My "Why"

I'll wrap up this little flurry of activity with a concept that I just recently have been thinking about: Start with the Why—from Simon Sinek. If you haven't seen his TEDTalk, take a little time to view it.

Our CEO asked me to use this approach for a capabilities presentation and I was really inspired to explore my own "Why."

It is a pretty simple approach, asking yourself "why do you do what you do?" What is at the core of why you get up and make things each day. It takes a bit of effort, but in the end I think it helps to articulate your values in simple terms. So here is what I came up with:

Applying my talents and expertise to advance institutional communication goals by interpreting key concepts and narratives into effective messaging that informs and inspires targeted audiences.

Well, actually that is how it evolved in an effort to add it to my resume. Simply put, I try to use my experience and expertise to help customers articulate their ideas in a clean, visually appealing way that inspires their audiences.

I'll see how it floats...

Courage to Reinvent Event

I found this in my archive and really liked it. I created this logo for an annual operations meeting where the company brings the leadership and management in to share ideas, inspire, and network. There theme was Courage to Reinvent. Here's the logo:

I liked how stark and simple it is. Too many fonts maybe, but it seemed to work. I liked the way the border has a subtle little change from squares to circles. I put it against an antique background for the booklet and other companion pieces.

I've Been Away For a While

I recently read an article suggesting that artists breathe new life into abandoned blogs. It dawned on me that I had spent a good deal of time posting artwork to Facebook and neglecting this forum. So, I'm back and I hope to get back into the habit of writing and posting artwork here.

To kick things off, I wanted to share this logo that I created for an upcoming training event.

This was a bit of a departure from the more recent images for the company. I struggled with developing a visual for some time. The customer asked to work with the theme word Adapt and that seemed lonely for some reason. After considering things that adapt, I came to the chameleon idea. I drew up some ideas where the creature was a part of the A.

 I worked that idea pretty extensively, but didn't like where it went. I felt it needed more. That's when I added the Thrive concept. The customer wanted to motivate their team and inspire them. Adapting without an outcome was what I think was hanging me up. Once I added that concept, I saw the t in adapt and thrive as overlapping. So I morphed them together and it seemed to work. The customer was pleased as well.

Catching up on my work

I've been spending a lot of time trying to get my computer upgraded for the past few weeks and I have neglected my blogging. I've been doing some painting and wanted to put it up here. It is my year for the Arts in Easton Banner Program and this year we are only doing one side. I did a painting of Baylee on a Black Chair for the program. I will put a photo up of the finished banner hanging in town, but for now here are the photos of the painting in progress.

Not long after finishing that I began working on a painting that I have been mulling over for a year. Alexis took some pictures of some local watermen tonging for oysters. I used her photo as source for my painting October Morning.

I have another painting that I worked on at the beach, but I can't post it until it is given to the person who is getting it as a gift. I'm not directly connected to that person, but I don't want to risk stealing anyone's thunder.

Latest Painting

For some reason, I have been thinking about painting a fox in the snow for a couple of months. About two  weeks ago, I started the painting and finished it this afternoon. I tried to create a sense of hot and cold extremes with the colors and I think I got what I wanted. As usual, I added the pictures of the work in progress.

New Painting—a Gift

It’s been a little while, but I actually finished this painting a month ago but couldn’t post about it because it was a gift. Well it has been delivered, so I can put it here. This is a painting of one of two little girls that my daughter sometimes cares for.  She is the daughter of a family that also sometimes cares for my daughter.

 We visited them last year when she graduated from film school and I had this wonderful photo that I knew would make a great painting. It sat drying for quite a while in my studio/family room and I was really sad to see it go. I guess that makes is a meaningful gift.

Boris is on Kickstarter—Give a Boar some LOVE (and money)

Some of you know that I have been working with a really great team on an online Game of You—500BC.com. And Boris has started a Kickstarter funding event to finance the next phase, a mobile app. Here's a note about the project. PLEASE take a look and consider backing our project.

Greetings from all of us at 500 BC. As you know, we have been working around the clock to test and refine “The Ancient Game of You,” the first technology platform that enables you to tap into wisdom of the ages and ancestral connections to unlock your hidden potential.

Now it is time to develop our mobile app and we are working with one of the world’s top mobile app engineering firms to create a real game changer. Here is where we need your help.

We have just launched our first Kickstarter to raise $75,000 to help fund our app!  Kickstarter is a global online community of 5.5 million people who help raise money to fund creative projects, from films to games (its largest category). Through 2013, $942 million has been pledged through this crowdsourcing leader to fund 54,000 projects, revolutionizing the world of how new ideas are brought to life. The people at Kickstarter HQ are very enthusiastic about our concept.

Will you join the party? Every pledge makes a difference; creating early momentum is really important and will prompt Kickstarter support in promoting our effort. First, please check out our new Kickstarter campaign video and information page. Next, help us spread the word to your network (post, tweet, pin, whisper, talk, shout, mime) and even tell strangers you meet on the street. Your ancestors will be so proud.
Go here:  http://tinyurl.com/ancient-game-of-you

What are we after? A fun, stimulating quest to live better. Before you break out the granola, know that wellness and mindfulness is big business. What do Target, General Mills and Google have in common? Company-wide meditation. A landmark study by SRI International estimates that globally wellness products and services are now a $1.9 trillion market. 8 out of 10 consumers are “extremely interested” or “very interested” in improving their personal wellness.

With your help, soon there will an app just for you – unlike any other. You deserve it. After all, the probability of your being born is one in 400 trillion. Your DNA was passed to you from generation to generation since the dawn of man. You are a living record of the lives and ways of your ancestors. 500 BC wants to help shed light on the stories of you that even you do not know.

History’s greatest thinkers and Boris the sassy wild spokes-boar await you. It’s time to live life full boar.

http://tinyurl.com/ancient-game-of-you

With thanks and regards,

Carol Phelan-Marsh
Founder, 500 BC