By April Everett

Rowan Public Library

“Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad.”

— Salvador Dali

For thousands of years, mankind has communicated through pictures drawn on cave walls, architecture, sculpture and paintings. Art is a universal language, and is, by definition, the application of human creative skill and imagination.

According to Dali, drawing is the most honest form of art, raw and unforgiving. While Dali maintains you cannot cheat — that your work is either good or bad — he never said you have to be inherently good at drawing. It is possible to teach yourself or hone your existing skills without dishonesty to the art.

What do Kahlo, Gauguin, Da Vinci and Rousseau have in common? Other than being artists, they were all self-taught. Autodidacticism, or the act of learning a subject without the benefit of an instructor or formal education, is a concept receiving much attention with the recent introduction of massive open online courses (MOOCs).

MOOCs are online courses aimed at unlimited participation and open access to all via the Internet. Whether you sign up for a MOOC, watch YouTube videos or pick up a book, if you want to learn a new skill you must be motivated, disciplined and invested.

If you are motivated to learn more about drawing, Rowan Public Library has a wide variety of books and DVDs designed to help you refine your skills. Below is a mix of traditional and nontraditional art books that can be found in our collection.

In “Freehand: Sketching Tips and Tricks Drawn from Art,” Helen Birch breaks down basic drawing techniques into bite-sized chunks, and reveals their practical application in examples by contemporary artists. This pint-sized handbook teaches artists of all skill levels how to find a unique style that can be used to make amazing sketches.

Mel Elliott helps “everyone who loved getting covered in paint and glue at school and would secretly love to do it more often” to harness their inner creativity in her book, “How to Make Art: A Book of Ideas, Inspiration, Theory and Practice.” With in-depth tutorials on how to create funky collages, make cool, wonky lettering and so much more, this book will have you drawing, painting and coloring in no time.

If you are a nature-loving artist, then you will enjoy peeking at “The Organic Artist: Make Your Own Paint, Paper, Pens, Pigments, Prints, and More From Nature” by Nick Neddo. This treasure encourages us to return to the good ol’ days when art was made with all-natural materials, such as charcoal and birch bark. In addition to offering a wide variety of suggestions for using nature as supplies for art, this book also introduces the concepts of awareness and perception that are foundational to the creative process.

Timothy Goodman teaches us how to make art out of a cherished office supply in his book, “Sharpie Art Workshop: Techniques & Ideas for Transforming Your World.” Because Sharpies can be used on virtually any surface, are available in five tip widths, and come in more than 30 colors (plus silver metallic), Goodman maintains they are the go-to medium for creative artists.

If colored pencils are more your style, then check out “Drawing Cute Animals in Colored Pencil,” by Ai Akikusa. This book offers simple, yet detailed instructions that will help you learn how to draw adorable animals including rabbits, squirrels, pigs and alpacas (just to name a few). See how to use colored pencils and shading to make animals come to life.

Not feeling very autodidactic? Move beyond the written word and try a Drawing for the Absolute Beginner class. In this free six-week online class available through the library’s subscription to Gale Courses, you will learn paper types, drawing styles, rendering techniques and the basic principles of perspective, layout, design, lighting, volume and space. The next session for this course begins Oct. 14.

We also invite you to join us for a Drawing for Beginners class led by resident artist Emma Rose, who will teach the basic principles of drawing. The class will be at the library’s East Branch (110 Broad St., Rockwell) on Monday, Oct. 5, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Teens and adults are welcome, and there is no charge. Visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call 704-216-7842 for more information.

Book Bites Book Club: South (China Grove), Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6:30-8 p.m. Free, open to the public. If you enjoy good books, fellowship and tasty food, join us for this club where we discuss a different book each month and serve refreshments loosely related to the theme. This month’s book choice is “Under the Tuscan Sun” by Frances Mayes. Need a copy? Call 704-216-7841.

