The Power of Simply Starting

The power of starting - I remind myself to 'just start' every day. I love to research and get a handle on the very best way to tackle a project, but often forget that perpetual learning isn't the same as actually doing the thing. Even award-winning design team House Industries titled their beautiful retrospective book The Process is the Inspiration. By trying to articulate the source of their inspiration, they realized that the process was it.

Each person's process will be different. Chase your curiosity, see where it leads. You can never understand step 12 or 20 until you take step one. It won't be frictionless but consistency will create refinement, and refinement leads to efficiency and mastery. In a few months you'll be proficient at things that you didn't even know were relevant when you started.

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library - Whenever I have new TRPL images I'll always share them here, but since this is my first issue I thought I would include a little more context about the project. Definitely check out the backstory on the library's main website and the renderings on architect Snohetta's project page. It was also featured in Architectural Digest when the final design was announced and will be featured in an upcoming NY Times article that I'll share when it publishes.

TR Library Images - My most recent images captured the ongoing construction process, rebar installation, geothermal well drilling (more than 200 of them!) and the installation of underground power lines. The power installation is more sophisticated than usual because the Library will not only be using electricity from the grid but will also be creating its own (through solar panels and other renewable sources) and sending some of it back to be used by others.

Using the camera to be fully present - Next week, I'll share about how I use my camera as a meditative tool to be fully present. It lets me remove distractions from the outside world and focus only on what I see in the viewfinder, and it's something you can easily do on your camera phone in 5 minutes. 

New North Dakota Travel Posters - I'm really excited about these new posters, they are fun to design and fun to see coming off the printer. Inspired by vintage travel posters of the early 1900's and created using my own images, I created them to be a playful celebration of venturing into the North Dakota landscape.

I will have a few in North Dakota for the October 25 art show at Watford City's Rough Rider Center, but if you live in Watford City and order before Sunday, October 15, I'll be sure to print enough and bring yours with me when I drive from Tennessee next week.

They look especially great when hung together in sets of two, three or four which is why I created discounted bundles at the bottom of the page.

Image of the week - Adventure Awaits. In the spirt of launching a new newsletter, new posters and celebrating the courage to start, this week's image is one of my newly designed posters in hopes that it brings a smile to your face and reignites a sense of adventure.

Thanks for reading!  Have an amazing rest of your week.

Chad Z.