Art Books For Inspiration: Part 1

Hi, it’s been a while since I last shared something here.

Today, I want to talk about one of my favorite things: art books.

Art books are a wonderful source of inspiration, whether you’re an artist or simply someone who enjoys admiring art. There are so many kinds from educational books to movie and animation artbooks, video game concept art, artist compilations and more. I could spend hours just flipping through them.

Over the years, I’ve slowly built up a collection of art books that I love to revisit. Not only do they inspire me, but buying them is also a great way to support the artists behind the work.

This post will be a growing list that I’ll keep updating as I discover more titles. To start, I’d like to share some of my favorite art books for inspiration, especially those filled with beautiful backgrounds and storytelling. If you enjoy that kind of art, I’m sure you’ll love these as well.

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Retrospective Scenes from a Sentimental World

This is part of a series of art books from PIE International that showcases background scenes from other worlds.

This particular volume, Retrospective Scenes from a Sentimental World, is a collection of works that mainly focuses on touching and nostalgic scenes; moments that feel both memorable and emotionally moving. The book features works from 33 talented artists, each capturing unique atmospheres and storytelling through their backgrounds.

I love this art book and often return to it for inspiration. It resonates deeply with me and reflects the kind of art I want to create; drawings that capture quiet, special moments and evoke emotion.

amazon.com

Tokyo Storefronts - The Artworks of Mateusz Urbanowicz

Mateusz Urbanowicz is one of my favorite watercolor artists, and I’ve been following his work since 2018. I’ve always wanted to own something from him, so having this art book feels really special. It’s one of my favorites from him, along with Tokyo at Night.

Tokyo Storefronts showcases the unique storefronts that Mateusz explored around Tokyo. Each building has its own mark, history, and story to tell. Some of them have since closed down, but through his paintings, he was able to preserve their memory and share their stories.

His works are beautifully drawn and detailed. He usually sketched with a pencil first, lined with a pen and painted with watercolors. At the end of the book, he also shares his art supplies and the process behind creating the cover storefront.

It’s the perfect book to flip through for inspiration or to enjoy the quiet charm of Tokyo’s streets.

amazon.com

Illumi’s Artbook: Day and Night

Illumi999 is an illustrator known for creating beautiful, dreamlike, and magical artworks.

I really admire her landscapes, characters, and the worlds she builds. Her work has been a huge inspiration for me, especially when it comes to drawing backgrounds.

Day and Night is her first commercial art book, featuring a collection of her artworks from the past few years. The book is printed in B5 size and has 128 pages. If you purchase it, you’ll also receive some extra goodies.

Currently, this art book can only be purchased through BOOTH, an online platform for creators.

BOOTH

I think that's all for now. Thank you so much for reading and I'll see you again soon :)

Sincerely,

Hyoumori