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My Father's Ruler

johannadrucker.substack.com

My Father's Ruler

Johanna Drucker
Jan 24
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My Father's Ruler

johannadrucker.substack.com

Gouache and water color painting by J.D. 2023 My Father’s Ruler My father made his living as a commercial artist in the era when all production was analogue. In the 1940s, as he finished his two-year trade school education, the only computers in use were mainframes processing census data, military information in highly limited circumstances, and a handful of research situations. His training disciplined his hand, eye, and sensibility to produce what was known in the advertising industry as “camera-ready copy”—layouts of type and image drawn and inked on mat board ready to be photographed and turned into film for print. My father’s skills in this realm always amazed me. He could hand letter typographic font families, for instance. Asked to draw a headline in Craw Clarendon in 18 point bold or Futura Light 14pt, he would produce a near-perfect example. Maybe he looked at specimens to assist, but still, the sureness of his touch and capacity to render were the outcome of serious practice and effort—as well as natural gifts.

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