COLOR YOUR WORLD WITH THESE 10 BEAUTIFUL NEW BOOKS ON COLOR

Color brings beauty into our daily lives. We’ve curated a selection of 10 new books that will add a pop of color to your coffee table and to your life!

1. LIFE IN COLOR: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHS

Life in Color: National Geographic Photographs is packed with a rainbow of extraordinary photographs, arranged by color. Written by Susan Hitchcock and edited by Annie Griffiths, these breathtaking photos, accompanied by brief, insightful quotes and captions, are sure to change the way you look at color.

"The world is a wonder of color. Remarkable images by National Geographic photographers entice us to take notice in a whole new way."

—  House Beautiful

National Geographic (2014)

2. FACE PAINT: THE STORY OF MAKEUP

Face Paint: The Story of Makeup, by renowned makeup artist Lisa Eldridge, traces the history of colorful body and face decoration, from ancient Egypt to the golden age of Hollywood.

Eldridge reveals why the art of makeup has always been present in human history, the materials and science it has utilized, and the glamorous icons who influence the style of every generation.

“Makeup artist and Lancome global creative director Lisa Eldridge drops serious knowledge in Face Paint, her book on the history of beautifying.”

— Marie Claire

Abrams Image (2015)

3. FANTASIA OF COLOR IN EARLY CINEMA

Did you know that color film first appeared as early as the 1910s? Fantasia of Color in Early Cinema is jam-packed with 300 colorful reproductions of early color film frames of movies made before World War I.

Authors Tom Gunning, Giovanna Fossati, Joshua Yumibe, and Jonathan Rosen discuss the making of these films, taken from the archives of EYE Film Institute Netherlands. A foreword by Martin Scorsese adds its own color to the story.

“Eye-popping. . . . Fantasia of Color in Early Cinema is an essential book — for its gorgeous array of stills, but also because it offers a reminder of how audiences were being dazzled by the magic of color movies long before the color revolution in cinema.”

— Atlantic

Amsterdam University Press (2015)

4. CONRAN ON COLOR

In Conran on Color, one of the world’s leading designers and retailers, Terence Conran, shares his practical tips on how to incorporate beautiful color into your home. Photos of gorgeous contemporary interiors will inspire you to take Conran’s advice and amp up your home decor, using colorful accents and focal points.

“In a scant 112 pages, Conran manages to take the fear out of using color in your home and replaces it with inspiration. His book will answer your questions and give you confidence about implementing color in your decor.”

— Bridget A. Otto, The Oregonian

Conran (2015)

5. BLUE: COBALT TO CERULEAN IN ART AND CULTURE

Featuring more than 200 artworks from the Boston Museum of Fine arts, Blue: Cobalt to Cerulean in Art and Culture, is the ultimate in coffee table books. Published by the Musuem, gorgeous photos of artworks, such as traditional Japanese prints and Impressionist paintings, will brighten your day.

Short essays on the historical significance of the color blue, written by museum curators, provide an extra dose of inspiration.

“[This] is a lushly illustrated book that features paintings, pottery, prints, and other artworks, many in delightful juxtapositions: An English teapot sits opposite a Winslow Homer painting featuring a blue canoe."

— Jan Gardner, Boston Globe

Chronicle Books (2015)

6. THE DAWN OF TECHNICOLOR: 1915-1935

The Dawn of Technicolor: 1915-1935 retells the history of Technicolor, and includes previously unavailable documentation of the company’s past. This extraordinary work is complete with more than 400 magnificent reproductions and an annotated Technicolor filmography from 1915 - 1935.

Written by James Layton and David Pierce, and edited by Paolo Cherchi Usai and Catherine Surowiec, this stunning book coincides with Technicolor’s 2015 centennial.

“There have been previous publications on the subject, ... but this is an achievement on another scale... Pierce and Layton have set the bar very high.”

— Sonia Genaitay, Sight & Sound

George Eastman House (2015)

7. INCITE 2, COLOR PASSIONS: THE BEST OF MIXED MEDIA

Looking for new artistic inspiration? Look no further than Incite 2, Color Passions: The Best of Mixed Media, edited by Tonia Jenny. This wonderful book contains photos of 133 pieces of colorful mixed-media art that will take your breath away.

Beautiful paintings, colorful collages, bright encaustics, stirring art journal entries, stunning jewelry art, and more, will inspire you to add a dash of color to your artistic palette.

"Let the joy of color push your creativity to new heights."

— Mel Grunau

North Light Books (2014)

8. THE BRILLIANT HISTORY OF COLOR IN ART

The Brilliant History of Color in Art, by critically acclaimed writer and popular journalist Victoria Finlay, takes you through the beautiful history of color in art with 166 magnificent reproductions of major artworks. It was named the Best Art Book of 2014 by The Huffington Post.

“This colorful volume tells the stories of the major colors in the artist's palette throughout history, from ultramarine to madder red to modern colors, like chrome yellow.”

— Seattle Times

J. Paul Getty Museum (2014)

9. TORY BURCH: IN COLOR

Tory Burch’s brand is known for its bold prints and bright color, and her new book ties right in. Tory Burch: In Color, explores the role that color plays for Burch in her designs.

Take a peek inside her life, and peruse beautiful photos of Burch’s collections, travels, and style icons, as well as the works of creative figures that she admires.

Anna Wintour’s foreword is worth the read, in and of itself.

“Might trigger envy with its sunny imagery of places, people, music and memories that inspire Burch’s designs, but it might also inspire a dreamy January vacation.”

— Chicago Tribune

Harry N. Abrams (2014)

10. GREEN: THE HISTORY OF A COLOR

The color green only became a symbol of nature in the Green: The History of a Color. Romantic period. And now, it is an iconic hue. Explore the history of the color green in European societies, from prehistoric to contemporary times, in Michel Pastoureau’s book.

This beautifully designed and illustrated book will pique the interest of anyone interested in culture, media, history, or design.

"From the ample green gown in Jan van Eyck's painting ‘The Arnolfini Wedding’ to the chartreuse and shamrock in Paolo Veronese's work, from Paul Cezanne's apples to Kees van Dongen's Fauvist use of mint and jungle greens, there's much to sink your eyes into."

— Mary Louise Schumacher, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Princeton University Press (2014)

Read more about Beautiful Colors, as it relates to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink,Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of National Geographic. Life In Color: National Geographic Photographs.
2. Image: Courtesy of National Geographic. Life In Color: National Geographic Photographs.
3. Image: Courtesy of Abrams Image. Face Paint: The Story of Makeup.
4. Image: Courtesy of Amsterdam University Press. Fantasia of Color in Early Cinema.
5. Image: Courtesy of  Conran. Conran on Color.
6. Image: Courtesy of Chronicle Books. Blue: Cobalt to Cerulean in Art and Culture.
7. Image: Courtesy of George Eastman House. The Dawn of Technicolor: 1915-1935.
8. Image: Courtesy of  North Light Books. Incite 2, Color Passions: The Best of Mixed Media.
9. Image: Courtesy of J. Paul Getty Museum. The Brilliant History of Color in Art.
10. Image: Courtesy of Harry N. Abrams. Tory Burch: In Color.
11. Image: Courtesy of Princeton University Press. Green: The History of A Color.
12. Image: Courtesy of Abrams Image. Face Paint: The Story of Makeup.
13. Image: Courtesy of Amsterdam University Press. Fantasia of Color in Early Cinema. Film frame from 'De molens die juichen en weenen' (1912).
14. Image: by BN App - Download now!
15. Image: Courtesy of National Geographic. Life In Color: National Geographic Photographs.