Michael Reno Harrell in Concert: Headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 7- 9 p.m. Featuring Harrell, an award winning songwriter and veteran storyteller and entertainer. His recordings have won awards in country, Americana and folk circles. Find more information at http://www.michaelreno.com/index.php. Admission is free, all are welcome. Program starts at 7; doors open at 6:30. Show sponsored by Friends of Rowan Public Library.

Drawing class: Drawing for beginners at East branch, Monday, Oct. 5, 5:30-7 p.m. Teens and adults interested in learning the basics of sketching are invited to join resident artist Emma Rose as she teaches the principles of drawing, such as perspective, shading and choice of medium.

Family event: Histories and Mysteries at the Roller Mill, Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.noon, China Grove Roller Mill, 308 N. Main St., China Grove. Learn about a local landmark. For the whole family, a free and entertaining afternoon of storytelling by Marian Lytle and refreshments from 2-4 p.m.  Tours of the four-story building and the original mill equipment will be offered throughout the afternoon. This event is sponsored by the China Grove Historical Society and Rowan Public Library. Call 704-216-7728 for more details.

Genealogy research class: Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-noon.  An introductory course on beginning genealogy research sponsored by the library and the Genealogical Society of Rowan. Local and web resources will be explored and explained by members of the Genealogical Society and History Room. Reserve your spot by calling Gretchen Witt at 704-216-8232 or by going online at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org

Lego Saturdays: The library’s Lego collection will be available for free play, developing creativity, imagination and problem-solving skills. All 10 a.m.-noon. Headquarters, Saturday, Oct. 3; South, Saturday, Oct. 10; East, Saturday, Oct. 17.

Explorer Club: Headquarters, Saturday, Oct, 10, 11 a.m. All new. Investigate different genres through activities based on books. Programs are for children in second-fifth grade; last one hour. This month’s theme will be “Walk Like an Egyptian.” Travel with Explorer Club to Ancient Egypt and experience the fascinating land of the Pharaohs. Discover hieroglyphs, masks and more from this land of the past. Attend the club this school year and get a Passport to Reading. Earn a stamp at each meeting. Children with three stamps by May 2016 will get a free book. Children attending six club meetings earn a special prize.

Teen Advisory Board: Teens who join this board provide input on the library’s teen programming and book selections and discss current events and issues of interest to teens in Rowan County. Meets once a month, 4:40-5:30 p.m. Headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 6; East, Monday, Oct. 12; South, Thursday, Oct. 15.

Anime Club: For teens, headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Learn all things Anime. Second Tuesday of the month, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Displays: Headquarters, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and Family Crisis; South, Carson High School Student Art; East, handmade jewelry by Myrtis Trexler.

Gallery at headquarters: Photographic prints and tintypes by David Lamanno.

Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second  language.

Weekly events for children through Nov. 30.
Baby Time: Loosely interactive, introducing simple stories and songs to babies  6-23 months old with a parent or caregiver. About 30 minutes. Headquarters, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.; East, Mondays, 10 a.m.

Toddler Time: Focused on sharing books, singing songs and encouraging listening skills for children 18-35 months old with parent or caregiver; 30 minutes. Headquarters, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Mondays, 11 a.m.

Tiny Tumblers: Simple stories, musical scarves and instruments for babies 6-23 months old with  parent or caregiver. South, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; 30 minutes.

Preschool Time: Encourages exploration of books and builds reading readiness  for children 3-5 years old. Headquarters, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Noodle Head Story Time: For children 4 and up to enjoy listening to silly books and tales together; 30 minutes. Headquarters, Thursdays, 4 p.m.; South, Mondays, 4 p.m.

Art programs: Activities and instruction based on various themes and media.  Program activities vary by branch. Children 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult; 30-45 minutes. Headquarters, Art in the Afternoon, Thursdays, 4:30 p.m.; East, Emma’s Easel, Thursdays, 4 p.m.; South, Art with Char, Wednesdays, 4 p.m.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors: Children 7 to 9 years old (first to third grade) can reserve a slot to read aloud to a therapy dog by calling the Children’s Room. Headquarters, Saturday, 10 a.m.