Book 16
Lines
The texts
The text of this book is an imaginary, unsatifsfactory "conversation" between me and my mother who died when she was thirty-one years old and I was seven. My reaction to her death was to try to be very good and follow the rules - stay in line - hoping that my "goodness" would prevent any further loss of loved ones.
Early lessons in calligraphy also stress staying within lines - one of my first lessons was on how to draw lines. So this book is also a break from that tradition.
The final lesson leads into the beginning so I chose not to make a cover.
FRONT COVER - in dark paint - All creation begins in chaos
- in black marker - 60 quotes about lines
Some Lessons My Mother Taught Me
SOME QUESTIONS YOU COULD ASK
WHERE DO LINES COME FROM
Do not be afraid to step out of line.
AND WHERE DO THEY GO?
WHEN DO THEY TAKE OVER OUR LIVES?
AND WHY DO WE LET THEM?
Ask questions.
Sing.
DO ALL LINES LEAD TO HEAVEN?
IS THERE SOMETHING IN ALL OF US THAT DOES NOT LOVE A LINE? OR ONLY IN SOME OF US?
Watch for open doors.
WILL THERE BE A SIGNPOST?
When the road ends follow the stars.
Don't be afraid.
WHERE WILL I PUT MY FOOT WHEN THERE ARE NO LINES TO FOLLOW?
The end is the beginning. (Back cover)
Technical stuff
This book was made during a week-long class which I took at the 2009 Calligraphy Connection in Minnesota. The instructor was Laurie Doctor.
It began with Arches Text Wove paper. Prior to the class I had, as directed, given each sheet two coats of acrylic gesso. In class I did the assigned exercises with acrylic paint and some oil pastels with no real idea of what they would evolve into. The book is how I pulled together eight sheets of random exercises in neutrals with bits of Linear B writing done with a piece of sea shell thrown in for good measure. The finished pages feel like oil cloth.
The texts are mine. They came sometime between day 3 and 4 I think. Some Lessons My Mother Taught Me was written with my left hand using an old cut off Chinese brush which I loved and which broke shortly after I finished this lettering. SOME QUESTIONS YOU COULD ASK is written with a Copic marker.
The little figure which keeps popping up is a Linear B character which I thought looked like a little girl.
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