Tuesday

The letter ‘L’



For about a week I have been debating if I should post a set of photographic images based on random destructive typography or a more recent illustration I had created as an expression of love for my wife. As you can see I decided in favor of the illustration because I wish it to act as a bridge to a forthcoming post, since calligraphy and typography are very dear subjects for me.


Not too long ago, provided twenty-two months can be considered a brief lapse for someone at my age, I wanted to create a single declaration of affection and present it to her on her birthday. At that time we had been married for nineteen years, celebrating our anniversary just thirty day earlier.



Statement of Love, May 2007
Pen and coloured pencil on 100Lb. Bristol, 11 x 14” (27.94x35.56 cm)


Sketching a single letter L, one on top of another several times until the structure stood with strength erect and yet delicate, the following statement and phrases were added:


A huge mass of letters are forged to fabricate the
words that weave about the page of a lexicon,
Yet I am unable to find a single
phrase that will describe how my
heart feels for you . . .

A single word, a single phrase,
Love letters, a mass of letters
. . .




I would like the welcome the many new followers since my previous posting and note that having reached this momentous milestone of one hundred followers, I am thinking about a Give Away to celebrate this occasion. I am contemplating a work of art that I shall be creating for this event, so please stay tune for when it is going to take place and how you will be able to win.


Thank you for your visit
Egmont




33 comments:

Ange said...

A single word, a single phrase can never explain the beauty of what you've just shown us. Egmont. I'm lost for words. Beautiful just sounds so ... Inadequate.
Back to blogging myself - all projects wrapping themselves up and I can return to my art...and some correspondence. If only I could write a letter L so majestically

Luzia said...

Lieber Egmont, nur die Liebe kann ein so bewegendes Kunstwerk schaffen, wie es Dir gelungen ist!
Herzliche Grüße von Luzia.

Unknown said...

Dear Egmont,
I am moved by your beautiful creation for your loved one. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it's emotionally powerful. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Gina said...

so very beautiful ... in intent and execution ... you may know i began art originally training as a calligrapher and moved to painting via printmaking however lettering and typography are always present in my work, as is language ...

i wrote a poem about a calligraphic moment - its based on the letter O but it can quite easily relate to any letter ...

http://blumoonpoet.blogspot.com/2010/01/traffic-jam-haiku.html

I love your letter with its exhuberance, colour and gentle undulations. Its most expressive on so many levels >>> Gina

Shayla said...

You have beautiful writing, and this illustration is wonderful. Elegant, joyous and romantic. That kind of line control isn't easy. My husband is also a typophile.

Sophie Munns said...

A beautiful post Egmont. A pleasure to read!

I just came from ian Fosters blog and thought how wonderfu it looked with your touch and his content! Love how you take your fine touch to all that you do. Its very inspiring!

What a treasure you are!
Sophie

Caterina Giglio said...

Dear Egmont,

What a lovely post, and your Letter L is so very expressive and outgoing. I congratulate you on your 100 followers and I so look forward to your giveaway!

many blessings,
caterina

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Your letter L and thoughts are beyond beautiful. What a lucky wife, but it looks as though YOU are lucky too!

I too love typography and calligraphy, the lovely written letter. Recently I attended a design workshop at Cal Poly and they aired the movie Helvetica. It was fascinating.

Egmont, I love the visual and written arts, but I like life to intersect with art in all its aspects. Thus the flower salad!

Fondly,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

Anonymous said...

Beautiful and romantic. A wonderful expression of your love for your wife. Thank you for sharing! Inspiring as always.

Unknown said...

es ist absolut wunderschön lieber Egmont ! ganz herzliche Grüße von Kathrin
PS guck mal meinen blog des Tages an :-)

Anna Mavromatis said...

Dear Egmont,

I am so thrilled with this post.
For you to have created this, it means that you have been given by the person this was intended for (your wife), all that this "L" stands for. Lucky her and lucky YOU to have been inspired by her love and to create something with love!!!

