the man and machine were loaded on a draft absorption mapping and meanders, covering the all the roads of the island, volcanic mountains and deep river valleys in the center to the soft alluvial plains of the south. Working in his free time between other projects, his task was made more difficult because this was before there was Earth, access to detailed or other reliable base cards.
The hard work of love, made entirely in watercolor, was finally completed and self-published in the US in 1999, the first large format detailed topographic map in two dimensions four colors pictorial Bali, the best representation obtained Bali wonderful terrain features.
Exploring Bali hinterlands was in the DNA of Bruce. Born in a small town called Waukegan near Chicago in 1958, he drew before he could walk. Since 1978, Bruce worked as a freelancer with publishers on a project by project basis. At last count, he has contributed art, drawings, maps and illustrations in a of 24 pounds. Bruce has also developed a small book distribution company based in Bali.
Bruce, did you study art?
I studied art at three different colleges, finally got an undergraduate degree after several years unstable and diverted. My father was afraid I would not be able to support myself exclusively as an artist, so following his desires, I'm a general education with a major in art. In fact, he never knew at the time how diverse my work would become and how far I travel in my life.
Why did you install in Bali?
I studied Borobudur in college, so a quest to see this incredible monument was due to visit Indonesia for the first time in 1986. I always assume I'd settle around Yogyakarta, but as it appeared, while in Ubud one night, I saw a war dance Baris in the rain. The effect of this performance was so powerful that I ly changed my plans, Java left and moved directly to Bali.
What are the best things about living here?
I like the feeling that the day of daily life activities smoothly, following well-established models, while at the same time there is a feeling that everything is about to go completely out of control. This shaky balance is constant fascination for me and has inspired countless paintings and drawings.
Is it easy to live art?
I'm involved in everything related books and publishing. I was mainly considered an illustrator, but I also creates and publishes maps, design and publish books, research and write articles, books import and distribute. My combination house / workshop / store room is stuffed with stacks of books, paintings and rolled paintings and illustrations. Something in the press is always at hand!
What was the first book you worked?
A guide to Thailand in the early 1990s in which I contributed city maps and architectural illustrations. It was quite a challenge. I stretched the truth a little with my employer and actually had no experience doing these types of illustrations. The illustrations were easy, but the cards were partly far the hardest project.
what kind of artwork do you do?
Most of my illustrations on the natural history and architecture. I specialize in mapping, but I have not studied the official mapping. My grandfather worked for Rand McNally. When I was a boy, I marveled at the atlas he bring home. But the cards are difficult - I put tremendous effort into learning how to draw well. Now the cards have become the most satisfying type of work I do. With its amazing reliefs, the Bali mapping was the dream of a cartographer.
As an agent of books, how many publishers do you represent?
I have two main suppliers, one in Singapore and one in London. Between them, I have access to dozens of publishers and thousands of books. I stay in Singapore on travel purchase book. I buy shares there, ship books by boat to Jakarta and then take overland to Bali. I bring books to approximately 10 libraries of independent retail around Bali, usually selling them on a car base. If they do not sell in a few months, I look to be a better place or sell them at a reduced price.
Do bookselling have a bright future in Bali?
The book industry has become very confusing and complex. This is especially the case now with the rise of e-books. Even the experience and venerable booksellers are scratching their heads trying to predict what will happen in the book industry in the future.
I just self published an art book called Inventing Art: Paintings of Batuan. It took three and a half years to research, write, design and print this book, the most complex yet engaging project I've ever done. It happened recently in Bali for my printers in Singapore, and I just started to promote and distribute worldwide.
Which book?
The tradition of painting a small village just south of Ubud, which actually began in the 1930s and is still strong today. The purpose of the book is to demystify the feeling "foreign" these tables to make them more accessible to people from outside Bali to understand. While Batuan paintings are often filled with mysterious imagery, there are many aspects to those that are easy to understand and enjoy. The book attempts to remove the aspect of "us and them" these beautiful paintings and present them simply as good art, that can be enjoyed by everyone with a patient and sensitive eyes.
Bruce Granquist be contacted by e-mail :. Brucegran@yahoo.com