Making Pictures Out of Words
I started creating my word pictures a while back and was lost for a way of describing them.
The idea is to play with the letters in a word so that they become a picture of the subject while still retaining the essential characters within the word itself.
Like a visual onomatopoeia.
This page is about the type of word pictures I create.
One day I might find out the correct name for them.
Here is an example.
The idea is to play with the letters in a word so that they become a picture of the subject while still retaining the essential characters within the word itself.
Like a visual onomatopoeia.
This page is about the type of word pictures I create.
One day I might find out the correct name for them.
Here is an example.
The "T" in the word "tank" suggest a turret and gun. Squash up the rest of the letters and add a crewman and caterpillar tracks.
It creates a fun graphic for military tank fans.
The letter colors are slightly different to distinguish them, and a little shading provides some depth.
It creates a fun graphic for military tank fans.
The letter colors are slightly different to distinguish them, and a little shading provides some depth.
Standard Word Pictures
When I search for word pictures they seem to be anything but. There are a few where artists have used many appropriate words to build a picture. Portraits and a bicycle are the ones that stick in my mind.
There are those that are a selection of words in different colors and font sizes – like a cloud search from a web site. Sometimes they form a simple image like a heart or a pair of hands.
Here is a Shakespeare design made from a graphic and appropriate words from titles of his plays.
There are those that are a selection of words in different colors and font sizes – like a cloud search from a web site. Sometimes they form a simple image like a heart or a pair of hands.
Here is a Shakespeare design made from a graphic and appropriate words from titles of his plays.
The Shakespeare word picture above was created by drawing a black and white pic of Shakespeare.
I used it as a shape in TAGXEDO and entered the words "As you like it" and "Shakespeare". Not very original but this was an experiment.
Is it art? Not too sure about that, but it is fun to do. And maybe, given the right words, shape and idea, there is an image that would grace mugs and t-shirts for product sales.
I used it as a shape in TAGXEDO and entered the words "As you like it" and "Shakespeare". Not very original but this was an experiment.
Is it art? Not too sure about that, but it is fun to do. And maybe, given the right words, shape and idea, there is an image that would grace mugs and t-shirts for product sales.
ASCII Word Art
The simplest word pictures are the ASCII art images formed from simple keyboard characters.
When they first appeared at the dawn of the internet they were fun and inventive. Some people still use them even though sadly the emoticon has largely taken over.
Here is a simple early smiley.
:)
Here is a more elaborate version of the ASCII Smile idea.
When they first appeared at the dawn of the internet they were fun and inventive. Some people still use them even though sadly the emoticon has largely taken over.
Here is a simple early smiley.
:)
Here is a more elaborate version of the ASCII Smile idea.
My First Word Picture
When I drew "Snail", which was my first of these types of drawing, it was a little exciting. I had the idea of creating a whole book of these images until it became apparent how tricky it was to think of them.
"Snail" works for me because the letters really start to replace what would be drawn with lines.
One practical benefit would be that if people could not make out what the picture was they could read it instead. Or if they can't read they can still work it out.
It could replace traditional English lessons with a more visual angle on the "B is for ball" type of learning.
I liked "Snail" so much that it sent me off in this direction for a while. Then I realized it was a lot harder to do than it first seemed.
"Snail" works for me because the letters really start to replace what would be drawn with lines.
One practical benefit would be that if people could not make out what the picture was they could read it instead. Or if they can't read they can still work it out.
It could replace traditional English lessons with a more visual angle on the "B is for ball" type of learning.
I liked "Snail" so much that it sent me off in this direction for a while. Then I realized it was a lot harder to do than it first seemed.
My Best Word Picture
The idea of drawing a shark from the letters came to me as I was driving around.
The key component was the letter "A" in the middle of the shark word. The top part being perfect for the recognizable fin of the shark.
After some time idly doodling and thinking about it I produced a picture. And then another, and another. I see now why Monet painted water lilies for twenty years.
