Biography and platform

L10
(Rough Draft)
In 2008 I decided to seriously start painting as a past-time and started blogging to record my journey. Currently I plein air paint year round with various artist friends, from beginners to professionals. I create and publish a yearly summer plein air painting guide for local artists. I have also built and now maintain my local sketch club's blog.

by: your instructor
This is great information to provide your readers.
---------
The above biography was geared towards a publisher so was shorter, gave less personal information, was geared to establishing my qualifications and was more formal*

*L10 instructions
"Agents and publishers want to know why you're the right person to write about your topic, so you'll want to include any information that establishes your qualifications. If you have a platform—for example, a popular blog, newspaper column, seminar circuit, or radio show—be sure to include this information along with any statistics on the size of your following.
Here are some of the facts you may want to include in your biography:

• Your years of experience in your subject area
• Any degrees or professional qualifications you possess in your subject area 
• Any awards you've received in your subject area
• Information related to your platform (for instance, "10,000 visitors read my blog each week") 
• Awards you've received for writing

Because you won't have a lot of room, choose the most impressive information for your query letter. (You can expand upon your qualifications in your proposal.) Also only include biographical information that's relevant. Agents and publishers won't care where you live or how many children you have unless those facts have something to do with your qualifications for writing your book."
-----------------------
In a previous self-publishing class the format for biographies was different because it was geared to your readers so was more personable.. See below.

Author Bio

1. seems relatable. Loves being outside
2. touch of humor
3. personal history.
truly in love with my soul mate who has supported me through my educational endeavors and career changes.
4. lives in the MIdwest, Wisconsin
5. Sounded interesting. Love reading and researching. One of my sisters will ask me a question, it's sounds interesting to me, I'll look it up and find the answer. Reads at the drop of the hat. Got to watch out for book traps and now there's Ebooks!!!
6. Sense of their voice

Kathy's always has written, drawn and painted but never pursued any of that as a career or gone to college full-time.

Instead she held a variety of jobs before taking a college job assessment test. Based on that test she decided to obtain a chemical technician degree because she loves researching, figuring things out, and mixing stuff together. Then while working full-time in a laboratory she got her B.S in chemistry.

She loves the outdoors and painting Wisconsin's change of seasons where she lives with her husband.

Query Letter (Rough Draft 1)

(Rough Draft just for practice as part of an Ed2go class assignment)

Dear Editor

Have you ever thought of painting on location but feared your painting skills would open you up to ridicule?

Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint, Painting on Location for the Beginner is an unique book that addresses beginning painters fears, why it is important to paint on location, and gives practical tips to become a successful on location painter no matter what art media they use.

Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint has pulled together the bits and pieces that are scattered through various "How to Paint" books and publications to directly address the concerns and questions of the beginning on location painter.

(I haven't identified a publisher yet.) I believe this informative and humorous book will be an excellent addition to your catalog.

Thank you very much for considering Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint. I've enclosed an SASE for your reply; you can also contact me at [email] or [phone].

Sincerely,

Kat

------
Decided not to practice writing a proposal as I really want to go the self publishing route for this book.

by: your instructor 
This is a well written letter, Kat. I would recommend running it through an editor for sentence-level corrections, but the content and tone are solid.
---------
Writers Digest Article on Writing Perfect Query Letter

Thought this was interesting and pertained to this lesson.

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/how-to-write-the-perfect-query-letter?et_mid=629595&rid=239677934
 
by: your instructor
Thanks for sharing the article!

Selling Handle

L10
Today I'd like you to practice writing a selling handle for your book. Feel free to go back and reread the section about selling handles in Chapter 2 of this lesson. Then, take a look at the description you wrote for your book idea back in Lesson 2. Now turn it into one sentence that will sell your book idea to agents and editors.

Remember, most successful handles address one or more of these questions:

• What makes your book unique or distinctive?
• What is your book about?
• What does it do for readers?
• How does it compare to other books in existence?

Your selling handle should be one sentence and follow this format:

[Book title] is _____________________.

Once you've written a handle, share it with us in the Discussion Area!
--------
Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint, Painting on Location for the Absolute Beginner is the only book that has put a practical plan in one place to help the beginning painter begin painting on location.

by: your instructor
This is a great start! You may want to reword "beginning painter begin painting" due to root word repetition.

Traditional vs nontraditional Publishing

Assignment L9

Part 1:

Based on the information in this lesson, think about whether you're leaning toward traditional or nontraditional publishing. Make a list of your reasons in your notebook. If you have questions, post them in the Discussion Area!

Part 2:

Using Writer's Market or a similar reference guide, find a publisher or agent that you think would be right for your book. In your notebook, answer these questions:

• What appeals to you about that agent or publisher?
• Why do you think your book would be a good fit?

-----------------
Right now I am leaning towards nontraditional publishing because I will have more control and I don't need the validation of being published by a traditional (real) publisher.

I plan to use multiple editors; writing group, friends and possibly a professional editor so the book will be the best I can make it.

My main reasons for writing this book is to learn how to write a book, learn how to self publish (initially using Amazon and Create Space), get my book into the hands of readers quickly, and promote painting on location.

p.s. I ordered writers market from library so will be able to do part 2 of this assignment. I thought our library might have it online but our branch is not subscribed to online magazines via Zinio Magazines.

It appears you need to subscribe to http://writersmarket.com in order to get information about publishers.

by: your instructor
Thanks, Kat. Your editing and publishing plans sound great. 

