Asemic Writing: Expressive Mark Making through Invented Text

By Sheila Ceccarelli, inspired by Sue Gough

It was not until I read Sue Gough‘s moving ‘I Am AccessArt‘ post that I came across the word ‘asemic’.

‘Asemic’, the way I understand it, describes the text that infants write before they can form letters; the narrative formed by the use of descriptive mark making. Asemic writing is an expressive form of writing that can only be interpreted by the viewer with the tools of instinct, empathy, intuition and emotion.  This is how I introduced ‘asemic’ to teenagers, aged 12 to 17, at my drawing class last week.

I have to thank Sue for the most amazing session. I was deeply touched by the teenagers’ ability to interpret the task and create highly personal and distinctive ‘narratives’ of their own.

 

Asemic writing, Jasmine aged 16: asemic text
Jasmine aged 16: asemic text

 


Please log in here to access full content.

Username
Password


Remember me
Forgot Password

 

To access all content, I would like to join as…

An Individual

Creative practitioners, educators, teachers, parents, learners…


An Organisation…

Schools, Colleges, Arts Organisations: Single and Multi-Users



AccessArt is a UK Charity and we believe everyone has the right to be creative. AccessArt provides inspiration to help us all reach our creative potential.




Monoprinting with Oil Pastel and Carbon Copy Paper

You May Also Like…

Pathway: Exploring the world though mono print

This is featured in the 'Exploring The World Through Mono Print' pathway

This is featured in the ‘Exploring The World Through Mono Print’ pathway

Pathway: Exploring Shape and Colour

This is featured in the 'Exploring Shape and Colour' pathway

This is featured in the ‘Exploring Shape and Colour’ pathway

Explore Video enabled printmaking resources

screenprinting


Drawing Bubbles


Communal Drawing: Summer Picnic!

See This Resource Used In Schools…

Year 5, Cathedral Primary School, Bristol
Year 5, Cathedral Primary School, Bristol

You May Also Like…

Pathway: Festival Feasts

This is featured in the 'Festival Feasts' pathway

This is featured in the ‘Festival Feasts’ pathway

Talking Points: Claes Oldenburg

Claes Oldeburg Sculptures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rHKorwuxco&t=36s

Talking Points: Nicole Dyer

Cupcake Sculpture by Nicole Dyer

Talking Points: Lucia Hierro

@Fountainhead: Lucia Hierro https://vimeo.com/185142596

Drawing source material: Food

Drawing Source Material Food


Drawing Birds with Mixed Media: Creating Effects with Oil Pastels, Crayons and Ink Washes

You May Also Like….

Visual Arts Planning Collections: Birds

Drawing Birds with Oil Pastels and Washes

Drawing Feathers

Drawing feathers

Mixed media

Making marks with watercolour 2 by Emma Burleigh


Ink Drawings: Making Drawing Tools and Mark Making