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Art Books
70
items This list contains a variety of different arty books from how to draw books, to graphic design and 3D printing. There's something for everyone on this list.
Sections
6
Art
Graphic Design
3D Printing
Digital Art
Crochet
Photography
Art
I have gathered a selection of art books that I believe may be beneficial to you. From how to draw books to curing creative block.
Looking for art prompts to get you started on your creative journey? Or maybe you have artists block and don't know what to create? I would recommend this!
365 Days of Art by Lorna Scobie | Waterstones
This book is an illustrated journey into the artistic possibilities of modern design. If you like visuals in a book I would certainly recommend this!
Design as Art by Bruno Munari | Waterstones
This book explores how art, and our views on it, have evolved over the years.
Art by Laurie Schneider Adams | Waterstones
This is a beginners guide on how to paint using watercolour, acrylic and oil paints. It goes through various different techniques and different subjects of painting for example: landscapes, still life, flowers, people, animals and so much more.
How to Paint by Angela Gair, Ian Sidaway | Waterstones
This book provides insights and practical tools for readers to cultivate an inspired, sustainable art career.
Create Your Art Career by Rhonda Schaller
This book teaches art and design principles with references to contemporary digital art alongside digital tools and processes in Adobe Creative Cloud. It addresses the growing trend of compressing design fundamentals and design software into the same...
Foundations of Digital Art and Design with Adobe Creative Cloud a book by Xtine Burrough.
This is the first Austin Kleon books that I read. Once I read this book I HAD to read his other books “Keep going” and “Steal like an artist” This book encourages you to show your work no matter what it is, how big or small, just share your creative ...
Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon | Waterstones
This book encourages you to keep going as an artist. I would recommend this as it is a good book to read when you're not feeling very creative.
Keep Going by Austin Kleon | Waterstones
This book teaches people that nothing you see is original, so embrace influence, school yourself through the work of others, remix and reimagine to discover your own path. Follow interests wherever they take you-what feels like a hobby may turn into ...
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon | Waterstones
This book helps you rediscover your creativity. This book tries to help you understand digital arts drawing and painting better, starting from the foundation. With a tablet, computer, or phone and a stylus, you are on your way to creating and collect...
Rediscovering Our Creative Mind: Digital Arts Drawing and Painting with Viktor a book by Viktor Rheims.
The ability to use imagination and envision future needs is crucial in art, design and architecture. Future thinking and making require imagination and capability to create narratives for near and far futures and the capacity to compose proposals to ...
Studio Time: Future Fictions in Art and Design a book by Jan Boelen.
This book is an essential source for graphic designers, artists, interior designers, fashion designers, illustrators and creatives of any kind who work with colour.
The Colour Bible: The definitive guide to colour in art and design a book by Laura Perryman.
This book guides readers in uncovering problems and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to open up opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
The Artist's Way: Luxury Hardback Edition a book by Julia Cameron.
Who doesn't love minecraft? This is a step by step guide on how to draw all things minecraft related.
Minecraft How to Draw by Mojang AB | Waterstones
Who doesn't love cute things? This book teaches the style kawaii which is all things cute. This book is more aimed at drawing animals rather than random objects so if you like to draw animals I would definitely recommend this book!
Kawaii: How to Draw Really Cute Animals by Angela Nguyen | Waterstones
This one's for the Pokemon lovers. With the help of this book you can learn how to draw all of your favourite Pokemon characters in an easy step by step format.
POKEMON: How to Draw by Pokémon | Waterstones
Who doesn't love cute things? This book teaches the style kawaii which is all things cute.
Kawaii: How to Draw Really Cute Stuff by Angela Nguyen | Waterstones
This book is an easy step by step guide on how to draw monsters.
How To Draw by Michael Blackmore | Waterstones
Who doesn't love Disney? This book has step by step instructions on how to draw over 20 of your favourite Disney characters.
Disney How to Draw Animals by Walt Disney | Waterstones
This book begins with step by step instructions and then builds up to more challenging projects, it is packed with practical activities and techniques, including how to draw lines, shade, sketch, and trace.
How to Draw by DK | Waterstones
This is a practical book that teaches aspiring artists how to draw the most popular topic such as: landscapes, people, buildings, still life and portraits.
