Today was one of those days that I heard a voice say, "This is why you live in Shanghai." Awesome day brainstorming, collaborating, and moving projects. Awesome things ahead!
#shanghai #collaboration #hustle #grayandgrit #graphicdesign
365 Days of Letters
Just the other day I finished a project I started just over a year ago. I decided to draw one dropcap per day so as to 1) improve my drawing skills and 2) challenge myself to create something new everyday.
With the project completed I have learned quite a bit about myself and here are a couple of lessons I learned:
Draw at the beginning of the work day was key. Starting this way caffeinated my right side of the brain and gave me a boost of accomplishment as I was able to use my own hands to complete what I set for myself. In the midst of a rapid world, demands, and constant connectivity my mornings would be bogged down with what I thought was vital for that day. By starting with something I could control and part of my greater vision it gave me the first win of the day.
Creativity is connecting things and this applies to me creating new styles of letters and effects. Inspiration is key for this as my ability to create something new just didn't happen in the early morning. By looking at classic fonts, vintage type, and victorian themes I was able to "frankenstein" styles of letters not yet explored by my hand.
Community motivates me to press on, with strangers from Instagram and friends from Facebook giving me different boosts of energy. Through this project I was able to connect with likeminded designers as we pursued the mastery of typography and lettering. I had to manage a good balance of social media community time and undistracted creating time.
Mastery doesn't just happen, it takes daily attempts followed by more attempts. In today's climate we have instant upgrading, uploads, and downloads but mastery just doesn't happen like it did in the Matrix trilogies. I'm not saying that this project has made me a master typographer or lettering genius but it has taken me closer to goals I set for myself.
Starting tomorrow just doesn't cut it and I'm saying this to myself as I look at my weight gain over two years of stress and fatherhood... but that will have to wait as I start my next #365project this coming week! Let me know what project you are going to take on, we can keep each other motivated and accountable.
For the library of images check out my Flickr account and once I get my scanner out of storage the rest will be uploaded.
LINEAR NARRATIVES - Fort Collins Showing
It is my pleasure to announce that my LINEAR NARRATIVES pieces will be released in print version in my hometown of Fort Collins, Colorado at Everyday Joe's Coffee House. The show will run from August 3rd to the 28th and on Friday the 7th I will be discussing my narratives between 7 and 9 pm.
After meeting the art director of Everyday Joe's Coffee House on Instagram we put together a time to show pieces he enjoyed seeing on my feed and website. This will also be the first time my pieces will be available in print versions with only 50 pieces of each made. I hope you can make it and grab a few pieces for your home! Nothing would make me happier than seeing you telling your own narrative to friends in your house using my art.
Everyday Joe's Coffee House
144 S. Mason St.
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970.224.4138
Stateside Visit Coming Soon!
It's official! The three Stallings will be stateside for 3 months starting in July! Don't worry, we won't be kicking back that long but staying quite busy. We have been in Shanghai, China for nine years and in need of a "furlough" with grandparents and family. Here are the dates...
Colorado: July 9th - August 26th
North Carolina and East Coast: August 26th - October 15th
I will be staying busy with continued freelance work, an art showing, and a brand release but interested in any commission work. Let me know and I can see what is available! Stay tuned for more news of those events!
Linear Narrative Showing
Finally getting some time to sit down and write down closing thoughts about the past showing I was involved in. Previously, I was involved in a number of group shows and this was my first duo show. I am privileged to have shared it with Faith Hampton as we did well collaborating and using our respected skills to produce this month long event. I couldn't have asked for a better art partner. We have already begin planning for the next show as well.
"Where do you go from here?" was the common question I received from individuals attending the event. This was just the third step I have taken in my art and illustration career at I actually hadn't really thought about it. All my energy was placed on this one event. These past few weeks I have had some time to consider where to take the next step.
In some ways others have already taken the next step for me. In typical China fashion, without asking me or giving me an 3 hours to consider opportunities. Already my pieces have been flown to two other group shows. It's amazing the speed in which this country sometimes runs at.
Unfortunately, the marketing of the show was not to my standards as I realized I had done the majority of marketing among my circles of influence. Very little was done from the other side of things. I have learned my lesson in setting expectations, setting standards for others, and motivating within another culture. This aside, I have quite possibly stumbled upon another revenue stream in which to sell my art within. More of this to come later.
In conclusion, I owe much of the success to my wife for giving me the opportunity and challenge to see this through. Having time to complete the work is extremely valuable as in the past it was work done in the dead of night where my skill at precision sometimes lacked. Having time during the morning really did wonders. A special thanks to David Fox for capturing photos of the event! Also, a big thanks to all the friends for their support and to Westwood Ales for providing the party!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas and Blessings to you all from the Stallings Family! May merriment and mirth overtake you this season and catapult you into an awesome new year!
THE END OF AN ERA...
...and the beginning of another adventure. After seven years as an art and design teacher and character education coordinator I have made the hard decision of resigning. Although I am stepping down from an honorable position I plan to return to the field of education at a later time.
This decision was difficult because of the students. I have seen many classes and individuals come through our gates and it was my privilege to inspire, teach, and motivate them as much as they inspired, taught, and motivated me. They are the reason that I will consider returning to this profession later on.
For now I finally feel free. For two years now I have mentioned to my wife that sometimes I feel part of me is off in some grand adventure, exploring lands, or slaying dragons and here I sit. I wasn't bored, I was just in need of a new adventure. To expand, grow, and develop in other areas as I move forward in my career as a creative individual.
Today, before I had the chance to say goodbye to the room where I spent much of my time the movers had displaced much of what was within. The world continues on no matter of how many years spent in toil and joy. So must I continue on to the next adventure as I pursue other opportunities that have come along. I look forward to the next seven years...
INTRODUCING...
Very excited that my first "life experience" post is an introduction to our daughter Jadzia Jane Stallings. She came into the world last week and we are blessed having her. Out of all creations, work, and makings...she is the most brilliant and I am grateful to be a part of the process.
FIRST POST
Welcome to my journal where I aim to share life experiences, inspirations, process work, and what I am working on. You are welcome to dropping me a line and hope to create collaborations between creatives as well. Life is a journey and deserves a journal.