Four Inspiring Books for a Creative Life: Nonfiction Edition
Stacked books on my desk along with three miniature oil paintings soon to be listed for auction.
Books That Shape My Creative Life
If you’ve spent any time with my art, or in my home, you already know how much I love books. They are scattered across my shelves and tucked into every quiet corner, including in my my paintings, whether as symbolic details, companions for my animals, or simply because they carry a kind of magic all their own. Books ground me in place, connect me to nature, and spark the little threads of inspiration that weave their way into my creative practice.
Today I want to share a few nonfiction books that have deeply influenced my work recently. Each one feels like sitting down with a wise friend over a cup of tea, offering lessons in beauty, ecology, creativity, and enchantment.
Morning tea, journaling, and inspirational reading. Nothing better prepares me for a creative day.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Robin Wall Kimmerer, a botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, blends Indigenous wisdom with scientific knowledge in this luminous collection of essays. I couldn’t put it down! She reminds us that plants are not just resources but teachers and kin.
“All flourishing is mutual.”
That line stays with me. It’s not only a lesson for gardening and living, it’s also a lesson for creating art.
Three ways Braiding Sweetgrass inspires my art practice:
Reciprocity – approaching painting as a gift exchange, not a transaction.
Attention – slowing down to notice small details in plants and animals.
Gratitude – weaving appreciation for the natural world into every brushstroke.
(Here you could insert an image of one of your paintings that includes flowers, plants, or books—something that feels connected to reciprocity and nature.)
Look how lovely this hardback edition of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer is. A beautiful book inside and out.
The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws
John Muir Laws has a way of teaching observation that feels both practical and wonder-filled. His book asks us to approach drawing like a conversation with the natural world, guided by three simple questions:
What do I notice?
Why is it this way?
How might it change?
By practicing his techniques, my art, especially when painting animals and plants, feels more alive. I become not just an artist looking at a subject, but a participant in its story.
(Here you could link to your shop page with a painting of an animal surrounded by plants, showing how observation informs your work.)
The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws is an amazing resource for both new and experienced creatives wanting to connect more deeply with nature and the world around them through art and journal keeping.
I only have three of the six Library of Esoterica - Plant Magic, Witchcraft, and Astrology, but plan to complete the entire collection. They’re that good when seeking inspiration.
The Library of Esoterica (Taschen)
This series is a feast for the eyes. Taschen’s beautifully bound books explore witchcraft, astrology, tarot, plant magic, and sacred spaces, weaving together imagery from paintings, sculpture, film stills, and historic manuscripts.
These volumes are not just about knowledge, they’re about atmosphere. When I leaf through their pages, I feel drawn into a world where feminine mystery, magic, and art all overlap. They remind me that art can hold ritual, that color and symbolism can create spells as surely as words can.
(Here would be a perfect place to feature an ad or photo of one of your more “witchy” paintings—perhaps your raven, owl, or fox works—inviting readers into that mood.)
Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway
Toby Hemenway’s book on permaculture is both practical and deeply hopeful. He offers a vision of gardens as living ecosystems, where humans and nature thrive together.
“A garden is a community of relationships.”
This truth feels especially important as we navigate the realities of climate change. For me, it brings comfort and inspiration, reminding me that every painting of a flower, bird, or forest path is a way of honoring those relationships.
Three ways Gaia’s Garden inspires my art:
Domesticity + Wildness – exploring the edges where gardens meet wilderness.
Cycles – observing seasonal shifts that echo in my creative rhythm.
Hope – creating art that helps us imagine a gentler, greener future.
Gaia’s Garden is a must read for anyone with an interest in gardening. Imagine if everyone converted their yards using this model?
Cozy Reading, Creative Living
Books are more than reference points, they’re companions in my art and life. They infuse my work with story, remind me of what matters, and invite me to keep living slowly, intentionally, and beautifully.
If you’d like to keep wandering with me through books, paintings, gardens, and quiet seasonal magic, I’d love for you to join my Collector’s List. As a member, you’ll receive:
Cozy, weekly blog posts
First looks at new originals and print releases
Collector only discounts and giveaways
An intimate peek into my studio and process
And if one of these books has stirred something in you, I invite you to visit my shop and see how these ideas take form within the art.
With a cup of tea in hand and a book nearby, may we all keep creating lives that feel as magical and alive as the pages we turn.
