My Top 6 Books for Colour Inspiration and Guidance

Do you struggle to choose colours for your art? Or are you a passionate colour hunter always seeking new inspiration? In this video, I share my top six colour-loving books that have transformed my approach to colour. Whether you are looking for colour palette inspiration, guidance with colour theory, or expert tips on colour mixing, there is something for everyone in this beautiful book selection.
P.S. For more colour instruction and guidance, check out my online course "Confident Colour": classes.laurahornart.com/p/cb...
📚 BOOKS
Love Colour by Anna Starmer: geni.us/50axI54
The Color Scheme Bible by Anna Starmer: geni.us/A2koAz
Living with Color by Rebecca Atwood: geni.us/rx0YuT
Gypsy by Sibella Court: geni.us/iE6db
Acrylic Color Explorations by Chris Cozen: geni.us/8V9kQ
1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor by William F. Powell: geni.us/jfpAFzk
*Note: Some links are Amazon affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase through a link.
These books have not only inspired my work but have also provided practical solutions to my colour dilemmas. I hope they can do the same for you!
If you enjoy this video, let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations. ✨
_________________
🌻 Hello there, If you're new around here, I'm Laura Horn, an artist based in the Adelaide Hills. I teach online classes on how to paint abstracts and botanicals in acrylic, watercolour, and mixed media. If you are looking for a weekly dose of creative encouragement and inspiration, press subscribe!
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[@HJCook-yx8qs]

Really love your videos.....its like hanging out with an art friend, talking art over a coffee..so helpful...love hearing about what inspires other people...thankyou

[@LauraHornArt]

And I love your comment!! That is what I always hope for with my videos and classes. 💓

[@valerie4780]

I would be interested in hearing about more books. Mood books, mindset, inspiration and any others too😊

[@lealarue]

Art books are my favorite non fictions! They make me so happy

[@LauraHornArt]

Totally agree! Love them!

[@DanitaReynolds]

Thank you! I never really thought about using interior design books for inspiration but it makes perfect sense. I’d love to see your books on giving your mindset a boost. I work with watercolor so naturally sharing any books on that subject would be appreciated.

[@natski2003]

It's not an art book but such a beautiful book that I love in the same way you described Gypsy is Luke Nguyen's book Indochine. So amazing for patterns and texture, amazing photography and recipes too!

[@mariedovinson7766]

I would love if you did a little series of all the different books you use for all kinds of inspiration. This video was very helpful thank you.

[@LauraHornArt]

That's a great idea! I'll remember that, thank you 😊

[@sandrift]

Thank you for sharing these - please share more books! Just yesterday I read through a book called “The Complete Color Harmony Pantone Edition” - it covers things like the psychology of each color group (e.g., in the context of marketing), color and mood, what your color preferences suggest about you, and provides color schemes with recommended proportions of each color. It uses the Pantone color system, but if you really want to, you can convert those to RGB values online, and then use the RGB colors in something like Golden’s paint mixer website to determine how to recreate it with different Golden acrylic lines. I love looking at color as much as I love making art!

[@polgara28]

Ohhhhh art books, how I love thee! This was great for color inspiration! I love how you showed how you interpreted the design into your own work, like with the diamond patters, or the floral that you have on your mug, etc. If you do another one, can it be inspiration on patterns for mark making? I know you touched on it, but I really need help. I go blank so many times when I try to create. 🌻

[@deborahruth5072]

I love love books, especially art books. I have several by Sibella Court, Etcetera and The Life of a Bowerbird. The other book I have is the 1,500 Color Mixing Recipes book which is so helpful when I am wanting a specific color. Thank you for sharing your collection with us, I really enjoyed seeing the books you cherish and use in your art.

[@LauraHornArt]

I would love to hear more of your favourites! I love getting book recommendations from others. Thank you for watching ❣️

[@lindaellis9349]

Another beautiful, inspiring book is The Pigment Trail..just added to my list!

[@mychellemaharsartyadventur3075]

Beautiful books!! Another sensational one is Conscious Creativity by Phillipa Stanton. It is filled with stunning artistic eye candy and beautifully written too 🥰🥰🥰

[@karenromero7345]

I loved this. If your art is a reflection or inspiration of the books you peruse, I am all in! Thank you.

