Week 37: Maede
Brush making, historical references, etc etc etc
Happy Friday y’all!
I hope your 2022 is off to a good start. I had a real saga of a week that actually ended okay!
I had this idea recently that I want to start making different brushes/tools to make letters with. Like experimental calligraphy pens or brushes made out of random items. I was feeling very cocky about it because I used to carve spoons and I’ve made a lot of brush-adjacent things. I’ve even been hoarding some horse hair for this specific purpose. On Monday, I spent 75% of the workday trying to make a brush. I carved a little handle out of a piece of basswood. Then, I drilled holes for the hair to be glued into. It was a huge struggle to get the hairs into the drilled hole. The glue made a mess as I was doing it — it just wasn’t pretty. I let the glue dry and everything seemed like it worked.
Later, when I tried to use it — it was a huge fail. The horse hair either doesn’t hold ink very well or there weren’t enough bristles. I simply couldn’t write with it. After all that fuss, I approached this the old fashioned way. I grabbed Volume 1 of “Type: A Visual History of Typefaces and Graphic Styles” to see if there was a historical reference that I could use as a jumping off point. And of course, this book never disappoints.
I saw this little hand drawn label and thought that the N looked so cool. I have seen this style before where the heavy stroke kind of pokes out on the side like that. I drew some letters and kept that full diagonal stroke intact for the whole design and kablamo! It worked out. It’s very rule breaky and the un-serifed diagonals would likely bother most other type designers, but alas, I don’t care! To me, it’s fun, mystical, usable even!!
The final product looks like it could thrive equally in the harry potter universe or a futuristic English pub. I would personally use it for a birthday party banner or a menu for a quirky little restaurant. This font looks like if Lydian and some classic serif font (like Caslon or Garamond) had a baby. I hope y’all enjoy Maede and have a great weekend!!
5 Things I’m Into This Week
Just discovered this free type catalog: Uncut. It’s similar to Velvetyne if you haven’t heard of it! There are some fun experimental typefaces in both.
I used the first volume of “Type: A Visual History of Typefaces & Graphic Styles” as a reference this week! I have Volume 1 and 2 that I purchased used a long time ago. They’re probably my most-referenced type design books. If you can’t find them, you can always use the Letterform Archive because I’m pretty sure they have all or most of the collection from the books. And other cool references as well!!
The song Fancy Shoes by The Walters has been on repeat this week.
I accidentally made the best lunch ever this week. It was fried tofu, roasted broccoli and brussel sprouts on top of brown rice. I added spinach and green onions. Topped it off with this thai peanut sauce and chili crisp. It was, shall we say, *chef’s kiss*.
I bought myself a green sweatsuit for Christmas from Target and I honestly haven’t taken it off. I forgot how comfy brand new sweats are!!
ttys <3
Libbie