Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Your Guide to BTS at SNB - 3) Art Life, Resources and Exhibitions (6.2.21)

  Start here to learn how to use this blog..... You are about to explore SNB adventures from my (Amy's) perspective ... Stuart's website links to this blog, but Stuart does NOT write these posts. This "Your Guide" posts updates monthly.

For the latest news on Stuart Ng Books, you can follow SNB on Facebook or Twitter. To receive Stuart's email newsletter (with lots of exclusive offers) use this link from the SNB website: http://stuartngbooks.com/join-our-mailing-list.html
For info on ordering books, and a website chock full of our extensive inventory, start at the homepage for  SNB: http://stuartngbooks.com/

Welcome to the realm of Bride of Bookseller. The posts are all written by me. This blog exists to educate and entertain by sharing resources that can benefit artists.

It takes talent and commitment to thrive as an indie artist. But it also takes balance and fitness. No one talks to artists about this truth: You have to be well enough.. physically.. mentally..emotionally...financially... to get your work done. At the same time, so many artists struggle with chronic conditions that impact their productivity. No wonder artists are stressed. Many posts on the blog here offer possible solutions.... and celebrate the traits all the best artists share: (button below from Alaska Robotics http://alaskarobotics.com/)
Scroll down this "Your Guide" post  and you'll discover background on the blog (SNB and BTS backstory)....
Then these categories of highlighted posts:

1)  POSTS ON INDIE ART LIFE -- PROTECTING ARTIST RIGHTS and SELF-CARE TIPS

INCLUDES LINKS TO 2020 COVID-19 POSTS

2) SNB -- CONVENTIONS AND WENDLING CONNECTION 

3) ART LIFE -- RESOURCES AND EXHIBITIONS

4) SCIENCE THEMED POSTS

5) ACTIVITIES and ATTRACTIONS NEAR SNB TORRANCE STORE

6) HORSE OF COURSE

7) POSTS FROM 2011 --MOST ACTIVE YEAR ON THE BLOG

8) OTHER POPULAR TOPICS/POSTS
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SNB and BTS BACKSTORY


For the origin of the SNB logo, see this post: http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2015/07/snb-logo-origin-story.html

Stuart Ng Books is very small business in Torrance, CA. Our niche is books on illustration, animation and comic art. Our wonderful, loyal patrons are artists, students and collectors in these fields.
We started in the genteel era of hands-on bookselling, before the internet. We were mentored by colleagues, some of whose stores folded under the pressures from Amazon. We weathered the transition to websites. Stuart worked hard to build a brand in this tough business environment.  Our bookstore started as a printed mail-order catalog. I say "our" bookstore because it was just the two of us for years. We had a book room in the house for inventory. The dining room table was the packing station for mail orders. I was the voice on the phone, processed orders, and schlepped boxes to the post office. But it's called Stuart Ng Books for a reason. Once the books started earning their way and moved into a store location, I was ready to segue into BTS (behind-the-scenes) mode.

Sales are still mostly mail order. Stuart ships books all over the world.  In addition to our website and Torrance store location, we sell books at conventions and the occasional special event expo or festival. Scroll down for links for convention appearances. Here are two examples of expos/festivals:
https://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2019/05/snb-at-ncsfest-may-17th-19th.html
https://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/11/vis-vis-french-bande-dessinee-meets-la_26.html

Stuart is a man on a mission. He is always on the job: in constant search for great books and artists. He is known for discovering treasures during his annual trip to France to attend the festival in Angouleme, Europe's largest comic art convention. He doesn't speak or read French; he selects his inventory strictly for the art. He's the visual one. I'm more verbal. I took some French lessons... so now I can try to talk with people there (and order more than a ham and cheese sandwich at the cafes).
When Stuart launched the business full-time in 1997, we had no idea we would become a world-wide resource for books in our field. When I married Stuart... a LONG time ago.. I had no idea I would also be marrying a small business (we didn't meet in business school.... but that's another story). Where we find ourselves now, all these years later, is a creative place that keeps us both engaged with artists. Stuart Ng Books has exhibited at San Diego Comic Con for over 20 years. For 2020, Stuart planned to open a retail location in Burbank. He’ll resume the search for the ideal spot once conditions allow -- so if you have any suggestions, please contact him directly.
Our patrons seek out Stuart at conventions and online. They buy books from him because his "eye" and expertise are a bonus they value. Part of the fun of Stuart Ng Books is how we get to facilitate connections and inspiration. We get to see the artistic process in action. We steward the passing of cherished books from the reference libraries of artists who are masters in their field into the hands and creative spirit of a next generation. I try to remind us of all this on the days when our "What is the Matrix" question haunts us: Can a little book business survive in the internet age? Stay tuned ....
I started my blog in 2008 as a way to share topics I discussed with friends and patrons who visited us at conventions. I also use the blog to share trips to exhibits and shows we attend that artists might find inspiring.
See "FAQ," "Stewardship" and "Legacy Books" for posts about bringing YOU the benefits of a devoted rare bookseller in world where mom and pop bookstores are themselves becoming endangered!
HELLO WORLD -- 120+ and counting
For a complete list of the 122 countries that have visited the blog, check out this Aug 11, 2011 post: "Hello World.."  http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/hello-world-please-leave-comment.html And one final stat -- as of February 2020, the blog has tallied over 500,000 all-time page views.

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3) ART LIFE -- RESOURCES AND EXHIBITIONS

PODCAST RECOMMENDATIONS
In 2015, I started listening to more podcasts. There are many great ones out there. If you "don't have time" for podcasts... or fitness... try planning a time to get up from your chair for a 10 or 15 min walk once a day, and listen to a podcast while you’re moving around. See if it becomes a happy habit with benefits! Some podcast segments are under 15 mins. Many are about an hour. Listening to a podcast adds a learning opportunity to many activities. Here's a post where I gathered a list of podcasts recommendations, including these 3 top picks.

