What book would help explain art theory to a skilled composer who’s already familiar with music theory and aesthetics at a high level, but lacks specific knowledge in the visual arts?

Answer 1

What a great question! As someone who is both an artist and musician, I appreciate the connection you're making here between your musical knowledge and the realm of visual art. Below I've provided a book suggestion as well as two more ideas to push you in the right direction. Feel free to pick and choose what feels the most relevant, accessible, and engaging for you:

1. A standard technical color theory text that may just blow your mind is Josef Albers' Interaction of Color (bookshop.org). This book provides a thorough breakdown of the technical ways that color and composition can be manipulated to effect the way we see. A rough musical comparison would be studying harmonic movement and the different effects one can create with different sorts of progressions and resolutions.
2. Look at as much art as you can, past and present. The pandemic may prevent you from doing this in person at the moment, but many galleries and museums are providing video tours of current shows, lectures, and more until they can open their doors again. If you're not sure where to start, maybe look up your local contemporary art museum and/or galleries and see what they have on their sites. I suggest local so that you can check them out in person after the pandemic. If there aren't any where you are, check out CAAM | California African American Museum (caamuseum.org) and LACMA | Los Angeles County Museum of Art. I love these two museums and regularly visit them (when there isn't a pandemic).
3. Read current art criticism. This is the best introduction I can think of to contemporary art theory in a philosophical sense. I like the art writing at Hyperallergic. You may find some inspiration there about what virtual shows to investigate (or see in person after the pandemic).

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you are interested in pursuing any of these ideas along with discussions, assignments, and additional texts that will help you analyze and talk about art.