TEKST (the blog)

All things TEKSTartist.

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Completed a mural at Ironsmith Coffee Roasters in Encinitas. See more at WeeklyArtPrint.com/murals

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With my next big project rapidly approaching I was fortunate enough to sit down with @gary and talk about where things were headed. Part of our conversation made the cut on episode 105 of DailyVee.  Get a sneak peek about what Wordagami is all about and catch the full episode of DailyVee by clicking here or pointing your browser to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG1AsCKjgMQ

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This week's limited edition letterpress print was created by warping/twisting the words from the Holstee Manifesto:

“This is your life. Do what you want and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit. If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over-analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Life is simple. Open your heart, mind and arms to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, seize them. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating. Life is short, live your dream and wear your passion.”

Long time TEKST fans should recognize this week's design. Back in 2012 I was commissioned by Holstee to redesign this incredibly famous Manifesto. The design quickly sold out and the making of video became one of the most viewed videos on the TEKSTartist Youtube channel.

When Dave (founder of Holstee) asked me to create this piece back in 2012, his only requirement was that what I delivered was one of my favorite piece I've ever created. Hundreds of designs later and the Manifesto from Holstee remains one of the most requested, and most loved, designs I've ever released.

For years I've received countless emails asking if/when it would be available again. Pair that with all the chaos happening behind the scenes right now getting Derbby ready for launch revisiting this design gave me the time I needed. Not to mention revisiting the quote helped remind me why I started in the first place.

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Now on http://FiveSpotDerby.com - This 3 color, metallic ink, limited edition, letterpress print was designed by warping/twisting/distorting the words from the quote "If not now, then when?" Grab one while they last!

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FiveSpotDerby.com this week features an all new 2 color letterpress print that was designed by warping/twisting/distorting the words from the following quote: "If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough."

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On FiveSpotDerby.com this week is an all new, 3 color, letterpress design which was created by warping/twisting/distorting the words from the following quote by H.D. Thoreau:

"It's not what you look at, it's what you see."

The complete quote is "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." but for the composition/balance of the overall design I felt the omission was a good decision.

Print production on this design took a full day in the shop but Tim at Quality Letterpress (who has hand fed not just this print, but EVERY SINGLE PRINT produced over the last 108 runs) was up to the challenge.

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Now on FiveSpotDerby.com: This week's all new, limited edition, letterpress print was designed by warping/twisting/distorting the words from the following quote:

"The wall is growing faster than you can climb it. If you fall off you can't start over again. There is nothing on the other side. But if you happen to enjoy climbing."

This design was created as a reminder that life is about the journey, not the destination. Whatever you're "climbing" recognize that the climb itself is the important part, no matter what the eventual outcome may be.

The design is based off a photo (used with permission) from one of my favorite photographers, Mark Ley. The quote was originally found here.

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FiveSpotDerby.com this week features an all new limited edition two toned letterpress print that was inspired by warping/twisting the words from the following quote by Timothy Leary:

“Admit it. You aren’t like them. You’re not even close. You may occasionally dress yourself up as one of them, watch the same mindless television shows as they do, maybe even eat the same fast food sometimes.

But it seems that the more you try to fit in, the more you feel like an outsider, watching the “normal people” as they go about their automatic existences. For every time you say club passwords like “Have a nice day” and “Weather’s awful today, eh?”, you yearn inside to say forbidden things like “Tell me something that makes you cry” or “What do you think deja vu is for?”

Face it, you even want to talk to that girl in the elevator. But what if that girl in the elevator (and the balding man who walks past your cubicle at work) are thinking the same thing?

Who knows what you might learn from taking a chance on conversation with a stranger? Everyone carries a piece of the puzzle. Nobody comes into your life by mere coincidence. Trust your instincts. Do the unexpected. Find the others…”

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5SpotDerby.com this week is kicking it old school. 

Wise words from Will Smith have been warped/twisted/distorted into one of the most memorable gaming icons of all time. The following quote, in its entirety, is contained on the "screen" portion of the arcade machine:

"The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be out-worked, period. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things you got it on me in nine categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there's two things: You're getting off first, or I'm going to die. It's really that simple." - Will Smith 

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Five Spot Derby just turned 100! That’s right, 100 different letterpress designs have been released every week over the past year (See them all here.) 

This week white ink has been pressed onto a plastic-like blue paper to create a vibrant design that is both clean and chaotic. Look closely and you will see that the wandering/looping plane trail is composed of a single, unbroken, line that has been twisted and warped to include the words from the following quote by the legendary Steve Martin-

"Be so good they can't ignore you."

Only 100 of these letterpress prints will be up for grabs! Will you snag one of them?

On to the next hundred!

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On FiveSpotDerby this week- this all new, limited edition, two toned letterpress print was designed by warping/twisting the words from the following quote:

"Wherever you are, be all there." - Jim Elliott

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STING LIKE A BEE

This week’s all new two toned letterpress design was created by warping/twisting the words from the following quote by Muhammad Ali:

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”

DETAILS

Two Toned Letterpress Print

Limited Edition

Hand signed and numbered

13″ x 20″ Cranes Lettra Ecru (Cream colored) 110 lb. paper.

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The 96th design to hit FiveSpotDerby is all about persistence. Our slow moving protagonist carries with him a message that has been created by warping/twisting the words from the following quote:

"It doesn't matter how slow you go so long as you don't stop." - Confucius

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New Cycling Inspired letterpress design just hit FiveSpotDerby! Grab yours before the price hike. Created from the quote- “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein 

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5SpotDerby.com just dropped an all new ink and foil letterpress design that was designed by warping/twisting/distorting the words from the following quote: "To play a wrong note is insignificant, to play without passion is inexcusable." - Beethoven

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On FiveSpotDerby.com this week- this limited edition letterpress print showcases two opposing, well known, quotes on the concept of perfection that are presented as a Venn Diagram. Although the quotes are contradictory they are bound together by their central theme.  The quotes included that make up the Venn Diagram are:

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it." - Salvador Dali

&

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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Want a free 3-pack of our all new "Lovebird" stickers? We've got a few hundred to give away. 

Simply follow these two steps:

1. Reblog this post.

2. Email [email protected] with "Stickers!" in the subject line. (Be sure to include your shipping address and tumblr name in your email so we know where to send them!)