Shark is one of the best word doodles on here. It has form and humor, and you can read what it says.
The key component was the letter "A" in the middle of the shark word. The top part being perfect for the recognizable fin of the shark.
After some time idly doodling and thinking about it I produced a picture. And then another, and another. I see now why Monet painted water lilies for twenty years.
Shark is one of the best word doodles on here. It has form and humor, and you can read what it says.
A Very Simple Word Picture Example
If you are a part-time artist and enjoy puzzles, creating an image from words is a relaxing way to pass the time.
It also has useful possibilities for designing company logos, some of which can be very inventive indeed.
In this early picture the word "Ship" is floating on the sea.
It doesn't look much like a ship despite the clumsy addition of a seagull which was meant to be the dot above the i.
The purpose it serves on this page, apart from showing how unafraid I am to look like an amateur, is the simplicity of the idea.
It also has useful possibilities for designing company logos, some of which can be very inventive indeed.
In this early picture the word "Ship" is floating on the sea.
It doesn't look much like a ship despite the clumsy addition of a seagull which was meant to be the dot above the i.
The purpose it serves on this page, apart from showing how unafraid I am to look like an amateur, is the simplicity of the idea.
Tree Picture Demonstrating the Word Technique
This simple tree design uses the letters to form the object.
The "T" is used as the top of the tree. The green leaves or canopy uses the spread of the letter.
The remaining letters underneath are made wooden to give the impression of the tree trunk.
This design and the others create simple brain puzzles for both viewing and reading.
The idea being to create a piece of fun art for the viewer which gives pleasure from the figuring out as much as the design.
The "T" is used as the top of the tree. The green leaves or canopy uses the spread of the letter.
The remaining letters underneath are made wooden to give the impression of the tree trunk.
This design and the others create simple brain puzzles for both viewing and reading.
The idea being to create a piece of fun art for the viewer which gives pleasure from the figuring out as much as the design.
Pictures Using Cloud Words and Shapes
Here is a Lowry stick figure made up of the words Art, stick and Lowry.
The original design was pleasing and it was fun playing with a word creation package.
Black and white seemed an appropriate color choice.
The original design was pleasing and it was fun playing with a word creation package.
Black and white seemed an appropriate color choice.
This may be the type of design you expect to see when searching for word pictures.
Where the shape is filled with the words forming a visual tag cloud.
Playing with software at a free web site called TAGXEDO - I supplied a drawing shape in the style of a Lowry stickman and processed it through their app. Their software fills in the shape with the words you choose.
This is quite a lot of fun once the usual process of learning and frustration has been overcome.
That seems to be how people have been creating those many tag cloud pictures.
Where the shape is filled with the words forming a visual tag cloud.
Playing with software at a free web site called TAGXEDO - I supplied a drawing shape in the style of a Lowry stickman and processed it through their app. Their software fills in the shape with the words you choose.
This is quite a lot of fun once the usual process of learning and frustration has been overcome.
That seems to be how people have been creating those many tag cloud pictures.
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words
That is what they say. If you read artists and critics explaining what a picture means you might think a thousand words is nowhere near enough.
How would word pictures work?
"Those words are worth a thousand pictures" does not make sense.
Of course we know what they mean.
Instead of using a thousand words to describe a scene - a picture will do the job as well, and quicker.
In the cartoon below it is not clear that the artist fully grasped the idea behind the expression.
How would word pictures work?
"Those words are worth a thousand pictures" does not make sense.
Of course we know what they mean.
Instead of using a thousand words to describe a scene - a picture will do the job as well, and quicker.
In the cartoon below it is not clear that the artist fully grasped the idea behind the expression.
Using Words as Pictures
A common way for the line between Word and Image to be blurred is in logo design. I like looking at the endless inventiveness of graphic artists on the sides of lorries when out driving. It makes a long drive less boring.
Taking that idea it is possible to have a lot of fun with words. Here is an Easter card design where the "T" becomes a cross.
It's a pretty obvious idea.
