It Was a Long Day

Sketch of 2 people sharing a couch by Sarah Sullivan

It Was a Long Day

We got back to the apartment late and some of us were in need of a rest. It is a small apartment but it turns out that with cooperation, a blanket and a couch can accommodate two people very nicely. I like this sketch because it tells a story using images, which is one on my goals. It shows something about being tired, something about physical and mental resting strategies, and something about the relationship of two people.

This is a pen and watercolor sketch on multimedia paper.

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Real Reading

Sketch of a Reader by Sarah Sullivan

Real Reading

Savvy teachers pay attention to the body language of reading when their students read in class. And old teachers may never stop noticing a real reader when they see one. Real readers have facial expressions that change depending on the book’s meaning,  shift their posture in response to the pace of the story, keep their eyes on the page, turn the page at a steady rate, go back and reread earlier pages, and are reluctant to put the book down. I got a kick out of noticing and sketching a real reader tonight.

This is an ink, white gel pen, and watercolor sketch on multimedia paper. I made some adjustments in Procreate, mostly to lower the position of the coffee table.

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Ideas and Discussion

Sketch of 2 men thinking by Sarah Sullivan

Ideas and Discussion

What is a vacation if not an opportunity to work on solving a problem of mutual obsession? Or better yet, an opportunity to sketch a type of interaction, people learning together, that has long fascinated me?

The body language of the two figures convey that collaborative learning is in progress. The figures are turned to face each other and form a triangle with the computer, indicating that information is being exchanged through language, facial feedback, and the computer. The manner in which the two figures lean on their arms suggest that the idea being explored is not yet understood in a common way. The speaker holds his forehead while he speaks to indicate puzzlement and openness. The figure on the left listens with his eyes on the speaker, showing receptivity, but he also leans with his arm and lifts his shoulder to indicate he needs to add to the idea.

This is pen and watercolor sketch on multimedia paper.

 

 

 

Posted in Body Language, Facial Expression, Groups Interacting, Learning, People Learning, Telling a Story | Tagged | 2 Comments

Fighting Jet Lag

Sketch of a sleepy man by Sarah Sullivan

Fighting Jet Lag

If you traveled for twenty-four hours, had a meal, did a little sight seeing, and then worked on a tough puzzle with your father, this is what your body language might look like as you fight jet lag. The focused gaze and wrinkled forehead suggest thinking; the head holding, eyes closing, and slumped posture indicate the need to sleep.

This is a pen and watercolor sketch on multimedia paper.

Posted in Body Language, People Learning | Tagged | 5 Comments

Jerusalem Marathon

Figures in an intersection

Family Run at the Jerusalem Marathon

Jerusalem closed down for its marathon today. The family run was great fun, fast moving kids, parents in search of kids, babies in strollers and brightly colored shirts on everyone. I could not keep track of the figures and limbs as they sped past me and so focused on capturing the pattern of shirts across the intersection.

This is a pencil, marker, and watercolor sketch on multimedia paper.

 

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At the Jerusalem Market

a booth at an outdoor market

At the Jerusalem Shuk

Today I stopped by Jerusalem’s traditional open air market, the Mahane Yehuda Market, sometimes known as the shuk. It is a very busy place and I had been trying to get my courage up to draw there. I shouldn’t have worried, I went unnoticed and was able get five sketches, each simpler than the previous.

I began by trying to draw it all and the earlier drawings are full to the brim with pencil drawn details. This is the final sketch and because I used a Sharpie marker I was forced to simplify it all. I like that it tells a story about shopping with bold shapes, clear line,  bright colors and a triangle of white space across the page.

This is a marker and watercolor sketch on multimedia paper.

 

 

 

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Central Bus Station Security Line

Line for security check

Jerusalem Bus Station

Security vigilance is a constant in Israel. People and their belongings are routinely checked at bus stations, large stores, museums, theaters, and airports.

In this sketch of the entrance to the Jerusalem Central Bus Station. I wanted to convey how accepted it is here in Israel to be checked in the course of daily activities. People move through lines like this efficiently and without apparent worry. Their body language is not agitated and they are not looking around worriedly. Israelis accept this responsibility because they have no choice.

As an American, I see this level of routine security as a strong warning. When groups lose trust in the goodwill of others, security becomes a necessary routine. We need to keep America a place where all groups want to belong and want to keep the peace. Leaders and followers alike need to use language that builds belonging, acceptance, and respect for all groups.This means no blaming, no scapegoats, no rude language, and no people bashing. I know I sound like an old principal, but what is good for a school is good for a country.

This is an ink and watercolor sketch. The border was added with Procreate, an app for tablets.

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