Positive thinking is amazing!!! We now have 4 wonderful and talented people working in the Studio, great commissions all over North America with incredible clients and many opportunities to create Sculptures and settings that involve many types of materials ultimately being placed in places that are designed for people to be in!

 Our Studio has grown over the last year with the addition of 4 new compounds areas to accommodate tools and equipment, Sculpture component storage and a place for our new wire saw. With so many large scale commissions this year we decided to expand the main Studio with an addition. The New structure is attached to the Diamond Saw side of the Studio doubling our current studio space. The white fabric roof structure serves as our layout space where we prepare raw material for the Sculpture creation process as well as a finishing / Sculpture assembly area. The space is full of light due to the Fabric style roof and unobstructed due to the shelter type construction.

Many thanks to Ed French Contracting and his team of professionals for pulling this construction project together quickly for us.

 In my mind the definition of “Design Thinker” has to do with the ability to creatively think through a concept or idea by:

~Utilizing all your past experiences in life

~Understanding people and their needs (through various first hand personal interactions and travel). Travel opens the mind to accepting people for who they are as well as opening our eyes to different societal accepted concepts and beliefs

~Diagnosing the root of a concept or idea through observation, listening (reading between the lines), intuition and understanding of human psychology

~Engineering the logistics and sequential steps a concept or idea in your mind quickly through to the end result and then working it backwards to determine its viability  

~Resisting societal influence and preconceived points of failure in your thought process

~Engaging the child like, limitless thinking process that we were born with

~Making the process fun

~Genuinely caring about what it is you are doing

~Surrounding your self with positive people who love what they do in life. They are the ones you ideate with and consider their opinions

~Creating a work / home environment that both relaxes and inspires you at the same time. Both of these worlds must resonate with who you are. You need this in order to tap deep into your creative / logical brain 

This way of thinking creates positive, quick and out of the box solutions to any concept you apply it to.  It does not require a boardroom full of people, only a select few similar minded individuals.  Whether designing a sculpture for a client, creating a master plan for a public park, deciding to create a business that blows up blue jeans with dynamite as a clothing line or creating a business plan for a company, Design Thinking works every time.

We have adopted this term in our Studio as a way of operating in all we do. As with all things in life, when you identify a direction you want to move to, give it a name or identity and believe in it with the proper intent, you will find yourself there instantly.

 ~ Walt

One of the secrets to success is to surround yourself with positive energy, people who enrich your life and who are moving in a direction that enriches their own.

About two months ago I embarked on a journey to find a person who had these qualities and the background to fill the position of Studio Business Coordinator in our company. I engaged the creative professional services of a great friend and business advisor, David Yen from Cleveland Ohio. We spent a few weeks reviewing applications and conducting interviews. One applicant’s great energy, zest for life and diverse business skills made our choice easy.

I am thrilled to announce that Lindsay Warneford is now part of our creative world. By implementing specialised changes within our office and studio, she has given us the freedom, confidence and professional business procedures that will ensure our commitment to enriching people’s lives through greater levels of creativity.

 It has been inspiring for me to witness Lindsay take ownership of her new role with the same spirit, passion and dedication that we value as a team.

Walt Rickli Studios is exited to be part of the Nemo 7G, Mount Nemo day happening on May 29, 2011. Our Studio and Interactive Sculpture Garden will be open to the public from 1pm to 4pm that day.

 Walt and his team of creative’s will be in the Studio to show you sculptures in progress, completed works of art and provide information on our creation, carving processes and equipment.

 Our Interactive Sculpture Garden in Lowville will be open, as always, for you to wander through the manicured gardens and enjoy the sculptures.

 For directions and more information regarding Mount Nemo Day please visit www.nemo7G.org

 We are all looking forward to sharing our special world with you.

 Thursday April 21, 2011

 An opportunity has opened up in our world for a new Business Coordinator; we are looking forward to receiving applications that will allow us to select the perfect person to join us in a wonderful adventure in creating meaningful sculptures and places to be for people.

 Sculpture Studio Business Coordinator

We are excited to have an experienced, meticulous and creative person with a very positive / fun attitude to manage our office / operational and promotional activities. This full time position in our fast-paced professional artist’s sculpture studio will require you to take charge of managing all office systems, contract preparation and invoicing, creative research, client management, collaboration on promotional activities, pursuing random business adventures and being part of all the enriching opportunities the come our way.

