creative adventures

Getting Creative Fit with a Corporate Twist

2011-06-28T22:39:00.000-04:00

Again - it’s one of those delayed posts, where have I been? It’s been an exciting time in the life of ImageWerks. Back in April, I finished my certification as a Creatively Fit coach. I decided to obtain this certification after many years of hearing friends, colleagues, aquaintances telling over & over—

“I’m not creative. I’m not an artist! Oh, I can’t draw – you’re the one that’s talented...”

So, after hearing these statements & my comments back...

“Can write your name?… (yup). “Okay, can you scribble? (sure)... Even better...” Think about it, if you can write your name & you can scribble, then you have the ability—you are creative & you can draw!”

It was this simple conversation that drew me to becoming a Creatively Fit coach. I want to help people realize that they are inherently creative and to awaken and appreciate that part of who they are.

So, it was early March that I was invited to conduct a creative coaching session at the International Program for Development Evaluation Training (http://www.ipdet.org/) course in Ottawa, CA. The participants in this program are individuals, businesses, & educators that evaluate programs in disciplines such as public health, democracy & governance, education, or humanitarian assistance. The premise of my session was to help them to understand that creativity is a critical part of who we are and what our business’ need to survive these days. The monitoring & evaluation community is very analytical and very structured – very left brained. When approached to conduct a session on creativity, I saw a challenge – how do I reach these people who embrace the left mode of thinking? To my surprise & delight, I had 70 international development evaluators attend my Creatively Fit session!

Using concrete examples of design principles and how they relate to them and their work – I also demonstrated to them, other conceptual principles: design, empathy, story, play, meaning, and synthesis. The attendees participated in two art exercises: a community drawing with the vision, “we work as individuals & live as a community” and a “black board scribble.” I knew I helped them reach their right brain when the chatter in the room went like this:

“I can’t draw, silence, giggling, & then… humming a tune!”

One of the reviews from a participant said it all, “I would recommend conducting such sessions quarterly so as staff to reflect on their empathy for the communities we serve.”

I look forward to working with corporate teams & educators… reaching the out to help them to see the big picture and get creative for both themselves, their business, schools or community. Creatively speaking & thinking, I think we’ll all be living in a much better world.

Contact me at http://www.imagewrks.net/ to learn more about ImageWerks. Or ask me how you can have a session created especially for you or your business.

Another Nod of Excellence

2011-02-03T22:23:00.000-05:00

I apologize for not keeping up with our blog - inbetween life, the universe & everything.... something had to give & I guess this was it. Of course, I keep up with my facebook postings - but putting thoughts down on "paper" just doesn't get the attention it deserves. I did want to post another nod of excellence that was awarded to me (can I say "us"? I feel if it weren't for the encouragement of my family, friends & clients - I wouldn't be getting the nods I have been).

So - back in the beginning of January, I was notified that my photograph, "Horizon" was selected as one of the winners in the Collectors Showcase at the Workhouse Art Center in Lorton, VA. This is really an honor... it was juried into the "best of the best" by Joy Chambers. She is an award winning jazz photographer & a noted lawyer, http://www.joychamberslaw.com/. My image will be included in the 2012 collectors calendar as "March." My piece & the other original pieces of art were donated by the Workhouse artists will be on display in Gallery W-16, first floor from February 2-19. To find out more about this exhibit and the upcoming Collectors Showcase gala on Feb. 19, visit: http://bit.ly/hzaM4x. I will also have several new pieces that will be a part of the exhibition, the "Best of the Collector's Showcase," February 23-April 3. http://bit.ly/glZoWB. This show is an extension of the 2011 Collector's Showcase. The exhibition will present art from the top 13 artists chosen at the 2011 Collector's Showcase. Look for the exhibition on the first floor of the Gallery W-16. There will be an opening reception in Gallery W-16 on March 12th from 6-9pm in conjunction with the Workhouse's 2nd Saturday Art Walk.

And finally... I am honored to be exhibiting my photography at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, VA. I will be sharing the spotlight as one of three local photographers that will be showing our work in the Buchanan Partners Art Gallery. The show will be taking place from March 1 to April 3, 2011. For more information about the exhibition and the Hylton Performing Arts Center visit: http://www.hyltoncenter.org/

As you know - I am a member of the Workhouse Photography Group at the Workhouse Art Center - our gallery is located in building W-16 (first floor). I am also co-owner (or as my friend say, "the creative know-it-all") of a creative communications studio, ImageWerks located in Lake Ridge, VA. To find out more information about my business or to arrange for your no-cost creative assessment of your business - call: 703-492-8215 or visit, http://www.imagewrks.net/

(in the very near future - look for a very special announcement about a new program that my business will be offering, Creatively Fit coaching.... think right brain/left brain.... creative/teamwork... ooo la la!!)

I'm Published! In CNNMoney.com No Less

2010-07-17T01:18:00.000-04:00

Wow! What a surprise when I got an email from the Prince William Chamber of Commerce saying that CNNMoney was writing an article about our county. In addition to writing the article — they were looking for photos.... I was tickled pink when the chamber communications director sent several photos from the image library that I have been creating for them over the past couple of years.

