Books for Environmental Artists

These are recommendations of books that have deeply influenced my creations and how I move through the world.

Environmental Books that will influence your Art making and have you fall in love with Nature

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Women Who Run With the Wolves
Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.

If we have interacted with one another at all in the last 6 months then I have most certainly brought up this book! I am a huge Mythology nerd and believe that the themes found in myths echo through all stories and all time periods. It may seem odd to include on this list, but this book is perfect for anyone interested in environmentalism, art, and/or reclaiming the self.

Estés fills the pages with mythological stories centering women from all over the world. Then she brilliantly breaks down each theme within each myth and related the themes on how to rewild the woman. She constantly references how our relationship to art and nature impacts our relationship to ourself. Pick this up from your local bookstore today - they will most certainly have it.

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Braiding Sweetgrass
Robin Wall Kimmer

This book was on my list from 2020 and it still beams in my soul as one of my favorite books regardless of being in an environmental or art category. The amount of moments I read one sentence and have to put the book down to just process the wisdom Kimmerer instilled is countless. Kimmerer uses poet language to parallel life lessons with nature. This book is full of wonder, science, and awe.

“As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert).

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The Overstory
Richard Powers

As I began to embark on the third film in the Under Review series I picked up this book. It was gifted to me by a dear friend and I cracked it open right at the beginning on the pandemic in 2020. I have reread it three times and I continue to be inspired by the full characters, how these characters are impacted by trees, and the heartbreak that comes from the destruction of forests.

There is a reason why this book is the winner of a Pulitzer Prize. Grab a box of tissues - NO - use a reusable towel to wipe your tears cause they will come streaming about 3/4ths through this book. Beautiful. Epic. Inventive.

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Give A Sh*t
Ashlee Piper

If you are into Zero Waste and Sustainability - AKA if you are concerned about the health of our planet - Get this book!

Piper walks you through a detailed zero waste living guide and explains the “Why” to everything.

She makes sustainable living so easy and transforms your bedroom, living room, cleaning products, kitchen, bathroom, closets, and eating habits.

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An Indigenous People’s History of the United States
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

You live on Indigenous land… it’s about time you start understanding the history.

Dubar-Ortiz gives you the harsh reality of how whitewashed American History is and provides you an in-depth History Lesson through the eyes of the Natives. This is what should be taught in our school system.

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the ARTIST’S WAY
Julia Cameron

I was late to the journey of partaking in this master class of a book but it has been over a year since I committed to The Artist’s Way and I STILL do my morning journaling every morning.

This book is included on this list because it is obviously an art book but it also allowed me to find home in my spirit needing to take solo nature walks to unravel my mind, body, and spirit. I continue to take myself on solo artist dates and feed my creative spirit.

Just commit to the 12 weeks - it will only benefit your creations.

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Nature Fix
Florence Williams

I could speak for hours about the importance of this book…

Williams uncovers why philosophers and artists have been inspired by nature by breaking down the science and psychology of how nature contributes to our overall human health.

Have you ever been in a tough conversation with a Right-Winged thinker and have been frustrated by how many “facts” the person can spew out? Well this book is the PERFECT solution for you! Full of malleable statistics so you can continue being in love with nature and have the scientific data (from all over the world!) to back you up. I continue to use this book in grant applications.

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House of Psychotic Women: An Autobiographical Topography of Female Neurosis in Horror and Exploitation Films
Kier-La Janisse

I have recently fallen into the Horror Film genre rabbit hole and I F*CKING LOVE IT! Yes, horror, art, the environment, psychosis are deeply intertwined.

I must say though, this book is not for "pocket full of sunshine” person as Janisse shapes this book as a personal memoire and shares her upsetting childhood/adulthood experiences with us while cross examining them to horror and exploitation films. This book is also pretty pricey but the visuals, stories, and references are well worth it! If you are a part of a Public Library they might have the older version available on e-book.

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The Giving Tree
Shel Silverstein

We have all probably had our heart broken by this book numerous times. But have you revisited it as an adult?

This book inspired the second film in my Under Review Film Series. Silverstein brought light to the logging industry for me and how we phase out of the simplicity of childhood into the consumerism of adulthood. This story is the perfect balance of morals, family obligation, and the transformation of love.

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The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse
Charlie Mackesy

Oh my heart…

This book will take you 10 minutes to read but will have you revisiting for hours on end.

Full of beautiful art work and poignant universal messages, Mackesy will bring you back to what truly matters and how to be more kind with yourself and others.

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Life of Pi
Yann Martel

It may seem odd to include on this list, but this book is perfect for anyone interested in environmentalism.

Full of realism mixed with fantasy, Life of Pi takes you on an adventure through how we co-exist with nature. Martel connects spirituality, loneliness, wildlife, and the power of will while keeping you intrigued through the eyes of a boy trapped on a life boat with a tiger.

Skip the movie… the book is 20x more heartbreaking. I highly recommend listening on audiobook while walking.

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The Hidden Life of Trees
Peter Wohlleben

This is another book that deeply inspired the second film in the Under Review Film Series.

Wohlleben humanizes trees to create empathy and relation so we as humans can advocate for our forests. Even the layout of the book moves through the human cycles of relationships - friendship, lovers, communication, etc.

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The Ayurvedic Self-Care Handbook
Sarah Kucera

Ayurveda is the sister science of yoga and goes hand-in-hand with nature.

This self-care book has become my Bible over the past few months. While we are forced into this unknown time (but when do we ever really know what’s going on…), this handbook will keep you connected to nature’s cycles and give you the tools to ground and sustain during times of uncertainty.

Ayurveda promotes seasonal and local eating along with learning about your natural constitutions that influence your personality and body type.

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On Trails: An Exploration
Robert Moor

Discover how trails came into existences follow the long lineage of animals, humans, and science.

Moor exquisitely weaves together life lessons with following trails and paving paths. This book is a big inspiration for one of my upcoming creations. If you are curious as to why we are naturally attracted to loops, how we have colonized the planet with herding animals, and why we follow those that came before us, pick this book up.

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Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest
Suzanne Simard

I will be honest, I have no read this book yet. However, I have attended a few lectures by Simard and her use of tangible language as a way for “non” scientist to understand the underground root system is brilliant. I studied her work a lot during the creation of Under Review: Katahdin. This book is on my list and so I’m going to go out on a limb and say this will probably inspire you as well!

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If you are planning on purchasing any of these books please skip the amazon purchase (do we really want to continue to support Bezos…) and support your local book store, BIPOC book stores, or see if these are available at your public library.


Please comment below with other recommendations or exciting reads!