Curious about the inspiration behind our mascot and logo?  Keep reading for a peek into the subject of our logo inspiration and the artist who created him.

Meet Sherlock Holmes Chesner:

Sherlock on a recent hiking trip

Sherlock is an energetic Border collie/Australian shepherd mix that's been the faithful companion to Right Brain's founder, Connie Chesner, for the past five years.  Rescued from the Catawba Humane Society in August of 2004, Sherlock was only 8 weeks old and 8 pounds strong, but his spirit (and the picture to the left) drew her in.  His original name was Wally, but somehow the name Sherlock Holmes seemed more appropriate for a puppy as curious as he.  

A few short months after adoption, Sherlock developed severe epilepsy leading to uncontrollable grand mal cluster seizures.  The next year would take Connie and Sherlock on a journey to vets and information nationwide in a quest to control his epilepsy.  Finally, Dr. Steve Stelma of Animal Care Center in New Bern, NC recommended a regiment of analysis which helped us sleuth out the triggers and control the seizures.

As he's grown, Sherlock has developed a keen sense of tracking and has participated in several field "Wally" a.k.a. Sherlock 7 1/2 weeks oldtracking courses where he learned to sniff out trails and find lost objects.  To this day one of his favorite games involves him sitting in the middle of a room with a blindfold over his eyes while he waits for someone to hide a treat (or treats) around the house.  Once the blindfold is removed and command is given, his search for the prize is systematic and a great deal of fun to watch.  He has yet to give up on his quest for the hidden treat.  

When he's not sleuthing out hidden treats around the house, Sherlock's favorite toy is his Amaze-a-Ball, a ball that you fill with treats that are released as he interacts and rolls the ball around a room.  He's figured out that if he picks up the ball and drops it, a burst of treats sometimes emerges.  Keeping him with a good supply of Honey Nut Cheerios to fill the ball means a weekly addition to the grocery list.

Today, Sherlock is happy and healthy, his seizures under control and he often sleeps at the feet of our team while we perform analysis and research design.  

Transforming Sherlock Into Our Logo:

When artist Scott Davis of Right Brain Ruminations first met Sherlock his reaction was similar to most folks.  Sherlock picked up a stuffed toy, placed it at Scott's feet, and proceeded to greet him with enthusiasm.  Scott was hooked.  In the coming weeks Scott began to imagine what the world was like according to this resilient dog and the comic strip SHERLOCK UNLEASHED was born.  

When the time came to decide upon a logo for Right Brain Discovery, it seemed right that our investigative approach to creative research design be embodied in a rendering of Sherlock.  And so Sleuth Sherlock, Master Detective now hosts our pages and reminds us always that it is only by looking closely that we can uncover the clues which lead to insights that transform understanding.

SHERLOCK UNLEASHED follows the adventures of Sherlock and his neighborhood of furry friends.  The strip currently releases two new comics per week and is featured here and on a Facebook fan page.  We keep the latest release posted below, so check back twice a week to follow Sherlock's continuing adventures or become a fan on Facebook to receive the latest comics in your newsfeed.  

A recent episode of SHERLOCK UNLEASHED: