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| I usually make a point of including at least a couple of process photos with every piece - to explain a bit more about how what you are seeing came to be. For those who are new to this blog the letters for this alphabet are not copied from a computer font or from a type face. They are drawn by hand - and then carved by hand - with a mallet and chisel. The letter forms are the result of my immersion in drawing and carving letters for the past 14years. Traditional Roman letter have a timeless lure - and a timeless strength. The have captured me - somewhat against my will, and I come back to them again and again, with new ideas - and new ways of seeing - knowing they have so much to teach - and me, so much to learn! |
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| A detail of the raw stone (slate) and the carved letters before painting. |
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| The finished letters, oil paints. |
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| detail... |
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| detail... |
Roman Letters, Really?
Ok, in writing the above and posting the photos, I realize that for those of you not involved with calligraphy or typography - talking about beautiful letters, and especially Roman Capitals, which we all learned by age 7, may seem a little boring. Odd though it may be - they (letters) are everywhere. They are the foundation for everything we communicate in writing, whether it is a text message or an ancient manuscript. I often take letters for granted, they are deceivingly simple marks. Yet these 26 characters are used to affirm the tenets of democracy - religion - your favorite book (or screenplay?) and the reservation for your eye doctor appointment. I would venture to say they are in essence - a pillar of our culture, without which - much of what we take for granted could not exist or be built upon.
But of course, as an artist - for the moment - the above piece, is not so much a direct celebration of their function. I see it as more of a family gathering, carved in stone. It is a chance for some of the more shy and eccentric characters to socialize with the more outgoing vowel types. Most especially, it is also a chance for me (and hopefully you) to just enjoy them all - for the beautiful characters they are.
