Bold Alphas

BOLD ALPHAS 

#inkscape #demo #typography

A is for Alpha and Alpha is A and here is a selection of Bold and Heavy and Wide A letter forms. All of these are the same font size despite their appearance on the page.

for my next demo I may compare Bold to Italic forms 

Multicultural Blue and White

IZNIK  BLUE AND WHITE

I have mentioned in previous posts that #classicblue the #pantone #coloroftheyear is going to be very popular because of the way its not a middle blue not quite indigo or ultramarine or cobalt but invoking similar tones.

Blue and White combinations for centuries have been a hit ever since someone applied a cobalt oxide mix over white clay or a white slip probably first in China although imports of polychrome ware from the Middle East may have influenced that along with the usage of woad and indigo on fabrics and the use of lapis  lazuli and azurite for painting.

A lesser known blue and white ware was produced at Iznik in the Ottoman empire.
Production peaked in the 17th century but then declined due to the continual import of the very Chinese ceramics that Iznik cermaics were created in response to although there has been a modern revival.

Note that Islamic ceramics wares often use geometric patterns along with botanical motifs.

If you're looking for examples of blue to inspire your own designs google Iznik Ceramics. 

Some goddesses

To start off the year a medley of some of my favorite goddess images

First Benten the patroness of music but also scholars and writing

Inanna the ancient Sumerian goddess later known as Ishtar and a character in some of the oldest written poetry 

Seshat of Egypt goddess of wisdom and scribes 

Perez's version of the Olympians 

To finish Athena goddess of wisdom courage olives and other things 

Another Blue and White Medley

#classicblue

Here's some more blue and white art to inspire you

Probably one of the best color layouts featuring blue tints hues and shades is this Japanese print !

This Kiitsu painting shows how one area of intense blue and white can centre another wise minimalist near monochrome tonal work

This Chinese Ming ceramic garden stool shows dark blue contrasted with a mid blue and some white.

Vietnamese Ceramics tend to feature a more muted use of cobalt for coloring.

European painting has a different more tonal approach to using blue partly because of the expense of mineral pigments. Notice how the lighter blues contrast with the  near white foreground of fallen snow and the tones of the winter sky in this Sassetta painting.

This image of St Mark uses ultramarine pigment mixed with other colors to guide our eyes across the work from the pale blue sky across his robe down to the book's cover.

To finish our medley - Here's blue in a different medium - mosaic tiles A Byzantine work.

More on Classic Blue and White - 3 samples.

Classic Blue has been chosen as the Pantone Color for 2020!

It has undertones of Indigo the strength of ultramarine but the mellowness of a dark cobalt blue and a echo too of prussian or phthalo blue.

Lets look at some very similar colors in art.

Our first example a Japanese Arita Cobalt Blue shallow bowl.

The darkest tone is certainly very similar to Classic Blue.

This is an inital letter from a European manuscript turned into a picture featuring  "classic blue"

Lastly note the background gradient on this Elfquest cover plus the blue tones on Skywise's vest.

Classic Blue is a color we see shades tints and related hues of in ancient and modern art and various media. Workable Useful Beautiful !

Monaco Nativity Scene

For Xmas I like to share some famous artworks while I'm on hiatus planning next year's themes so 

Nativity by Lorenzo Monaco 

Christmas Wishes and Rewards

Don't forget to visit my Patreon to pick up more cards and other pieces of art

https://www.patreon.com/metousia