Randall M. Hasson

In this workshop, we will focus on creating a unique, individual alphabet by exploring the textural appearance of writing systems. Each student will choose an alphabet or system they aren’t able to read, which could be ancient, archaic or modern. We’ll then analyze the forms, break them down, and put them back together in new individually artistic ways. We’ll experiment with a variety of tools to see how the forms might change, and in the end, we’ll give our letterforms a personality of their own. Some of these results will be legible words or text, and other results can be representations of letterform that may or may not be legible. Experimentation and invention are the key words here and the intent will be to develop the calligraphic marks based on the personality of the participant.

All of these techniques and experiments can be done in a large watercolor journal. For our journal techniques, we will use the Mahara watercolor journal as our ground for experimentation. The journal is optional, and a variety of surfaces or grounds can be explored, including heavy watercolor papers which you might already have. Because of drying time, students are encouraged to work on both.

We’ll use acrylic paints and mediums to explore textural painting effects. Participants working in a journal will create textures from early experimental letterforms as the class progresses, and others will be able to focus more primarily on loose sheets of paper or on canvas.