The Lettering Arts Trust Journeyman Scheme of 2020/21 begun with the first task: to create a seasonally themed object for sale in The Lettering Arts Centre shop in Snape Maltings. Under the tuition of professional lettering artist, Charlotte Howarth, I drafted a range of designs from which we chose one - based on a line from the traditional Scottish Hogmanay song by Robert Burns - to refine and take to completion. The original design was based on Burns' handwriting from a sample manuscript, and the letterforms were then adapted for regularity and clarity. The strongest remaining influence is the use of a 'long s', which was phased out from print during the mid-1970s yet persisted in handwriting through to the second half of the 19th century: "In handwriting (...) the long s is usually confined to preceding a 'short s', either in the middle or at the end of a word—for example aſsure, Bleſsings: this pairing looks like the German ß, which is known as the Eszett." (Source - Wikipedia 'Long s') Design meeting were held in the mornings over video conferencing and I was given advice on layout, spacing, the importance of regular letterforms, painting, and every aspect from choosing to apply lines by scribe, to the finish of the texture. On the advice of Charlotte, I purchased a new 3mm ‘Al-Orr’ brand marble lettering chisel, ordered directly from the R H & G Travis & Son Ltd workshop in West Yorkshire. I could not be happier with the cut produced by this chisel, and it makes carving the high quality slate very kindly sent to me by Louise Tiplady a complete joy. The finished design is called 'Cup 'O Kindness' and is due to go on sale in store at the Lettering Arts Trust and online under smaller works and gifts. It measures 100 x 100 x 20mm and is drilled to wall mount on a single fixing.
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AuthorHeather Griffith is a stone mason from Scotland, and currently taking part in The Lettering Arts Trust Journeyman Scheme for 2020/21. Archives
June 2021
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