Bobbi Stalnaker
Amongst so many other things, Bobbi is a Southern Californian graphic designer, skateboarder, and an environmental enthusiast. She is 'art inspires action' in human form.
First there’s graphic design, which is my bread and butter, if you will. I love to paint - watercolor and oil are probably my favorite. I love to continue to blend and work what’s already on the canvas. Also, sculpture, I really love clay but most of my sculptures are from paper.
My most recent medium I have picked up is tattooing, which I have been using to balance out my career as a graphic designer. Working on a screen can get a little repetitive, so breaking away from the screen and playing in this really intimate form of art has been refreshing and has helped prevent myself from burning out of design as a whole.
As for inspiration…I have a sign in my studio that says, “Nothing is Original”. It’s a pull-out from a bigger quote from Jim Jarmusch. The whole quote goes: “Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent.”
It’s hard to pull exactly where I get my inspiration from…EVERYWHERE (and everything). The world becomes a big, beautiful place when you let all of it in and touch you in some way. I love art that makes me feel, packs a punch, makes you think. I like really creepy, dark stuff too. anything that harnesses the human condition and throws it back at you is what inspires me.
When skaters compliment your deck and you can literally say “Thanks, I made it” – that is the BEST. It’s unreal. That’s probably my favorite thing about being a designer. Seeing what you created on a screen and watching it come to exist in the real world is the biggest reward in my opinion.
Get your own board here!
I don’t know if it was a definitive moment, but the way I was raised. I grew up going to national parks, helping my dad garden, and playing outside all day. As I got older it has just been something that has been strengthened in me as I connect to nature. My partner and I have a garden right now and it is something that I think I need for my mental health. There is something about sticking your hands in dirt that is so incredibly grounding. I dream of being self-sustainable one day…harvesting our own food, living in unity with nature and loving the earth that provides.
I hope to use the Key Conservation platform to get more involved with helping the environment, beyond monetary donations. I think it is important that we don’t only need money to help the environment, we need skills and time. I know there is a detachment from money when I donate, so I like to donate my resources, skills, and time.
I love the skilled impact! Designing the board for Key was exactly that. I donated my art and my skills to create an awesome board that is going to raise money and awareness! I love that I can give a skill in the form of a donation. It really makes me feel like I am DOING something. Not to mention the In-Person feature - I just moved down to San Diego so using that to meet people and connect with the conservation community is something i am definitely looking forward to using.
I just left cooperate life to pursue my new life in San Diego as a freelance designer and tattoo artist. If you know anyone who needs branding or design work or just wants a little ink, check out my work here (design) and here (tattoo).
As for anything special to share - just get out there! Get out there, move your body, learn something new, and stick your hands in some dirt.