I enjoy working with companies — building image libraries that they can use for their websites, publications, marketing materials — press releases, Facebook pages, blogs, etc. This is an integral part of what a business needs to succeed in business these days. We are rapidly building the capabilities to to help make this offering to all companies that need imagery — even videography.

But, back to CNNMoney..... on July 12th CNNmoney.com published their Top 25 "Where the Jobs Are" in the USA. The good news is that they ranked Prince William County #17 in the entire country!!!... oh, and who's photo did they use to illustrate Prince William County?....... MINE! (such a rush....)

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/moneymag/1007/gallery.best_places_job_growth.moneymag/17.html

If you or your business is looking to building your company's image library — give us a shout. To see the library that I have been working on for the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, visit http://imagefoto.smugmug.com/Events-Clients/PW-Regional-Chamber-photos/4675862_TFjxL#276402290_URSwB

(also, stay tuned for a new photo/publication/illustration product we're rapidly putting together... it's going to be a super one!)

What to Look for When Hiring a Designer

2010-07-07T13:13:00.000-04:00

When looking to hire a designer for your next project, a team, your company, whatever your creative/communication needs are... you need to look for some sort of compatibility — as well as talent. There are thousands of designers out there in the marketplace, you don't know where to look, referral — word of mouth — google search or internet — even looking them up in the phone book... whatever means you choose. What I recommend or is in my opinion — experience is the best.

I was chatting the other day with a colleague of mine about why people hire us, we both mentioned creativity, knowledge, customer service, etc. But, what popped out immediately about us was this: "the reason people hire ImageWerks is that they benefit from the 'advantage of experience'. I smiled and said - "yes, they do, we have over 35+ years providing technical, design, and photographic services."

While reading today, I found this on another blog & thought it was very appropriate to repost, let me know what you think... & of course, if you need any of our services (photography or design)... don't hesitate to call!

————— Credit: John McWade.
"...... A colleague — a non-designer — wrote to me last week asking for help in hiring a “creative services lead” to head up a new project for his business. What should he look for in a designer? Here are the eight qualities I like."

1) Passion, vision and self-motivation. Without these, you’ll be dragging a rock. You need someone who shares your vision. Nothing’s worse than a “what-do-you-want-me-to-do-next?” kind of designer. Well, no, yes there is. One who’s touchy and confusing, too.

2) Vocabulary. A creative lead should be able to articulate what’s happening and why, in language that you and your staff can understand. If you start hearing vague terms like “pop” and “impact,” make him explain what he means. Listen for, “If we do A and B, we can expect C.” This is not trivial.

3) Inquisitive intelligence. Look for someone who’s curious about almost everything and approaches life with a sense of wonder. Similarly, I want someone who’s taken the time to learn about my company and whose questions are perceptive.

4) Good conceptual skills. There are many ways to achieve any stated design goal. Conceptual skills find the new and interesting ones. You might articulate a hypothetical situation and ask her to describe three possible directions. Prepare to get out of your box. The best concepts are often unrecognized at first.

5) A portfolio. You’ll know in 15 seconds the designer’s skill level. Compare his work to excellence that you’ve seen, and don’t compromise. If it’s below what you’re seeking, end the interview right there. Politely, please.

6) Projects. If you see a lot of one-off stuff, no matter how attractive, it won’t tell you much; most designers can do nice, single pieces. Look for complete projects — Web site, print material and stationery, for example — that share a common look and purpose. Such work is more difficult to visualize, organize, and execute.

7) Real-world experience. The emphasis here is on “real.” Always ask under what conditions a design was achieved. How did the designer interact with the client? What was the role of each? Time frame? Revisions? Budget? Fantastic “portfolio pieces” are less desirable than solid design done under realistic conditions. If you find both, cheer!

8) Production skills. Your person will need production skills or know how to hire them. Nothing will slow you quicker than not being able to make something happen that you want to happen. Also, someone who understands typography is preferable to someone who can just type. Likewise, someone who understands the guts of Web coding is preferable to someone who can just run Dreamweaver.

—————
Miscellaneous notes:
It goes without saying that personalities must be compatible. Never hire an otherwise perfect candidate assuming that “he’ll change,” or that “you’ll change her.” You can usually feel the vibe right away. Trust it.

Even if you (both) like the vibe, it’s a good idea to establish a trial period. A person can be qualified and compatible, but for one reason or another can’t get the work done. You’re out of rhythm. Your work styles don’t jell. Something was misunderstood. Whatever the case, give yourselves at least a 90-day period in which either of you can terminate employment at will, for no cause at all. This is good for both of you. Creative work comes from love, passion and relationship. It can’t be faked.

Connecticut gal in the south

2010-06-05T00:19:00.065-04:00

What a difference... I'm a Connecticut native & last evening I experienced the south (again). Our kids live in North Carolina, but are from Alabama. What is the difference? Is it the deep southern accent... the chicken 'n dumplings, or their friend Bubba!

I'm used to the hussle & bustle & am a true "northerner". The contrasts of the south vs north... or I should say city/suburbs vs suburb/rural is dramatic. I get teased that I move too fast & need to slow down, last night I got a taste of slowing down. I've experienced this before and each time I do, I smile.

