Art Bookshop Review: Foyles (Charing Cross Road)

This is a review of the Art Bookshop area on the second floor within Foyles Flagship book store at 113-117 Charing Cross Road in central London. Below you will find a review including photographs of the bookshop.

Foyles Art Books
about half of the shelving in the art section on the 2nd floor of this bookshop

First a note for those who know the Foyles of old and have not visited for some time.

I first started going to Foyles when I was a student in the 70s when it was ran by Christina Foyle.  It was a complete and utter maze interspersed by book stacks on the floor as well as the shelves.  It had the most books of any bookshop in London but finding them wasn't easy and the process of paying for them was completely antiquated and very slow.  As a result, it's one of the few bookshops that has made it into Wikipedia.

Foyles was once listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest bookshop in terms of shelf area (30 miles/50 kilometres) and number of titles on display.[1] In the past, it was famed for its anachronistic, eccentric and sometimes infuriating business practices, so much that they made it a tourist attraction.[2]Wikipedia - Foyles Bookshop

However all that was swept away and the shop has enjoyed a complete and comprehensive makeover.  The shelving is now exemplary and shopping for books is a complete pleasure.


RECOMMENDED:  I'd go so far as to say this is probably my bookshop of choice for art books.  The only improvement I can think of would be the addition of a few comfy chairs and a rethink of the location of books on shelves relative to the demographics of its customers!

Name of Art Bookshop: Foyles Bookshop

(Branch) Address: 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0EB conveniently located for people visiting Oxford Street / Tottenham Court Road / Covent Garden / Leicester Square area.  Two minutes from Tottenham Road Tube station (involves a walk around the CrossRail development between Centre Point and Tottenham Court Road Tube Station

Website: General http://www.foyles.co.uk/ Specific to Foyles Charing Cross Road http://www.foyles.co.uk/Public/Stores/Detail.aspx?storeid=1011 Twitter: @Foyles

Shop hours: Monday - Saturday 9.30am - 9.00pm Sundays 11.30am* - 6.00pm (*11.30am - 12.00pm browsing only) Public holidays 11.00am - 8.00pm: Closed on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day Easter Good Friday and Easter Saturday, normal hours apply; Easter Sunday, closed; Easter Monday, 11am - 8pm

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7437 5660

Email: customerservices@foyles.co.uk

Of interest to: art students (beginners through to Higher Education); amateur artists; professional artists; art lovers; graphic designers; illustrators; typographers

Major section on Art Theory and Aesthetics Highlights very well laid out with good labelling;  includes a “new books” section specifically for art plus a section on catalogues for current exhibitions absolutely huge section devoted to art history and artists biggest selection of books on art theory that I’ve seen in a long time (this shop is close to a leading art school) good selection of books relating to art instruction targeted at amateur artists very extensive sections devoted to graphics, design, type, illustration and photography a selection of art DVDs - including fictionalised films about artists very wide range of specialist art journals lots of knowledgeable assistants and speedy processing of purchases a very good bookshop for other books as well (the music and history sections kept my other half absorbed for over two hours!) ART DVDs and Catalogues for Current and Future Art Exhibitions specialist shelving features not often seen in art bookshops

Think Again? not for those who like their art “dumbed down” you have to be able to bend down to see the art instruction books - Foyles might like to think about the fact that a lot of (less bendy) older people take up art in their retirement a visit could get expensive - because you see so many books you want! Art Instruction books a little too low for my liking A bit too low for those whose backs and knees don't bend as well as they used to

Art Instruction: Anatomy for Drawing and Portrait/Figure Drawing section Summary: This is the bookshop to go for art books if you like a good selection and you enjoy a better quality art book. I’ve got a very good awareness of art books in print and on offer and I was generally very impressed with the books they’d chosen to stock.  This is a very good place to start if looking for books on a particular art topic.

A New Bookshop and a Move for Foyles


Foyles is due to move to a purpose-built bookshop in the adjacent former Central St Martins building in late 2013 or early 2014. They are now actively involved in planning the design of the new bookshop.

