Chad’s blog
Current status: Wicked tired, bub. 

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March 9th, 2024

Scribing Fundamentals

I had the pleasure of attending the Scribing Fundamentals workshop from Dpict. It was a great learning experience with a really nice group of people. I can’t recommend this workshop enough.

We talked about drawing, or course. But this scribing / graphic recording / graphic facilitation work is really about listening. We used the word channel a lot too. Channeling what you’re hearing to synthesize or capture, and then drawing it. That process is so amazing to me. I look forward to growing as a practitioner and artist in these areas.

Here’s some of the work I created:

As a group we read through the original “Little Red Cap” aka Little Red Riding Hood story. Which by the way is pretty gruesome and deranged. I either got the G rated Kids version or don’t remember the original.

We each were given a different prompt, and were allowed to pick through several of Dave Gray’s Visual Frameworks that felt appropriate to the prompt.

It was really great to see everyone’s work. We all had the same source material, different prompts and frameworks, and of course our own styles and mental models. Such variety!

My prompt was decisions made and not made and I used a casual map visual framework. 
Little Red Cap
Little Red Cap
Lettering practice with one of my favorite quotes.
The one that hears it
The one that hears it
We listened and scribed from a short podcast on gerrymandering. I think it was a four minute recording.
Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
This was a 20 minute recording from an interview with author Tyson Yunkaporta. His books are now on my to read pile. 
Deep Time Dilligence
Deep Time Dilligence
Three prominent people in the arts in the community of Easthampton MA came in to have a chat about the arts. Discussion was around what can build and maintain a sustainable presence in the arts for communities. I’m thinking of the local arts scene near me in a couple new ways, and I’m eager to get involved more. Thank you to the guests Pasqualina Azzarello, Kelvy Bird, and Jeff Bagg.
A conversation on the arts in Easthampton, MA
A conversation on the arts in Easthampton, MA
From 99% Invisible “Social Infrastructure”. This was the last large piece I drew over the three days and I can see much improvement in my lettering, some new container ideas I picked up, and illustration improvements s too.
Social Infrastructre
Social Infrastructre
I learned so much, built some skills, and reduced the voice in my head saying “I cant do this”. That’s a huge win for me. If you’re in the arts, or want to be, I bet this workshop will likely be meaningful to you.

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March 2nd, 2024

Second thought, first action

I heard this helpful technique or “thought technology” recently. It’s pretty meaningful to me personally so I thought I’d share it to see if it resonates with anyone else. 

Second thought, first action

The gist is to make your first action after your second thought. Here’s an example. Once at my day job, a colleague messaged me to say that someone else was doing some work that was questionable. I thought was unhelpful to their stakeholders. My first thought was “oh great here they go again”. I sat with that for a second or two, then my second thought was “well this might be helpful for these other people”. I replied back (first action) with that second perspective. 

When facing ambiguity, and trying new things, our first thoughts can trend towards “they’re going to laugh at me” or “I suck at this” or something along those lines. If our second thoughts trend towards “well there literally isn’t a tiger chasing me” or “the only way to know is to try and learn” then we can base our first action off of the second thought. 

The path is made by walking.

Let me know what you think.

February 22nd, 2024
I never really formally wrote a professional goal. Spent some time this morning thinking through one. Here’s the latest draft…

Use Coaching, Creativity, and Design skills, so that I can help people who are doing good in the world be the best versions of themselves.

February 19th, 2024
Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. Then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; He lives as though he is never going to die and dies never really having lived. 
Dalai Lama



February 18th, 2024

Making Zines on the iPad

I’ve been doing so tests to see how I can make Photograhy Zines on my iPad, without buying any other apps. I already have procreate, so that’s my main app. It’s fantastic, but really not great at page layout (or I haven’t cracked it yet). 

I’ve just put some images into Pages, the stock Apple word processing app. I think I have a workflow now that will help with layout and not cost me any more money.

Bring images in Pages and lay them out > export as pdf > print or bring to procreate if you want to add writing or more drawings then print > Make copies > hand them out, put the files online, whatevs.
February 16th, 2024

Hooked on Zines

I’m really loving making zines these days. It started a couple years ago when I made a photo zine for our family Christmas cards. I made about ten for our immediate family. A while ago I made a zine about improv, and now another photo zine focusing on my weird photos from the sprocket rocket camera. 

I’m thinking of a hand drawn, then scanned and printed style next.

Topics on the top of my mind…
  • 12 Principles of Animation
  • The Noble eight-fold path of Buddhism
  • A book summary of sorts for The Lies of Locke Lamora
There’s something wonderful about analog drawing, folding and cutting paper and putting a thing into peoples hands to share one’s interests, with no ulterior motive. Here’s a weird thing I made that you might like. 

That’s appealing to me in this age of digital & AI everything. 

Hey you kids! Get off my lawn.

February 14th, 2024
Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. 
January 31st, 2024

Goofy Construction Barricade

This was the last shot on my first roll of film I put through the Sprocket Rocket Camera. I was walking back to my car which I had parked in the High Street garage in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 

I love the fact that someone had taken the time and effort to add the googly eyes and teeth to this otherwise bland construction barrier. 

When out shooting film, especially in a small little town like Portsmouth I am always amazed by what you can see when your eyes are open to making photographs. It’s a flow state mindfulness thing I suppose.

A good way to optimize for serendipity.
January 28th, 2024

To watch list

A list of animated films, series, and shorts I’d like to watch. I’m sure there are more I’ll remember or come across. In no particular order…

  • Blue Eyed Samurai
  • Nimona
  • Kubo and the two strings
  • Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
  • The Mitchells vs. The Machines
  • Sea Beast
  • Box Trolls
  • Klaus
  • Scavengers Reign 
January 26th, 2024

First “Dream”

Just installed and got to know Procreate Dreams animation app for iPad. It looks lovely. I decided to do a quick bouncing ball to get used to animating in the app. Even though I was going for speed over quality in this animation, color me excited.

If you want to chat or if you have feedback, send me an email