5 of the Best Nonfiction Books for Aspiring Artists

An Aspiring Artists Nonfiction Book List
The Children’s Book Review

Inspiration for art is everywhere around us, from the master artists of the past to the beautiful forms we see around us in nature. If you love to draw, paint, or produce any sort of art, one of the best places to look for inspiration is inside books! In these five non-fiction books, you can learn basic drawing techniques, get inspired by the greatest artists in history, and even create art from recycled materials. 

Here are five nonfiction books for aspiring artists:

In Mona Lisa and the Others, readers can explore the lives and works of the great artists of history. Illustrated with Quentin Blake’s iconic artwork, this book walks readers through the world’s most famous art museum—the Louvre in Paris—presenting the (often humorous) story behind some of the most well-known works in the collection.

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The Vincent Van Gogh Atlas

Written by Nienke Denekamp and René Van Blerk

Illustrated by Geert Gratama

Ages: 6-10 | 160 Pages

Publisher: Thames and Hudson (2022) | ISBN-13:  978-0-500-65372-2

Also exploring the life and art of the great artists of history, the Vincent Van Gogh Atlas takes readers on a journey through Van Gogh’s life and art, showing how the places and events he experiences around the world inspired his famous paintings. Together, these two volumes help readers understand how art grows from real-life people, places, and circumstances.

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Mini Artists

Written by Joséphine Seblon

Illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

Ages: 6-10 | 96 Pages

Publisher: Thames and Hudson (2023) | ISBN-13:  978-0-500-66019-5

For readers who find themselves inspired by learning about the great artists, Mini Artists allows them to try their hand at creating works of art. The twenty projects presented in the book walk readers step-by-step through the techniques and processes used by famous artists throughout time, from mosaic-making like the mask-makers of the Aztec culture to drip paintings inspired by Michael Pollock. The projects are not just about mimicry, either—each one offers prompts to help readers explore their creativity and adapt the techniques to their own unique style and expression. 

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Drawing with Squiggles and Wiggles offers tips, techniques, and tools to help readers develop their own artistic skills and create unique and original works of art of their own. It uses Christopher Hart’s best-selling step-by-step method to walk readers through the stages of drawing everything from speedboats to alert squirrels, starting with nothing more than a basic line or shape.

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The Big Book of Nature Art also offers tips, techniques, and tools to help readers develop their artistic skills and create unique and original works of art. Readers will find projects that help them recycle everyday waste materials into beautiful nature-inspired sculptures, from paper plate seahorses to bubble-wrap jellyfish. These two books are the perfect guides to unlocking young artists’ creativity. 

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Header image from The Vincent Van Gogh Atlas written by Nienke Denekamp and René Van Blerk, published by Thames and Hudson (2022).