News

Happy New Year! To start off 2019 I've completed version 2 of the logo. 

This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time. With everything I do, I start out with something simple and scrappy. 'Just get it done' is the mantra. Version 1 was done in an hour in photoshop and I wasn't too happy with the overall shape of the laurel wreath. But to get the store launched asap I didn't want to fret over details. 

Now that we're live, I've been able to refine and improve:

Sketch

I begin by getting my ideas onto paper first. The important thing here was a more circular wreath design. This will allow my logo to fit into circular profile picture spaces more evenly. 

Vectors

Once I'm happy with the sketch, it's brought into Adobe Illustrator to be turned into a vector image. Illustrator has a number of things that allow you to draw with symmetry. Reflecting, duplicating, repeating patterns along a path are all techniques that are super handy. You can see in the image the blue outlines and points - these are the vector points, each contain mathematical information  (I think!) about the direction and shape of the path. The benefit of creating your logos in this mathematical format means you can resize infinitely without losing quality. Essential for print production.

Final logo

Once done I bring the logo back into photoshop to play with some treatments. I added some textured grain and it looks great reversed and placed on a dark version of my wallpaper Geometree:

Apparel

Changing the logo has been quite an undertaking (that I'm still working on eep). I've had to go back through my store and update everything, everywhere the logo appears, from the website, receipts, packaging, the tees, hoodies and right through to the apparel labels that appear inside the tees:

Final products

Please don't forget to browse the store to see how the logo looks on the products. I'm still updating things but all will be completed soon. (If you've already bought stuff with the old logo, I'm sorry, but I still think the old logo is awesome and now you have a very rare item :))

I particularly like the Icon Hoodie in Navy:

Yes, this is just the beginning.

The problem

When I wanted to start my store, I thought a lot about the different kinds of products I wanted to make. There are so many things. The problem was finding suppliers, not all suppliers have every type of product. So the more I added, the more complex (and expensive) running this store was becoming. (Running this store costs me money in the form of monthly fees and if I add products from other suppliers I will incur inventory storage costs)

Eventually I became so paralysed thinking of all the possibilities - I was continually going around in circles researching products, hitting road blocks and starting again.

A lean approach

So instead of getting every detail perfect with lots of products, I decided to just get the store launched with the basics. Some clothes, iphone cases and prints. That way I can focus on the important stuff to get the store set up. Then as time goes by I can refine things, add new products and most importantly I can gauge interest from you guys to help me understand what it will take to make enough sales to cover my costs.

Looking ahead

Here's how things are going to work. New art will be continually added to this store - eg when I create a new artwork, it will be added as a print (and potentially other product types - tees, iphone cases).

New products I will add based on your demand. Do you have any products you'd like to see in the store?

Things like hats, mugs, tote bags, pillows and leggings are all doable. But let me know if there is something in particular you really want. 

Cheers, 
Jay 

To be upfront and obvious - one of the reasons this store exists is to make money. But that is not the only reason.

Contrary to popular belief, being a YouTuber, content creator or having a social media following does not automatically mean one is rich.

To put things in perspective, what I make from Jaywalker Pictures is not enough to live on, so I work a full-time job related to web design and development. In my spare time I draw, make videos and run this website. 

Where does the money go?

Most items in this store retail for around $30, of course that is not all pure profit as I have to pay material, production and fulfilment costs. But as an example, that $30 allows me to pay for my monthly photoshop subscription. It is also roughly the fee I pay for the e-commerce platform that powers this store.

On the more expensive side of things, running this store and channel requires significant amounts of gear, from a laptop, to my cameras, audio gear, graphics tablet, which can in total run up into the thousands of dollars. All the profits from this store go towards lessening the costs of these items.

So if you have made a purchase I really thank you as it directly supports my craft and content - and in some cases is literally buying my coffee or paying for my lunch :)

What motivates you?

Pragmatic people would say creating art is a waste of time since it doesn't make lots of money. But chances are you are an artist or creative person and understand the motivation to create and put out your work into the world.

If making money were my only goal, there are many more lucrative things I could do with my time. The reason for this store is to create products that I wanted. Some products I've made simply because I think they look awesome :) Others I've pulled some kind of personal experience or distilled a specific meaning.

Above all, my hope is that these products will stand for something, to inspire and remind you to walk your own path - whatever you pursue in life.

This is a really exciting milestone! I've always aspired to have my own customised online store (and not one like Red Bubble or Society6). Please have a browse at the prints, tees and iPhone cases available.

All profits go towards helping me continue making art that I hope will inspire, motivate and brighten ones day.