I love books. As an artist, this statement may seem counterintuitive for someone who spends most of my days with a paintbrush in hand, but books feed creativity. Even as a child, I loved to curl up with a book, snuggled in my bed, and read for hours. My go-to reading material at the time were the novels of Anne of Green Gables and Nancy Drew series. I felt inspired by these courageous girls who spoke their mind and pushed against society’s stereotypes.
I continued to dive deep into reading fiction as a teenager; my taste in books evolved to the horror novels of Ann Rice, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. In adulthood, I put down the fiction novels and changed genres completely focusing more on non-fiction: biographies, history, artists, and self-improvement.
A professor said to our class once: you must be well-rounded to be an artist. Meaning you must expose your mind to different viewpoints, people, locations, etc. Become a sponge for the information around you. I took this advice seriously and have always pushed myself to learn a new skill, travel to a place that I’ve never been, or meet new people (which is a scary proposition for my shy nature).
The following is a list of my best-loved books. Some are non-art related but have had significant influence on my thinking and perception of the world.
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
I have mentioned this book in prior blog posts, but I cannot promote this book enough for aspirating artists. Originally published in 1992, this book should be a requirement for all artists. Cameron is an expert at helping push aside fear to realize your full potential.
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Wind Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
I only recently discovered this book, and I read the entire book in 24hours. Pressfield does a great job of explaining the invisible force that keeps us all from pursuing our dreams: resistance. His blunt language gets to the heart of fear and provides pragmatic solutions to overcoming resistance.
My Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
Sonya Renee Taylor is not only a great writer, but also a talented orator. This book shatters pre-conceived notions about our body image that affects our relationships, mind and future. Embracing love for yourself is the first step to changing the world, because you cannot pursue your dreams if you can’t stand the person staring back at you in the mirror. I recommend listening to Taylor’s TED talk for inspiration too.
Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery
I was directed to this book for an art commission, and it was one of the best biographies I’ve ever picked up. Ben Montgomery conducted extensive research by interviewing surviving family members and friends to paint the picture of how Emma Gatewood escaped a tough life only to put her life on the line for her dream: walk the Appalachian Trail. Grandma Gatewood proves that it’s never too late - or you are never too old - to pursue your goals.
If you are a human on this planet, you have most likely suffered trauma in your life. Resmaa Menakem explains how trauma in all its forms: intergenerational, historic or current can hinder our lives and manifest into disease and even violence. His book really opened my eyes to many things that I took for granted and how small actions can hurt others. I finished this book with a new level of humility, understanding, and encouragement to be a better person.
I hope that you enjoyed this list. I plan to publish more updates to my book list as I am always reading! Also, please support your local library and remember to give back. Books are more important now than ever.