Imaginative Appropriateness: Graphic Design for Calligraphers (Timothy Botts: 5 day)
Skill Level: All
Arnold Bank taught that our strongest work occurs when it is both original and fit for the purpose of the job. The creative process will be explored through brainstorming and visualizing the meaning of a text. After looking at various printed ephemera, a set of design principles will be extracted. We will then work through a number of hands-on exercises to reinforce these universal principles such as contrast, letter style, use of color, letter path, and layering. The process on several of Tim’s commissions from sketches to final will be reviewed and he will lead us through the stages by demonstrating a piece from start to finish. Bring along several favorite texts of 35 words or less from which your own final piece will be done.
Supply List: Bottled sumi; Winsor Newton gouache in tubes: primaries or permanent rose, lemon yellow, phthalo blue, white; 11″x14″ or 11″x17″ layout bond or copy paper; broad-edge pen nibs: Speedball C-0, C-1, C-2 and Brause set of nine (esp ¾ through 3 mm); broad-edge brushes: ¼”-1/2″widths; Asian pointed brushes with bristles approx. 1¼” long; drawing board (at least 12″x18″); T-square; HB pencil; kneaded eraser; masking tape; inexpensive mixing brush; palette with at least six wells; several sheets Fabriano Artistico or Arches Text Wove cut approximately to 11″x14″; several sheets Canson MiTientes black and medium value neutral colors such as grey or tan, cut to approximately 11″x14″.
About the instructor: The work of Timothy R. Botts reaches back to letterforms as old as the first century and combines contemporary graphic design principles with them in order to express the meaning of great words. He is interested in interweaving background, text, and image so that they become one. He is always trying to strike a balance between visual expression and a degree of legibility with the goal of giving a face to that which is spirit. Botts has a BFA in graphic design from Carnegie-Mellon University during which time he apprenticed in calligraphy with Arnold Bank. He spent three years in Japan and was influenced by the rich tradition of their brush writing. He has designed more than 600 books for Tyndale House Publishers near Chicago where he is senior art director. Nine books of his own work are published, including Doorposts, Messiah, and a Bible illustrated in his calligraphy. He is a part time instructor with College of DuPage and has taught workshops internationally. His work is part of the permanent collection of the Newberry Library. http://www.timbotts.com
