Moment Sketchers Project: Looking back before moving forward

“No army can withstand the strength of an idea whose time has come.”

― Victor Hugo

I’ll never forget when the idea behind our Moment Catchers sketching challenges first came to me, and it’s an idea I can even put a date to: December 16th, 2016. That afternoon, I met with two fellow artists in Montevideo named Vale and Sofi, who also founded the city’s CreativeMornings community. Vale and Sofi were interested in having me speak at their upcoming CreativeMornings event in February, whose theme was one close to my heart — Moments.

Naturally, I knew I wanted to share about my love for sketching, and the angle I’d been brainstorming was this: That just like a dreamcatcher (which has long been a favorite symbol of mine), my sketchbook helps me slow down, be present, and catch more little moments from my life. In fact, the first time I ever wrote “Moment Catchers” on paper, I did so in Spanish, writing ATRAPA MOMENTOS in big, bold letters at the top of a page in my new ‘notebook of ideas’:

Later that same night, I had a Skype call with my good friend and fellow storyteller, Mike Sowden, who for years has been one of my favorite people to scheme with about new ideas. As it was near the end of the year, we talked a lot about what projects we wanted to bring to life in 2017 — and that’s when Mike encouraged me to start some kind of initiative around sketching.

Being based in Uruguay, I knew that organizing meet-ups and in-person sketching workshops could prove tricky — but then I thought: Why not organize a virtual sketching event? One that could happen every month, no matter where I was in the world. Nearly the moment the idea surfaced, my mind raced back to my meeting with Vale and Sofi earlier that afternoon. As though I’d been planning it all along, the perfect name for such a sketching initiative was waiting for me.

And so it was, that on an unassuming Friday evening last December, Moment Catchers was born.

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I will forever be grateful for how the idea behind Moment Catchers came about, just as I will always be grateful for how it has grown throughout 2017. Never could I have imagined back in December that in just nine short months, we would consistently have 70+ artists taking part in our challenges every month, from more than 20 countries around the world. Even more importantly, I never expected a monthly sketching challenge to transform into an entire community dedicated to global connection.

Now, with just three months left in 2017 and only three challenges remaining (seriously, can someone tell me where the year has gone??), I want to take a moment and make one small but significant change to the project and our community.

When I chose the name Moment Catchers, I only thought I was naming the sketching challenge. As you might have seen on Instagram and Facebook, we aren’t the only ones using the #momentcatchers hashtag, and every now and then, a photo unrelated to our challenges will pop up. Then, while I was in the U.S. last month, I was doing some research into trademarks and discovered that a technology app called Moment Catcher actually trademarked the name back in 2012.

This discovery got me thinking — because as much as our community has grown, I’m also excited to see how it continues to grow. I’m excited that the single idea behind our challenges has continued to spur on more ideas for me — possibilities of sketching workshops and tours, online courses, and even sketching-related products (can’t you just picture tote bags and sketching supply bags featuring our signature dreamcatcher?) — but I wouldn’t want an existing trademark to hinder us in any way.

So to keep our community’s future open to all possibilities, I’ve decided to make a little change in our name and I’ll soon begin the process of trademarking it…

From Moment Catchers —

To Moment Sketchers!

Moment Sketchers project

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I was a little torn about when to introduce the new name — and I especially wondered if it would be better to wait until the end of the year. But I’ve got a few special ideas up my sleeve to celebrate our community over the next few months, and so I ultimately decided to introduce the name sooner rather than later. Even more than giving our community the unique name I feel it deserves, I also love how Moment Sketchers instantly conveys what we’re about, and I hope it’ll help us grow even more over time.

Please know that the new name doesn’t change anything, except the hashtag we’ll be using on social media — #momentsketchers (which I was delighted to see has never been used). I’ve already started tagging our Moment Sketchers updates and my own sketches with the hashtag, and I’ll be sure to remind us all again of the change closer to our October sketching challenge.

