Great writers, however imaginative, inevitably draw on autobiography, turning the ordinary and extraordinary details of existence into something new and novel: a Madeleine becomes the taste of childhood, a sled named Rosebud a symbol of lost innocence.
As a creative artist, I too draw from life's objects to embody ideas, and my objects in turn become inspirations. Odd and disparate objects that hold only me in common. The organized chaos of things on my office shelf, represented in the photo above, suggest my love of language and ideas, travel and home, trinkets and trash, talismans, friends, family, sacrilege, politics. The sum of me.
In 1997, I opened PorterWrite after years working for some of the most talented people in American design. That shingle still hangs proudly over my door. I hope to keep it there for another few decades but I realize creative industry skews towards youth.
Still, I take heart in the saying “age and cunning triumph over youth and speed.” I’ve been blessed with a few tricks. The age part I must accept with grace. The following pages speak to my work. I hope they capture your interest and suggest opportunities for us to work together. But if you want to swap survival strategies, we should do that face to face. Call or write and I’ll provide the porch, comfortable chair and the beverage of your choice.