Welcome to Letters From My Art Book Club! I have been an avid reader since
childhood. Books would be my greatest joy next to art and so I want to create a
thoughtful space where we explore books that feel like paintings in prose; books that
make us slow down, look more closely and truly see the world in a different way. The
books will be about art, or artists, or contain art in their plot. Some will be fiction,
some biographies...but all will show how art adds depth and richness to our lives. I read
over 60 books in just 2025, I am a reader! I will be fussy and only the best books will get posted here.
I will also leave you with a reflection each month, inspired by the book. Please email
me any books you have loved, even non art ones. miasart@iinet.net.au
BOOK CLUB
‘READ LIKE AN ARTIST’
Midnight Blue - Simone van der Vlugt
I started January reading Midnight Blue by Simone van der Vlugt, drawn in by its blue-and-white cover and art topic. It’s set in 17th-century Delft and follows Catrijn as her life takes unexpected turns, with a dangerous secret threatening to destroy her. It is threaded with art as a central theme throughout the narrative, with Dutch art and the famous Dutch Blue pottery woven into the story.
It’s a story that speaks the language of art, the narrative painted with light and shadow,
good and bad and with a wonderful insight into domestic routine, the textures of fabric, the smell of paint, and the rhythm of work, all of which play a part. Art is portrayed as part of life, offering quiet hope in Catrijn’s story. The story is gripping with an undercurrent of survival, love and the quiet strength of a women determined to live by her own decisions.
I really enjoyed this book and gave it a 4/5 on Goodreads.
What small, ordinary decisions in your life give you a feeling of strength when
you pause to notice them?
For me, the feeling of strength hasn’t come from one big decision; it’s come from the
many small, ordinary decisions I’ve taken over the past fifteen years of building my art
business. Each painting, each email, each exhibition, each decision about pricing,
printing, packing, and posting, even the making of this Letter project, has quietly
moulded me into someone way more capable than I ever could have imagined. When
I was a young mother just learning to paint, I never considered even for a moment
that it would lead me to run a small business selling my art. Opening a website,
entering art prizes, blogging about my art and processes has taught me resilience,
immense patience, and the importance of trusting myself.
My goodness, there have been so many moments of uncertainty and self-doubt, but
I’ve pushed through and seen slow, steady growth that makes me feel very proud.
These everyday decisions, often made on my own or in the dead of a sleepless night
— the ones that feel small and insignificant at the time — have shown I can do more
than I think I can. The daily achievements remind me that I am not only an artist but
someone who can navigate the practical, logistical, and emotional layers of this
creative life with courage and patience, and I can now give back to others.
Thank you for your part in this journey.
BOOK CLUB
‘READ LIKE AN ARTIST’
Midnight Blue by Simone van der Vlugt
Self Reflection Question :
What small, ordinary decisions in your life give you a feeling of strength when you pause to notice them?
For me, the feeling of strength hasn’t come from one big decision; it’s come from the
many small, ordinary decisions I’ve taken over the past fifteen years of building my art
business. Each painting, each email, each exhibition, each decision about pricing,
printing, packing, and posting, even the making of this Letter project, has quietly
moulded me into someone way more capable than I ever could have imagined.
When I was a young mother just learning to paint, I never considered even for a moment
that it would lead me to run a small business selling my art. Opening a website,
entering art prizes, blogging about my art and processes has taught me resilience,
immense patience, and the importance of trusting myself.
My goodness, there have been so many moments of uncertainty and self-doubt, but
I’ve pushed through and seen slow, steady growth that makes me feel very proud.
These everyday decisions, often made on my own or in the dead of a sleepless night
— the ones that feel small and insignificant at the time — have shown I can do more
than I think I can.
The daily achievements remind me that I am not only an artist but
someone who can navigate the practical, logistical, and emotional layers of this
creative life with courage and patience, and I can now give back to others.
Thank you for your part in this journey.
