7 Art Books that Will Change Your Life
Never Stop Learning
Artists explore, experiment, and studying from art history to color theory, and from master copies to sculpture.
When you meet a good book, it can literary change your point of view and destroy your prejudice.
Here are the 7 books that opened my world.
Artists’ Master Series: Color and Light
This book has everything an artist needs to know whether you are working with oil, watercolor, pastel, or digital. The concept is the same for all.
If you are a beginner, this might be a little too difficult to to absorb all at once. You’ll probably have to read a couple pages and experiment with your media of choice, and then repeat the process until everything sits in you.
However, this book tells you all the “secrets” of how to paint better.
It start with all the theories. Since I’ve been painting several years, it’s more like a reinforcement. If all the information is brand new, please take it slowly. The information in this book is condensed.
In the end of the chapter, there’re digital art and watercolor tutorials, but as I said, the medium doesn’t matter so much as long as you understand the principals of how to make art.
I truly recommend this book to every one who want to paint better or who’s experiencing an artist block. I guarantee you’ll see the view that you’ve never thought you’ll see before. Good luck on your art journey!
2. Sketching: The Basics
This book is for product designers, but I use it for learning perspectives. I’ve read many perspective books, but somehow I can’t see the perspective path without the author’s indication lines, until I met this book.
This book is so clear on the lines not only for buildings ( for me landscape) but also for products (for me still life).
When I paint now, I try to run the imaginary lines in my head just like the author design a product from scratch. It will improve your painting with a clear bone structure, which is essential in painting.
Without understanding the perspective lines, your art will be somewhat distorted. It gives a feeling of something is wrong but don’t know what kind of feeling. Most of the time, the problem comes to your understanding of perspective.
3. Henri Fantin-Latour
This book is a rare find. Most of Henri Fantin-Latour’s books are in French. This one has English translation in the same page.
All the words are from Henri Fantin-Latour’s letters. We can access what he was thinking at the certain year and moment. I found it’s a great value.
After reading the book, you’ll find that he was just like all the artists, struggled, enjoyed, passionated, and pursued art like no other.
It gives me motivation to keep going no matter what. This book is for the mind. No techniques are discussed but worth reading over and over again.
4. Maybe
It’s a children’s book, but adults certainly can enjoy both the story and illustration.
The illustrator pays attention to details to a level beyond the profession. The story is also very inspiring. It’ll open your possibility to infinity.
After reading this book, my heart is full of hope.
Dreaming the future is as broad as your mind can take you.
5. The Human Figure
This book divide the human body by parts and gives you many examples from various angles.
Black white without color, but you don’t need color to understand the basic forms of the complex human body. Simplified yet full of information!
6. Drawing Atelier
Both Figure Drawing Atelier and Beginning Drawing Atelier are created by Juliette Aristides. If you’ve never had a drawing class before, I recommend you to start with the Beginning Drawing Atelier.
Each step is clearly explained . All the artworks are so beautiful even without color. I enjoy the graphite time with the sketching books.
Whenever you are stuck, come back to the simple world yet elegant world. It’ll give you the insight to go on.
7. Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting
The books doesn’t have color, but it doesn’t matter. It’s an extremely well written text.
It summarized the essence of landscape painting. Everything you need to know if in one book.
Although I don’t paint landscapes that often, the principles discussed in this book can be applied to any other types of painting.
In Summary
You will never regret reading those 7 books if you are an enthusiastic artist.
Artists’ Master Series: Color & Light
Sketching The Basics
Henri Fantin-Latour
Maybe
The Human Figure
Figure & Beginning Drawing Atelier
Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting
I teach beginners to master oil painting. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
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Artists explore, experiment, and studying from art history to color theory, and from master copies to sculpture. When you meet a good book, it can literary change your point of view and destroy your prejudice. Here are the 7 books that opened my world.