Art History Book

If you are an artist who needs a little inspiration, you may want to look at an art history book instead of waiting for your fickle muse to visit. There are few things more inspiring than the classic masters of art. We are fortunate to have a long, rich past when it comes to paintings, sculpture and drawings as well as innovative modern inspirations.

A good art history book is not difficult to find because there are so many out there with so much to offer. After studying just a few pages from one of these great books you will find yourself ready to create.

Any artist will tell you that creativity comes and goes. While many of us work as commissioned artists, we often struggle to get ourselves into the creative mode. Looking at an art history book is a good start to getting the creative juices flowing.

Art has evolved greatly over time. Perceptions change and styles change with the generations. Some may consider looking at an art history book as “cheating” because the artist is influenced by others who have gone before him. However, the art history book is a source of inspiration. The artist celebrates creativity in general. The process is not one of taking a style and using it. The process is one of moving the mind to an inspired mood.

Some creative types talk about the muse. I don’t really believe in muses (I say really because I can’t be sure and I don’t want to be skipped). The creative process is tricky and sometime elusive to many of us. We often have to work at becoming motivated and we also have to work on becoming inspired. Using an art history book can help an artist find his motivation and his inspiration in one fell swoop.

There are many art history books out there and choosing may be a little difficult. I have several of the texts lying around the house for quick inspirational access. My favorite art history book covers artists from ancient civilizations to the modern era. By “modern” I mean the 1930’s. I am amazed by how much art has changed over the centuries while maintaining core elements.

Another art history book that has me coming back for regular visits is “The Optical Illusions of Salvador Dali”. He is one of my favorite artists of all time. His surreal perspective is dream-like and his ability to make several images emerge and disappear in his paintings is amazing to me. You will never find a trace of his work in any of my drawings but he is a great source of inspiration as any art history book is.