Taking that idea it is possible to have a lot of fun with words. Here is an Easter card design where the "T" becomes a cross.
It's a pretty obvious idea.
The rest of this page is an A-Z of some of my other word based designs.
Bee Picture
The bees in the picture are formed from the letters in "bee".
"B" for the face, a downwards "E" for the body and an upturned "E" for the wings.
It is not particularly clever but it was a pleasing image idea to play with.
"B" for the face, a downwards "E" for the body and an upturned "E" for the wings.
It is not particularly clever but it was a pleasing image idea to play with.
Cake
"Cake" uses the letters as the basis of the cake. The filling, in an artistic sense of course.
Add some cream and jam layers plus random dots for whatever might be added to the sponge. (I'm not a great cake maker myself).
Chocolate icing on top, one of the fancy glass display stands underneath and someone already took a bite out of it.
Add some cream and jam layers plus random dots for whatever might be added to the sponge. (I'm not a great cake maker myself).
Chocolate icing on top, one of the fancy glass display stands underneath and someone already took a bite out of it.
Cruising
An attempt to make a cruise ship out of the word cruising.
The smokestacks were the original inspiration and the rest of the graphic works around that. Cabin windows, a guard rail between deck and the open sea.
The sun and a seagull for balance.
The smokestacks were the original inspiration and the rest of the graphic works around that. Cabin windows, a guard rail between deck and the open sea.
The sun and a seagull for balance.
Drone Pilot Graphic
This Drone Pilot image was fun to play with.
Use the words as a base part of the final image with a little extra graphic detail to make a picture.
The Drone flies above the Pilot who controls from the ground.
Use the words as a base part of the final image with a little extra graphic detail to make a picture.
The Drone flies above the Pilot who controls from the ground.
Guitar Word Design
In this design the letters in the word "Guitar" form the instrument.
The body is the "G" shape and the remaining letters go up the neck.
Add shading, pick ups, controls and strings and it creates a fun and different image for guitar heroes.
The body is the "G" shape and the remaining letters go up the neck.
Add shading, pick ups, controls and strings and it creates a fun and different image for guitar heroes.
Pandemic Panic
Pandemic Panic isn't really a picture at all.
Just some highlighted letters from the Pandemic word that spell Panic.
This is really the simplest way of using a word to create a basic graphic.
Just some highlighted letters from the Pandemic word that spell Panic.
This is really the simplest way of using a word to create a basic graphic.
Red Pill
The famous quote from the Matrix film uses the words and a pill-shaped "I" to create the graphic.
A message in two short words for those who like these things. This is a minimal idea but striking images often are.
A message in two short words for those who like these things. This is a minimal idea but striking images often are.
Wind Power
Using the "I" in "Wind" to create a wind turbine pillar, Add the blades of the turbine, some sea underneath and the sun peeking out to add some interest.
The idea behind these graphics is to avoid a more obvious wind turbine with the words "Wind Power" underneath.
Trying to create a more eye-catching image that pleases the viewer (and wearer) when they recognize it.
The idea behind these graphics is to avoid a more obvious wind turbine with the words "Wind Power" underneath.
Trying to create a more eye-catching image that pleases the viewer (and wearer) when they recognize it.
Vote Green
A simple tree with the word "VOTE" as the trunk leading to a "GREEN" sward of grass.
Tree, bird, bee, grass and a Vote Green message.
Tree, bird, bee, grass and a Vote Green message.
Words End
I hope you enjoyed this collection of design ideas and thoughts. They are a fun mental challenge to think about and doodle.
Take some time to really notice the logos that grace our world on lorries, commercials, graffiti, Banksy and so on, and admire the inventiveness and fun of the designs.
Someone worked hard on those images!
Thanks for visiting.
Take some time to really notice the logos that grace our world on lorries, commercials, graffiti, Banksy and so on, and admire the inventiveness and fun of the designs.
Someone worked hard on those images!
Thanks for visiting.