Thank you all for the love and support you’ve poured into our tribe this year! I can’t wait to see how our freshly-named Moment Sketchers family continues to grow.

*   *   *

What do you think of our new name, Moment Sketchers?
I hope you’re as excited about its many possibilities as I am 🙂

61 Comments

  • Love it! I think Moment Sketchers is more perfect than moment catchers! In a literal and figurative sense. As we heard and saw from so many last month (well this month I guess) many have to work hard to fit in their artwork. I think moment sketcher values the time and effort way more than moment catcher which, in comparison, to me feels like an instant which is simple and easy and then gone. Anyway good on you Candace 😀 As always thanks for organising us all-not an easy job. I am not sure if I am making sense. Well and truly bedtime for me here at the moment. Here’s to our new/old Moment Sketcher community 🥂🥂🥂🍾🍾🍾🎨🎨🎨

      • Night Victoria Definitely lovely news to read. Our little community is so wonderful to be part of. I wonder if Candace tried to post now so us Aussies wouldn’t be the first to see??? Just joking of course (🤣) I do always feel like we cheat a bit getting our art in a day ahead but I love that the first Monday of each month is spent looking at the rest of the world’s images not moaning about it being Monday. Anyway MUST sleep.

        • Yes, I think we have a little edge in getting our sketches out. I have once or twice left it to the Sunday and stressed when I did so. I learned my lesson! Like you, I sooooo love the Monday morning afterwards but I have to make sure I have time to look at them all. Night Amanda.

        • @disqus_YBPoggmcyv:disqus and @disqus_XUem1rwDQY:disqus, I can’t tell you how much I adored this little exchange between you two 🙂 I felt like we were even having some kind of virtual tea party, as I read through your lovely comments back and forth! Amanda, I especially love the point you made about how switching the name from Catchers to Sketchers truly honors the time and effort that goes into each sketch…that hadn’t occurred to me at all, but now it confirms the change even more for me, so thank you for that! Thank you both again, and know I’m sending great big hugs and virtual cups of tea to you both today–good morning from Montevideo! <3

  • It’s perfect Candace 🙂 Just as Amanda pointed out, it’s even more perfect than moment catchers which could be photos and other methods of capture. Your group is specifically targeted to sketchers so the name makes that more perfectly matched to the group!

    • Thank you so much, Karla! You truly hit the nail on the head 🙂 As soon as the idea of the new Moment Sketchers name came to me, I had the very same thought–that it not only sets us apart, but really defines what we’re about. I’m glad the same thing occurred to you, too! <3

  • I think the name change is a great idea, Candace. It is a bit confusing with the other MomentCatchers out there and Sketchers is just perfect for us. Can’t wait to hear what you have in store for us Candace!!
    Well over my bedtime now so goodnight to you, Candace and José and all our talented community. It is my first day back at work after 8 weeks off but only 2 days a week for awhile so still have a lot of time for sketching!

    • Hello, dear Victoria! First of all, please know I am wishing you a great first day back at work–I hope these past two months of healing and recuperating have gone so well for you (both body and soul!). I am also so happy to hear you love the name change–at the beginning, the other existing Moment Catchers out there didn’t seem like too big of a conflict since we were just a monthly challenge, but as our community has kept growing, it’s felt more and more important to give us a name we can truly (and legally!) call our own 🙂 Thank you as always for your wonderful support, and I’ll be thinking of you as you transition back into work this week <3

    • I’m so happy to hear you love the new name, Karen! I loved your beautiful capture of geese and swans earlier this year, and I so hope you’ll be able to join another sketching challenge with us this year 🙂 <3

      • Thank you Candace! I’ve enjoyed following all your posts and been wowed by the variety of everyone’s contributions – I will join in and contribute more often 😉

    • Thank you so much, Treava! As I shared with Angela above, I was especially excited (and a little nervous 🙂 to share the new name with everyone who’s been a part of our community from the beginning–which includes you as well! So I’m delighted to hear you love it, and I can’t wait to keep catching moments and creating sketches with you through the rest of the year <3

  • I am planning on submitting my very first sketch for the October challenge and think that the meaning behind the name still stands. You’ve created a wonderful community of moment catching sketchers, and sign me up for a dreamcatcher sketching supply bag! 🙂

  • I’m a little sad. I love Moment Catchers — but will still love the site. Followed along this year, and was inspired over and over. Best wishes and keep it up!

