BlACK SHEEP INSPIRATION

Quotes:

“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world, but then I thought, there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you.” – Frida Kahlo

“When we fear and distrust someone because they are different, we are actually fearing and distrusting ourselves.”
– John O’Donohue

We’ve all been taught that the black sheep is a deviation from acceptable standards and something to be avoided. Still, when you see it amongst a herd, its lack of conformity is what steals your breath and captures your attention.
-Demetra Brodsky

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.”
– Neil Gaiman

They laugh at me because I’m different; I laugh at them because they’re all the same.
-Kurt Cobain

“The black sheep is the one who changes the whole pattern, the whole momentum, of the family.”
– Penelope Lively

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
– Dr. Seuss

Children's Books:

There were several children's books that I found enlivening. Some of which brought tears to my eyes. Wanting to share one that stood out for me. I ended up purchasing the book and keep it on my shelf in my home office.

Beegu:

I came across a review of this book on The Marginalian. Alexis Deacon wrote this beautiful book about a "strange, sweet creature who landed on Earth where no one understood her."

My Story:

I perused many websites and did lots of reading. I felt obligated to make my site feel corporate. That inspires trust, right? Nah… I thought about my marketing experience & ’selling to the customer’, ‘converting sales leads to new clients’. While all of that is important, it felt empty and lifeless. The idea of the black sheep was exciting… But, also frightening.

I was afraid that I’d turn people off and away.

But, something shifted. As I was doing research I came across a few children’s books that spoke to the experience of the Black Sheep. Many of these stories - like Alexis Deacon’s “Beegu” (featured above) lit up my heart & brought tears to my eyes. This was alive for me. Alive in the same way that the best sessions with my clients are. I listened to this. The shift away from what ‘I thought I should do’ to what felt deeply and viscerally resonant was a practice of love, authenticity, & courage.

As a neurodivergent queer who came of age in a home impacted by mental illness & addiction - I learned to hide. ‘Courageous authenticity’ remains a practice. But, it feels good to be moving away from an experience of insulation toward the dimension of the black sheep archetype that calls for uniqueness & courageousness. This is what I hope to impart to my clients

Colors & Images:

Color Selection

Color is important on a website. I choose the below palette because the darkness and richness of the green represents the depth of the work. The brighter orange and yellow represent a spontaneity and aliveness while being "held" within the deeper green.

Images

In all honesty, I thought it would be a little weird to have a website filled up with sheep. For that reason, I thought about imagery that would represent the concept of the black sheep and subtly communicate this to prospective clients. I looked for images that featured 'one that stands out from the crowd'. The Ginkgo leaf was aesthetically pleasing. After selecting this image for my home page I learned that Ginkgo leaves symbolize hope, peace, and vitality across several cultures world-wide, especially in cultures throughout Asia.