Rosella Garavaglia
www.rosella.uk.com
Artist Statement
My work as a professional freelance lettering artist and calligrapher includes letter design and brush-written inscriptions, as well as pen calligraphy and painting. My main interest is to explore the expressive potential of the written word through various media and writing implements, including the brush, fabric, wood, stone, glass, and collage.
I am a Fellow of the Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society (CLAS), a full member of Letter Exchange (LX) and an Honorary Member of the South London Lettering Association (SLLA) that I co-founded over 20 years ago.
My work:
Eternal Dance – 2021 – Brush written quotation on kimono using acrylic paint. It is sometime a challenge to write on a different surface than paper, one that I believe is worthwhile. The words are by the author and my letterforms are inspired by the Kufic style of writing.
I am nobody! – 2021 – Written with a Speedball nib on hand made paper with ink. The words are an extract from a poem by Emily Dickinson. The style of writing is inspired by the ancient Chinese Seal Script. By adapting the western alphabet to another foreign writing system, one somehow comes across a new and perhaps more visually expressive way to communicate the text, even if it is not so easy to read.
The creative mind – 2021 – Brush written on Japanese Paper (koso). The words are from Carl Yung. Letterforms are inspired by the Arabic Kufic script. I am fascinated by the idea of stretching our traditional letter shapes to achieve a perhaps more powerful visual impact.
Stars dust – 2020 – Mixed media - Lettering painted on wood panel. Text by Rumi. I relate to these words by Rumi and I wanted to express the deep feeling behind them.
Colour magic – 2019 - Mixed media on wood panel. Words by Henri Matisse. In this piece I wanted to instill my letterforms with a bit of witchcraft symbolism to relate Matisse’s words to the viewer more powerfully.
Maya – 2015 – Mixed media on wood panel. Words by Maya Angelou. I personally relate to Maya’s words and thought to place them in shiny silver on the painted background depicting the geometrical symbolic representation of the tree of life. Connecting the personal statement with this universal sign was for me a way to elevate the meaning of this energetic inspiring quotation.
It is not true – 2020 – Mixed media on box canvas. Words by the author. With this conceptual work I hope to provoke a reaction to this simple statement which may lead to the question “What” is not true? This might be on a personal, social, or political level depending on the viewers reaction at the time. The repetition of the statement in different ways enhances the message, also the word ‘true’ can be read diagonally 4 times. The lettering is based on a typeface to remain anonymous and prioritize the concept behind the words without interpreting them visually.
Illumination Lantern – 2013 – Quotations by various Latin scholars such as Ovid and Seneca written with the brush and gouache on calico strips which are attached to a metal frame. These ancient words of wisdom were uttered over 2000 years ago to ‘illuminate’ the way for future generations. The Capital letters I used are based on the letters of Monumental Imperial Rome Inscriptions.
Thames – 2018 – Mixed media on box canvas. This poem by Lorna Patterson depicts a vision of the river Thames painting its way to the sea, I enjoyed the image evoked by her words, so I tried to interpret them visually in an attempt to celebrate the river that I learned to love
