Top Art Audiobooks Every Artist and Designer Should Listen To

The art and design world constantly changes and evolves, reflecting the ever-shifting reality that shapes visual trends. Our “10 Top Visual Trends For 2024” post highlights what’s hot in the design world, from high-tech visuals in the era of artificial intelligence to emotional elements that touch on the human senses and experiences, the current age influences the designs people enjoy and create.

However, it can be easy to get lost in the changing trends and pressures of the current landscape, so going back to the basics can help you stay grounded and motivated as an artist or designer. Audiobooks can be excellent resources for helping you relearn the fundamentals of your craft, get inspired by other artists’ experiences, or motivate you to pursue your passion. By turning books into audio format, they can provide an easy way for you to absorb new knowledge and information whenever and wherever you want.

Why audiobooks?

Audiobooks have become a popular medium to “read” books by listening to them, offering a convenient way to consume written work. Digital libraries have enabled easy access to thousands of reads across genres and topics, including art and design. The art audiobooks featured on Everand showcase a wide variety of popular and lesser-known titles, from Laura Cumming’s Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death to Create: Tools from Seriously Talented People to Unleash Your Creative Life by Marc Silber. These reads provide unique and valuable insights into the art and act of creating through different approaches. Another great aspect of audiobooks is that you can listen to them anywhere and at any time, making them ideal for artists and designers who multitask often or don’t have much time to sit and read a book. You can get inspired on your commute, while working on your designs, or relaxing at home. Here are some of the top audiobooks to get you started:

Culture: The Story of Us, From Cave Art to K-Pop by Martin Puchner

Many look to the future to get a head start on popular art and design trends, but looking back at the past can help artists connect to the human experience throughout history and how people have evolved as a creative species. Martin Puchner’s Culture takes listeners through revolutionary moments in history and various cultures and how these transcend the art of the times and shape the present. From the written and visual works of ancient history to modern pop culture phenomena, the audiobook explores humanity’s passions, innovations, and pursuit of meaning through various forms of art. It’s a great listen for artists and designers to appreciate history and how humanity and art have evolved over millennia. For extra inspiration, you can listen to it while taking a virtual tour of The Louvre, The British Museum, or The Prado Museum to enrich your experience of learning about art history and art from different cultures.

1000 Words: A Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All-Year Round by Jami Attenberg

Artists and designers know how tough overcoming art block and getting out of a creative slump is. The audiobook by Jami Attenberg is an essential listen for artists and designers who want to stay driven throughout their creative journeys, regardless of the setbacks. It chronicles the author’s struggle with her search for inspiration and her commitment to solving that by writing 1000 words a day for two weeks along with a friend. They shared this practice in Attenberg’s online community, and thousands followed suit with their own experiences of writing 1000 words a day. While the audiobook centers more on writing, its advice and principles can be incredibly valuable for artists and designers looking to break through a rut. It provides a helpful framework for creating art and designing without judgment, bias, or concerns about art or creative block. You may be surprised at where your mind and tools can take you.

Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring by Brad Gooch

Keith Haring has become one of the most celebrated artists of all time; his iconic art has been recognized globally for decades. He was an emblematic figure in the art world of the 1980s, particularly in the New York scene. Though he tragically passed away in 1990, his work has remained timeless and revolutionized how artists sell their art and approach their creative process. Artists and graphic designers can learn more about Keith Haring’s life and art through Brad Gooch’s biography of the artist. Radiant explores how he broke down barriers between high art and popular culture, making it accessible for all. Beyond his eye-catching, unique use of colors and linework influenced by his experience with graffiti, his art drew attention for being used as a means to spark social change. With insights from Keith Haring’s inner circle and access to an extensive archive, Brad Gooch sheds light on the artist’s intriguing and mysterious life and impact in this audiobook.

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