Words that resonate

Drawing words as a way to discover meaning

In the winter of 2019, I enrolled in an online drawing class at Stanford. I had no expectations as to what it was going to be, who the instructor was, nor the other students. We were given a series of assignments: explorations of who & what had inspired us, senses in the garden, doodles, drawing as a way to discover something.

Text as map.

Text as art.

So I bought one of those sketchbooks that are so sensually wonderful that it becomes precious. Too precious for just messing around. And from the sketch above, I began a series of explorations into the visual aspects of words that resonate with me–as if examining the parts of the words, the shape of the letters and how they fit together might help me understand their meaning. I stopped in July 2020 and just recently picked it up again. I’m including several that appear to be finished so far.

In process, sketched Aug 2020. Started painting Jan 2022. I have to feel my way through the drawing. It takes time.

Your comments are appreciated.