[@amytrowbridge2173]

Thank you, Laura! Love the art book deep dive. Please keep sharing your favorites. It is so great to read about the color practice.

[@michelel3372]

Thank you, this video is very helpful! Yes, I would love to see other videos on books.

[@DottyDelightful]

I love books too, I have quite the collection but hadn’t seen any of the ones you showed, would love to see more of your books

[@gennydavidsonsmith85]

I’ve been inspired by the book Mackintosh Watercolours, which I think is a book you recommended a short while ago. I’m now into Art Nouveau in a bit way, so thank you, Laura for the recommendation.

[@LauraHornArt]

Wonderful! So happy to hear you're enjoying the recommendations!

[@LulybelleLullaby]

So interesting. I’m off to the library this afternoon. Thank you .

[@lisaburda5490]

Thank you so much for the recommendations! I'll definitely look for some of those books, the 1500 recipes seem to be amazing! More book content is welcome ❤

[@EdnaAguilar-lz5cj]

Thank you so much! Love this ❤ I have been looking for books like this. Color combinations has been a struggle for me. ❤❤❤❤

[@gailbrule1744]

Loved this and would love to see more book ideas such as you mentioned! I love art, design pattern and imagery books! Thank you Laura!

[@LisaZoe86]

I love books around painting, colours et cetera! I have more than I have read yet, but just looking at and through them inspires me and its lovely to have little library for any reference one might need. ❤

[@valerie4780]

Oh and Laura!❤ Thank you so so much for your fabulous delivery teaching style and jam packed lovely videos and courses too🎉😊

[@corriegrant367]

Thanks Laura. Great books. Very helpful. Would love seeing more books. 😊💜

[@user-xj4dk6gc2m]

Yes please, more books, most inspiring, thank you so much.

[@thebellaluna]

Great selection of books! Thanks for sharing! 📚✨👍😉

[@debrastevens9842]

I always look through my books on color when I want to get inspired. Thinking of ordering several of the ones you've suggested. New books are always exciting. Thank you for sharing some of your favorites.

[@user-ii1ij1vz6z]

Great video and very enlightening. I'd love to hear more about your books, as you mentioned. Key interests: mark making, texture.

[@LauraHornArt]

Thank you! Noted for future videos ❤️

[@sallyblack2949]

Thanks for that Laura! Like you I love to be surrounded by books and it would be great to hear more of your recommendations. I often flick through interior design mags for inspiration for my home but I shall be thinking more in terms of colour schemes and patterns for my art now.

[@denisecope]

So inspiring! I want to hear about all the books, maybe mark making next. Thank you!

[@LauraHornArt]

Fantastic, happy to hear that!

[@theahayes5627]

Thankyou Laura, absolutely love your video. I am in the process of getting rid of a family members hoarding. In art books I do not wish to give my children same burden. Will buy the books for my local library if I love the book if they do not have it.

[@DanitaReynolds]

Buying books for your library is a wonderful idea. I did a big book purge last year and now only keep and add books that offer a great deal of valuable information to me. I happen to not live within any city or town limit and without a substantial fee I cannot access that wonderful resource that many people get to enjoy (that is at least how it works here in Oregon, USA).

[@donnahardy9840]

Fantastic! Thank you for sharing.

[@janecox7410]

Thanks Laura. This was so interesting and I’m now searching for a couple of your suggestions…along with many other people I suspect! 😂

[@christinefisher5716]

Such great information and inspiration, Laura! Thanks for sharing! I love hearing about art books! One magazine that inspires me with color and pattern is Uppercase -- highly recommend it for inspiration!

[@LauraHornArt]

Glad you enjoyed it, I love these books!!

[@LauraHornArt]

And I will definitely check out Uppercase, I have heard quite a few people mention it. I've been on the hunt for a magazine to inspire me.

[@christinefisher5716]

@@LauraHornArt ❤

[@christinefisher5716]

@@LauraHornArt ❤

[@pennysmith3803]

This was fantastic information thank you.

[@sarahcobb]

Such a great video Laura! And yes - I would love to hear more about the other types of books that you love!

