MICHAEL LYNN ADAMS BOOK LIST
Creativity & Artist's Life
Like every artist, I’ve had times when ideas felt distant and the work became more struggle than dance. These are the books I return to then. Written by fellow creators, they offer honest insight into where ideas come from, how to build sustaining creative habits, and to be ready when inspiration visits. Above all, they remind us that creativity is not merely a sudden gift, but a practice we can nurture every day. On this page I only show books that I have read and fully recommend. To see my growing wish list of books, check out my Amazon Bookstore. VISIT MY AMAZON STORE HERE
Big Magic — Elizabeth Gilbert
When I first read Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic, I was navigating a challenging transition after changing careers to become a professional artist. Her words encouraged me to meet the creative life with more curiosity, courage, and wonder. I value Gilbert’s humor, generosity, and clear-eyed insight as she shares her own process with honesty, inviting us to loosen fear’s grip, let go of needless suffering, and discover the “strange jewels” within us. As a creative you will recognize yourself in this book. Big Magic is an encouraging guide to living bravely and making art with greater joy.
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The Art Spirit — Robert Henri
I revisit Robert Henri’s The Art Spirit whenever I need the encouragement of a wise, demanding teacher. It's not a book to read in one sitting, but a compilation of short bites of wisdom and insight to savor. Henri reminds me that art grows from an active engagement with life—not simply from technique or talent. His thoughts on seeing, working, individuality, and creative courage remain as relevant to me today as when they were first collected. I recommend this book if you need practical perspective, renewed conviction, or a reminder that making art can become a fuller way of living.
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The Creative Act — Rick Rubin
I love this book. In many ways, this book is like the classic Robert Henri book, The Art Spirit - an inspirational grabbag of wisdom. Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act is a thoughtful companion for the uncertain stretches of an artist’s life. Drawing on decades of helping musicians find their distinctive voices, Rubin invites us to release self-imposed expectations, stay open to surprise, and deepen our relationship with the world around us. This is not a how-to manual or a promise of easy inspiration. It is a generous collection of reflections that can help any artist renew curiosity, trust the process, and make more room for creativity in daily life.
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On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft — Steven King
This book really resonates with my love of craft. Stephen King’s On Writing is one of the most honest and encouraging books I know about creating an artist's life. Although written for writers, its lessons reach any artist who wants to work with greater discipline, clarity, and persistence. With wonderfully engaging and entertaining writing, King shares his own setbacks and hard-won habits with refreshing honesty. He reminds us that craft grows through regular practice, not by waiting for perfect inspiration. VIEW ON AMAZON
I confess that when I first read Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art, I had a love-hate relationship with it. Its tough, direct voice was challenging, but I have come to value its hard-earned wisdom. Pressfield gives a name to the fear, procrastination, self-doubt, and distraction that keep us from our work: Resistance. I recommend this book when you need a kick in the pants to get back into the studio. It's a clear-eyed reminder that creative confidence is built by showing up. It offers the firm encouragement you might need to protect your work, strengthen discipline, and keep moving forward.
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Alla Prima II: Everything I Know About Painting — Richard Schmid
Richard Schmid’s Alla Prima II is one of the books I return to most often because he understands the artist’s life from the inside. With humor, candor, and the perspective of a lifetime at the easel, he acknowledges the doubts, frustrations, and false expectations that can stand between us and our best work. Then he offers a way forward: first face your fears and get to work, sound practice, clearer observation, patience, and trust in what genuinely moves us. His instruction on drawing, values, color, edges, and paint handling is remarkably practical, but his larger gift is helping painters work in the studio with greater confidence and purpose.
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