Stuart Davis in his Studio
Int'l Surface No. 1, 1960
Typography
Typography is the study of letters and its use
for graphic design. Letters come in many
styles and shapes. Some have flat, even
spacing called Gothic. Some have thick and
thin letters called Roman. Using serifs,
flourishes, and scripts lettering can be utilized
for design as well as the function of
communication.
Sans-serif font
Serif font
2
Serif font
(red serifs)
Abstract Art
Now generally understood to mean art that does
not depict objects in the natural world, but
instead uses color and form in a nonrepresentational way.
In the very early 20th century, the term was
more often used to describe art, such as Cubist
and Futurist art, that depicts real forms in a
simplified or rather reduced way—keeping only
an allusion of the original natural subject.
Cubist Art
An early 20th century school of painting and sculpture in
which the subject matter is portrayed by geometric forms
without realistic detail, stressing abstract form.
Highly influential visual arts style of the 20th century
Created principally in Paris between 1907 & 1914.
Emphasized the flat, 2D surface of the picture plane,
rejecting the traditional techniques of perspective,
foreshortening and modeling.
Often presented objects in new ways- showing several
sides at once and often fragmented.
Stuart Davis
1894-1964 American Painter
He used natural forms, rearranged them into
flat, poster-like patterns with precise outlines
and sharply contrasting colors. Later in his
career he moved to pure abstract paintings,
often introducing lettering into the paintings.
Davis is said to have created a distinctive
American style.
SKETCH
FINISHED PRODUCT
BLIPS AND IFS
1963-1964
THE MELLOW PAD
1945-1951
Untitled
1964 Screenprint
Your Stuart
Davis
Drawing
Step One: Start with the
first letter of your name and
place it on the bottom of the
page in a block letter format.
This letter becomes the
"foundation" of the pile.
Then, begin adding the other
letters, not necessarily in
spelling order, around,
behind, in front and on top of
the first letter. To help with
flow, you can turn your
papers around.
Step Two: After the letters
are piled high (repeating letters
is encouraged!), fill in the
spaces with patterns.
Step Three: Once the patterns
are filled in, bring out the
crayons and color in the letters.
No color rules here: whatever
color you choose is fantastic!