Ongoing Bibliography of books and other sources

A

• A1 - http://painting.about.com/od/landscapes/ss/plein-air-painting-checklists.htm; Plein Air Painting Checklists by Marion Body-Evans
• A2 - A Plein Air Easel by Marion Boddy-Evans http://painting.about.com/od/artsupplies/ig/Painting-Easel-Plein-Air/
• A3 - top 7 Tips for Landscape Painting by Marion Boddy-Evans http://painting.about.com/od/landscapes/a/landscapetips.htm
• A4 - Plein Air Painting: Taking your Paints Outside, Practical tips for plein air painting, or painting on location by Marion Boddy-Evans http://painting.about.com/od/landscapes/a/plein_air_paint.htm
• A5 - Abstract painting: Using Nature as a Source of Inspiration by Marion Boddy-Evans http://painting.about.com/od/abstractart/ss/abstractsnature.htm
• A6 - http://painting.about.com/od/artglossary/g/defpleinair.htm
• A7 - www.askart.com/AskART/interest/Plein_Air_Painting_1.aspx?id=26&pg=style
• A8 - http://www.artistdaily.com/topics/plein-air-painting.aspx

B1 - Painting the Drama by Charlene Brown

C1 - The Tao of Watercolor: A revolutionary approach to the practice of painting by Jeanne Carbonetti; watson-guptill publications, New York, publication date 1998

D1 - Durkee, George Allen; Expressive Oil Painting, an Open Air Approach to Creative Landscapes; Cincinnati, Ohio: North Light Books; artistnetwork.com; copyright 2009 by George Allen Durkee; isbn: 978-1-10061-151-3

G

• G1 - A Guerrilla Painter's Notebook by Carl Judson; isbn 978-1-61539-686-9; no publisher listed
• G2 - A Guerrilla Painter's Notebook II by Carl Judson; isbn 978-1-4507-8453-5
• G3 - Painting Using Cues from Nature by Rober Genn http://painting.about.com/od/landscapes/a/RobertGennCues.htm

H

• H1 - Advice to new Plein Air Painters by Tom Hughes, June 11, 2013 http://www.outdoorpainter.com/news/advice-to-new-lein-air-painters.html
• H2 - Capturing Light in Acrylics by John Hammond with Robin Capon, B T Batsford Ltd, The Chrysalis building, Bramley road, London W106SP, An imprint of Chrysalis Boooks Group plc. distributed in the US and Canada by Sterling Publishing Co, New York, NY, First Published 2004 isbn:07134 8863 8
• H3 - Painting Watercolors On Location with Tim Hill, North Light Books, cincinnati, Ohio; copyright 1996 by Tom Hill

K

• K1 - The Artist in Nature, Thomas Kinkade and the Plein Air Tradition by M. Stephen doherty with and introduction and commentary by Thomas Kinkade.
• K2 - Painting the Middle East by Ann Zwicker Kerr with a foreword by susan Van de Ven, Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, New York 13244-5160, Nov 2002, isbn: 0-8156-0752-0

M1 - Plein-Air Painting: A Personal Experience Shared by Richard Moore  http://painting.about.com/od/landscapes/a/RichardMoore.htm

P1 - The Book of Color by Jose Maria Parramon; Watson-Guptill Publications New York, copyright 1995

W1 - En Plein Air by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En_plein_air

Alverno Writer's Workshop

I think it was pretty successful. We had a nice discussion on various ways to journal, listened to each others' goal and to what each other wanted to share about their writing. A lot of them are really excellent writers. I really enjoyed their stories. Even with free writing a lot of them come up with a good story. It's a nice supportive group. A couple of the people want to start a writing group.

Some writing prompts for free writing

• Pretend you're a 95 year old in perfect health writing a letter to give advice to your current self.
• Pretend you are your child self dreaming about what you would be when you grow up, what letter would you write to your current self
• Favorite place and sort of person I was
• 5 of happiest memories and a snapshot of each
• Most unforgettable person I ever met.
• Someday I'm going to.....
•  Turning points in your life
• Turning points; imagine if you had taken a different path

Our assignments are to

• Prepare to comment on our reading
• Write dailyish 3 things thankful for, 1 joy/magic thing to do, free journal
• work on our personal writing goals

My current writing goals (subject to change as circumstances change)

• Write a nonfiction book, "Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint, Painting & Sketching on Location for the Absolute Beginner."
• Continue journalling
• Keep attending this workshop or when this ends join a monthly writer group?
• Complete Ed2go writing course "Writing and Publishing Your Nonfiction Book."

Some books mentioned in the class that may be fun to read

• a book about Code Talkers in WWII & "A Match Made in Hell" by Larry Stillman
• Joy of Appreciative Living by Jaqueline Kelm
• Finding your Element by Ken Robinson
• Bird by Bird by Ann Lamonte (Actually I've read this one already)

Writer's Life: Practical Tips Lesson

Writing on a computer & using Microsoft Word.

As far as I'm concerned, writing on a computer is far superior to writing by hand, on a typewriter or word processor. I was very glad when personal computers started being sold. The computer makes it easier to research, order library books, research books to buy, write, organize material, read material and correct mistakes.

Microsoft word has a lot of good things going for it besides being the industry standard. Unfortunately I don't have it on this old computer which is my favorite computer to use. I have found that the format of OOS does change when you convert to a word document. I'm working on getting microsoft word but it will be a little while yet.

Assignment Part 1: Backing up your work
In the old days we used to have to save frequently but now writing programs mostly do that for you. Computers don't crash as much as they used to but it's still a possibility. I back up my computer regularly on a hard drive because it has limited space. I think other options would be to upload your document to Google drive and/or post finished chapters on a blog. I just emailed my first chapter to myself even though the writing is extremely rough.

Assignment Part 2: Creating a writing schedule

Writing Space. Best place is my home office. That's where I do my computer and thinking work. Everywhere else I'm fair game to be interrupted.

