#visualpractitioner

[southvision]

Afroluso Experimental Residency Opening night images at @modzi_gallery Supported by @prohelvetia_johannesburg Pics @anywhereamanda #artislife #artisttravel #experimental #exhibition #ibexhill #lusaka #modziarts #madagascar #prohelvetia_johannesburg #residency #southafrica #visualart #visualpractitioner #zambia (at Modzi Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2WRDDbDTE5/?igshid=2xhjgxtwi8q

[visualpractitioner]

Take a Lettering Journey

I never thought I had a book “in me” because I figured I didn’t have anything unique to contribute. Until now.

When we left Washington, D.C. shortly after the inauguration in 2017, little did we know the journey that was ahead of us. Yes, we knew we had a couple of month-long artist residencies planned and that we were going to pull Flo, a 1947 Tourette teardrop trailer, but where would we go, what would we see? We had no idea.

The road ahead was more than just a cross-country trip, it was an adventure in discovery, survival and lettering.

A synopsis of the book... Take an adventure to power up your lettering! Designed with the visual practitioner in mind, Lettering Journey is a how-to, exemplar book inspired by a cross country road trip and the letters found along the way. This practical guide gives you the freedom to be fast. It includes eight lettering styles that are designed to be learned quickly and used to letter with markers on paper in realtime in front of your client. Each chapter of Lettering Journey starts with a short story of how the lettering style was inspired, a list of suggested markers to use, the best use of the style (when and where), and attributes of each style. Some styles include a ductus—showing the direction and order of each stroke, written at 100% and in grey so that you can see how the strokes join and cross. Each chapter includes examples by visual practitioners in the field and how they use these styles in their work. The book also includes foundational tips and best practices when lettering.

The lettering journey started before we hit the road. Lettering became important to me when I moved to DC to help build the Visioneering team. I realized that I needed to find a strength to serve as a foundation in my work. Honestly, at the time, I didn’t have one. So by accident, I just chose lettering. In 2016, I dedicated all of my professional development resources to lettering. I spent that year taking workshops from master calligraphers, sign painters and graffiti artists. I learned that all of the tools they used could be translated into the tools we use as visual practitioners.

Tina Abert and Amy Sparks help me celebrate my new book. They have been on the Lettering Journey with me since the beginning. They both took breakout sessions from me at the IFVP conferences and they were the first to sign up for my online, Level Up Your Lettering course.

The virtual book launch on June 27 was a hit! We aired three times that day to talk about the book, interview contributors, and celebrated the success of all those involved. You can watch the sessions on Neuland’s Facebook page here.

The book itself is full of lettering styles and techniques designed with the visual practitioner in mind. I cover how to hold the marker, which markers to use for which styles, the angle and direction of the nib, a ductus, and most all of the letters are written with a grey marker so you can see where the strokes overlap.

And with me, there is always more. And more to come! For those who already have the book, there is a free resources portal available on my website www.LetsLetterTogether.com. And I’m putting together a full course offering step-by-step videos for each lettering style.

Because I am so very practical, I originally designed the book in greyscale. And because Neuland is so very generous and loves color, they chose to offer a color version, along with a Handlettering Kit to get people started on their lettering journey. You can find the book and kit here.

For those who just want the book, I offer an Author’s edition. It’s greyscale interior gives you everything you need to get started. And regardless of where you purchase the book, I will send you a signed bookplate and bookmark to go with your book. Just email me your mailing address and I’ll get it to you right away!

I have enjoyed this lettering journey and look forward to the next! I’ll be traveling to Australia, Latin America and Europe over the next year to present and teach. I hope our paths cross and we can letter together. Who knows, perhaps I’ll feature your work in my next book!

Happy lettering!

[livecreativenow-blog]

Practicing bikablo® “impatient” figures. #visualpractitioner #graphicrecording #graphicfacilitator #graphicfacilitation #visualnotes #visualthinking #visualcommunication

[thatgirlshines]

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A post shared by SunShine Céline BenBelkacem (@thatgirlshines)

#VisualThinking, everyone is talking about it! @griotseye and I have strong opinions on the value it brings to work and life. We were also lucky to get to teach visual thinking to Lindsey Lyman's #innovation class at University of Chicago's Booth School of Business this week. Our belief is that visual thinking is one in the set of the #21stcenturyskills. 21st century skills include: - being able to bring people along with #storytelling abilities, using #metaphor to inspire and motivate; - in a world with a lot of noise, #listening to understand; - and, in order to face the ever-increasing complexity of the #futureofwork, being able to bring people together to #codesign and #collaborate to think, solve, plan, design, and explain. We in the business world have long complained about how the time for #deathtopowerpoint has come, but what do we use to replace it? Christopher and I offer visual thinking as the new medium to tell the story. Visual thinking offers #iteration through #thinking, time to #goslowtogofast with #designing #sequencing and #protoyping, brings #clarity to what is at stake, is an invitation to participate, inspires great #teambuilding and #engagement, and makes for a great story. #21centuryleadership #graphicfacilitation #visualpractitioner (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPV0bVzFIFw/?utm_medium=tumblr

