Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Mapping the edges
Eileen Clegg of Visual Insight has posted an interesting map of the future of conferences. It's not just the map that's interesting, but you can also click on various parts of the image and listen to the dialogue that the image summarizes.I think there's a lot of potential -- combining visuals with dialogue has always been a challenge online, and this map is a great prototype of what's possible.
Take a look.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Wall chart from Meshforum 2006
This is the wall chart from a session Dave Davison convened at meshforum. I have added some notes. Hopefully people who were there can help because i missed some of the conversation.
Day three of meshforum employed the open space format and was held in the offices of adaptive path and Rubyredlabs
You can learn more about meshforum here.
and see more photos here.
Meshforum 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Sketchbook - Projects
There's something to be said for going visual with things you have to get done. In the case of this page from my sketchbook, just drawing the top three, with the 9 boxes (which will represent the top 9 card illustrations I have currently), and the robots vs. monsters thing (see it at My Flickr Page), was really helpful to getting me motivated.
What are you doing with text right now that might shake loose differently in your mind if you did it with a few quick images?
What are you doing with text right now that might shake loose differently in your mind if you did it with a few quick images?
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Game Board
Thinking Visually can be helped along by finding interesting source materials outside of your normal haunts. I got the idea for this from the latest issue of Martha Stewart Kids. It's important to mix up your reference matter when attempting to think visually, if only to free up the inner designer that doesn't require set rules.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Drawbox- Safety Message
Often times, we worry about others first. We worry about what other people think. We expend our energy on appearances, or even on trying to keep the peace.
This is a reminder that you MUST tend to your own needs first.
This is a reminder that you MUST tend to your own needs first.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
A Dave In The Live
This is my comic strip version of an explanation for the wonderful photo sets Dave posts all the time. If you click this image, and then go to the "All Sizes" option, you can get an easier-to-see version to get all the details.
I pre-checked to see that Dave had a sense of humor. : )
I pre-checked to see that Dave had a sense of humor. : )
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Rabbit Racer
I posted all the digital art I've been working on lately. Come to my Flickr site to see the lot of them.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Blue Door
There's a few colorful doors in Massachusetts, too. I didn't want you all to think they were ONLY in Mexico. : )
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
A Game!
Want to play a Visual Thinking Game? All you need to play is a digital camera and some imagination. Here's the deal:
Tell a short story with four photos.
It doesn't have to be "the truth." For instance, say you took a photo of a truck outside a house, then some loose change you see on the ground, then a sign in a store window announcing Coke is on sale for 99 cents, and then the same house in the first picture with the truck gone, that might be a story. Get it?
Heck, you don't even need the digital camera. Surf Flickr.com and use photos that aren't marked All Rights Reserved.
What do you say? Are you in?
Tell a short story with four photos.
It doesn't have to be "the truth." For instance, say you took a photo of a truck outside a house, then some loose change you see on the ground, then a sign in a store window announcing Coke is on sale for 99 cents, and then the same house in the first picture with the truck gone, that might be a story. Get it?
Heck, you don't even need the digital camera. Surf Flickr.com and use photos that aren't marked All Rights Reserved.
What do you say? Are you in?
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
The Valentine's Bus
Okay, I know it's not a robot or a tea sketch. You're scratching your head. But really, I do other stuff that I don't normally post on here. : )
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Musical Beds
Last night was a particularly tricky night, as my daughter came down with the flu. I tend to roam the house a lot at night anyhow, sleeping in random places. Last night was crazy, though!
Do You, uh, Yahoo?
Flickr's being a beeyotch today. I've got four photos in limbo. But, in so doing, I've reacquainted myself with Yahoo Photos!. Did you know they give you unlimited uploads for free? I'm told a new, revamped version with tagging and other features is coming in March.
I like Flickr's social elements, as I'm meeting people from all over the world. I am, however, made more and more aware of its limitations due to increasing scale. I'm still on the fence on this one.