Bancroft Bros Animation Podcast (SNB is a sponsor)
Here's a post on one of my favorite episodes of this podcast:
http://taughtbyapro.com/category/podcasts/

Hirschfeld Century Podcast

The Complete Creative
Originally known as "The Business of Art", this podcast was re-launched in Oct 2019 as The Complete Creative. It's an outstanding resource for all indie entrepreneurs. The episdoes are all archieved here:

Between Diapers and Deadlines
Artist Brett Bean and his wife Julie, a designer, deliver truths about juggling parenting with indie art life. They also interview other artists for tips on artlife with families.

Matheatre -- History Science Theatre podcast
Lives of scientists are dramatized as musical theatre podcast episodes. An entertaining way to look at science using music and drama. (Full disclosure -- I'm a longtime fan and sponsor of Matheatre's online zoom lessons with historical scientists and I also sponsor this podcast via Patreon). 
Link for the podcast: https://matheatre.com/podcast/



For more on the zoom classes (the Tuesday sessions are geared for grade school, but suitable for all ages). These programs can also be customized. https://matheatre.com/distance-learning/


Distillations
The podcast from one of my favorite science museums -- the Science History Institute (not related to Matheatre programs above). 
Tons of art prompts and premise potential in the interviews on these episodes. Everything from alchemy to Covid-19.
Science  Vs
Outstanding Podcast I discovered via Distillations when it interviewed producer about this October 2019 --prior to Covid -- "what if" episdoe regarding pandemics:
Science Vs has interivews with Dr. Facui and other top scientists looking at Covid as well as science history.

FILM COSTUMES

MALEFICENT
All-time favorite posts include these entries on film franchise Maleficent:

2019 -- preview posters with artists credited!!! (art below by Andy Fairhurst)
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2019/10/maleficent-poster-artists-credited.html

4 posts I wrote in June 2014 for first film "Maleficent" .. with 2 detailed posts on the QandA with director Robert Stromberg and Production Designer Dylan Cole that I attended at Gnomon school.

Here are links for the four June posts on Maleficent --
 http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/06/making-of-maleficent-event-held-at.html
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/06/making-of-maleficent-talk-with-robert.html
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/06/he-art-of-maleficent-sleeping-beautys.html
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/06/many-messages-of-maleficent-updated-6814.html
More Maleficent posts in Sept and Oct for the "Once Upon A Dream" book signing including this re-cap of the event http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/10/once-upon-dream-maleficent-dream-event.html

(LtoR, Dylan Cole, Robert Stromberg, Charles Solomon, Don Hahn at Center Stage Gallery for book signing co-hosted by Stuart Ng Books)

March 3, 2015 post on "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Museum.  http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2015/03/maleficent-birdman-etc-at-fashion.html
Here's link to LA Times story about the exhibit... http://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-fidm-exhibit-20150222-story.html
The featured costume for this exhibit was the Maleficent gown from the christening scene.

FIDM exhibit 2016




INDIE ARTIST PLUSH ART PROJECTS ENGAGE FOLLOWERS 

MARTIN "MARTY" MOUSE tours the cons ... and the world!
Internet phenom Marty is the star from Martin "Marty" Mouse facebook page which has grown over the years into the Marty Mouse House https://www.facebook.com/martymousehouse/ by Photographer Sarah Hunt https://sarahhunt.com/. Her glorious photos of Marty have been featured on Buzzfeed, Cute Overload, etc and bring the charm and comic fun of wee ones to a world-wide audience of over 75,000 + fans. More on the Marty Mouse House world https://www.martymousehouse.com/
I'm delighted to escort Marty (in squeeze Marty pillow form -- art designed by Steph Laberis https://www.facebook.com/stephlaberisart  ) at conventions and on other adventures, documented here on the blog, with links to featured artists and other finds.
Here are the Marty posts
WONDERCON 2015
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2015/04/wondercon-2015-tour-con-with-marty-mouse.html
PARIS AND ANGOULEME 2015
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2015/02/france-2015-preview-of-posts-in-progress.html
COMIC CON 2014
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/08/comic-con-2014-fun-of-camaraderie.html
CTNX 2014
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/11/behind-scenes-with-martin-marty-mouse.html

Plush art tour pals for 2016
Huggable Koi #10 in France
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2016/02/huggable-koi-in-france-2016-angouleme.html

Plush Art Pals Tour WonderCon
http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2016/03/wondercon-2016-tour-with-plush-pals.html
How does art plush happen??? Check out this Kickstarter that surpassed its funding goals and launched its artist/creator to a whole new level  ... 

INDEPENDENT ARTIST FAIRS AND SHOWS
Your local art fair is a great place to find artists in your own neighborhood. Here in SoCal we have a number of these. I especially enjoy the Patchwork Art Fairs, organized by DearHandmade Life http://dearhandmadelife.com/patchwork-show/.

GOOGLE DOODLE MYSTERY ARTISTS - REVEALED!!!
May 2014 post, also frequently updated, reveals the "mystery artists" behind Google Doodles. This post also includes background info on some of my favorite Google Doodles over the years. March 2016 update has info on annual Google Doodle contest for students K-12th grade.
  http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2014/05/google-doodle-mystery-artist-with-links.html


CECIL THE LION

Image above by Manny Carrasco...
The tragic circumstances with Cecil the lion in 2015 provoked an outpouring of tribute art. I collected some images on this blog post.. as well as articles about conservation efforts.
 http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2015/08/cecil-lion-art-stories-lessons-and.html


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