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Artists' Favourite Art Books

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What's Your Favourite Art Book?

These are the favourite art books of people who read my blog - as suggested in January 2009. Readers were asked: (1) Do you have a favourite art book? (What is is it and why?) and (2) Is there one book which had a huge impact on you and your work?

I've added in those books which I've identified as top art books in 2010 and 2011

Read my blog posts (below) to find out more about what people have had to say about learning using art instruction books and which are their favourite art books - across drawing and sketching, colour and painting using acrylics, watercolour and oil.
* Art Instruction Books #1: different ways of learning
* Art Books #2 - the economics of publishing
* Your favourite art books - what you like

You can find out about...

Making A Mark - looks at art instruction books

These are links to the reviews of the state of the art book market and the publishing industry in 2009

Making a Mark: Art Instruction Books #1: different ways of learning: my post today looks at art books and the curse of the 'five easy steps' mentality.

What follows today and tomorrow are some thoughts on:

* the way people learn
* the way people learn about art
* the nature of instruction available in art books and
* the economy of publishing.
Making a Mark: Art Books #2 - the economics of publishing: Following on from Art Instruction Books #1: different ways of learning in this post I'm aiming to ponder and reflect on the economic of publishing and its influence on content.
Making a Mark: Your favourite art books - what you like: This is for people who read art instruction books and those who write and publish them. Plus any would-be authors out there. It's grown out of the views expressed about art instruction books in the comments made on two posts last week
Making a Mark: What sort of art book is missing from our bookshelves?: I've been asking what sort of art book is missing from our bookshelves. You've been volunteering your comments and views about which are the published books you like and what sort of book you would like to see on your shelves - if it were available.
Making a Mark: Favourite Art Books - Resources for Artists: In January, this blog looked at art instruction books and you were invited to nominate your favourite art book - which lots of you did and then some!

Favourite Art Books

I now monitor the trends in favourite books and new publications of art books on a monthly basis

Makingamark's Top 10 Fine Art Books tracks the best-selling and the top rated art books each month across different categories of art books

Favourite Books about DRAWING AND SKETCHING

books on Amazon

More recommended drawing books

These resources between them provide a comprehensive overview of drawing books for aspiring fine artists - and those just wanting to learn how to draw.

Favourite Books about COLOUR

books from Amazon

Making Color Sing, 25th Anniversary Edition by Jeanne Dobie

Practical Lessons in Color and Design

If you want the bang up to date version of Jeanne Dobie's highly recommended book (see above) this is it.

It also includes an updated listing of paint colours - revised for present day knowledge about lightfastness (see also http://www.jeannedobie.com/palette.html)

Published in paperback in January 2011 - and hence not available when my original survey was done

Making Color Sing, 25th Anniversary Edition: Practical Lessons in Color and Design

by: Jeanne Dobie

Amazon Price: $13.58 (as of 02/17/2012)
List Price: $21.99

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Color and Light by James Gurney

A Guide for the Realist Painter

Ranked #1 in the Top 100 Painting Books - BEFORE it is published on the strength of pre-publication sales.

Published in November 2010, this has become a best selling and top rated book on Amazon. It's become one of the top rated art books for sale today

Amazon reviews: 5.0 out of 5 stars (63 customer reviews) | Like (136)

James Gurney's art instruction book published last year was excellent. I also followed the development of the material for this book on his blog and knew that this book was going to become a very important book about colour

I was then sent a review copy - and it is indeed a very informative and helpful book - here's my book review Book Review: Color and Light by James Gurney

Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter

by: James Gurney

Amazon Price: $15.66 (as of 02/17/2012)
List Price: $24.99

Usually ships in 24 hours

More recommended books about colour

Fvaourite Books about being a CREATIVE ARTIST

Favourite Books About DRAWING PEOPLE

Questions about art instruction books

You're invited to leave your thoughts as a comment (see the end)

Art Instruction books are supposed to help people learn. So - here are some things to think about:

* Is it possible to become an artist just by reading books?
* Can you really learn all you need to know from books?
* Do art instruction books help to make it easier to become an artist?
* Can art instruction books - which show art as a simple step by step process - make it possible to speed up the process of learning how to make art?

