Just Starting Out...
I have been considering writing a book for the past few years and I have finally settled on a topic. Read about my discussion with John Hoffman of Lost Art Press and my subsequent decision in a blog post.
I have always understand 3-dimensional shapes, and I am confident that I can make those shapes carved in wood. However, words often baffle me, so "writing" a book is definitely going to be stretching me beyond my comfort zone. I recently had the opportunity to sit and discuss this "stretch" with Roy Underhill, of The Woodwright's Shop, who is an amazing word-smith. I had the misconception that those who consider themselves "writers" simply have a natural ability to just let the words flow, write them down, and there you have a book! Well... how wrong I was! It seems that writing is about 10% and editing is 90%. I felt so much better after discovering this! It is still going to be a challenge, (but I love a good challenge) and I am sure that I will be asking many people to help review and edit... but my anxiety is much less after talking with Roy.
This newsletter is really going to be more like a journal as I walk through this new adventure of book writing. Since this is the first newsletter, and I have just begun this process, I will start by explaining some of the beginning decisions I have made. This will definitely evolve as I go, and will probably change somewhat between now and late 2015 when I hope to have the book ready for sale.
Here are some of the decisions I have made so far:
- I think I have settled on the title - but not quite sure. "The Acanthus Leaf" as heading and "A Rite of Passage for the Classical Carver" as a sub-heading
- The book will be available in hard copy and e-book
- There will be a chapter on the history of the acanthus leaf
- There will be a chapter on sharpening tools (there are entire books on this out there, so I just wanted to touch on this)
- There will be a chapter on specific elements that are often seen on acanthus leaves (pipes, eyes, etc.) and drawing the leaf
- There will be approximately 10 lesson chapters of different styles of leaves (or 15 or 20 depending on how ambitious I get - maybe a 2nd version?)
- Each lesson chapter will have a part on how to draw that particular design, and a step-by-step on how to carve it - with photos and illustrations.
- Each lesson chapter will have a video where I show how to draw that particular leaf - available online
- Each lesson chapter will have full real-time videos that shows the entire carving process - available online (similar to my videos on my school)
- Each lesson chapter will have a downloadable template available online
- I hope to have a 3-d drawing of each design that you will be able to turn and rotate and look at from all sides - this will also be available online (still working on this one)
- I plan on having resin castings of each of the finished leaves available for purchase.
Beyond that, I don't have a lot going on...
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