Their leasehold for site of this original bookshop is and other adjacent properties are being marketed for a very considerable sum. One can only surmise that this relates to taking advantage of the development of the new Crossrail station and retail hub at Tottenham Court Road

Other art bookshops

You can read other reviews of Art Bookshops in London in the following posts:

• Botanical Art Bookshop Review - Kew Gardens
• Art Bookshop Review: Waterstones (Covent Garden)
• Art Bookshop Review: Tate Britain Millbank Shop
• Art Bookshop Review: Thomas Heneage Art Books
• Art Bookshop Review: The National Gallery Bookshop

Plus good art bookshops in the UK are listed in Art Bookshops - Resources for Artists

Ning's abysmal communication on billing

I use Ning to provide a framework for online discussion groups about art. The framework they offer and the service they provide is great.

However I have one MAJOR complaint about Ning. I complained about it last year - to Ning.  The situation is no better this year so I'm going to complain about it again - and this time I'm doing it in public.

Ning's communication with respect to annual subscription billing is absolutely APPALLING!

ABYSMAL is another word I would quite happily use.

Communication is limited to a pop-up message on entry to the network.

• There are no emails to the network owner prior to payment becoming due
• There are no invoices delivered via email to the owner's inbox - PRIOR to payment.
• Continued subscription is assumed and revisions to existing arrangements are made difficult for network owners due to the lack of information on the network dashboard
• Payment can be made BEFORE an owner has had a chance to review the payment.

Now as it happens I don't want to revise my current arrangements.  However if I did Ning doesn't give me much of a chance to do something about it.

 However as somebody who is very familiar with the proper statutory requirements and other good practice standards applied to systems for billing accounts I know that Ning's arrangements fall far short of what's required.

 I conclude that Ning's communication on invoices is very poor and below all reasonable expectations of standards for online payments.

 It made me think last year that there's a need for some sort of online financial systems ombudsman. I'm thinking the same thing again this year.

This is the online billing enquiry they're receiving from me today.

Please answer the following questions:

1. Why does a responsible company not have a setting for account details and payments of invoices linked to an individual's personal account and/or the network account.
 
2. Why do you not communicate with the site owner via email in advance of the billing date with respect to annual billings.  I do not in any way regard a flash-up message when logging in as any sort of adequate substitute for proper communication.  For one thing there is no online record which is accessible to me that it has occurred.
 
3. Are your billing arrangements fully transparent and completely compliant with all statutory legislation and prevailing good accounting practice relating to the payment of bills for online services?

I'd be very interested to hear about other people's experiences of Ning's Billing arrangements.


UPDATE:  Here's the automated response which completely fails to address any of the questions asked. Like I said - their communication is abysmal!

Hi there,

Thanks for contacting us. You can view all of your account information, including your complete billing and invoice history, by signing in directly to Ning.com using the email address you used to create your network. You can also access your Ning.com account from the dashboard of your network by clicking "My Account." For any questions, please refer to our Help Center article located here: http://www.ning.com/help/?p=5859
We hope this helps.

Thanks,
The Ning Team

Which is the best pastel ground?

There are a wide variety of pastel grounds - and I've finally got round to listing them all out in a poll to find out from pastel artists which pastel papers or pastel boards they like the best.

You can find the poll in a new "resources for artists" site I've created - Pastel Papers and Pastel Grounds

This is the link POLL: Which pastel paper or other support do you like best for pastels?

These are the options:

• Ampersand Pastelbord
• Art Spectrum Colourfix Paper
• Art Spectrum Plein Air Painting Board
• Art Spectrum Suede
• Art Spectrum Supertooth
• Canford Black Pastel Paper
• Canson Mi Teintes Pastel Paper
• Canson Mi-Teintes Touch - sanded texture board
• Clairefontaine Pastelmat
• Daler Rowney Murano Pastel Paper
• Fabriano Tiziano Paper
• Fisher 400 Paper
• Hahnemuhle Bugra Paper
• Hahnemuhle Velour Pastel Papers
• Ingres Paper (various)
• Richeson Pastel Paper
• Saint-Armand Sabretooth paper
• Schminke Sansfix
• Sennelier La Carte
• St Cuthberts Mill - Somerset Pastel Paper
• Townsend Pastel Paper
• UART Archival Sanded Pastel Paper
• Wallis Archival Sanded Pastel Paper - Museum Grade
• Wallis Archival Sanded Pastel Paper - Professional Grade
• Watercolour Paper (various)
• Winsor & Newton Tints Pastel Paper
• Other (please comment below)

I'm developing a systematic analysis of the range of pastel grounds on the website according to:

• characteristics
• made of
• colours
• size
• consumer opinion

This should make it easier for people wanting to consult the site to find out which pastel ground might suit them best.