Favourite Books about ACRYLIC PAINTING

Popular books about botanical art

Favourite Books about WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

watercolor books on Amazon

Favourite Books about OIL PAINTING

The Best Books about Painting

The Art Book Habits of Other Artists

Greywaren Art: Thoughts on Book-Buying: Maggie Stiefvater on buying art books

Then there's the useful art books!

How to find a good art bookshop

Making a Mark reviews......

a consumer's guide to quality and value in art books, art supplies and services to artists

Read reviews about art books, art supplies and other products and services used by artists.

This blog highlights:
- book reviews (art instruction and art history)
- reviews of art media, art materials and art equipment
- reviews of places where you buy (art shops, online art suppliers and art bookshops)
- reviews of other products or services used by artists
- summaries of good quality and relevant reviews by other practising artists

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Making A Mark

Artist and author Katherine Tyrrell draws and writes about art for artists and art lovers.

Topics include: artists, art exhibitions, art blogs; art history; art techniques and tips; art business and marketing; art economy and making a mark with pastels, coloured pencils and pen and ink.

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John_Michael Nov 28, 2011 @ 12:37 pm | delete

A fine presentation of some great information

Reply

Feb 19, 2009 @ 2:34 pm | delete

this is just a great resource, there are so many books out there it does get hard to pick the right one, this is a great guide.

Reply

makingamark Feb 16, 2009 @ 7:51 pm | delete

Thanks Shirley. I think I'll probably do an annual review of favourite art books each January in future.

Reply

Shirley Feb 13, 2009 @ 6:54 am | delete

... some more information

Experimental and mixed media ideas.

Karlyn Holman - Watercolour Fun & Free - Pub: Bayfield Street Publishing Inc.
(Difficult to get in UK - Karlyn has a website. I rang her in the US & bought a copy direct - signed! Well worth it!)
Karlyn Holman - Searching for the Artist within - Pub: North Light?

Books by the late John Blockley are now difficult to get but worth seeking out. His daughter, Ann Blockley runs courses and has published (mostly) flower painting books, but has some wonderful information about watercolour effects and a loose style - like father, like daughter!

Ann Blockley - Flower Painting through the Seasons - Pub: Collins
(may have been renamed, but dont have information)
Ann Blockley - Watercolour Textures - Pub: Collins
she has also written a paperback (poss Collins) on painting wild flowers.

Also:
Frank Webb - The Artist's Guide to Composition - Pub:David & Charles

Hope these help!

Shirley
Wstow E17

Reply

Shirley Feb 13, 2009 @ 5:25 am | delete

Kathryn - Somehow I missed your post requesting book ideas, but hope these are not too late... Please get in touch if you need more information on any of these books.

I was taught (Art Course as part of Teacher Training) by the artist and illustrator of (in particular childrens') books, Doreen Roberts. Recently I discovered she wrote two instructional books which I bought and in whichI recognise much of the material we were taught at college in them:

Doreen Roberts - Drawing Workshop - Pub: Harper Collins
Doreen Roberts - Painting Workshop - Pub: Harper Collins
(not sure if they are still in print but both come up for sale on eBay, which is where I bought them

A brilliant book about colour with a fantastic colour wheel - if you buy one secondhand do make sure the colour wheel is still there!

Stephen Quiller - Color Choices - Pub: Watson Guptill

... more information follows as I have run out of permitted space!

Shirley
Walthamstow, E17

Reply

Treasures-By-Brenda Feb 12, 2009 @ 3:21 pm | delete

If I were an artist, I am sure that this list of great art books would be very helpful!

Brenda

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Who is makingamark?

Making A Mark - Top Books for Artists

resources for artists

by makingamark

makingamark

I'm an artist and author who enjoys sharing information about art. My art blog

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