Writing Schedule. I think I will research and write Monday - Thursday 6am - 7am. No one calls me before 7:00am Monday - Thursday so I should be ok. (I refuse to answer the phone before 7am.) Some days I may be able to start at 5am and end later. On Thursday, I'll print out what I have written to carry it around in my planner to look at, edit and make notes on until I can get back to writing on a computer.

Making a commitment. I blocked it out in my planner. I figure it's like work, you go and do it, whether you feel like it or not. I purposely chose to do it in the morning before life gets in the way. I have found that I can usually finish things that I start in the morning. Plans usually fall apart in the afternoon and evening. My husband won't care if I'm writing (he is actually quite supportive) as long as my work gets done and it doesn't cut into our time together.

Assignment Part 3: Writing buddy
My writing buddies are in my once a month workshop so I try to show progress each time I go. When I finish my entire book I hope to ask some artist friends if they are interested in reviewing it.

Right now my goal is to finish the one chapter I started by rewriting it as many times as I need to in order to follow the guidelines in these lessons. I think I will probably post each chapter on my blog when I think it's halfway decent. Meanwhile I need to finish up my research.

Procrastination and Writer's Block

Eliminate distractions: I set a timer for 15 minutes to check emails. Most of them I delete/archive without reading. My main distractions are family and work, that's why I scheduled an early time to write before the phone starts ringing.

Don't get paralyzed, just do it. I wrote one chapter this morning. Letting it sit. Going to rewrite it as many times as I need until it's decent.

Specific Strategies

Set a word or page requirement. I'm not going to do this unless I see myself wasting time.

Make an outline - After I wrote my chapter I decided I needed a better outline for the chapter, so I plan to make a more detailed outline after reviewing the research material again. Then I will write the chapter again.

Try a writing exercise - I'll keep these in mind in case I get blocked. We do this sort of thing at the workshop plus I free write almost every day to clear my mind and get focused in a paper journal. I don't edit or look at it when I'm done. I figure I'll look at it when I get old maybe.

Switch between projects. In a way with me planning to continue interviewing for the next book and blogging, I am switching between projects. If I get blocked I might use my valuable time I've set aside for this book project to write those things but I'd rather just switch between chapters.

Coauthoring. In the past I read 2 books called "Sorcery and Cecelia" and "The Grand Tour" by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer that were interesting. The first was written as a series of letters. Then second as journal entries. I think it would be fun to do via email with a writing buddy. Patricia Wrede wrote a post on "Blocks" on her blog http://pcwrede.com/blog/blocks/

Writing Style

L6

My writing style will be neutral and casual.

My role as an author. I think I'll be there in a subtle fashion, showing up occasionally but taking a backseat to the info I want to present. I plan to balance pure information with my experiences. I want the content to take the lead. I'll use "I" occasionally but the book will be mostly written in 3rd person.

Inserting Facts. There is a lot of overlap on facts between art books. I think I need to organize and winnow the facts to make them interesting and pertinent for a beginning painter.

Right now I'm not going to use interviews. I think I will save that for a future book. However, I am going to start interviewing now and posting the interview on our art blog so that I compile the results easier later.

I wonder if there is an editing class?

Assignment.

Imaginary reader's response to my proposed book.
I think the tone will appeal to the reader. I think a little humor would help along with pictures to illustrate points. I think a relevant quote by an artist at the beginning of each chapter would be appealing.

My style will be natural or neutral which won't deliberately convey any particular stance or emotion because I'm a beginning writer.

I think a minor 1st presence involvement of myself will reassure the reader that I have sufficient experience to write about this subject.
----------
by: your instructor 7/14/13
Kat, this link provides ed2go's Editing and Publishing courses. http://www.ed2go.com/landing-pages/pages/editing-and-publishing-courses.php.html
----------------
 
Writing challenges
by: your instructor
"No matter who we are, improving our writing is a lifelong process. How would you like to improve your writing? Come up with a list of concrete steps that will help you get there!"

I think I'm an OK writer but of course practice will make me improve. I used to write procedure manuals and reports of test results in my previous life. Now I just journal, write emails and blog posts. I want to write at least 1 book.

How would I like to improve my writing? I would like to write longer pieces or figure out a way to organize shorter pieces that I've written into a longer book. So that means setting aside time each week and not letting anything or anyone steal it from me. I am very project based. Projects come up with tight deadlines where I have to drop everything to get the project done. I'm working on setting aside 5am - 6am, Monday - Thursday for this book. Hopefully I can bump it up to 2 hours.

Catchy Leads

Analyzing art books for catchy leads.
I'd have to say that most did not have catchy leads. I think a lot of art books rely on the pictures, not words to pull you in.
However I did find some catchy leads in
"First Impressions, Sketching Nature in Watercolor" by Edward Norton Ward. "A student within view of half a dozen good painting subjects complained that she couldn't find anything to paint."
"Capturing the Seasons in oils" by Tim Deibler. "Neither Rain Nor Snow, Nor Heat, Nor Humidity", "I'm outside, now what?" "Painting the Poetry of the Seasons"

Regarding that readers probably won't flip to the middle of the book to decide if I want to read it. I always check out the middle of a fiction book to see if it makes me want to read it.

Some possible leads

Upon arriving you look around, then climb down the rocks to paint in the shade on the sandy river bank to let the spray of the rapids cools cool you down on this unbearably, hot, humid, sunny, summer day. (Where to paint)

You're done! You hate your painting, but you had a good time. So who cares. (Reflecting on your painting trip & painting)

You tilt your painting forward on your easel to keep the drizzle off, it's not drying and bugs keep landing on your painting and you. Water drips off your hat on your palette. (stimulating aspects)

A young man swims across the river and comes to shore. He stands up, water dripping and asks "What cha doing?"

