How Audiobooks Help Me Be the Best Artist I Can Be
I’ve always been a reader. When I was in elementary school, my favorite place to spend recess wasn’t the playground—it was the library or the art room (no surprise there) with a couple of friends. Growing up, there was a library right across the street from my school, so I’d spend countless afternoons wandering the aisles, getting lost in stories and finding a quiet place to write and doodle.
Not much has changed. Even now, one of my favorite things to do with Briggs is to go to our local library story time. This became a part of our daily routine before he went to preschool and I love going back whenever he has breaks. There’s something incredibly comforting about being surrounded by books in a friendly, calm environment.
As an artist, that love of reading has followed me into the studio. Audiobooks have become one of my favorite tools, not just for learning, but for staying inspired, focused, and creatively free.
Finding the Right Book
I read (or listen to) a little bit of everything: fiction, autobiographies, mysteries, thrillers,, fantasy, self-help, science-based books—you name it. I love to learn and push myself, so I typically pair a self-help or science-based book with a fictional story and try to finish both in a week. That combination keeps my mind stimulated but not overwhelmed. It stretches me while also letting me escape into a different world.
Why Audiobooks Work So Well in the Studio
One of the biggest gifts audiobooks give me is that they help quiet the overthinking side of my brain. When I’m painting in silence, it’s easy for my thoughts to spiral into perfectionism or second-guessing. But when I’m listening to a book, something magical happens,I loosen up. I get absorbed. I stop micromanaging every brushstroke and lose track of time.
It creates the same feeling I had as a kid sitting in the library, flipping pages without noticing the minutes slipping by.
Books Beyond the Studio
Another unexpected joy this past year has been watching my husband get into reading too. It’s become part of our bedtime routine, we’ll read side by side, sharing recommendations, trading thoughts about characters, and swapping books when we’re done. It’s such a small thing, but it feels like one more thread that ties us together. I love that stories have become something we connect over, another piece of our lives that we get to share.
Books and Art: Two Ways to Get Lost on Purpose
Getting lost in a book feels a lot like getting lost in a painting. Both invite you into a world where imagination takes over. Both give your mind space to wander. Both let you forget about everything else for a little while.
If you’re feeling stuck as an artist, bored, burned out, or just needing something to calm your busy brain, try putting on an audiobook while you work. It might be exactly the distraction your mind needs to relax, reset, and let your creativity flow again.