Sketchy Business

by April Everett Rowan Public Library

Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad. 

-Salvador Dali

For thousands of years, mankind has communicated through pictures drawn on cave walls, architecture, sculpture, and paintings.  Art is a universal language, and is by definition the application of human creative skill and imagination.  According to Dali, drawing is the most honest form of art, raw and unforgiving.  While Dali maintains you cannot cheat--that your work is either good or bad--he never said you have to be inherently good at drawing.  It is possible to teach yourself, or hone your existing skills, without dishonesty to the art.

What do Kahlo, Gauguin, Da Vinci, and Rousseau have in common?  Other than being artists, they were all self-taught.  Autodidacticism, or the act of learning a subject without the benefit of an instructor or formal education, is a concept receiving much attention with the recent introduction of massive open online courses (MOOCs).  MOOCs are online courses aimed at unlimited participation and open access to all via the Internet.  Whether you sign up for a MOOC, watch YouTube videos, or pick up a book, if you want to learn a new skill you must be motivated, disciplined, and invested.

If you are motivated to learn more about drawing, Rowan Public Library has a wide variety of books and DVDs designed to help you refine your skills.  Below is a mix of traditional and nontraditional art books that can be found in our collection.

In Freehand : sketching tips and tricks drawn from art, Helen Birch breaks down basic drawing techniques into bite-sized chunks, and reveals their practical application in examples by contemporary artists.  This pint-sized handbook teaches artists of all skill levels how to find a unique style that can be utilized to make amazing sketches.

Mel Elliott helps “everyone who loved getting covered in paint and glue at school and would secretly love to do it more often” to harness their inner creativity in her book, How to make art: a book of ideas, inspiration, theory and practice.  With in-depth tutorials on how to create funky collages, make cool wonky lettering, and so much more, this book will have you drawing, painting, and coloring in no time!

If you are a nature-loving artist, then you will enjoy peeking at The Organic Artist: make your own paint, paper, pens, pigments, prints, and more from nature by Nick Neddo.  This treasure encourages us to return to the good ol’ days when art was made with all-natural materials, such as charcoal and birch bark. In addition to offering a wide variety of suggestions for using nature as supplies for art, this book also introduces the concepts of awareness and perception that are foundational to the creative process.

Timothy Goodman teaches us how to make art out of a cherished office supply in his book, Sharpie art workshop: techniques & ideas for transforming your world.  Because Sharpies can be used on virtually any surface, are available in five tip widths, and come in more than 30 colors (plus silver metallic), Goodman maintains they are the go-to medium for creative artists.

If colored pencils are more your style, then check out Drawing cute animals in colored pencil by Ai Akikusa.  This book offers simple yet detailed instructions that will help you learn how to draw adorable animals including rabbits, squirrels, pigs, and alpacas (just to name a few).  See how using colored pencils and shading to make animals come to life!

Not feeling very autodidactic?  Move beyond the written word and try a Drawing for the Absolute Beginner class.  In this free six-week online class available through the library’s subscription to Gale Courses, you will learn paper types, drawing styles, rendering techniques, and the basic principles of perspective, layout, design, lighting, volume, and space.  The next session for this course begins October 14, 2015.

We also invite you to join us for a Drawing for Beginners class led by our resident artist, Emma Rose, who will be teaching the basic principles of drawing.  The class will be held at Rowan Public Library’s East Branch (110 Broad Street, Rockwell 28138) on Monday, October 5, 2015 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.  Teens and adults are welcome to attend, and there is no charge.  Visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call 704-216-7842 for more information.

Non-fiction Series for Children

by Melissa J. Oleen Rowan Public Library

                Three of my favorite non-fiction series for children are the Who was/is…?, What was…? and Where is…? series.  The intended audience is children eight to twelve years old (3^rd through 5^th graders) but older readers will also find them informative. They are great choice to read to older children (Children are never too old to be read to!) or any child who prefers non-fiction over fiction.  Short chapters and lots of black and white illustrations make them a good choice for reluctant readers. Children working on their first oral essays or written reports for school will find these books a great source of information without being overwhelming.  Families visiting famous historical sites will find these a fun way to get the kids interested (Use these books for a game of true or false in the car on the way there).

                Each volume includes a timeline of the person/place/event covered with a corresponding world timeline on the other side of the page helping readers gain a broader understanding of events.  Timelines are followed by a bibliography listing additional books on the topic for young readers.