If you are a pastel artist could you please:

• vote in the poll 
• share your personal views as to the pastel ground you like the best - lave a comment below or on the website
• let me know if you've ever reviewed a pastel ground - and let me have a link to the review
• let me know if I've omitted a pastel ground which should be included in the poll!

You can find out more about pastels and other papers and supports in two related websites:

• Pastels - Resources for Artists
• Fine Art Paper and Non-Canvas Supports for Artists

Studio Product: IKEA ALEX Drawer unit with 9 drawers

This is what the IKEA ALEX Drawer unit with 9 drawers looks like for those reading the comments on my Review: IKEA Alex Drawer Unit for paper storage.  This item has already found a useful place in artists' studios.

ALEX Drawer unit with 9 drawers, white 
UK - Article Number 501.928.22 £81.99
USA - Article Number 501.928.22 $119.00

Specification

It's made in the same way as the Alex Drawer Unit on castors (which I've reviewed) - except it's not mobile.  The dimensions when assembled are

• Width: 36 cm (14.1 inches)
• Depth: 48 cm (18.9 inches)
• Height: 115 cm (45.2 inches)

Looking at it online, here are the pros and cons from my perspective

Pros

• a very useful item for any studio given the size of the drawers.  
• looks ideal for storing pencils, pastels, paints, other media and smaller sizes of paper
• Also has space for all those odds and sods of equipment we have to keep on hand for matting, framing etc.
• small footprint - ideal for studio areas where there are space constraints
• scope to match the Alex Drawer Unit - same depth and same design.

Cons

• deep - deeper than most bookcases (35-40cm) but not as deep as many standard kitchen items (60cm)
• very vertical - which means it will need fixing to the wall to be safe, especially if young children are around 
• no castors and not mobile - which means you need to find a spot and keep it there.

We recommend you secure this furniture to the wall with the enclosed safety strap to prevent it from tipping over. Different wall materials require different types of fasteners. Use fasteners suitable for the walls in your home (not included).IKEA

Review: IKEA Alex Drawer Unit for paper storage

IKEA - Alex Drawer Unit on castors (white) 
Article Number : 401.962.41

This is a review of the IKEA Alex Drawer Unit on Castors - which is my second IKEA purchase as part of the "let's try and store everything better than hitherto" campaign.

I've been storing paper for artwork and works on paper in portfolios for ages and frankly, the number of portfolios was getting very difficult to manage both comfortably and aesthetically!

I have long wanted a plan chest in theory however:

• they mostly tend to be size A0 or A1 and that's much bigger than I want to house and much bigger than I actually need
• if big they become incredibly heavy to move when full - plus you need to start thinking about floor strength!
• they're not that easy to find
• most would look good in an office but less good in a home
• if you do find them, they're very often fairly expensive

Which is why, when I spotted the IKEA Alex Drawer Unit on castors in IKEA, I was so very pleased that at long last it looked like I might have solved the problem of what to do with all that paper.

The bottom line - I was right.  With one caveat - I actually need two!  Here's the review.

• If you want to check paper sizes - take a look at the chart at the end
• If you've created paper storage or reviewed another purchased product providing storage for art paper please leave a comment and a link to your review

Product: IKEA: Alex Drawer Unit on castors (white)

SUMMARY REVIEW: Ease of Assembly: Not overly complicated however you do need 2-3 hours and to be very focused on what you’re doing while assembling it.  Quality / Robustness: It’s particle board not wood. That said it’s good quality and the unit feels robust when finished Functionality: The drawers take large quantities of paper and all move really easily even when full. The castors work well on carpet and the whole unit can be moved easily. This enables the unit to be placed it in front of items you use only occasionally  Value for Money: Very reasonable compared to alternatives - UK Cost £85 plus delivery charge. (USA $119)

Technical Details: size:  Width: 67 cm / 26 3/8 "  Depth: 48 cm/ 18 7/8 "  Height: 66 cm / 26 "  drawers are designed to take paper up to size A2 with space to spare  material:  Basematerial / Drawer front: Particleboard, Acrylic paint, Melamine foil, ABS plastic  Bottom panel: Particleboard, Melamine foil, ABS plastic  Back panel: Particleboard, Melamine foil, Melamine foil  Drawer back / Drawer side: Particleboard, Foil  Drawer bottom: Fibreboard, Acrylic paint colours: available in white and blackweight: 32.4 kg weight: 32.4kg

Who should buy this? artists who work on paper  artists wanting to increase their flat storage capacity for paper, mountboard and completed artwork  pencil artists needing a neat storage solution for the home

Who should not buy this? people wanting flat storage for whole sheets of watercolour paper and mountboard

Highlights: large capacity  draw width enables storage of smaller paper/works in two stacks side by side  drawer mechanism makes drawers run very smoothy  castors make it easy to move around  visual instructions are very helpful - and you can download the Alex Unit instructions before you buy  easy to make up - one person can do it - but you do need to concentrate during assembly. It took me about 3 hours working slowly and carefully (I only made one mistake and that was easy to undo!)

