So how many of you set up and kick back at the book store? I've been doing this for years and it's where I learned most of the technical stuff I've ever done. A good instructional book is $30 to $60, maybe more, so it's not like you can buy a stack of them or anything.

But a $3.50 Mocha is your ticket to unlimited reading. lol.

I often go in, pick 6 or 8 books off the shelf - usually one subject, haul them back to the sitting area by the coffee bar, order up a drink, and just sit there for a couple hours skimming over the books. When you hit good info, read it in detail and move on. I even bring my note paper also to scribble down the really good stuff.

Good reference books are a must in the studio, but there are so many titbits of really good info to pick up just skimming good books.

This is how I learned most of what I know in photoshop - skimming the monster "Photoshop Bible" type books right next to the "Cool tricks in Photoshop" books.

Back when I was getting started I pulled out a whole stack of books on historical painters. I wasn't sure what my natural "style" would be, so I just pulled books that had paintins I found "cool" in one way or another. Then I'd read about the artists, why they did what they did, why there was a book written about them, and what defined their style. I found myself drawn to the impressionist artists which really inspired a starting point in my work. A great return on $3.50 and a couple hours time.


So check out your local book store the next time you're burning to answer a question or need a little inspiration!

+1!

I actually used to work in a Borders cafe and people would do this all the time and that's where I got the idea from. haha

I actually do this almost weekly but do buy an occasional book here and there. In fact I just bought the new LR book by Evening. Now that I have a laptop I'll be trying out the schtuff right on the spot... is that bad? hahahahaha.