Last evening was the most dramatic.... after celebrating our granddaughter's high school graduation we went to dinner. There were people all around, cars, hustle & bustle... it was the center of town. When we left the restaurant & started walking to our car... there was nothing... silence... a stillness that I could only relate to that I had seen in a science fiction movie. I walked... no ran... into the middle of the street & started imagining being in a science fiction movie. You know that movie - the one where a comet had come screaming through the sky & contaminated the air & anyone that had been outside evaporated into dust... the only people that survived had fallen asleep in the movie theatre! All I exclaimed was... whoa... this is wild!

Silence vs noise... nature vs city, what do I prefer... I'm not sure. I grew up in the suburbs in close proxcimity to a large city. That bustle & noise still hums in my ears, but the silence I experienced last evening had a "safe energy" to it that I rarely experience. I miss that "safeness"... the quiet times where I could walk alone & not hear a car driving down the street. Coming back to our kids home, I walked our dogs & experienced that quiet again. The stillness hung in the air & all I heard were the echoing voices of the bullfrogs sitting on the edges of the pond. Sweet - huh?

... I think I'll continue my thoughts on the south & what I experience today ..... let me know what you remember or experience? For now - I think I'll congratulate my granddaughter on her graduation from high school.... she just needs to remember the top 10 list that her teacher spoke of this evening at commencement... (hmmm - so do I)...

country seating in Milton, NC

Reviving the Creative Conversation

2010-06-01T21:40:00.002-04:00

Back in January, the excuse for not contributing to our blog was I was busy - and then 6 months goes by, my conscious is "yakking at me"... you're not writing anything – not even sending out an e-newsletter... why? I guess - there is no excuse. So - let's revive the creative conversation, what do you want to hear? The events, trips, projects, and exhibits we've been involved in have been exciting and successful. It's time to share.

Business has been up & down, busy – not busy, exciting, boring (yes, I said boring)... but overall, our clients & projects have been great and we wouldn't change a thing. GC & I have both been exploring better ways of doing tasks and reevaluating how to do the best at our craft... that's design, photography, and illustration. I've also reconnected with old friends through Facebook – wow what an exciting ride. Some of our current and future happenings are:

My new photos (Bermuda) are up at the Workhouse Photography Group – the show goes through July 18th.
One of my photos (Wind) was juried into the Greenspiration show at the Workhouse. The show is through June 13th (see - I told you I was late in this post). Here are the works that are in the show. http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=ddz3k33s_178gwprbshd&interval=5
But, an annual event that GC & I are getting excited to be a part of is the 6th Annual Manassas Wine & Jazz Festival on June 20th (Fathers Day). For more informaiton and tickets, visit: http://historicmanassas.mymediaroom.com/wire/events/viewevent.aspx?id=9133. GC will be exhibiting and selling some of his newest paintings – I'll have my photos and notecards. (some new stuff & older pieces... come early for some very special bargains on them!).

So, besides our "happenings" I ask myself daily one simple question... "how can we stay focused on the creative and get excited about stuff...?" I'm thinking it's the pleasant memories & images from our recent cruise to Bermuda (fresh air, bright colors, and that oh so beautiful crystal blue water) — but, it could also be our outdoor camping adventure in Harpers Ferry, WV this past weekend. Each day is new, every experience is new, and I am just thankful that I am sharing my creative adventures with my soulmate.

Here are some recent photos from our trips, including my piece "Wind" that's in the Greenspiration show.

Wind

Old Rider (this was taken in St. Georges, Bermuda)

Horizon (taken on the deck of our cruise ship)

harpers ferry wall

The confluence of the Potomac & Shenandoah River

Been a while... why?

2010-01-18T20:57:00.000-05:00

When you realize that the new year (2010) has come and started—you begin to ask yourself where did the last year go? For me, 2009 was a rollercoaster. I tried to explore myself creatively, but I also looked at the practical side of things. I keep telling myself, if I tell my friends, clients or social media "buds" that I'm overwhelmed with work & very busy—"poof" we're busy. If I say the opposite—well, you know what I mean. I think I'm trying to say that if you stay positive only the best comes to you... for the negative... the same is true. For myself, family & business - I have promised myself to only stay true to myself & stay positive for 2010 and for however I do it, I am staying cognicent. About a week ago, I was visiting with a friend of mine and we were talking about happenings in our past & her comment to me stuck, "I am the poster child for positive/optimism".... I have promised myself to stay that way.

So, why do I say in my post title, "been a while... why?" 2009, frankly was a year I would like to put behind me & my family. It was on the positive side, one of positive growth & connection. I am a person that stays positive and really only wants positive around me... that goes for personal & creative instances. The positive actually took something of a turn when it came to my family happenings in 2009. While helping my parents through health issues, I took advantage of reconnecting with my hometown—I did this during my "caretaker breaks." I grew up in West Hartford, CT—what I thought was a small town, with nothing to offer... has turned out to be one of growth and culture. I love the new town center & the nightlife that it has to offer, but I also love the smalltown feel that it gives off. Thank god I was able to take the time to take some photos of my old haunts.

I really think the best part of it was finding out that I do not come by my creative/photography side by chance... my dad is a creative sort and has a long history of photography and art. I embrace that now and I cherish that knowledge. I would like to share some of my photo jaunts from my visit(s) this past Nov./Dec. Let me know what you think...

