Listmania!
Art books for the artist
The Impact of Modern PaintsThe Impact of Modern Paints by Jo Crook
Buy used from: £19.75
Fascinating history of acrylic paints
Chihuly at the Royal Botanic Gardens, KewChihuly at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew by Dale Chihuly
Buy new: £16.38 / Used from: £13.09
Just seen this work at Kew - and it's truely amazing. Sensitive and inspiring.
Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market 2005 (Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market)Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market 2005 (Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market)
Buy new: £15.99 / Used from: £0.91
Invaluable resource if you're aiming for the US galleries
Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2005 2005Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2005 2005
Buy new: £13.99 / Used from: £0.01
Invaluable resource for UK artists
The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques: Fifth Edition, Revised and UpdatedThe Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques: Fifth Edition, Revised and Updated by Ralph Mayer
Buy used from: £23.33
Again on the geeky side, but my well-worn copy never leaves the studio
Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of ColourBright Earth: Art and the Invention of Colour by P Ball
Buy used from: £10.03
Tracing the history and discovery of pigments - and how it affected how artists worked (and work now!)
How Pictures WorkHow Pictures Work by Molly Garrett Bang
Buy used from: £8.58
Wonderfully fun and simple reminder of composition 'rules'
Design and FormDesign and Form by Johannes Itten
Buy new: £21.54 / Used from: £35.64
Itten on design and form - the lessons he gave his students
The Elements of Color: A Treatise on the Color System of Johannes Itten, Based on His Book "The Art of Color"The Elements of Color: A Treatise on the Color System of Johannes Itten, Based on His Book "The Art of Color" by Johannes Itten
Buy new: £20.25 / Used from: £16.60
Itten on color, I remember this from childhood
The Human Figure in MotionThe Human Figure in Motion by Eadweard Muybridge
Buy new: £20.61 / Used from: £15.12
Great copyright-free source for human images if you don't have a model
Colour: A Workshop for Artists and DesignersColour: A Workshop for Artists and Designers by David Hornung
Buy new: £10.16 / Used from: £8.99
Quite simply one of the best basic colour theory text and lessons I've seen
Composition: A Series of Exercises in Art Structure for the Use of Students and TeachersComposition: A Series of Exercises in Art Structure for the Use of Students and Teachers by AW Dow
Buy new: £24.21 / Used from: £32.47
A composition book certainly 'of its time' but very very good