My FAV Reads, 2025
One of my favorite things to do at the end of a creative day is to curl up with a good book. Great entertainment for me and of course, most of them are art related. It seems every year I sigh. Sigh that I do not get enough reading time in my life. Then in December when I take a look at my 'finished' stack I realize I did enjoy some really, really great books. Here's a recap of what I read in 2025 with some personal thoughts on each one.
1. SEVEN THOUSAND WAYS TO LISTEN by Mark Nepo. If you haven't discovered Mark Nepo yet, you must. I've read many by him but this one was a true gem. He continues to dive into important thoughts like reflecting, pausing AND listening! A gentle read with meditations and journal prompts.
2. THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY OF BEING by Rick Rubin. Everyone's been reading this one. I first got the audio version and enjoyed it, however I wasn't crazy about Mr Rubin's voice. I did realize there were so many great tidbits of creative thoughts and inspiration that I also had to buy the hard copy (from my local bookstore of course) and now looking back through it there seems to be something highlighted or 'x'd on every page! His short, simple statements will make you ponder each thought over and over.
3. HOLD NOTHING by Elena Brower. I got to meet Elena this month. I have every single book/card box/journal that she has published. To say I am a fan is an understatement and she lives here in Santa Fe. HOLD NOTHING's opening flap reads "What if the most important work of your life isn't something you chase-but something you uncover, slowly, in stillness?" Elena once agains writes from her soul and gives you questions to ask your own self. Loved this. A beautiful exploration of you!
4. WORLD ENOUGH & TIME-ON CREATIVITY AND SLOWING DOWN by Christian McEwen. Ok. There is a theme here, slowing down, stillness, creativity. How do we pull ourselves back from this 'crazy-busy' life we find ourselves in. The Learning to Pause and Drinking the Landscape chapters really resonated with me and I love her 'tactics' at the end of each chapter. Something to ponder.
5. MODERNISTS & MAVERICKS, BACON, FREUD, HOCKNEY & THE LONDON PAINTERS by Martin Gayford. I have to be honest, I picked this book up because I have read others by Martin Gayford and enjoyed them but I also realised that of these artists mentioned I knew very little. Art history and reading about artists' lives is something I have always enjoyed. In true Martin Gayford fashion he introduces you to so many more artists than the headlines read AND includes photo images of their work. Win-Win!
6. THE BOOK OF ALCHEMY - A CREATIVE PRACTICE FOR AN INSPIRED LIFE by Suleika Jaouad Loved this! It really isn't a book you sit down and read right through. This is a book to inspire 'journaling' as a tool for creativity and also as a tool to give you direction in navigating life. Again she gives prompts for thought and writing.
7. HOW PAINTING HAPPENS (AND WHY IT MATTERS) by Martin Gayford. Another great read by Martin Gayford. Diving deep into the history and lives of painters like Josef Albers, Joan Miro, Gerhard Richter and so many more artists that I was not familiar with. This is another book that I look back through and realize I did a lot of highlighting again!
8. AGNES MARTIN: PAINTINGS, WRITINGS, REMEMBRANCES by Arne Glimcher. THIS ONE! I've been devouring every book that comes out relating to Agnes Martin over the last decade or so but this one is extra special because it has inserts of pages from her notebook. Her writings, her handwriting. It also showed some of her earlier works that I had not seen before (1956-1963) I really enjoyed reading about the passages of time when she had studios in Cuba, Albuquerque and Taos, NM - and I think also in Galisteo, NM, not far from where I am now. "When I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life" - Agnes Martin This book will be at my bedside for years!
9. SEAN SCULLY, LAND SEA This is mostly a picture book with a few interviews and a biography. Sean Scully was an Irish born artist who now divides his time between New York City, Bavaria, Germany and Aix-en-Provence, France. I have always been interested in his work and life. His work is mostly stripes, layers but oh so much more.
10. RICHARD DIEBENKORN THE BERKELEY YEARS, 1953-1966 Again, I can't get enough of Diebenkorn! I have several of his books on his New Mexico Series and his Ocean Park Series but these Berkeley years were great to discover too.
In addition to the above I also enjoyed on audio MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Bakcman; DEAR THEO by Irving Stone and GET THE PICTURE by Bianca Bosker. All good and again somehow related to art.
May you all enjoy some really good books and share with me any other suggestions you may have. So many books. So little time.
-Ginnie Cappaert