When you think you've explored everything, remember not to overlook the small elements.

Usually, we focus on the big picture, but it's the tiny, often unnoticed details that can make the biggest difference in our visual thinking process.

Everything around us is composed of both large and small elements, and by paying attention to these smaller components, we can uncover new perspectives and connections.

Think about it: what if we zoomed in on a tiny detail, making it the centerpiece of our exploration?

By enlarging and magnifying it, we allow ourselves to see things in a new light, opening up possibilities that we might have missed at first glance.

The key here is the power of shapes and connections.

Visual thinking is about relating one thing to another, no matter how different they seem at first.

Once we recognize the underlying connection between shapes, we can find metaphors that relate to seemingly unrelated objects or concepts.

This approach opens up a world of creative...

Cages come in many forms: square or cylindrical. These two geometric shapes are particularly prevalent, appearing in countless objects around us, often unnoticed until we take a closer look.

When we sharpen our powers of observation, we can transform almost anything into a metaphorical cage.

Every object, idea, or structure has the potential to represent constraints.

The narratives you can build around the concept of a cage are truly limitless.

A cage can symbolize external pressures that mirror the constraints we feel internally, whether it’s a societal norm, a personal fear, or an unspoken rule.

Cages can evoke emotions that range from a sense of safety and protection to feelings of restriction or entrapment.

But here’s the most fascinating part: any image, no matter how ordinary, can serve as a container to "cage" a thought, a feeling, or a concept.

A birdcage can hold freedom, a jar can enclose chaos, or a fence might frame a fragile dream.

With the...

Here’s a fascinating example of the “out of context” technique, a creative approach that invites us to rethink what we expect to see.

The concept is straightforward yet powerful: take an element—be it a person, animal, or object—and place it in a setting where it doesn’t logically belong. This intentional disruption of context challenges our assumptions and sparks new interpretations.

Consider this: it’s normal to see a person inside a cell. But what if their actions defy expectations? What if they’re doing something that feels completely out of place?

This unexpected twist draws attention and makes us pause to think.

Here’s another scenario: imagine a swimmer.

Where do you see them?

Most of us picture them in a pool or perhaps an open sea. Now, place that same swimmer inside a cage. The disruption is surprising, even shocking, but it’s also interesting. It’s this very mix of ideas,...

One of the key techniques for creating metaphors is taking ordinary objects and using them in unexpected ways.

In this case, I’ve used a cage.

A cage is often associated with limitations and the deprivation of liberty.

But here’s the twist: by applying the "substitution" technique, I’ve added a new layer of meaning. Instead of simply presenting a cage,

I’ve replaced something people naturally expect to see int this scene: a backpack.

This shift changes the narrative.

Now, we’re not just talking about restriction but also about the burden or emotional weight this boy is carrying, symbolized by the tiny version of himself inside the cage.

When we understand the subtle meanings of everyday elements, we can craft metaphors that go beyond words, delivering symbolic messages and telling mini-stories.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

What Do Absurdity and Contrarian Thinking Have in Common?

Did you know that most of the techniques I use to create metaphors boil down to just two core concepts: Absurdity and Contrarian Thinking?

Let me explain:  Absurdity introduces disruption. It’s about replacing the expected with the unexpected.

Imagine altering or substituting the usual elements in a scene with something wildly out of context. It’s like surprising your audience with a creative twist that forces them to stop and engage.

Contrarian Thinking flips perspectives.

One way to do this is by swapping elements: placing one thing where another belongs, creating a surprising visual exchange.

Why does this work so well?

Because our brains are wired to notice the unusual.

These techniques capture attention and spark curiosity, inviting the audience to pause for a moment and make sense of the disruptive narrative.

Thank you

Dario Paniagua...

Here’s another tip for your #Inktober challenge:  

Remove!  What if, instead of showing what you want to depict, you don’t show it?  

This is called 'drawing attention through absence'.  

It may sound strange, but when we omit something people expect to see, we actually draw more attention.  And here is another tip:

You can add an extra layer of meaning by replacing that absence with something else.

In this case, you’re introducing two levels of disruption: the removal of an expected element (like a violin), and its replacement with something unexpected (a tongue).

Try this removal-and-replacement approach in your next #Inktober2024 drawing!  

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Here’s a new tip for the #Inktober challenge.

When you have to represent abstract concepts like "uncharted," the first step is to make the abstract tangible. Remember, people tend to remember and understand more easily what they can see and touch rather than purely abstract ideas.

The best way to make a concept tangible is to create a story around it.

Another tip that can help you create stories: explore unusual things. If you need to represent the concept of "uncharted," our first instinct is often to depict an uncharted territory. But what if you explored something else that's not necessarily a territory?

This ties back to one of the tips I’ve mentioned in earlier posts: explore the inside of objects or people, and then create stories around them!

As you can see, no matter how abstract the concept or how absurd the representation might seem, your visual storytelling will give meaning to the image you create.

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Here’s a new tip for the #Inktober challenge:

Explore the inside of things (objects, people, animals).

Anything with volume has an interior.

Imagine how you can explore it!

Can you play with its depth?

Can you alter its shape to increase capacity?

Can you place things inside?

Can you add people interacting in the newly created space?

Questions trigger ideas!

Don’t be afraid of the absurd. The absurd is the secret ingredient for telling a great story or creating a metaphorical message.

Try these tips in your next drawing for the #Inktober2024 challenge!

Thank you,
Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Here’s a new tip for your #Inktober challenge:

Everything can be transformed into a peak, a ridge, or a mountain.

Why?

Because any figure you draw is full of geometric shapes, and triangles, in particular, are one of the most fascinating forms to explore.

Triangles also bring dynamism to an image.

They can be used as arrowheads to direct your audience’s eyes toward the key parts of your drawing that you want to highlight.

Feel free to experiment with this shape in your next #Inktober2024 drawing!

Thank you,

Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach

Here’s a new tip for your #Inktober challenge:
Use geometric shapes!

Ask yourself this: Can I take part of an image and replace it with another object related to the message I want to communicate?

Geometric shapes can always be associated with another recognizable object that shares the same shape. This makes your images much more engaging for your audience.

Try using this technique in your next #Inktober2024 drawing!

Thank you,
Dario Paniagua
Visual Thinkers Coach