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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Welcome to The Leonardo's Educational Resources page. Check back soon for more information.

Sketchbooks: Tools of Discovery (scroll right)

SKETCHBOOKS: TOOLS OF DISCOVERY

Intro: Leonardo da Vinci’s motto was saper vedere, “knowing how to see.” Da Vinci’s genius, however, did not lie in the study and mastery of so many subjects. It resided in his ability to see connections between what many people considered unrelated phenomena, and to envision the diverse knowledge he achieved across arts and sciences as part of a unified whole.

The Leonardo presents a series of three lessons that explores the sketchbook and the “creative genius” in each one of us. The lessons are an invitation to teachers and students into this realm of limitless possibility.

Perhaps the most important factor in da Vinci’s enduring influence is that he documented the stories of his learning process and discoveries on thousands of notebook pages, and within the detail of his art.

We can literally see his study of geometry in the precise curve of a sketched flower petal, his mastery of anatomy in his exquisitely detailed drawings of the human body, and his unprecedented comprehension of perspective and form in the lifelike detail of his paintings.

Leonardo da Vinci stands as a dramatic example of what can be accomplished when, instead of compartmentalizing the world into art or science, left or right, logical or creative, we reach beyond traditional boundaries to discover “new ways of seeing.”

DOWNLOAD SKETCHBOOK ACTIVITIES

Resource This lesson provides a brief introduction of the sketchbook and its use as a tool for observation and creative expression. Students will view Leonardo da Vinci’s sketchbooks and search for sketchbooks by other famous artists. This is the first in a series of lessons that will engage students in book-making activities, sketchbook materials and techniques. Students will see how using a sketchbook brings art practice into everyday routines and contributes to critical thinking skills across content areas. Part 1 Introduction (PDF)

Resource After the introduction to sketchbooks and book making materials, students will create their own sketchbooks using a variety of materials and book binding techniques. Students will demonstrate that the intended function of the book will influence the form. Commercial sketchbooks were not available until the 1800s; artists had to make their own books. Using artists in history as our inspiration, students will experience the joy of making books from scratch. Part 2 Making Your Own (PDF)

Resource The third of three lessons about sketchbooks, students will practice with various media in their sketchbooks. Students will learn techniques for quick sketches through observation and collage. Click here to download the complete lesson. Part 3 Images and Text (PDF)

Resource The most famous sketchbooks in history were created by Leonardo da Vinci. Click here to read more about his sketches, and to see examples of his notes and drawings. Part 4 History (PDF)

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