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ABOUT HANDLETTERS
Course Description
This course is a study of letter forms in hand drawn form. Students will learn the bascidescriptions of letters, learn to create letters that are legible, illegible, abstractions, expressive forms, descriptive of a theme or meed, formally correct, patterns, textures and experimental. Everything starts with hand drawn forms, but will also employ manipulation. Historical roots of handlettering will be covered and examples of contemporary hand lettering will be shown.
Sketchbooks
You are required to bring a sketchbook to every class, critique and meeting. Each week you are required to draw one alphabet in your sketchbook. Pin up a photocopy of your alphabet at the start of each class. This will count as 25% of your grade. Spend about 1 hr on your sketchbook alphabet in addition to your assignment. As an alternate, you can also take photos of letterforms you find in the world. You would need 10 images printed on one sheet of 8.5x11” to act as a substitute for a full alphabet.
Grades
Consult the Academic Bulletin for information on grading letters and what you need to earn each. Work ethic,
homework, crit participation, quality of work , creativity/originality and attendance are all important factors in your grade.
This course is a study of letter forms in hand drawn form. Students will learn the bascidescriptions of letters, learn to create letters that are legible, illegible, abstractions, expressive forms, descriptive of a theme or meed, formally correct, patterns, textures and experimental. Everything starts with hand drawn forms, but will also employ manipulation. Historical roots of handlettering will be covered and examples of contemporary hand lettering will be shown.
Sketchbooks
You are required to bring a sketchbook to every class, critique and meeting. Each week you are required to draw one alphabet in your sketchbook. Pin up a photocopy of your alphabet at the start of each class. This will count as 25% of your grade. Spend about 1 hr on your sketchbook alphabet in addition to your assignment. As an alternate, you can also take photos of letterforms you find in the world. You would need 10 images printed on one sheet of 8.5x11” to act as a substitute for a full alphabet.
Grades
Consult the Academic Bulletin for information on grading letters and what you need to earn each. Work ethic,
homework, crit participation, quality of work , creativity/originality and attendance are all important factors in your grade.
ABOUT THE FACULTY
Whitney Sherman is an award-winning illustrator whose limited edition lines of hand-painted ceramics are sold under the Pbody Dsign name. She can't get enough of good handlettering and uses it whenever possible.
Questions? email me at wsherman[at]mica.edu
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Benerra, Neal & Brougher, Kerry, Ed Ruscha, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC, 2000.
Berry, John D., U&lc : Influencing Design & Typography, Mark Batty Publisher, 2005.
Emmerling, Leonard, Basquiat, Taschen America, Los Angeles, CA, 2003.
Fella, Ed & Blackwell, Lewis & Wild, Lorraine, Ed Fella : Letters on America, Princeton
Architectural Press, 2000.
Friedl, Friedrich & Otto, Nicklaus & Stern, Bernard, Typography, Black Dog & Leventhal, New
York, 1998.
Gastman, Roger & Houser, Jim, Babel, Ginko Press and R77, Corte Madera, CA, 2005.
Grushkin, Paul, The Art of Rock Poster from Presley to Punk, Abbeville Press, NY, 1987.
Heller, Steven & Ilic, Mirko, Handwrittten, New York, Thames & Hudson, Inc., 2004.
Laskey, Julie, Some People Can’t Surf, The Graphic Design of Art Chantry, Chronicle
Books, SF, 2001.
Lupton, Ellen, Thinking with Type, Princeton Architectural Press, New York, 2004.
Matisse, Henri, Jazz, George Braziller, Inc., New York, 1985.
Matthias, Arnold, Henri De Toulouse-Latrec : 1864 – 1901, The Theater of Life,
Benedikt Taschen Verlag GmbH, 2000.
McMullan, James, The Theater Posters of James McMullan, Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1998.
Perry, Michael, Hand Job : A Catalog of Type, Princeton Architectural Press, 2007.
Rothenstein, Julian & Gooding, Mel, More Alphabets and Other Signs, Chronicle Books, SF,
2003.
Ruscha, Edward, They Call Her Styrene, Phaidon Press, New York, 2000.
Spender, Stephen [editor], Hockney’s Alphabet, Drawings by Davud Hockney, Random
House, New York, 1991.
Berry, John D., U&lc : Influencing Design & Typography, Mark Batty Publisher, 2005.
Emmerling, Leonard, Basquiat, Taschen America, Los Angeles, CA, 2003.
Fella, Ed & Blackwell, Lewis & Wild, Lorraine, Ed Fella : Letters on America, Princeton
Architectural Press, 2000.
Friedl, Friedrich & Otto, Nicklaus & Stern, Bernard, Typography, Black Dog & Leventhal, New
York, 1998.
Gastman, Roger & Houser, Jim, Babel, Ginko Press and R77, Corte Madera, CA, 2005.
Grushkin, Paul, The Art of Rock Poster from Presley to Punk, Abbeville Press, NY, 1987.
Heller, Steven & Ilic, Mirko, Handwrittten, New York, Thames & Hudson, Inc., 2004.
Laskey, Julie, Some People Can’t Surf, The Graphic Design of Art Chantry, Chronicle
Books, SF, 2001.
Lupton, Ellen, Thinking with Type, Princeton Architectural Press, New York, 2004.
Matisse, Henri, Jazz, George Braziller, Inc., New York, 1985.
Matthias, Arnold, Henri De Toulouse-Latrec : 1864 – 1901, The Theater of Life,
Benedikt Taschen Verlag GmbH, 2000.
McMullan, James, The Theater Posters of James McMullan, Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1998.
Perry, Michael, Hand Job : A Catalog of Type, Princeton Architectural Press, 2007.
Rothenstein, Julian & Gooding, Mel, More Alphabets and Other Signs, Chronicle Books, SF,
2003.
Ruscha, Edward, They Call Her Styrene, Phaidon Press, New York, 2000.
Spender, Stephen [editor], Hockney’s Alphabet, Drawings by Davud Hockney, Random
House, New York, 1991.
SWEET LINKS
- Chris Neal
- Gluekit
- HappyCentro - AlphaPosters
- Jess Hische
- Joel Holland
- John Hendrix
- Kim Bost
- Letter Playground
- Mike Perry
- Nate Williams
- POST-TYPOGRAPHY
- Ray Fenwick
- Ronald Kurniwan
- States Mottos Project
- Steve Heller talking about lettering
- Ted McGrath
- The Die-Line
- Type Directors Club
- Typographica
- We Love Typography