Old Childrens book

An Alphabet of Magic
by Eleanor Farjeon

Illustrated by Margaret W Tarrant

published by The Medici Society.

Studio Bronze Casting

Where my source for this comes from I can't remember but I believe the more valuable small bronze animals produce by The French Animaliers of the 19 century were actually caste by the sculptor in their studios. Later of course foundries did the work and thousands of copies followed.

I started in my studio casting in resin bronze my own work. Had I been brave and had some guidance then the romantic notion of casting my own bronze in my studio need not have been put aside as impractical.

Now this may be a thing of the past, there is a book on how to do it!

Another Frenchman on the other side of the World has put things to right. From my limited knowledge of bronze casting, this book looks fantastic. Even I can understand it. (My recommendation however is in good faith and if things go wrong please do not blame me!) Having said that thank you Olivier, this is just what is needed.

His web address is here

http://www.bodyscape.net.nz/bronze-casting-tutorial.htm

Top new novel of the year, the best in a good bunch, Ali Shaw’s The Girl with glass feet.

I have just read a great new book as a reward for six months of particularly hard graft at my sculpture.

If one is to review a good novel, I suggest the following;

1. You can’t put the book down.

2. It changed you for the better.

3. It hit an emotional nerve or two as all art should do.

4. You are very glad you read it.

Ali Shaw’s first novel would get 100% from me if it were not for the No.3 above which was seriously over the top, but then I have a soft heart and it floored me completely- so he gets an A+ as well.

In essence it is a complex, tempestuous love story, encompassing a wide variety of human family issues without needing to resort to sensational taboos.

Ali Shaw’s style of writing is quietly contemporary and you barely notice it. His fine descriptive passages do not bore the pants off a hard pressed dyslexic like me; I did not need to skip a word.

I might advise my own to avoid St Hauda’s Land but not this book. Read it first, then see the film; oh yes it will make a great film, set in beautiful surroundings by the sea and creepy bogs in the snow, one or two slightly weird characters; it is also a “special effects godsend”. The atmosphere fluctuates dramatically and will give the greatest screenwriter fantastic scope. At times exciting, there really is no time to waste with-in this cracking good story.

Roll on "book two" Ali, can’t wait. I can see a serious cult following here.

www.atlantic-books.co.uk

ISBN 9781843549185

Export & airside trade paperback ISBN 9781843549192

Conrad’s wisdom confounds me again

I think you will find Conrad’s post on Art appreciation accurate and entertaining. Sturgeon’s law which John Cowan refers to in his comment is a good one except when applied to the Turner Prize where 90% seems a bit low!

http://vunex.blogspot.com/2008/12/schllen-der-leidenschaft.html

Wellington College

My Brother writes books, here is his latest; though mainly Military History he has been known to deviate! A fascinating account into the first 150 years of an English Public School this book is interesting to Old Wellintonians as it will be to many others. It has some great stories and is written with pristine clarity. You will learn what a "toe pan" was and who the "Jallies" were too.

I remember a business man being captured by a certain third world country and kept in far from cushy conditions. On being released after several years he remarked cheerfully, "Oh, I was fine, I survived an English Public School Education, so this was no problem."

I am most impressed too with the ribbon marker which helps keep my place, don't find them in books that often these days! Well published therefore by Third Millennium Publishing www.tmiltd.com

I recommend this work, but not for the faint hearted.

Art, essential reading?

Now I am constantly discussing Art with experts which is unnerving because “like everyone else I know nothing of Art”. I suffer from grumpy old male syndrome and "can't stand intolerance of any kind"!!

These are two books I have acquired. The one on the left send to me by a grateful publisher who needed a picture and the other I bought 10 years ago as I thought it might throw some light on the environment in which my Grandfather started his painting career.

Drawing techniques, Art and practice

Some books increase in value when second-hand, here is one. There are a myriad of books on drawing. A few are very good. This is one of them and the one I would probably choose if I was only allowed one on a desert island.

Text by Karel Teissig and selection of pictorial material by Jana Brabcova this book has lots of notes and underlings in my pencil indicating agreement. Preaching to the converted? No, not really, just had stuff put into words which would have been useful if I had read them at an early stage! Useful inspiration and aide memoir.

Indeed there are classic remarks which may well be quoted on these pages in the future.