I am so happy to share my creative challenge for Summer 2013:
The Hand Lettering Side Project
The side project will live on tumblr. I thought of posting it here on our Blank Space Design Blog, but I think I will benefit from an online space where the focal point is my hand lettering project. I am looking forward to seeing my progress, all in one place, over the summer.
I will post a new image everyday of something I have hand lettered. I am interested in testing out different forms of lettering styles. I may simple post a word, a single letter, a quote, or whatever strikes my fancy. I also have a ton of photographs from traveling over the past few years that I would like to integrate into this project.
As a kid I loved handwriting, and drawing letter forms. I even had my own calligraphy set when I was in the 4th grade. Somehow, over the years I forgot about it. Until last summer when I started practicing calligraphy again for our wedding invitations, and it was so much fun! It is really good for me to get away from the computer and back to the sketchbook. This summer I am giving myself a creative challenge that will inspire me to keep practicing, and give me a place to share my progress.
I love typography and type design. I have been looking closely at letters for over a decade. Now, I want to take the knowledge further and see what happens. Of course, there are many artists and illustrators who share their hand lettering regularly that are amazing. If fact seeing the work of Sean McCabe, Lisa Congdon, and Jessica Hische has certainly inspired my own journey of hand lettering. As did the daily sightings of beautiful hand lettering in Buenos Aires—an historic art form known as Fileteado. (Yes, I was lucky enough to live in Buenos Aires for 6 months this past year!)
I hope you will follow me on this journey.