I like Flickr's social elements, as I'm meeting people from all over the world. I am, however, made more and more aware of its limitations due to increasing scale. I'm still on the fence on this one.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Maple Sugaring
It is a wonderful sign of winter in the northern lands to see maple buckets out on the trees. What's interesting about this photo is that this was shot in the center of my little town. You usually think of maple sugaring going on in forests, with guys in plaid flannel jackets roaming snowdrifts to collect the syrup.
Look how green that grass is. Cold? Yes. But no snow.
Look how green that grass is. Cold? Yes. But no snow.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
A Day In The
I think everyone should make a comic at some point in their lives. The subject matter should be the mundane, the stuff that comprises their daily life. Harvey Pekar made a living doing it. Hell, they made a movie based on his life, or rather, based on the art and story that came to depict his life.
This is the current measurement of my days as a new father of a second child.
This is the current measurement of my days as a new father of a second child.
Use Your Library
Public Libraries (at least in the US) have more and more resources of value to artists (or anyone learning new things). I was fortunate to find this great book on instructional design (after reading about it in a Visual Thinking School module), and the one on the right about drawing retro characters.
Libraries are like a little bit of Christmas every day.
Libraries are like a little bit of Christmas every day.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Eye Robot
This was on the wall inside a factory converted into art studio space. It made me think of Dave's faces in the forest collection, only on the other side of the spectrum.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Friday, February 03, 2006
Pedestrian Crossing
Here's one of those moments that makes you thrilled to have your camera. Truth be told, I had to run all the way back to the house and get my camera. But it was a good reminder.
The world happens when you're not ready for it.
The world happens when you're not ready for it.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Tea Sketches
Dave has created a MONSTER! I have been drinking tea like a fiend, and making my wife drink tea. My newborn son should be drinking, tea, too! I haven't been sleeping well. I'm jittery, but man, I'm creating teastain art to beat the band. Click the photo to get to Flickr, and then check out the entire series. There's a mountain of it in there.
By the way, I've created another blog for my personal art, so that I don't just FLOOD the Visual Thinking School. I'll put something up about that later on today.
By the way, I've created another blog for my personal art, so that I don't just FLOOD the Visual Thinking School. I'll put something up about that later on today.
With My Eyes Closed 1
I did a quick series of drawings with my eyes closed. This one is what one might expect, but wait'll you see when I did it with a purpose. I was surprised how much I could do and make representative with my eyes closed. I'm sure to continue this effort, as it was really fun and informative.
My Mash-Up
I took Dave's Cedar Shingles and made them into teeth for my two stereotypical "rednecks." (I have no ill will towards people who like NASCAR. I work with 3 of you). They kinda made me think of the guys from King of the Hill.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
World Changing Ideas Award
(I found this on the Business 2.0 blog, and immediately loved the graphic):
Basically, they airlift these 500 pound bags into areas hit by disaster. The bags have just enough volume to take just enough water to wet up all the powdered cement inside. The concrete is in this mesh. Then, the bags are inflated such that they form the structure. Think of it as inflating a balloon and then casting it in concrete. Then, the shelters last about 10 years (5 times longer than the traditional tent shelters given to such uses). They'd cost about $2000 to make, mass produced.
But what a great graphic, eh?
The Saatchi & Saatchi World Changing Ideas Award article is here.
Basically, they airlift these 500 pound bags into areas hit by disaster. The bags have just enough volume to take just enough water to wet up all the powdered cement inside. The concrete is in this mesh. Then, the bags are inflated such that they form the structure. Think of it as inflating a balloon and then casting it in concrete. Then, the shelters last about 10 years (5 times longer than the traditional tent shelters given to such uses). They'd cost about $2000 to make, mass produced.
But what a great graphic, eh?
The Saatchi & Saatchi World Changing Ideas Award article is here.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
My Mash-Up Offering
Here's my picture for the Mash-Up challenge I wrote about. See what you can do with it?
Visual Thinking School MASH-UP!
I want to mix things up a bit. Why don't we all submit something to the blog-- could be ANYTHING... an illustration, a sketch, a photo -- and throw it open for everyone else to mash it up? By mash-up, I mean taking the work and editing it *or* combining it in form or function with some other work.
