Inspiration by candlelight

Typography Video Link
As I was trying to decide what poem or song to re-design with expressive typographic principles, I read, with fresh eyes, some of my favorite poems.

One about Goya's (Goya - b. March 30, 1746, Fuendetodos, Spain--d. April 16, 1828, Bordeaux, Fr.) candle hat, is a favorite of mine. The unusual hat was an invention of Goya's that consisted of a hat with a special brim that had candle holders attached to it. He placed lit candles on the hat's brim so he could see to paint after dark.

Today, I began looking for typographic sources of inspiration and came across a video. I was not able to embed the video in this format, but you can link to the video above. I think it is worth your time. It was an illuminating experience. {Gratuitous groans are expected.}

Candlelight gutters and provides contrast to a room in a way no steady electric light can. In this way candlelight is like typography, "the idea behind contrast is to avoid elements on the page that are merely similar.... Contrast is often the most important visual attraction on a page-it's what makes a reader look at the page in the first place" (Course Source material ISU Eng. 350).

Candlelight flickers in a repetitive way that can be almost hypnotic; thus, providing a meditative state to a engaged participant. With type you can "repeat visual elements of the design throughout the piece. You can repeat colors, shapes, textures, spatial relationships, line thicknesses, fonts, sizes, graphic concepts, etc. This develops the organization and strengthens the unity" much as Goya did in figurative paintings (Course Source material ISU Eng. 350).

Candlelight enabled Goya to see more clearly. "Nothing should be placed on the page arbitrarily. every element should have some visual connection with another element on the page" (Course Source material ISU Eng. 350). In type, this is the principle of alignment; for Goya, it was careful use of space.

Candlelight is composed of flame, wick, and wax. Goya used this light to create a composition on canvas. In type, "items relating to each other should be grouped close together. When several items are in close proximity to each other, they become one visual unit rather than several separate units. This helps organize information, reduces clutter, and gives the reader a clear structure"(Course Source material ISU Eng. 350).

It would seem that painters and typographers share a similar goal --the attempt to arrest a viewer's attention. An artist tries to get someone within proximity to align with their work in order to create a contrasting view that will repeat in the viewer's mind.