like that with books, but at this point its a collectors item, so I leave it pristine on the shelves. I love her work so much!
I could never write in her baby book either but also I couldn't NOT buy it (I also bought it like five years before becoming a mom so it was literally just for the sketches)!
I enjoyed painting the stack of book las week with you. I bought a copy of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady in the 1980s. It is still fasinating to browse her pages. I also found a drawing kit, "learn to darw NATURE in the style of The Edwardian Lady". That's fun to draw her style
I love your painted books! And thank you so much for posting the Derwent replay. I had signed up but could not attend live. Can't wait to watch and give it a try!
I may have posted the photos in the wrong area! I love The Art Of Vogue ..Covers 1909-1940 by William Packer as well as 100 Years of Fashion Illustration by Cally Blackman ..they are wonderful for color inspiration and so much more!
Ooh yes, a book of Vogue covers must be so inspiring! And 100 years of fashion illustration sounds like a great one to have. I am looking for both now!
First I have to say thank you for that "Shepherd" book list. I discovered the Secret Lives of Color, and I had to buy it after borrowing from my library. I just love the history and stories about the colors! Thank you! Other books I love so much - Van Gogh The Complete Paintings, American Impressionism, a book titled simply Canaletto (it strikes me he was the original urban sketcher...what do you think?) and several books on Tasha Tudor - photos of her living old-fashioned so beautifully; Robert Bateman's animal paintings, and I cannot ever see myself letting go of my Draw Your Day/World books. I love them. My entire artbook library is too large to mention, but these are examples.
Your reading list makes sense. You're a visual artist and feed your soul and work with visual books. As a writer, I enjoy novels on a fairly regular basis. I take a break during my morning chores to read a few pages each day. There are people who only read tech or business journals, but they too are feeding their souls and work. We are living in a lucky age when so much is available to nourish us intellectually. Thank you for this lovely post.
I just treated myself to The Work of Art, a new book full of interviews with contemporary artists working in many genres, from Sondheim to Kara Walker to Twyla Tharp. Every interview focuses on the practice of making art. A fabulous book ( plenty of photos of journals, notes, sketches) that I will be diving into again and again.
Amazing - I did see this book recently come across some feed or post or store somewhere because I recognize the cover. Looks like a great addition to your library. It’s this one, right? : The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing https://a.co/d/1Dt52xK
Yes! Worth adding to your wishlist.
Thank you for all of these new recs! Anything by Lynda Barry gets me to stop thinking about myself and to start making marks on a page. I have used her exercises with my students (who typically have no interest in art and are convinced they cannot draw) to great success. It was her books that gave me the courage to start sketching, to stop criticizing my page and practice true*observation*.
A great addition. Love Lynda Barry’s work. Thanks for the reminder!
I've had a similar experience with Lynda Barry--for myself and for my students!
Thanks for sharing these wonderful books! Especially Edith Holden and Auntie Theresa's Mother's Diary--how special! I too am obsessed with Maira Kalman (my friend got me the chapbook of Women Holding--SIGNED--for my bday!). I also regularly revisit Lauren Redniss's beautiful books.
You’re welcome! The diary I discovered could be a whole post of its own. It’s truly fascinating. I will look up Lauren Redniss.
Oh Sara Midda... I have In & Out of the Garden, her Baby Book (which inspired me to hand draw my own for my baby) and TWO old copies of her South of France Sketchbook, none of which I'll ever let go of... thank you for reminding me to pull them out again!!
I have an unused South of France diary that I cant bear to write in. I am usually not like that with books, but at this point its a collectors item, so I leave it pristine on the shelves. I love her work so much!
I could never write in her baby book either but also I couldn't NOT buy it (I also bought it like five years before becoming a mom so it was literally just for the sketches)!
Love your work and illustrations.
FYI, you have a duplicate link for
In the City: Drawings by Nigel Peake and In the Wilds: Drawings by Nigel Peake
thank you, and thank you for notifying me of the error! You are the first to let me know of that mistake. It is fixed now with this link: https://www.nigelpeake.com/books/2011/in-the-wilds/
I enjoyed painting the stack of book las week with you. I bought a copy of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady in the 1980s. It is still fasinating to browse her pages. I also found a drawing kit, "learn to darw NATURE in the style of The Edwardian Lady". That's fun to draw her style
Oh I didn’t know there was a drawing kit. Off to google that now!
I love your painted books! And thank you so much for posting the Derwent replay. I had signed up but could not attend live. Can't wait to watch and give it a try!
Thank you, Amy! I hope you enjoy the class, too.
I may have posted the photos in the wrong area! I love The Art Of Vogue ..Covers 1909-1940 by William Packer as well as 100 Years of Fashion Illustration by Cally Blackman ..they are wonderful for color inspiration and so much more!
Ooh yes, a book of Vogue covers must be so inspiring! And 100 years of fashion illustration sounds like a great one to have. I am looking for both now!
Love this list, thanks Sam.
I just treated myself to Women Holding Things.
Colour by Victoria Finlay is one of my favourites.
I also love the diary by Edith Holden and I offer many time to friends. And I love « a long way to freedom » by Nelson Mandela. Michel
That diary you found!!!! Oh my what a treasure!
First I have to say thank you for that "Shepherd" book list. I discovered the Secret Lives of Color, and I had to buy it after borrowing from my library. I just love the history and stories about the colors! Thank you! Other books I love so much - Van Gogh The Complete Paintings, American Impressionism, a book titled simply Canaletto (it strikes me he was the original urban sketcher...what do you think?) and several books on Tasha Tudor - photos of her living old-fashioned so beautifully; Robert Bateman's animal paintings, and I cannot ever see myself letting go of my Draw Your Day/World books. I love them. My entire artbook library is too large to mention, but these are examples.
Your reading list makes sense. You're a visual artist and feed your soul and work with visual books. As a writer, I enjoy novels on a fairly regular basis. I take a break during my morning chores to read a few pages each day. There are people who only read tech or business journals, but they too are feeding their souls and work. We are living in a lucky age when so much is available to nourish us intellectually. Thank you for this lovely post.