The Letter Z

I recently created the letter Z for a student at the University of Gloucestershire. He contacted me to help with an alphabet project asking for a Z with no restrictions.

I decided to draw a free form letter with spencerian influence. The center stroke morphs into the flourishes. Unlike a refined commercial script project this letter is a quick wrist exercise with off balance structure. In preparation I did a series of rough sketches with the intent to create lettering that did not stray far from the final draft in the lower right corner.

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Tattoos I Know: Tracy Returns with an Important Reminder

We originally introduced Tracy on Tattoosday back in January 2008 here.

Last Saturday night she was down visiting from upstate New York and she showed off her latest tattoo:


Inked on the inside of her left wrist, this simple message "Breathe" is a reminder to herself to "slow down and take it all in". In other words, when stressful things happen in life, pause, take a deep breath, and focus on the here and now.

This serves as an anchor to keep her grounded. Words on the wrist are great ways to help keep the focus (here's another example from earlier this year).

As a mother of two boys (one a teenager) and the wife of a soldier serving our country proudly in Afghanistan, one can only imagine the stress Tracy encounters on a daily basis. Yet every time I see her, she has a positive outlook and a smile. She's one of many people I know who use tattoos as symbols from which to gain emotional strength through challenging times.

The tattoo was done at Tattoos Forever in Evans Mills, NY.

Thanks again to Tracy for sharing her ink with us here on Tattoosday!