I like the use of letters in paintings. I like them for their meaning as well as their visual presence. It is interesting how a certain font makes you think of something. They can provoke feelings, almost like a smell or a song - I think so anyway. And when put together, the combinations even hold a meaning - quite fascinating. As some may have noticed, I often use letters in my work too. When I have the word or sentence I want to use, I go the computer and experiment with different fonts.
Sometimes it takes a very long time to find the perfect one, other times I know what it is going to be, even before I sit down... I remember my professor in Brighton once said that he thought “Broadway” was one of the ugliest fonts ever. I don’t agree (although it is not my favorite either) but now I always think of his statement when I see it. To me it just scream out Charleston, art deco and silent movies... Not at all that bad! It seems like a very personal thing to take a dislike to a font - much like a song or a color.
I have a favorite font when it comes to writing a letter or text: “Garamond” is so nice, clean simple and easy to read. But when it comes to a visual part in a painting I like all different kinds of fonts for all different reasons...
“Old English” is one of those interesting fonts that looks very old/classical but have gotten a serious comeback. (- I believe Guan Stefani’s brand L.A.M.B is using a font very similar) “Cracked” is interesting in a cartoonish way. It is very graphic, but works well in the right context.
My latest “find” is “American Typewriter” which is a great writing font, simple, but (in my opinion) very stylish...
I was trying to think of a font I hate, but I can’t think of one at the top of my head. I am not loving “Casual” (for no real reason) but I can’t say I am hating it either... Hmmm. May have to come back with an update when I come across the ultimate ugliest font, according to me...!
