The Request:

Love brings out the most off-beat, creative ideas. This was no exception. A beauty-struck gentleman commissioned this piece for whom he wished to woo enough to notice is affections. It was gifted on her birthday.

The Direction:

The patron had written a number of pros about his potential courtship and poetically defined her with an acronym. GINA, standing for Goddess Involving Naturalistic Attitudes. When asked as to how ‘Naturalistic’ fitted into the equation, he expressed that they’d created memories together that involved each of natures four elements – Air (or wind), Water, Earth and Fire. Therefore ,those elements were illuminated into each letterform of the Goddess’s name. I sure hope this earned that young man a dinner and a show!

The Design:

I chose a very expressive hand here – Bastard Secretary. Lots of swooshes and swashes with plenty of personality. The capitals are loosely based on lombardic letterforms while the boarder is highly floral while still feminine.  Ultimately I strove for contrast between the styles and kept the colors light and regal.