How to Draw by Ian Sidaway, Susie Hodge | Waterstones
This book teaches you how to draw cute animals such as household pets to wild animals using a step by step method. You start by using simple shapes such as circles, rectangles, squares and ovals and transform them into a variety of creatures.
How to Draw: Animals by Eva Dutton, Polly Pinder | Waterstones
This is a beginners guide on how to paint using watercolour, acrylic and oil paints. It goes through various different techniques and different subjects of painting for example: landscapes, still life, flowers, people, animals and so much more.
How to Paint by Angela Gair, Ian Sidaway | Waterstones
I would recommend this book to restore your creativity and pull yourself through your artist block. You can do this!
Unleashing the Artist within: Breaking Through Blocks and Restoring Creative Purpose a book by Eric Maisel.
Graphic Design
Here is a collection of graphic deisgn books that I have collected for you.
This book is based on typography. Inside this book you will find the science and the art behind how fonts make you feel and influence you. It explains why certain fonts or styles evoke particular experiences and associations. Fonts have different per...
Why Fonts Matter: a multisensory analysis of typography and its influence from graphic designer and academic Sarah Hyndman a book by Sarah Hyndman.
This is a fun and interactive book that is beautifully designed to demonstrate how typography, signage, posters and branding work with the use of puzzles and visual challenges.
Graphic Design Play Book: An Exploration of Visual Thinking a book by Sophie Cure and Aurelien Farina.
This book helps you to understand how grid systems work and
Grid Systems in Graphic Design: A Visual Communication Manual for Graphic Designers, Typographers and Three Dimensional Designer a book by Josef Mulller-Brockmann.
I know the title of the book doesn't sound very advertising. However, this book is like having your own little mentor in graphic design who will help you come up with ideas, develop your concepts, and implement them in a way that is engaging and humo...
Know Your Onions: Graphic Design a book by Drew de Soto.
This book is helpful for designers that have just graduated and are looking at getting a job in the creative industry. With sections covering education, portfolios, jobs/freelancing, working process, and personal development, this straight-talking, f...
Oh Sh*t... What Now?: Honest Advice for New Graphic Designers a book by Craig Oldham.
This book is aimed at logo design. This book is a practical guide on creating effective logos and branding.
Principles of Logo Design: A Practical Guide to Creating Effective Signs, Symbols, and Icons a book by George Bokhua.
This is the book that actually helped me come up with the logo for my business, Seasonal Sapphire. This book is gives you all the different types of logos and even shows you visual examples of logos that you see every day such as: McDonalds, KFC, Dis...
Logo, revised edition a book by Michael Evamy.
The catalog is divided into four design categories: Pictorial, Form, Effect, and Typographic. Each chapter is then systematically subdivided according to basic elements of design such as circle, line, overlap, and outline, thus offering a new perspec...
Logo Beginnings a book by , Müller, Jens.
This book is a celebration of the world of letters, The Typographic Universe features more than 300 examples of unusual letterforms, either created from non-traditional materials or found in unexpected places.
The Typographic Universe: Letterforms Found in Nature, the Built World and Human Imagination a book by Steven Heller and Gail Anderson.
Just My Type is not just a font book, but a book of stories. About how Helvetica and Comic Sans took over the world.
Just My Type: The original and best book about fonts a book by Simon Garfield.
This book is an essential source for graphic designers, artists, interior designers, fashion designers, illustrators and creatives of any kind who work with colour.
The Colour Bible: The definitive guide to colour in art and design a book by Laura Perryman.
Through the turbulent passage of time, graphic design—with its vivid, neat synthesis of image and idea—has distilled the spirit of each age. Surrounding us every minute of every day, from minimalist packaging to colorful adverts, smart environmental ...
The History of Graphic Design. 40th Ed. a book by Jens Muller and Julius Wiedemann.
Students, entrepreneurs, community groups, social media influencers, bloggers or campaigners: this practical guide is for you, and everyone else who wants to learn how to communicate visually, combining the building blocks of type, photography, illus...
Graphic Design For Everyone: Understand the Building Blocks so You can Do It Yourself a book by Cath Caldwell.
This book explores breadth of activity that graphic design encompasses today.
