Guest Post: 15 Books to Spark Your Creative Inspiration

Today I’m pleased to bring you a guest post courtesy of ShowFlipper. If you’re not familiar, ShowFlipper is, in its own words, an Online Art Gallery. But don’t think you automatically know what that means. It’s much more than what you’re probably thinking… “We are artists, writers, musicians and software developers. Call us an odd bunch if you may but we have a passion, and that is to make Showflipper the best Online Art Gallery . Do not be mistaken to consider art just a painting. We are a platform for the artist, writers, musicians, designers, jewelers, knitters and basically any artists who wish to showcase their talent. This Online Art Gallery is to promote and sell creations online. Our online art platform will help artists, writer’s musicians, jewelers to earn money and give them an international exposure.” So check out their thoughts on inspiration AND their site for some of your own!

15 Books to Spark Your Creative Inspiration
Creative inspiration is occasionally hard to find, but reading right is one of the surest ways to let one facilitate the same. A book could change the frame of mind, inspire, motivate, develop a liking towards something or may even let one overcome a state of fatigue.
Let’s have a look at 15 of the best books for creativity that work in more ways than one!

1. Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles between Vision & Reality – Scott Belsky
It is often believed that when one is in the quest for creativity, it is one’s own grit and determination that enables one to light up the very first spark towards creativity in its true format.

The book by Scott Belsky takes the concept of selfhelp further. As one finds a plan in place to gather his thoughts, one can figure out ways to take his ideas to realization time and again.

2. The Laws of Simplicity – John Maeda
This is a must read book if one is into graphic designing, and may even work towards making art business smoother for one. The book talks of the ten very basic laws of simple designs which enable an artist figure out the right balance between simplicity and complexity in his creations.

John Meda is professor at MIT Media Lab and also one of the top graphic designers in the world.​

3. Steal like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You about Being Creative – Austin Kleon

The book by Austin Cleon promotes a wonderful idea. There is little left to be done in the world around us and all that can be done has already been done. It’s just a matter of presenting the information in a context that makes it easier for the reader to understand.

One’s own flair and creativity makes all the difference to your work.

4. The War of Art – Steven Pressfield

The War of Art addresses the challenges that artists often come across in the lives and in the way they work. It addresses the ruts that a person tends to get into and how should one address the same.

The author puts forth this as a war which can be won through determination and hard work – Success over time comes as a byproduct of the work.

5. How to Be a Graphic Designer without Losing Your Soul – Adrian Shaughnessy

A cool book for graphic designers which is fun, an interesting read and may offer a lot for someone who has a genuine interest in graphic
designing.

Adrian Shaughnessy has years of experience behind him as a graphic designer and interviews a whole lot of perspective candidates. The book has some fine practical advice that can be useful for anyone who intends to embark on a creative career.​

6. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

The book discusses a unique concept wherein we come across an idea that is sure to succeed. One great idea is followed by the next, but we
never come to realize our potential and always feel that we are far from delivering the performance which is optimum.

With the book, one can figure out ways to make sure that time works for one.

7. Manage Your Day-to-Day – Jocelyn Glei

A fine book that gives one some excellent advise from the finest creative minds in the world, including Seth Godin, Professor Cal Newport and Gretchen Rubin. This talks of ways to put up a routine that infuses it with maximum of productivity, such that you find most time, energy and resources for creativity.

8. Hello World: Where Design Meets Life – Alice Rawsthorn

The book is a delight to read and takes the reader through a compressed history of design! It talks of how designs have influenced the world and vice versa.

9. The Book of Doing – Allison Arden​

This is an exciting piece of work that talks of how to deal with those tough times wherein the mind finds difficult to focus and the urge to create does not manage to find the outlet intended.

With the book, one can figure out ways to get the mind instantly back on track, with an influx of ideas that let one create with the right frame of mind.

10. Art Before Breakfast: A Zillion Ways to be More Creative No Matter How Busy You Are – Danny Gregory

The book is more generic; it speaks of art, creativity, and is meant especially for someone who finds it difficult to figure out time to
unleash his creativity.

It is all about some practical ideas that work towards better creativity for one.

11. Creativity, Inc. – Ed Catmull

This is going to be a very interesting read for graphic designers and artists as well! Ed Catmull is the head of Pixar, probably the world’s finest animation studios which has churned out movies such as Finding Nemo and Toy Story.

One of the key themes behind the book is how Pixar enables the best of creativity for its artists, designers, animators, writers and programmers.

12. The Doodle Revolution: Unlock the Power to Think Differently – Sunni Brown
We all know of doodles which have been marketed as creative themes. This is the doodle revolution which peps up one’s creative skills to the max.

13. The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain – Betty Edwards

This is a revised version of the book and based on the latest of neuroscientific research. The author talks about why we feel the urge to
draw, and the reasons why this could be an excellent tools for artists and professionals alike.

It even discusses ways in which drawing could work as a mean to express oneself or even act as a problem solving tool.

14. Stimulated!: Habits to Spark Your Creative Genius at Work – Andrew Pek & Jeannine McGlade

One invariably comes across times wherein one feels that creativity is difficult to find. These are ways to ensure that the creative juices set into motion afresh.

15. Story – Robert McKee

The book, nevertheless about screenwriting is the one of the finest reads for any creative artist.

This talks of ways that one could break a story into components, before building it up all afresh.

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