For the Love of Style Study

This project is part of a study in letter styles and object styles beginning with that letter. Each week will focus on one letter and one object beginning with that letter in order to collect and practice various artistic styles with each. 

For the Love of Styles

Last month, I had so much fun thinking of different styles to paint that I didn’t want it to end. So, as a challenge to myself and because I have the interest, I decided to continue processing in the study format.

I plan to continue looking at a single something (object, animal, flower, scene, word, etc) and look at it through several different, creative styles. This kind of study not only helps me discover what I like and what I don’t like visually (color, forms, lines, etc.) but also what I like and don’t like creating. Along with that, it gives me a deeper understanding of the object itself, planting the images into my visual mind in various forms. Maybe I’ll be able to recall the images without references at some point. Maybe.

Likewise, as I look at letters in various ways, it helps my brain think forward when I’m hand lettering … forward toward the way I want my letter to take shape even as I’m writing. This may lead into a different, fluid flourish or it may fill the letter with a playful design and color. Maybe studying letters this way will help my brain process new possibilities for letter designs. At the very least, I may teach myself a few new style alphabets for later use.

Throughout this study, I want to come up with various forms of each letter of the alphabet over the course of a week. During that same week, I will study a subject (object, animal, flower, scene, word, etc). I will post some of these to my Instagram account on alternate days (letter, object, letter, object, etc.) with the occasional word in the mix. On Tuesdays, in addition to my usual Thursday post, I plan to post a summary from the week on the blog.

I have already started posting A on Instagram, but the A post summary will come out next Tuesday.

I enjoy finding ways to keep myself learning about lettering, watercolors, and ink in a way that holds my interest. As long as interest continues, this will carry on until the end of the alphabet. If you want to join the study, just tag me at @joanneegroff and #patchesofordinary so I can see your creativity in action.

Update on March 3, 2019: Links to the entire Alphabet For the Love of Style Study are here.