How to use graphic design to sell things, explain things, make things look better, make people laugh, make people cry, and (ever a book by Michael Bierut.
This book explores the foundational graphic design book for students, Lupton and Phillips explore the formal elements of design through visual demonstrations and concise commentary. From logos to letterhead to complex website design, this is a graphi...
Graphic Design: The New Basics, revised and expanded a book by Ellen Lupton.
This book explores a variety of different techniques to stimulate fresh thinking to arrive at compelling and viable solutions. Each approach is explained with a brief narrative text followed by a variety of visual demonstrations and case studies.
Graphic Design Thinking: Beyond Brainstorming a book by Ellen Lupton.
Grids are the most basic and essential forms in graphic design—and they can be the most rigid. This book shows you how to understand the rules of the grid to use them effectively, and then how to break them, resulting in phenomenal cohesive layouts.
Making and Breaking the Grid, Second Edition, Updated and Expanded: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop a book by Timothy Samara.
This was one of the books on the reading list when I started university many moons ago. This is one of two books in ‘Design in Context’, a vital new series that focuses on the needs of contemporary students of graphic design.
Graphic Design Theory a book by Meredith Davis.
This book explores 365 daily design mantras from four leading industry experts, providing you with valuable design dos and don'ts for every day of year. Packed with practical advice presented in a fun, lighthearted fashion, this is the perfect book f...
Graphic Design Rules: 365 Essential Design Dos and Don'ts a book by Peter Dawson, John Foster, Tony Seddon, et al.
This is another book on Graphic Design that was on the reading list for university. This book explores a documentary history begins with the poster and goes on to chart the development of word and image in brochures and magazines, advertising, corpor...
Graphic Design: A Concise History a book by Richard Hollis.
3D Printing
These are some 3d printing books that I have collected for you.
I’m thrilled to share my very own book on 3D printing—packed with tips, tools, and inspiration for makers of all levels!
From File to Finish:: A Complete 3D Printing Guide
This book is more aimed at children. However, that doesn't mean that it can't be useful for adults too!
3D Printing and Maker Lab for Kids: Volume 22 Create Amazing Projects with CAD Design and STEAM Ideas (Lab for Kids) by Eldrid Sequeira | WHSmith
I would recommend this book as it will give you tips, advice and inspiration, followed by 20 3D design projects to 3D model and print. All the projects have a short introduction, followed by a 2D drawings with dimensions, as well as some screenshots to guide you through the 3D modeling process.
3D Printing Projects. 20 Design Projects for Your 3D Printer a book by Kevin Koekkkoek.
This book covers how 3D printing is already shaking up the industry, and where it’s likely to go next.
3D Printing Design: Additive Manufacturing and the Materials Revolution a book by Francis (Digital Arts and Humanities Research Center at Pratt Institute and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Architect.
This book might be aimed at making masks. However, it shows how you can go from a 2d sketch on a page to a 3d design. Also some of the techniques used in this book might be helpful.
Mask Making Techniques: Creating 3-D Characters from 2-D Designs for Theatre, Cosplay, Film, and TV a book by Mary C. (Professor of Costume Design, West Virginia University.) McClung.
Blender is the 3D design software that I use to create my 3D models. This book can help you learn the basics of Blender such as: learning the interface, sculpting, modelling, rigging, texturing and rendering.
Blender 3D By Example: A project-based guide to learning the latest Blender 3D, EEVEE rendering engine, and Grease Pencil, 2nd E a book by Oscar Baechler and Xury Greer.
This book is helpful for learning a variety of different model building tools and methods. It also looks at presenting design ideas, including models, paraline drawings, and perspective drawings.
Studio Companion Series 3D Design Basics a book by Donna (Kansas State University) Fullmer.
You don't need any design experience in design. All you need is this book! Through a series of tutorials and case studies, this book gives you the techniques to turn a product idea into a 3D model ready for 3D printing.
Design for 3D Printing a book by Samuel Bernier, Bertier Luyt, and Tatiana Reinhard.
Blender is a FREE 3D design software that is available for you to download. This book goes through the fundamentals of working with 3D, this thorough tutorial book will help you piece together a skill set that will have you creating stunning 3D chara...
