New book: "You Can Draw!" by Lon Haverly

[Linda Brandon]

I'm delighted to hear that you've published your book. I always read your posts. Please put me on your buyers list (unless I see your book show up in the left-side column of the Forum - then, I guess I can just click on it to order it, right?)

John, I enjoyed reading about your public drawing experiences. I spent a few years drawing portraits in public spaces and I have a lot of respect for those like Lon who do it for a living. For one thing, it's an instant skin-thickener. There's nothing like an opinionated bystander to deliver the blood-curdling broadside. I feel the experience also helped me capture likenesses across a broad range of humanity.

But - to be both good and fast - that is so darned hard to do well. Every day that I drew portraits in public, I would lose 2 or 3 pounds. Not exactly sure why, but I think it had to do with making thousands of small decisions within a relatively short period of time. None of the decisions were "important" ones in the grand cosmic scheme of things but the brain still had to actually function.

Unfortunately I would gain those pounds right back again, but nevertheless... .

A new marketing angle for you: "You Can Achieve Quick Weight Loss and Draw At The Same Time!". An instant best seller.