A new book

Dear Artist,

It finally happened. At 10 this morning we heard a truck backing up toward the studio. Two hefty guys put down the tailgate and laid several tons of books at our feet. Fortunately, it wasn’t raining.

The Robert Genn Twice-Weekly Letters, 960 pages — 10 years of over 1,000 unabridged letters including an 82-page index. Six by nine inches and more than two inches thick, it’s hardbound Red Cayenne with a separate dust jacket, a red ribbon, and a protective book box. I wish my mom and dad could see this.

While the pallets were being brought into the studio I took two copies into the house, one to give to Carol, the other for a quiet look-over. Three thoughts ran through my head as I leafed through: “How did I know all this?” and “That part could have been written more clearly,” and “It’s heavy.” When you look at something like this in a new format, it’s spooky.

Apart from that, it’s a beautiful book; the sort of thing you might take to bed and read here and there before turning out the light.

During the lengthy editing process, it seemed like 960 pages with 20 typos on every page. Right now it looks as clean as Whistler’s mother, although I’m sure some careful readers will point out a few boo-boos. The index alone took our brilliant helpers more than two months to compile and sharpen.

Actually, most of the books are being shipped to a warehouse in Blaine, Washington. Sarah Garland is managing the distribution, and will cross the border every day, put the labels on and take them to the good old US mail. Orders placed in the next few days will certainly arrive at your home before Christmas, even overseas. Bulk orders will be shipped from my studio in boxes of eight.

The individually pre-sealed book boxes will see that the books arrive in consistently perfect condition. I will, of course, sign and dedicate for anyone who comes by the studio, attends shows, demos or book-signings. From time to time we’ll post locations where this will occur. In the meantime, I’m going back into the studio to help out in the labelling department.

 

 

Best regards,

Robert

PS: “What I have to say about this book can be found inside the book.” (Albert Einstein) “The covers of this book are too far apart.” (Ambrose Bierce)

 

 

Esoterica: The new book is $30.00 plus shipping. It’s my sincere wish that you get real and lasting value from it. It’s your book, really, and I’d like to thank everyone in our Painter’s Keys Community for the inspiration that makes these Twice-Weekly letters happen. And thanks for more than once giving me the benefit of the doubt when I was just exploring and might have passed something off as wisdom.

 

 

Don’t over-think
by Terry Wynn, Jefferson City, MO, USA
 

As I read your letter this morning, you were concerned about some things not being clear. I think that is why I like your letters. They have a sense of discovery. Words written by someone with a passion for his subject may be a bit above my level presently but by working and continuing with my art I may “discover” what it is you are talking about. Often I don’t want a clearly charted path but a push onto the path with the chance for my own discovery along the way. Don’t over-think it. I love your writings. I am so looking forward to your new book! Thank you and all who have been a part of making it happen.

 

Help with the struggle
by Kay Keyes Farrar, Columbia, TN, USA
 

I feel blessed to receive your words of wisdom and questions from all the readers and artists. There have been many days that your words have helped me struggle through and validated the journey I seek to travel through my own creativity to my own art and truth. Thank you for creating such an insightful network! I hope to get your book soon!

 

There is 1 comment for Help with the struggle by Kay Keyes Farrar

 

Signed copies
by Ann Kynion
 

I would like to have a signed copy and don’t see how I can get one without a personal request. I understand that you will sign at book stores, etc. However, I am sure that you will never darken the door of a bookstore in Springfield, Missouri and I don’t know that I will ever be traveling to a city that you will be signing books or can make it by your studio…. Is there any hope for a signed book…

“Given an equal amount of intelligence, timidity will cause a thousand times more problems than audacity.” (Carl von Clausewitz , 1780-1831)

(RG note) Thanks, Ann. We rationalized with the secure mailing boxes sealed at the factory that everything would get through the mail perfectly this time. The downside is that we’re not opening the boxes and signing the books. We will however make exceptions for those who absolutely need to have their books signed. There will be no extra charge, but the books may take a little longer to get to you.

 

Local book-signings
by Esmie G. McLaren, Vancouver, BC, Canada
 

You made this happen and it couldn’t happen to a better man. Thank you for all the years of wisdom-sharing and more importantly, your companionship as an artist. I hope there are many more to come. I hope to come and tell you so in one of your book-signings. Please do let me know when and where.

(RG note) Thanks, Esmie. The first signing is at the White Rock Gallery, 1247 Johnston Rd., White Rock, B.C., Canada, on Sunday December 13 from 1 to 3 pm. We will announce further signings in these clickbacks as they come up.

