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Writer's pictureEduardo Lopez

Inspired by Books

As designers, artists, and/or creatives, we are constantly searching for inspiration to fuel our next project. In today’s day and age, it would be a quick reflex to turn to social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and perhaps even TikTok for new ideas, trendy projects, and tutorials. And why not? After all, it’s marketed as a space to connect to different people, ideas, and perspectives, right? Sounds like a creative’s dream resource for inspiration. But what if I told you there was a better place to find inspiration without the countless ads, distractions, and misleading “creative content”?

Hard copy publications like books and magazines.



Before writing this blog post, I never would have considered myself a hard-copy purist, but after compiling a list of the benefits, I can confidently say I am at least an advocate. Hard-copy publications give you direct access to a diversified variety of curated works; not algorithmically-related “creative content.” They provide an art-focused space to think about each of the presented works critically and at the individualized pace of the reader; free from ads, notification pop-ups, and other distractions. While books and magazines may not be free products, you can still flip through the entirety of each entity at a bookstore or local library. But I don’t want this post to berate you about “why social media is bad”; instead, I want it to be a resource to help you get started in looking for some cool publications and share some of the ones I keep in my personal library.


Let's start with books. You’re an artist, which means you nerd out about something. And lucky for you, an “Art of” book probably exists for that niche thing you like. Usually, the title is something along the lines of “The Art of [enter movie title, book series title, video game here].” To give an example, I love Spider-Man and Star Wars. In my personal library, I have the concept art books for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” with the art of Jedi: Fallen Order in my Amazon cart. These are more “concept art” books, which are visual artworks that convey ideas for animation and other forms of media before the project’s full development. Books like this are a great place to get inspiration, dissect composition, and study expression and gesture.



I would recommend adding a book about art history to your personal library. Maybe not a textbook on art history, but something a little more heavy on the visuals that still documents significant art-movement works chronologically would be a surefire goldmine for inspiration. The CMG Art Department recently added "Art: A Visual History" by Robert Cumming to our inspiration library. This book presents art from 30,000 BC to the last 50 years. But you can find “History of [Enter your art industry here]” publications in spades at any physical and online bookstore. Understanding the cultural significance of art/design movements in history can inspire new works that cleverly pay homage or reimagine these historic works with contemporary twists.


Reference books can also be incredibly valuable. For instance, books on logo design, drawing techniques, and color theory provide not only visual inspiration but also technical knowledge. They serve as practical guides that you can refer back to when you’re stuck or looking to improve a specific skill. For example, "Logo Design Love" by David Airey is an excellent resource for understanding the intricacies of creating effective logos, while "Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth" by Andrew Loomis is a classic for mastering the human form.

Switching gears to magazine publications, some of my favorite magazine publications for contemporary artistic/design inspiration are the Communication Arts Annuals. They have several editions for the following industries: illustration, advertising, photography, typography, and interactive design. I love Comm Arts magazines because they don’t have many ads. The bulk of the magazine is exactly what I, as a reader and fellow artist/designer, want to see: other artists’ work.



Magazines like Juxtapoz and Hi-Fructose are also fantastic for discovering contemporary and underground artists. They feature a wide range of styles and mediums, giving you a broad perspective on what’s happening in the art world right now. Juxtapoz, for instance, covers everything from graffiti to digital art, while Hi-Fructose focuses on surreal and imaginative works.


And not just magazines. Essay, poetry, and short story zines are also great. Some are accompanied by cool titles or thumbnail illustrations. They’re also a great place to dissect the publication’s layout grid and paragraph styles. One such publication like this that the CMG Art Department picked up at Barnes and Noble the other day was Comment vol. 42 no. 1. I haven’t started reading the essays yet because I was so taken with the beautifully balanced layout design.


For those interested in fashion and photography, publications like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Aperture Magazine offer a wealth of visual inspiration. These magazines not only showcase the latest trends and works from top photographers and designers but also often delve into the creative processes behind the shoots and designs.


Here is a list of different art-centered printed publications to consider adding to your collection:

  1. Communication Arts Annuals - Various issues for illustration, advertising, photography, typography, and interactive design.

  2. Juxtapoz - Focuses on contemporary art, street art, and underground scenes.

  3. Hi-Fructose - Features surreal, imaginative works from a variety of artists.

  4. Artforum - Covers contemporary art with in-depth articles, reviews, and artist profiles.

  5. Aperture Magazine - A top-tier photography magazine with stunning visuals and insightful articles.

Here is a list of different art-centered publications in mine and CMG’s Art Department library:



In conclusion, while social media channels offer immediacy, accessibility, and a broad reach, art publications provide a level of depth, quality, and context that can significantly enrich an artist's creative inspiration and professional development. The tactile experience of flipping through a book or magazine can never be fully replicated by scrolling on a screen. So next time you’re searching for inspiration, consider taking a break from your devices and diving into the rich, curated world of printed art publications.



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Come across something that inspired you in a book or magazine and ready to start a project? Contact our team today. Let's work together to bring your vision to life and boost your business or venture.


 

Citations:

Images come from "Spiderman: Across the Spider-verse - The Art of the Movie".

The artists for the illustrations are Patrick O'keefe and Tiffany Lam

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