Project M #1 - "Negative Space"

(Created september 2014)

Inspired by various books on hand lettering and other people's "30 day creative challenges" I started my own personal project - "Project M".

The aim is simply to create a series of designs using only the letter M. Why the M? No other reason than that it is the first letter of my name.

This post shows the very first one I did and since then I have created many more. I find it a great way to experiment with the different ways of drawing this letter, and with different design styles and techniques. Because the content of the design is set, I can focus only on the way the letter is drawn, chosing a style or technique that I want to use. It's a great way to study and practice a certain approach.

One of the design concepts I find very intriguing is the ability for our brain to see something that isn't really there.We're really good at seeing patterns when there aren't really any. Have you noticed for example that on this first M I haven't really drawn any letter at all? The piece consists of white triangles on red background but your brain tells you it's a red M on a white background. Magic!

Check out the other M's, there are more that apply this same technique.