Art, Creativity + Business Book List

Here are some of the books that I’ve read and re-read as I’ve built my art and business practice. They have inspired me to set the conditions for everyday creativity, to perceive myself as a master crafts-person (rather than the misleading modern idea of an ‘artist’), to understand my clients, and design a business that serves them.

Flow by Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi

This is an iconic text on creativity. It is about how to keep yourself in the zone of creativity. It is also beautifully written.

Leonardo da Vinci by Charles Nicholl

This book reminds me that ‘genius’ and innovation occurs with evergreen curiosity, by doing things, and learning from failure. It also reminds me that artists were highly skilled craftspeople employed on commissioned works. Art was created for spaces humans lived (and worshipped) in rather than for gallery walls. I ran a talk based on this book in Florence a few years ago, which you can read about here.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

This helped me set up the habits I needed for success, including keeping my body fit and my mind on point.

How to Be an Artist by Jerry Saltz

I don’t agree with everything in this book (including that artists need to be poor – that’s a myth that deeply upsets me) but his ideas on how to stretch your art or creative practice are great.

Evocative Style by Kelly Wearstler

Wearstler shares so many examples of how successfully art and interior design can evoke emotions in a space. I love her style and how she built her practice. Wonderful inspiration.

Life with Picasso by Francoise Gilot

Picasso is a mentor-out-of-time for me. Written by an ex-lover and an artist herself, this book outlines Picasso’s ability to change with the times, and keep creating work that was always on the edge and exactly what his clients wanted to buy. It’s also a cracking story.

Lean CX by Dr Robert Dew et al.

This book was written by my husband (and colleagues) and describes how to focus on your customer to discover your competitive advantage. This thinking helped me start and succeed in my business.

Effectuation by Saras Sarasvarthy

The best thinking on entrepreneurship you will find (outside of dinner conversations with our amazing friends). Reading this has led to creating 3 successful businesses so far and continues to inspire me.

The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work by Stephen Kramer and Teresa Amabile

The gurus of organisational creativity from Harvard have some excellent insights for everyone who wants to improve their happiness and creativity at work.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list - I will keep updating this booklist as I think of others you may like to know about.

Please email me with your book recommendations too!

Sarah