What’s Up With the Cartoons?

What’s up with the cartoon’s, you ask?

Since I restarted the blog in November, I made a choice to use original stick figure art in my blogs. Here’s why:

1. Over the last few years, I have been fascinated with the concept of visual thinking. Ever since I read Dan Roam’s “The Back of the Napkin”, the idea of communicating ideas via simple, hand-drawn sketches has appealed to me. Looking back, this makes sense. In the aerospace engineering environment I worked in for 37 years, we often communicated via sketches on pads of paper and white boards. Roam applies that principle to presenting information. This concept is captured in Walt’s Rule about cross-training.
2. Around the time I restarted the blog, I had just finished reading another book on visual thinking, “Sketchnotes”, by Mike Rohde. He applies visual thinkng to note taking. I am working on converting from my linear wordy note-taking to the sketchnotes method. Drawing these cartoons helps me practice.
3. As I mentioned in my book, I used to label myself as someone who can’t draw. Looking at these cartoons, you might say I still can’t 😉  I am publicly using my drawings to communicate ideas. I expect them to evolve and improve over time. I am publicly exercising my drawing muscles, consistent another of Walt’s Rules. I don’t have to be perfect right out of the box and I am not afraid to grow in public.
4. I want to stay out of trouble. I recently attended a mastermind, where we were reminded to take copyright laws seriously. Rather than search for someone else’s art that I can use either royalty free or go through the process of asking the owner for permission, WHY NOT create original drawings?
5. Finally, it is both challenging and fun. And you know what? That alone works for me!