Hand Lettering and Fine Art
One thing about graphic deign that is a little bit disappointing to me is that fast that everything we do is digital. The computer is our medium. This robs designers of the chance to physically make something with our best tool: our hands. My hands have served me well my whole life, and have become the tool with which I am most acquainted. There are obvious benefits of the computer: it gives us so many possibilities that are readily available, and the level of efficiency that can be achieved cannot be matched. That being said, it makes me sad sometimes that physical manipulation of objects is so rare.
For this reason, I love any chance I get to take things back out of the computer and into the real world. My love for typography has inspired me to use my desire for “by-hand” work to develop the skill of hand lettering. Brush pens are the tools I usually employ, though on larger pieces, good old-fashioned paint and brushes works very well.
Recently, I had the opportunity to do some hand-lettered signs for a wedding. The bride wanted three signs: a welcome sign, one that said, “worth the wait”, and another reading “with my whole heart, for my whole life.” As the bride was an avid lover of all things floral, I decided to have a bit of fun with the former and place the words on a floral background. I loved being able to practice my painting skills with a piece that combined the fine art with typography. For the other two signs, I kept things a little simpler. I brushed the phrases on wood panels with a cream acrylic paint in a fun, script font. To match with the other decorations of the wedding (as well as the personality of the bride) I decided last minute to add a few hand-drawn floral elements around the typography to add bit more decoration and I am so happy with the result! You might have seen my fingerprint around a few other signs and decorations around the wedding, but these three pieces held my heart, and I am so glad that the happy couple decided to hand on to those signs even to this day.
PRINTMAKING
INSTALLATION
In addition to hand lettering, I also take any chance to get out of the computer by practicing and learning more about printmaking. I really enjoyed learning about the process behind copper etching, lithography, and other printmaking techniques, and I hope I have another opportunity to advance my skills. This print was my favorite from the class I took, and it’s now hanging on my wall. For another one of my fine art classes i was assigned an installation work. Now, I had never done an installation piece, but I was excited to take on something new. Due to my love of typography, I chose to make this piece that featured anamorphic type, where the letters can only be read from a single perspective.