Sunday Shares #18
Calligraphy of mine from 2012. The sketches for this work were featured in the book “Hand to Type” by the late Jan Middendorp. The lyrics are from “Hard Believer” By First Aid Kit.
This week I was really feeling the sadness of not only the loss of life of thousands of innocent people living on the other side of the world, but of a person I met years ago through type.
Designer, researcher, and writer Jan Middendorp died this week. He was a talented man who published many books on type design, and typography.
I own several of his books (including Dutch Type, which a lettering artist gave the first edition to me before the reprint was published). Looking back at his oeuvre of writing, I have come to realize that there’s still so much of his work I still need to read.
The very first book my lettering was published in was a book he edited called “Hand to Type”. It came out right before I moved to Kansas City, Missouri to work as a type designer many years ago. The book is really cool, because so many lettering artists and type designers were featured. There’s even a section about the lettering history at Hallmark (where I used to work)!
I’m briefly featured in the book, but that is not why I am recommending it. It’s chock full of really awesome lettering artists, and for many of the artists featured, they show their process.
I’m sad I didn’t get to know him better, but I do appreciate that he recognized my work when I was younger and that we got to meet in person years ago.
Here’s some things that caught my eye last week:
Brain Check In
After seeing a Facebook post of work by Matilda Heindow, I went to check out her instagram. I like how honest, yet warm her work about mental health is. The brain check ins seem like a really interesting way to journal how you a feeling from day to day.
Pietertje van Splunter
Digging the work of artist Pietertje van Splunter. Great uses of lots of color!
You can't create in survival mode.
I saw this a few weeks ago, and I’m still thinking about it because it is true. Yes, you can make art during moments of pain and trauma, but to consistently do so is very challenging.
Crochet Pasta
Two of my favorite things: Pasta and Crocheting
Refaat Alareer
Several educators I know shared this poem by the late scholar Refaat Alareer this week. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful. What a loss.
