Diane Durand

Safari Greetings

2012-02-12T08:34:00.000-08:00

Peter, his mother and our daughter, Lillian have been gone to Africa for almost two weeks. They will be coming home soon.

We wanted to send them a little a taste of home and our adventures here. Lucy has been doing a lot of "Ninja Training" and wanted to show off her skills.

We also wanted to send a special greeting to them for when the return from the Safari. We are so excited they will be home soon!! We sure have missed them.

ASTD Awards

2012-01-20T11:55:00.001-08:00

I am delighted to share with you that Alphachimp Studio received an award last night from the ASTD (American Society of Training and Development) Middle Tennessee Chapter for Technology.

We were nominated by one of our students, Erin Evans. Peter and I were truly blown away that we won and took the stage with our Rockstar Scribe sign and hula hoop to "perform" our acceptance speech.

(Thanks to Hooprama who taught our entire team how to hula hoop last week.)

It was just one year ago that we thought, "Why don't make an online course?"

Within six months, we launched "How to Become a Rockstar Scribe at School or Work!" Then in October, we began our second course "That Creative Space." We have had over 250 students from around the world sign up and take our classes.

In 2012, we are busy preparing more Creative Learning Systems around the topics of parenting, creativity and visual modeling.

I want to send our a huge THANK YOU to Erin and all you ROCKSTARS, and the entire Alphachimp Team who supports our creative online learning curriculum - Meg, Pat, Perrin, Daniel, Morton, Clay, Marc, Heather, Launa, Becky, Diana, Rachael & Rachael (yes there are two of them) and most of all Peter and our daughters Lillian & Lucy!

Rock On!

Diane

Preparing For ASTD Awards

2012-01-20T11:45:00.000-08:00

Peter and I were nominated by a Rockstar Student for the Golden Torch Awards for the ASTD Middle Tennessee Chapter.

Here are some of shots of us getting ready for the "Red Carpet" Affair.

Rock On!

Diane

Picking out a Dress by sending Photos to my "Fashion Advisor".

(Every Rockstar needs at least two - Thanks Allison & Perrin)

The invitation said "Red Carpet"...what does that mean? We are in Nashville.

All Dressed Up and Somewhere to go... The ASTD - Golden Torch Awards

Hubba. Hubba.

A lesson we were taught many years ago by Matt & Gail Taylor

Find the "And"

Alphachimp Team Building Session

2012-01-20T11:35:00.001-08:00

Alphachimp Studio has seen a lot of growth this last year. Our small agile core team of four has more than doubled to ten Alphachimps! We now have three service lines with three different project managers and are growing at a rapid rate and even eyeing the studio next door already after having outgrown our last space in just six months.

So last week we called in all the Chimps to Nashville Tennessee for our first "All Hands" meeting. Can you believe over 50% of our team members had never even met each other in person?

Over a day and half we dreamed, designed and played as a team to build amazing plans for 2012!

Here are some pics from the day together!

Rock On!

Diane

Ramping Up for Module 01

2011-05-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

We are working hard in the Studio this week scheduling calls and talking to all the
students who have registered for Alphachimp University's first course,

"How to Become a Rockstar Scribe at School or Work."

Thank you for all the great response!!

In preparation for the launch, we are taking input from the answers we have heard from you and processing them with a real-time workshop we are hosting in our studio for some local students.

We started our morning with a great "Welcome Wall" created by Lillian, age 7.

Here are four new students to Alphachimp University and their first assignment.
(And yes, one student is our very own daughter Lillian.)

Below are the drawings they made for their first exercise.

Lillian did research to create a visual to share with her team members
about what she learned about Ed Emberley.

After debriefing their lessons, they begin to write a summary of their lesson.

You still have time to sign up for

"How to Become a Rockstar Scribe at School or Work"

and save $200!!

www.learntoscribe.com

Thank You Neuland!!

2011-05-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready for the launch of Alphahcimp Univesity's first course, "How to Become a Rockstar Scribe at School or Work". As part of our launch we are ordered five sets of Neuland Markers to give away.

We then asked if they would be willing to send us anything for our launch to give to our students. As a result of their generosity, we have an entire Neuland product area of gifts ready for our second course that will be launching this Summer...

Neuland offers a complete range of seminar and training materials – from high-quality markers to pinboards. All Neuland products are designed, manufactured and continuously improved at their own factory premises.

Their product know-how makes them one of the leading educational material suppliers in Germany.

