Books Bring Inspiration and Joy (and Support Artists)
How are you holding up? What a week it’s been over here. You, too?
My feelings are up and down. My energy is up and down. I’m giving myself leeway and taking things one day (sometimes one moment) at a time. It’s all we can do, I think.
Escaping into the world of a book always seems to help. Whether it’s the current novel I’m reading (I’ve taken a break from my stack of library books to spend time with Anne Shirley) or an art book or a gardening book, it always leaves me feeling renewed.
Today I want to share some beautiful, independently produced art books that have brought me joy lately. I’m choosing to share self-published books because I think it’s so important to support artists and small businesses right now. With today’s technology it’s easier than ever for an artist or writer to get their book out into the world, which is really pretty magical.
Just this week I received Sara Torbett’s new book. I’ve been reading Sara’s blog, The Rosy Life, for quite a while and was delighted to see she’d written a book filled with her gorgeous photos and art. It is thoughtfully written and beautiful.
Mary Woodin created Conker Press to publish her third book, Drawn to the Country. Her art is wonderful and I find myself returning to this book again and again.
Abigail Halpin’s illustrations are enchanting. Her Sketches and Sundries is filled with pages from her beautiful sketchbooks (do you remember her Sketchbook Conversations post?). While writing this I noticed she’s also created a travel journal from her visit to Ireland.
Like Abigail, Helen Hallows is one of the artists I featured in Sketchbook Conversations. Her mixed media art is richly textured, colorful and joyful. I fell in love with her seasonal sketchbooks and eventually treated myself to a set for my collection. Their small size and square shape are so appealing and every time I open one’s pages, I feel uplifted.
Louise Gale is such an inspiration (go check her out). Her book Botanical Mandalas is beautiful (and hefty!) and filled with inspiration. I haven’t sketched a mandala for a long time, but I’m thinking it might be the perfect sort of meditative art for these strange days.
A lot of independent sewing patterns are produced as digital downloads, but some designers offer print versions that are almost like zines. Ann Wood and Sonya Philip are two who do, but there are many more (have a favorite? Let us know in the comments!).
Although not technically self-published, I’m including the books and magazines created by UPPERCASE publishing in this post because Janine Vangool is practically a one-woman show. There’s no big company behind these publications (and no ads in the magazines).
Subscriptions, book purchases and and pre-orders for books are what funds them. It’s really pretty amazing if you think about it! Janine is so encouraging and supportive of artists of all levels. She has a section in every magazine for people who have never been published before and she features artists in a weekly “all about you” newsletter — you can submit here. Janine has even created a free online community for magazine subscribers called the UPPERCASE Circle. Right now she’s hosting an Artist Trading Card Swap there — hurry if you want to join, the deadline is April 15th.
I know there are so many more artists and writers creating beautiful, inspiring books and publishing them on their own. Have a favorite I haven’t mentioned here (or written one yourself?)? Let me know about it in the comments!
Take good care, my friend.