I began noticing letterforms in sixth grade when I found a Speedball lettering book in the process of doing a circus poster. When I went off to college to study art I discovered calligraphy through the child-like wonder of Arnold Bank.
As one who reveres the Holy Bible, calligraphy became a natural link between my art and spirituality. During my time at Carnegie I was also influenced by the contemporary visual expressions of faith in the works of Ben Shahn and Corita Kent. Additionally, my graphic design training gave me the tools for clear and powerful communication.
Three years in Japan taught me the freedom of the brush and a broader understanding of space and asymmetry.
In most of my work I am making word pictures - words expressed to look like what they mean. My work is characterized by variety as experienced in the human emotion of language as well as from observing nature. The frequent joy comes from my personal experience with the gospel of Jesus.
Imaginative appropriateness sums up what I have learned from my experience in publishing. I'm always trying to come up with fresh ideas balanced by what gets right to the heart of the message.
I am currently involved in Masterpiece Ministries, an outreach to high school students in the arts.
Timothy R. Botts
October 2004