Eric's DIY sketchbook - Angela's entry (and 4 others)

The video is a bit jiggly or otherwise awkward in places because I'm holding an iphone with one hand while trying to manipulate the sketchbook with the other.  :)

Angela's entry into Petr's book cover theme

Hello Friends!

I've recently discovered the Chinese word/concept of "li". Although, it was explained to me as a universal, uniting principle, rather than as a fundamentally Tao, or Neo-Confucianism philosophy. . .  If it is new to you too, here is a snippet from Wikipedia:


 In the Chinese language ... the character for li means the markings in jade. It also means the grain in wood and the fiber in muscle. We could say, too, that clouds have li, marble has li, the human body has li. We all recognize it, and the artist copies it whether he is a landscape painter, a portrait painter, an abstract painter, or a non-objective painter. They all are trying to express the essence of li. The interesting thing is, that although we all know what it is, there is no way of defining it. Because tao is the course, we can also call li the watercourse, and the patterns of li are also the patterns of flowing water. We see those patterns of flow memorialized, as it were, as sculpture in the grain in wood, which is the flow of sap, in marble, in bones, in muscles. All these things are patterned according to the basic principles of flow. In the patterns of flowing water you will all kind of motifs from Chinese art, immediately recognizable, including the S-curve in the circle of yang-yin. So li means then the order of flow, the wonderful dancing pattern of liquid, because Lao-tzu likens tao to water: The great tao flows everywhere, to the left and to the right, It loves and nourishes all things, but does not lord it over them.

— Alan Watts, Taoism

I felt pretty darn lucky this morning. Glorious sunshine and a cool breeze while I walked the 3 minutes from my new home, to what felt like my own private beach. While finishing my entry, from 9-11, only one other person walked by...   The atmosphere suited the theme of the entry perfectly and I can't think of a better way to start off my year away from teaching. Thanks for sharing my new beginning with me, Esketchers!

Lydia's entry into Eric's DIY book

My initial understanding of Eric's theme was to use found objects to create our own pages. I may have misunderstood this slightly, but it led to me reusing some art made by my students.  One of the privileges of teaching very young children is that they tend to love and adore you (whatever you have to offer). Through the school year my little friends have bestowed me with many tokens of their love in the form of drawings.  I have collected these by sticking them up on the cupboard next to my classroom desk.  When I started thinking about what to do for Eric's book, I thought I would use these drawing to create some pages.  I have cut out and stuck my favorite pieces together and worked on top of them with pens and pencils.  Thanks to little French/Cambodian Chloe and Spanish Elena for their contributions to my entry.

This was a quick way to keep up with the rotation and make sure Angela had something to take with her on her new start in Cornwall. I wonder what inspiration your new environment will bring Ang, we'll look forward to seeing evidence of it in our books - good luck!!

eric's entry in Angela's COMMUNICATION book

Communication!
Haven't we all had discussions like this? I wonder how many languages and cultures could relate?
Hmmmmmmm.....?

eric's entry in Mary's book

It's so teeny and cute, I was afraid to put something into Mary's book for a good while. Then I remembered some photogravure prints I have that remind me of landscapes seen from high above.
I also tried to choose one that echoed parts of previous compositions, then just for fun, I punched a hole in the book for good feng-shui!
Keep the entries comin'!!!

Jeane's Entry in Angela's Book"Communication"

 So many ways to work with Communication...  I used a bit of snail mail inspiration along with newer  technology.

Also included Mary's entry: beautifully flowing figures.

Lydia's Entry into Petr's Book

This isn't so much a book I want to see on my book shelf, as one I'd like to see on other people's book shelves.  I have been busy illustrating some historical/legendary stories of Basel for kids that a friend of mine is writing.  This is a snippet from one of them.  Fingers crossed something will come of it.