Books

October 17, 2023

12 Excellent Drawing Books Recommended by Artists and Illustrators

Learning to draw is a lifelong journey, but there are plenty of resources to gain inspiration and help you meet your creative goals. Luckily, the drawing and illustration experts at My Modern Met Academy are also happy to share their knowledge. At the end of their online art courses, each instructor shares a few of their favorite drawing books to help students continue to learn and grow.

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September 2, 2023

Explore the Diamond Sūtra: The World’s Earliest Dated and Printed Book in Existence

Like its namesake stone, the Diamond Sūtra was found underground. In 1900, a Buddhist monk in the Gansu province of China stumbled upon a sealed entrance leading to a series of 492 connected caves. The site had been closed off to the world since the start of the 11th century. Once a major Buddhist center, the area is known as Mogao (“Peerless”) Caves or the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas.

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August 5, 2023

New Book Showcases the Legendary Career of Venetian Glass Artist Lino Tagliapietra

Artist Lino Tagliapietra was born to make glass. Born on Venice's glassblowing island Murano, Tagliapietra was just 12 years old when he began apprenticing in the workshop of famous glassmaker Archimede Seguso. Now in his late 80s, Tagliapietra is world-renowned in his own right and, through his teaching, has helped spread Venice's glassblowing techniques around the globe. A new book by Phaidon's Monacelli imprint pays homage to this master of glass' 70-year career.

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July 11, 2023

25 Awesome Books on the Long History of Photography

From the 1830s to today, photography has come a long way. We no longer use glass plates to capture negatives, and cameras can take many photos per second. To understand how photography evolved from processes such as the daguerreotype to the iPhone camera, one must read up on the history of the medium. This history is entwined with other developments of the past two centuries—including political turmoil, women's liberation, and the Civil Rights movement.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.