[@LauraHornArt]

Will do!!

[@artisteaunezrouge1]

Thanks so much Laura, very useful to have your views about these great books! you know there some great books about color history that are also very great, including the secret lives of Colors from Kassia Saint Clair, and books from Michel Pastoureau if they are translated to English

[@shawngeoffrion4754]

I loved seeing all of these books and would love to see more of the books that you use. I never really thought too look to art related books for inspiration but will going forward. I'm newer to painting and I also homeschool my grandchildren, the last book you showed on how to mix all of the colors would be a wonderful resource for us. Thank you.

[@LauraHornArt]

I love using books for inspiration, whether you're looking for colour or style inspiration, or just trying to get un-stuck! I think that your grandchildren will love colour mixing, it's a really fun experiential lesson!

[@LindaRadcliffe-wk8ws]

Yes definitely would love more book inspiration

[@LauraHornArt]

I'll certainly make a point to include more favourite books!

[@louloufabrique]

Great suggestions. Merci ☺

[@cristinahutchins1902]

Thanks for sharing your books. Yes, more books, please!

[@LauraHornArt]

Thank you 🙏 More to come!

[@twigandink5395]

thanks Laura! so many brilliant resources. i live in hopes of finding Gypsy one day in an op shop because they are hard to find without breaking the bank!

[@LauraHornArt]

You are welcome! It's such a shame that Gypsy isn't easy to get a hold of anymore. It's my favourite of the Sibella Court books. You never know where it might turn up though. I found another Sibella Court book in a charity shop and that was a happy day 😃

[@barbaradart6739]

Fabulous video Laura and now I want all those books!! Would love to see other book videos, more mark making and imagery would be good. I think if I had to choose a book from this video it would be Gypsy, it resonated with me the most. Thanks for sharing all you know x

[@LauraHornArt]

You are welcome! Gypsy is my OG as far as colour inspiration and bohemian/rustic vibe. It's a beauty but unfortunately not being printed anymore and really hard to get hold of without paying a small fortune. If you find it in a charity/thrift shop definitely grab it!!

[@ChrissieNicely]

Thank you for sharing these beautiful books! 😍

[@LauraHornArt]

Glad you like them!

[@barbaramarkway926]

Such fun! Just ordered several of them!

[@LauraHornArt]

Wow, that was quick 🎨Enjoy your new books when they arrive 📚☕

[@marypartridge5154]

Thankyou so much Lara for all your interesting ideas thanx for sharing love Mary Ann from Qld😊😊😊

[@louiselegare5015]

That was so interesting. Yes would love more. Thank you.

[@LauraHornArt]

More to come!

[@terriponcelet2169]

I love books as well and always enjoy book recommendations.

[@janechorlton5015]

I adore books! I'm always interested to look at art books I don't have.😊

[@LauraHornArt]

I can never resist a good art book! 😊

[@Rachelsjourney]

I love book recommendation videos - keep them coming! I have Living with Color, the Color Scheme Bible, Color in and Out of the Garden, and several impressionist books (mostly for Monet's color palettes). Living with Color is such an inspirational book - seems so dreamy. I kept checking it out from my library and then finally bought it for myself. I also like Rebecca Atwood's Living with Pattern. And Design by Nature...also for patterns. Sibella's books have been on my wish list for a couple of years now...they are the first thing I look for in used bookstores. Thanks for the video! Please continue to share the books you have.

[@LauraHornArt]

Thanks for the encouragement Rachel! You have a lovely book collection going! I also have Rebecca Atwood's Living with Pattern and love it too. Looking forward to making more book related videos. Fun!

[@dianemeldi2377]

Thank you for the great information and I am sure I will learn quite a bit from them.

[@LauraHornArt]

You are very welcome! Glad you found it helpful.

[@anapaulaotero-illustration875]

Wonderful! I've been looking into some decoration books also for color inspiration!!!

[@LauraHornArt]

Perfect! I hope these help!

[@claire.morgan]

I work in interior design and my mom got that Color Scheme Bible book for me at my college orientation years ago. :)

[@LauraHornArt]

Aww what a great present from mum. It's still a really valuable resource though colour tastes have changed a bit since it came out. I'm really enjoying her newer book "Love Colour"!

