Drawing inspiration: what we're reading, observing, and listening to

We find inspiration everywhere. In the books we read, podcasts we listen to, and mobile apps that connect us to culture. We've curated our top favourites for you to explore below.
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Image courtesy Pushkin
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Kerry James Marshall Vignette #13, acrylic on PVC panel, 2008. Image courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York

Death of an Artist 

A podcast by Pushkin Industries.

Season 1 is hosted by curator, Helen Molesworth, season 2 by art historian, Katy Hessel. 

Season 1 spans six episodes that investigates the 1985 death of Cuban artist, Ana Mendieta, and the subsequent trial of her husband, sculptor Carl Andre. Season 1 examines the events of that night and the silence that followed within the art world, exploring themes of violence, gender, and power. 

Season 2 continues to probe the art world's hidden narratives by examining the life and work of Lee Krasner: the woman who made Jackson Pollock famous. Across six episodes, this season offers an inside look into two of the 20th centuries greatest artists and how their legacy shaped the landscape of modern art. 

Kerry James Marshall: The Histories 

An exhibition on display at the Royal Academy of Arts, until 18 January 2026 

A major survey of Kerry James Marshall's work, this exhibition brings together more than 70 pieces spanning his career. Renowned for his masterful use of painting to centre Black figures excluded from the Western canon, Marshall's works combine art history, comics, civil rights imagery, and personal memory to powerful effect. Expect to be inspired, and moved. 

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Image courtesy of Bloomberg Connects
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Image courtesy of Bloomberg Connects

Bloomberg Connects

A free app and digital guide to cultural institutions around the world, including museums, galleries, and sculpture parks.

The app offers access to over 1000 arts and culture venues and collections across the globe. 

We love being able to browse audio, video, and reading content on the move or from the comfort of home. 

The School has recently partnered with Bloomberg to host exclusive content about the School on the app.

Download Bloomberg Connects to explore art near you and discover new ways to connect with drawing, wherever you are. 

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Image courtesy Penguin
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Behind the scenes at a Digital Studio session

Art on My Mind

bell hooks explores the power of art as a tool for transformation and social change. Through essays, critiques, and interviews with artists such as Carrie Mae Weems and Alison Saar, she examines how creativity shapes identity, education, and community. First published in 1995, this seminal work remains a vital guide to understanding the relationship between art, politics, and democracy today.

 

Drawing inks 

We recently purchased Winsor & Newton drawing inks for our Digital Studio sessions. We love using drawing ink to capture movement, expression, and in our drawing from observation practice. These inks are a studio essential!