If you want an exact copy, take a photo. (composition)

I think the following quote addresses the fear many people have of painting on location out in public. "Creativity takes courage" by Henri Matisse

Getting Ready to Write and Organizing your research

L5 continued

I'm a little bogged down in this lesson. Not able to finish every bit of research before I am going to start writing and it does feel somewhat overwhelming. I'm sure I'm going to need to rewrite and organize but I want to get this lesson done. I think I will probably just write one chapter.

My original outline before this class was based on Who, What, History, Why, How and Where.

I decided not to use interviews for this book other than the interview I did on myself.

To come up with an outline for this class I created a bibliography and printed out all my notes. Then I sorted my notes into piles which I then put into manila folders by category/subject. I then wrote the manila folder subjects into a TextEdit document and arranged them into an outline. Next step will be to choose a chapter and free write.

Here's my current outline for "Don't cry over Spilt paint, Painting as a pastime on location for the beginner.

Outline 130712

I. Why paint on location
    a) Art vs Craft - improve how you paint what you feel
    b) Painting Buddy
    c) Pastime (churchill/ judson)
    d) make you feel more alive, inspired

II. Definitions
    a) History
    b)Trends
    c) Rules?

III. How to start painting on location
    a) mindset
    b) where to paint
    c) Choosing your subject
        i) viewfinders

IV. Composition
    a) Simplifying
    b) Rearranging
    c) Figures
    d) Light

V. What to bring
    a) considerations
    b) size of painting
    c) media/substrate
    d) board, palette, pochade box, easel
    e) techniques
    f) comfort items

VI. Stimulating Aspects
    a) location
    b) changing light
    c) weather
    d) spectators

VII. Reviewing/Reflecting upon/Analyzing your trip and painting

VIII. Miscellaneous
    a) Archival considerations
    b) support the arts
    c) Funny stories?
------------
by: your instructor 7/14/13
You're doing great work all around, Kat, and I like this outline. Remember that the assignments are here to support your learning, so use them in whatever way is best for you.
------------
7/15/13
It's taking me more time than I thought it would to research, organize the research, and write. However that's OK. Like JA Konrath says, writing is a marathon, not a sprint.

I'm still working on writing one chapter. Now started writing ideas and notes on 3.5 x 5.5 pieces of paper (old sketchbook that I don't like) and laying them out on a horizontal surface so I can physically move them around. Worked on that about an hour today. Hopefully I can sneak in some more time today but if not, there's always tomorrow.

Book structures

Lesson 5

Art book structures
I studied the structure of some art books because I got stuck on this section and needed to figure out what structure is.

Most of the books on plein air painting or painting on location are divided into 2 main parts which go from basic to complex. The first part generally covers painting theory basically how to look and translate what you see. The second part generally covers various locations where the artists shows how he chooses the subject,  designs the painting, and his technique in painting with his media of choice. Most how to books just cover 1 basic painting media such as acrylic, oil, pastels, watercolor.

"The Art of Urban Sketching" by Campanario and "An Illustrated life" by Danny Gregory was divided into chapters by artist. So category by artist

Painting Indiana books by the Indiana Plein Air Association Inc appear to be organized by location of painting. So category by location. (I think it would be neat if our club could do that. Then we could have editions signed by the participating artists either on their page or inside the front cover which may then be considered collectibles?)

"One drawing a day" by Veronica Lawlor. Category by combined painting/sketching subject & technique with techniques going from simple to more complex.

"The Tao of Watercolor" by Jeanne Carbonetti" is organized by category. Each chapter starts with Tao Thought Theme which is then followed by a technique then demo. (I like the thought theme approach as I think painting on location is as much a state of mind as the physical process. Perhaps I could use pertinent quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I already know that I need pictures.)

Also a side note. All these books are different sizes; 8.5" x 9"tall, 10" x 8" tall, 8.25"x11.25" tall, 10.75"x 8.375"tall, 11.375x 8.75" tall. According to http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/09/self-publishing-basics-how-to-pick-the-size-of-your-book/ ," Photography or art book don't conform to any particular size." However I think odd and larger sizes will be more expensive to produce. He says most self publishers use 5.5" x 8.5"tall or 6" x 9". The commons sizes across the 3 POD printers he used as examples are 6" x 9"tall and 8"x10" tall.

Thoughts on the various structures for my book
Logical sequence: I think there is an overall logical sequence, Why paint on location? how to paint on location?

Basic to complex: General definitions and thoughts to more specific details and actions

Category: Before I started researching my categories were: What is painting on location? History, Why paint on location? How to get started? What to bring? Where to paint? However I think they make better sense in a more logical order.

Two Part: Identify the problem such as "Fear of painting on location", then show how they can solve the problem

Chronological: If I was writing a memoir of how I began painting I could follow this format but this is not a memoir.

Storytelling: Perhaps could use these techniques to tell anecdotes but I don't think I've seen this structure in any of the books I've researched. This is not going to be the structure of my book.

Combined Structure: Probably will combine Logical Sequence, Basic to Complex, Category and two part for my book.

Research, Interviewing, and Immersion

This lesson starts out with discussing traditional research through documents and the three types of sources; primary, secondary, and tertiary. You can use tertiary and secondary sources to point you to primary sources. Then discussing 2 other research techniques; immersion and interviewing.

What types of research are right for your book?
by: your instructor
"Every nonfiction book requires different amounts and kinds of research. Tell us about your research plans! If you've already started your research, share any tips you might have that may help out your colleagues."

Actually all three would work. I've been unknowingly doing the immersion technique, started the traditional research technique, and have considered interviewing.
----------
Today's research assignments
by: your instructor
"Did you complete any of today's assignments in research, interviewing, or immersion? If so, tell us about your experiences!"

