Designing the Solstice Card

When I began, I had one plan for this year's card: it would be a commercially printed postcard, preferably a large one. I made the decision at the beginning of the year after last year's time-consuming card became mired in the postal system. I mailed the cards on December 21 and some were not received (in my hometown) until January 13. I resolved to make it simpler this year. And it was. Designing the card was a pleasure as was uploading the file and letting someone else handle the printing.

After the early November Masscribes workshop with Mike Gold, I knew this year's card would feature words and lettering and would be based on work I did in the workshop. My first thought was to do something with these abstract exercises using words from Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky.

I knew that there would be a small number of words. I thought about using "dona nobis pacem" which we sing every year at the Revels. I thought I might put the English in type: "Give us peace." I rejected this quote because I feel we humans are not being very humane at the moment and need to work for peace, not ask for it to be given. I then considered Joy to the World and Rejoice but felt that the sentiments were a little too exuberant for the times we live in.

I was reminded of a quote from Julian of Norwich when I saw it on a bracelet in a catalog and decided I would use it. I turned to some other exercises from the workshop for inspiration for the lettering. The lettering was done with a C-4 Speedball nib and Higgins Eternal Ink.

I did a quick draft

and then wrote the words multiple times.

It wasn't quite working and eventually I decided on two things: I would separate the quote into two parts so that there would be more space within the letters and I would use both upper and lower case letters as I felt that the large number of double Ls did not provide enough variety. I originally thought I would put the beginning on the front of the card and the ending on the back but decided against that. I turned the card horizontal and added the attribution vertically in type. The final image was created in photoshop with a photo of the sky as background. I took advantage of a special and had them digitally printed at zoo printing.

I was pleased with the result and pleased with the process. In my early days, making the holiday card was fraught with tension and sometimes despair. I love how easy it has gotten. One of the advantages of experience is that I have become better at listening to the work and letting it lead me. There is much to be grateful for.