This week I have been in Sandwell, west of Birmingham, in the West Midlands. Also known as the Black country because it was the heart of the industrial revolution with foundries and smoke everywhere, making stuff for the British Empire. Several of the libraries are Carnegie Libraries. Andrew Carnegie was once the richest man in the world. He sold his steel empire and spent the rest of his days giving money for libraries and learning institutions around the world. Carnegie Libraries have a feel about them. They are usually quite ornate in a Art Nouveau/Arts and crafts style. Many libraries retain original features. I used to love the old toilets that would have mahogany seats and giant wooden cisterns and sometimes floral paired bowls! They all seem to have been replaced with modern systems now but often the brass looks and door fittings remain. Find out more about Andrew Carnegie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g_C-V6h144 and more about carnegie Libraries here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_library Sandwell in the West Midlands is one of the few authorities still trying to keep up their Libraries. As they keep stocking them with new books, so new subscribers come from adjoining authorities who are cutting back, which goes to show that if you provide the books, people will come. Library usage statistics are so easily distorted - if there are no books, obviously no one will visit the library, giving evidence and support to those wishing to close it down! Thimblewell Library, run by Julie who looked after me this week, is thriving with music events and all sorts of community groups meeting and using the most adaptable and wonderful art deco building. Featuring the following libraries in the west midlands:Thimblemill Library, Hradely Heath Library, Langley Library, West Bromwich Central Library, Wednesbury library, Tipton Library With award winning illustrator, Shoo Rayner You can support my videos on Patreon ➡️ http://bit.ly/ShooPatreonPage Subscribe for lots more drawing :) ➡️ http://bit.ly/Sub2Shoo Everyone asks about the tools I use when I'm out using my sketchbook. here's a video to show you what and how I use them. https://youtu.be/QJwjV1FKdyg The Pentel Aquash Brush is here in the Uk http://bit.ly/PentelAquabrushUK and here in the US http://bit.ly/PentelAquashBrushUSA Rotring Tikky Graphic in the UK here http://bit.ly/TikkyGraphicUK in the USA http://bit.ly/TikkyGraphicUS The Cotman sketching watercolour set is here in the UK http://amzn.to/1gNpZ8s and in the US here: http://amzn.to/1gaG6qA The Seawhite of Brighton a5 travel journal is here in the Uk http://bit.ly/SeawhiteJournalUK and here in the USA http://bit.ly/SeawhiteA5JournalUSA Twitter http://twitter.com/shoorayner Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/117947137150973770218 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=750207845 Website http://www.shooraynerdrawing.com music by http://www.youtube.com/cleffernotes Shoo Rayner is an award-winning illustrator and author of over 200 books for children. The Shoo Rayner Drawing Channel won the 2011 YouTube NextUp award and is dedicated to teaching, promoting and inspiring drawing for everyone from beginners to experts who like to see how other people do what they do. Shoo believes that everyone can draw but they lose confidence at school when they think they have to make their drawings look perfect or in a recognised classic style. Drawing is just making marks on paper and you are allowed to draw anyway you like Drawing is all about getting ideas out of you head and on to paper, it's about understanding how the world is put together and it's about having fun, with no stress, just drawing for fun. Make sure you are subscribed for new drawings every Monday and Friday in you inbox and learn to draw better and with confidence with Shoo. ➡️ http://bit.ly/Sub2Shoo
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Duration: 3m 28s
Rating: 45