Recommendations based on The Art Spiritby Robert Henri

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils

    by David Bayles
    A guide for artists on how to overcome the fears and doubts that come with creating art and how to persevere through the creative process.

    "This is a book about making art. Ordinary art. Ordinary art means something like: all art not made by Mozart. After all, art is rarely made by Mozart-like people; essentially-statistically ... (Goodreads)

  2. Concerning the Spiritual in Art

    by Wassily Kandinsky
    A philosophical examination of the spiritual and creative power of art.

    A pioneering work in the movement to free art from its traditional bonds to material reality, this book is one of the most important documents in the history of modern art. Written by the famous ... (Goodreads)

  3. The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

    by Betty Edwards
    Exploring creativity through the science of art, unlocking the power of the right side of the brain.

    When Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain was first published in 1979, it hit the New York Times bestseller list within two weeks and stayed there for more than a year. In 1989, when Dr. Betty ... (Goodreads)

  4. Dear Theo

    by Vincent van Gogh
    Autobiographical letters from the artist to his brother, chronicling his struggles with poverty and mental illness.

    Each night, Vincent van Gogh put pen to paper and poured out his heart through letters to his brother Theo. Van Gogh's letters lay bare his deepest feelings, as well as his everyday concerns and his ... (Goodreads)

  5. Frida Kahlo: 1907-1954 Pain and Passion

    by Andrea Kettenmann
    A comprehensive biography of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, exploring her life, art, and enduring legacy.

    Suffering and the female experience, The Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, (1907-1954) is one of the most important 20th century painters, and one of the few Latin American artists to have achieved a ... (Barnes & Noble)

  6. Letters to a Young Poet

    by Rainer Maria Rilke
    Uplifting and inspiring words of wisdom, encouraging a young poet to find his own artistic voice.

    In 1903, a student at a military academy sent some of his verses to a well-known Austrian poet, requesting an assessment of their value. The older artist, Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926), replied to ... (Goodreads)

  7. The Lives of the Artists

    by Giorgio Vasari
    A collection of biographies of Italian Renaissance artists, revealing their lives, works, and techniques.

    Packed with facts, attributions, and entertaining anecdotes about his contemporaries, Giorgio Vasari's collection of biographical accounts also presents a highly influential theory of the development ... (Goodreads)

  8. Vincent Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings

    by Rainer Metzger
    A comprehensive collection of Vincent Van Gogh's paintings, showcasing his unique style and artistic evolution.

    Van Gogh, who took up a variety of professions before becoming an artist, was a solitary, despairing and self-destructive man. This richly illustrated and expert study follows the artist from the ... (Goodreads)

  9. The Story of Art

    by E.H. Gombrich
    Comprehensive overview of art history, from prehistoric to modern times.

    The Story of Art, one of the most famous and popular books on art ever written, has been a world bestseller for over four decades. Attracted by the simplicity and clarity of his writing, readers of ... (Goodreads)

  10. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art

    by Scott McCloud
    Exploration of the visual language of comics and its role in storytelling.

    Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics is a seminal examination of comics art: its rich history, surprising technical components, and major cultural significance. Explore the secret world between the ... (Goodreads)

  11. The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle

    by Steven Pressfield
    A guide to overcoming procrastination and other inner obstacles to unleash creativity.

    A succinct, engaging, and practical guide for succeeding in any creative sphere,, The War of, Art, is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul. What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? ... (Barnes & Noble)

  12. The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris

    by David McCullough
    Story of the American artists, writers, scientists, and others who flocked to Paris in the 19th century, searching for inspiration and creativity.

    The Greater Journey is the enthralling, inspiring - and until now, untold - story of the adventurous American artists, writers, doctors, politicians, architects, and others of high aspiration who set ... (Goodreads)

  13. Edvard Munch: 1863-1944

    by Ulrich Bischoff
    A comprehensive overview of the life and works of Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, known for his emotionally charged and expressionistic art.

    For Edvard Munch (1863-1944), painting was an act of self-liberation. His treatments of fear, desperation, and death still exert a powerful visual and psychological effect on modern viewers. Of all ... (Goodreads)

  14. Andy Goldsworthy: A Collaboration with Nature

    by Andy Goldsworthy
    Exploring nature through art, and the beauty of the environment.

    Illustrates outdoor sculptures created with a range of natural materials, including snow, ice, leaves, rock, clay, stones, feathers, and twigs. ... (Goodreads)

  15. Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo

    by Hayden Herrera
    The story of a passionate, revolutionary and pioneering Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo.

