A few years ago while at Tamarack’s Communities Collaborating Institute, I noticed a young lady drawing the presentation in real time as the speaker presented their big ideas. She asked me if I was coveting her markers (I was) and then invited me to draw.

When I was young I had visions of being an artist and a Pro Soccer Player and an astronaut, I am not a astronaut or a professional athlete – I am however still an artist. After that run in with Elayne Greeley I returned to New Brunswick and started drawing meetings, at first they were a little unpolished, I was working on finding my own style after all. But I kept on listening and drawing, improving slowly but surely – As it turns out it takes much courage, or a lack of caring about the opinions of others to be an artist.

I have always loved stories, maybe it comes from my Dad being a great storyteller or maybe it comes from Hardy Boys Books, or Superman comics – either way I love a good story.  I can see the story vividly in my head as the person tells it, I see the pictures, the background, the similes, the metaphors, the hyperbole, the gist, the moral, the BIG IDEA that ties it all together – So to go from there to Graphic recording wasn’t much of a leap at all –

I have drawn many events, presentations, webinars, TED Talks, entire week long conferences – lots of different things. I listen for the pictures, key words, central themes, the humour, the feeling, the caring, the thoughtfulness, the sadness, the joy and the love. I listen then the ideas go through my world view and I draw or write them out big paper with smelly markers and sharpies.

After I am done, I “give” the art to the presenter – I say “give” because I recently started a small business called thInk, so now I offer my services for a charge.

The really cool thing I find about graphic recording is that the presenter gets immediate feedback, if the words and pictures that I pulled out were the ones they wanted the audience to get, good work, but if the pictures and words weren’t aligned with the message the presenter was trying to get across – evolve your presentation

I love the creative outlet that it provides me and the smiles on the people’s faces when they look at the poster and remember the presentation.

I look forward to doing many more, my 10 year old daughter, asked me last night, when we’ll do one together?

Soon I hope.