Jul 2, 2015 | Uncategorized |
Welcome to Alphabet Roadtrip, the blog of Iskra Design. Alphabet Roadtrip is a hybrid of design and fine art. Here you will find my newest work in design and lettering, process notes, and writing on the subjects of design and visual culture. To see my work please visit the portfolios in the navigation menu above. If you are already a fan of Alphabet Roadtrip you may have saved links from my old website. This is the NEW(!) site. Please do update your bookmarks so we don’t lose touch.
Feb 9, 2018 | Calligraphy, Handwriting Design, Icons and Logos, Recent Posts |
A logo design project for one of the nation’s most innovative and surprising performance artists and cultural entrepreneurs. This case study shows the evolution of the signature design logo for Lucia Neare. Her work is entrancing, magical, and impossible to categorize. We tried many directions, exploring the range of contemporary and classical styles that could best capture the spirit of her work.
Above, the progression towards a more European and traditional style, and below, the logo in final use.
This project was a delight to work on, and an ideal place to use custom letterforms. No font could ever capture the magic of this artist and her work. To see more case studies of logos visit the projects in the typographic section of my portfolio, and subscribe to my blog, where I post various projects in process.
Feb 8, 2018 | Brush Calligraphy, Calligraphy, Hand Lettered Quotations & Calligraphy |
Expressive lettering quotation by Iskra Design
Working in the studio today on a project my hand started getting tighter and tighter, so I took a break to remember where the life energy in calligraphy comes from.
A little post script: just in case you were wondering, the word “free” here does not refer to “free fonts.” I create bespoke typefaces for clients, but this is one-of-a-kind free form lettering, and is not a font.
Feb 1, 2018 | Editorial Lettering, Experimental Lettering, Hand Lettered Quotations & Calligraphy, New Work |
Watercolor,unique lettering and collage © Iskra Johnson
Our meme-maker in chief has ensured that this little word duo remains current. From an abstract design perspective, it is always helpful when words are the same length and lock up with an interesting positive-negative charge. By flipping a few backwards it added even more interest. Watercolor, hand lettering and collage.
Mar 28, 2017 | Brush Calligraphy, Calligraphic Illustration, Calligraphy, Hand Lettered Quotations & Calligraphy, New Work, Recent Posts |
If like me you have been reading and watching news obsessively for far too many months, you may want to go rogue for a minute and just think about pleasure. Cake, for instance. Maybe you are planning your wedding, or someone else’s. Maybe all you want to think about is frosting, and satin kitten heels, and how many bubbles you can fit in a champagne flute before it just becomes air. Maybe you want to feel giddy and strew ribbons around the room and you don’t want anybody telling you otherwise.
I stumbled upon this wonderful quote by Nigella Lawson and it made me unreasonably happy. Experimenting here with new styles of calligraphy and hand lettering and lots of color. Yum.
Pleasure the British way, dapper and a bit buttoned down.
Or maybe better in French? Luxurious. Plush. Of course if you are going to obsess about cake, that leads inevitably to champagne, and going a little bit crazy with pink.
There are so many ways to work with color in custom lettering design. Each color twist gives a different feeling to the words, elegant, playful, a cheap date or something luxe. It’s all in the subtle detail.
More new work in the pipeline, coming soon! To see the latest you can always follow me on Instagram, or Facebook. Drop me a note if you have a project in mind.
Feb 15, 2017 | Brush Calligraphy, Calligraphic Illustration, Icons and Logos, Recent Posts |
A recent illustration and calligraphy project for the Washington Post. I was given a general direction and a list of images to work with, some of which were more workable in my watercolor style than others. The gummy bear, rubber spoon, and trivet were a little bit tricky. Here is the evolution of the process.
To see more watercolor calligraphy and illustration take a look at my expressive watercolor calligraphy and lettering portfolios.
Designer, calligrapher, lettering artist.