IAMPETH

I really wasn't planning on these all being about hand lettering but I just have to share this one.

IAMPETH is the International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting.

I heard that they are no longer teaching penmanship in elementary schools. Only typing. Which is a shame if it is really true and not just a rumor. ALL letters used to be written. Type has evolved from hand writing. When you look at typefaces like Robert Bringhurst defines the word Humanist in "The Elements of Typographic Style" as letterforms that show the clear trace of a broad-nib pen held by a right handed scribe. A Humanist Axis is an oblique stroke axis reflecting the natural inclination of the writing hand. Handwriting is important. There is my soapbox. Aaand back to my point.

This website has .pdfs of books on penmanship that someone has painstakingly scanned in! Amazing images and all really high res. It is an amazing resource for anyone wishing to improve their hand lettering or even just handwriting skills.

http://www.iampeth.com/artwork.php

http://www.iampeth.com/books.php

Project 2: How to plant for children

This is my project 2, an educational game. I made a game called how to plant for children. The major audiences of this game are 1st and 2nd graders. Children learns how to plant in several different plants with this game. 

http://fs.finearts.utah.edu/~syang

Magnet Lettering

Magnet Lettering

Ever since we did our illustrated letter assignment, I've been super interested in all the different ways that type can be produced other than a simple hand drawn letter.  I love all the different ideas that are out there, and when I came across this one, I loved it because of the effect that it creates in the type.  The type is really clean, but at the same time, it's messy, which I think makes it look different and achieves a feel that I believe can be difficult to create.  The type is made from magnets that were cut out and then glued to a paper.  Another paper was put over them and then iron shavings were sprinkled over the top until the letters formed.  Its cool to watch something form from what seems to be nothing - but that's technically how all type is created I guess.  Sometimes using the smallest and sometimes most insignificant things can allow you to produce something magnificent.

Comic sans shooting game

Here is a fun little game I like to play, give it a try. These guys really hate Comic Sans.

bancomicsans.com/main/

Project 1: How do I go green?

http://fs.finearts.utah.edu/~syang
This website is obviously for eco-friendly people. This website has great tutorials to save the earth by following the tutorial.

Go Gawdy

Here are some fun tutorials on how to create even more illustrated text. Although I don't believe in using them in any body text, each of these tutorials would look great in stand alone characters as well as titles.

How to create Balloon Text

How to create an environmental Green text

How to create furry panda text

How to Create Layered Paper Text

How to create 3d Text

Hope you enjoy, plustuts.com is a good site for other tutorials, these all happen to be part of one of there series.

Drawn to type

Illustrated Type is everywhere, a trend seems to be forming lately teamed with artist determined to either make a typeface out of a bicycle, or create a single B out of bicycle parts (or whatever else is available.) The result of everyone's experiments is this enormous plethora of resources for every kind of artist, especially typographer's. It's as if we're faced with this hive of new ideas and emotions all begin to be put onto paper. But, the questions remains on whether or not that is appropriate.I couldn't even find a bicycle alphabet, frogs will do though. 

Think back to the reading of Bringhurst in using typefaces appropriately. Imagine you're writing a compilation of short stories about bicycles should we expect to see all of the O's in there with tiny spokes drawn in them? Or perhaps those tiny handlebars on the Y's? The truth is is that if we dared to fill our bicycle book with all this fluff and ornamentation our readers would be so overstimulated they probably wouldn't even make it past the first page. There eyes would circle around the "letterforms" in this endless cycle (no pun intended) that would take away from the point you were trying to make in the first place. Now, this doesn't mean that one should never use a flower ridden 'S' in their gardening book or an 'O' with the bat symbol in it, but think about the message you're trying to deliver, are you trying to show off the exquisite artistry or are you hiding your work behind flashy lights to jazz it up? The answer may surprise you. My opinion? Our work doesn't need shine and glitter to show it off, and as professionals the fact that we can take eloquence above gawdy is what will separate us from your everyday wanna-be. Illustrated Type is a beautiful medium, but let's show it off for it is, an image to compliment a letter form, and not a letter form to compliment an image.



My own personal favorites of Illustrated Type are those single letters redrawn, much like our assignment, here are some examples.


These are cover material, I'd put that 'A' on the front of my article, instead of on every 'A' in sight. Which do you think would be more appreciated?