I have accumulated many books about color and while they look awesome, they are also full of history, science, fine art, and much more! Below are the four books I currently have on my shelf that I honestly don’t open as often as I should. They are filled with inspiration and powerful references. Designer or not, you are sure to find something of interest!

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View my on-going list of On My Shelf books on Amazon.

Happy Reading!

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An Atlas Of Rare & Familiar Colour

BY KINGSTON TRINDER  | AMAZON

The Harvard Art Museums’ Forbes Pigment Collection. There are over 2,500 of the worlds rarest pigments in one place! They can be found at the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies at the Harvard Art Museums. Originally used to preserve paintings, the collection grew and grew. I saw a facebook post years ago about these pigments and thought it was the coolest thing, then I got to see the collection (from afar) in Boston. Last summer this book cover caught my attention in a NYC bookstore (I mean, look at that cover!)

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The Designer’s Dictionary Of Color

BY SEAN ADAMS | AMAZON

The Designer’s Dictionary of Color provides an in-depth look at 30 colors key to art and graphic design. Organized by spectrum, in color-by-color sections for easy navigation, this book documents each hue with charts showing color range and palette variations.

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Werner’s Nomenclature Of Colours

BY ABRAHAM GOTTLOB WERNER | AMAZON

Adapted to Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Anatomy, and the Arts. This book is a peak into the past. Originally created in the 19th-century it is filled with hand writing describing where the colors came from. Cross referencing plants and animals where the colors can be found. Charles Darwin actually used this collection in his voyages!

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Secret Lives Of Color

BY KASSIA ST. CLAIR | AMAZON | THRIFT BOOKS

Do you know why royals are known for wearing purple? How about the different shades of yellow? Part history, science and art- this book is fascinating all around! I am in awe of the knowledge Kassia St. Clair has for color, and how much she was able to pack into this book, broken down into easy to read chunks. You will be the super cool (and slightly nerdy) conversation starter at your next party! Don’t pass this one up, it will go down as an all time favorite.