These photos were taken in Elizabeth Park, Hartford, CT (established in 1899), and Bloomfield, CT (the old farmer's market).

I have another story that I'll post tomorrow or sometime soon — family stories & photos. stay tuned.....

ImageWerks Wins Business of the Year Award!!

2009-10-31T16:49:00.000-04:00

ImageWerks, lc Named Home Based Business of the Year by the Prince William County Regional Chamber of Commerce

WOODBRIDGE, VA October 28, 2009 -- At a private reception held last Wednesday evening, the Prince William County Regional Chamber of Commerce unveiled its 2009 Business Awards, which exemplify the dynamic energy of businesses in Prince William County, Virginia. ImageWerks, lc, is an innovative communications studio in Woodbridge, Virginia earned the Home Based Business of the Year award for 2009.

Kathy Strauss & GC Schow started their business in 1999 with one client—one project. It was a small local business that needed a logo & brochure. Since then, their client base has expanded from local individuals to large international corporations. They define their business with the mission statement: “ImageWerks strives to create stunning, innovative design work—to build strong business relationships—that allows their clients to communicate their mission.” “We are very pleased to have received this honor, said ImageWerks’, Creative Director, Kathy Strauss. “This is truly the icing on the cake as we celebrate our ten-year anniversary in business. We take great pride in our work and ability and look forward to another 10 years and beyond of growth helping our clients present themselves in a compelling fashion by providing ‘creative solutions for business.’”

Clients can count on ImageWerks to be with them every step of the way. Partnerships with writers, printers and other quality vendors allow ImageWerks to serve as a “virtual in-house” graphics department, taking customers all the way from the initial brainstorming stage to implementation of the final product. Another value-add is its “Advice without the cost” philosophy. Meeting fees are built into the design estimate, allowing clients to contact ImageWerks as needed, without worrying about a surprise when the bill comes!

About ImageWerks, lc:
Imagewerks lc is a design studio offering a high level of creativity, practical experience, know-how and development in a broad range of disciplines, including: advertising layout, publication design, packaging, signs, banners, multimedia and web design/hosting services, brochures, illustrations, logo design and related collateral, and photography. ImageWerks keeps its marketing skills current, using social media sites and helping clients to learn the ropes of Web 2.0 and other advances in the field. This online outreach, along with careful market strategy, has helped ImageWerks to succeed in the current downturn.

GC and Kathy are active in the community, volunteering their time and talents to groups such as Project Mend-a-House, Prince William County Library Foundation, American Red Cross/Prince William Chapter, and Literacy Volunteers of America/Prince William. Kathy is also in the 2010 Class of Leadership Prince William. A longtime Chamber supporter, ImageWerks has done many design projects for the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce, including work on the current logo.

Some of their clients include: The World Bank, Carleton University, UNDP, The Manoff Group, Rare Conservation, Family Health International (FHI), Prince William County Schools Education Foundation, National PACE Association, the National Center on Full Faith & Credit, Compton & Duling, City of Manassas Public Works, Prince William County Solid Waste Division, Jewelry By Design, and ReKonnect, RGS Title, and The Heritage Foundation.

www.imagewrks.net
Media Contact: Stacia D. Kelly (703) 597-2951
Media Contact: Kathy Strauss (703) 492-8215
###

Two-sided Creativity

2009-10-09T18:56:00.000-04:00

For a long time we've been telling people all about our business & our talents. They know that GC & I are graphic designers, we design logos, marketing materials (postcards, brochures, etc.).... layout publications for both formal and informal use (annual reports, simple Word documents, training manuals, etc.).... create presentations in PowerPoint... design trade show exhibits & posters.... all the way to creating interactive media (CDs, web sites, etc.). But, I think our most creative endeavor are our photography and illustration skills.

There is a mysterious side to the business of graphic design—especially for people that don't know what we do or for that matter, understand what we do. People assume that designers create stuff that comes out of a canned software package—but it doesn't. We literally envision what people think & then put it on paper. It takes me back to my old World Bank days when I started working in the evaluations department and most of my co-workers were economists. I was a publications designer and my office was colorfully decorated. I would get the strangest stares when they would walk by my office—it wasn't until someone walked in and made a comment, "We just can't figure out what you do! A Word file or a pile of papers comes into your office & within a couple of days, out pops this gorgeous book! How do you do it?" I just smiled & said........ "Magic!!"

Why do I call this post "two-sided creativity"? The reason is that GC & I have two very special skillsets... I'm a photographer & he is a fine illustrator, the nice thing is that these skillsets mesh perfectly together. We like to combine our two skillsets into "combination" projects (i.e., turning my photos into fine illustrations or paintings). We have done this numerous times for friends and personal enjoyment—but we have also been telling our clients about this! So, I decided that it's time to show the world samples of our combinations, as well as showing off some of GC's illustrations.

If there is anything that you see here that interests you, wows you, or moves you to ask us to do a project for you... call or email. Even better - leave a comment :-)

Possum Point

Blue Boat

Firebird 2004

Diane

Train

Pastel illustration for Hewlett-Packard brochure (section only)

where has the time gone?