    Hailed by readers and critics across the country, this engrossing biography of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo reveals a woman of extreme magnetism and originality, an artist whose sensual vibrancy came ... (Goodreads)

  16. Tao Te Ching

    by Lao Tzu
    A collection of wise sayings and reflections on the nature of existence.

    A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition. Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching , or -The Classic of ... (Goodreads)

  17. Leonardo's Notebooks

    by Leonardo da Vinci
    A collection of writings and drawings exploring the mind of a genius inventor.

    Leonardo's Notebooks, is a biography of the genius in his own words, connecting moments of his life to artistic accomplishments through his writings, drawings, and intimate thoughts. Leonardo da ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. The Shock of the New

    by Robert Hughes
    A critical analysis of modern art and its evolution from the Industrial Revolution to the present day.

    A beautifully illustrated hundred-year history of modern art, from cubism to pop and avant-garde. More than 250 color photos. ... (Goodreads)

  19. Art Through the Ages

    by Helen Gardner
    Comprehensive survey of art history, from prehistoric times to modern day. Includes analysis of major works and movements.

    The market-leading text for the art history survey course, GARDNER'S ART THROUGH THE AGES has served as a comprehensive and thoughtfully crafted guide to the defining phases of the world's artistic ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

    by Julia Cameron
    Exploring the power of the creative spirit and unlocking the potential of the inner artist.

    The Artist’s Way is the seminal book on the subject of creativity. An international bestseller, millions of readers have found it to be an invaluable guide to living the artist’s life. Still as vital ... (Goodreads)

  21. Dali

    by Robert Descharnes
    A comprehensive biography of the surrealist artist Salvador Dali, exploring his life, art, and eccentricities.

    This publication presents in 2 volumes in a box the entire painted oeuvre of Salvadore Dali (1904-1989). After many years of research, Robert Descharnes and Gilles Neret finally located all the ... (Goodreads)

  22. Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice

    by Shunryu Suzuki
    A guide to Zen meditation and philosophy, exploring the power of mindfulness and introspection.

    “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a ... (Goodreads)

  23. Seven Days in the Art World

    by Sarah Thornton
    An inside look at the contemporary art world, exploring its various facets and players.

    A fly-on-the-wall account of the smart and strange subcultures that make, trade, curate, collect, and hype contemporary art., The art market has been booming. Museum attendance is surging. More ... (Barnes & Noble)

  24. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

    by Elizabeth Gilbert
    Overcoming the fear of creativity and living an inspired life.

    Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Gilbert offers insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us ... (Goodreads)

  25. Gustav Klimt: 1862-1918

    by Gilles Néret
    A comprehensive overview of Klimt's life, work, and influence on the art world.

    Cult of pleasure: Feminine sensuality by the Vienna Secession's greatest proponent Gustav Klimt's ornate, sensual, and decadent style made him not only the most prominent of the Vienna Secessionists ... (Goodreads)

  26. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

    by Eckhart Tolle
    A spiritual guide to finding peace and purpose in life, by transcending the ego.

    The highly anticipated follow-up to the 2,000,000 copy bestselling inspirational book, "The Power of Now" With his bestselling spiritual guide "The Power of Now," Eckhart Tolle inspired millions of ... (Goodreads)

  27. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work

    by Mason Currey
    Examining the daily lives of 161 famous artists, uncovering their creative rituals and habits.

    Franz Kafka, frustrated with his living quarters and day job, wrote in a letter to Felice Bauer in 1912, “time is short, my strength is limited, the office is a horror, the apartment is noisy, and if ... (Goodreads)

  28. Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity

    by David Lynch
    Exploration of the creative process through meditation and mindfulness.

    Where do ideas come from? In Catching the Big Fish , internationally acclaimed filmmaker David Lynch provides a rare window into his methods as an artist, his personal working style, and the immense ... (Goodreads)

  29. Games People Play

    by Eric Berne
    A psychological exploration of the ways people interact, creating meaningful relationships.

    We think we’re relating to other people–but actually we’re all playing games. Forty years ago, Games People Play revolutionized our understanding of what really goes on during our most basic social ... (Goodreads)

  30. The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone

    by Olivia Laing
    A journey through the art world exploring themes of urban loneliness and creative connection.

    Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism, ,#1 Book of the Year from Brain Pickings,, Named a best book of the year by NPR,, Newsweek, Slate, Pop Sugar,, Marie Claire,, Elle, ... (Barnes & Noble)