    • Thanks so much for your honest feedback, Julia! I, too, am a little sad to say goodbye to Moment Catchers, but I’m very excited to be transitioning into a name that I’ll be able to trademark and legally develop as much as possible (as there are already several businesses named Moment Catchers). I really appreciate you following along this year, though, and I’m so happy to hear it’s brought you inspiration. Thank you again, and I look forward to sharing more sketches and stories with you soon! <3

    • Thank you so much, Dorothy! I’m so glad you love the map–I’ve loved watching it evolve over the year as our group grows larger 🙂 By the way, you aren’t the Dorothy in Israel by any chance, are you? If so, please know how happy I was to have you join our last sketching challenge! <3

  • It’s perfect Candace. So grateful for this community. Excited to see how it develops and grows in the future.

    • I’m so happy to hear you love the new name, Angela! I was especially hoping everyone who’s been a part of our community from the beginning would be excited about the new name and transition 🙂 So grateful to have you in our tribe! <3

  • I love it Candace, and look forward to participating in the October challenge. So grateful for your efforts and the love you put into Moment Sketchers! Take care.

    • Thank you so much, Judy! And please know I’m just as grateful for your presence in Moment Sketchers–especially for the beautiful images you bring us every months from the Yukon 🙂 Hope you and your daughter had a beautiful, blessed day on her wedding! <3

  • I love the way this community was founded, the way it has evolved, and continue to evolve…..thank you so so much Candace!!
    Lo único que cambia es el ‘observador’ de lo que cambia. Vicente Perez

    • Buen dia, Kar! Thank you so much for your kind words here, and even more importantly, for being such a vivid part of Moment Sketchers. Your insights and encouragement are always so appreciated 🙂 I also adore the quote you shared–thank you for that! <3

  • wellll, I’m not big on change, and that’s just me! but for the sake of not using an already-taken name, it works. I still prefer Moment Catchers, especially with the dream catcher for a logo, but of course, how we do that is by sketching, so that works! I sincerely appreciate you, Candace, and all you are doing thru this for all of us. We are blessed.

    • Please know I so understand, Sunny–I was hesitant to change the name as well, but I also want to make sure our humble tribe has as much room to grow as possible…and with a name that is uniquely ours 🙂 And don’t worry–the dreamcatcher logo isn’t going anywhere! The concept of our sketchbooks helping us capture moments like a dreamcatcher is still so essential to Moment Sketchers for me, so I wouldn’t dream of changing that! <3

  • It’s really great to see how much (and quick!) this was growing into such a really close and creative community. I am always looking forward to that very first weekend each month – not only to share my own sketches (which always is fun of course), but in particular to browse through all these great contributions, varying motives and so different styles! I freely admit that this is so much of an inspiration!

    Can’t thank you enough, Candace, for giving the impulse to start all this. This is so much your merit as it now becomes the community’s. Really, thanks a lot!

    I’m now only have to find a way to somehow send my October contribution from the middle of the desert (I doubt that I have internet access there). The range of my motives may be a bit limited on the rather dusty side, I think … 😉

    • Jens! You have been such a big part of Moment Sketchers from the very beginning–and given how long I’ve respected your own creative journey as an artist and adventurer, it really means a lot to me to have you in our tribe and community. And but of course you’re going to be in the middle of the desert during our October challenge 😉 I can’t tell you how much I enjoy following your adventures around our beautiful world, and I so look forward to seeing sketches and updates from this next journey!

