The Overlooked M

Somehow I overlooked this M from the series I posted recently. This was done with markers and an acrylic medium, trying to get an interesting look from just one drawn letter. It has a certain quality that I like, although it's hard to articulate exactly why I like it.

More Gothic

I guess this is becoming part of the "Gothic series," even though I never planned for that. I wouldn't say that this explores any new ground, but it was fun executing it. The forms themselves are quite decorative and are copied from an old writing book from the 1900s.

Roman M's

Here are two recently drawn Roman letters.  All three were part of an exercise, self-imposed, to just draw the letter and try to get it right. I didn't use double pencils as I learned when I was a student of calligraphy. It seemed more challenging this way.

Ruling Pen Madness

These two experimental pieces were done using a ruling pen, the kind used for drawing fine lines in a mechanical drawing done by hand. By holding the pen sideways you can get varying thicknesses. I wasn't hoping for anyone to be able to read what these are, but you can make out the beginning line of a well-known Dylan song in one of them. I think of them as two more experiments with black and white. I feel that they both have their merits as such.

Regard/Regardless

This is from the colorful, calligraphic doodle series. Possibly done sometime in 2009. Can't say that I remember much about it except that I used the multi-colored pencil for some of the doodling. There's a quote for the new year sent to me by a friend. It's by John Greenleaf Whittier and what it says is:

No longer forward, nor behind

I look in hope or fear

But, grateful, take the good I find

The best of now and here.

I find many such quotations annoying at best, but this one hit me as something to aspire to. The best of now and here is all we really have to work with. Still a big challenge.

Copperplate Practice

Back around 1980 I was trying to get better at copperplate, the elaborate script written with a pointed pen. I came across this practice sheet that looked interesting. This is the negative version of the sheet I lettered. It looks more dramatic in this version.

Three Gothic Alphabets

These were done with water soluble markers made by Zig. Lately I've experimented by applying a layer of Modge Podge, a kind of acrylic matte medium. The one alphabet that was not modified is older but these were all done within the last 6 months. There is something about the ornate quality of gothic alphabets that I find appealing. I like the unpredictable watercolor effect that is produced by the matte medium. I also find it interesting that all three alphabets are quite different, and yet seem definitely related. Hmmm. Just like families.