RECENT READS | SMH Illustration & Design

What we have been reading about lately.

Certainly one can learn from Mr. Meyer and his Watercolor Painting on Location. Because life has been so full, we were not able to glean all we good from his expertise. In time, we look to check this book out at the library once again.

When you are self-taught on this subject as we are, you are humbled by simple techniques, such as stretching the paper before painting. We never knew that! Thank you El. We do hope to ready you cover to cover in the near future so we can learn more from you.

So much to do and so little time. Bordem is not in our vocabulary here in the studio. Always so much fun to be having!

Reading Sign Painters was both educational and entertaining. Just what we needed at this time, it was an easy book to pick up/put down, to read in short spurts. Learning took place as we were exposed many different painters in the trade and each gave their “testimony”. Signs will alway peak our interest, and the hand generated ones show where true talent lies. Kudos to all of the “real” sign painters out their still earning a living by working it by hand. Thank you Faythe and Sam for bringing them together all in one place.

Large Letter Post Cards
by: Fred Tenney & Kevin Hilbert

Cool beans, that is how we would describe this read. After browsing through Large Letter Post Cards by Fred Tenney & Kevin Hillbert, I believe we have been inspired enough that folks should be seeing some kind duplicate artwork in the future. When we say “duplicate”, we don’t mean to copy, we mean to create our own using this type of style. Oh to have 24 more hours in our day.

Transparent Watercolor by William H. Condit

Nemours – A Portrait of Alfred I. duPont’s House
by: Dwight Young and Grace Gary

Architecture, graphic design, fine art, literature… they all go together, correct? At least we think so. We found Nemours to be a very relaxing, encouraging, and inspirational read about an amazing man and his struggles with the hard hands he was delt and how he over came them. From losing both parents at a young age, bad marriages, going deaf, and business deals gone sour, Alfred I. duPont persevered and refused to let anyone or anything stand in his way. Thank you Mr. Young and Ms. Gary for bringing his life to light.

Posters – 77 Plates in Full Color
by: Attilio Rossi

Thanks to the encouragement of a dear friend, we acquired a library membership from the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, PA. While there, we indulged in a small stack of what we hope are great reads; this being one of them. Susan doesn’t particularly care for the type of artwork showcased on the pages, but she still gleaned from the overall composition of the book. Her heart not only palpitated from climbing four stories in the library to the graphic design section, but also from looking at the many shelves of titles she can’t wait to thumb through. Oh to grace Oakland again soon.