I've completed Part 1 & 3. Still have to do part 2.

by: Darlene
My research plan has now expanded to include lists.  Lists of fads...music...movies...food, etc.
----------

Using the Internet for Research

I've been studying this subject for a while because this is what I like to do. Although I started seriously researching and taking notes a couple of months ago when I decided I wanted to write a book. So I touched upon each of the steps covered in this class. Some of the answers I just know. I'd like to ask my artist friends what they think the next time I see them.

Basic facts: definitions of Plein air  painting, Urban Sketching. My definition for painting on location combines the two.
Important dates: 1870s for plein air painting, 2007 urban sketching
People associated with topic: Impressionists to modern day current working artists
Places associated with topic; Painting on location falls into 2 general categories: Plein air painting and urban sketching.
Plein air painting is generally outside, country mostly and city scapes possibly.
Urban sketching can be country scenes but tends to be urban both outside on the streets and parks to inside cafes, moving vehicles..... (Last winter we painted in cafes, malls and libraries. My friends didn't want to paint outside in the snow. I don't care what or where I paint. I just like painting with my friends.)
Plein air painting is mainly painting with paint.
Urban sketching is mostly sketching, usually in a notebook, with drawing media like pencils, pens, markers, pastels (regular and oil), watercolor, occasionally traditional paint.
Both of them are primarily done on location, although some artists put the finishing touches on their paintings in their studios.
Events associated with your topic: quick paint, plein air events, paint outs, club excursions
Cultural movements associated with your topic: Impressionism, Urban Sketchers.
It seems to me that Plein Air painting had fallen out of favor for many years up to the late 90s. Not sure when it fell out of favor. This information is hard to find. I just have a general sense from reading books on artists showing how they plein air paint. There was a long dry spell of people only painting indoors. However, there was always a small, hidden sub-group of people who painted outside and sketched on location. Such as Carl Judson, great guy, he visited our club. I use his guerilla painting box and tripod. It's very sturdy and I haven't lost any parts yet. http://www.guerrillapainter.com/wherescarlnow.html
Anyway I have the sense that towards the end of the 90's clubs started forming or readjusting their focus, I also think that the internet helped bring like minded people together.
Plus another trend is that baby boomers have started to retire and decided to take up painting as a pastime.
Then about 5 years ago, 2007 urban sketchers began and the whole paint on location for fun and/or money become more popular. Every year now you can see more plein air events and there's even a magazine called PleinAir Magazine. Urban Sketchers have put out a book also and have expanded their events.
---------------

Using the Library- and your reference librarian
I first searched using keywords: Painting on location, urban sketching, painting as a pastime to find the subject headings using our libraries online data base. I didn't try searching the Library of Congress.

Subject: Plein air painting---Technique 751.422; 751.45436
Subject: Cities and towns in Art, City and town life in art, Drawing--Technique   704.944
Subject: Painting 750

One of things I've done is go to different libraries in our library system and just browse these general areas along with their magazines. You never know what you will find. You could probably do the same thing in bookstores.

Right now I'm not going to use the reference librarian. However I will keep that resource in the back of mind in case I need it for my next project.

Actually I might use the librarian once the book is written to help with the CIP (Cataloguing in Publication) data because I'm thinking I may decide to donate a hard copy to local libraries. It just depends how the book turns out. If they can't help me then I may use an online source which needs to be done before the book is published. (reference: Publish and Sell your Ebook Lesson 4)
--------------

Taking notes:
This is the most grueling and least fun part. I like reading and it is easy. A lot of what I've read seems to say the same thing. What I've been doing is taking notes in a OOS document where I've put the bibliographic info in the header and automatic page numbers in the footer. For web pages, I print the whole page, including url. My plan is to eventually sort them into piles on the floor, see if my chapter outline works, then write one chapter per pile.

In addition to taking notes in OOS document I decided to start posting on my blog the bibliographic data from the books, etc. that I'm researching. (author's name, name of book or publication, article name, publication date of source, volume number, page numbers where material appears, URL of website.)
-------------

Interviewing people

I'd like to do this but more informally. I know quite a few painters personally. I think I would start by writing a blog post and offering to link to their website.
My Name: Hi,
Topic of your Book: I would like to profile artists on my blog who paint on location. I'm also in the process of writing a book called "Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint, Painting on location for the Terrified beginning painter"
Information you'd like to find out: I enjoy your work and would like to talk to you in more detail about painting on location; your approach and goals, why you paint on location, suggestions for people who'd like to paint on location, how you pick where to paint and why, any other thoughts.

Once I've written it, then I would email it or show it to them the next time I'm painting with them so they can look over it before I post it on my blog.

Credentials that would make the person feel more comfortable with you: I am the blogmaster of our art club's blog, also have a couple private blogs for various projects. This post could go on our  club's blog to help send traffic to their site.
Setting up the interview: I'll probably ask people the next time I see them what would be most convenient for them and maybe give them a list of questions to think over. (They can answer as many or few as they like, or go off totally on a different topic. Whatever they like.)
Doing your homework: I will review their websites. I don't think my subjects will appreciate me bringing a tape recorder. I think I'm better off taking notes in a notebook, writing out the interview immediately when I get to a computer, then giving it to them to review and comment on. Then once they approve it, post it on the blog.
Doing the interview: It will definitely be a friendly conversation, probably while we're both painting on location.
Questions:
How did you get started painting on location. What made you start painting on location?Why do you paint on location?
Suggestions for painting on location. Funny stories?
How do you know where to paint? How do you pick your subject? What do you bring?
General approach or technique.
Other comments....

Do I need to do a "subject release form" similar a model release form?

(I don't mind getting too much information. I could probably use it for another book like "The Painter Next Door" a more general book than "Indiana Painters". Just thought of that title last night while reading this chapter. I've been wanted to do a series of blog posts on our club members along with other artists that I know. So this will be a good way to do that. Then maybe down the road, I can organize the posts into a book. However, right now I need to stay focused.)