2009-09-24T20:58:00.000-04:00

Dear g-d... where has the time gone? It seems like just last month we were in Spokane sitting on the beach at our lake cabin.... or was it that it was that we were celebrating the ringing in of 2009? More people have been telling us... only 100 more days till....... I really don't want to hear that. But, regardless of "time flying by" - I have found that I've let my blog slip off to the wayside and I've not done any showcasing of our portfolio or photography.

So, for posterity - here are the posts I made to my Facebook profile & a photo or two from our trip.

1. up early - just after sunrise.. chill in the air & steam rising from the water on the lake. wandered down w/ camera in hand (of course)... ducks, loons & gulls making all kinds of noise... peaceful & beautiful pictures.

2. spent the afternoon w/ our kids & grandkids... sat down at the lake & watched the neighborhood dogs chase balls in the water. the kids swam & splashed in the water... got great pics of all. listening to the geese honking while flying overhead... drink in hand & dinner on the way.. til later

3. relaxing on the deck. (did you hear that - I said the word relaxing... the kids went for a walk - might go swim in the lake later. 4. the kids left for home. all is quiet now... time to break out the wine! looking forward to exploring the area tomorrow... might sweet talk gc into heading up to canada tomorrow... canadian rockies, here i come ;-)

5. cool, sunny morning on the lake. amazing how quiet it is up here. very few cricket noises, no frogs. sometimes you'll hear the ducks or the loons... amazing, there are NO mosqitos... but there are yellow jackets.

6. granite point park - beautiful place on Loon Lake... cool place that was built in 1939.

7. sitting & enjoying some Alaskan Amber ale.... gosh some of the best beer we've ever had!!!

8. it is truly amazing when stepping out on the deck & there is not a cloud in the sky & all you see are stars... yes, you can really see the milky way clearly from here. peaceful dreamy & there is definitely something else bigger out there. until tomorrow...

9. spent the day in spokane walking around River Front park. the area is clean B the falls are gorgeous. Its no wonder the Spokane indians settled around the region. The energy is amazing. heading back to the lake - but of course after some wonderful NW beer :-)

10. sat out on the deck this evening, chill in the air tells that fall is coming soon. the stars are quite bright, I see constellations that I know the shapes, but can't remember the names. I looking for my friend Orion, but he's not up in the sky just yet. Peaceful still water that's in contrast to the noise of the falls. will try to rise early to photograph the sunrise - we'll see.

11. fished our coffee & watched a family of wild turkey walk in front our deck... & an eagle just swooped in front of me... with a hawk squawking in the tree. great energy/animal medicine today is gonna be fantastic!

coffee with cream or sugar I can see, but fish? ;-) Other than that, the morning sounds great.
....when typing on a tiny keyboard you have no idea what keys you hit... i think it was supposed to be ''finished our coffee'' ;-)
Based on the averian theme, I'm guessing it was perch flavored.
Glad you're having a great time fishing!
.....well I guess we have to bring back some fresh trout or bass for you... the rods are in the shed waiting to be hooked up w/ bait.
fished your coffee??? are you going for Java Trout?
.....you know, that could be a name of a coffee shop out on a lake front resort... especially up here in the NW

12. spent the day driving around the spokane area today. It was fun watching GC try to remember his way around. We found our way to Liberty Lake - what a gorgeous area.

13. last nite at the lake. sitting on the deck. cool clean air. hearing the crickets & occasional dog barking in the distance. the sky is so bright w/ stars that i am brought to tears. I am truly going to miss the energy & awe of this place. like... before, the milkyway is bright, the big dipper is BIG & my buddy Mars is shining clear. peace ya'll

14. the kids surpised us & gave us a nite at the Cour D'Alene Resort. gorgeous hotel on the lake & room w/ a view. (fireplace, balcony, etc.). spending the day walking thru a town of artists & then off to walk some trails & maybe venture to see the floating golf green.

Success & Marketing

2009-08-11T21:47:00.000-04:00

I do alot of reading or investigating of what to do to market our business & our clients. There seems to be a continuous tone to the messages I see. This is..... don't stop advertising, marketing, or keeping your face (personal & business) out there. The economy might be in a slowdown - but this is the worst time to pull back from letting people know you are there. On the other hand - this is when you MUST be out there! This is where the creativity comes into play... get creative, be persistent, be original & you will be noticed.

Here are some nuggets from one of the magazines I recently read:

Q: Why is marketing during an economic slowdown so important?
A: You want you target customer to be aware of you when their in the buying process. If you disappear from the radar, there's no way for them to find your business or to think of you—it's as simple as that. Commerce is still being done. there may not be as much potential business as a few years ago, but it's still out there for those who make themselves available.

Q: What low-cost techniques can businesses employ?
A: E-mail marketing, can be cost efficient. If you're going to build a database, people need to opt in—you don't want to spam—and you need to send something that is relevant to them. And add a blog to your web site. It takes time & a commitment, but it's an inexpensive way to market your business. Say thank you to your existing customers. Call your top 10 customers for no other reason. Six months from now, send them an e-mail, and remind them how much your appreciate their business. make them a special offer that only they are getting.

