This is a poster made from Chris Raschka's artwork for Fishing in the Air, a story about a father and a boy going fishing. It is also about how our imaginations are shaped, and I was stunned by how Raschka so beautifully captured that abstract concept.
Did you ever go fishing with your one of your parents or grandparents? Do you think you caught more than fish?
What a gorgeous poster! I have always loved this book.
ReplyDeleteHaving grown up on your lake, I started fishing at a young age. Used to get Muskie tags every year and never caught one! My brother and I picked and sold worms....yuck.
ReplyDeleteFishing was a very popular pasttime when I was a child where I grew up. I remember sitting on the edge of a wooden bridge over a creek and catching my first fish when I was about five. I never liked to put anything alive on a hook so my dad also baited it for me.
ReplyDeleteI remember fishing with my grandpa. He usually caught more fish than anyone. If we asked him what his secret was, he simply said "you have to hold your mouth just right."
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful poster. I love the fluidity of the brush strokes... like being under water.
Bonjour!
ReplyDeleteThis post is really beautiful, a refined artwork!
Léia
I used to accidentally catch these little toad-like fish with a million teeth. My father would curse under his breath when my line came up and he saw what was dangling there. They were nasty critters and it took some skill to unhook them and throw them back. I never learned to do it myself.
ReplyDeleteI used to teach both writing and drawing/painting. Most of my students were professionals and were already being paid for their work but they wanted to learn more about "learning" how to write and paint or draw. It was successful as far as adult classes are. It all depends on how much the students want to learn and how much they are willing to do to get there.
ReplyDeleteWhen you want to draw or paint this picture and if you were one of my students, I would have you describe the scene to someone in the room. It might be a child or your mother or a neighbor. They would then do their best drawing of what you described. How well people decipher the words you use to describe things almost always results in a far different picture than you imagined.'
Tell someone in the room with you to pick up a shoe with shoe laces in it and take the shoe laces out of the shoe. Now, using just words, tell the person what they have to do to put the shoe laces back in the shoe.
They cannot do more at any time than you described. Most people flub this right off the bat because they forget to tell the person to use their right hand or their left hand to pick the shoe up and the instructor has to watch and listen to make sure the person doesn't do things he assumed but must listen to the words.
This book reminds me of my dad... actually, your past two posts have reminded me of my dad. He takes me fishing and kayaking. When I was younger I made rings out of the worms, and my dad taught me how to spit. Some of my greatest memories are on the water.
ReplyDeleteFishing is something my Dad and I have always done together. One of my fondest memories as a tyke was catching the two biggest sunfish I had ever seen. I insisted on feeding the family that night and my knife-talented, patient father filleted them. That was the best-tasting fish I have ever had. My parents live on Cape Cod and my Dad and I still fish together. Now I am 42 and treasure these moments. So fleeting!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember catching any fish, but I do remember capturing lots of laughter! That's probably what scared all the fish away. :) Thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteMore than fishing, I remember the sandwiches. My dad would stop at the deli near the docks and get the best subs for our boat trips. My all-time favorite was roast beef with lettuce, tomato and mayo on a fresh baked sourdough baguette. I'd cast my line and hold onto my fishing pole with one hand. Then with my other hand, I'd unwrap my lunch and start to nibble, hoping the fish would wait for me to finish.
ReplyDeleteThat poster is gorgeous! I love that style of artwork, it reminds me a little of some pottery in Spain I saw once.
ReplyDeleteMy family lived near the neatest restaurant called "The Cross-Eyed Cricket" (TN) and you caught your own fish out of their ponds, watched them clean it, took it to the kitchen in a bag with your name on it, and they'd cook it for you. Nothing tastes better than fish just caught and grilled. YUM! There are lots of good memories from fishing there. :)
Also, my siblings, who were a little less squeamish than me, used to catch and clean fish and then build a fire and cook over it. I always thought they were so cool, knowing how to do all of that by themselves!