July 2022 (TBC)
TypeJuly - Cyrus Highsmith (Occupant Fonts)
Thinking with your hands
Basic data
Duration
Language
English
Keywords
Letters, stencils, sketchbook, rabbits, monsters, drawing, no laptops, contour, edge, shape, thinking hand
Level
All levels are welcome.
Who can apply
Anyone can apply. Expertise limited mostly to the latin alphabet but students who want to explore additional writing systems are very welcome.
Knowledge/experience required
Lots of energy, an open mind, willingness to be present and participate.
Note
Dates may be modified and courses may be canceled depending on the evolution of the pandemic.
Presentation
Letters can be drawn in so many different ways. Cyrus Highsmith’s approach is based heavily on the importance of white space and sensitivity to shapes. It’s a method he applies to type design as well as image making of all kinds. For Highsmith, it’s a way of seeing the world. This workshop will be a messy, hands-on, and computer-free exploration of drawing, making, and thinking about letters.
Objective
The objective of this workshop is to create a memorable week of drawing letters and making art. It will culminate in a group exhibition of our work.
Materials
The school will supply the necessary drawing materials, though the participants are welcome to bring their own. It will be messy. No laptops necessary.
Structure and contents
Each day will be 4 hours of working together on a group exhibition of sketches, drawings and prints. We will experiment and play with different ways of drawing and thinking about letters. Techniques may include stencils, screen printing, collage, painting. Participants should be ready for new experiences, experimentation, play, and failure.
Professor
Cyrus Highsmith is a letter drawer, teacher, author, and graphic artist. He teaches type design at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He wrote and illustrated the acclaimed primer Inside Paragraphs: Typographic Fundamentals. In 2015, he received the Gerrit Noordzij Prize for extraordinary contributions to the fields of type design, typography, and type education. In 2017, he became Creative Director for Latin Type Development at Morisawa USA. He goes to bed very early.
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