There's a new title in the Lark 500 series called 500 Tiles. I had to have it!
To me inspiration means new ideas. New ideas mean new work. New work means pleasing potential buyers. Potential buyers mean earning an income. Earning an income means I can afford more wonderful books to inspire me.
Does everyone go through this process to justify book addictions? Books (particularly art books) give me endless joy. They are my springboards to new ideas. I discover new artists, new mediums , new processes and new outlooks.
In 500 Tiles, I discovered Steven Bird's quirky mosaics. He creates playful, naive ceramic pieces, a number of which are featured in 5oo Tiles.
I'm guessing he started making mosaics when he had a surplus of broken ceramics that were beautiful in their own right. Far too good to throw out. His work makes me smile. (Another good reason for buying this book. There are many pieces that make me smile).
South African artist Hennie Meyer also features. He is known for his quaint teapots but now I have fallen in love with his tiles.
The set of 6 tiles tiles above are made by Hennie Meyer and the mosaics are created by Stephen Bird.
In the end if you are not careful your art becomes a hobby that pays for itself! I love art books but I'm afraid i am getting meaner by the minute and keep my hands in my pockets at shows and Craft fairs otherwise I go home with less money than I made. Your books make me want to buy...
ReplyDeleteI won a book token recently..I'd forgotten!
Me again..well now I know how to do it if you e-mail me I can help. Its so easy when you know how1
ReplyDeleteOh, I think I have to have this book. What great mosaics.
ReplyDeleteI used to go through that little justification process. Forget it. I know exactly which books I absolutely can't live without.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to keep my eye out for these "500" books...they look wonderful!
Oh yes, art books are a staple. I think an art book fetish is a good sign of a healthy, happy artist.
ReplyDeleteRobyn,
ReplyDeleteI love your cycle of sustenance as an artist:
"To me inspiration means new ideas. New ideas mean new work. New work means pleasing potential buyers. Potential buyers mean earning an income. Earning an income means I can afford more wonderful books to inspire me..."
I think it's essential for us to have a steady flow of fresh ideas and inspiration, there's no finish line as an artist, we continually evolve...
Dan
Yep
ReplyDeleteI go through the same book fetish - love em!
i am an expert at rationalizing my purchases of books and art supplies. i've done it for years. smile! thanks for sharing the photos of the tile pieces. lovely!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tiles and great book. Thanks for the review! I am especially drawn to Henny's tiles.
ReplyDeleteI love art books, fabric stores, art supply stores, and shoes! I am inspired to make more art when I get new shoes or something else to adorn my body. It feeds my creativity to wear colors and fabrics. (I used to be a fashion designer.) Now that I make abstract paintings, I find my inspiration everywhere.
Oh yes! I have the fetish too. It's so hard not to buy them all.
ReplyDeleteJackie, I seem to be managing the links at the moment but I will be right on over if I have any more trouble, thanks.
ReplyDeleteHerhimnbryn, I thought of you when I bought this book. It will definitely inspire you.
Willow, there are so many more titles in the series. Teapots and Boxes are on my wish list.
Shayla, I agree wholeheartedly!
Dan, the thought that we are continually evolving as artists pleases me no end.
Judy, thanks for popping in. I love the book you have just completed for the S.African couple. It is beyond awesome.
Julie, it was difficult choosing out of the 500 tiles, but Steven Bird and Hennie Meyer's tiles jumped out at me.
Kris, your abstracts make me happy....which in turn inspires me.
Heather, welcome to the club!
"To me inspiration means new ideas. New ideas mean new work. New work means pleasing potential buyers. Potential buyers mean earning an income. Earning an income means I can afford more wonderful books to inspire me. "
ReplyDelete--Love that. How true. Except I don't use that to justify buying books. Rather, I am more likely to draw inspiration from a cheaper source--the web. but I can see in your field it would help to have the books right there.
The goat? Not sure I got that? Lovely books btw.