"Off the Record" Comments and difficult topics: I don't want to publish anything that my friends are uncomfortable with. Life can be pretty dark at times so I'd rather write a fun, uplifting book.

Phone and email interviews: I prefer to do face to face interviews. It's more personable and I have trouble hearing on the phone.

by: your instructor
"What a fantastic job, Kat! I love your thorough approach. You can get releases if you want to, but there is no requirement. It really depends on how comfortable you are with the interviewees."
---------------

Immersion Technique:
I am a practicing on location painting as a pastime painter.For example I painted all day in a local garden charity event last weekend. Hopefully will get to paint outside tonight with some friends.

What did I see? Very nice, professionally designed and implemented, planned, gardens along with well maintained houses. Friendly people.
What do I hear? "I could never do that" "When I mix colors together, they get all muddy" (I invited him to join our club.) "Dad!, look they're painting our house." Al's iPod playing polkas before Amy gave him some more modern music." (I don't mind polkas.)
What do I smell? damp concrete, grass, plants, flowers
What do I taste? My peanut butter sandwich I quick wolfed down because I didn't want to stop painting.
What do I feel? Happy. Having fun with my friends. At first a little frustrated because I was having difficulty getting the painting to come together but then finally happy as it came together and turned out quite well.

Dig deeper into the scene:
What stands out the most in this scene? The people walking past. Feeling like an animal in a zoo exhibit (but in a nice way) as we were invited to be part of the local color to entice people to come to the event and donate.

What's different about this place since the last time I visited? Actually first time painting in this neighborhood

How would I describe
the people in this scene?
    •    what are they wearing? Casual but nice not ragged clothes. Upper middle class.
    •    How are they behaving? Walking around, talking to each other, looking at the gardens, happy, enjoying the event
    •    What expressions do I see on their faces? smiles, curiosity
    •    How do they seem to feel about being here? happy, enjoying the gardens and each other. A lot of them are neighbors who are visiting and checking out their neighbor's gardens.
architecture or other physical elements in this scene? Mostly nice brick homes in a well maintained, residential, city neighborhood for upper middle class people. Tree lined streets. Beautiful gardens and lush lawns. Moderate sized lots. Bigger than shake your hands with your neighbor lots, separated by driveways but smaller than suburban lots.

natural elements? Started out cloudy and overcast but by the end of the day was sunny. Perfect temperature, in the low high 60s to low 70s, with a slight breeze. No biting insects.

What do I
like most in this scene? The lush lawns and gardens against the brick homes
dislike the most in this scene? Really didn't disliked anything. Was happy to be there. Really glad that there were no biting insects and that it wasn't pouring rain. Drizzle would have been ok.

What if anything strikes me as being out of place? The newer aluminum sided addition. (I left it out and didn't paint it in, artistic license) The occasional more modern aluminum sided house.
-----------

Side note: I just finished reading "I could write a book" by Roy Reiman. When he started the magazine Farm Building News he wanted to learn more about the industry so ran a picture of himself in the first issue of his magazine saying "Editor For Hire...Cheap!" and "offered to work for a full day on the building site of the highest bidder before each issue....then write a "diary" of [his] experience for the next issue, and give his salary to a charity of their choice." I think there is a TV show on cable "Dirty Jobs? Tough Jobs? that I saw on one of our  vacations, where the host immerses himself too.
-------------

Future topics to write about

Painters who hate framing; framing techniques. Why are you framing? for gallery, home, to preserve?

Toddlers' secret language

History of the Milwaukee Sketch Club

Artists of the Milwaukee Sketch Club

Painting Milwaukee County / Waukesha County

Typewriters I've known, manual, electric typewriter with correcting ribbon
 to word processor with english & international daisy wheel to type in french/spanish
 to computer.

Dad stories; 2 finger typing on old manual when union secretary. (You had to hit the keys deliberately, firmly. If too light of a touch, no mark on paper.) City workers on strike, standing in front of truck to keep it from leaving- picture in paper. Pam going with Dad when he called out to fix downed light poles or other electrical hazards, waiting in truck "Don't touch anything."

Kamikaze exercising and dieting for the time challenged. This book gives quick and practical tips you can apply right away.

A take off from menu at WINGS cookbook. I meet once a month with a Women Investor's networking group. A very nice and energetic woman from www.encompassrealty group.com puts it on. She was apologizing for the lunch but it was fine, Pasta salad, tuna salad, strawberry caprese salad (from http://www.jsonline.com/features/recipes/214033211.html ), rolls, and a chocolate plus whip cream sheet dessert with cookie bottom. Frozen water bottles. Maybe soda? I'm just thankful that she provides food.

Your Audience, Title, and Style

Statement describing your audience.
I had did this for the previous class, "Publishing Your Ebook." as part of an assignment but condensed it for this class.

• My reader (or audience): I started out thinking that it would be woman in her 50, children mostly out of the house, able to now pursue passions and hobbies that were put aside to raise a family and earn a living. 
• Perhaps some college or college degree. Her interests are art, outdoors, sketching, and painting. 
• However, after reading excerpts from Winston Churchill's out of print book, "Oil painting as a Pastime", I started thinking maybe I could be more general: Adults interested in painting or sketching on location as a pastime.

 -----------------
Here's the previous class's assignment

Reader Profile:

• Female, in her 50's, children mostly out of the house, able to now pursue passions and hobbies that were put aside to raise family and earn a living. 
• Possibly some college or college degree. 
• Her interests are art, outdoors, sketching, and painting.

Book considerations:

• Content to focus on beginning artist or returning to art after 20+ years artist who likes the outdoors. 
• Cover and title should make plein air painting (painting outdoors) look fun.
• Cover, title, and book design could appeal to a moderate - more affluent populations.
• Pricing may not impact sales greatly. (I did look at plein air paiting books to get ideas for price, content, and cover design.)

