The Story behind the Logo

This is the basic outline of the symbolism behind the Oils of Shakan Logo:

1. the Drop – represents both God’s tears washing over the world and essential oils.

2. the Light Blue Circle– represents the world itself and a global vision with aroma around the edge of the circle.

3. the Leaves – represent healing for the nations. (as found in Revelations 22:2)

4. the Root – SEEPing in God’s presence and receiving nutrients.

When one sits down and begins to think what their logo should look like, they usually start with the desire for it to reflect something about who they are as a company. Some people may advise that simplicity is key, or depending on the type of business, that all they need is the company’s initials. For us, for Oils of Shakan, the process was a little more than just a logo, it was a journey that created a story for the glory of God.

Early 2014, we looked into registering a trademark for OOS, and realized that our former name (Oils of Shekinah) could not be used due to other companies also using similar names for their beauty products with the word “shekinah”. So, we began to pray. Rosie suggested using the root word of shekinah – “shakan”. Continuing to pray, the Lord started to show me, (Michelle) in a vision a picture of a tree bent over a river with pink flowers. Then I felt led to look up the name “shakan” in google images and the first image I saw was a picture of a tree bent over with pink flowers! Here’s the picture I saw….Shakan Tree. This was all the confirmation that was needed to proceed with the name “Oils of Shakan”.

Then, in late 2014, we began praying about and discussing what God wanted to do with updating the logo for Oils of Shakan. Rosie had just retired in July of 2014 and so she was now on-board full-time with Oils of Shakan. Thus, the preparation of re-polishing Oils of Shakan began. Rosie desired to have the logo updated as well as have a website constructed, marketing materials updated, and a slew of other various things which we are still in the process of implementing into the business.

With so many things we could focus on, it was finally in January 2015 that we met with a woman named Katie Atkinson, whom had been put on Rosie’s heart to design the logo. Before Rosie and I went to meet with Katie, we both strongly felt through prayer that we were to not interfere much with what the design of the logo was to look like. We gave Katie the company’s colors and prayed with her and gave her some assurance of direction she received through prayer and sketches she created during the meeting.

From there, it was only a matter of a few weeks and the logo was pieced together. During the process of Katie designing the logo, we did correspond with Katie about the sketches she was putting together. There were 3 sketches she came up with. And it was just amazing to see how there did not need to be much editing or numerous sketches. Katie sketched, and it all came together. Although the logo did not initially look exactly like what we were thinking, God assured us that what Katie created was exactly what He wanted.

This is what happened. Here’s an email Rosie sent to Katie on January 24, 2015 regarding the initial 3 sketches she gave us to choose from.

“We got to meet & pray yesterday about the logo’s you have designed so far. And we are both in agreement that we like #1 and #3 the best. So, after praying the Lord showed us both some things to share with you for the next step.

1. The Oil drop is important. God has a global vision for Oils of Shakan. The oil drop and the world/circle need to be put together.

Heres the vision Michelle received: She saw herself playing basketball with God. And God took the ball and made a shot at the hoop and the ball went right through the hoop. Then God told Michelle that He never misses a shot and so we need to be on His team. Then He holds the basketball in His hands and starts to cry and His tears wash over the basketball. And then He told Michelle that just as His tears did not get absorbed by the ball, so does the world at times with His tears for them. And so God emphasized that His tears (oil drop shape) need to be within the world (circle shape).

Then God showed Michelle a vision of a sandwich being put together and God said that the tear/oil drop needs to be sandwiched with the circle/world.

2. The leaves of the trees will be for the healing of the nations Rev 22:2″

Katie took this email response and put together the final logo we have now. It is simple yet profound and full of color. We truly believe that this is the impact God has and will continue to have with Oils of Shakan…a profound impact, full of color, reaching the world with His love, His tears, His oils, for the healing of the nations. Amen

Finally, we wanted to include a special testimonial directly from the artist. Katie Atkinson is a very talented artist and friend and it was a delight to have worked with her in creating beauty for the Kingdom of God. She offered to write her side of the story with behind the logo, it’s impact on her, and the blessing she extends with it. Thank you Katie. To view further artwork/illustrations on Katie’s professional website, Click Here.

Here’s her story:

“Last summer I was approached by Rosie to create a logo for her business Oils of Shakan. I felt such a spiritual presence from her and was very intrigued with the whole theme of her business. We did some sketches together and I felt very inspired. It was a very hectic and challenging time in my life due to many events and factors (one of which was falling and fracturing both elbows several weeks later). To my astonishment Rosie waited 7 months for me until I had the time to do the project! She felt so strongly that God wanted me to be part of this project.

When we got together again in January Rosie already had many of her products in production and had hired Michelle, a graphic designer and marketing assistant. They had already chosen a nice color palette and had designed labels and beautiful product shots with this color scheme. Michelle and I had been in a women’s Bible study together over the summer so I felt comfortable and in the presence of someone who was very much led by God as well. One day in January we all got together to discuss ideas and for them to update me on their business direction since we had last talked. It was an amazing collaborative experience. We all prayed together and I did some rough sketches as they talked. In so many ways the logo seemed to design itself!

In designing a logo to symbolize the concept of Oils of Shakan I knew I would have to make a powerful, recognizable symbol that could convey the essence of Rosie’s business in a glance. It seemed evident that the best way to do this would be starting with the shape of a drop of oil and putting the illustration inside it. The color palette was purple, orange, two shades of green, yellow and brown. This made it an easy decision to select a tree since all the colors would fit. Trees are one of my favorite subjects to illustrate as they can be a metaphor or symbol for many things like growth, connection, rebirth, renewal, transformation etc. Oils of Shakan’s by-line of ‘SEEP in God’s presence’ gave me the idea to show the roots of the tree seeping in God’s nutrients.

After doing some color sketches sketches with the dark purple as background I felt it had a great basic concept and structure, but it needed something more. Rosie and Michelle were wonderful in giving me great creative freedom in creating this image. I played around with doing swirls in the purple to show the scent or aroma emanating from the leaves. Ultimately I felt this would not be easily readable or clear especially when the logo is reduced to a very small size on certain packages. I searched for some way to convey the concept of aroma. I also felt that the design lacked punch and need another color to really make it pop. I looked back at my page of sketches and one that Rosie had liked was of this design in a circle. That gave me the idea of doing the branches of the tree in a circular shape and putting a circle of color behind the tree. It seemed very clear to me that an aquamarine blue would be just the color to make it pop, and make sense with the purple-kind of like a glow in the sky around the tree. I gave this circle a soft edge and felt that was a subtle way to show the aroma. It was only when I had finished this that I saw and felt that the blue shape was a sign that God wanted this to grow into a global business.

I felt moved to give Rosie the original painting and felt there was such promise for where things might go and that I might do more with her in the future. I was appreciative of both Rosie’s and Michelle’s prayers throughout our working together, and Rosie’s patience to wait for me. I mounted the art on a board and flapped it with the aquamarine cover paper to match. When I went over to Rosie’s apartment she was wearing a sweatshirt of the exact same color. Somehow I felt like this was God’s confirmation that I had been listening to his guidance all the way through in designing this project!”

The story of OOS has only just begun…