This morning the Random Object Randomogrifier handed me a toy hot air balloon shaped like a soccer ball or rumba shakers.
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The toy balloon had surprising detail for something so small. There were cords pressed into the surface, a tiny basket, even a little propane tank molded into the plastic. I roughed it in with block shapes and anchor lines, working in my usual “essence of” style while stopping now and then to tilt the sketch toward the one camera still working.
While shading in grisaille and building up highlights, we talked through how the idea of balloons rose independently in different places. Two thousand years ago, the Chinese made paper lanterns that floated on candle heat. In 1709, Bartolomeu de Gusmão demonstrated small paper balloons for the Portuguese king. Then in the 1780s, the Montgolfier brothers proved flight was possible by sending up animals in a paper balloon. None of them seemed aware of the others, but all were chasing the same thought, watching embers rise from a fire and wondering if people could do the same.
That is the part that sticks with me: three different discoveries, all sparked by the same observation, all pointing toward the sky. This morning’s sketch was less about perfect lines and more about remembering that creativity often happens the same way, in different places, waiting for someone to catch the ember before it falls.
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Also, if you, or a teacher friend, would like a 20-30 minute lesson plan about hot air balloons, feel free to download and share this one:
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