Think Again? if you want to store full size sheets of watercolour paper or mountboard you’ll need something bigger  if you’re not good at using a screwdriver or DIY find a relative or friend who is - and be nice to them!  The USA version indicates the drawers are designed for letter size papers. They are in fact much bigger than this - see paper sizes chart at end

Manufacturer / Distributor: IKEA - their website http://www.ikea.com/ helps you find a store near you.  Plus you can order online (but will need to pay a delivery charge)

Suppliers: only available new from IKEA

A series paper sizes compared to Letter and Legal Sizes

Book Review: A Yorkshire Sketchbook by David Hockney

Title: David Hockney - A Yorkshire Sketchbook

Synopsis: A facsimile 92 page sketchbook used by David Hockney in 2004 when sketching the the East Yorkshire Wolds.  It contains sketches of the Yorkshire Wolds and Bridlington in watercolour, ink and pencil - and no words.

Summary review and recommendation: This is a sketchbook which dates from the beginning of Hockney’s reconnection to Yorkshire and painting.  Those who sketch and who like Hockney’s work will love it.  Those who have never ever sketched will be very puzzled by it and may even call it a complete waste of money - but they will have missed the point. I RECOMMEND this book for those who enjoy facsimile sketchbooks.

Highlights It starts at the beginning of the sketchbook (publishers details etc are relegated to the last page) It feels as if Hockney has handed you his sketchbook It illustrates the motifs which interested him as he began to paint Yorkshire again Take off the dustcover and the hardback cover is just like a black sketchbook used by many in the UK

Think Again? Those expecting an art instruction book will be severely disappointed The publisher’s description does not indicate at all clearly that this is a facsimile sketchbook (ie all images and no words) This may become a DVD (but I doubt it)

Who should buy this?: People who love Hockney’s work People who love facsimile sketchbooks People who carry a sketchbook everywhere they go People who want to learn more about sketching and want to see what a real sketchbook looks like

Who should not buy this? People who don’t sketch and don’t understand the nature of sketching and what a sketchbook actually looks like People who expect words rather than sketches in a facsimile sketchbook

Author / (Publisher) David Hockney / Royal Academy of Arts, London

Technical data: Publication Date (December 2011 hardback) Hardcover - 92 pages in conventional small landscape sketchbook format (21.2 x 15.4 x 1.8 cm) ISBN-10: 1907533230 ISBN-13: 978-1907533235 The full price version is not cheap! It’s much better value on Amazon which is where I ordered it. Amazon UK: A Yorkshire Sketchbook Amazon USA: David Hockney: A Yorkshire Sketchbook

Those of us who sketch know the joy of looking at one another’s sketchbooks. Having this book in my hand feels rather as if Hockney has just handed me his sketchbook! 

I own the DVD of his sketchbooks and consequently knew exactly what to expect in terms of content and drawing style. However I do think the publishers should review the publicity profile and the description of this book on the Internet. Nowhere does it indicate clearly that this is a complete facsimile of a sketchbook used by Hockney in 2004.

In summary:

• Sketchers who like Hockney's drawings and paintings will love this book. 
• Fans of Hockney's work will like this book 
• Those who have never sketched may well struggle to really appreciate it

Art in Transit: Handbook for Packing and Transporting Paintings

Art in Transit: Handbook for Packing and Transporting Paintings by Mervin Richard
Marion F. Mecklenburg and Ross M. Merrill is available for free from the Smithsoninian Institute.

Art in Transit: Handbook for Packing and Transporting Paintings by Mervin Richard

Marion F. Mecklenburg and Ross M. Merrill is available for free from the Smithsonian Institute.

