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Close Looking

What do you notice about how the letters are arranged in these artworks?

How does the arrangement convey the meaning of the word?

Carl Ostendarp, AAARRGH, 2014

(On cover)

Robert Indiana, Love, �1967

Deborah Kass, Being Alive, 2010

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Designing and Cutting Letters

In this lesson, you will design your �own letters.

You will cut these out and use them as a template for a composition.

You will need:

5 pieces of paper, at least one white
Scissors
Graphite pencil
Eraser
Colored pencil and crayons (optional)

Letter Design Example

Helvetica

Illustrated font

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Choosing Your Word

Let’s think about a word that’s important to you that you would like to work with for the rest of our lessons.

This can be a word that describes you or a word that inspires you. You can even pick a word because you like the shape of its letters.

In your sketchbook make a quick list of possible words. Then, choose your favorite.

Robert Indiana, Love, 1967

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Planning Your Design

Think about how you’d like to design letters for your word.

Your letters can be thick �or thin.

Your letters can have sharp or round edges, they can be straight or tilted.

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Design and Sketch Your Letters

Make a few sketches to develop your letter design. What personality would you like your letters to have? Use a pencil and an eraser so that you can modify and try out different versions.

As you draw, consider:

round or sharp edges
straight or tilted letters
thick or thin letters

Take time to play and experiment. You can use a ruler or straight edge if it helps you.

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Make a Template – Folding

Prepare your paper by folding it in half three times, squeezing the edges hard.

When you open your paper, you should have eight equal rectangles.

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Make a Template – Drawing Your Design

Next, draw your word�design with a pencil, making a letter in each rectangle.

Each letter needs to touch the top and bottom of the rectangle. This will ensure that all of your letters are the same height.

Most letters should also touch the left and right side of the rectangle. (With the exception of the letter “I”.)

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Cutting Your Letters

Cut out each individual rectangle.
Open your scissors wide and place your paper inside the mouth of the scissors.
Hold the paper in one hand and the scissors in the other. This way you can turn them both while cutting out your letters.
Cut slowly. Take your time and follow the lines you drew.
Some letters have shapes inside that �need to be removed. Cut the outside of �the letter first, then fold the letter to cut �out the enclosed shape.

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Create a Composition

Assemble all your letters and arrange them in different ways.

Think about it like a game. What new and interesting arrangements can you try?

Choose the most interesting arrangement �to make a rubbing.

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Create a Rubbing – Layout

Lay out your letter design on a hard flat surface. Cover the design with a clean sheet of white paper and begin rubbing.

You can stop the paper �from moving by taping it on two edges.

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Create a Rubbing

Hold your pencil (or colored pencil or crayon) on its side and move it only in one direction, side to side or top to bottom.

Make pencil lines even �and close to each other �so that there is no white paper showing.

While you make the rubbing, do not move your paper or stencil at all.

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Reflection

What do you think is the difference between writing a word and designing with letters?

What was most important to you when you created your design with letters?

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Remote Arts Learning Partnership

Module One �

Studio in a School NYC Team

Julie Applebaum, Senior Director

Remote Arts Learning Partnership Project DIrector

Writing Team Project Team

Anne-Marie McIntyre Josef Zutelgte Belinda Blum Nicola Giardina Paul Urevitch

Jamie Powell Andrea Burgay Katherine Huala

Graphic Design

Don Giordano

NYC Department of Education OASP Team

Karen Rosner, Director of Visual Arts

Amber Lodman, Arts Program Manager Kaitlin Trammell, Remote Arts Learning Partnership Project Coordinator

NYC Department of Education Visual Arts Teacher Team

Maria Bonilla Susan Bricker Amie Robinson Lara Tyson

These educational materials were created through a partnership with Studio in a School NYC and The New York City Department of Education Office of Arts and Special Projects (OASP) and made possible by the generosity of The New York Community Trust.