Timothy Botts

Timothy Botts is an artist who has a focus of calligraphy. He was born in Pennsylvania and currently resides in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.[1] He is well known for his transformation of bible verses into pieces art. Timothy has published books, released single prints, been featured in museums, as well as having features within churches. Through years of experience, Timothy experiments with new styles and typefaces to represent what art he makes.

Cover of Book by Timothy Botts with sample of his calligraphy

Early life

Timothy is the husband to Nancy Botts and the father of three children.[2] As a child, Botts felt like an outcast, until he had gotten inspiration to try art. This inspiration was from his first-grade teacher, Mrs. Stanton, located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Stanton[3] recognized the artistic ability that Timothy had and had faith in it. She continued as Timothy's art teacher throughout his elementary years and followed him into high school. During his sixth-grade year, Botts had to do a poster project for school fair. For his project, he used a lettering book that had all different lettering styles that piqued his interest.[2] In the following year, Timothy attended junior high where he met his now wife Nancy.[2] Tim and Nancy dated through high school and went separate ways before going off to college.[2]

After attending high school, he was admitted and attended Carnegie Mellon University where he was still pursuing his art. During his freshman year at Carnegie Mellon, he was first introduced to calligraphy after having needed to take it for his graphic design major.[2]

Right after college, Timothy and Nancy married.[2] Rather than being drafted to Vietnam, Timothy and Nancy were sent to Japan for three years where the two taught the Japanese some conversational English and where Botts took Japanese brush writing for five weeks.[2]

Career

Throughout Timothy's career, he has formed his own font, or what he refers to as a visual language with the use of colors, letter styles, letter paths, and contrast and repetition.[4] One of his daughters, along with her husband, had adopted three black children which gave Timothy more reason to create a new visual language that fit with African culture . Timothy used a mixture of Runes styled calligraphy as well as ancient African scripts he came across from some research of Saki Mafundikwa. He also included 19th century American adaptations of Black Letter, Roundhand, early 20th century Bookhand, as well as urban graffiti.[4]

Timothy has been given multitude of opportunities to draw on walls of churches and other places that inhabit places of worship with selected murals of scriptures that can be found at Good Shepard Lutheran, Cornerstone Church, Naperville Bible Church, Trinity Church of the Nazarene, St. Francis House High School in Wheaton and Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.[3] Timothy's art can be found in many formats other than walls which can be found in provided publishings.

Timothy's past teacher has inspired him to return the favor and instruct others in calligraphy.[2] Timothy's teaching can be found at the College of Du Page and an intermediate class at The Fine Line in St. Charles.[2] Occasionally you can find Timothy on one of the six weekends workshops he hosts in other parts of the country or his workshop he hosts at the International Calligraphy Convention.[2]

Publishings
  • (1989). Wind Songs. Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN 9780842382526
  • (1991). Messiah. Tyndlae House Publishers. ISBN 9780842342353
  • (1992). Horizons: Exploring Creations. Zondervan. ISBN 978-0310576709
  • (1994). Proverbs. Tyndlae House Publishers. ISBN 978-0842350341
  • (1996). Joy in the Journey. Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN 978-0785277897
  • (1997). The Book of Psalms. Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN 978-0842349550
  • (1998). Door Posts. Tyndlae House Publishers. ISBN 978-0842305952
  • (1999). Best- Loved Bible Verses. Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN 978-0842335225
  • (2000). The Holy Bible. Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN 978-0842337144
  • (2002). Portraits of the Word: Great Verses of the Bible in Expressive Calligraphy. Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN 978-0842355353
  • (2011). Bound for Glory. Tyndale House Publishers. ISBN 978-1414354538

Awards
  • The Purchase Award from Chicago's Newberry Library (2000).[5]

References
  1. Botts, Timothy (Winter 2002). "John 1:14". Christian Century. 119: 56 – via Academic Search Premier.
  2. Stetson, Nancy (September 23, 1990). "A man of letters Timothy Botts turns words into a work of art: [FINAL EDITION]". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  3. Asimakoupoulos, Greg (June 23, 2001). "Artist's Scripture etchings leave lasting impression on observers: [D3 Edition]". Daily Herald. ProQuest 312449048.
  4. Botts, Timothy (Fall 2011). "Cover artist". Letter Arts Review. 25: 8–11 – via Art Full Text.
  5. "Timothy Botts". Faith and Life. January 5, 2004. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
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