Miró's Little Toe alphabet
On 15 January I put in the mail my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2013. I blogged about it, so I won't repeat the details here. I am only mentioning it because it was my work on the sketchbook that inspired this alphabet. Same style, similar doodles. It humbly reminds me of Joan Miró's work and I had great fun doodling out of character (for me). So I came up with a fun name for it: Miró's Little Toe.
a - A
As you can see, each design includes a lower-case and a capital letter. The palette changes on a whim, in keeping with the playful character of the letters.
b - B
I am using graphite, watercolour and china ink, not necessarily all of them on every letter. Everything has been drawn and painted by hand.
c - C
I started out with a large sheet of fine-grain watercolour paper where I traced the 26 7 x 7 cm squares allotted to each letter. Then I doodled haphazardly all over the sheet, without thinking about the letter-forms or their final placement.
d - D
Then I cut along the straight lines and shuffled the 26 pieces of paper just as if they were a deck of cards. Only then did I go through the random doodles to see which ones were suitable for which letter. A, B, C and D are finished. The rest of the alphabet still needs to be re-shuffled and investigated. More to come in February.
P.S. This is obviously my free-style alphabet for the year. I wanted to start with the Peace alphabet but haven't been able to decide on the process. Too many ideas, some of them quite complex, involving fabric and/or stitching. I am pressed for time now that I am preparing my solo exhibition in May, so Miró's Little Toe was the easy way ahead. Please don't step on it!
OMG Ersi! Fabulous!!! So glad you followed through from the Sketchbook. I loved hearing about your process too..doodling randomly, cutting and shuffling. This is just great!--Julie
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks so much Julie! Yes, drawing and painting random strokes on a large sheet of paper can render great results after you cut it and re-assemble the pieces. You can create unexpected patterns this way -and also pages for handmade books!
Deletejust delightful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elizabeth! It's really good to know you like it.
DeleteYou said these aren't your "Peace" alphabet - but they certainly could be! I'm finding in developing my letters (posting shortly) that when I think of what is "peaceful" vs. attaining peace or the fragility of peace or witnessing peace itself, can conger very different images. Peace isn't always easily attainable (your struggle with time issues, etc.) Peace is fragile yet fragility doesn't necessarily conger (for me anyway) the same imagery as something that is peaceFUL. Perhaps thinking too hard - but I like the process.
ReplyDeleteI like that your results aren't "just letters" but you created an overall composition in your 7cmx7cm spaces! Love Miro, btw.
Thank you, Sally! You are right about the different images that 'peace' can inspire as opposed to 'peaceful'. Why can't 'peace' be cheerful and whimsical, bold and full of life? It's all very personal. In my mind, I cannot think about Peace without also thinking of Freedom, the Freedom to be, think and act in a Peaceful space, that may be internal as well as external. A space for respect and thoughtfulness. To create anything related to these ideas, I need time and serenity. I hope I'll have that after May.
DeleteWhimsicality. A word I've always been rather fond of, for its light-hearted stance in a page of more sober words. Now, I see that my mind's "whimsicality" must have been composed in Miro's Toe.
ReplyDelete:-)
Being whimsical and frivolous at times is just one of life's necessities, isn't it? :)) I think Miró needs to wear sandals now!
DeleteC'est ravissant, très joli et très dynamique grâce aux couleurs et aux tracés. J'aime beaucoup.
ReplyDelete- - - - - -
It's lovely, beautiful and vibrant with colors and patterns. I love.
I'm thrilled you like it so much Callie, Thank You!
Deletelove it!
ReplyDeleteit does remind me of Miro -- can't wait to see the rest of the alphabet
I do thank you, Kathleen! The style for this alphabet is already set, the only novelty will be the little 'surprises' each letter-form will bring with it. And the colours.
DeleteErsi, these are amazing! I love, love, love everything about Miró & his toe & your letters...the way you approached the project, the colors, the different media/marks...how the letters are finding themselves one at a time. I can hardly wait to see more. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteYou don't know how much I appreciate your excitement, Lisa! I'm thrilled you like 'Miró's Little Toe' and I'll do my best to keep the whole thing interesting and fun.
DeleteKeep having fun Ersi - it shows right the way through these letters, and I love how you could discover the shapes of letters within...and all the doodling that led to them.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Doodling has some kind of frivolous mystery in it, I hope everyone will enjoy it with a smile.
Deletec'est tellement frais, inattendu,joli et surprenant dans la réflexion! j'adore...
ReplyDeleteOh, it has taken me very long to see your comment, sorry for that. I'm so pleased you like my letters, thanks so much!
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