“David and France put on a terrific event and the feedback has been wonderful!” Benjamin L. Shinewald, President and CEO, BOMA Canada
Many see art and business as being poles apart, however we never adopted this view. More than ever, we firmly believe that within all endeavour beats the heart of humanity. Although specifics may differ, trials and triumphs in all things have much in common. This conviction has proved as successful in art as in team projects. In these sessions, we will share some hands-on team-building ideas from the creative world and also draw from our own journey in business, engineering and art. Whether you are heading into a business planning session, heading back to the office with new projects, have deadlines and challenges or are looking to invigorate your creative approaches, this could be for you!
We are strong advocates of journeying into creativity. The approaches are many. We believe that Art is an intrinsic part of life and that creativity is everywhere human beings exist: we wear art, we drive it, surround ourselves with it and even eat art. Perhaps more importantly, creativity can boost the soft skills that are increasingly essential in today´s business environment.
“Teams thrive on it, innovation thirsts for it: it’s the only reliable passport to new markets. In times of change and global upheaval, Creativity is THE competitive edge.” David Kearn
Let us inspire and enhance your events with a creative component, boosting success through motivational guidance in art demonstrations and creativity workshops. Themes are tailored to both venue and business.
Contact us, we’d love to discuss your next planning session!
David’s Creativity
Contact David: david@davidkearn.com
Phone: 613 620 6737
France’s Creativity
Contact France: france@davidkearn.com
Phone: 613 620 6737
SAMPLE EVENTS:
Fostering Teamwork through Creativity
This one hour session kicks off with some up-beat, encouraging remarks as well as a participative exercise – getting into a creative mood can be intimidating for some. This is followed by keynote ideas that convey novel approaches and views for the session. Participants are then coached through a group exercise, forming the majority of the session. Each session concludes with a wrap-up, sharing of work and importantly, some take-away ideas. Participants are encouraged to follow-up on their results and we are pleased to keep in touch and help in this process.
Plein-air Painting and Sketching around Wakefield
Get ready with plenty of crimson to paint the famous covered bridge, powder tones for the colourful village and greens galore to capture nature’s visual harmonics – without forgetting those cool, deep blues for the mighty Gatineau river. We’re pleased to offer plein-air painting/sketching at scenic locations around this charming village. Each session will include a short demonstration of how David approaches plein-air work, with practical ideas for the complete beginner and practiced artist alike. Each location is relatively bug free, offers some good shade and conveniences are nearby.
This 2-hour session starts with an art demonstration, explanations on materials and fielding creative ideas for the session. Participants then re-locate to their chosen scenic spot around Wakefield village (walking or by car) and are then coached through their creative experience, with this comprising the major part of the session. Each session concludes with a wrap-up, sharing of artwork and importantly, some key take-away ideas. Participants are are encouraged to continue their art and we are pleased to keep in touch and help in this process.
Getting Creative with Tom Thomson and his West Wind
Tom Thomson directly influences our lives with his iconic Canadian paintings. He was a major innovator in the movement which later became the Group of Seven. Thomson died under mysterious circumstances, before the Group of Seven was formed, and this only adds to his mystique. Explore the romance of Canadian landscape motifs with Tom Thomson as your inspiration.
In this half-day session, David will be demonstrating key aspects throughout and participants will be able to create an acrylic painting from scratch: individual coaching will be provided. Participants will interpret Tom Thomson’s paint sketch for the West Wind, experiencing the power that image-making brings to the world, regardless of project specifics.
Impressionism and New Horizons
Impressionism, perhaps more than any other movement, has changed the course of art. The impact of a radical departure in use of colour, subjects and methods of painting, often “en plein air”, still resonates with us today. Impressionists rejected traditional approaches to painting and looked at the effects of light and also nature itself. In this workshop, we will take our inspiration from the great painters who formed Impressionism and generations that followed in their footsteps, in Canada as well as Europe.
In this full-day workshop, we introduce key painting concepts and creative methods as well as motivational exercises to cement these approaches. There will also be an innovative group project where participants experience the magic of team creativity in another vein.
Getting into your Creative Zone – On-line!
We can all make our way to that creative zone, a place free of fear and worry, where teamwork thrives. The effort consists of allowing ourselves to make an investment of life energy before getting that gut feeling to harness the flow. Simply beginning the work is often key. That could be merely doodling on the back of an envelope. When we start to create, the day to day world drops away and we enter our creative zone.
Visual images are at the core of visual art. Being intrigued, delighted, disturbed or influenced, directly or indirectly, points the way to deeper levels of seeing and feeling. Relating to patterns, colours and textures energizes our creative processes. This is what we remember, and as specifics fade, newly established relationships linger and influence.
In this one-hour on-line webinar, we take an indirect approach to getting there, starting with something seemingly inconsequential. Encouraged, participants develop a new artwork together using a combination of readily available, in-studio materials and on-line tools.
Meeting Facilitation
Both David and France have extensive experience in private and public sectors including meeting management, facilitation and follow-up reviews.
France has worked in both public and private sectors in administration, editing, proofreading and translation. She is a consummate empathetic, trilingual communicator in French, English and Spanish. France also has extensive organizational skills. She has scheduled and managed programs for a wide diversity of clients including working across artistic, academic, government and private sectors. Her internet research, web content, copy editing and translation skills are continually in demand.
David had a successful career in Aerospace and Information Technology. He was awarded the Royal Aeronautical Society Prize for his undergraduate studies and continues his association with the engineering profession as a Chartered Engineer. He has successfully managed major public and private sector projects, conducted military and civilian aircraft certification programs and achieved ISO 9000 accreditation in addition to being a team member on a number international organizational restructuring initiatives.
Sessions will be customized to the aims of each group and we typically contact a customer prior to the event in order to orient and plan the session. Let us know if you need any additional information – we would happy to discuss any related ideas you might have.
OUR PARTNERS
Our corporate program is energized by the participation and contribution of:
