Reflections, lessons, and an invitation to collaborate in '26
Reflections, lessons, and an invitation to collaborate in '26

Reflections, lessons, and an invitation to collaborate in '26

About Julia
Dear Friend,

This year was a time for looking inward and reflecting on my practice. I wrote a couple of blog posts, one on self-awareness and another on staying present – and what happens when I let my biases sneak in while I'm working, or if I lose my focus while capturing fast-paced conversations. I hope you'll take a moment for a quick read. 

Planning for next year is already underway, and I’d love to be part of what you’re building in 2026 through visual note-taking. Are you hosting a training, summit, or leadership meeting? A conference, lunch n’ learn, strategy session, town hall, or fundraising dinner? Need an animated video, or a custom-drawn illustration? If so, let’s connect for a quick brainstorm. I’d be glad to explore how hand-drawn visuals might help participants engage more deeply with your mission and story.

While I can’t share everything I work on, I’ve included a few favorite projects and clients from the past year below. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support organizations that are actively strengthening their communities, and for the chance to listen closely, then translate complex, meaningful work into visuals that help more people see themselves in the story.

Wishing you a healthy, happy, and hopeful New Year,
Julia
Meeting participant pointing to a hand-drawn visual note during a facilitated discussion
What do Land Trusts do? and how does the Land Trust Alliance help? poster
Visual practitioner listening closely while creating hand-drawn notes during a live presentation
animated whiteboard explainer videos shares the journey of renovating a church’s parsonage into a Latino cultural community center
  • I captured visual notes at a Vision Zero traffic safety training in Indiana, where community leaders built skills in advocacy, data analysis, and action planning (photo by Margaret Barawkas)
  • Visual note-taking from the Rally 2025 Land & Water Summit, capturing conversations on land trusts, conservation, and community legacy
  • Scribing live takes intense concentration in order to listen deeply and draw quickly. But the most difficult skill of all may be the ability to smile a little when the event photographer passes by ;-)
  • Discover how a neglected church parsonage became a thriving community center that celebrates and preserves Latino culture in this animated video
Julia Reich of Stone Soup Creative is a graphic recorder, illustrator, and animator. 

Learn more about Julia and Stone Soup.

Want to explore working together? Let's talk!
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