Noticing Everything

This little book was recommended on a site I follow. The Art of Noticing.

I procured a copy from the library then decided I needed my own to 

dog ear, mark up & refer to for inspiration.

It's right there with Keep Going on my table.

Rob has a website as well and a newsletter that is a nice
companion to the book with current thoughts.

This latest post from his newsletter
has some great ideas to get you Noticing things
 around you while being in your home.

I especially like this tid bit.

Make Bad Art

The Washington Post recently offered “5 tips to spark your creativity while working alone, from artists who do it all the time.” Lots of good practical ideas, but my favorite bit is a side comment quote from the always-entertaining artist and writer (and friend of TAoN) Dean Haspiel: “A lot of bad art is going to come out of this nightmare — including my own — and that’s okay.”

I'm working on that in earnest. Why not?

Try to notice good stuff everyday.

Libraries Oh How I Miss Them

I think a lot of folks are in the same place as I am on this.

The Library can be one of my main sources of information & entertainment. 

I have access to 3 branches of my local Library. Above is the mother ship. Only 

a 5 minute drive from my house. Why aren't Libraries an essential service? I get it,

but with all of us at home we need stuff to read! I prefer a book I can hold in my hands. 

I'd rather borrow a book than buy it. At least until I know it deserves a place on my shelves.

This little cutie, The East Bay Library, is where I belong to a monthly book club. 

 Above is the brand new Peninsula Community Library up Old Mission Peninsula from us.
The drive to get there is worth it.  

You can find almost anything in print or on a DVD through Library searches. 

WorldCat.org is a good place for a wide search.
here is a list of e Libraries State by State.

How are you getting your reading material these days?
What are you reading?

I'd Like to Buy a Vowel

Truth is I'd rather just buy books about lettering arts. I have several favorites. Here are the ones I'm leafing through regularly.

    A standard in the pointed pen arena. A wealth of information and exemplars to follow. It's good to start with the basics and get good technique cemented before going off on a wild tangent.

          Then it's on to the more modern, fun, looser approach. I love Molly Thorpe's work.

 I suggest you take a look at The Postman's Knock by Lindsey Bugbee, who's blog I follow religiously, & sign up to follow her if you are interested in doing lettering. This post by Lindsey  goes into lots of detail on Molly's book & work. A great video is included with a fun project.

            Another great choice for everything from traditional to modern approaches to lettering. This book has a lot to offer. Unfortunately Lisa died at a very young age, but her work lives on. Seven years ago I took a class with Lisa. We did painting, stitching & lettering on fabric. I use a lot of the techniques I learned in that class in the current fiber arts I'm pursuing. A few pics from that class below.

I have had the pleasure to take a class with Annie Cicale in the past & she will be joining the instructors at Paper & Book Intensive this next spring. I may take her class there depending on the content & competition with other classes.  Just about every hand is represented with great instruction. Notice the large amount of sticky notes hanging off the edges. That's a sure sign of something I look back to often. My copy is signed. Smile!

Lastly is my treasured copy of the 1941 edition of the Speedball book. This belonged to my Dad. He & his older brother were sign painters way back when. They did window signs for grocery stores and businesses before all this could be done by any machine. There are so many cool things in this book for poster design and little figures.

Next up will be a few thoughts on practice, supplies, and fun additions to the lettering supply stash.