An Unresolved Idea: The Art of Storytelling

This is going to be one of those blog posts that doesn't have a bow on top. It's not going to resolve nicely, or present a complete narrative, or 5 ways to do such and such. No, this post is just me sharing an idea. Sharing something incomplete. Who knows, maybe you’ll help play a part in helping complete it.

Last year, I came to the realization that there just might be more opportunity in this thing I “just do”, namely drawing. Out of that and a trip to a conference called Tribe, was born a new service I now provide - event sketching. You can read more about that here.

This year, i’m feeling prompted to take that idea further. I need to tell more stories in my art - on location and in the moment drawings of people and places, events and stories. A kind of experiencing and then reporting with the art that is created.

I’ve done a little of this in the past. A few years ago, I was able to go on a missions trip with my church, partnering with Living Water International, an organization that helps bring clean water to those most in need of it. We were sent to help build a well, and teach the village about hygiene and the importance of clean water.

While on this trip to Nicaragua, I brought along a sketchbook and chronicled the trip. I drew and painted everything from the travel, to the teammates, to the activities we did and the people we met. At the time I didn’t realize how important this act of creating art in the moment would actually be. It’s been a few years, but I can open that sketchbook and vividly remember details that not even a photograph could help capture. The stories I encountered are forever linked with the art I created.

“The stories I encountered are forever linked with the art I created.”

Fast forward to today. I’ve been intentionally taking more time out to be quiet, listen and pray. This idea returns to me. How can I tell more stories through my art this year? How can I leverage it for the benefit and service of others, especially those without a voice, those who need to have their story told? What could that look like?

These are the questions i’m pondering. I don’t know what that looks like yet. I don’t have opportunity, connections, resources, money…. or anything really, except this idea. Maybe something happens, maybe it doesn't. I really don't know to be honest. But perhaps you have a thought to contribute, or another piece of the puzzle. If you do, I'd love to hear it.

So that's all I’ve got for now. This embryo of an idea. Maybe it's premature to bring out into the light, but the thing is, this idea feels bigger than me. So it's not about me keeping it under wraps until I figure it out, it's about releasing this and seeing if it resonates with more people too. And grows.

Whatever happens, I hope to create more art that tells stories that honor people, and glorify God.

What story would you tell through art?

When an Idea Won't Let You Go

A digital sketch of tourists seated in Times Square, NYC. 11/30/14

Have you ever gotten caught in the tractor beam of an idea that just won't let you go?

I had such an experience at a recent conference I was attending. But more on that in a minute...

It's no secret that I love to draw. I always have. And in recent years, I have been know to carry a sketchbook around with me. Waiting in line at a six flags theme park? No problem. Sketch. Stuck in an airport? Sketch. Out at a museum? Sketch. 

It's more than passing the time. It's capturing it. I can recall ordinary moments with clarity when I've taken the time to look – really see – and sketch. Whether or not the moment may be worthy, isn't the point, but rather to be fully present and find inspiration all around. 

Sketches of my Daughter's cheerleading competition, my other daughter's Tae Kwon Do competition and my mom's belly dancing recital. 

I've even sketched during my mothers belly dancing recital (yes, you read that right…another story for another time.) and my daughters Tae Kwon Do completion. I sketched during a clean water missions trip to Nicaragua. Moments and feelings get interpreted into art made live in the moment. And now I have a visual record that penetrates so much more than snapshot photos.

Ironically, there are times we’re so close to things that we just don't see them. We can't recognize the value in something we “just do" – something that comes naturally to us, but others are amazed at. It's at this intersection that an idea started to beckon.

“We can’t recognize the value in something we “just do” – something that comes naturally to us, but others are amazed at. It’s at this intersection that an idea started to beckon.”

And here is where we come back to that conference I mentioned.  During the conference, someone posed the question to me: "What would it look like to take that thing you "just do" and offer it as a valuable service to others?" The more we spoke, and I spoke with others, the more apparent it became to me that none of us had ever seen anything like this before. 

I started to ask a few questions of my own.

What if there was a unique way to capture the events and special moments of your conference or special event?

A way that made you stand out from other events?

Drumroll please... I'm proud to say that’s exactly what you get when you book me to live sketch your event. As a Visual Artist, I'll create live digital sketches of your conference or event in real time. These are not mass produced images, but rather, Art that is created from carefully curated moments that tell stories from your event in a one-of-a-kind way.

The professional term for this is Reportage Illustration, or sometimes Urban Sketching. Think of it as a form of storytelling and journalism, only with digital sketches (in my case). There’s actually a term for it called “Reportage Art”.  Artist Veronica Lawlor defines it as “..Reportage [art] or documentary drawing… means to go out into the world and carry back what we experience behind our pen or brush.”

Do you host events or know people who would benefit from my service?

Visit my Event Sketches page for more info and examples.