So, if Dave throws up a photo of a manhole, maybe JM draws stick men all over it. Who knows? But do you get the idea?
Post an image to the site for the mash-up. Take someone else's image, do something to it, and re-post it, citing the original sources.
Any confusion, email me: mashup @ chrisbrogan.com
ARE YOU IN?
So, if Dave throws up a photo of a manhole, maybe JM draws stick men all over it. Who knows? But do you get the idea?
Post an image to the site for the mash-up. Take someone else's image, do something to it, and re-post it, citing the original sources.
Any confusion, email me: mashup @ chrisbrogan.com
ARE YOU IN?
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Monday, January 23, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Long Night 1 - Getting There
I've got a little series called "Long Night" on Flickr. They all come from last night and early this morning, while I was awaiting the birth of my son. They're quasi interesting, in that regard.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Wiring Diagram from Cambridge Soundworks
You probably couldn't get any more simple and explicit than this, but look: there are two wires for the speakers, a wire for the power, and a wire that plugs 1/2 into the speakers and 1/2 into the audio device. It's quasi-tricky, and this diagram makes you feel like someone's saying, "Okay, remain calm. This will be OKAY."
Interview with Dave Gray at [chrisbrogan.com]
Dave gave me a great interview, and it's up at [chrisbrogan.com]. Please come by and have a look.
Filed in: interview, xplane, dave gray, communication, presentation, design, graphics, art
Thursday, January 19, 2006
am Sontag
Really wonderful set of sketches I found on Flickr. Click the link and check out the whole set.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Dirigibles
So, someone else: help out. I would love to see what you come up with for something that would equally be unlikely to be flying the skies. Or, what the heck: make something else that might happen in this world? Or whatever. Where's the robot guy been?
Portable Context Device
This is based on an idea I came up with during the Annotated Workspace exercise of a few weeks ago, and partially based on something I heard in the Identity 2.0 conference by O'Reilly. This is my idea for a portable context device. PLEASE, someone create one of these. I'll help.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Monday, January 16, 2006
Future Stuff
I really like dirigibles. They're just so improbable. There's a book cover, and I think it was for a Michael Moorcock book, where there were all these combat blimps. For whatever reason, the idea of these slow and lumbering craft being used for battles is fascinating, because it's SO improbable.
The GONER device is such a hoot.
The GONER device is such a hoot.
My Workspace 1
Besides the fact that I should really consider occasionally using a ruler (but then, I work straight in pen and can't erase, and that's part of the fun), this is where I do a lot of my work: at the local coffee shop. It's fun doing a digital painting while people are discussing the rights of pedophiles in the booth across from me. (Mind you, they were two crazy guys).
A Day In The Life: A Pictograph
I really had a great time doing this. It reminds me just a little of those Family Circus cartoons. In fact, maybe I'll do one of those.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Map Your World
Where do you live, work, play, eat, walk, drive, visit, shop, escape from/to, hear about, dream about and so forth?
Ask yourself: Is this the kind of place you want to live? What would you change? What would you have changed as a five-year old? Where to from here?
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Talk With My Boss
I'm finding visual thinking to be cathartic. Especially today. I really felt down. But, after drinking an entire bottle of wine (we were out of beer), *and* drawing, I feel somewhat less upset by the day's events.
Gifted And Talented
In 6th grade, my guidance counselor decided that I was "bored," and that I should go into a "Gifted And Talented" program. The problem was this: the program wasn't really run by anyone particularly gifted. Thus, their method for dealing with us was to give us more of the same homework we found boring in regular class. Only, being gifted, we were now ridiculed and ostracized by our classmates. Woo!
Coping Mechanisms
This was actually a lot of fun to draw, and it relates to Dave's thing a long while back about the proper way to draw stick people. I find that I still draw heads first, but I realized that I can be very expressive with just basic shapes.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Brands for Bricks
Bricks as a brand name. Does this make you wonder just what else we walk past that might be someone else's marketing center of the universe?
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Drowning
I have started a Flickr set related to self portraits of fear. I thought it'd be interesting to capture the moods of fear in a few different ways. link to the set.