[@julialucas6626]

This was very informative. Please share more of the books you mentioned at the end - eg. texture, etc

[@LauraHornArt]

Thanks Julia, I love sharing books so these will be fun videos to make. Already excited about it!

[@julialucas6626]

@@LauraHornArtYou’re welcome Laura. I look forward to seeing the other books

[@tristanrose3353]

I would love to see you follow this idea for new videos. I am especially interested in the mark mark one. I’m starting on that journey myself right now.

[@LauraHornArt]

Noted!

[@lisaturner2871]

Hey Laura! I am new here. Thanks so much for the book vid. More books would be lovely to see. 😊

[@LauraHornArt]

Welcome! Happy to have you here! I'll certainly be adding more book recs in the future. 😊

[@bonniemurphy1057]

Thanks so much for this video.....like you I get inspired by books. I just subscribed!

[@LauraHornArt]

Books are the best! Thanks for subscribing 💓

[@ChantelleArts]

some of these colour themes are really gorgeous 🥰

[@LauraHornArt]

I think so too!

[@MadisonBriggsArtchick]

I really enjoyed this video. These books are eye candy, aren’t they? I put in my shopping cart. 1500 paint recipe book. Definitely gonna get that one. The other ones are beautiful.

[@perlagaffney4776]

Laura. First you are not only so lovely and I thoroughly enjoy every video you do and yes... I'm straight to the library 😄 Tasters then see. You are also very pretty and connect so well. Thank you 🙏❤️ to you and your husband. 😊

[@LauraHornArt]

Thank you, what a lovely comment, I really appreciate it. Sometimes it is not easy to be on camera. I am always telling Richie to use more of the overhead camera and focus on the art or whatever I am sharing, but then when I watch the video draft he's always put a tonne of me talking to the camera in there. Quite cute! He things it's too good not to put in 💕

[@jodymcknight187]

Thanks i found them very helpful. My favourite was gypsy. Boho, grunge are my way 😊🎉

[@LauraHornArt]

Gypsy is my OG - I've shared it many times in my online classes - such a gorgeous eclectic mix and bohemian feel. All of Sibella Court's books are fab, but Gypsy is extra special.

[@riteasrain]

Great video, thanks so much, lots of new ideas too. "Gypsy" is mighty expensive on amazon Aus, and out of stock everywhere else. Ah well, I'll keep hoping, looks a wonderful read.

[@LauraHornArt]

Thank you! I think Gypsy is out of print which has pushed the pricing up even on second-hand copies. Keep an eye out for it in charity book shops. I picked up another Sibella Court book that way a while back. A great find! Her books are really lovely and in high demand!

[@lindaellis9349]

This book is so popular, I'm surprised there have not been several re-prints!

[@karenirving7088]

Do you have a video on mood boards? Or could you make one please?

[@alisonjones3057]

Have been trying to find the sibella Court book , sadly, it seems to be out of print and very expensive to buy second hand here in the UK 😢

[@jademail77]

Hi Laura, I recently bought the 2 Color Cubes from Sarah Clark. It seems to be very helpful :)

[@LauraHornArt]

Hi Jade, many of my students have the cubes and love them. I have so many colour books that I'm not sure I need, but you never know!

[@jademail77]

@@LauraHornArt I will let you know if it seems to work well🥰

[@bonniemurphy1057]

My favorite was 1500 Color Recipes.😊

[@LauraHornArt]

Glad you like that one. Tbh I didn't think that book would be my thing, but it's opened up a whole new world of colour mixing possibility. I love it and have been referring to it all the time!

[@Paul-uc8vn]

Josef Albers Interaction of Color: 50th Anniversary Edition

[@rosaliemaguire]

Wonderful books. Love Colour has sold out though .😭

[@LauraHornArt]

Oh no! You may be able to find it from another site!

[@drendelous]

soon there will be so many ai generated pictures in these books.. and honestly i dont think it is bad, in this case

[@CherylsCreativeWorld33]

This was so helpful! I was thinking of getting colour cards (they come in a box) but I realise this might be easier. Lovely selection of books, thank you!

[@LauraHornArt]

Glad it was helpful!