 

 

 

Good advice
by Heather Caldwell
 

Congratulations on 10 years of dedication to giving! I’ve enjoyed reading your letters and admire you for the time you take to offer your wealth of knowledge to the art community while maintaining your successful art practice. I remember well, many years ago, when you invited me to your studio to see my early watercolours and encouraged me to go off and paint fifty more. I did. I have lived and worked in the south of France for the past three 1/2 years and am currently teaching at Emily Carr University for the term before I return to Nice.

 

 

 

A gifted writer
by Helen Tilston, Toronto, ON, Canada
 

Congratulations and as we’d say in the West of Ireland, “Maith an Buachaill” directly translated would mean “good man yourself.” This is a very high honour. I truly appreciate what you are putting into this twice-weekly letter. Someone commented “Oh ’tis easy for him, he is a gifted writer” and my response was “There are many gifted writers but there are not many passionate writers and passion does not come easy.” You clearly love your life and your work and I wish you continued happiness, peace and love. I spend my winter in beautiful Indian Rocks Beach Florida and summer in Toronto and Ireland. Getting ready for 4 exhibitions in 2010 — I love my life too.

 

Making a difference
by Ann Hardy, Colleyville, TX, USA
 

Roberto: You need to know while still alive and kicking with such fervor that you have been on my “Five Greats” list (five gratefuls that I write at the bottom of my “to do” for the next day list), soooooooooooooooooooooooooo many times that it would give you goose bumps! How much a difference you are making in this old world. We love you and appreciate you for all of the astute sharing. Your book will become a part of my library.

 

 

 

Expression of the creative mind
by James Quist, New York, NY, USA
 

As an art collector I read magazines like Modern Painters, Art in America, etc. I also read the Twice-Weekly Letters and the Responses. A lot of art writing makes little or no sense to me, but these letters have an honesty, self-effacing humor and clarity that is lacking in many others. I have come to understand art and artists better by reading this material. Making art seems to be a balance between passion and hard work, and I am more and more coming to honor those who take their vocation seriously and are not in the mode of hoodwinking the public and profiteering thereby. I respect the dedication and willingness to share. The Painter’s Keys site is unique. It is currently the best written expression of the creative mind.

 

Book on CD?
by Bobbo Goldberg, Orlando, FL, USA
 

When the time is right, how perfect it would be to publish this vast resource of thought and feeling as a fully searchable book on CD! Your 83-page table of contents would be only a beginning, as a reader looking for, say, “projector,” could simply type the word in and get the word. No rush. But it’s a sure-fire. Could even be offered at a small discount as a downloadable, fully-searchable .pdf.

I’m a book kinda guy, myself. I love not just the content, but the feel, smell and portability of a book. However, for such a treasure as TRGT-WL, searchability could be a huge plus. And, since the book was no doubt compiled as word processing files, most of the work has actually been done. What next? Bob reads the Audiobook version?

There are 2 comments for Book on CD? by Bobbo Goldberg

 

Drop shipping books for you
by Mary Susan Vaughn, Charlotte, NC, USA
 

I’d be more than happy to drop ship for you. I would just need to know what your drop ship rate would be. I would like to advertise your book in my December newsletter too which is going out on December 1st. Please let me know if we can have a drop ship relationship and I’ll even write a story about how inspirational and enjoyable your letters have been in the years I have been reading them — in addition to being the inspiration for my own site Red Easel! You’ve had a tremendous influence on my career.

(RG note) Thanks, Susan, and others who asked about this. Our drop ship remuneration is $8.00 per book. All you need to do is forward the full price (35.00 (US sales) to us by any method — even direct from the buyer) by PayPal, cheque, etc., and then clarify with Sarah Garland that it is a “drop ship” and that you are the beneficiary and we will mail you a cheque for the accumulated amount after 30 days of the first claim including any subsequent ones in that time period. We will then look after all the mailing etc and your buyer can expect delivery within eight days of us receiving the request.

 

 

 

Featured Artist: Carol Jenkins

Fall Saltmarsh oil painting, 12 x 16 inches by Carol Jenkins, Ward, CO, USA

 

You may be interested to know that artists from every state in the USA, every province in Canada, and at least 115 countries worldwide have visited these pages since January 1, 2013.

That includes Gulnar Sacoor of Portugal, who wrote, “Congratulations. Felicitations for the publication of “The Robert Genn Twice-Weekly Letters.” I have truly enjoyed reading them and have grown in many ways with them.”

(RG note) Thanks, Gulnar. And thanks to everyone who wrote to offer congratulations. With a little study of this inbox, we have emails like the above from 56 countries.

And also Deby Adair who wrote, “I’d really like to say that your words have shed real value over the years and that, for an artist, you ain’t a bad writer!”

And also Paula Timpson who wrote this poem:

Believe in Love and Art
Art is Life!
Art is Nature!
Art is
a way to help others find
GRACE in their lives…

 

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