 A personal fit with our team of creative’s, artists and sculptors is very important to us in continuing to create a fun, challenging, and rewarding work experience.

 We are located in North Burlington requiring you to have your own transportation. This position is available immediately.

 To be considered for this opportunity, please email your resume and any other pertinent information to tammy@waltrickli.com . You must enter Sculpture Studio Business Coordinator in the subject line to ensure receipt. We ask that you respect our process, no phone calls or Studio visits please.

    Position Responsibilities

 Office Management

×   Maintain, create and implement as required office databases including      filing of all computer and hard copy of materials, photos, correspondence and confidential client contacts

×   Prepare and manage all accounts payable and receivable, prepare and deliver banking deposits, bank reconciliation and co-ordinate with bookkeeper to reconcile all accounts

×   Prepare, modify and manage contracts and agreements

×   Create and present monthly inner office business reviews

×   An intermediate working knowledge and experience in; QuickBooks, Outlook, Word and Excel is required

×   Plan and schedule daily, monthly and annual business calendars.

×   Prepare, answer and record all general inquiries and correspondence

×   Act as liaison between artist and contracted service providers

×   Initiate, analyze and present opportunities to optimize business processes and resources

×   Manage promotional photography and digital documentation of sculpture creation

×   Create presentation material for clients and prospective clients. An intermediate knowledge of PowerPoint and Photoshop is required

×   Assist in intermediate IT functions, setting up emails, IPhone, wifi, printers etc. and work with IT in the implementation of new programs and systems as required

×   Creative research (internet and other)

×   Maintain and organize remote office

×   Maintain office and studio inventories; prepare, place and pick up orders from suppliers

×   Clean and organize office spaces

 Promotional / Marketing / Entrepreneurial Initiatives

×   Input into the creation of marketing materials and promotional strategies in various media forms.

×   Create newsletters, brochures and Social Media (Facebook, Linked in, Twitter and Web site) weekly updates (creative writing skills will be required)

×   Facilitate networking opportunities to expand and develop business

×   Co-ordinate projects with printer, photographer, publicist and web designer.

×   Represent artist at public functions and professional events.

×   Investigate, analyze and plan opportunities to initiate parallel businesses.

×   Assist with planning and promoting of functions and events in sculpture garden and river property

TED stands for Technology Entertainment and Design. It’s a large collection of short (18 minutes or less) videos from some of the greatest Thinkers/Creative’s in the world, talking about their dreams, passions and thoughts.

 You can find them on www.youtube.com under TED talks or by visiting www.ted.com/talks

 Here is a list of some of my favourites:

 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jessica_jackley_poverty_money_and_love.html

 Powerful and moving! A perfect example of how one person can change the world.

 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

 Everyone should watch this one!!!

 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.html

 A positive twist on something I never thought could be this powerful

 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/adora_svitak.html

 Inspiring!

 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/sheryl_sandberg_why_we_have_too_few_women_leaders.html

 Makes you think!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo

Great use of Graphics

 Hoping they enrich your world!

 Walt

The weather in Southwestern Ontario has been incredible over the last few days; coming up on November and we are walking around the shop in t-shirts!
Could this be the reason for the recent urge to clean out and re-organize the entire carving studio?! Perhaps.

The boys have been super busy with a recent stone acquisition and are now focusing their attention on the shop while they have a few days of  ‘down time’.

Walt & Steve hard at work

During the stone acquisition we also obtained some large storage containers.

Exterior and East Wing Renovations

These containers are now serving as the East Wing and exterior storage units of the shop.

With all of our new commissions happening it was not only time to expand but it was very necessary.

Once the ‘renovations’ in the shop are complete I fully plan on pushing for the addition to my office- complete with fully functional spa, hot tub and of course a full serve ice cream bar. I’ll keep you posted on that progress

As an addition to one of our ‘Secret’ projects we recently obtained a large log which will be incorporated into the project.
This is no ordinary log; weighing in around 10,000 lbs this log will be transformed into an interactive focal point to be enjoyed by friends of all ages.

A big thank you to everyone who came out to support Burlington’s first Doors Open Event.
We had over 300 people tour both the Sculpture Garden as well as the Carving Studio- despite the rain!

For those who weren’t able to make it, we introduced a few new pieces to our Sculpture Garden-

The Big 'O'Howling Stone

Howling Stone