I have to tell you about this new amazing book I got. It’s a children’s book I suppose. I mean it was in the children’s section anyway. I honestly don’t even remember how I came across it. No doubt, one of those mindless web searches, where I ended up far from home and in some magical and strange land. Yesterday I took Tony up on the offer to grab some free time for myself. I landed in Barnes and Nobles/Starbucks with a bagel and cream cheese, a White Hot Chocolate, a glass of ice water and two books. Ish and Journal Revolution. The latter is for another post. Right now I have to tell you about the beauty of ISH.
See Ramon LOVES to draw, and he has this brother that doesn’t appreciate his art, and he laughs at it. And Ramon, who never realized he had an art problem, all of a sudden develops one. He has a complex now. And he can’t seem to draw anymore. Until his sister, oh his sweet, sweet sister. Well you’ll just have to see the book to see what she does with all of Ramon’s crumpled up, rejected drawings. And she tells him, his painting of a vase…it looks very vase-ish. The idea that a drawing doesn’t have to look exactly like reality. Instead it’s an interpretation of what Ramon sees…an ISH interpretation. And suddenly he sees he can accept his art all over again. He draws a house that is house-ish and a tree that is tree-ish and so on.
I love the whole idea of “ISH”. The freedom of a creative voice and the immense opportunity to embrace our own creations.
It’s just so wonderful-ish.
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i picked up that book at the library a couple months ago and fell in love with it also. I liked his other book, “the dot” too. so much meaning in such a small book. and his illustrations are so cute.
Mandy, after todays newsletter I came to here.:) I just ordered the ..Ish book for my nephew. Its a long story, but, when I have more time I will post you a link to an album of his works..I can’t put them on scrap girls because of some “natural” content. I am planning on giving this to him for an inspirational gift to keep going with his talent. You’re never too old to receive a gift of young
How cool you’ve heard of the book too Courtney.
Tina, I’d like to see a link to his album, and I’m sure he’ll love the book. I love it just as much, if not more than my kids. Probably more.
In our family, we also love Ish and The Dot too. The Dot has inspired my older daughter to be more patient, attentive and helpful with my younger daughter when she does her art projects. My big girl even wrote and illustrated her own book about her sister and had just one little page of herself being a mentor – she is really proud of how she was able to encourage and inspire her and let the little one shine.
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