The 2007 "en plein air" El Dorado Art Fair has come and gone. In spite of the rain, lots of kids participated in the children's area activities. Some of the beautiful art they created is currently on display here at the library. This is the fourth year for the art fair, which is put on by the El Dorado Mainstreet Artscape Committee. The "post art fair" exhibit has become somewhat of a tradition. Thanks to all of the the artists who generously provided their works to beautify the library for awhile. The works will be up through Friday, Nov. 16.
Read some of our great books on art and get inspired to make your own art!
Read on!
Teresa
Monday, October 29, 2007
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Elementary Story Time to begin this month!
Elementary students are invited to join me for Story Time in the Clymer Room on the lower level of the library on the following dates:
Grades K-2: October 16, 4-4:30 pm
Grades 3-5: October 23, 4-4:30 pm
Our theme this month will be Scarecrows, and I'll be reading the delightful book The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams, illustrated by Megan Lloyd. We'll enjoy songs, poetry and fun, as well as a Fall-themed craft for the children to make.
Story Time will be held monthly. Check back here this for more information about the time, place, and theme of future programs. Also watch for flyers here at Bradford Memorial Library and at your school.
Grades K-2: October 16, 4-4:30 pm
Grades 3-5: October 23, 4-4:30 pm
Our theme this month will be Scarecrows, and I'll be reading the delightful book The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams, illustrated by Megan Lloyd. We'll enjoy songs, poetry and fun, as well as a Fall-themed craft for the children to make.
Story Time will be held monthly. Check back here this for more information about the time, place, and theme of future programs. Also watch for flyers here at Bradford Memorial Library and at your school.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Up Comming Teen Program
Help the library customize out bookcart so we can enter Overdue Media's contest. Overdue Media has a comic strip called Unshelved about library employees and things that happened in a library. This will be a two part program. October 16 @ 6 pm we will brainstorm design ideas and on October 23 @ 6 pm we will put it all together. We will also have snacks to help the creative juices flow. Be sure to come to the second program even if you couldn't come to the planning part.
Jim Clements--guest reader today!
I am so happy to announce the second in our series of guest readers for Family Storytime. Our theme today is "art" and we are very fortunate to have a wonderful artist from El Dorado as our guest. Meet Jim Clements!!
What is your job?
I am an artist.
How long have you had that job?
I’ve been drawing my whole life, and painting for about 27 years.
What do you like about your job?
I love many things about it. Since my painting subjects are primarily people, it gives me the opportunity to work with many interesting personalities. I also like creating a likeness of a person or a certain scene, starting with just a blank canvas. Looking at my subject, I react intuitively to what I see rather than rely on formulas. This lets me mix colors as I go, and observe edges, values and use a variety of brushstrokes. When it all comes together and the painting is finished, it makes whatever struggle I had getting it right all worth it.
Is there any advice you would give someone who wants to do the same job?
Draw. Draw everything. Drawing is a great way to improve your ability to observe things, and is fundamental in every form of fine art. Every problem I ever have with a painting almost certainly goes back to the drawing being off. If I take the time to get it right, the painting goes much smoother. Although inevitably, no matter how careful I am with drawing I still often find I’m off a bit as I begin to paint, so I continue drawing with paint. It never stops through the entire painting process. Don’t hesitate to correct mistakes. You’ll be happy you do and frustrated if you don’t. Do every painting to the absolute best of your ability. Also, you’ll never stop learning, and the more you learn, the more difficult the next painting becomes. This is because you know more about what works best, but it isn’t always easy to achieve.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I was interested in so many things; I changed my mind a lot. I was never set on any one career for very long when I was a kid. But the thing that has always been with me was my love of art. It’s how God made me, and I take it much more seriously now than I did when I was younger.
Did you like to read when you were child?
Absolutely! I read constantly when I was a kid. I truly believe there is nothing – not movies, not TV, not video games – that is better for your imagination than reading. Actually, I read constantly even now.
What was a favorite book or author when you were a child?
I really liked books about animals. Two that come to mind that I read numerous times were "Midnight", about a wild horse sold to the rodeo circuit that could never be ridden. I think it was a true story. Another one was "Kavik the Wolf-Dog", about a half wolf-half dog who neither belonged in the wild or in the village. He had to survive on his own in the wild. It’s been a lot of years so I don’t remember the details, but I remember I liked it a lot. I still have both of these books; maybe I’ll read them again!
