Skip to main content

James Audubon: The Learning #29

www.audubon.org

Today I finished the young adult book, Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt.  I thought it was thought provoking on many different levels.  One of the story lines is the main character, Doug, learning to draw with the help of a mentor and James Audubon's pictures.  Of course I recognize the name Audubon from the Audubon Society (I learned the Audubon Society was founded to honor James Audubon).  This evening I thought I'd try to read another chapter from the other book (tome) I'm reading, The Greater Journey:  Americans in Paris by David McCullough.    In Part II of my book John James Audubon comes up since he is in London overseeing the production of his fourth volume of The Birds of America.  The Birds of America happens to be the same book that Schmidt talks about in Okay for Now.  Both books I'm reading mention James Audubon and The Birds of America.  Ahhhh... I decided to learn more about Audubon and his book.

First, I didn't realize Audubon dates back to the 1800s.  From my brief research, he started drawing birds at a young age yet was in business.  When business went bad, he took off down the Mississippi and started drawing birds.  This partly finished collection was "an overnight success" in England.  He actually used wires to hold the birds (dead), so he could draw them.

The original version of the book was "printed on handmade paper 39.5 inches tall by 28.5 inches wide."  Dang!!  That's a big book.  It seems he started out with magazine type sales and then put the collection into a book.  Honestly, I quit reading.  As LH would say, if you want to learn more, you should...


Comments

LH said…
Our Lilly library on campus has one of the original Audubon books in a display case. Each week they turn a page so people can see his paintings. So cool.

I loved our first grade team's lesson last year where kids studied Audubon and did bird research.

Great job on the learning!
8:33 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sankalpa Day 5

Today I went back to the interweb to find out what I could post about that would relate to sankalpa .  "...Sankalpa has the potential to release tremendous power by clearly defining and focusing on a chosen goal."  My chosen goal since May has truly been on being physically active.  Since it's cold and miserable out, I've been being active inside instead of outside.  December 6th (or something like that) was the last time I ventured outside for physical activity.  I, however, have still been going to they gym and focusing on being physically fit (or at least burning enough calories to eat more food).  Yesterday I received an early morning text from a friend in God's Country .  President Obama was talking about "The President's Challenge" .  Today (I tried yesterday and decided to put it off until today... forget out it... let it happen... put it aside... clear my mind of it... all probably sankalpa) I formed a group.  The...
8 comments
Read more

What if... The Delivery

  Molly was excited to get a package from her friend who lives in Alaska.  When she opened the box, she was confused.  Although the shirt was actually soft and of good quality, she was upset by the guns in the flag.  When she googled Holster's, it was exactly what she thought... pro-gun.  She didn't know how to handle the situation, so she sent a picture stating she was confused. Her friend had obviously lost her mind.  During the conversation, she kept proclaiming that she hadn't sent a t-shirt.  When Molly explained it was her writing on the box, things became weird.  The friend was in a state of denial.  Molly even sent a text with a picture of the writing on the box. Molly's friend was adamant that she sent homemade condiments.  She wouldn't give up on her story even though it was clear Molly is in possession of an NRA type t-shirt.  After much deliberation, the two friends realized what had happened.  The original box, wit...
2 comments
Read more

Missing You

Two Sundays ago I missed church because I was out of town. Last Sunday I missed church because I could not get to church due to the marathon (blocking my path... not my running). Dad and I tried to leave early, but we did not leave early enough. I joked with Dad about the fact that they would miss me at church. When I checked my e-mail this evening, I actually had an e-mail from my pastor saying I was missed. It was a short e-mail, but it was sweet and definitely a positive part of my day.
Post a Comment
Read more