Once upon a time I was ready to dive into the art world with
my freshly minted Arts Management degree, only to be knocked sideways and off
course by a series of events that led me down a few different winding paths.
Each of these paths, thankfully, included writing in some
form or another, which helped me hone my skills and craft, until finally, I
found the yellow brick road. Okay, maybe not quite that fabled path, but
certainly a way back to what I loved. Through a series of serendipitous
connections and posts spotted on LinkedIn, I found out about the Art Newspaper.
After reading the 3 permitted free articles online, I was hungry for more. I felt
revived, like a parched plant was finally given water.
But, let me go to the beginning, before I got that
proverbial water. It all started with a new book idea. While working on the
first draft, I realized I might need a little research to make sure I got the
details right. A ‘simple’ story about forged manuscripts, art auctions, theft
and an international chase, complete with a reluctant heroine, an art restorer,
ruthless collectors, and a full cast of colorful supporting characters.
By chapter two I realized I definitely needed more
information. This led me on many online searches, new connections and
fascinating phone calls with people in the field of manuscript conservation,
art authentication and art crime law. From Interpol and the FBI, to
conservators at major museums and libraries across the world, to lawyers
specialized in art crimes, to scientists using cutting edge technology to
detect and uncover possible forgeries.
It also had me scouring used book sites to find obscure
titles as well as more recent books on the subject. In addition, online
documentation and reports shared with me by new connections really opened up
the story and fueled more ideas.
It’s mind-boggling to learn the kind of fraud, forgery and
theft – and clever money laundering schemes - that goes on in the international
art world – I included manuscripts in that. For some time I was getting lost in
the many different directions I could go with the book I’d started writing.
Notebooks, random pieces of paper, napkins, envelopes;
everything I could scribble a quick idea on is used. I’m still very much in the
input phase of learning. But I have narrowed it down and am back on the path
I’d originally chosen for the story. The only difference is that now I have
loads more detail to populate the story with, and a notebook with ideas for
sequels.
As interesting as the wide world of art crime is, that’s not
what I want this blog series to be about, I want to keep the focus a little
narrower. With all this information I’ve been gathering, I will soon have
enough material for a non-fiction book. So, as I puzzle out the chapters for
this non-fiction book, I will chronicle my research and planning in blog posts
that offer a short dip into different element of book and manuscript forgery,
authentication, conservation, restoration, crime, etc.
Please feel free to provide feedback, or ask questions, as
that will only make the book better and give me an idea of what a lay-reader
without any or little art/manuscript background would like to know more about.
You can also learn more about my writing to date at: www.elynnhwriting.com
