Today's guest author is artist, Carol E. Merrill. This article has been edited and published with the author's permission. Find out how you can become a guest author.
The secret is knowing where to look, what to look for, and making the time to find it.
How in the world did one woman, with a limited budget create one of the largest in-home art libraries in the state of Utah? There is no doubt that it started with a passion for the arts and being willing, at time, to sacrifice what I thought I needed -- for what I truly wanted.
Perhaps, that is not the best advice for everyone, but for me, it worked wonderfully. I never went without paying a bill or eating a meal, but I was willing to forgo some of the extras that make everyday living enjoyable. Ah . . . but I was happy as I sat down next to a blazing fireplace and opened, yet another, intriguing art book.
It wasn't long ago that I drove to a small city in California and walked into one of my favorite used bookstores. The moment I walked into the store I knew that I had found an incredible treasure. Staring straight at me was the out-of-print book, "Richard Schmid Paints the Advanced Figure." I had looked for the book for quite a while and couldn't find a copy I could afford, so this time, I quickly walked to the shelf, grabbed the book and held it close to my chest. I wasn't going to let this one go!
Uncertain of how much it was going to cost me, I went to the register with a little bit of fear and trepidation and asked, "How much is this book?" The answer... seven-fifty. I was thinking that it was $750.00. I had heard that a mint condition of this book would be pricey, but I had no idea it was
that pricey. Imagine my surprise when she told me it was $7.50. This used bookstore had no idea of the value of that book.They were happy with the sale, and I was thrilled with my new treasure.
I have learned that there are three types of art book buyers: The hobbyist, the passionate artist-- and the collector. Most people fit into the first category, many fit into the second category and fewer individuals fit into the third. I started as a hobbyist, grew into the passionate artist, and to my surprise, became a collector.
It doesn't matter which category you fall into, the quest for finding the perfect book is the same.
The secret is knowing where to look, what to look for and having the time to find it. Over the years I have developed certain strategies in looking for and finding the books that add quality and quantity to my library. By following these simple ideas of where to look for books you will be on your way to creating a wonderful library:
Phone books: I frequently have the opportunity to travel, and one of the first things I do when I am planning to go out of town, is to research my travel destination's book thrift, and antique stores. I then take that list and do a little internet research. If a bookstore has all of the latest up-to-date books, I cross it off my list. It is very likely that I can find the same books at my local bookstore. However, if the store advertises that they specialize in used and rare books, then I will plan a visit.
Used Bookstores: The very best type of used bookstores are the ones that do not have computers. Chances are they may not know the difference in value between a "hard-to-find" book and one that is just run-of-the-mill. Used bookstores that are owned and operated by one person are wonderful. Often times, the owner is willing offer discounts when you buy several books. Building a relationship with a neighborhood bookstore owner is a great way to have them save some of their best books for you, and you will develop a wonderful working relationship in the process.
Thrift shops: Who would have ever guessed that I would find several incredible art books over 100 years old at a thrift shop? Make sure that you have plenty of time to look through their books, and don't overlook a book just because of a title. It is true that you "can't always judge a book by its cover". Often times, thrift shops do not have an
art category for their books, so be sure to look in the biography, history, landscape and photography sections.
Antique Stores: Many antique store owners use art books as part of their displays, but don't take the time to research their value. Since books are not the main target of their sales, they often are unaware of the worth of a particular book. Antique bookstores are a great resource for finding vintage and collectible books.
Garage sales: Every once in awhile you may run across a person who is de-cluttering their home. This is a good way to pick up a book or two at a very low price. We have all heard of people who have discovered valuable paintings a garage sales; well, valuable books are often unpublicized treasures.
Bookstores: Many chain bookstores have bargain sections of books near the checkout stands. Keep an eye on this section from month-to-month because it is constantly changing, and you might find some beautiful books for reasonable prices.
Estate sales: It is easy to identify if an estate sale will have something you are looking for in the area of art. If you see paintings, frames, canvases, etc. when you first walk into a home, chances are there will be art books somewhere in the vicinity.
Museums: There are fabulous books that are available only at museums. Start collecting museum books that are focused on specific arts, types of art or artists. You can research museums on-line and go to their "stores" to find the books that are currently on sale. Remember, museums will rotate their books based on the exhibit.
Friends: When close friends travel to other states or countries, I will often give them money, and they get excited about looking for a something special to bring back to me for my collection. Adding books from Cyprus, Switzerland, France, Taiwan, etc. has provided me with books that I may not have been familiar with, had I tried to find them on my own.
On-line purchasing: If you need to save money and love a little competition, ebay is a fun way to purchase books. Sometimes that same book is on sale by different vendors, and the prices will vary greatly. Be sure to contact the seller who can tell you if they have additional art books to sell. Sometimes they ship those books all at once which saves you excessive postage. I have found that it is advantageous to check with Amazon.com, before bidding on a book, to see if the same book is
available for a lesser price.
Be Brave: Never overlook an opportunity for an adventure in discovering books. I was driving down a relatively remote road in Vermont and noticed a detached garage filled with books. I pulled off the road to investigate and met the home owner. Imagine my surprise when he invited me into the garage to look at the books. It was there that I found and bought over a dozen books. This man shared that some of the books had belonged to his grandmother who was a writer and lover of art. I bought six of those books,and each was well over 100 years old. I love knowing that these exquisite books had belonged to his grandmother. Oh, and he sold me each for $3.50. We occasionally stay in touch and I appreciate, yet another, friend.
With 500 plus books in my collection, I needed a way to organize my books so that both my students and I could easily reference them. I created sections based on categories, i.e., anatomy, drawing, color theory, how-to books, landscapes, seascapes, floral, still life, animals, etc. There are additional sections that include: renaissance,baroque, neo-classical, romantic, impressionism, museums and specific artists.
What began with five or six "how-to" books has now become an enviable collection of current, past, hard-to-find, rare and collectible books. My library didn't happen over night, but over a period of 10 years, I created one of the finest in-home art libraries in the state of Utah. Becoming a book collector has taught me an important lesson . . if you have a passion in life (or art) follow that passion. You will find long term joy and fulfillment. Happy Hunting!
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