As a graphic designer, I have a strong affinity with typography. I love letters, signs and ads that use artistic presentations of interesting letterforms and fonts. I capture snapshots of letters throughout my day and use them to jumpstart my creative projects. Here are some ideas.
I love that the letters are made with masking tape. This would serve as a great exercise for creating an exemplar of tape letters.
A “C” made out of snowflakes. What other ways can you make letters out of pictures?
This is a scarf from an independent designer at a craft fair. It uses the lyrics from “Three Little Birds” in its design. How can you translate this idea in your art?
Explore online typography collections to inspire your doodles. Here are some sites to get you started:
T.26: www.t26.com NYC Type: http://nyctype.com The Journal of Urban Typography: http://tjout.tumblr.com 30+ Creative Typography Art: http://sixrevisions.com/ Bembo’s Zoo: www.bemboszoo.com we love typography: http://welovetypography.com Typography in NYC Flickr Set: http://imjustcreative.tumblr.com/post/430047391/typography-in-nyc-flickr-set Emigre Catalog: www.emigre.com/EmigreCatalog.php Photo Lettering: www.photolettering.comMagazines in both print and online versions can provide visual inspiration for type and lettering treatments. You can easily create an alphabet exemplar using different magazine letters; photocopy the exemplar to use in a collaged background. You can also cut out shapes or photos from magazine pages to create a handmade, non-typographical alphabet.
Cut out letters from magazines and newsletters and keep them in files for later use. Create you own painted alphabet in Photoshop. Take photos of interesting signs, letters and words around your city. Use rub-on letters in your journals. Make your own letter stencils. Photocopy alphabets and fonts onto transparencies. Create a sketch alphabet. Carve alphabet stamps or make them out of craft foam. Remember to cut or carve letters backwards so when you stamp them they are facing the Create a journal page of letters. Use the Internet! There are many great resources for typography inspiration online. Search for “free fonts”; there are numerous fonts available for personal use.
I love to collect vintage fabric and clothing. I am continually inspired by the colors, patterns and textures in fabrics from the 1950s to 1970s. I often go to thrift, vintage and antique stores for inspiration, taking photos of the things that call out to me creatively. I use these photos to inspire my drawings and color palettes in my artwork.
Once you have many photos of vintage fabrics, you can use them to inspire painted backgrounds. Paint simple shapes with a brush and ink, acrylic or watercolor. Then draw shapes you see in the fabrics with Copic markers. This is a quick exercise to put color on paper. Notice that my paintings are not very detailed. I called out colors and shapes from the photo that I liked, but I didn’t try to copy it exactly.
Flowers painted with watercolors and accentuated with a Copic Multiliner black pen.
Pattern drawn with Copic markers over flowers painted with watercolors.
Paisley pattern painted with watercolor washes using a Sakura water brush.
Explore your local thrift and vintage stores. Be sure to bring your camera and take snapshots of the fabrics and accessories that catch
your eye. Here are some other places to find vintage fabrics:
Fabric swatch books and archives: Many fabric companies have swatch books and libraries of all their fabric designs. Vintage fabric and fashion magazines in print and online: One of my favorites is American Fabrics magazine. Fashion blogs: Do a blog search for “vintage fabric,” “print and pattern” or “vintage fashion.” Designer-inspired books: Designs by Erte, Tricia Guild Pattern by Tricia Guild and Pattern by Orly Kiely.One of my favorite ways to collect inspiration is by creating an inspiration board in my art journal before starting a project or a new piece of art. I cut interesting words, letters, colors and textures from magazines and place them on the board. These clippings are great references to inspire color choices, shapes, lines, words and more. I often refer to these boards as I explore the creative process.
hot … entice … fun …
travel … embroidered … freedom
I’m always asked about what inspires my art projects. Here’s a peek inside my “flair” trays, where I keep random materials that inspire unique color combinations. To create your own flair tray, gather paint swatches, paper, fabric, buttons, ribbons, beads, silk flowers and other small objects that inspire color and place them in a tray. Add and remove items as you desire to create a color palette that will inspire you to doodle. My flair trays are mainly for reference, but sometimes items from the trays are incorporated in a final piece.
Collect photos from your own collection, online or from magazines. A few of my favorites are Garden Design magazine for floral pictures, and Juxtapoz and Beautiful/Decay for graffiti inspiration. Do an image search online for “graffiti art,” “flowers” or your project theme. Brainstorm a list of words and phrases. Practice drawing shapes in your sketchbook or journal. Go for an inspiration walk and take photos. Go to your favorite stores and take notes on color trends, patterns and fabrics. Collect Pantone paint chips and paint swatches.