Tuesday, July 2, 2013

First alphabet of the year complete

Over at A Letter A Week 2013 there have been some amazing alphabets being created.  One of the alphabets had a theme (as per usual) and this year it was peace.  Not an easy one to interpret or create to; but we have some fabulous responses emerging, and some completed works as well.

Like everybody, I pondered my peace alphabet for quite awhile, and in the end decided to set myself the challenge of finding peace mentioned in the newspapers we read each week; and then doing my letter over the top in a hand I am not familiar with - Neuland style.  Some weeks, I couldn't find a mention of peace; some times I hit the jackpot and there were three or four mentions.

I enjoyed writing on the newsprint - it is an easy every-day material, and graphite/pencil seemed like an ordinary material to use as well. Hoping in a way that peace could be an everyday kind of thing I guess.


When it came to putting them all together, I thought of a corkboard - like pinning up things I had cut out from the newspaper on a board.



The analytical side of me had been recording where I found the word peace and in what context; so I made up an extra top 10 mentions squares as well - and included them in the final piece.


I am playing with the idea of it being more random - but for now the structure and the grid hold me.



My lettering needs a fair bit of work, but I am happy enough with where I got to.

8 comments:

  1. I love the unpretentious originality of your board!

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    1. Thanks Ersi! I like the unpretentious nature of it as well.

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  2. I really like the simplicity of this one and the idea of finding 'peace' in actual print is genius. I've just completed mine as well though realized I forgot to post it to ALAW....will do it this weekend. Now I'm on to the peace alpha - toying with some ideas. Thanks so much for continuing to host/sponsor/encourage this - I just love the activity, the sharing, the inspiration!

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    1. Thanks Terrie. I really struggled some days to find the word in print, and was intrigued by the different settings in which I found it. Good luck with your peace alphabet - there have been some fascinating interpretations so far. And thanks too for your support for ALAW; I'm glad you joined!

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  3. Unique and very much down to earth. Clever you.

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    1. Thanks Jo - it was simple yet had a bit of a challenge in it still.

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  4. There's something transitory about the letters on the board Fiona as if they are not permanent, just like peace is sadly not permanent and the newsprint - something that will ultimately fall apart, just like the Arab Spring in Egypt - just re-inforces that feeling for me.

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    1. It does feel all a bit tentative and temporary doesn't it Lesley? As you say - probably quite an accurate association to make with peace around the globe at the moment...

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.