Blank Canvas,
Open Mind
Art and public speaking may seem
unlikely bedfellows. But interestingly
enough, like the old Reese’s ads with
collisions between peanut butter and
chocolate, they can produce results
better than the sum of their parts.
Any performer seeks to connect
with the audience on some level. In
my case, it’s two: I use art and the
spoken word to communicate my
message. Even if I’m working alone
in my studio, the audience is always
on my mind—focusing on the viewer’s perception and perspective, and
employing tones and shades and
themes that will evoke a transformational response. While the end result is
creative and spontaneous, the process
itself is deliberate and methodical.
I approach keynotes as I do a blank
canvas: with my mind open. For me
it’s a frontier to be conquered ... oh,
rebellious streak again. Again, frontier
is a word I choose advisedly, defined as
the “farthermost limits of knowledge
in a subject,” a concept that resonates
with me. As an artist, I look for the
possibilities, to see what could be, and
then make visible the invisible. Vincent
Van Gogh put it elegantly, “I dream my
paintings and then I paint my dreams.”
I like to encourage my audiences to do
the same. In my presentations, I show
them how to focus not on what is or
isn’t there, but rather on what could be.
I have found that art accompanied by
the spoken word creates a most power-
ful synergy for greater self expression,
and even for blowing the doors off of
creative constraints.
Breaking the Rules
The same is true in speaking. The rudimentary principles of presentation include
learning what is effective, how to educate
and entertain the crowd, and leave them
with a memorable experience. Once
you’ve reached a certain level, it’s time to
break some of those rules, have a little fun,
and see where it takes you. This is where
you truly separate yourself from the rest
and distinguish your gift.
In my case, I decided to break from
the norm by taking the stage, turning
my back to the crowd, and immediately
beginning my illustration on a 6-foot
canvas without saying a word. I continued on for approximately 15 minutes,
with music playing in the background,
before I ever acknowledged the audience.
This wasn’t without risk. Members
of the audience have sometimes commented that their initial reaction is
slight discomfort, because they don’t
know what is happening. On the other
hand, they tell me that they stay fully
