I have a $10 garage sale desk that I hope to repaint this winter to use in my "someday classroom." I think a personalized, hand painted desk and a chair with a seat covered in a happy fabric will be much cozier than the standard issue institutional desk and chair. While searching the internet for ideas for painting my desk, I stumbled across a free book download. Apparently, the author is a substitute teacher who is also an artist. He sketches the desks of the teacher he fills in for, and this book is a compilation of those drawings.
You may find it here: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/howardsalmon
At first, to me, the black and white sketches seemed vague or nondescript. But as I looked closer, I saw distinguishing details such as sticky notes around one teacher's computer screen, a sketch on a pad on the art teacher's desk, and what I believe was a cow-print mug awaiting another teacher's morning brew. I loved the little details and insights into the character of the individual who "belongs to" each desk.
