I just love books, and my desire for knowledge is endless. There are things I learn from books better than if someone was to teach me. I am currently finishing reading “Burn Your Portfolio: Stuff They Don’t Teach You In Design School, But Should” by Michael Janda. I have been reading this book for the past 3 to 4 months. The reason it has taken me this long to finish is because once I read and learn about a new concept I right away put it into practice. This is what I love about books, mostly books that talks more on a mind set and talking about different concepts.
I learn a lot when I read, because reading always was one of my favorite things to do. If not reading it was the fact I love hearing and story. Because reading and listening to a story and/or concept brings up more ideas, compare to me watching someone show me the idea and basically give me all the answers. This is why I’m not a big internet fan, unless I’m looking for something to build an idea I already have. I’m not saying I’m against the internet, hack some of the books I own and wish to own I from searching online. But my point is that books bring up concept I heard of, or never thought about.
Let me give an example. I had to take a class called “Typography 3″ (a design class which focus on type treatment and layout) 2 times. Because the first time I somewhat had an idea, but I was lacking a few element and understanding of how to go about it. Put it this way in “Typography 2″ we was so focus on project base work (almost every design class was base on project base work) and so I wasn’t able to pick up much. I was surprise I even passed the class with a C+. So by the end of the first time in Type 3 I found a few books on layout and typography, I own the books now. But the books that helped me the most were “Editing by Design: For designers, art directors, and editors” by Jan V. White; “Typography Systems of Design” by Kimberly Elam; and “Layout Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Using Grids (Design Essentials)” by Beth Tondreau. Even though my Type 3 teacher was amazing (in my opinion) because he did speak in a way that I understood what I was doing and learning, but the problem was how the school was so project base I wasn’t able to fully understand what I was learning. If I my Type 2 teacher would have explain more I would have past Type 3 the first type. (Let me just say that my Type 2 teacher was using my Type 3 teacher files to teach, so there was a lot of confusing and misunderstandings.) I could show the difference but there will be too much to point out and explain, so maybe next time.
Then there’s books that gives off a mind set that catching my interest and makes me think a lot. Usually I think of my own stuff, but when I read books that gives off a mind set I read those books deeply to try and understand their point of view. When I do get see and understand their mind set that opens a million doors for me. Because not only do these people, who write these books, give me very interesting concepts to think about but also gave me a different view of what goes around me. For example there’s the show called “Face Off” which is basically makeup artist showing off their stuff to win a prize. Shows like Ink Master, and now Motor City master gives off a mind set I wouldn’t have if I was just staying in my own little bubble. After these shows I could never see anything the same way again, the same with books. Before Motor City Master I knew cars, and other things you would drive was art but I didn’t see it from the person who creates these things point of view. Now after Motor City Masters I notice almost every detail of a car and get excited when I see a new car or a notice something different from two similar cars. Because the Art Institute I already had the mind set that everything is a form of art, and I did see it detail. But the school, plus the books and show made me see them even closer than before.
Not only do I see the amazing details someone puts into animated film, but I can also see almost every detail of a car. As an artist I should have already seen these forms and shapes, the difference is I a prestige more of the fine details. It’s just like every time I look at ancient artwork, they had to be perfect the right time and every little detail is amazing in it’s own right. If they messed up once, no matter at what part they were at, they had to start over. This is also the same feeling I get when I read a new concept, or a concept that is stated in a different way.

Other great books:
“Whatever you think, Thank the Opposite” , “It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be” both by Paul Arden
“The art of being unmistakable” by Srinivas Rao
“18 minutes: find your focus, master distraction, and get the right things done” by Peter Bregman