My <B>log

As a creative director, I have a business interest
in living in a world where imagination, compassion,
curiosity, and laughter — bold caps — FLOURISH.

And so, XtraBold. Word by word, that world.

Rob Kell headline, How to make original habitual
Rob Kell headline, How to make original habitual

Know, know, a million times, know

Rob Kell headline, How to make original habitual
Rob Kell, How to make original habitual
Rob Kell, How to make original habitual

The care and feeding of curiosity

I think therefore I am a sponge

It’s not easy to get up every morning and be creative.
But it’s a piece of cake to be curious.

And curiosity — unquestionably — is creativity’s muse.
That said, let’s replace the notion of imagination as magical
with a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-dig methodical.

Original ideas are the discoveries of human truffle hogs.
You know where to look because you’ve learned what to ask.

I happen to be a devotee of the Three Everythings —
read everything, listen to everything, write everything down.

The more we accumulate knowledge, the better
we communicate understanding. Originally. Habitually.

24 October 2022

The Care & Feeding of Curiosity

I think therefore I am a sponge

It’s not easy to get up every morning and be creative.
But it’s a piece of cake to be curious.

And curiosity — unquestionably — is creativity’s muse.
That said, let’s replace the notion of imagination as magical
with a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-dig methodical.

Original ideas are the discoveries of human truffle hogs.
You know where to look because you’ve learned what to ask.

I happen to be a devotee of the Three Everythings —
read everything, listen to everything, write everything down.

The more we accumulate knowledge, the better
we communicate understanding. Originally. Habitually.

Rob Kell, How to make original habitual
Rob Kell, How to make original habitual

24 October 2022
Jackie, Unite Us
Jackie, Unite Us
If you’re keeping score: Robinson, 42, Sac

It was one thing to be a five-tool player.
And quite another to field three additional requests:
Exemplify grace. Summon restraint.
Personify hope.
His record reflects five pennants, one world series title,
a batting crown, an MVP, and he’s the all-time leader
in a heretofore unrecorded category: sacrifice.

A Hall of Fame of One

His .313 career average held open the doors to Cooperstown.
Though on a more, say, ascendant playing field
where kindness and compassion are the statistical measure,
the gates, for him, were already open. And draped in bunting.
Per Moonlight Graham: “Hey, there’s Smoky Joe Wood,
and Mel Ott, and Gil Hodges.” Per a benevolent God:
“There’s Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige, and Buck O’Neil.”
All of whom are likely in eternal agreement —
on human decency’s lineup card, Jackie Robinson bats first.

Jackie Robinson, smiling and waving

15 April 2022
A Hall of Fame of One

His .313 career average held open the doors to Cooperstown.
Though on a more, say, ascendant playing field
where kindness and compassion are the statistical measure,
the gates, for him, were already open. And draped in bunting.
Per Moonlight Graham: “Hey, there’s Smoky Joe Wood,
and Mel Ott, and Gil Hodges.” Per a benevolent God:
“There’s Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige, and Buck O’Neil.”
All of whom are likely in eternal agreement —
on human decency’s lineup card, Jackie Robinson bats first.

Jackie Robinson, smiling and waving

15 April 2022
If you’re keeping score: Robinson, 42, Sac

It was one thing to be a five-tool player.
And quite another to field three additional requests:
Exemplify grace. Summon restraint.
Personify hope.
His record reflects five pennants, one world series title,
a batting crown, an MVP, and he’s the all-time leader
in a heretofore unrecorded category: sacrifice.

The hero’s hero

“Jackie Robinson made my success possible. Without him, I would never have been able to do what I did.”
—  Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  —

“Jackie Robinson made my success possible.
Without him, I would never have been able to do what I did.”
—  Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  —

Mouse over the United Hover States
Define as strength, empathy. Ensure for all, equity. Honor as divine, democracy.
Define as strength, empathy. Ensure for all, equity. Honor as divine, democracy.

10 April 2022
Speaking truth to tragedy
Speaking truth to tragedy

The Obligation of Expression

Words that help and words that
heal, respectfully, echo.

Let’s flag this relevant — as hate
has now a market and minions and
threatens from decency a heartless,
amoral descent.

Short a manufacturing protocol
for silver linings and miracles, we must
instead make commitments.

To kindness and tenderness.

United.

And relentless.

Speaking truth — with the
empathy to acknowledge pain and
the optimism to articulate hope.

