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Alternative Self Portrait

Alternative �Self-Portrait

Lesson 4

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Composing with Letter Shapes

How can you use your letter shapes to create an abstract design?

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Close Looking

Here are two magazine covers for “Broom” magazine that were created by the Russian artist and designer El Lissitzky. El Lissitsky and other avant garde artists from this era felt that society could be reinvented by challenging traditional conventions.

Using only letter and number forms, �El Lissitzky created these dynamic covers that excite the viewer’s eye.

Compare the two covers. Can you read �the word “Broom” in spite of his changes? �How does he challenge the convention of reading from left to right? Where has he played with letter form?

El Lissitzky, �Broom, vol. 4, no. 3, 1923, Museum of Modern Art, New York

El Lissitzky, �Broom, vol. 5, no. 4, 1923, Museum of Modern Art, New York

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Writing

Think of the places where you see text in your neighborhood.

What text draws your attention?

What tricks �did these artists and designers use to get your attention?

What text is easy to ignore?

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Sketchbook

Think of your letters �as shapes.

Using the letter rubbing technique, explore putting these shapes together in your sketchbook in different ways.

If you have a colored pencil you can add �one color.

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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.