Sometimes words of inspiration, encouragement or advice from people you admire, or who influence your creative work in one way or another, are just what may be needed to lift you out of a slump, ignite an idea, or give you a nudge (or sometimes a much needed push!) in a new direction. While the internet is full of tutorials on anything and everything, and podcasts are always only a click away, nothing beats being able to delve into the pages of a book that you can savour at your leisure, devour in one sitting or return to for second helpings! I’ve chosen a few of my favourite reference books that you might like to add to your shelves if you’re curious about creativity or feel in need of a little inspiration! Happy reading!
‘Find your Artistic Voice’ by Lisa Congdon
I first discovered best-selling author, artist and illustrator, Lisa Congdon, via Instagram when I stumbled across one of her signature colourful, hand-lettered drawings. I immediately loved Lisa’s vibrant work and the thought provoking range of creative life matters that she discussed in her posts. So I was very much looking forward to reading her latest book, ‘Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic’. Just three months after its release earlier this year, this inspiring and informative book was going into its fifth print run! And I’m not surprised! I devoured the contents in a couple of days and have gone back for several second helpings! As well as Lisa’s words and bold and brilliant illustrations, you’ll find interviews with established and professional creatives, from all walks of life, who talk about starting, developing and maintaining a creative life and finding their ‘artistic’ identity. I particularly love the illustration at the start of Chapter Three- a highly relatable summary of the often bumpy, not-always-easy-to-navigate pathway that we venture along as we follow our creative callings. Definitely one to add to your collection, whether you’re an established artist, or someone just trying to figure out where to start!
You can find Lisa on Instagram @lisacongdon
‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron
I’d picked up and flicked through this internationally acclaimed best-seller so many times at my local bookshop but, for one reason or another, just never got around to buying it. It eventually came to me as a birthday gift from a dear friend and has since provided me with so much insight about overcoming creative blocks, dealing with unproductive thought processes, such as fear, self-doubt and comparison, and making the creative process part of my everyday routine. The book is set out as a 12-week course with exercises, tasks and checklists to complete as part of each chapter. Writing daily ‘Morning Pages’ is an exercise that Julia introduces in the very first chapter- and one that she regards as an essential, non-negotiable part of your creative tool kit. I can see myself dipping back into this book as my creative skills and interests evolve over time and at any stage that I’m feeling ‘stuck’. My recommendation with this one is to grab a copy, be prepared to do the work and take your time to really absorb the lessons in each chapter. It’s not a book to devour- but more one to savour then go back for second and possibly third helpings!
You can find Julia on Instagram @juliacameraonlive
‘Conscious Creativity’ by Philippa Stanton
I love everything about this gorgeous book- including the paper its printed on! The words, the photography and the daily practices, ideas and methods that Philippa, a professional artist and teacher, recommends to ignite your creativity make for a beautiful and inspirational reference. The book focuses on how to unlock your creative potential using all your senses and encourages you to observe the world around you for creative influences and ideas. Photography lovers will be inspired by Philippa’s gorgeous flat lays of everyday objects and vintage items as well as images of her favourite things (especially telephone booths!). She also offers plenty of practical tips about working with elements like texture, colour, light and shadow. I was immersed in this book for days and felt completely inspired when I’d finished it. The smorgasbord of exercises, prompts and tools in these pages will take your creativity to a whole new level so don’t hesitate to buy this one if you come across it at your local bookstore.
You can find Philippa on Instagram @5ftinf
‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert
This book and its best-selling author probably don’t need an introduction- both are internationally acclaimed and loved by many worldwide! So I will start by saying that ‘Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear’ is another one of those inspirational, thought provoking books that I devoured in the first sitting then went back for several second helpings! Reading this is like having an in-depth conversation with Elizabeth over a glass of wine about the often magical and mysterious aspects of creativity. Elizabeth uses stories from her personal and professional life to talk about creativity and inspiration: where they come from; how they arrive; how to welcome and work with them; and how to deal with creative fears and blocks. Essentially, this book encourages you to surrender to the creative process, work hard, persist and also enjoy and accept all the highs and many lows (because they’re just part of the process!) that you’ll experience along the way. I came away from this book with a renewed curiosity about creativity, inspiration and influences. Whenever I feel a bit “wobbly” about my creative ventures, I return to my well thumbed copy, with its turned up edges at pages that have inspired me in some way, and dive back in for a serve of reassurance, or sometimes a reminder to stop worrying and just get on with things! Immerse yourself in this book and enjoy the magic!
You can find Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabeth_gilbert_writer
‘Hashtag Authentic’ by Sara Tasker
This visually beautiful hard-cover book is so much more than a ‘how-to’ manual about taking photos for Instagram- although Sara’s dreamy images and photography tips will certainly provide you with plenty of inspiration! The creator of the hugely popular @me_and_orla Instagram account and Hashtag Authentic podcast, Sara gathers together her personal and professional stories and best advice about everything Instagram including, content creation, caption writing, hashtags, using the Stories feature, community engagement and dealing with the ups-and-downs of ‘follower’ and ‘like’ numbers. But what makes this book stand apart from others covering the same topics, is that along the way Sara explores topics such as juggling burnout, work / life balance, overcoming perfectionism, the importance of recording day-to-day moments and tuning in to your own creativity. This is an ideal book for anyone interested in the art of ‘visual storytelling’, improving their social media photography, or using the Instagram app to build a creative profile. This one gets a double tap of ‘likes’ from me!
You can find Sara on Instagram @me_and _orla
I hope you enjoy these recommendations!
Happy reading!