[gaelanart]

Got @strathmoreart 's sketchbook Vision from @artistandcraftsman jist the other day and it was a *design your own cover* on toned paper... so I have spent yesterday drawing on the subways in Brooklyn and practicing some sanserif handlettering that @lizardbrainllc showed me a few weeks ago :) . . . #sketchbookartist #sketchbook #bklyn #brooklynsubway #brooklyn #illustration #urbansketching #urbansketch #urbandrawing #handlettering #neulandhand #markers #sketchbookcover #doodles #visualpractitioner #visualjournal #subway #subwayart #tonedpaper #nyc #nyctrolls https://www.instagram.com/p/B8tiZqPlkVN/?igshid=1gz6h6wmktg0j

[gaelanart]

What a wonderful time spent with creative, innovative people. I'm a room of alot of energy I take one of 2 rolls. One: a talker and an organizer. Or Two: sit back and capture the scene. Saturday, I was the ladder. I had a lovely time with good food, good music and wonderful company. My goal was to capture it all in the small details. I look forward to checking out the podcast @artistdecoded! . . . #sketchbook #sketchbookartist #journaling #visualrecording #visualdiary #visualjournal #illustration #GraphicRecording #visualpractitioner #creatives #innovation #art #lights #brooklyn #bksaloon #illustrators #artistsofnewyork #artist #parissalon #memories #nostalgia #friends #goodtimes #memories https://www.instagram.com/p/B701Ckul45e/?igshid=1xqwxlgnct7vt

[gaelanart]

2019 is nearly over and so here are my top 9 from the year. End of a decade, wow. I think what 2019 made me realize is that I am becoming a cartoonist, a graphic novelist, a visual practioner, a draftsmen. I do love to paint, and am working on paintings currently, but my sense of line has began to refine itself. Happy New Year everyone! 🎉🎈 . . . #topnine2019 #nine #topnine #bestnineofinstagram #newyear #2020 #2019 #happynewyear #happynewyear2019 #womanartist #comics #draftsmen #illustrator #womeninillustration #visualpractitioner #graphicrecording #graphicfacilitation #artist #bestnine #2019bestnine #makenine2019 #cartoon #cartoonist #ink #pen #penart https://www.instagram.com/p/B6quZnpF2gc/?igshid=1f2m6j0bp2phz

[gaelanart]

Haven't seen @dganimates since the Spring, and always he has good advice. What a pleasure it was! Thank you for the good advice and the Pink Drink. It's so good. I need reminders not to worry, but to enjoy myself. Thank you for hammering they in. . . . #visualrecording #visualdiary #visualpractitioner #illustration #sketchbookdrawing #sketchnoting #sharpie #pinkdrink #coddeeb#starbucks #joy #friends #advice #art #handlettering #justenjoyit #selfhelp #selflove #conversation #dailyart #artoftheday #marker #penandink https://www.instagram.com/p/B6bLvPtljjX/?igshid=15vpx6jrkml9t

[southvision]

Installation Shot form the Opening of the Afroluso Experimental Residency Exhibition at @modziarts Supported by @prohelvetia_johannesburg Which happened on 07-09-19 The turn was unexpected, we brought back to fimiliar faces back to the space. Feedback was positive and exciting to hear from the local. Zine by @bhande_nathi & Installation video #art #artresidency #artislife #artisttravel #experimental #exhibition #ibexhill #luska #modziarts #madagascar #prohelvetia_johannesburg #residency #southafrica #visualart #visualpractitioner #zambia (at Modzi Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Q18y3jBhy/?igshid=bjn4m1wjcm7

[southvision]

Installation Shot form the Opening of the Afroluso Experimental Residency Exhibition at @modziarts Supported by @prohelvetia_johannesburg Which happened on 07-09-19 The turn was unexpected, we brought back to fimiliar faces back to the space. Feedback was positive and exciting to hear from the local. Artist: 4/4 from @bhande_nathi South Africa #art #artresidency #artislife #artisttravel #experimental #exhibition #ibexhill #luska #modziarts #madagascar #prohelvetia_johannesburg #residency #southafrica #visualart #visualpractitioner #zambia (at Modzi Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Q0vpPjFxQ/?igshid=n8zhg6vlbe4f

[southvision]

Installation Shot form the Opening of the Afroluso Experimental Residency Exhibition at @modziarts Supported by @prohelvetia_johannesburg Which happened on 07-09-19 The turn was unexpected, we brought back to fimiliar faces back to the space. Feedback was positive and exciting to hear from the local. Artist: 4/4 from @bhande_nathi South Africa #art #artresidency #artislife #artisttravel #experimental #exhibition #ibexhill #luska #modziarts #madagascar #prohelvetia_johannesburg #residency #southafrica #visualart #visualpractitioner #zambia (at Modzi Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Q0vpPjFxQ/?igshid=9nv2ugyqs10r

[southvision]

