Evolving Vision for the Essex Doodler's Guide

An evolving vision for a series of Essex Doodler's Guides (Credit: George Davis) — An evolving vision for a series of Essex Doodler’s Guides (Credit: George Davis)

The Doodler’s Guide to Essex, NY is… an evolving series of doodle-based guidebooks for Essex residents and visitors, a whimsical look at the lives, legends and landmarks of our fair village. And eventually a whole lot more! Think food, art, adventure… (www.essexny.us)

Doodling is not just the domain of dabblers, dilettantes and distracted schoolchildren. Doodling is the art of discovery and creativity and playfulness. Doodling is for brainstormers and barnstormer. Doodling is for you!

The doodler’s guide to Essex, NY aspires to inspire residents and visitors alike to be curious about our historic village on Lake Champlain; to be creative in their engagement with these handsome buildings, majestic landscapes, and fascinating people; and to be playful with our Essex lifestyle. Or something like that!

Doodler’s Guide Mission, Vision & Manifesto

Consider this section a work in progress. And – even more important – please consider yourself a collaborator. Help us map out the future for The Doodler’s Guide to Essex, NY so that we proceed intelligently, strategically toward a meaningful goal. For now we’re still brainstorming (barnstorming?) and hoping that our mission comes into focus. Soon. We’ll update you anon.

But for now, in broad strokes, the mission is to analyze hundreds of Essex blog posts (actually well over a thousand at this point) that we’ve published over the last couple of years to determine which content is most useful to, and sought after by, our audience. Next we’ll collect, revise and augment content into several thematically focused, illustrated (doodled) handbooks that will guide Essex, New York residents and visitors. And last but not least, we’ll publish these handbooks (print and digital books, maybe even a user friendly app one day!) and make them available to anyone who is interested. That’s the “rough draft” for our mission. Don’t hesitate to help us revise it.

As for our vision, there are a few guiding principles. Although we’re concerned with accuracy, we’re almost as concerned with accessibility. We want readers to enjoy the handbooks, and even more important, to immerse themselves in Essex in new and enjoyable ways through the handbooks. Think interactive. Think playful. Think fun! In short, our vision involves creating tools/toys that help people engage with Essex with exciting and enjoyable ways.

As for a manifesto, we’re still stuck on that one, but it sounds good. Or bellicose. Yes, perhaps bellicose. Maybe strike out the manifesto…

What’s Your Vision for the Doodler’s Guide?

Please help us share the Essex story through your own doodles. What’s your vision for The Doodler’s Guide to Essex, NY? Thank you.

How do you doodle, Essex? (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Summer Squash and Doodles (virtualdavis.com)
Doodlers Anonymous: The permanent home for spontaneous doodle art. (naomipelletier.typepad.com)
Discover Essex, NY! (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)

About Geo Davis

Geo Davis (aka virtualDavis) is a writer, storyteller and unabashed flâneur. He taught and coached at Santa Fe Preparatory School and The American School of Paris, co-founded Maison Margaux: "Paris à la parisienne" in Faubourg Saint-Germain, and owns Adobe Oasis in Santa Fe, NM with his bride.

Geo chronicles adventures (and misadventures) of rehabilitating an historic Essex home at Rosslyn Redux: Reawakening a home, a dream and ourselves; blogs about doodling and other esoterica at virtualDavis.com; posts sometimes unnerving, occasionally euphoric, and always pollyanna "midlife mashups" at 40x41.com; waxes nautical at Sailing Errant; and delves into matters of parenting, babylandia, and childfreedom at Why No Kids? He meanders on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, YouTube and Flickr.