Title:  Art in Transit: Handbook for Packing and Transporting Paintings

Synopsis: This technically detailed Handbook focuses on different approaches and procedures that will enable museum specialists (packers, registrars, curators, and conservators) to effectively use the results of the research of specialists in the field.  It includes tips and techniques also of relevance to those transporting high value artwork.

Summary review:  If you’ve ever wanted a comprehensive document telling you what to do when packing and transporting artwork, this is a good place to start. Although written for art galleries and museums, there’s a lot of information which will also assist the professional artist who is transporting valuable paintings.  Other artists will also find useful information in this large and comprehensive handbook.

Highlights Accessible: written in the language of lay people rather than art technologists / historians bullet points unpack the processes into easy stages key terms are highlighted in bold lots of useful sub-headings Comprehensive and evidenced synopsis of scientific evidence for best practices in the transport of paintings and other artworks Advantages and disadvantages of different techniques are identified Fascinating glossary Information derived from a variety of publications of note Use of a pdf format enables easy navigation of the document onscreen searches of the document

Think Again? NOT a “how to send paintings for beginners” document NOT for everybody.  Is it relevant to artists producing low value paintings (relative to art in museums)?  However some tips still relevant - and a useful resource of questions arise (eg case labels in different languages) NOT a quick read.The language may be accessible - but there’s still an awful lot of information. NOT a small document - 6.1MB pdf

Who should buy this?: Those wanting to know about good practices detailed in this book Those transporting valuable paintings to clients and to/from exhibitions Museum conservators Gallery transport technicians

Who should not buy this? Those unconcerned about archival practices and nature of packing required for valuable paintings and other works of art People who don’t work in museums have no need to buy this since its is freely available online

Author / (Publisher) Mervin Richard, Marion F. Mecklenburg and Ross M. Merrill / (National Gallery of Art, Washington)

Available from: no need to buy - it’s available for free from the Smithsonian Institute (click the title).   However if you’d like you'd like your very own personal copy you can try buying from via Amazon where copies are available for between $250-$1,000

Technical data: Copyright © 1991, 1997 National Gallery of Art First edition 1991. Second edition 1997 No. of pages Hardcover - pages Paperback pages; ISBN-10 ISBN-13 pdf document - 6.1MB file size

The contents include the following.  As you can see this is a technical document rather than a “how to send paintings for beginners” document.  It’s also particularly related to the conservation of very old paintings where the painting may be fragile

• Assessing Risks
• Criteria for the Selection of Paintings for Loan
• Selection Criteria for Frames
• Selection Criteria for Paintings on Canvas or Paper Mounted on Canvas
• Additional Issues for Large Paintings on Canvas
• Selection Criteria for Contemporary Paintings on Canvas
• Paintings on Wood, Ivory, or Bone
• Paintings on Metal and Other Nonporous Rigid Supports
• Transit Climate Conditions
• Expected Transit Environments in Summer and Winter
• Temperature Protection
• Insulating Materials
• Temperature Half-Time
• Temperature Half-Times of Packing Cases
• Relative Humidity Protection
• Wrapping Materials for Paintings: Polyethylene
• Wrapping Materials for Paintings: Glassine
• Wrapping Materials for Paintings: Kraft Paper
• Wrapping Materials for Paintings: Kraft Paper or Glassine Covered with Polyethylene
• Wrapping Materials for Paintings: Inner Packing Case
• General Properties of Silica Gel
• Use of Silica Gel in Packing Cases for Painting
• Shock and Vibration Hazards
• Shock and Vibration Hazards
• Vibration Fragility of Painting
• Shock Protection
• Fragility Factors
• Probable Drop Heights
• How to Use a Dynamic Cushioning Curve: Procedure A
• How to Use a Dynamic Cushioning Curve: Procedure B
• Optimum Static Loads - Quick Reference Table
• Load-Bearing Areas
• Vibration Protection
• Vibration Control for Canvas Paintings - Backboards
• Vibration Control for Canvas Paintings - Foam Inserts behind the Painting
• Vibration Control for Canvas Paintings - Stretcher Lining
• Packing Cases
• Case Construction - Structure
• Handles
• Skids
• Chemical Stability of Packing Materials
• Soft Packing
• Sample Packing Case No. 1
• Sample Packing Case No. 2
• Sample Packing Case No. 3
• Sample Packing Case No. 4
• Sample Packing Case No. 5
• Sample Packing Case No. 6
• Sample Packing Case No. 7
• Case Labels - English, French, Spanish, German, Italian
• Role of the Courier
• Glossary