I hope to make them a huge supplier to the WORLD!! Their products are AMAZING!!!

Check them out!!

http://www.neuland-world.com

Moving On Up...

2011-05-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Alphachimp has moved...

We have a beautiful new office with three work areas for:

- Animation

- Training

- Production

New York - Time Lapse Video

2011-05-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

Peter and I traveled to New York City last week for a

"Doodles In Motion" - Time Lapse Video

We filmed in the Silve Cup Studios which is where 30 Rock is filmed.

I was told that Tina Fey was in the building. OMG!

We watched a wrestling match in Times Square.

So many good shows on Broadway.

Peter looking good.

Diane feeling good. It was so incredible to be in New York again.

Here we are at the studio. We shot 5 hours of video in two days for a 3 minute animation.

Peter on the monitor.

The director and the client watching Peter on the Monitor.

In the shadows calling all the shots!

For our album cover!!

Illustrations for New Book!

2010-08-31T07:53:00.000-07:00

I sent the final illustrations yesterday for third book to go to press this year. This book is for Jane Nelsen of Positive Discipline (www.positivediscipline.com/) titled, "Positive Discipline for Children with Special Needs." It will be on the shelves March 2011!!! Thank you universe for amazing opportunities to draw and doodle for children!!

Below is one illustration from a series of three on sharing.

I named the little girls Lynn and Dee.

Lift Up Nashville!!

2010-05-17T08:31:00.001-07:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Several artists in Nashville have come together to design posters for the "Lift Up Nashville" website to raise money to rebuild Nashville!! I was fortunate enough to be chosen as one of the artists. All the posters are awesome.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

http://liftupnashville.com/

On May 1st, 2010... Storms rolled into Middle Tennessee that would bring over 20 inches of rain in some areas in just 2 days. The Cumberland River would rise over 51 feet, it's highest in over 80 years. The devastation is nearly immeasureable and early estimates are already at $1.5 Billion Dollars and climbing. So much has been said about the floods in Nashville and many people are taking action. This is my personal offering to those who would contribute to the victims of the flood. All proceeds will go directly to Flood Relief - Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund.

Positive Discipline with Jane Nelsen

2010-04-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

I am so amazed that I had a chance to work and train with Jane Nelsen. We have been working together for a few months and this was our first time to meet.

I look forward to working with her on all the projects we came up with together.

Wonderful Fiber Art in Knoxville, TN

2010-04-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

We went to the Museum of Art in Nashville and saw Anne Wilson and installation "Wind/Rewind". Here are some of my photos from the visit.

Positive Discipline Lessons

2010-03-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

I am very grateful to be working on some more Illustrations for Jane Nelsen the author of the very wonderful parenting movement called, "Positive Discipline".

Together we are creating very fun and engaging lessons for parents, teachers and trainers.

Check out her site: //www.positivediscipline.com/

In the Studio - January 11, 2010

2010-01-11T12:21:00.001-08:00

The Illustrations for "My Brother Has Autism by: Aisha Pope" are complete!!

Yahoo! It has been an amazing learning experience. I have attached two of my favorites.

This week in the Studio - Illustration Work

2009-12-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

This week I am very excited to be working on some illustrations for a children's book. I will talk more about the book when it is published. Here are a few photos of my work for this project.

This is the family.

Here I am at my desk surrounded by inspiration shots taped to the window.

All the colors nice and neat and ready to go.

My desk with in full action.

I love my life. I get to color as a grown up!!

Diane Doodles with Jane Nelson for Positive Discipline

2009-11-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

I have had a wonderful time doodling for Jane Nelson author of "Positive Discipline".

Creating Respectful

Relationships in Homes and Schools

http://www.positivediscipline.com/

Jane saw some drawings I did in a class I took on the topic at my daughter's school. She was very excited about my work and asked me to create some original images for a brochure.

We are also collaborating on two children's book, online courses, website images and more.

I will keep you posted as they go to press.

Here are just a couple of the drawings I created for her.

(Positive Discipline Toolbox)

(Encouraged Child)

(Connection)

(Belonging)

Talking about Visual Learning

2009-10-29T09:44:00.001-07:00

Just spent part of my morning with a group of middle schoolers talking about what it means to be a visual learner. I had a blast talking about graphic facilitation, journaling and quilting and how I use all of them to express myself.

They were awesome and had a chance to draw too!!

I took with me a "Magic Mary Poppins" bag of stuff.