1. The Art of Micrography
ART WITH TEXT

2. A QUICK PREVIEW. . .
You will complete a pencil or pen and ink drawing using words to determine values. By choosing a picture to work from with high emotional content and then using a thesaurus to select words that describe the picture’s content, song lyrics or text, you will help ensure the success of this project. To achieve darker values, words should be placed together more tightly, made bolder, overlap, etc.

3. Value
What is value?
Value is how light or dark an object is (or appears to be)
Value makes objects appear
3-D when they are truly 2-D (flat)

4. Value Can… Create CONTRAST – the difference between light and dark
Create FORM– the illusion of 3D shapes
Create TEXTURE – the surface quality of an object
Create VARIATION – using different values to create interest in an art piece; variation in value helps “set the mood” of the piece

5. Value Creating Contrast
The light hands next to the dark background creates contrast

6. Value creates the sense of eggs on otherwise flat paper
Value Creating Form
Value creates the sense of eggs on otherwise flat paper

7. Value Creating Texture
Value creates the cat’s fur

8. Value Creating Variety
The use of different values in the same drawing creates variety

9. Drawing Value
Value scales are named by how many boxes there are
Below is a six-part value scale
One of the most common ways to learn about value is to make a value scale

10. Ways to Create Value (SHADING)

11. HISTORY: HEBREW WORD AS ART
Micrography is the scribal practice of employing minuscule (tiny) script to create abstract shapes or figurative designs and has been used for over a millennium. This intricate decorative technique was first practiced in Egypt and Israel in the tenth century.
To this day, the art of Hebrew micrography is still practiced and the metamorphosis of text into image remains an unbroken Jewish artistic tradition across the centuries.

12. OMER CALENDER (DETAIL) C.1825

13. JONAH'S SHIP MOSES ELIJAH GOLDSTEINFRANKFURT AM MAIN, 1898

14. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (MENACHEM BOAS)COMPOSED OF THE ENTIRE TEXT OF EXODUS FROM THE BIBLE

15. OTHER EXAMPLES OF MICROGRAPHY…

17. SO. WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN TO YOU
SO. . .WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN TO YOU?HOW WILL YOU BE CREATING ART WITH TEXT?

18. STEP ONE
Select a picture that creates a feeling of emotion in you when you view it. The stronger you feel about the subject matter or theme, the better.
If the picture is not black and white, a black and white copy should be made.
In this stage, you will work on your thumbnail sketch. You may crop, enlarge, reduce, add details, leave out some details, create a composite thumbnail of several images, etc.

19. The finished product is never better than the original drawing!
STEP TWO
Complete a light outline drawing of the picture. Be as accurate as possible.
From there, you will draw outlines around areas dedicated to values 1-5 and label them.
Remember....
The finished product is never better than the original drawing!

20. STEP THREE
This step is interchangeable with step 2; using a thesaurus, compile a list of at least ten to twenty words (or phrases) that describe the feelings or emotions of the image.

21. STEP FOUR (AND I WOULD SUGGEST PRACTICING ON SCRAP PAPER FIRST!!)
Beginning with the darkest areas first, start laying in your words, obviously changing the words as you go along, rather than repeating the same word
Make the words tighter, more condensed, etc in the areas that need to be darkest. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ the words in the dark areas.
Spread them out as you get lighter.
This is very much like stippling or pointillism, only you are using words instead of dots.

22. STEP FIVE
Complete the entire picture using words to define the picture and its different values.

23. ASSESSMENT:
You must choose a picture that brings about an emotional response when viewed.
You must work from an approved thumbnail sketch.
All lines, shading, etc. are done with words only.
A full range of values must be present in the completed drawing.

24. EXAMPLE

25. EXAMPLE

26. EXAMPLE

27. EXAMPLE

28. SO…WHAT ART WILL YOU TURN INTO TEXT?WHAT TEXT WILL YOU TURN INTO ART?