An Evil Robot Moment
Lots of fun in this. I drew it this evening, as coffee has kept me from sleep. This is part of my new "Evil Robot" project.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Roley in Construction Paper
It's fun to work in a medium that you can't control. I did this with my daughter and it was a fun exercise in trying to be representational, while still at a 3 1/2 year old's level of ability.
Personally, I laugh out loud at the expression.
Personally, I laugh out loud at the expression.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Workspace 3.0
This is my first blush thought on solving the "context" and "crappy UI" problems with consumer technology. There are scads of thoughts just flung into this goofy sketch, the most important to me being the portable context device, the gesture pad (kinda like Wacom meets graffiti), the dual-display desk space, and the duck. I'd love to talk via email with folks who feel something about this, and/or would love to see your mods/thoughts/add-ons to what I started.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Friday, January 06, 2006
plans
Since getting back into Visual Thinking, (thanks Dave!), I'm finding that I use it EVERY day for more and more of my communication style, my planning, and more.
pregnancy
Quick sketch covering my thoughts on my wife's pending delivery of our second baby. My daughter kept looking over my shoulder and saying, "Daddy, this is WEIRD." As only 3 1/2 year olds can say.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Noticed this sign posting over on Boing Boing, and thought it went well with the theme in recent posts here about signs.
Via Boing Boing, "Bizarre self-referential warning sign":
This is one of the most bizarre signs I have ever encountered ... IT'S A SIGN ABOUT THE SIGN ITSELF ... The logic behind the existence of this self-referential sign escapes me! What is it for? Why is it there? Did whoever put it up realize that if there were no sign, there would be no need to warn about it? Is this a joke from the developers? Is it a lesson in recursiveness? Is it a philosophical prop?
Creative Semiotics
Prepare to have your vehicle stacked ahead. However, beware of stacking too high, or dangerous instability could occur.
Abandon ennui, all who enter here.
Daleks beware: Entry will result in broken eye stalks.
From pictures I took in Europe a while ago.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Start 2006 off like never before:
While riding the subway:
1. Crouch precariously close to the edge of the platform.
2. Point your eye-lasers at the 2" space next to the train. Be sure to stand directly in front of the doors while doing this.
3. Concentrate. Try to ignore the huge, yellow beam of light shining directly on your head.
4. With your eye-lasers, create a single red bubble.
5. Board the train. Act as if eye-lasers and large red bubbles are perfectly normal.
(from the San Francisco BART)
1. Crouch precariously close to the edge of the platform.
2. Point your eye-lasers at the 2" space next to the train. Be sure to stand directly in front of the doors while doing this.
3. Concentrate. Try to ignore the huge, yellow beam of light shining directly on your head.
4. With your eye-lasers, create a single red bubble.
5. Board the train. Act as if eye-lasers and large red bubbles are perfectly normal.
(from the San Francisco BART)
teapot no. 9
Japanese mechanical pencil in a moleskine Volante journal.
No. 9 of 100 teapots.
Only 91 more to go!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
My Bag
This is a photo of my sketchbook showing what's in my bag. I was fiddling with the sketchbook when I thought: whoa, there's a LOT of tech in that bag. Oh, and Pez.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Blank page
Our future is a blank page. It is up to each and every one of us to scribble something beautiful there.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Diaper Changing Station
I was fascinated by this sign, found in the men's room at Border's Books and Music, Methuen, MA.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Landscape fragments
Rural landscape fragments from along the interstate. This page also has some of my notes about how I plan to approach painting the subject. There are more sketches here.
simplification process of the bus drawing
Process of simplifying a drawing to a simple iconic representation.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Ghost Squiggle
Sometimes you draw something that you know you will never be able to recreate or repeat. This is one of those things.
No Graphite Zone
I drew this back when I gave up one pencil to train msyelf to trust what I drew. I might go back someday.
Listening
I don't remember what I was listening to but I know I wasn't paying attention and was drawing this instead. Music effects you mind and soul so much that professional animators say not to listen to it while you draw. Sometimes its fun to let sounds effect something visual inside you.
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