Title: Don't Cry over Spilt Paint! I thought this was funny and it hints at some of the challenges of painting outdoors on location. Let me tell you the story about the dog wrapping his leash around my friends easel and knocking it over sometime.....)

Subtitle: How to Paint Outdoors for the Terrified, Beginning, Plein Air Artist. A lot of nonfiction books have a subtitle. I notice a lot of people are afraid to paint outside because they think people are going to make fun of their sketching and painting so I want to address the fear aspect. I've found that people are very curious and tend to say that they are not "artistic". I think being "artistic" is highly overrated. I believe that art is a skill like handwriting that anyone with the will and desire can learn. I base this belief on Betty Edwards book, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain." Based on my observations of local artists, I also think that successful artists keep working on improving themselves and don't give up. You also don't need to be insane to be an artist and to paint with feeling.

Cover: Bold color background with title on top, attractive scenery picture in middle 3rd and tilted picture of an artist(s) plein air painting overlapping scenery pictures. (Need to add credits, get model waivers?)

Book descriptions of various lengths (See how they build on each other?)

One line: Plein air painting involves just two things; choosing your sketching or painting tools, and your location.

Short description: Plein air painting involves just two things; choosing your sketching or painting tools, and your location. This book gives a practical and humorous approach to plein air painting (painting outdoors) for the absolute beginner.

Long description:
Plein air painting involves just two things; choosing your sketching or painting tools, and your location. This book gives a practical and humorous approach to plein air painting (painting outdoors) for the absolute beginner.

First you will learn how to decide which materials you want to schlepp along (carry and use) when you plein air paint. Then you will learn how to choose the best locations based on how and what you want to paint, along with other considerations like weather, bugs, and bathrooms.

Get the confidence and sills you need to get out of the studio and plein air paint.
-------------

OK, back to the current course.

Transforming your angle to a title

I actually wrote down notes as I went though this chapter to try different angles on for size.

How many ways can you bait your hook?
Playful painting on location, Fearless painting on location, Returning to painting, Loving painting on location, Feel the fear and paint on location anyway, escape to painting on location, Relax and paint on vacation, Enhance your experience by painting on vacation, Paint as a tourist in your home town, Experience your hometown like a tourist while painting on location.

My angle is to encourage anyone to paint on location because it is a fun and easy way to improve your painting skills. Also you get to meet some nice and interesting people too.

Currently my working title is "Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint, How to Sketch and Paint on Location for the Beginning Artist."

Then I tried to match a title to page 5 approaches to coming up for a catchy title:

• Emotions: Stop worrying about painting on location; 
• Intrigue: Secrets you may not know about painting on location (too long) The secret to painting on location, (Just do it!); 
• Shock: Forgot the brushes, just use sticks!; 
• Spell out results: Stop worrying about other people and just paint on location; 
• Capture the Mood: Don't cry over spilt paint; 
• Use popular words: Best Tricks for painting on location, New strategies for painting on location, Don't paint on location for money, (numbers) 6 ways to paint on location.

Choosing your writing style and tone
Right now my working title of the book is Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint, Painting on Location for the Beginning Painter.

Style will be very basic art vocabulary that a beginning artist may know but I will define and use pictures for specific terms that a beginner may not know. Sentence structure will be short so it's easy to read as artists can be visual (picture) people. (When I read an art book, I generally just look at the pictures, especially if there is too much small writing.) Once I get the rough draft done, I need to plan out the necessary pictures.

I would like the tone to be natural, neutral, humorous (if possible, to show the fun of painting on location), and maybe nurturing. I probably won't do creative nonfiction unless it illustrates a point very quickly and doesn't use too many words.




Ok, finished just in the nick of time. Timer went off and I have to leave! Bye.

Shaping your book idea

This lesson discussed the various publishing routes' pro's and cons. We needed to answer True or False to the following statements.

• I want my book to be available to the public no matter what. True. I want to encourage people to paint on location even though they think they don't paint very well. As a minor goal, I also want to promote the Milwaukee Sketch Club. I also want to learn how to write a book. I've never done that before. I think it will be interesting.
• I'm writing my book primarily for a small audience of family and friends. False. Initially that is probably who will read it but I would like to inspire people I don't even know to paint on location.
• I want to hold a physical copy of my book in my hands. False. However, I think my audience may like a physical copy.
• Being traditionally published would validate me as a writer or expert in my field. True. However right now that is not my goal for writing this book.
• I want to make all the decisions about my book. True
• Finding a publisher for my book would be worth waiting a few years. False. I want to get this book published as soon as possible so I can start on my next one.
• I want to get my book out there as quickly and cheaply as possible. True

Then we did research to shape our book idea. We needed to find out how popular is our topic, is there an audience for it? How can we make our book stand out from other similar books? What are the authors' credentials? We used online book sellers to search for similar books.

Researching your book idea, what did you find?

I've actually been researching and reading books on this for awhile. However, I redid the online research for this class regarding "painting on location."

I searched various keywords; painting on location, plein air painting, urban sketching, painting as a pastime.

I looked at online bookstore categories which are not very specific for Art. Books>Arts & Photography>Painting>Landscape (799). However, in winter we sometime paint indoors. Also we paint cityscapes too.

Lot of books on art but only found maybe 3 that might be similar to the book that I am thinking of:

• Plein Air Painting; The Drama by Charlene Brown
• Oil Painting as a Pastime by Winston Churchill
• Painting En Plein Air by Ev Hales

In general, painting on location books fall into these categories.

