Handwriting: A lost ARt
"Of all the ways we express ourselves non-verbally, none is quite so personal as handwriting."
"Unlike other ways we sue to express our individuality we have sole ownership of our handwriting. It is a personal possession that no other person is allowed to use or imitate."
1. Write your signature just as you usually sign your name
2. Below your signature write your name again, this time use your most beautiful "hand" write slowly, drawing the letters with care
3. Write your name one more time underneath the second version. This time use your non-dominant hand.
Compare and Contrast these three "drawings."
The line expresses everything, and the communication is very clear.
Answer the following questions in your sketchbook:
- If three people were to apply for a job, based on the signatures, who would be hired?
- Which one do you like the best? Why?
- Which shows the most confidence?
- Which shows the most precision?
- Which shows the most hesitation?
- What does your handwriting reveal about you?
- What do you wish you handwriting looked like? Are you happy with it the way it is?
Challenge #1
- Take a pen or pencil in your hand and place it naturally on a piece of paper
- Turn away from the paper so that you can't see what you are drawing/writing
- Copy each letter, first capitals, then lower case without looking.
- Draw each letter very very slowly, millimeter by millimeter
- Slow your gaze, pay attention to how your eyes move along the lines
- Pay attention to each detail and the beauty of each form
Challenge #2
- Take a pen or pencil in your hand and place it naturally on a piece of paper
- Turn away from the paper so that you can't see what you are drawing/writing
- Write your name three times without looking.
- Draw each letter very very slowly, millimeter by millimeter
- Slow your gaze, pay attention to how your eyes move along the lines
- Pay attention to each detail and the beauty of each form
Write your reaction and reflection in your sketchbook
- Did your handwriting improve? Why or why not?
- How do you know?
- Did you like doing this activity? Why or why not?
- What did you notice?
Looking at what you wrote above
What does your handwriting say about you? Jot down some notes
Negative Spaces in Handwriting a b d g o p q These are enclosed letters. Letters that have negative spaces. Challenge #3 1. On a piece of graph paper draw each of these letters, side by side at least 5 times 2. Try not to think about drawing the letter, think about drawing the shape inside. 3. Be sure to try to make each shape look like the one before it 4. Color in the negative shapes. n m h v w y These are mounded letters. Letters that have open negative spaces. Challenge #4 1. On a piece of graph paper draw a series of each of these letters, side by side 2. Concentrate on the negative mounds. 3. Make each negative mound the same, same size and shape. 4. Color in the negative shapes Challenge #5 1. On a piece of graph paper write your name again 2. Focus on the negative shapes in the letters 3. Color in the negative shapes Write your reaction and reflection in your sketchbook
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