To Text or Not to Text........That is the Question!

Decided to try the addition of block type in this mini, since the images are all block prints.  The difference being the origin of the image.  All of the "picture" images are hand carved and hand inked or painted.  The type is created using purchased letter font blocks. 

When looking at many mixed media creations, I marvel at the precision of text printing many can produce.  A few are hand lettered, and often have a calligraphy look, but many are stamped letters, like the examples here. 

I think the one I like the best are those that have been created using a stencil of some kind.  The outline of the letter(s) has/have been shaped using a pencil, then filled in with paint, ink or marker.  This technique seems to work the best with large letters or where the letters, and not the visual image, are the focal point on the page. 

As I continue to work sporadically in the creation of these minibooks, I am moving further and further away from the addition of text in the development process, and closer and closer to images only with block printing to create text lines.

What I find intriguing is the creation of the line, itself.  I can even remember as a child, being interested in the different types of "ruled" paper, and teacher demands for one type (usually "wide rule," rather than "college rule".)  I also find it very interesting that in all of my undergraduate and graduate work over the years, I have NEVER had one professor require, request, or even mention the need for "college rule" paper.   (Of course that is somewhat of a mute point for college students at this point since I don't believe there is a category of college rule electronic submission; font and spacing now.)

In high school the grid in graph paper was also a teacher driven choice and while most required 1/4 inch grid, there were a few that preferred the 1/8 inch (much have been an engineering major,) and even one that required 1/2" (try to find that at the local K-Mart.....or anywhere else.)

Anyway, lines on paper can be very intriguing in the way in which they contribute to the overall visual composition of a finished piece.  I wonder how many students stopped to review and think about a final written page in the visual/aesthetic prior to submitting the piece on the due date. (Such a non-issue for most students now, as well - the teacher/student arguing point now centers most around font choice!)   There is something very satisfying about text horizontally aligned and the consistent marching parallels of high-formed letters (b, d, l, h, t, f, etc.) and the "below-the-line" draggers (g, j, p, q, y, etc.)  I suppose these visual aspects are the enticement behind the development of strong calligraphic lettering styles.