6 Art Books That Fuel My Painting Process: And How I Use Them!

If there's one thing I've learned in my art journey, it's that books aren't just beautiful objects to collect (although I do love how they look on my shelves—and yes, I'm still dreaming of that library room with the big comfy chair and ladder! ).

These books are my creative companions—I use them as reference guides, sources of inspiration, and jumping-off points for developing ideas in my sketchbooks. If you're like me and love books too, I thought it might be helpful to share some of my favourites with you!

Why Do I Use Books and How?

There are so many wonderful reasons books have become essential to my art practice!

• For creative sparks - When starting a new collection, I'll curl up with a flower book until something catches my eye, leading me straight to my sketchbook!

• Breaking through the "messy middle" - When something isn't working, leafing through my colour books helps me refine a palette or change direction completely.

• Playtime in my sketchbooks - I LOVE using books for creative play! I can paint directly from them, then have fun changing colours and adding patterns—building skills with zero pressure!

• Problem-solving stuck paintings - When a painting needs that special "something," my books offer just the right pattern, colour combination, or compositional tweak!

• Building colour confidence - Books have boosted my fearless use of colour! I find a palette I love, match it with my paints, then create small sketches—growing my colour-mixing muscle with every experiment!

My Creative Book Categories

I've split my collection into 3 categories that are important to my art practice: Flowers, Colour, and Pattern. These three elements dance together in my paintings, so it makes perfect sense that my reference books reflect these same passions!

Let's Start with Flowers!

'Flora': Inside the Secret World of Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

This book is a true work of art—the images are simply spectacular! Those stunning close-ups of floral centres and plant details perfectly complement my art practice where I love to balance intricate details with loose brushstrokes. The section on leaves and stems has been especially valuable, igniting my love for patterns that I incorporate into my paintings.

'Color me Floral': Stunning Monochromatic Arrangements by Kiana Underwood

This gorgeous book focuses on floral compositions by colour story! Though intended for florists, it's perfect for developing painting compositions and colour palettes. I love how it's organized by seasons, which always influences my painting practice. The way it incorporates foliage to bring arrangements to life is something I'm always striving to capture in my paintings!

Moving on to Colour!

'Palette Perfect': Color Combinations Inspired by Fashion, Art & Style by Lauren Wager

I absolutely love this book! It beautifully combines colour theory, emotion, and art. The book focuses on colour palettes organized by how they make you feel—'fresh', 'romantic', 'playful' and more! Each section offers brief insights about the colours and their emotional impact, followed by gorgeous pages of colour combinations with inspiring images.

'Spectrum': Heritage Patterns and Colours by Thames & Hudson V&A

This amazing book has inspired me to keep my own colour palette swatch sketchbook! It breaks down the colour palette within each historical image, traveling through time from the 15th Century to the present day. The art history geek in me adores the historical context provided for each painting—like getting a mini art history lesson alongside gorgeous colour inspiration!

And lastly on to Pattern!

'The Pattern Sourcebook' by Drusilla Cole

This wonderful book houses hundreds of years of classic patterns across a wide variety of styles and art movements! It's filled with patterns from wallpapers, ceramics, furniture, and art. I find this book constantly inspiring my mark-making, colour choices, and how I include patterns in my paintings.

'Print, Pattern & Nature' by Bowie Style

This gorgeous book is packed with bright surface design patterns featuring all my favourite things—florals, leaves, birds, butterflies, and trees! With 430 full-colour illustrations from designers around the world, it guides my mark-making and linework. The stunning colour combinations throughout are endlessly inspiring!

Bringing Art Books to Life in Your Practice

I hope sharing my favourite art books has inspired you to explore how these wonderful resources might fuel your own creative process! Maybe take a look through your own art book collection with fresh eyes—you might discover treasures you've forgotten about that could spark new ideas in your work!

My number one tip for getting the most from art books is to actively use them! Sketch from them, try out techniques, and develop ideas in your sketchbooks. The magic happens when these beautiful resources become dog-eared and well-loved from regular use.

I'd love to know which books inspire your creative practice, let me know in the comments, I'm always on the lookout for more books (yes its an obsession😂)!

Whether you're building your collection or looking for that next perfect addition, I hope these recommendations spark some ideas for your own creative library.

Happy creating (and reading)!

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