Da Vinci Drawings

Here's a link to Da Vinci's Drawings

"The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding." - Leonardo

I like this quote. :)

Although, who says you can't be logical and creative?

Now that I think about that, who exactly says that a person has to be left or right brained? Perhaps that's just an excuse for someone elses lack of ability, and they want to inflict that thought on everyone else, so they have less to live up to.

Not to say that Da Vinci was typical, cause, obviously not, but, I think when you study people who were extraordinarily talented above all the rest, you should put aside some of the stereotypical "crap" and think outside the box. ;) which is unfortunately where I prefer to spend most of my time. Outside of the stupid box. I think I'm not ever finding my way back to that damn box again.

Anyway, a person like Da Vinci was so out of the norm, i wonder if he was always somewhat unhappy? Most people don't think about that, but you have to wonder, who did he have that he could talk to or where did he go to just chill and find some peace? I imagine that his mind was turning gears non-stop. Enough so, to give him ample opportunity to learn so many different skills. Yes some had to do with the education he was afforded, and the early work as a studio boy, but still, to see some of his sketches that have almost more clarity than my digital camera, that's a very developed skill.

It makes me also wonder if he had to reach a certain level of perfection for himself, just so he could find some sort of peace with whatever it was that he was working on. That sounds strange, but, I can sort of relate to that concept. I have to reach a certain "level" before my mind will be content to let me rest a little on that topic. I think Thomas Edison had a similar issue, if I remember that correctly. Not that i am anywhere near their brilliance, I just usually have a lot of little "projects" running through my mind.

MMMM . . . . . it's something to give some thoughts to.

Ok Wow . . . Da Vinci was totally awesome!

Yeah. I haven't studied him in a long time, but, wow, is it possible to be in love with a dead man? ;) Just kidding. I still just can't imagine how one man can not only think up these ideas, but then have the talent to actually draw, every single teeny tiny detail.

That totally amazes me. It's not very common for a person to have the logic and reasoning to design many of the things he designed, but, then to also have the creative ability and artistic side to be able to sketch them. It makes me wonder if he had a close companion, (not that kind) but another kind, that perhaps he was able to work with or discuss things and ideas with.

I do know that it's so much easier to come up with things when you have someone who understands you and your ideas enough to be able to discuss them with them without too much criticisms and nit picking. It would be interesting to see just who he hung out with on a regular basis.

This blog here has some cool information on 15 Da Vinci War Machines.

Inventions - where to begin

My oldest child has an almost unnatural affection for firearms, as does my third child. So we may begin with the history of guns. I did find some very interesting info on them:

Science and civilisation in china

Great info overview here of "Handgonnes"

The firearm blog had this little tidbit of history here.

Of course I have a mild obsession with Da Vinci, so I'd rather study his numerous inventions, so I'm gonna have to find a happy medium.

Actually I think he has a drawing of a mechanism that was later incorporated into guns. Let me see if I can find that one.

Thinking of ways i can use cinci museum center in my lesson plans this year. They have great stuff there.