Beginner's Guide to Creating Characters in Blender by 3dtotal Publishing | WHSmith
Want to learn about character rigging in Blender? Look no further! This book will help you understand how to rig your characters ready for animation.
3D Character Rigging in Blender: Bring your characters to life through rigging and make them animation-ready by Jaime Kelly | WHSmith
Digital Art
These books are all digital art related that I have collected for you.
You might be interested in digital art history. I would certainly recommend this!
Digital Art History: v. 1 by Trish Cashen, Anna Bentkowska-Kafel | Waterstones
You might be interested in digital art history. I would certainly recommend this!
Digital Art History: v. 1 by Trish Cashen, Anna Bentkowska-Kafel | Waterstones
Wanting to learn how to use but don't know where to start? I would suggest this! This book talks you through all the techniques and tools on Procreate in the first half of the book and then the second half is tutorials on how to use the techniques yo...
Beginner's Guide to Digital Painting in Procreate: How to Create Art on an iPad® a book by 3dtotal Publishing.
Rather than a manual this book encourages you to play, make mistakes and seek out your own way of using the procreate app. I would recommend this book as you are making art and learning at the same time.
The Illustrator's Guide to Procreate: How to Make Digital Art on Your iPad a book by Ruth Burrows.
This book teaches art and design principles with references to contemporary digital art alongside digital tools and processes in Adobe Creative Cloud. It addresses the growing trend of compressing design fundamentals and design software into the same...
Foundations of Digital Art and Design with Adobe Creative Cloud a book by Xtine Burrough.
Delve into digital painting techniques with this book. This book will help you develop your digital painting skills with the help of online tutorials. I would recommend this.
Digital Painting Techniques: Practical Techniques of Digital Art Masters a book by 3dtotal.Com.
This is the perfect tool to practice digital art. I use procreate a lot for my work
Procreate – Art is for everyone.
This book is aimed at mashing the creativity of photography and digital art together. This book shows a variety of hands-on and software techniques that can transform conventional photos. I would recommend this if you would like to experiment with di...
Digital Photo Art by Theresa Airey | Waterstones
A new history of digital art from the 1960s to the present day, with decade-by-decade essays exploring evolving digital art practices, alongside interviews with artists, gallerists, museum curators and collectors.
Digital Art (Victoria and Albert Museum) by Pita Arreola, Corinna Gardner | Waterstones
Crochet
I have collected some crochet books for you if your are looking at learning how to crochet or just looking for different techniques.
This book contains 500 designs ranging from traditional patterns to original motifs and crocheters of every level will find essential information and inspiration on every page. Each design features a close-up colour photograph, a diagram showing each...
The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs Volume 1 by Linda P. Schapper | Waterstones
This book has collected absolutely everything you need to know about crochet. Even if you've never held a crochet hook before, this practise book will help you pick up basic crochet stitches. Soon enough, you'll be ready to show off your skills with ...
A Little Course in Crochet by DK | Waterstones
This book is by the author of the best-selling Amigurumi Christmas book, Sarah-Jane Hicks. This book contains 20 different designs of flowers to create through crochet.
All-New Twenty to Make: Flowers to Crochet by Sarah-Jane Hicks | Waterstones
Photography
I have collected some interesting photography books in this section.
This book is ideal for users of phone, mirrorless and DSLR cameras, the book is split into six sections, covering composition, exposure, light, lenses and the art of seeing and feeling. Thought-provoking images by iconic photographers serve to illust...
Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs by Henry Carroll | Waterstones
Susan Sontag's groundbreaking critique of photography asks forceful questions about the moral and aesthetic issues surrounding this art form. Photographs are everywhere, and the 'insatiability of the photographing eye' has profoundly altered our rela...
On Photography by Susan Sontag | Waterstones
Created by expert professional photographer Michael Freeman, this convenient book is divided into the four essential areas for photographers to understand; the exposure, light & lighting, composition and editing. It's quick and easy to refer to i...
The Photography Bible by Michael Freeman | Waterstones
This commemorative portfolio displays all the 100 pictures awarded in the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, together with the stories of what they reveal and how they were created.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 34 by Natural History Museum, Keith Wilson | Waterstones