As a portrait painter, Alice Neel was not interested in flattery. She preferred dissection. Her work lives at the intersection of psychological autopsy and radical empathy — a combination that makes her portraits feel simultaneously clinical and intimate; she painted revelation — what her sitters tried, often unconsciously, to conceal.

Bass wasn't interested in artistic self-expression. He was interested in solving problems. A corporate logo needed to work at any size. A film title sequence needed to establish tone and prepare audiences before the narrative began. A poster needed to communicate its message instantly. Form always served function.

If art, as a whole, could be thought of as a universal language — every culture on Earth indulges in it — then different types of art could be considered its many dialects, with books being one of my favorites. Yes, writing — and good writing at that — should be considered an art form. So, I’ve decided to share some of my favorite art-related books in the hopes they sow the seed of curiosity to explore other dialects of art within you.

It's 2 AM and you're lying in bed. You should be sleeping. Instead, you're mentally rehearsing tomorrow's presentation, rehashing the day's news, and having a panic attack about the future, all the while your heart pounds like you're being chased by a bear. Beads of sweat are forming at the temples. What if I told you that a little downtime with some colored pencils could literally rewire your brain's stress response? No apps, no expensive therapy — just you making somethin