Some inspiration before the summer break?
The post full of beautiful pictures maybe too big for your internet connection ^^
Hello dear friends,
Today is the last post before the summer pause. I will come back beginning of September. The coming week I will try to finish all my projects and end the 30 days of lettering challenge on August 2nd. Then I want to try to disconnect, get away from a screen, from my job. I talked a bit about it on Instagram, but I find it hard to separate my work life from my private life. Even on the weekends I think about new ideas or opportunities. And if many will say that “this is the creative life”, it is also important to step back sometimes in order to stay fresh. So I will try to cut the link between me and my work for 2/3 weeks.
BUT before going I wanted to share with you some stuff I discovered that inspired me lately. There are some lettering related people, some font people, illustrator and also a Mid Modern architecture account.
I also added an online course I think you should do if you are looking for your style/voice, a good book about habits and routines and another one about ghost signs :)
Let’s dig into that list now!
1. Mohair Sam Signs
Mohair Sam is an affichiste and make great posters with a funky retro style. I like the visuals and the type used there. This is a great source of inspiration if I want to go deeper visually in the use of my fonts for example.
2. Jolby & friends
Jolby is a communication agency working in the North West of the United States. They have the chance to work regularly with Patagonia. I am a big fan of their work because they do many outdoors related fun projects. The great Brett Stenson works for them too sometimes.
3. Caroline Clark
Another outdoor lover designer, Caroline Clark has a really special folk style, with strong colors and outlines. Also she uses some crazy good textures so I can only love that style :)
4. Matthijs Herzberg
Let’s focus a bit more on type with one of my favourite letterer and type designer out there. And a funky one! Matthijs does such a great work on developing retro feel fonts. Also, he is really good in putting his work on great visuals. He is also great at old funky lettering style. A must follow for sure!
5. Jon Kelly Green
Jon has such a great 60s style, with great type (of course) and a so good character design style. Each piece is fantastic with great colors, textures, etc. Keep looking to his work when I look for a great effect with textures or brushes.
6. Through Thia Lens & Mod Traveler
Two accounts in one, with these photographs of Signs and Mid Century Architecture. These never disappoint me and give me regularly that inspiration that brings me back to the 50s and 60s.
7. The Ghost Signs book
Probably the book of the year so far. When you look at everything I share here in that post, no wonder I like old signs right? ^^ Roy Reed and Sam Roberts (from Better Letters) must have spent so much time in London to collect so many good old signages. The book gives you all the details and even try to detect lettering through different layers of paint sometimes. A really fascinating book.
8. What about learning?
If you are looking to learn something during your summer break, I can only recommend you enough these 2 ressources.
Find your style with Lisa Congdon: The great Lisa launched video classes to help you find your style, and this is really good. This is not at all technical but chats over Zoom where she gives so much advice on the path to follow to find your own way. You have exercises to move forward with your style too.
Better than Before: this book from Gretchen Rubin was actually recommended by Lisa Congdon and it helps building habits for your daily routine. It won’t tell you what to do, when to do it but more to understand how your mind works so you know how to organise your day. I already implemented some ideas, just for the morning and it really helps me to exercise and practice drawing daily.
This is it for today. Have a good summer break if you have one. And if not, just think of stay back a little bit and take some time for you. This is the best time of the year to spend some time outside, in the forest, the mountains or in the ocean. Also, this is supposed to be the moment where clients are on vacation. So yes, take some rest so you can be fully energised in September.
Take care, and talk to you in September :)
Francis