Sleepy Hollow Bookshop

Anyone that follows my blog knows that I adore both books and art.

The planets must have aligned last Thursday because one of my favorite places in Midland featured not only an incredible selection of used books but also some terrific fantasy artwork rendered in chalk.

The favorite place in question is Sleepy Hollow Bookshop located at 22 Ashman Circle in Midland, Michigan.

Our city has a large Barnes and Nobles in the mall which is a great place to hang out…but…if you desire something a little quainter you need to visit Sleepy Hollow Bookshop.

According to the owner the store contains at least 55,000 books at last count.

The shelves go from floor to ceiling and there isn’t a spot in the entire store where books don’t fill your entire field of vision.

The selection is diverse and chances are pretty good you will find what you are seeking.

My previous trip was to purchase a copy of Frank Herbert’s Dune so I could read it again for the umpteenth time and sure enough they had several good condition copies to choose from all at very reasonable prices.

Now what about that unicorn in front of the store?

Seems every now and then during the summer months a couple of artists will create some beautiful fantasy artwork on the cement in front of the store.

Chalk is the medium and the artwork will remain until the next downpour.

Sleepy Hollow Bookshop has been buying and trading books since 1996.

Visit their Facebook Page or Website for more information.

Mostly . . .

Speaking of oversized books here are a couple more of my favorites featuring some incredible artwork.

The two books are Mostly Ghostly and Mostly Monsters, the stories are adapted and retold by Steven Zorn and the illustrations are by John Bradley.

Each book features eight stories adapted from well known authors such as Washington Irving and Charles Dickens.

The stories come to life with beautiful and inspiring full color illustrations, a treat for fans of ghouls and beasties.

Mostly Ghostly was published in 1991 and Mostly Monsters in 1994 by Running Press.

Both books can be found on Amazon.

Pile

Speaking of pen & ink I thought I would share of one of my favorite sources of inspiration which is Pile: Petals From St. Klaed’s Computer by Brian W. Aldiss with illustrations by Mike Wilks.

This large oversized book was published in 1979 and consists of a poem about a civilization called Pile all beautifully illustrated with pen and ink.

This is one of those works that you view over and over and see something new every time. There really isn’t much more to add other than the fact I’ve owned this book for 32 years and have never grown tired of visiting each and every page.

Here’s a sample of some of the brilliance.

This book is still available through Amazon.com.

Library: SCARED!

SCARED! How To Draw Fantastic Horror Comic Characters by Steve Miller and Bryan Baugh is a beautiful full color book detailing some amazing artwork and offering some fascinating history of horror.

This is one of my favorite books sitting on the shelf and serves not only as instruction but also inspiration.

First published in 2004 by Watson-Guptil Publications this is one of the best “how-to-draw” books on the market.

Two thumbs up and prepare to be SCARED!

Dunninger’s Complete Encyclopedia of Magic

Another recent thrift store find was Dunninger’s Complete Encyclopedia Of Magic, a hard cover book published in 1988 featuring illustrations and details of several hundred magic tricks and illusions.

The illustrations struck a chord with me and thumbing through the pages I saw several tricks that could potentially be used in the world of haunting.

The book is still available from Amazon.

Animal Anatomy for Artists

Checked out this book a while back from our local library and immediately fell in love. Animal Anatomy for Artists by Eliot Goldfinger is an exquisite collection of black and white skeleton and muscle illustrations that are not only informational but also inspirational.

Here is an editorial review:

“Goldfinger, author of Human Anatomy for Artists (1991), stresses that bodies have specific volumes created by anatomical structures, and he reveals how the interrelationship of muscles and bones determines shape and proportion. His straightforward guide starts with animal classification and a listing of nonmedical terminology and then explicates the "basic body plan." Detailed line drawings, black-and-white photographs, and silhouettes, as well as explanations of skeletons, emphasize the functions of various body portions such as lower leg and shoulder joint, and Goldfinger thoroughly depicts individual muscles before progressing to elaborate side views and cross sections of complete anatomies. Feathers, horns, and antlers are treated separately with both diagrams and photos before the text concludes with a brief overview of the venous system. Many will find especially useful the extensive, multimedia, annotated bibliography. This technical treasure is sure to find an audience among artists and serious animal enthusiasts alike. “

Whitney Scott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Available at Amazon.com