Help me with a typographic tattoo!
November 7, 2006 6:48 PM Subscribe
Calling fellow Typophiles: Can you help me with my next tattoo? As always, alot
So surely everyone has seen by now Ina Saltz's lovely new book of typographic tattoos, Body Type? (If not, maybe that book would be good in the blue?)
Inspired, and since I never heard back from Shelley Jackson, I thought that I would take the opportunity to finally get some sort of permanent homage to my love of letterforms on an upcoming trip overseas, where I already have an appointment booked with one of the fine artists that is featured in the book.
Only problem being, I have no idea what to get.
For something as permanent as a tattoo, this seems like a bigger problem than it actually is. Most of my other ink is coded in some type of personal symbolism, but for this piece, I am just looking for something a bit more objective to express my feelings for type and graphic design in the boldest, most simple way possible.
I was originally going to do an armband featuring the entire roman alphabet with each letter from a different typeface starting with that letter, but after I started sketching it out, it started to look a bit like a dogs breakfast. Which finds me back at square one.
Some other ideas I have been tossing around have been things like: Decorated Initials/Drop Caps, a woodcut illustration showing the process of casting metal type, the outline of a california job case laid over a cmyk circle overprint thingy, a panel of Chris Ware (which would compliment my Adrian Tomine piece quite nicely), a square containing a simple pangram, etc. At one point I thought that getting trajans column around my forearm would be pretty funny...
I could of course wait until something strikes me, but I really dont want to lose this opportunity with this typographically skilled artist. (I am located in Australia, and only go overseas about once a year...) I have a bit of time booked too, so can afford to do something a bit more detailed.
For some reason when a project like this is so personal, it becomes almost impossible to find what you are looking for, so I thought I would put this to the typo-hive mind, and give you the opportunity to literally leave your mark on a fellow designer, it worked so well for the last one!
Sorry for such a long post. Would love to hear anyones thoughts, suggestions, or directions.
So surely everyone has seen by now Ina Saltz's lovely new book of typographic tattoos, Body Type? (If not, maybe that book would be good in the blue?)
Inspired, and since I never heard back from Shelley Jackson, I thought that I would take the opportunity to finally get some sort of permanent homage to my love of letterforms on an upcoming trip overseas, where I already have an appointment booked with one of the fine artists that is featured in the book.
Only problem being, I have no idea what to get.
For something as permanent as a tattoo, this seems like a bigger problem than it actually is. Most of my other ink is coded in some type of personal symbolism, but for this piece, I am just looking for something a bit more objective to express my feelings for type and graphic design in the boldest, most simple way possible.
I was originally going to do an armband featuring the entire roman alphabet with each letter from a different typeface starting with that letter, but after I started sketching it out, it started to look a bit like a dogs breakfast. Which finds me back at square one.
Some other ideas I have been tossing around have been things like: Decorated Initials/Drop Caps, a woodcut illustration showing the process of casting metal type, the outline of a california job case laid over a cmyk circle overprint thingy, a panel of Chris Ware (which would compliment my Adrian Tomine piece quite nicely), a square containing a simple pangram, etc. At one point I thought that getting trajans column around my forearm would be pretty funny...
I could of course wait until something strikes me, but I really dont want to lose this opportunity with this typographically skilled artist. (I am located in Australia, and only go overseas about once a year...) I have a bit of time booked too, so can afford to do something a bit more detailed.
For some reason when a project like this is so personal, it becomes almost impossible to find what you are looking for, so I thought I would put this to the typo-hive mind, and give you the opportunity to literally leave your mark on a fellow designer, it worked so well for the last one!
Sorry for such a long post. Would love to hear anyones thoughts, suggestions, or directions.
You can't expect the more subtle lines and serifs of classics like Garamond, Baskerville or Bodoni to survive forever in your flesh, so you might opt for a sans-serif classic like Johnston Underground - perhaps MIND THE GAP would be an appropriate motto here. I leave it to you to decide where this would be suitable on your body.
Either "Etaoin Shrdlu" or "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet" would be suitably arcane typographical references - perhaps you could go for Cooper Black or make an ironic choice like Lithos or Hobo. Something in a good blackletter can also be entertaining if unveiled at the right time for the right audience.
But whatever you do, please remember that "a lot" is two words. Thank you.
posted by zadcat at 7:38 PM on November 7, 2006
Either "Etaoin Shrdlu" or "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet" would be suitably arcane typographical references - perhaps you could go for Cooper Black or make an ironic choice like Lithos or Hobo. Something in a good blackletter can also be entertaining if unveiled at the right time for the right audience.
But whatever you do, please remember that "a lot" is two words. Thank you.
posted by zadcat at 7:38 PM on November 7, 2006
How about the name of your favorite font, in that font? Better yet, a list of your favorite fonts.
posted by stray at 7:38 PM on November 7, 2006
posted by stray at 7:38 PM on November 7, 2006
Avoid the usual botched-Japanese-ideogram route. Honor "Latin" with Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur ...
posted by rob511 at 7:50 PM on November 7, 2006
posted by rob511 at 7:50 PM on November 7, 2006
Have you heard about Shelley Jackson's Skin Project? Perhaps you can get one of her words done in a font you love.
posted by Brittanie at 9:05 PM on November 7, 2006
posted by Brittanie at 9:05 PM on November 7, 2006
I actually have "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet" on my right forearm, in century gothic--it turned out nicely. So, I have no real advice for you, just words of solidarity and encouragement...
posted by hototogisu at 1:06 AM on November 8, 2006
posted by hototogisu at 1:06 AM on November 8, 2006
"Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs."
I would go with the pangram. I think it is the most suitable objectification of a typeface for one's body. You can show off the font with designed nonsense. Find an appropriate one or compose your own. You could come up with a double pangram that used each letter exactly twice and render it in two faces. It would be unique and challenging -- like there is a puzzle under your skin that you've solved in ink.
posted by iloveit at 1:09 AM on November 8, 2006
I would go with the pangram. I think it is the most suitable objectification of a typeface for one's body. You can show off the font with designed nonsense. Find an appropriate one or compose your own. You could come up with a double pangram that used each letter exactly twice and render it in two faces. It would be unique and challenging -- like there is a puzzle under your skin that you've solved in ink.
posted by iloveit at 1:09 AM on November 8, 2006
How about something based on the Aldine colophon, with festina lente as your text, in a suitably Aldine Italic?
posted by misteraitch at 6:41 AM on November 8, 2006
posted by misteraitch at 6:41 AM on November 8, 2006
Comic Sans. Your tattoo should be in Comic Sans. This is the best idea you've ever heard.
posted by electroboy at 7:23 AM on November 8, 2006 [2 favorites]
posted by electroboy at 7:23 AM on November 8, 2006 [2 favorites]
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“It is a press, certainly, but a press from which shall flow in inexhaustible streams...Through it, God will spread His Word. A spring of truth shall flow from it: like a new star it shall scatter the darkness of ignorance, and cause a light heretofore unknown to shine amongst men.”
- Gutenberg
Not Steve.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:28 PM on November 7, 2006 [2 favorites]