leaves of grass still growing

I learned from Billy Collins from this talk on Walt Whitman that Whitman designed some of the type for the first edition of Leaves of Grass, self published, printed and bound by Whitman himself.

“How poetry freed type” apparently, was 2017 a conference that explored “the ways in which Walt Whitman’s poetry and its related technologies, such as the printing press, shaped graphic design in America”.

“Letterpress technology’s rapid advances with the invention of higher-speed presses and typecasting machines gave poets cheaper access to do their own printing. This allowed avantgarde experimentation (especially the like of Parisian poet Apollinaire, and American humanists like Walt Whitman and Emerson) with typography and an ability to put pressure on word as image (rather than as music, as poetry functioned prior).  by Aine Carr

Whitman keeps inspiring new generations of publishers and illustrators – here is an example: a 2014 publication of Whitman’s “Song of Myself, fully illustrated by Allen Crawford.

 

clever and pretty

 

 

found on The Jealous Curator curated contemporary art  Camilla Engman.

art journaling for kids

Tammy Garcia runs this great website about art journaling. If you don’t know how to get started or want to get inspired, go to Daisy Yellow. Tammy provides tons of ideas, tutorials and prompts. Here are two articles  Art Journaling for Kids|Tweens|Teens  and Art Journaling 101

playing with letters

I found these collages on my computer, but cannot find the source. Could they be by illustrator Serge Bloch?

a collage a day keeps the apple at bay

A collage a day keeps the apple at bay. I am a big fan of Martin O’Neills collage work. Here is his website: http://cutitout.co.uk/ He did an illustration series for the Guardian a few years ago, and I bought every issue just for the illustrations.

the words don’t fit or the medium is the message

Photo by derfrankie • Instagram.

emergency compliment

A steady supply of emergency compliments to be used at times of great insecurity. They may come in handy sometimes. This one is for me. I always trip in front of everyone.

keep calm

I made these cards based on the now famous British World War poster “Keep Calm and Carry On”, which is in the public domain. You can read about the history here. Rip-offs have become something of a meme. Mail artist and brilliant typographer Keith Bates created the font, based on the original poster series.

keep calm and mail art

love respect and mail art

please do not ever feed trolls

 

 

The last one ‘please do not ever feed trolls’ may come in handy, when confronted with internet trolls appearing in internet forums. You are free to use it, whenever you feel the need.

rubber stamps and fonts by Keith Bates

Keith Bates – Rubber Stamp Mail Art. Keith Bates is a personal hero of mine. Not only is he a mail artist, but he makes beautiful fonts, including free ones, which I have been using. Check out the amazing type shop: http://www.k-type.com/

paper works by Joanne Hummel Newell

Nice  work  by Joanne Hummel Newell.

british food

Exquisite paintings by Joel Pinkman. See more here: British food series.

mail art letter by Nancy Bell Scott

 

Beautiful mail art by Nancy Bell Scott | The Letter Project.

mail art memory map

Beautiful mail art by Bifidus Jones – Childhood Farm via MinXus-Lynxus.

writing on the wall

An interactive exhibition by Annie Albagli, held in the Commonwealth Gallery in the Fall of 2007 .

artful doodles

 

ingriddijkers.blogspot.co.at
Apparently doodling is evolving into a meditation practice called zentangle.

several short sentences about writing

Several Short Sentences About Writing | Brain Pickings.

oh yeah!

Yeah Yeah! Art Print by Duru Eksioglu | Society6.

a bag of nouns

A bag of nouns by Austin Kleon

handstitched postcard

Handstitched Postcard via Handmade Charlotte.

cross-stitched books

Lauren DiCioccio : Objects : cross-stitched books.

hand lettering

Getting Messy With Ms. Jessi.

Here is another creative project for children, creating illustrations fo all the letters of the alphabet, with handprints. The thumbnails are a bit small but if you click on the image they will enlarge a little bit more.