Q: Why is it important to market to current customers?
A: They know you. they love you and your poduct or service, and it's a lot easier to keep existing business than to get new business. An it cost a lo less. Another benefit is they refer business to you.

Q: Should companies sitck with the messages they communicated about themselves in better times?
A: You always have to adapt to changing market conditions. Your core marketing message has to remain, but you have to speak to what's important to your customers.

(excerpted from: "Marketing Expert Mary Shallies". The Rotarian. August 2009.)

If you or your business should have questions or would like to discuss how to "get creative" for your marketing needs—call or e-mail us. We'd love to sit down & chat!!

Until the next time........

creative intuition

2009-08-06T23:23:00.000-04:00

This evening, I thought I would sit & see if I could tap into a part of myself that I've been ignoring - my creative intuition. I've been struggling over the past couple of months with ways for me to tap into a part of myself that I know is there. Listening to the news, whether it's bad or good - hasn't been good for my creativity. So, over the past couple of weeks I've created a favorite spot to sit & just be quiet on the deck/balcony that's off my office. Of course the weather earlier this summer was perfect for doing just that.

So, sitting there this evening I found myself listening to the crickets, the frogs & my favorite Brazilian music - quiet & asked myself what is my inner wisdom, my creative intuition & who is it? The sounds seem to blend into one another until I saw & felt something stir in me... it was a ping, small - but something that I think we can call a spark.... This spark, is going to have to grow larger & I'm going to need to listen & feel harder, or maybe I should put it - more deeply..... This spark is something that I can tap into to put into my photography and my client's projects. If that spark is there when I create the pieces, I know that people will feel it & will be moved by them. If they are moved, they are drawn into action..... if that's the case, I know I've done my job well.

I think what I just described is part of the creative process - tapping into the freedom & unknown to draw a viewer into the piece, the message and into action.

Over the next couple of posts, I'm going to start to showcase some of our portfolio work, describing how we came up with the designs, what they mean to us & how the client/designer interaction works. I hope you'll check back often & leave comments.

ideas rolling in my head...

2009-08-04T22:56:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking to myself that when I decided to start writing a blog, it was a gut wrenching idea. Was this going to be marketing tool, a journal of ideas, or just something that I did & never followed through with. The fact is, I always fought having to write—I hated it as a kid growing up & as I got older, it became harder & harder for me to even think about working with the written word. I still see the knot I used to get in my stomach when I have to sit down & put ideas to paper. I even remember the comment one of my old co-workers said to me, "you know - you're a pretty good writer!!" I just about choked. :-(... But over the years, people have come to know me & our business for being expert/creative publication designers! It doesn't matter, a well designed publication or even be a simple Word document, can draw the reader into it's pages and they will read every word.

So where does that thought lead me this evening? I'm writing... did you hear that? I'm actually writing! The knot in my stomach is less than it was, years ago - my thoughts & ideas are even flowing a little freer than they used to. Funny, I take a look at my astrological sign (Aquarius) & it says, I am a writer (or at least have a talent for it), I've always rolled my eyes at that. But, I have ideas rolling around in my head & have been for a long time. I get a spark of inspiration & I always seem to tell myself, I'll remember to write that down or I'll remember to act on that idea later—not anymore. The creative spark has told me that I need to move & react to these thoughts.

For now, the spark of inspiration says that there are stories waiting to be told, photos to be taken, paintings to be created, even books to be designed. Maybe I'll start writing down short stories of family funnies... who knows - it could turn into a NY Times bestseller. I know, I'll call it, "Nana Ran Over a Cow & Other Tidbits." (or something like that)...... <& yes, my mother did drive over a cow when she was a teenager, maybe I'll start writing family stories in this blog?>

new ideas... staying positive

2009-08-01T23:02:00.000-04:00

Today was an interesting process. When I say process, I actually mean working a process to my day. I'm working on being positive - very, very positive. I'm finding creative ways to focus myself - to stay present in the moment & actually manifesting the reality that I would like to experience.

First of all - I need to shout it out that I sold some of my photos at the gallery this evening! (I'm so excited). Jen Chappell - one of my WPS cohorts hosted her artist reception for her solo show this evening. She did everything right when it came to marketing her event... the gallery was packed! (way to go Jen). Because of the marketing, the crowds came & people bought art. Funny, looking back at the way I started my comments this evening, I was going to start talking about my daily affirmation practices - but I realized that some of the statements/comments I heard this evening tied into the creative theme. Questions to ask are: How did Jen get such a crowd to the gallery this evening? Was it because she asked only her friends? Could it be that she only invited only her co-workers from the DC Design Center? Actually, it was all of the above and beyond...... when you look at yourself, your business or product - you need to ask yourself several very important questions:

how am I going to market myself/business?
how do people know about me?
what am I selling? (a solid object/art, myself, or an idea?)
do I market myself using paper products & snail mail? the web/social media? only by word of mouth/personal contact?
all of the above & more?

