My Favorite Art and Design Books of 2021

2021 was another great year for art and design books. Despite the infinite resources of inspiration and instruction found online, there’s still nothing like the depth of knowledge and organization of thoughts found in a good book.

I’m sure I missed some good ones, but these are the ones that resonated with me and helped my creative goals for 2021 (in no particular order).

The Art and Science of Drawing by Brent Eviston

If you’re looking to learn the core fundamentals of drawing, I can’t think of a better-organized reference than this one. 

“Drawing is not a talent; it’s a skill anyone can learn.”

Beginners will appreciate the step-by-step instructions with plenty of visuals, and more experienced artists can reference fundamentals and probably learn some new techniques as well.

And if you prefer learning with video lessons, Brent’s drawing classes on Skillshare are fabulous. (This affiliate link offers you a free month of Skillshare).

The New Oil Painting by Kimberly Brooks

I gave up oil painting once I graduated college because of all the toxic materials involved in the process. It never occurred to me that it could be done otherwise, but over the last few years, I’ve become more aware about painters utilizing oil in non-toxic ways.

Kimberly’s book is the first I’ve seen that explores oil painting without using solvents. I still haven’t been able to dive back into oil painting and try out her methods, but I am so glad that the word is getting out more on non-toxic oil painting.

The iPhone Photography Book by Scott Kelby

Our phones are the one camera we always have with us – so why not learn tips from a professional photographer to make better photos?

The book is written in a way where you can pick it for a few minutes at a time and implement what you learned right away. Kelby offers advice on phone settings, editing, file organization, and composition techniques for portraits, landscapes, and travel photos.

The Practical Guide to Design Theory by Lindsay Marsh

his is a gorgeous 200 page PDF available through Lindsay Marsh’s website. It’s a must-have for anyone wanting an overview of the main concepts of graphic design, and because it’s an ebook, you’ll get free updates as she adds to it. I have yet to find anything similar in print from.

I’m a big fan of all her classes; literally taking them is like earning a college degree in graphic design (you can find them on her website or on Skillshare – this affiliate link offers you a free month). 

Nature’s Palette: A Color Reference System from the Natural World by Patrick Baty

This is such a fabulous reference for anyone that loves vintage design, art history, and color theory. It’s based on a color reference system created by a German Geologist, Abraham Gottlob Werner, in the early 1800s called Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours. It was a color catalog used by artists, scientists, and explorers. 

Cezanne: Drawing by Jodi Hauptman

I’ve always been intrigued by and constantly seek out the drawing sections of museums or special exhibits of drawings and sketches. There is something so intimate and raw when looking at how painters sketch. So I am very excited about this new release from MOMA to accompany a recent exhibition of Cezanne’s drawings and watercolors across his career.

Cézanne believed his practice of drawing taught him “to see well.” And looking at his drawings will give you new ways of seeing from a master artist.

If you are interested in watercolor, still life, or sketching in general, do not miss this gem of a book.

Graphic Artist Guild Handbook: Pricing and Ethical Guidelines

A must-have reference for any graphic designer and illustrator, filled with pricing guidelines, contract templates, and best practices. This is also a great resource for exploring the various revenue streams available to graphic designers and is indispensable for freelancers.

The 16th edition was updated this year. This reference is typically updated every 3 years, but I wouldn’t recommend obtaining a previous edition, as this one features many new chapters and much of the content has been reorganized.