Well, folks, I decided to write a book about encaustic materials. An ebook for Kindle or iPad or… well, I’m really not sure yet. Something electronic and self-published.
I’m calling it “The Encaustic Materials Handbook.” Although there are a lot of books by wonderful artists who are experts on technique, mine will look at DIY materials and offer cheap alternatives to expensive encaustic supplies. (Hello, encaustic industrial complex!) Also it’s going to be cheap in so many other ways too. For instance, I haven’t ruled out including nude photos of my cats.
The photo The Theory doesn’t want you to see! Our cat Eva degrading herself for the camera.
Creating a book for Kindle or iPad is really confusing. For instance, I want to include a lot of images but how do you format ebook pages so the images don’t get split between page breaks? Or what’s the difference between Amazon CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing, anyway? Do I use their ISBN and their marketing machine or do I strike out on my own and market it myself?
What is an ISBN anyway?
And the other thing, it’s easy for me to rattle on about cold wax and gesso, tell stories about The Theory, or call our friend John a clown (which he is), but it’s much more difficult to promote my work or myself. I simply hate self-promotion. Maybe there are other recluses out there who can share my pain. Think of all the great art that could be exhibited if Damien Hirst and Jeff Koontz hadn’t sucked all the air out of the room!
But I digress.
So my plan is to blog about producing the ebook, since this is all I will be doing for a while, no studio time or anything (playing sad music, boo-hoo). And, I admit, putting it out there is scary. I’ll track my resources as usual and maybe we’ll all learn something. Or it will be me next time degrading herself for the camera.
Eva in repose. You can see her lovely odd eyes–one blue and one yellow.
Great! I look forward to it……
Thanks, Anthea! By the way, I love that encaustic piece of yours called Horizon from this page: http://antheaboesenberg.wordpress.com/encaustic-page/
Keep those degrading photos coming. How do you get an autographed copy of an e-book anyway.
Why do you care, John? I thought you oilers didn’t like encaustic art. Tell you what, if you get a book and make something with encaustics, I’ll sign your computer monitor with a Sharpie pen.
Sign me up, that’s a great idea and one you will do do well, and as for self promotion why not do what Byonce does and give yourself an alter ego….it always easier to talk someone else or their work right up there….might be worth a try and put me down on the waiting list for a copy
Good idea! Encaustic materials’ sleazy spokescat / woman known as “Bisquette Bustierre” (according to one of those porn star name generators). Or if I were a vampire, I could be “Gore of Moldavia.”
Combine your loves. Dip the cats in wax. Catcaustics. Hold them in interesting poses until the wax dries.
I would but I can’t herd them into the studio.