The answer to those questions is all of the above & more!!! I tell my clients & myself that the only way people know about us/our businesses is by marketing ourselves. If we don't create a "buzz" about ourselves people will not know about us or our business. Funny, was talking to some of my friends this evening & they kept saying, "I don't know many people. How am I going to put on a solo show & let people know I have work up in the gallery? I'm not going to do a solo show." Let's stand back & take a look at the negatives in those statements.... "I don't know many people, how am I going to put on a solo show?" Those negative statements, imagery don't have that creative spark... they actually have a creative block to them. What Jen did to create the buzz about her reception & work this evening was simple - "market, market, market, tell people, spread the word" Once she tapped into her creative network, the publicity buzz started & people came to her opening. Here are some of the things she did to create the buzz & get the word out.

Created marketing postcards for the show & passed them out to everyone she knew. She put these postcards everywhere she could think of. She also mailed out some of the cards to a targeted audience.
She posted a blog(s), gave out her postcards everywhere she went.
Put her postcards in almost every gallery at the Workhouse
Mailed out her postcards to her snailmail contacts
stayed positive & talked it up
contributed to our co-ops blob & then had the reciprical authors post similar events on their blogs
posted & blogged about it on Facebook.
talked, talked, talked about it. Creating a work-of-mouth about the upcoming show.

When looking back at these steps for this one party & event, I see where we can personally strenghten our marketing programs.. I would love to start a discussion about marketing, creativity & how to get the most out of the programs we have in place or don't have. Who knows where this will go...

peace out...........

deadlines & creativity....

2009-07-31T00:06:00.000-04:00

just simple post this evening... wait - it's morning! why is it that everytime there is a deadline, the creative juices either dry up or start flowing? brings back some fun memories of college when i would wait until the last possible moment to come up with a design for an assignment. some of my projects were complete duds... except for the one that I couldn't for the life of me figure out what to do - then the lightbulb moment went off... create an ad for a client you already had! the assignment was to create a marketing piece - nothing more than that, except that it was to be entered into the Art Directors Club student competition.

fun........ the piece was an ad slick called a "one sheet" for the television station, Channel 5 (yes, Fox television)...... advertising the upcoming tennis tournament broadcast. with an hour to spare—the assignment got turned in (of course after working all night on it).... and to my surprise.... it took 1st place in the student category!!!

Deadlines.... they pushed the envelope, I thought outside the box and came up with an idea that was a little different... creative, clean, bold... had it been planned - who knew what would have been the look of the piece. in this case, it worked—but in the overall scheme of things, planning & thinking out the details is the best thing for a marketing plan or a great design.....

How am I creative? Am I? Are we?

2009-07-29T23:35:00.000-04:00

I wonder, am I creative? Do people like my work? For that matter, do people like the way we do business? I hear self-doubting voices in my head or in GC's voice alot. We constantly ask ourselves, why do we do what we do? Why did we choose the path of being an artist?

Being an artist can be a very rewarding career, but then again - there is that statement - if you become an artist, you take the risk of being that "starving artist". When we got into our career stream, path... whatever you want to call it, we didn't have the computer to aid in our artistic path - we did everything by hand! Yes, I said - we did everything by hand. Laying out a line of type that went across a letterhead design was created with ruling tape & Letraset press-on type. We took a piece of bright white drawing board, drew out our cropmarks on the edges, and then created our design. If we wanted more than 2 colors on the piece, we created separations by drawing on velum paper & then cutting out the different colors into a film called amberlith/rubylith, we would draw out the black lines with rapidograph pens.... we then took the separate colors on the amber/ruby-lith or vellum paper and taped them on top of the page - overlapping where we needed to overlap the colors. Gosh, it's been so long since I've done something like that, I'm trying to visualize in my head what all the steps to the process were.... just to tell all of you!

Today, we have a different type of tool set. Yes, we still sketch out our designs on paper - but we take those sketches, scan them into our computer & then draw our designs on the computer! We now have tools called Illustrator, CorelDraw, InDesign, Photoshop, Painter, etc. We can do fancier & more complex type designs with these software tools - but have we as artists become too dependant on the computer to create our elaborate designs? Maybe the true artists are those artists that still create their paintings or illustrations with a pencil, paintbrush, and paint. They love the feel of paper - the moosh of clay in their hands, the splatter of paint on their clothes.

Have we lost our creativity to the inanimate computer world? Are our talents undervalued because now everyone can draw.... or think they can draw? My feeling is that we live in a very visual world - we are surrounded by art every day. It's on the signs we see that direct us, the cereal box that we reach for in the morning, even the newspaper. Creativity is all around us & we need to reach deep in our sole to see the true art in all that surrounds us.

Value the fact that you can drawn a doodle, write your name ... that's art. Hug an artist the next time you meet one..... & just think of it this way... "Artists are just children who refused to put down their crayons."

1st National Juried Photography Show

2009-07-28T22:37:00.001-04:00

What an exhausting day. Really a day of excitment—the 1st National Juried Photography show was hung today at the Workhouse Arts Center. I was joined by my fellow photogs, Carol & Ed (w/ his wife, Marti & their friend Sue) to hang 68 pieces of striking photography. Most of the photographers that juried into the show are from the Washington, DC area, but it really was exciting to see several photographers from out of state! We have one person from New Mexico and one from Connecticut! Of course I got even more excited when I found out that the person from Connecticut is one of my old high school friends... talk about a small world.

