Summer Reading
In this corner of the world (Southern California), it’s summertime and the living is - as they say - easy. I hope you’ve had the chance to soak in some relaxation and pleasant weather, wherever you happen to be.
Growing up in the United States, my childhood summer seasons frequently meant a break from school. To keep kids learning, libraries opened their doors to offer summer reading programs. I was one of the first youngsters in line, heck bent on reading as many new and classic titles as I could muster.
Adulthood packs a wallop. For many of us, summers are no longer synonymous with vacation. Suddenly, there’s no “free reading” time structured into our work days (at best, we sandwich some in during lunch). We become trained to be hard-working, high-achievers with a laserlike focus on practicality and production. In fact, when I mentor adult artists and creatives and suggest book titles, many immediately approach this as homework.
How many pages should I read?
When should I finish this one?
Should I read everything ever written by this author?
My question for you is: when did you last pick up a book that you found interesting and inspiring? A book that would help fuel your creative work? And, when was the last time this reading felt enjoyable (and not like homework)?
In honor of the summertime library reading programs of my childhood, I bring you a list of recommended art and creativity-related how-tos, go-tos, educational, and enjoyable reads -- straight from my bookshelf. Enjoy!
Creatives of All Stripes:
The Vein of Gold by Julia Cameron
Most of us are well aware of Cameron’s off-the-charts successful The Artist’s Way, which helps readers of all backgrounds and interests reclaim their creative work. The Vein of Gold follows a similar format and employs the same tools (Morning Pages, Artist Dates). It also enables you to do deeper creative recovery work. I’m especially fond of the first section -- tapping into and sketching out your autobiography!
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
What I enjoy most about Big Magic is that it doesn’t sugarcoat a creative life, nor does it imply that a creative life is hopeless and should be abandoned for a more practical, mainstream career path. Instead, Gilbert clearly describes that when we embark on a creative life and creative work, we have to be open to letting go of the outcomes. She redefines success, especially in artistic realms, as not by measures of outward accolades. Big Magic guides us to not live our lives by fears and doubts, instead, to create lives propelled by our curiosities and the stories we yearn to tell.
Other Favorite Creativity Titles:
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The War of Art: Break Through Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life by Sharon Louden
For Visual Artists:
Interaction of Color: 50th Anniversary Edition by Josef Albers
I’ll never forget that day in undergraduate printmaking class. The spring semester was winding down, and the almost-summer heat radiated through the studio’s open windows. Our class sat in clusters of chairs, fanning ourselves with scraps of used newsprint, trying our best to critique each other's work.
My turn came, and I don’t remember what was said about my prints (never my preferred discipline), but how the professor wrapped up the discussion of my work, “And of course, Erin uses an intuitive sense of color.”
I sat utterly silent. Stunned. I do? I had tried to purchase every color theory book I could find, but they all seemed so formulaic (and made my head hurt!) -- chart after chart, swatch after swatch.
Enter Albers’ Interaction of Color. Harmony. Humidity. Vibrating boundaries. You’ll never look at color the same way again.
Making Handmade Books: 100 Bindings, Structures & Forms by Alisa Golden
If you’ve never experimented with or learned about making artist’s books, you’re in for a true treat. Unlike mass market books, an artist’s book can run the gamut from being filled with images and poetic musings, to having unique shapes such as tea bags, origami flowers, accordion fans, and more.
I first purchased Making Handmade Books in 2014 and revisit it time and again for ideas, along with clear step-by-step directions for the most complicated types of folds and bindings. I’ve found that handmade books are a great way to create miniature, portable art portfolios, as well as document recent exhibitions or performances. Plus, they’re pure fun!
Image of “Scrapbooking Scrap Scrapek Method” by jankosmowski on Pixabay.
Rethinking Acrylic: Radical Solutions for Exploiting the World’s Most Versatile Medium by Patti Brady
I first encountered this book in 2012, and I return to it again and again to sharpen my skills with acrylic painting. What sets Rethinking Acrylic apart from other books on painting I’ve read is the emphasis on experimentation and abstraction, all while pushing acrylic painting techniques and materials to their limits. If you use your acrylic paints primarily like oils, or if you’ve never tried working with gel mediums, acrylic photo transfers, and mixed media, this book will expand your artwork into new, fresh vistas. In fact, this book was one of the catalysts to create this series of highly textured acrylic paintings.
Other Favorite Visual Art Titles:
Art as Experience by John Dewey
Art/Work: Everything You Need to Know (and Do) as You Pursue Your Art Career by Heather Bhandari and Jonathan Melber
The Artist’s Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions by Lynn Basa
Do you have a favorite title not mentioned on this list? Did you read one of these recommended books? What did you think? Hit reply and let me know!
My very best wishes,