Calligraphy


 * Calligraphy**

From the Greek – Kallos= beauty & grapke=writing So that would be beautiful writing

The wiki site gives a contemporary definition of the art of giving forms to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner. But this says nothing of beauty.

We can agree that Calligraphy is an art form and that it should be beautiful which is subjective and it should be expressive. Calligraphy could be considered an artistic craft. It serves a function of communicating so maybe the definition should have a mention of communicating something. That is in effect what writing does. And calligraphy is writing or we’ll say fancy writing.

Now we also know that writing is a form of drawing. So now we can say that calligraphy is a form of drawing. It uses lines and these lines have certain qualities and characteristics that make the calligraphic letters beautiful or interesting. It also has shape and form so that now we can say that it uses the elements of art. Does this make it art? I think the definition of art is subjective so you will have arrive at that answer on your own. I for one believe that it very well can be an art based upon what I have written above.

Calligraphy may be a dying art form now because of computers and fonts. I believe we are a fairly lazy society and a Calligrapher’s prices can be high. But it is a mechanical art form that can be practiced and learned so as opposed to using a computer program entirely, a combination of hand done and computer might cut prices allowing everyone, willing to put in the time, to obtain the beauty of the written word to express their feelings in a wedding invitation, a religious event, an invite to a birthday party or an birth announcement.

Graphic artists use calligraphy and calligraphic devices to make their artwork. Look at a movie poster or CD cover. Look at the written words and examine how they draw your attention to them and what they are saying. Think about posters like no smoking posters. Does the lettering say anything about the message? Can they alone, express a message. Yes they can and the good, the best often do. It gives the message a harmonious feel where all the parts are working together.

Some questions for you consideration;

What is Calligraphy?

Where does it come from?

What should it do and do well?

Why is it a subjective art form?

Why is it a dying art form in our society?

How can it be saved?

What is the real beauty of calligraphy based what we have learned?

**Key Concept** – **Calligraphy** as Art. Stylize or Redesign http://mhsartgallerymac.wikispaces.com/Calligraphy *Can a **language look** like it **sounds culturally** or vise versa? *Can **language look** like a **sound**? Honk? Scream? Duck? Quack? Stop? *Does the **nature** or **essence** of the written word change when it is redesigned in an art context?

**Objective** - SW a) work with Celtic and Islamic calligraphy  b) discover how calligraphy relates to line, shape and form? **Procedure** - a) Intro and demos history and questions above, Look at Celtic and Islamic calligraphy and art work b) define of calligraphy? c) use line to form a Celtic knot or design inspired by the same. d) follow the steps of basic drawing process a) make several scribbles on paper b) use horizontal lines to begin process of making ribbon type forms c) Use hatching for preliminary shading d) Finish drawing a) Design a celtic type knot b) Sketch design in line c) Connect lines and design breaks, over under d) Insert pattern e) Add value appropriately by blending a) repeat above in color pencil b) repeat above in watercolor
 * Process 1 **
 * Process 2 **
 * Process 3 **


 * Questions to Consider **

a) What grabbed your interest? Considering line, shape, and form as well as letter characteristics and how they blend to gether. And on paper????? b) Did the design change with the addition of color? c) Which change was most dramatic?

**Materials** - pencil, eraser, paper no smaller than 9 x, watercolor, and color pencil **Artists** – Ed Ruscha, Mohammad Ehsaei, Celtic Knots **Evaluation** – a) TIO b) Quality of line c) Overall pattern. d) Does it move have rhythm! e) How was it fabricated from the first spark of as idea. f) Addition of value

Questions – Can a language look like it sounds or vise versa?

Is Language visually linked to its people?

Does the design of the written word, on a page call to mind a people, emotion, place, sound? How is this accomplished?

Can language look like a sound? Honk? Scream? Duck? Quack? Stop?

Does the nature of the written word change when it is redesigned as in the work of Ehsaei?

If the word water is written using stones, does it still have the same power. In other words does the material or image have an effect upon the word? dynamics, diagonals, color, total line reorientation (backhanded), elongation, even the addition of color, shape and form
 * Consider **

Questions – Can a language look like it sounds or vise versa? Is Language visual liked to its people? Does the design of the written word, on a page call to mind a people, emotion, place, sound? Can language look like a sound? Honk? Scream? Duck? Quack? Stop? Does the nature of the written word change when it is redesigned as in the work of Ehsaei? If the word water is written using stones, does it still have the same power. In other words does the material or image have an effect upon the word? Some styles of writing resemble what? Consider

Consider dynamics, diagonals, color, total line reorientation (backhanded), Elongation, even the addition of color.

Above and below, Celtic Calligraphy



Below Arabic

Mohammad Esheaie ? Below is a more contemporary conceptual take on Calligraphy Ed Ruscha



Caveman Font



A - z Graffiti Fonts

Brain

Graffiti Regenerative Kaso Senso TDK