The show will be judged by the juror (Ann Shumard, the Curator of Photographs from the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C) this Friday. My fingers are crossed... will my piece Carnival get an honorable mention, 3rd, 2nd or wait... I know.... a 1st place award!!!. Guess I'll have to wait and see :-).

The artist reception for this special show will be August 9, 2-4pm. Workhouse Art Center, Building W-16. 9601 Ox Rd., Lorton, VA.

Hope to see all of you there....... there's more exciting news on the horizon! And of course I'll be sure to post photos from the show.

Photography & Illustration....

2009-07-26T18:33:00.000-04:00

Photography & illustration are really important to us—photography for Kathy, illustration/painting for GC. If we had our way, we would be living off our passions (hint, hint). But, in the meantime, here are some of the goings on for us:

Guerilla Art Show.

GC was a featured artist in the 1st Guerilla Art Show at the Workhouse Art Center in Lorton, VA. Of course by now - you are asking what is a Guerilla Art show. The true definition of a guerilla art show is one that is thrown together very, very quickly. In this case, GC was asked by the executive director of the Workhouse if he had enough finished art to fill the 2nd floor of the main exhibit building. They needed to put together an exhibit within a weeks time. So, with a smile & a chuckle, he said, "some pieces... but we know enough artists to put together an exhibit." With that, Kathy called everyone she knew from the Women's Caucas for Art/DC Chapter, artist friends... and of course GC. GC was proud to exhibit some of his fine art paintings. He specializes in water colors—but most recently, he loves to combine his love of digital painting and the real stuff. Here is a sample of one of his pieces that was in the show.

Needless to say, the show was a success! The artists that participated in the show were: Don Hurlbert, GC Schow, Marilyn Hayes, Niki Vanech, Cindy Renteria, Nana Bagdavadze, Jennifer Judelsohn, Merle Davison, Margaret Paris, Adam Eig, Wendy Fike, Marilyn Banner, Lynn Grossman, Jane Pettit, and Ellen Mosher. The show ran from June 30 to July 26, 2009.

I want to really thank everyone that participated in the show. Besides GC's work that I'm sharing with everyone, I want to share one of the more unusal pieces from artist Jane Pettit. She is a mosaic artist, her work Maiden of the Deep was creative and humorous! I can't begin to tell you the number of cheerful comments I heard from viewers! What do you think? (leave a comment!)

Photography & All Jazz.

Kathy has been in the photography world for a while now. She loves sharing her work, discussing it, and most of all selling & exhibiting it! For those of your that know us—this is old news, but for those that don't, Kathy is a founding member of the Workhouse Photographic Society. The Workhouse Photographic Society (WPS), established in 2008, is a cooperative photography studio and gallery at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia. The Gallery membership consisted of award-winning photographers whose images hang in many private and public collections. Its members are sought-after speakers, noted educators and talented artists whose distinct visions are presented photographically through traditional, digital and alternative photographic techniques. Every eight weeks, there is a featured photographer—while the rest of the co-op shows off their talents on a smaller scale.

From March 15-May 3, her exhibition, Through the Looking Glass, showed people what her vision of how she sees the world. The series of work was a colorful & rythmic-depicting images of nature, people, and daily scenes from her travels. A sample of one of her pieces that hung in the show is Striped Wall, as well as a shot of Kathy talking to her guests the night of the artist's reception.

1st National Juried Photography Competition at the Workhouse Art Center.

We are pleased to announce that Kathy's piece Carnival was accepted into the 1st National Juried Photography Competition at the Workhouse Art Center. The exhibition will run from July 29-August 22, 2009. Ann Shumard, the Curator of Photographs from the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. will serve as Juror for the competition. Ms. Shumard will also award a $500 Best in Show and 3 Equal Merits of $150 each. The public is invited to the free awards reception on August 9th from 2-4pm. As always, all works will be available for purchase during the exhibit.

Spinning the Creative Web...

2009-07-26T17:50:00.000-04:00

About a year ago, I decided that we would join the blogosphere world. At that time, it was a well-meaning intention, but it just never got off the ground. Life and business got in the way and "Creative Adventures" sat on the back burner.

I thought about what I would say... what would our blog talk about? Would it be a place where we could discuss anything creative? I hear all the time, what does creative mean to us? To our business? For our hobbies? For our personal growth? Just about anything creative. To introduce Creative Adventures and "us", we need to explain that the us is ImageWerks. Digging a little deeper—the "us" that's behind ImageWerks is Kathy Strauss & GC Schow... partners in business... partners in life. We work, eat, breathe, live creativity.

We are a successful design team with over 30 years of experience. GC is a designer and illustrator, Kathy is also a designer and photographer. We love combining our talents to create the total package for our clients. We take our clients from start to finish... from inception to the marketplace... together, we create the image and first impression to capture and promote the essence of your business. Then, we identify the avenues to get your message to the marketplace. Our business offers branding & marketing, print design, web design, and photography/illustration. We would love to talk to you about your business' creative needs—we will even sit down with you to review your marketing materials now at no cost to see if you to see if we can come up with any new ideas. If you like them, we'll talk about what we can do for you. If you don't, you walk away.

So, in a nutshell - ImageWerks, Kathy, GC - we're one in the same. We love what we do, we love the people we meet, and we love creativity. Give us a shout..... let's talk!