I have four of these books! Art books are also an addiction to me, I love to be inspired, constantly. It's hard to say which tiles i love the most, maybe the poppy seed pods on page 123 or the riverbed series on page 17 by Paul McCoy. I gravitate to the old and to the world of nature. Thank you for leading me to re-discover this book!
ReplyDeleteI love the 500 series and will look for the tiles book. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteOh it looks splendid. I love mosaics....am working up to a blog on them..... I love the ancient mosaics best....did you know that Tunisia has the most and best preserved Roman mosaics? Oh, to walk on one of those ancient floors!!
ReplyDeleteMmm,I forget that in different countries (and families) we have different ways of expressing ourselves. The mountain goat thing is when you hop from rock to rock...very agile and sure footed...like a mountain goat. Straight up the mountain without a second thought.
ReplyDeleteYou ARE a bonified enabler!
ReplyDeleteI love getting a new book in the mail...I love browsing through a book shop. Sometimes I buy because I truly need to learn a technique (or two or three)...But when I've looked the artist in the eye and experienced their work up close... or read about the love and sacrifice the book carries within its covers, I feel almost 'honor bound' to buy it!
Am I bookstore bait or what?!
As a matter of fact I just bought several books yesterday! My latest fav is True Visions by LK Ludwig. It is a very inspirational book on authentic art journaling. My book collection is very precious and definitely keeps my wheels turning.
ReplyDeleteJune
Rivergardenstudio, I also gravitate towards the old and earthy natural. The riverbed series tiles are lovely.
ReplyDeleteTheresa, you won't be disappointed. It's a gorgeous book!
Lavinia, oh to work on those ancient mosaic floors...yes that would be amazing.
Stephanie, we are all bookstore bait....and it's great!
June, I've been thinking about ordering the LK Ludwig book.....but my wish list has just turned a corner and crossed the street.
Oh yes indeed.. the circle goes round and round...who can live without books...live to work/work to live...
ReplyDeleteThe tile work is gorgeous...reminds me of Klimpt.
Hadn't seen those 500 books before, they look fascinating...Of course having 'resources' for your creative process is part of the deal of being an artist;-) Plus you can think you are contributing to the well being of those other artists by buying books they feature in!
ReplyDeleteHi Robyn, I've got an award for you over at my blog.
ReplyDeleteAhh, thx for the explanation, Robyn!
ReplyDeleteRobyn, the books that I have seen in the "500" series are fabulous and very inspiring indeed. I, too, have a serious addiction to art books and have a Wishlist on Amazon.com that is(I just looked) 409 books long. OMG..I didn't realize there were THAT many. LOL I am waiting to pounce on the postwoman today as I am awaiting 2 books...True Visions (June mentioned in her post)and 1000 Artist Journal Pages. I'm giddy just thinking about it and I haven 't waded through the last couple I bought last month yet. I do consider them an investment in my art and well-being and I always get my moneys worth as I revisit them again and again. What I really need is MORE BOOKSHELVES!
ReplyDeleteArtistkitty, that's what is so great about having a collection of art books. We do go back to them over and over again. They pay their way! I'm waiting for a parcel from Kalahari (S.African company like Amazon) and can't wait to see the latest about Louise Nevelson.
ReplyDeleteGwen,its the one "luxury" I can't do without. There are times when I know I am overdoing it, buying more books than I can read in a month but I have to stock up just in case I run out. It's comforting to know I have a little pile of unread books waiting.
Ohhhh, I might have to have this book too, I'm also a mosaic dabbler. I love the work of English artist Cleo Mussi, she is very inspirational
ReplyDeleteRo, thanks so much for mentioning Cleo Mussi. A new artist for me and absolutely wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteI have the 500 beaded objects book, and a shelf laden, bowing in the middle full of art books. Inspiration, challenge, rest and soil food all come from these. An investment.
ReplyDeleteWe call art books "Eye Candy".
ReplyDeleteDon has 500 Animals and 500 Figures, I have 500 Handmade Books. You can NEVER have enough eye candy.
Susan Madden
I am hooked. You can never have too many books.
ReplyDelete