"The Art Spirit" by Robert Henri, A Must Read for Every Artist

Back in the day, when I was studying painting and portraiture at the Art Students League on 57th Street in New York City, the book that was required reading in almost every class was “The Art Spirit” by Robert Henri. I refer to this book as, “The Art Bible” for artists. The content in this book is educational and highly inspirational for beginners, professionals, and everyone in between.

I still have my copy, pictured here and below, which I purchased back in the 70s. (Did you catch the price I paid back then? $2.50.) I lovingly read this book over and over. As you can see, it’s been so well-read that it’s falling apart and held together with rubber bands. For me, it’s like an old friend I keep saying “hello” to, or an old pair of tattered slippers that are still so comfy.

I like to underline important content in a book I’m reading. As you can see, almost every passage has been underlined. The information in this book is so deeply moving and important that whether you’ve been painting for 50 years, or 50 minutes, “The Art Spirit” will educate and inspire you to paint better, and also will teach you to better appreciate life and the beauty of nature that we're blessed with.


One other great advantage of “The Art Spirit” is that it’s not a book that must be read starting on page one and working your way through to the end. It’s the kind of book that you can pick up at any time, turn to any page, and be enthralled by what you’re reading.

I recommend “The Art Spirit” to all my students. It’s a must-read for you, the artist, or a great gift for the artist in your life!

Here’s a link to the paperback copy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hOJn6m

Hardcover edition: https://amzn.to/3YO4ihf

Audible Audiobook edition: https://amzn.to/3YL0uO2

!Disclaimer - some links in the description are affiliate links and I may receive a commission on purchases made through these links. Thank you for supporting my content.


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