• How to and painting techniques by working artists (e.g. Painting on Location, Secrets to Plein Air Painting by David Curtis. Painting En Plein Air by Ev Hales. A lot of these type of books) Credentials: working artists, may or may not be formally trained.
• Compilation of works by one or many artists (living or deceased) working in a specific location or locations (Painting Sedona by Michael Chesley Johnson, Painting Indiana III by Indiana Plein Air Painters Association and Indiana Landmarks, Plein Air Painters of California, the North edited by Ruth Lilly Westphal, Painting the Middle East by Ann Zwicker Kerr; the Art of Urban Sketching by Gabriel Campanario.) Credentials: Amateurs to working artists
• Memoirs (Painting as a pastime by Winston Churchill, Plein Air Painting; The Drama by Charlene Brown.) Credentials: Mostly amateurs.
• Academic/ textbook (Understanding Architecture Through Drawing by Brian Edwards) Credentials: Professors.

I think my idea is unique enough to stand out, plus I probably have a built in audience of people who might be interested in this book as long as it is well written, humorous, and has pictures.

My possible book is not tied to a particular time period. However, it seems that plein air painting and urban sketching is getting more popular. Perhaps due to the large number of baby boomers retiring and taking up hobbies they put aside to earn a living?

Then after our research we came up with a
Book Idea Statement: A fun book on how to start painting on location as a pastime.

Differentiating Book Idea Assignment
Can you narrow your topic? A fun book on how to start painting on location as a pastime

Consider which aspects of your subject are the most interesting to you. I enjoy sketching and painting with friends or by myself on location whenever and however I can. I'd like to share some insights on how to easily do this. I'd like to encourage people to sketch and paint even if there are not a formally trained artist and think they can't draw. Practice helps you improve. Painting on location helps you understand a subject better. It also generates energy and enthusiasm for painting that may carry over to your indoor painting.

Also think about how your approach, point of view, or writing style might help your book stand out. Not sure about this. A lot of books are written in 1st person? Pictures are important for my audience.

What would make a fresh and unique contribution to your topic or genre? Simple methods allowing people to start sketching and painting on location without buying more art materials.*

What can you bring to your subject that no one else can? My experience as an urban sketcher and plein air painter.

A quick thought to jot down.

*Regarding painting materials.

• Ask yourself what do you like to use right now? 
• If you're not sure or don't have any art materials, then ask yourself how confident are you in your drawing skills? How do you feel about your drawing skills? If you're really confident use pencil, ballpoint or other pens, markers, kid's prange watercolor set. You can combine media.
• If you're not confident about your drawing skills use a pencil, charcoal, conte crayon, a set of regular pastels over pastel paper, or a set of acrylics on canvas paper. All fairly cheap and you can keep going over your drawing/painting until you get pleasing shapes. Then if you don't like it,  you don't feel bad about throwing it away. 
• I read somewhere that you need to do 1,000 paintings until you improve so don't get discouraged. The process is more important than the result. Sometimes the result can surprise you. I sometimes dislike the painting the day I do it but it's OK or pretty good when I look at it the next day.

Choosing your topic for a nonfiction book

I'm in the middle of an Ed2go class, Write & Publish Your Nonfiction Book taught by Lisa Adams, when it occurred to me that it would be beneficial to write a blog post on each lesson.

The first lesson was an introduction to nonfiction, choosing your topic. We introduced ourselves in the discussion area and the lesson suggested we come up with a descriptive statement for our proposed book.

Introduction & Descriptive Statement for proposed book
I am a person of many interests. I carry a notebook in my purse to take notes. I also journal to clear my mind and stay focused. The way I get things done is use an old fashioned weekly paper planner that helps me list appointments, along with blocking out time for the things I have to or want to do.

My goal for this class is to learn how to write a nonfiction book and publish it as an ebook and print-on-demand book. I would like to have a rough draft done by August.

One of my interests is painting on location (urban sketching/plein air painting) which I do weekly year round. I like to paint with pastel (both regular and oil) and acrylics. I started out making a rough outline for the book but now am researching and taking notes.

The title would be "Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint, Painting on Location for the Terrified, Beginning Painter."

Descriptive Statement from lesson 1: A painting on location book that helps (or encourages) artists to start painting on location.

Our first assignment was to get a notebook dedicated to recording our book ideas. We're supposed to carry it everywhere so we can jot down inspirations as we get them. Also we're supposed to use the notebook to complete the tasks and exercises in this course so that way we'll have a complete record of our developing plans for our book.

I am carrying out the assignment with the following modifications;

• I currently carry a general notebook to record things I have to remember, results of mom's doctor appointments, meeting notes, work assignments, etc. I am going to continue to do that.
• I also keep old envelopes in the car to record thoughts, things to do, etc. which I then transfer to my planner.
• When studying the courses lessons I took notes on my computer. Quicker and more legible than writing. 
• I also posted in the discussion area of this course to get feedback. Feedback has been OK but no one really has commented or made suggestions to date that I recall. Other than good job. It may be that I'm outside their experience area. Not everyone does art or wants to. One guy is working on a book on Obamacare. It sounds like it's going to be real interesting. Another three that I recall appear to be working on memoirs, one which studies the effect of mental illness's generational effects.
• I decided to use this blog to record the tasks and assignments for this course in order to have a complete record of my developing plans for this book. This may help for my next book too. Right now I'm just recording ideas as they come to me. "Such as the painter/artist next door"

So there you have it. We're about halfway through the course right now. I'm going through my notes and will play catch up with this blog.

• Right now my timeline is rough draft by August. 
• Request Beta readers to proofread by September. (Maybe from my writer's workshop class or my artist friends? I can give them a free eBook then and put them on a thank you page in my book.) 
• Create Ebook in September. 
• Create Print On Demand book in October. 

The sooner I can get this done the better as I need to complete 1 task left over from spring, start and complete 2 summer tasks, then start working on a big project this Fall