Monday, August 1, 2011

Monograms

I have a love affair with monograms. With letters, actually. I love lettering as an artform - have for many years. My darling niece, Karen Lynn, gave me the push I needed on my Lettering Journey many years ago when she gifted me with a marvelous calligraphy book. It teaches all the basic calligraphy strokes and even included a pen with three different size nibs and several vials of ink. What fun. Thank you, Karen.

I've been learning a bit lately about illuminated letters and decorated versals. These are the beautiful large letters that you find in old books - the first letter of the first word on the page...like this...




I've been trying my hand at creating a decorated alphabet using some zentangle patterns as the decoration. So far I've made a K, a G, and a C.
Did I say I really love monograms? These would qualify as versals...while these...


...are really just zentangled letters. I'm having lots of fun, and have to have a way to get rid of all the stuff I make...so there is probably a Decorated Versal of your monogram in your future!

6 comments:

  1. I LOVE these! I love illuminated manuscripts, and got to see a few recently at the Cambridge University library. I love that the monks were willing to invest such huge quantities of time to make beautiful and preserve the Scriptures. I very much look forward to viewing some of your examples in person one day. I'm quite partial to the letter k, but I think my favourite in the above line-up might be g. They are all good.

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  2. Oh, and your welcome! I had forgotten about the calligraphy set until you mentioned it. I'm glad you like it, I like it too.

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  3. I meant you're. Matilda is attacking me as I type.

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  4. I love the monograms, especially the "K"

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  5. I like this. Brian is taking a typography class this semester, it's all very interesting. He actually had to invent a font, he is very clever.

    However, this is your blog...so my comment should be about you. You are very clever as well.

    xoxo

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  6. Thank you for visiting my blog! I read your info and we have several thingsin common - my only son is named Evan, love the name. His GP's name is Jon and Evan is Welsh for John :) Secondly, I homeschooled as well. Not as long as you, just 4 years but I treasured each one. And lastly I love letters! Love your modern versals with the Zentangle aspects! Great fun!

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