Barry

1. When I was a boy I spent much of my time in tromping through fields, woods, and swamps. I guess I longed to take some of that nature back home with me. One lesson I learned as a boy is that by quietly sitting, I saw so much more. As a young adult I started carrying a notebook with me so I could write my thoughts and observations. During back country skiing and snowshoeing I began sketching animal tracks, eventually adding a leaf or small tree for scale and context. My sketching eventually evolved to become an integral part of my notebooks. I didn't use color, just a number 2 pencil. I was a free spirit in those days and eventually filled several notebooks. As my teaching and research career began taking up much more of my time, my notebooks began filling up with data – columns of numbers – without sketches, without commentaries. The notebooks seemed to have lost soul. My goal in this class is to open my notebook with a fresh mindset. 2. I've learned from all the journalers. I like the way Shayna let her sketches lead her thoughts and allowed her sketches to move out of the boxes. Jewel showed confidence in experimenting. William showed how shading can define a subject. Margaret showed drawing can lead to a more accurate understanding of a subject (her series of sketches reminded me of the Louis Agassiz quote "the best way to see is with a pencil"). BJ's shapes and impressions are good tools to help start a drawing. Holly's perseverance – drawing weekly – as well as her use of color impressed me. 3. No new journaling ideas. Although I've filled some notebooks, I'm still a beginner here. Thanks, Barry