My Favorite Art & Design Books of 2024
Join me as I highlight a few favorites that inspired me in 2024 (presented in no specific order). This list isn’t about determining the ‘best’ but rather about sharing the books that ignited my creative passion this year while reflecting my interests. It’s challenging to keep up with every new book release, and there will surely be more to discover.
The Book of Colour Concepts
This gorgeous two-set volume was released early this year from Taschen. I’m becoming a bit of a color theory nerd and have a collection of these kinds of books. But this rises above any color theory book I’ve seen before. It begins with the history of color concepts in the 17th century and concludes in the mid-20th century before the digital age. The visuals are stunning, and the collection of essays is remarkable. This book will inspire all types of creatives.
The Artist’s Palette
The Artist’s Palette by Alexandra Loske showcases the palettes behind the paintings of fifty artists. It’s an insightful way to learn about the use of color to see the artists’ color choices through their physical palettes. Some of my favorite painters, like Paul Cezanne, Jonh Singer Sargent, and J.M.W. Turner, are in this collection. Dr. Loske is also a lead author of the Taschen Book of Colour Concepts.
Creative Abstract Watercolor
A new batch of watercolor instruction books gets released every year. And they are all stunning and inspiring – I buy too many of them. But very few showcase abstract styles. Abstract art is not what I gravitate to, but I was looking for new ways to practice that didn’t make me feel like every art piece had to look perfect. Creative Abstract Watercolorby Kate Rebecca Leach guides you through various projects where you can experiment expressively with the payful nature of this medium.
The Calligraphy Book
The Calligraphy Book is authored by Lindsey Bugbee, creator of The Postman’s Knock. I’ve been following Lindsey’s blog for almost 10 years! While looking for ways to practice modern calligraphy, I found her website and discovered her beautiful worksheets. This book offers a good introduction to pointed pen techniques and tons of follow along projects.
The Art and Science of Figure Drawing
Brent Eviston is one of the best drawing instructors online today. I discovered him on Skillshare and was impressed with his high-quality college-level instruction. If you want a solid foundation in drawing fundamentals, his classes and first book, The Art and Science of Drawing, are great for beginners and advanced artists. The Art and Science of Figure Drawing is his second book and once again offers a non-intimidating way to tackle difficult subjects by starting with the fundamentals of drawing simple shapes with more organic forms for figure drawing basics.
The Notebook
The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen is a fascinating history of how the invention of paper and the development of affordable paper created a whole new way of thinking and recording. It’s easy to take for granted how something so commonplace today revolutionized creative thinking in business, the arts, the sciences, and more. I loved the section on the sketchbook, reading how it allowed artists to develop their drawing skills and to draw from life, “sparking an artistic revolution.”
Feel Good Productivity
Feel Good Productivity, by Ali Abdaal, presents a unique way of thinking about productivity and integrating the spirit of play into our lives. Though this is not an art book, it addresses many mindset blocks common to artists of all levels. One section that resonated with me was how we frame our failures, “If we could just frame our learning so that we weren’t so concerned with failure, how much more could we learn?” I like his positive and joyful take on productivity, tapping into what gives us energy and enjoying the journey.
These are just some of the books that expanded my understanding of art techniques and history and offered so much inspiration. I am looking forward to seeing what great releases await in 2025!!
