“In the beginning was the Word.”

It’s so interesting that across traditions of all kinds there is great attention given to the importance of words.  Words communicate important truths. And, as humans have developed methods of writing to capture those words, writing itself has become a powerful communicator. In many traditions, the written words and the surface they are on are also considered sacred.

Once you learn to read, you really can’t see text and not read it. It may flash by quickly as on a sign, or it may be text on a page. Either way your brain responds to it. We are drawn to text. We want to know what else it says.

For artmakers, we can add to this inherent interest in text its quality of being linear. Handwriting is made up of interesting lines. There are patterns and rhythms in the letters that follow one another on the baseline.

Sometimes, a bit of text is an interesting addition to a composition.

I was working on this small paper collage this week and was looking for just a little something that was linear and had some energy. Text just fit the need. I did not write gibberish – these are actual words inspired by the other elements of the collage. But I have intentionally written in a loose style with all the letters running together. I don’t so much want the viewer to read the words as to notice that there are words there.

To balance that section, I cut two squares out of scraps from a quilt-in-progress. Now the rhythm of the letters becomes a kind of movement across the whole picture plane; one section speaks to another section.

The quilt-in-progress has words written in the background, with lots of other elements in layers before it. The text peeks through.

Another quilt I completed this past year actually began with the text. I stretched out a large piece of fabric on my worktable and I wrote and wrote. I covered it n words. This became the background of the sky and also the girl. It is a personal artwork, one that digs into family history and memories. The text is not the most obvious of the composition. But I know it’s in there.

Like any other technique, inserting text into artwork should not be a gimmick. But, used thoughtfully, text of all kinds can add a dimension to artmaking.

. . . . . . . . .

UPCOMING ART EVENTS - For those in driving distance of DeLand, Florida

STUDIO TOUR: I am so pleased that the “Off the Beaten Path” tour will return to the DeLand area this year.  There will be twelve artists to visit. It’s FREE. It’s self-guided. It’s fun. And I will welcome all visitors to my studio.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
MARCH 5 – 6   10AM – 5PM
to find map and information visit    www.ArtsTours.Org

ARTISTS IN THE GARDEN: A small art show sponsored by the Guild of the Museum of Art, DeLand. It’s held at Select Growers, a beautiful plant nursery on US 11 just North of DeLand. Displays are grouped under a pavilion, and there’s food and drinks available. It’s a great outing. I’ll be exhibiting artwork there.

Saturday, March 26, 2022    9 am - 3 pm
The Garden Shop at Select Growers
4391 Highway 11 North, De Leon Springs

. . . . . . . .

 For all the artmakers: Happy creating
For all the art lovers: Happy appreciating

Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
bobbi@bobbibaughstudio.com

How I keep in touch:

BLOG POSTS  - once a week:  Mostly about what I am creating in the studio. If you would enjoy receiving blog posts by e-mail, please subscribe here:  I post and send by e-mail each Sunday evening. BLOGS-BY-EMAIL

NEWSLETTER – about once a month: Mostly news of exhibits and my way of introducing new work. You’ll get FIRST LOOKS at new artwork and members-only discounts. You’ll hear from me about once a month.  NEWSLETTER