What do you like to read now?
Art books mostly. I’m always trying to educate myself to be a better painter. I also read biographies, political books, and novels.
Do you have a favorite story/author?
My favorite author is Michael Crichton.
Are you reading anything now?
I’m always reading. Right now I’m reading a book about the history of the United States. I just felt like I need a refresher course. I was occasionally coming across historical references in other books and realized I’d forgotten too much since school. It’s very interesting.
Did you ever try to write a story?
I did when I was a kid.
Would you like to write or illustrate a book someday? What would it be about?
I’m too slow a typist to write, but it might be fun to illustrate a book someday. I always thought it’d be cool to do illustrations for some bible stories. There are a lot of good ones and it’d give my imagination a workout coming up with unique ways to present them.
Do you have a library card?
Yes I do!
Awesome interview, Jim. Thank you so much. I hope to post a pic of Jim soon.
If you missed our first interview, go to 8/30/07 for a visit with our first guest reader, Jon Pic.
Stay tuned to this blog for more interviews.
Keep reading!
Teresa
What is your job?
I am an artist.
How long have you had that job?
I’ve been drawing my whole life, and painting for about 27 years.
What do you like about your job?
I love many things about it. Since my painting subjects are primarily people, it gives me the opportunity to work with many interesting personalities. I also like creating a likeness of a person or a certain scene, starting with just a blank canvas. Looking at my subject, I react intuitively to what I see rather than rely on formulas. This lets me mix colors as I go, and observe edges, values and use a variety of brushstrokes. When it all comes together and the painting is finished, it makes whatever struggle I had getting it right all worth it.
Is there any advice you would give someone who wants to do the same job?
Draw. Draw everything. Drawing is a great way to improve your ability to observe things, and is fundamental in every form of fine art. Every problem I ever have with a painting almost certainly goes back to the drawing being off. If I take the time to get it right, the painting goes much smoother. Although inevitably, no matter how careful I am with drawing I still often find I’m off a bit as I begin to paint, so I continue drawing with paint. It never stops through the entire painting process. Don’t hesitate to correct mistakes. You’ll be happy you do and frustrated if you don’t. Do every painting to the absolute best of your ability. Also, you’ll never stop learning, and the more you learn, the more difficult the next painting becomes. This is because you know more about what works best, but it isn’t always easy to achieve.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I was interested in so many things; I changed my mind a lot. I was never set on any one career for very long when I was a kid. But the thing that has always been with me was my love of art. It’s how God made me, and I take it much more seriously now than I did when I was younger.
Did you like to read when you were child?
Absolutely! I read constantly when I was a kid. I truly believe there is nothing – not movies, not TV, not video games – that is better for your imagination than reading. Actually, I read constantly even now.
What was a favorite book or author when you were a child?
I really liked books about animals. Two that come to mind that I read numerous times were "Midnight", about a wild horse sold to the rodeo circuit that could never be ridden. I think it was a true story. Another one was "Kavik the Wolf-Dog", about a half wolf-half dog who neither belonged in the wild or in the village. He had to survive on his own in the wild. It’s been a lot of years so I don’t remember the details, but I remember I liked it a lot. I still have both of these books; maybe I’ll read them again!
What do you like to read now?
Art books mostly. I’m always trying to educate myself to be a better painter. I also read biographies, political books, and novels.
Do you have a favorite story/author?
My favorite author is Michael Crichton.
Are you reading anything now?
I’m always reading. Right now I’m reading a book about the history of the United States. I just felt like I need a refresher course. I was occasionally coming across historical references in other books and realized I’d forgotten too much since school. It’s very interesting.
Did you ever try to write a story?
I did when I was a kid.
Would you like to write or illustrate a book someday? What would it be about?
I’m too slow a typist to write, but it might be fun to illustrate a book someday. I always thought it’d be cool to do illustrations for some bible stories. There are a lot of good ones and it’d give my imagination a workout coming up with unique ways to present them.
Do you have a library card?
Yes I do!
Awesome interview, Jim. Thank you so much. I hope to post a pic of Jim soon.
If you missed our first interview, go to 8/30/07 for a visit with our first guest reader, Jon Pic.
Stay tuned to this blog for more interviews.
Keep reading!
Teresa
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