Retirement: Online Art Workshops

The books I promised-

Book purchases #3 and 4 for 2008:

Mixed Media Nature Journals by L.K. Ludwig

Another beautiful book jam packed with techniques and ideas. L.K.'s work has always been luscious and intriguing to me. I still have all of her Memory & Dream zines tucked away (and her other publications as well) on a shelf. I am really looking forward to her art journaling book that is coming out later on this year. We both share several of the same "art" philosophies and they really resonated with me throughout the book.

In all honesty, though, I rarely buy books for "how to". This is one that I bought for the eye candy level alone. I'm not going to replicate any of the techniques or anything in the book but I will enjoy leisurely flipping through the pages and enjoying the art inside of it. I wish that more book companies would realize that not all of us are buying the books for "techniques"...I do enjoy words and reading (I LOVE reading). I'd just rather SEE the artwork and READ about WHY the artist did what she/he did...just my two cents. (It's the same way of thinking I have for the book I'm going to mention next! The directions are excellent, it's just that I don't care about the techniques-it's the ART, I want.)

Painted Paper by Alisa Golden

I love Alisa's work. I always recommend her books for beginners to advanced students as there's always something in it for everyone. I love how she has painted, full color, completed samples sprinkled throughout the book. This book was no exception. The first part of the book focuses on techniques for painting the pages. Then it goes into making books with the painted pages. Definitely worth checking out.

I've decided that for some reason once in a blue moon, I seem to attract nutcases to me at the bookstores. I went to Barnes & Noble in San Diego on Sunday as I got to class an hour early. I went looking for LK Ludwig's new book since I knew it was out. Looked all over the craft and art section for it before I went to the desk and asked for help. I used to work for Barnes & Noble-I know the protocol. If it's not out and it's nowhere to be found, it's in the back on a shelf in the CRAFTS area of the backroom (a little shelf with the word crafts on a piece of tape underneath it)The woman standing at the info desk was just a little off her rocker at first. When I told her I wasn't 100% sure of the title but I knew the author's name she insisted on yelling "LUDWIG" over and over again in different accents. Um, okay. Then she couldn't find it several times even though all she had to do was a search for Ludwig and Nature Journals. She turned the computer so I could see it and the screen went blank. That freaked her out. So then she decides that she will now go and look where I looked already for the 3 copies they had "in the store according to the computer". I asked her if she could possibly look in the back. She shot me the nastiest look and said "NO ONE works in the back on weekends and it's like looking for a needle in a haystack." I told her I used to work for Barnes and Noble and I know how the back room is organized by section! I would really appreciate it if she could please look for me (I said it very nicely and was serious about how appreciative I would be). She said no that I would be better off ordering the book or going to another store IN THE NASTIEST voice!! WTF?!?! I tell her I live in L.A. so ordering it is out. She turns on her heels and leaves. I am miffed and about to leave when I hear a woman tell her husband that another clerk was going in the back to look for a book for her and she was going to meet the clerk at the info desk (!!!) I hightail it (Following this woman) to the info desk and I start stalking that clerk! LOL The clerk came out of the back room with the woman's book. I tell the clerk what happened and ask if she could please look in the back room for my book. The clerk looks it up on the computer and says "Oh, we just received it a couple of days ago. It's probably still in the back. Hold on a sec." One minute later she walks out with LK's book. WHAT A DIFFERENCE ATTITUDE and perseverance MAKES!! The second clerk made my day! The first woman I wanted to beat the crap out of !!

Moral of this story is: If Barnes and Noble (or Borders) says it has more 3 or more copies of a book on hand and no one can find it. It's on the shelf somewhere. It's on an end cap. It's on a table display. It's on hold for someone. If all else fails and no one can find a copy "on the shelf" somewhere, it's in the back room. Ask and ask nicely. And if you get a loon, find someone else!

We are off this afternoon on our first Kilmer Family Big Book Advenure of '08. We haven't been to any of our favorite used stores in over 3 weeks. I'm determined to be extremely picky, though, about what I buy. I will have to shoot a photo of the books that are piled on the floor in front of my bed making it an obstacle course to walk around it. My shelves are overflowing. It may be time to do a "book trade" like I did last year.
*****

Angela Cartwright will be at Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles THIS Thursday at 7:30 signing both IN THIS HOUSE and MIXED EMULSIONS. Check it out!