Art and Soul and other Stuff

By Paula Simchak, SicolaMartin
What makes great art? Some might say talent. Others might say vision. And quite a few might suggest an unhealthy reliance on illegal substances.

But at SicolaMartin, we found out that great art often begins with nothing more than a smock, a smile, and a totally un-billable hour.

Recently, we were faced with the challenge of adding a little visual pizzazz to our hallowed hall and lobby. And rather than buy some expensive, hoity-toity artwork, we turned to our own abundance of creative types—and not just in the creative department. From finance to IT, HR to production, and everyone in between, the entire agency was politely—yet firmly—encouraged to participate in SicolaMartin Art Day.

So, what happens when you hand folks a canvas, some paint, and a few brushes? Voila! Account executives become designers. Writers become Art Directors. Illustrators become…well…illustrators.

We surprised each other with our talents. We surprised each other with our lack of talents. We surprised ourselves with how difficult it is to just let your imagination flow.

I, personally, stared at my blank canvas and thought, “How hard can it be? Art directors aren’t the only ones around here who can bring visual ideas to life. Hah! You just imagine something, pencil sketch it, color it in, and you’re done. Easy breezy.”

Did I mention that I’m a copywriter?

Roughly an hour and many evil thoughts later, I stared at my completed piece and thought, “Damn, this is terrible. I suck. There’s no way I’m letting them hang this on the wall. My boss is going to see it, re-think my salary and fire my ass on the spot.”

And then I looked around. With relief, I realized that Fugly (my masterpiece), fit right in quite nicely with Free Smells, Donuts Matisse, Bob’s Happy Trees, and the other random assortment of experiments in color, style, and what happens when you hold a paintbrush between your toes.

So, next time you’re passing through the SicolaMartin lobby, be sure to take a look. Or check them out online. We’re rather proud of our collection. Because, after all, in the words of American expressionist Jean Michel Basquiat, “Believe it or not, I can actually draw.”