Workshop:  Speaking to the Eyes: Writing as Image

Instructor: Suzanne Moore

This is a multi-session on-line workshop (9 sessions)

For more information, and to Register, visit the PSBA website

Registration is Required

PSBA member fee: $225

Non-member fee: $260

Space is limited to 17 participants

"Whence did the wond-rous mystic art arise,

Of painting speech and speaking to the eyes?

That we by tracing magic lines are taught

How to embody and to colour thought?"

William Massey, from The Progress and Origin of Letters, First published before 1763

This 18th Century passage inspires an array of letter-based visions - legible and abstract. The possibilities of rendering verbal content as an image, in black and white or color, is underused and potentially powerful. In this class, you will use your handwriting as the vehicle for our journey to colorful and spirited expression of a word or phrase of your choosing.

Whether you love your handwriting or not, it is as unique to you as your DNA. Through a series of guided exercises and explorations, you will discover methods and techniques, based on handwriting (or your day-to-day "printing") to create expressive new work. Experimentation with color media will offer both subtle and dramatic options for your finished work - coloring thought. This exploration has the potential and was designed a inspiration for book artists, painters, printers/printmakers, and lettering artists, as a jumping off place to explore word-based image-making for book design, binding design, titling, painting and contemporary “illumination”, or in stand alone pieces in any medium.

This 9-session online class will consist of live Zoom sessions (recorded) offering demonstration and assignments. You may join the Zoom sessions, or play the Zoom recordings at your convenience, working as much as you wish between classes. Written content, PDF documents, and images will support each session. Assignments are open to broad interpretation, and all are encouraged to join the 4 live Zoom "Discussion" sessions, to ask questions and exchange ideas.

Tuition Assistance is available for this workshop. If you would like to learn more or would like to apply, please click this link. Important—if you are applying for the tuition assistance, please DO NOT complete the workshop registration.

Questions? Contact Debbi Commodore at commodoredr@icloud.com