I wish you create many more beautiful pieces for love and with love!
Anna

L'Adelaide said...

i am moved to weeping...

never have i seen expressed a full heart bursting, to speak of the ephemeral that dwells deeply within it's bounds ... of heavy longing, finally breaking free... the tracery of angels' wings.

a wish to create the simple letter because it is her name ... to do so with such tenderness, a whisper upon a page..... as if you want to say 'forever' in your offering...as i can see it, so must she, have no worries- she will find this a treasure.

your sweet offering to your beloved breaks my heart.
she will see in your expression, a tender heart simply by seeing this sweet work... to say 'love'...

and i leave weeping still..
in gratitude to find a bit of magic this fine morning in the sun.

Shayla said...

I found a quote that made me think of your post and I had to come back.
"A single word can be a world and every letter a land... " Ari Berk

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I learned about your blog from Cat (La Dolce Vita). I was searching for men who make art and who blog. Lo and behold you do both beautifully. Your art and photography are powerful, but so are your words. You have a real gift. You can paint a picture with paint, photographs, or your words. This post is but one lovely example.

I feature a blog every day, and tomorrow (Mar 17), I will be featuring yours. Thank you for being such an inspiration.

-Don said...

Simply beautiful - on so many levels.

-Don

sweetcheeks said...

How I envy the heart of the hand that created that sign of love. You are a man with the capacity to express your love with a simple letter.
Congratulations.

Sondra said...

Dear Egmont,
Congratulations on your 100+ followers! No surprise, your blog is always wonderful. I loved the precious art you made for your partner. Your relationship is a gift. I wish both of you all the best. Be well, Sondra

ArtPropelled said...

Looking at the exquisite L while listening to the Moonlight Sonata ...... bliss.

Marina Lonati Colombo said...

Congratulazioni Egmont!
Tutto questo è meraviglioso!

Marina

Seth said...

What an extraordinary and moving creation. An unforgettable gift no doubt!

S. Etole said...

There is such a quiet dignity and depth of heart to what you lay your hand to ...

Anonymous said...

Oh Egmont, what a joyous post. Your declaration of love for your wife in such a tangible and demonstrative way, is wonderful. The composition is a statement in strength and durability, which I think, reflects your love. The colours are embellishments, which I think, are symbolic of of the many incidents that brighten your lives.

Kim Palmer said...

I have been so caught up in creating but at last am free to think of other things and catch up with the world again. What a wonderful post dear Egmont and a beautiful expression of your love. I am sure this was so appreciated and received with such joy.

alaine@éclectique said...

I had to give up calligraphy because of carpal tunnel syndrome.

What a beautiful gift, both your art and the gift to your wife.

Eva said...

What a beautiful artistic creation. How fortunate your wife is to have such a caring and talented husband.

Dan Kent said...

Words, art, and concept - all beautiful.

Tonya Vollertsen said...

How lovely. Viewing this piece and reading about it while listening to the music, is such a nice experience. Thank you Egmont.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Thought I'd stop by and wish you a very happy Easter.

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Egmont,

MISS your posts!!

Spring blessings,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

merci33 said...

what a beautifully 'simply extravagant' gift.
Only a truly sensitive heart could create such a powerful and intimate 'portrait'.

happy day

Patrinas Pencil said...

Egmont,

I'm been offline for almost as long as you've not updated here. i hope you ae OK. My computer finally died. I had to order a new one. :(

This is a lovely tribute to your wife. So delicate - indeed. I hope she appreciates your art. Some spouses do not. Congratulations for 19 years!!

Blessings to you

Patrina <")>><
His watchman on the wall

web design Los Angeles said...

I'm so impressed with this wonderful work of art. What you just showed us is incomparable.

Juan Clash Linares said...

Very nicely done piece of art and apropos to subject and intent.
To me it's,overtly elegant and classy with and underlaying subliminal message of intimate commitment in a kind of abstract powerful phalic symbol of love and devotion.