Installation Shot form the Opening of the Afroluso Experimental Residency Exhibition at @modziarts Supported by @prohelvetia_johannesburg Which happened on 07-09-19 The turn was unexpected, we brought back to fimiliar faces back to the space. Feedback was positive and exciting to hear from the local. Artist: 3/4 @nyakallomaleke from South Africa #art #artresidency #artislife #artisttravel #experimental #exhibition #ibexhill #luska #modziarts #madagascar #prohelvetia_johannesburg #residency #southafrica #visualart #visualpractitioner #zambia (at Modzi Arts) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Q0gHpjOgy/?igshid=1uo1tav4cwz1

[southvision]

Installation Shot form the Opening of the Afroluso Experimental Residency Exhibition at @modziarts Supported by @prohelvetia_johannesburg Which happened on 07-09-19 The turn was unexpected, we brought back to fimiliar faces back to the space. Feedback was positive and exciting to hear from the local. Artist: 2/4 @Mwahzi_art_space from Zambia #art #artresidency #artislife #artisttravel #experimental #exhibition #ibexhill #luska #modziarts #madagascar #prohelvetia_johannesburg #residency #southafrica #visualart #visualpractitioner #zambia https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Qz-UjDnxt/?igshid=39uauqf0n4v5

[southvision]

Installation Shot form the Opening of the Afroluso Experimental Residency Exhibition at @modziarts Supported by @prohelvetia_johannesburg Which happened on 07-09-19 The turn was unexpected, we brought back to fimiliar faces back to the space. Feedback was positive and exciting to hear from the local. Artist: 1/4 Taka from Madagascar. #art #artresidency #artislife #artisttravel #experimental #exhibition #ibexhill #luska #modziarts #madagascar #prohelvetia_johannesburg #residency #southafrica #visualart #visualpractitioner #zambia https://www.instagram.com/p/B2QzzXED288/?igshid=13vvga1pqnqzy

[visualpractitioner]

Take your lettering on the go!

It’s conference season... The IFVP (International Forum of Visual Practitioners) conference is next week. I’m not going but my husband, Ray, will be there to take headshots for people. Then there is the ISC (International Sketchnote Camp) coming up in a few weeks in Paris. Again not going, too hot in both places. But I am excited to be attending the VizConf in Melbourne in October as one of the keynote speakers and offering a 2-day precon workshop.

Prepping for such a big investment I never thought going to conference was a big investment because it just seemed necessary as part of my professional development. But I’ve been talking with friends and colleagues and some are spending upwards of $10K USD to travel internationally to make it happen. That amount seems insurmountable.

If you are planning to go, then make the most out of it by setting intentions and prepping for the event. Consider more than just attending, you are also there to:

Learn from others in the field by seeing how they practice. We mostly work as individual contractors. Getting insight to how others work is a HUGE growth opportunity.

Network. Believe it or not, making friends with competimates can bring you referral work

Tell your story. We each came to this work in an interesting way and we love hearing and telling others how that came about.

Get a pulse on the current field. I started in 2011 and the field is almost unrecognizable. If you haven’t been to conference in a few years, it’s time to go. The landscape has changed tremendously.

In preparation for the conference, or any conference really, I believe the biggest thing you can do is to set your intention.

Set your intention by taking a moment to visualize the desired outcome. Breathe into how you want to feel when the conference is over. Who do you want to meet? What do you want to learn? Write down the kind of experience you want to have and the kind of questions you need to ask in order to make the most out of your time and investment. Create a mantra. And focus on telling your story with others including what you love most about this work and the passion/value you bring that you can share with others.

This is an excerpt from a prep checklist I wrote called Lettering on the Go!

As part of my Lettering Tips Tuesday series, I love to explore the tools we use and how we use them. And I was inspired by the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) I was experiencing by not attending the conferences so I wrote a 3-page prep checklist that covers:

How to go with confidence

What materials and gear to take

Preparing for paying gigs and attending conferences

Lettering tips - just a few, the actually magic happens in the live lettering session. You can catch up on past recordings here.

In Lettering on the Go! I cover the Neuland tools I use when practicing and performing. Complete with checklists and item numbers for each use. It’s important to me to have the right tool for the job. And after several years of curating what those are for me, my hope is that they can be of use to you too.

To download your copy of the prep checklist, visit: bit.ly/letteringonthego.

Interested in learning more lettering styles and tips as a visual practitioner? Visit www.LetsLetterTogether.com or check out my new book, Lettering Journey.

[gaelanart]

Hello dear. I decided to take this a step further and as some colors to this GR. Xoxo you were one of my first victims as I discovered graphic recording and our conversation last night was lovely xoxox. Enjoy! . . . #GraphicRecording #graphicfacilitation #Illustration #art #color #drawingoftheday #art #sketchbook #digitalart #digitalpainting #handdrawninfographic #handdrawn #friends #improvement #artdrawing #artwork #friendship #sharpie #treasuremap #visualscribe #visualdiary #visualrecording #visualpractitioner https://www.instagram.com/p/CAYn3QWDLP9/?igshid=febeefhjz2rv