Ish, by Peter H. Reynolds

Summary

In *Ish* by Peter H. Reynolds, young Ramon loves to draw but struggles with self-doubt after his brother Leon mocks his artwork. After a series of failed attempts, Ramon gives up until his sister Marisol shows him her collection of 'ish' drawings. Inspired by her perspective, Ramon embraces his own style of art, creating drawings and poems that express his emotions without worrying about perfection. He learns to appreciate his creativity and the joy of self-expression, discovering that art and words don't need to be exact—they just need to be 'ish.'

Takeaways

• 😀 Ramon loves to draw, finding joy in creating art anytime and anywhere.
• 😀 Leon, Ramon's brother, criticizes his drawing, causing Ramon to feel self-doubt and frustration.
• 😀 After many failed attempts, Ramon decides to give up on drawing.
• 😀 Marisol, Ramon's sister, sees his crumpled drawings and appreciates them for their unique qualities.
• 😀 Marisol encourages Ramon to embrace the imperfection of his art, saying his drawing looks 'vase-ish.'
• 😀 Ramon begins to see his own drawings in a new light, realizing that 'ish' allows freedom and creativity.
• 😀 Embracing 'ish' enables Ramon to draw without worrying about perfection, expressing himself freely.
• 😀 Ramon fills his journals with 'ish' drawings that reflect a variety of emotions and experiences, like 'tree-ish' and 'fish-ish.'
• 😀 His creative process extends to writing as well, where he explores 'ish' poetry that captures his feelings.
• 😀 Ramon learns to appreciate moments without needing to define or capture them, finding joy in the experience itself.
• 😀 The story concludes with Ramon living a fulfilled, 'ish' life, embracing creativity and letting go of perfection.

Q & A

Why did Ramon stop drawing at one point in the story?

Ramon stopped drawing because he felt discouraged after his brother Leon laughed at his drawing, which made him believe his work wasn't good enough.

What did Marisol do that helped Ramon see his drawings differently?

Marisol showed Ramon her collection of crumpled drawings on her wall, which she had called 'ish' drawings. This helped Ramon see that his drawings didn’t need to be perfect but could instead express his feelings in an 'ish' way.

What does the term 'ish' mean in the context of the story?

'Ish' represents the idea of imperfection or an approximation. It allows for creativity and expression without the pressure of achieving perfection, focusing on feelings and loose interpretations.

How did Ramon feel when he started drawing 'ish'?

Ramon felt light and energized when he embraced drawing 'ish', as it allowed his creativity to flow freely without the fear of making mistakes.

How did Ramon’s 'ish' drawings evolve throughout the story?

Ramon’s 'ish' drawings evolved from simple objects like 'tree-ish' and 'boat-ish' to more abstract feelings like 'peace-ish' and 'excited-ish', showing his growth in expressing emotions and experiences through art.

What role did writing play in Ramon’s 'ish' journey?

Writing became a way for Ramon to express himself alongside his drawings. He created 'ish' poetry, blending the ideas of drawing and writing to capture his feelings in an abstract, creative way.

Why did Ramon not try to capture his wonderful spring morning feeling with his art?

Ramon chose not to capture the wonderful feeling with his art because he realized that some moments are better to savor than to try and perfect or capture, even in 'ish' terms.

What was the significance of the crumpled drawings on Marisol's walls?

The crumpled drawings on Marisol's walls were significant because they represented the freedom to create without the need for perfection. They showed Ramon that it was okay to make mistakes and still appreciate the creative process.

What did Ramon learn about his own artistic process by the end of the story?

Ramon learned that art doesn’t have to be perfect or realistic; it can be an expression of personal feelings, and embracing imperfection (through 'ish' art) allowed his creativity to flourish.

What message does the story convey about creativity and self-expression?

The story conveys the message that creativity and self-expression should not be hindered by perfectionism. Embracing imperfection ('ish') opens up new possibilities for personal growth and enjoyment in the creative process.