My Origin Story

"How did you get into graphic recording?"

That’s the question that comes up most often when I am working at an event, whether for groups of five or 5,000.  So for those of you who asked while I was in the middle of capturing content, or those who just want to know, here’s my origin story.

I've always loved storytelling, drawing, and comics. I got to do some of that as an art director and illustrator, but yearning to do more in 2009 I partnered with a colleague as co-author and illustrator of the tween book series Dorothy's Derby Chronicles.  The illustrations incorporated comic book elements—action-packed scenes of girls playing the high-impact sport of roller derby. 

Energized by the publication of the first of two books, I began looking for a way to take what I'd learned and continue growing my visual storytelling skills professionally.   I attended an event where there was a live graphic recorder, and I was so inspired that I knew what my direction would be. It would take practice, but I had the skills to do it—it was a no-brainer! This was sequential art in action, just like what I'd done for Dorothy's Derby Chronicles; pictures and words telling a story, but live at events as visual storytelling unfolds in real time.

From there it was practice, practice, practice. I took weekend workshops wherever I could find them and found a mentor. She helped me understand that the most crucial skill I needed to develop was how to listen for key themes. It meant learning an entirely new way of listening so I could filter the content in a way that made it possible for the audience to understand the key messages.  It's a challenging thing to master—listening, synthesizing, and drawing simultaneously.

As anyone new to a profession, my early work was spotty. Even though I wasn't completely satisfied with my output in those formative years, I loved the process and looked for ways to improve my skills.  Sharing knowledge and experiences with other graphic recorders and jumping at workshop opportunities continues to be a rewarding way to grow. 

Currently I'm enrolled in Sequential Artists Workshop’s year-long comics certification program where I'm learning the history of comics, drawing techniques, and storytelling. It's so much fun!

That's how a love of drawing and sequential art led me to discover graphic recording—and I'm still practicing, learning, and loving every minute of it.