                The Who was…?/Who is…? Series offers a detailed account of a famous figure’s life.  They are also referred to as the “Big Head” books as the covers all feature the famous individuals picture with the head made unusually large.  Titles start off with a few unusual facts about the person to get the reader’s attention and make you want to read further.  Often the facts are ones that kids will identify with and understand.  For example, Who Was Albert Einstein first tells us that Einstein was a very poor student who got kicked out of school.  Yet, he becomes one of the most brilliant people in the world. 

                The series includes both living and deceased individuals and the variety of occupations and backgrounds is excellent. Musicians, sports figures, politicians, inventors, entrepreneurs, explorers and leaders to name a few.  For many of the individuals featured, it is hard to locate quality non-fiction books about them intended for these ages and grade levels.  Who was …Ernest Shackleton, Rachel Carson, Gandhi, Who is... Bill Gates can all be found at the library.

                What was…? Focuses on important historical events and provides a detailed accounting appropriate for young children. Titles include What was…Pompeii, The March on Washington D.C., The Alamo, Pearl Harbor, and The Battle of Gettysburg.

                Where is…? Introduces readers to famous landmarks and locations around the world. They explore how they came to be and why in addition to describing how they were used. Where is…The Great Wall, The Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore and The White House.

                The library has a growing collection of these titles available in both hard copy and digital format via the NC Digital Library.  Simply search for the person, place or event to locate specific titles.  To browse available titles in the library catalog, do an advanced search for titles that begin with “Who Was”, “Where is” etc.  In the NC Digital Library, go to Kids & Teens then Kid’s Non-Fiction and search within the results for your subject.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

by  Dara L. Cain for Rowan Public Library

Pirate talk has so many off-sounding words, but isn’t that what makes it so much fun!   Bet you or your child couldn’t say Poop Deck, or Monkey Jacket with a straight face.  On September 19th it was International Talk Like a Pirate Day giving everyone the chance to get a little silly and have some fun.  This holiday was created in 1995 by two friends John Baur and Mark Summers while playing racquetball. Today, many families take the holiday one step further by dressing up like pirates and playing pirate games.  It’s never too late to take part in the entertainment if you haven’t already done so.  To get you and your family started visit Rowan Public Library where you will find some great children’s books on pirates to set the mood and explore the truth behind the life of a pirate.

Most kids know pirates raided ships, kidnapped people, and stole treasure during the Golden Age of Piracy.  But even though they were criminals they might be surprised to learn they still had to follow certain rules to make sure pirates were treated equally.  They faced severe punishments if they broke the rules.  Look inside the book Life Under the Pirate Code by Cindy Jenson-Elliott to learn about the pirate code and how it guided everyday life on a pirate ship.   This is a simple story that will definitely engage young readers and a glossary is included.

    So what happens to a pirate if they break the pirate code?  Delve into the fate of a pirate’s prisoner in the book, The Usborne Official Pirate’s Handbook:  Be the Best Buccaneer on the Seven Seas by Sam Taplin.  Keep in mind this book in not for young ones who scare easily.  Readers are not shielded from the reality of life as a prisoner as they learn the graphic descriptions of dangers and treatments of prisoners.  Sam Taplin briefly gives some background about piracy in the 1700s and effectively gives a substantial bit of information packed with eyewitness narrative, cartoons, and helpful hints to young readers.  If you want to read a children’s book that isn’t as graphic but includes all the important facts and some fun  cartoon illustrations then the title You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Pirate’s Prisoner!:  Horrible Things You’d Rather Not Know by John Malam is a great choice.  

If you are in the mood to get your hands on some engaging pirate stories instead of the straight facts  be sure to read True Stories of Pirates by Lucy Lethbridge.  The stories tell a tale of hardship and cruelty, bringing to life the outrageous characters of the most famous pirate captains and the determination of the daring men who set out to capture them.  Some famous pirates included in the book are Edward Teach otherwise known as Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Calico Jack.

Everyone talks about male pirates but what about those few courageous female pirates.  Aileen Weintraub’s  book,  Anne Bonny and Mary Read:  Fearsome Female Pirates of the Eighteenth Century talks about two brave female pirates.  Weintraub follows Bonny and Read from their childhood to their meeting aboard the ship of Calico Jack Rackham and their capture.  Kids will be amazed at the achievements of these women and will be left pondering what became of Anne Bonny after her capture.

So what are you waiting for?  Head to Rowan Public Library to find some great pirate books to enjoy with your family and get ready to party like a pirate!