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.

UP ON SOCIETY 6!

In my pursuit to diversify and shotgunning the market with my work I am now on Society 6. I'm still looking for the right platform that supports artists in the best way but I think this platform is there. Stay tuned for more hand drawn quotes and future finalized dropcaps ready to be given to a loved one or placed on your wall.

Here are two questions for you: 1) what's one of your favorite quotes that could make it to print? and 2) what platform do you use to sell your work?

A LETTER A DAY UPDATE

Greetings! Just updating my flickr account where my collection of drop cap creations is growing. This has been 365 days of exploration and skill building with just 50 days to go. I was told that it takes 10,000 hours or 10 years to begin to master a skill. This is just one project that I have started so as to grow skills in drawing, drafting, and creating new and original concepts. If you are thinking of working on a skill or talent, start today and make it daily! 

Check out my Instagram account for daily submissions. 

H - 206/365

L - 222/365

Z - 221/365

W - 219/365

Day 1 of Signpainting at Doc Guthrie's

After several years of not touching walls for street art or mural purpose I have been hitting the brushes quite often lately. Today I finished 1 of 5 signs for a Shanghai based old-school barber shop called Doc Guthrie's. It was a pleasure working with the crew from there as they value craftsmanship from the hand as seen in their accomplishments with scissors and straightedge. Many older Chinese stopped and observed while the young and modern zipped by thankfully missing the scaffolding. It's interesting to see who values a more tangible and authentic experience.

It's interesting to pursue this craft in this overproduced and glossy city I have called home for going on nine years. Stay tuned for more work!

Process...

Not needing lights, using the "natural" light of the city.

Placed between the glossy, manufactured experiences.