  • I absolutely love the new name! It captures what this community is all about perfectly. I’m excited to see what else you have up your sleeve. 😁

    • Thank you so much, Amber! I’m thrilled to hear the new name resonates with you, and I can’t wait to keep sketching with you during our challenges for the rest of the year 🙂 <3

  • Candace! I think this is an inspirational idea. Such a simple change of letters – replacing the “ca” with a “ske” and retaining the “tchers” but creating a whole new original concept. I wonder if you had thought of tweaking the original dreamcatcher image too? The feathers already look very similar to paint brush tips, then you’d have an original image too. I was very disappointed with my self for not to participate in last months moment sketching so Ive just been blown away to see you painted my name in the map. I’m so thrilled Thank you! I’m going to get practicing for next week end today. Also love your ideas about where this could go. A course in England? A Yorkshire welcome awaits (doesnt it Raspberry Theif).

    • Good morning, dear Belinda! Your comment here brought such a smile to my face over the weekend–thank you so much for that. I loved your observation about the simple change of letters, especially as that same thought came to me as well, as I went around changing the name. The simplicity of the change felt like a good sign to me 🙂

      I also *adore* your idea and suggestion of tweaking the logo, to incorporate paintbrushes into the dreamcatcher…funnily enough, José and I also talked about that at the very beginning of the challenges, but I wanted to keep it simple at first. Now, with so many challenges behind us, I definitely feel ready to make that change to the logo!

      Finally, I just have to say how much I would love to come to Yorkshire and sketch with you and @angelahennessy:disqus — I’ve loved getting to know that beautiful part of the world through both of your sketchbooks, and can’t wait for the day when we can all get together, put the kettle on, and do some sketching 🙂 Sending big hugs to you both! <3

      • You and José really must come here! As you know we have the yurt for storytelling – two doors down the road we have a lovely village hall with a kitchen and all the boiling water ten teapots can hold – and there’s a camping barn right across the road at Lovesome Hill Bed and Breakfast (who make award winning breakfasts) AND we are on the main train line 2 and half hours form London and Manchester – ok so I am getting carried away here but its all possible. We have cows, sheep and pigs next door plus amazing country side. Hugs back across the oceans and rivers and our pond.

  • Apologies if I said this already but I think my comment has got lost. Wanted to say what a difference such a simple word change makes.
    Replacing “Ca” with “Ske” and retaining the “tchers to make a completely original new name that retains all of the old meaning but adds what it’s all about. Brilliant.
    I was v disappointed with myself for not participating in last months M.C. so was absolutely thrilled to see my name on the map. It made my day and encouraged me to get out my brushes. Also made me wonder about the dreamcatcher image and if it too could be tweaked – the feathers look so much like watercolour paintbrush bristles…. Looking forwards to new projects – workshops even?There’s a very warm welcome awaiting you in Yorkshire. (Right @raspberrythief) Everyone welcome round at mine. Thanks Candice you give big meaning to small moments.

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  • I love the new name, Candace! Naming things can be so tough, but I’ve loved the original “Moment Catchers” from the start, and now, to echo the community, I agree “Moment Sketchers” is an even better fit. (How do you do it?) 😉

    I also really like that the original name is still hidden in there verbally, simply disguised with the added “s” sound before “catchers”—kind of like an insider hat tip / shoutout to those who were here from the beginning. Amazing!

    I’m so excited for the future of Moment Sketchers! xxx

    • You are the best, Rebecca! As @belindanoda:disqus mentioned just above, I happened to notice that the new name only required a simple change in letters at the beginning of the word…but I love what you pointed out as well, about the original “Catchers” name being hidden verbally inside “Sketchers”–what a brilliant catch and observation 🙂 You’ve been such a big part of this community throughout the year, so I’m thrilled to hear the new name resonates with you–and I can’t wait to keep catching and sketching moments with you in the rest of 2017…it’s been a joy to watch your sketching journey unfold and evolve so beautifully! <3

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