I love technical books. My bookshelves overfloweth with ideas, theories, techniques, inspiration, and more. I am reminded of that movie Short Circuit, 1986, where Number 5, the robot, is voraciously reading every book exclaiming “more input..more input”? This is exactly how I feel when I go for my weekly fix at Borders or Barnes and Noble or when new books come in.
So, I have to tell you about a few new books which I’m chomping at the bit to read. One is John Cogswell’s new book Creative Stonesetting. It is an amazing book. Definitely a must-have for your library. He has over 600 sketches that he did in writing this 200+ page book on just about every setting there is and how to do them. I can’t wait to spend some quality time with this book. Get your copy today from Whole Lotta Whimsy! I bring mine to football practice nightly trying to read a delicious page at a time.
Having had the privilege of taking 2 classes from John, I can tell you that he is a wealth of knowledge. He is also a really wonderful person and an incredible teacher. If you get the opportunity to take a class from him, do it. I recently took a forging class which I quickly learned was not a skill that I endeavor to master. So I spent the rest of the class time, following him around like a little duckling absorbing wonderful tidbits of info as students asked all sorts of questions. I want to share with you something that I loved that John says at the beginning of his book. “I decided to write this book for two reasons. The first involves an issue of social responsibility; as workers in precious metal, every one of us is a steward of our profession, privileged with the gift of information handed down to us. With privilege comes responsibility, and this gift of knowledge is actually less a gift than a loan. Though it’s ours to use, it is incumbent on each of us to pass what we know along to others. I was fortunate to have had excellent teachers and instruction as a student. Now I teach, and try to pass along the lore and wisdom that was entrusted to me.” Wow! Isn’t that exactly why we teach or should teach? When you have a teacher that keeps no secret or technique to him or herself you know they too are masterful stewards of their profession.
Also, I picked up a copy of Catherine Davies Paetz’s new booklet on water etching and enameling. I can’t wait to read it. I just need to find the time. Catherine is selling them directly or maybe you were lucky enough to get them at the PMC Conference. You can contact her at www.cdpdesigns.com. They are $25.
I’ve picked up a few creativity, time management and marketing books that I’ll be sharing tidbits with you along the way. So stay tuned! I wish I had a few hours each day just to read!
Well I’m packing up to teach a certification class for Rio Rewards in Prescott, AZ this weekend. I’m also playing with BronzClay today. I’ll keep you posted on the developments, if note worthy. Hope you all are having a great week! Hope you find some time to settle down with a technical book and devour all that great knowledge.
Tata for now 🙂
I love the quote by John Cogswell on teaching. I was just having a conversation with an artist/teacher friend and she was asking where do you draw the line on sharing. We both came to the same conclusion he makes in that we will hold back no secrets! Enjoyed the pictures from Arrowmont and enjoyed meeting you too. Hope our paths will cross again soon.