the Calligraphist Magazine

This is the final product for the Spring 2018, Issue 01 of the Calligraphist Magazine. 
Thank you for following my journey, though it was quite a difficult one. Nevertheless, please enjoy it: 

Copy and paste link: 

theCalligraphist.pdf 

Creative Critical Reflection

Here is the link to my Creative Critical Reflection:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lAqktSFXZUNUOApBBQohewPb5zNfpssZ/view?usp=sharing

Quick Research

This Table of Contents has about five separate categories of content, each color-coded, which I would find very helpful if I were reading the magazine. It shows neatness and organization at the same time pleasing to the eye as it is attracted to the different colors. 

Most every magazine I have seen so far always has a "Features" tab, which is important to tell the readers what articles are most emphasized in the magazine.

 This magazine's layout for images and content is well congruent and organized, with some kind of pattern. Each page has three columns of images/content, and the second pages even manages to add some kind of advertisement in the third column.

So as people read the table of contents, their eyes will be led to read the ad as well. It is a smart technique to use. 


Although my magazine will not look like this or get much any inspiration from this layout, I am a fan of how unique, simplistic and thematic the images and contents are laid out through only circles. I catches the attention of readers and roamers like myself for its pleasing aesthetic. 


Citations:
Themel, K. (1970, January 01). SAQA Connecticut. Retrieved April 14, 2018, from http://saqact.blogspot.com/2010/01/barb-mckies-eye-to-eye-featured-in.html

Designing the Perfect Table of Contents: 50 Examples to Show You How – Learn. (2016, January 06). Retrieved April 14, 2018, from https://www.canva.com/learn/table-of-contents-design/

Production 1

Here is some of the process for the main image for the front cover of the magazine. I wanted to incorporate the use of calligraphy itself into the cover and decided to go with the words "the art of decorative writing," which is a simple definition I put together for calligraphy. 
From there, I sketched the lines, wrote over with my pen and nib and black ink, and even added some fancy curves.

Production Process

In this photograph, I used a poster board to get a white background and tried using natural sunlight to get a nice and bright photo but did not end up liking or using it because I didn't want really dark shadows. 
So I moved to the kitchen where there is a dark granite table, which also helps to contrast the paper and writing, and used artificial lighting with my white-light lamp. 
Through a process of trial and error I was able to get a photograph I'm satisfied with.

Advertisement

For my magazine's advertisement, I have created a new brand named Serenity. I used reference from several art brands including Winsor & Newton and Speedball. 

Through Photoshop, I created the shapes, added text, and digitally drew the hand holding the pen. I made three separate labels for the three different colored inks I own: black, blue, and red. Once complete in Photoshop and having correctly measured the sizes for the labels, I printed them on sticker paper, so I could easily place the labels on the bottles. 

Advertising: Magazines, Video Games, Albums...

I found this website that seems like a lesson for a high school arts course, but has very helpful tips and videos with advertising, especially for a magazine. Even though it is may be a rubric for other students, I may use it as a checklist and outline for my magazine.

1. In Photoshop, begin a New File > 9 x 12 inches > 300 resolution > white background > cmyk color.  
2. If looking for images online, the larger the pixel dimension, the better.  Look for images in the 1000's pixels.  
3. Precise dimensions for the chosen theme or subject
4. A minimum of 10 layers
5. A background
6. Imagery that portrays your theme.  (may have smaller photos to show other features included in the magazine)
7. A Title
8. Several story line titles (type font should be different than the main title)
9. Issue date

And these are good questions that I must ask myself when completing my magazine:

• Unity can be achieved by carrying out a common theme in the type styles, photos, story titles and descriptions. Do all the parts work together?
• Think about readability, can you read the type against the background? Is the type style readable? Are the sentences too long? Are the titles descriptive enough to make you know what the article is about? Does the type size signify the importance?
• Does the photo or photos support the theme? Does the photo catch your eye? Is it too busy or too simple?
• How is your effort and craftsmanship? You will need to be selecting, cutting, pasting and cropping. Does your cover look professionally neat?
• Layout, how did you arrange all the elements? Is the type all lined up flush left, right, centered? Is the type over the picture or a background?  Did you add a banner with the issue date,  web site, and cost? Does the layout make it easy to read or confusing?
• Did you add embellishments or other elements to the artwork?  Ex. paint brush effects or textured opacity layers?

Unit 4 - Advertising: Magazines, Video Games, Albums...Oh My! (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2018, from https://www.crimsonart.net/unit-4---advertising-magazines-video-games-albumsoh-my.html

Calligraphy vs. Lettering vs. Typography

For my one-page article, I am writing about the differences between calligraphy, hand lettering, and typography. Most people, even experienced people, may not know much difference between calligraphy and hand lettering, though we all know typography comes from typing in a computer, or letters created digitally.

Here, I have pasted information found from a website, and through more collection of information from other resources, I will write my own article. 

Calligraphy:

Writing in calligraphy involves using a dip pen with a nib and ink to create thick and thin lines using varying degrees of pressure, all in a single stroke. Downstrokes are thick, while upstrokes are kept thin, light and airy. Calligraphy takes a certain discipline to learn, and is something one must practice consistently to create "muscle memory" of certain strokes.

Lettering:

Like calligraphy, hand lettering also requires discipline. It's a completely different form of discipline, as it is drawing letters as opposed to writing them, and are often very decorative. You also often have more control over the letters with hand lettering as opposed to calligraphy. For that reason especially, hand lettering can be a great alternative for projects that are too large for calligraphy, such as large chalkboards and other signage.

Typography:

Typography is the typeface on the screen. Typefaces and fonts are considered typography, and are created by type designers whose main focus is to create type that no matter what the layout, the letter formations are the exact same. Something that can often be confused about typography is this: type designers create typography, while graphic designers use that typography (otherwise known as font files that can be downloaded) in their design work by rearranging it. 

Main Reasons Why People Confuse Them:

1. UNFAMILIARITY - People who are unfamiliar with these terms are usually unable to differentiate between each one and will likely use them interchangeably. 

2. DIGITIZATION - Truthfully, the computer itself contributes to most of the confusion. Hand lettering and calligraphy can be scanned into the computer, polished and digitized, often turned into a font or a typographic poster. Doing this can make the lettering or calligraphy appear to be a font when it really was created by hand.

The Importance of knowing the difference:
For some, the differences between hand lettering, calligraphy and typography may not seem important, but if you are at all interested in learning how to use these mediums, or are going to hire someone who does, it's important to know how they differ from each other! You want to know what you are talking about when you interact with other hand lettering artists, calligraphers and type designers, especially if you are looking at getting into those fields. Using these terms interchangeably can make you look unprofessional, and can seriously discredit your reputation as an artist.

Citation:
The Difference Between Hand Lettering, Calligraphy and Typography ( Why It Truly Matters). (2016, March 22). Retrieved April 14, 2018, from https://letterlanedesignstudio.com/blog/2016/3/22/the-difference-between-hand-lettering-calligraphy-and-typography