The Art of Illumination

The Art of IlluminationText and the Visual Arts: Communicating with Images

Key Concepts:• Illuminated Manuscripts reveal an ancient connection between image and

text• Imagery on a page of text can aid non-literate people as they try to

understand the text.• Illuminated Manuscript imagery can serve several purposes: it can depict a

specific scene from a story or show reverence for the person or persons being honored by the text.

• The tradition of Illuminated Manuscript has significantly influenced picture books, comic books and web pages, among other modern developments in art.

Essential QuestionsQuestions to think about while working on this assignment:

- What do Illuminated Manuscripts tell us about human beings and the idea of communication?

- How can imagery enhance the communicative value of a text?

- What should we take into consideration when designing imagery for a text?

- How are Illuminated Manuscripts , picture books, comic books, webpages, magazines, etc. related?

- View MORE illuminated letters from Ancient Greece, Byzantine Empire, Medieval Ireland, the Carolingian Empire, Islamic Iberia and Persia, India and China. Save samples of your favorite into H:/ drive – you will need later. Sketch some decorations in your sketchbook you find interesting.

- THINK…Who is the letter for?- Gather MORE images/references. The more details you provide the better the

illuminated letter or letters will be. - Interests /hobbies - List favorite colors, activities, places, and foods, pets, hobbies, etc.- Future aspirations - Save to H drive and save to refer to in your sketchbook along with…- Medieval illuminated letters

In your sketchbook:- Practice Medieval Illuminated letter references- Practice STYLIZING and perhaps simplifying the photographs- Create at least 3 thumbnails of your own Illuminated letter creation- Unify the composition with foliage, zen patterns, cultural motifs

Remember: You are ILLUSTRATING A STORY!

Project Requirements • Decorated Lettering style• Flourish• Gold Gilding• Detailed Border/Ruled Lines• A miniature –object/symbolism/etc.• A ‘nod’ to medieval illuminations

Think OUTSIDE the box• Does the letter have to be straight on compositionally?• Does the border have to contain the letter/background?\• Think of contrast…..

– Size- big/small -Colors – color theory– Shapes – organic/geometric -Value– Texture/pattern -Unity

Think OUTSIDE the box• Does the letter have to be straight on compositionally?• Does the border have to contain the letter/background?\• Think of contrast…..

– Size- big/small– Colors – color theory– Shapes – organic/geometric– Value– Texture/pattern– Unity

Illuminated Letter

poor

average

Good (but some requirements are missing)

better

GILDING

http://mrshollyhatfield.blogspot.com/2013/02/illuminated-letters.html

Minneapolis Museum of Art - Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

Microsoft Typography - Download different font styles not found on MS

References