Anne Binder
As a lettering artist and creator of artist books I use signs, symbols, and letters to record the emotions and visions I feel and see when I read poetry, stories, and quotations. Rather than portraits, still-lifes, or landscapes, words are my images.
I use a wide array of water-based media, metal nibs, hand-cut quills, pointed and flat brushes, and even unconventional writing tools such as popsicle sticks and tweezers to create the forms to visually express the thoughts of texts. While the forms are carefully chosen, my method of creating is improvisational. Works are done in the moment. There are no roughs, mockups, or proofs. After familiarizing myself with the texts and allowing myself to feel the emotions they evoke so deeply within my spirit, I can go confidently to the canvas or paper and begin.
The works on canvas are large pieces meant to be hung as modern-day tapestries. The artist books are meant to be exhibited as sculpture rather than closed, tucked away on a shelf.
Viewers will see many words painstakingly written one letter at a time. The viewer may be daunted by the necessity to read each word, but please do not feel this obligation. Enjoy the calligraphic painting as you would any painting.
Viewers are invited to browse and scan. My hope is the viewer will feel compelled to gaze beyond the layers of text to feel not only my passion for the written word, but also hear the passionate voice of the author.
Above all else, I sincerely hope viewers are able to examine my work with the understanding that the image has the last word.
