How much does 'reading' books play into your art?

[NoSeRider]

Crime And Punishment By Fyodor Dostoevsky (http://books.google.com/books?id=IrHjzGpSiq4C&pg=PA5&lpg=PA5&dq=i+want+to+attempt+a+thing+like+that+and+am+frig htened+by+these+trifles&source=web&ots=ktejhVkPC6&sig=FT4pW8kbHBim6-TFO7Hrg0w2Hbo#PPA24,M1)

Brave New World By Aldous Huxley (http://books.google.com/books?id=aQz5ZpkQn7AC&dq=brave+new+world&ots=LQgIZI0Pqt&sig=tRhuZ7LFg1LhmUJXiQqXP8UzMSU&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enUS245US245&q=brave+new+world+&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail&pgis=1)

The Wisdom of Insecurity By Alan W. Watts (http://books.google.com/books?id=bHRUZ31E-wYC&q=Alan+Watts&dq=Alan+Watts&pgis=1)

Every so often somebody mentions a book to read, and I feel like a cultural retard if I hadn't read it.

However, do you feel the narrative of reading helps the narrative of your art?

Do you think if you just concentrate on the visual that somehow your art will lack something?

[Digital_Blacksmith]

You know, I dont read. I just dont like it much. It has never really given my inspiration or helped me out on my artworks. So dont feel like a retard if you dont read something, its personal preference.

[Slash]

For every book i read i feel a lot smarter.

Especially if its thought-provoking books like "Temporary autonomous zone" or "Prometheus rising".

Also, reading books have inspired me a lot in my artwork, especially adventure books like jules verne stuff, treasure island or h.p. lovecraft.

[•Lindsay•]

Anyone on this website who says books don't effect their art is probably wrong. There wouldn't be any fantasy or science fiction without books.

[Call0ps]

well, depends on what u read ofc... i don't read that often either, 1~2 books month, my opinion is helps you A LOT to expand your imagination, to visualize it in more accuracy way, not to mention you get a bit more cult in every book, i recommend to choose wisely each book, cuz it takes time to read one and as artist u dont want to waste IT! also its great when u not inspired, i recommend u to read as much as u can, ( only hurt read can harm is take drawing time? ) always ask opinion of other people and read the critics of the book before u read it :P

[Farvus]

Reading books always helped me with art. When it comes to classics like Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" or "The Trial" by Franz Kafka, I've read these at school but it was long time ago and I forgot most of them. From time to time I try to remind myself these things or I try some that I haven't known before. Last classics that I've read was bunch of Roland Topor's short novels.
Usually what I read is some light stuff from library. For example recenly I'm a lot into different sci-fi novels (usually old ones). They expand my knowledge and imagination when it comes to what could be possible or what could be the stories behind sci-fi places and characters. Some books have rich description of how everything look like and they make me see images in my head that I wouldn't have thought before.

[Dead Pedal]

I would have to say reading does drive my creativity higher and not limited to visual art. Between a full time career, some part time teaching and a family my time is filled with responsibility. When I read it give me a chance to detach and let the mind explore which helps drive creativity.

I’ve set a goal of reading one book a month so we shall see in a couple of months if there is a increase in my creative drive.

[B u r l]

I don't think my reading effects my art directly, because the stuff I enjoy to read is the stuff on cosmology, quantum mechanics etc. I've slowly been getting into philosophy books and other related things about life, so I have no idea if reading them, although it may give me a little better understanding of the world, really effects my art or not. I've had a few ideas spring to mind, but I think that's about it.

[Stark]

It really depends on the book and how it makes me feel as I'm reading it. If the book makes me feel anarchist, then I stop reading scribble something down, and continue reading. If the book makes me laugh, then I change everything up and try something I've never done before. Let's say I'm reading "1984" by Orwell. I get the feeling that right this moment we live in a very plausible and very real dystopia and creations race through my mind that makes me want to capture that. Let's say that I'm reading the news and something about Darfur or Iraq is the main story. Then I want to draw the human plight in the most affecting way my skill level and artistic mind can create. If it's a good movie that made me laugh or a book by Lewis Black or a Boondocks comic strip, then something fun will come out of it and it loosens me up a bit. It all depends on how that particular story is affecting me at the moment that makes me want to create differently.

[squidmonk3j]

that's like asking "does observing stuff around you make your art better?" or "does listening to music, looking at other's ppl's art, watching movies/plays etc etc make ur art better?".

that said, reading books just to appear smarter is like carrying a sketchbook around just to appear moar artistic.

[Elwell]

that said, reading books just to appear smarter is like carrying a sketchbook around just to appear moar artistic.

Except that it might work.

[JonZ_]

I can't read :(

[Costau D]

Audio Books are good too. Especially if they are well done with sound effects and music. Feels like someone telling you a story, and all you have to do is play it out in your head.

[Jason Rainville]

I know a hell of a lot more about roman battle tactics, as well as their arms and armor from books.

I also won't discount the lore of videogames. Morrowind has actually inspired me more than..... well I think it's been the most ispiring influence ever. And all of the really inspirational bits are in the books within the game, stuff that happened before the game actually took place.

[Atastrophea]

I have to say, as a certifiable readaholic, that often reading probably harms my creativity. I am quite a "wordy person" so if I switch to "language mode" I seem to switch out of "visual mode" strange I know seeing as though a lot of books are meant to create worlds inside your head or "paint you a picture" Also if my nose is in a good book (which it often is) its not in my sketchbook ;)

Exeption to the rule so far = S.Kings Dark Tower series. I often don't realise I've formed a visual image of something from a book until I see someone elses version of it that makes me think "no way, thats not how it looks!"

[ciots]

novels inspire me, lots infact, how could do androids dream of electric sheep not inspire you? language is one of the most inspiring things imho..even a single word can inspire me to draw something

[Arshes Nei]

A lot. I read what's said in drawing books. I also read books to see if I can conceptualize what is being described in the book.

IIRC Sauron? Was never detailed as to how he looked but people came up with their own interpretation as to what he looked like in Lord of the Rings?