10 April 2022
Moonrise, headline
Moonrise, Arnold Newman
Arnold Newman, headline

The Photographer

The Model

The Story

03 March 2022 — In honor of what would have been Mr. Newman’s 104th birthday  /  Image: Flickr

03 March 2022 — In honor of what would have been Mr. Newman’s 104th birthday  /  Image: Flickr

03 March 2022 — In honor of what would have
been Mr. Newman’s 104th birthday  /  Image: Flickr
My creative measure: equal parts goodness and badass
If you look at it just right, you can see a reflection of your goodness

Maybe it’s that I’m a pacifist,
but I believe in ideas that are — in an instant —
disarming.
From: heart. To: soul. With: respect.

28 February 2022  /  Photo of one of my Goodness posters: Church and States
My creative measure: equal parts goodness and badass
If you look at it just right, you can see a reflection of your goodness

Maybe it’s that I’m a pacifist,
but I believe in ideas that are — in an instant —
disarming.
From: heart. To: soul. With: respect.

28 February 2022  /  Photo of one of my Goodness posters: Church and States
Via Tumblr
Via Hilarious Gifs
Follow That Bus
Follow That Bus

04 February 2022 — to the legacy of Rosa Parks   /   Amanda Gorman:  Carlos M. Vazquez II, Flickr   /   Rosa Parks:  Wikimedia Commons

04 February 2022   —   to the legacy of Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks:  Wikimedia Commons
Amanda Gorman:  Carlos M. Vazquez II, Flickr
The Word of The Lord is Melody

01 February 2022
Jackson Pollock, 101

28 January 2022   /   Pollock: via ImgFave   /   Dalmations: via Pinterest
He spoke of mutuality and commonality and yet for eternity he speaks without equal
He spoke of mutuality and commonality and yet for eternity he speaks without equal

Shouldn’t one’s North Star reflect a higher being?
In my lifetime, I haven’t knowledge of any human
as eloquent, compassionate, and courageous as Dr. King.
And at this moment, when so many look down,
speak down, deny, and divide, I encourage you to look up.
And listen. And elevate this day.
As his life was nothing less than our gift.

15 January 2022
For him, peace and love genuflect
For him, peace and love genuflect

Shouldn’t one’s North Star reflect a higher being?
In my lifetime, I haven’t knowledge of any human
as eloquent, compassionate, and courageous as Dr. King.
And at this moment, when so many look down,
speak down, deny, and divide, I encourage you to look up.
And listen. And elevate this day.
As his life was nothing less than our gift.

15 January 2022
May the reverend doctor forever resonate
May the reverend doctor forever resonate

26 October 1967 / Philadelphia, PA

Blueprint.
“In your life’s blueprint must be a
commitment to the eternal principles
of beauty, love, and justice.
Don’t allow anybody to pull you
so low as to make you hate them.”

14 April 1967 / Stanford University

The Other America.
There is such wisdom in these 47 minutes —
ascending to the optimism of these 10 seconds:
“That will be the day when
the morning stars will sing together and
the sons of God will shout for joy.”

8 May 1967 / Atlanta, GA

After Civil Rights: Black Power.
“It seems to me that integration,
at its best, is the opportunity to
participate in the beauty of diversity.”

31 March 1968 / Washington, D.C.

The Last Sunday Sermon.
“Cowardice asks the question: is it
expedient? And then expedience comes
along and asks the question: is it politic?
Vanity asks the question: is it popular?
Conscience asks the question: is it right?”

Rob Kell headline, Arm in unarmed arm
Martin Luther King, nonviolence quote
Hallelujah
Half Full

01 January 2022   /   Hallelujah: Petr Spatina   /   Painting: Mircea Suciu
Find your inner merry
Find your inner merry

Happy holidays
—  Rob  —

25 December 2021   /   Image:  Kell, Dec 2000   /   Head: Kell, Dec 2021
Why don’t you get on your A and fly away

Allow me introduce you to Robbie Kell.

Age 5.

Affirmative — my inner child is a smartass.
And when he rolled down the car window to offer this
line to the Flying A attendant, little man set the bar.

That’s the crazy thing about this craft:  I work
every day to be as playful as I was — as a 5 year-old.

Let’s see how I’m doing   ▾

18 December 2021
Float like a butterfly
Sting like a bee

18 December 2021   /   Float:  via Giphy   /   Sting:  via Negro Modelo
Gene Krupa Teaches Brand Writing

Rhythm, focus, crescendo, and surprise.
All in 42 seconds.

18 December 2021
Favorite band, favorite song, favorite town, favorite weather, favorite Robert
Favorite band, favorite song, favorite town, favorite weather, favorite Robert

18 December 2021   /   Go right to the hellos:  04:57