Illuminating messages: introduce students to the principles of layout and design through calligraphy.

Introduce students to the principles of layout and design through calligraphy.

Once students have learned the basics of a calligraphic alphabet, it is a good idea for them to apply this new skill to a project which will introduce them to the principles of layout and design. The following lesson is a good one for middle school students and older. These students find great satisfaction in completing such a project.

Ask students to come to class with a prose quote or poem which they would like to write out and illustrate. This is also a good time for those who write their own poetry to try their hand at illustrating their own work. Provide 18" x 24" (46 cm x 61 cm) newsprint (the size of the finished piece) on which to practice lettering and finish ideas. Penholders, India ink, lettering pen points (e.g., The Speedball C-2), pencils, rulers, glue, scissors and various watercolors and supplies for the illustration and border should be available to complete the project.

On the first day, students letter their quotes or poems on the newsprint using the standard spacing for whatever kind of calligraphy lettering learned. Lines should be ruled in pencil on the newsprint sheet. At this time, students estimate whether the quote is too long for the size of the paper and either get a shorter piece or change the size of their pen point or spacing. For younger scribes, it is best to have all students use one size pen point and the same spacing. Then if their quote is too short or too long, they simply find another one.

Show students books and examples of borders and illustrations which will make their own compositions interesting and fun to do. It is wise to tell the students beforehand that they are required to make a border decoration, or to try a decorated initial or illustration. This is a good time to discuss what makes a good layout.

The students can cut out the lines of their poem or quote once they have lettered them and practice moving them around on another piece of newsprint. They should consider where they will place the border or illustrations. The placement should leave less room at the top and more room at the bottom. The written material should not look too crowded, and students should discuss what makes a balanced composition.

If students appear a little lost as to how to start a border, show some good examples and encourage making one with a ruler around the written material. Demonstrate various kinds of borders and how to design them. Some students will know immediately that they would rather prepare a painted background or draw an illustration. Encourage them to practice first on the newsprint before using the final piece of good paper. If students are shown good examples, it is amazing how creative and varied their solutions to this problem will be.

Once students are ready to work on the final piece of good paper, some commercial artists' tricks may be employed. If a light table is available, letters may be traced onto the finished sheet, or students can pencil trace at least the rough layout of the letters and design at the window. Sometimes the drawing paper is translucent enough for the practice sheets to be placed underneath and traced.

When the final piece is colored and decorated, students should be enthusiastic about displaying them in an exhibition for others to enjoy.

Bibliography

Baker, Arthur. New Calligraphic Ornaments and Flourishes. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1981.

Gillon, Edmund V. Decorative Frames and Borders. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1973.

Gourdie, T. Italic Handwriting. New York: Pentalic Corp., 1974.

Lehner, Ernst. Alphabets and Ornaments. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1952.

Dr. Anne Gregory teaches at California State University, Long Beach, California.