2017's Year Long #365dayproject

This year's project is challenging me to 1) do at least 30 minutes of daily drawing/vectoring and 2) create at least one sellable typeface.  

I have been sharing my wrk and process on Instagram under the handle @gstallings and you can follow for daily pieces. A long desire is to dust off my websites journal and make more meaningful entries beyond what I post elsewhere. 

Constructive criticism is welcomed. If you want to join me by becoming an accountability partner or collaborator please don't hesitate. Contact me via the About page's form. 

Right so this typeface will be western slab influenced and stackable with inner lines and shading. 

1/365

2/365

3/365

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5/365

6/365

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9/365

10/365

#365dayproject #typography #typeface #dailydrawing #masteringacraft #wip #workinprogress #instagram

Process...

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.

SOCIETY6 PROMOTION

Greetings Followers! Just letting you know that I have several prints ready for an upcoming birthday gifts or to start your early Christmas shopping and now you can get them with free shipping! Click here for the promotion to begin, it runs through October 11th.

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

COFFEE WITH A PRINT

The Linear Narratives show is coming down tomorrow and I'll be there from 3-6pm at Everyday Joe's. Drop by and pick up a print and I'll treat you to a coffee! Limited numbers of prints will be there so get there quick!

H#fortcollins #colorado #everydayjoes #monday #prints #linearnarratives #coffee

RECENT PRODUCTS IN THE STORE

Prints made for the Linear Narratives art show are now available through my new store page. Check out the link for more pieces. My hope is that the pieces from Linear Narratives can continue to tell stories within your home.

Open Inventing

Just came across the company Quirky through the design blog Brand New. Quirky helps inventors realize their concepts by providing a community that can bring their skills and experience into the mix. This helps inventors focus on their strengths without feeling stretched in areas that they have little experience in. Having launched 300 products through nearly 200 retail partners is quite impressive as well.

It will be interesting to see this company grow and innovate the product design and retail industries. 

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

Recent Work - Commissioned Gig Poster

This piece was commissioned by a thoughtful husband wishing to add the final touch to a surprise birthday party for his wife. The illustration became a gig poster for the concert he and his friends put together. It was a pleasure moving away from corporate level work and doing something more illustrative. For more detailed shot of the poster go here.

As a freelance designer I am always opened to these types of commissions as the client was looking for a meaningful and unique product and open to spending money for it. This seriousness is than transferred to my work as I pull hours out of nowhere to make it happen.

It is a joy to see this proudly displayed and as a memory marker for generations to come. A birthday celebration lived on in a gig poster.

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!

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.

SPRING COCKTAILS AND PRINTS - 7PM Wednesday, April 15th

This Wednesday the Union Trading Co will be releasing their new menu along with prints made by myself. So stop by fro a refreshing drink and a print to bring some spring time flavors and colors to your home! It starts at 7pm and goes late. Located on 64 Fenyang Rd near Fuxing Zhong Rd with the entrance on Fuxing Zhong Rd.

WESTWOOD ALES - Update on My Work Page

Had a small breather break and had the chance to upload recent work I did for Westwood Ales as their Art and Brand Director. I am enjoying working on both the conceptual and execution ends of this brand as I venture away from the desk now and look to expand our visual and brand presence in Shanghai and soon to other parts of Asia. This has been the first company I've worked for that I feel fully invested and full ownership as I am doing this work from the perspective of a part owner of the company. 

Stay tuned for more work! Now to tackle the website!

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!