Robert S. Densham Papers

Linnaea's Cafe, 1110 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo, California

Linnaea's Cafe, 1110 Garden Street, SLO, CA

Linnaea's Cafe, 1110 Garden Street, SLO, CA

Oasis, Mediterranean and Moroccan Cuisine.

Apple Farm: Best Traditional Food

Novo Restaurant and Bakery, 726 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Fat Cat's Cafe: Best Cafe on the Central Coast

Full cover reads: Aliva Beach [sic], Custom House, Established 1975. The place should be spelled 'Avila Beach'.

Text on menu cover reads: 'Big Sky Cafe, Modern Food; 1121 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405; www.bigskycafe.com

Densham writes on the poster: 'My hand lettering using powdered charcoal, brushes, charcoal pencils, erasers + some white gouache.'

Poster reads: 'Title Lettering for my MFA poster. I visualized these letters wrapping around the cylinder of a household light bulb. I applied the rules of perspective. The width of each letter will appear to be thinner in horizontal.' Information about the play reads: 'April 1980. Produced by Studio Theatre and Associated Students, California State University, 6101 E. 7th St., Long Beach. By Gertrude Stein.'

Densham writes on the poster: 'My artwork was pasted up stats on art in the arrangement above. The printer ask 'paint it positive or negative'? I had not thought of negative. So the poster was printed with white lines on red.' The poster also has this printed information about the musical: 'A rollicking musical by Rodgers and Hart. November 1979, University Theatre. Produced by University Theatre and Associated Students, 6101 East 7th St., California State University, Long Beach.'

Text on drawing reads: 'Rehearsal Drawing from 'Boys From Syracuse' musical. I discovered that a vine charcoal sketch, with all it it [sic] tonal qualities would be converted to fine but using fitho film common in state camera. One had adjust the format. Scan of origin Vine charcoal sketch I did during a dance rehearsal. They repeated this dance sequence several times. I drew little sections as the dance passed by each time. This sketch I later adapted to a line art poster graphic for the 1970 Mardi Gras in San Luis.'

Text on poster reads: 'A comedy in verse in three acts. November, December, University Theater. Produced of University Theater and Associated Students. California State University, 6101 E. 7th St., Long Beach.'

Slogan on front cover reads: 'Where family and friends gather for tea.'

The full menu cover reads: 'Le Fandango Bistro, French and Basque Cuisine, Lunch Menu, 717 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.'

Panel for retrospective on Densham's work, written by Densham. Text reads: Logotypes and Hand Lettering: Drawing the figure and drawing letter forms have become closely intertwined. I enjoy the nuances of form when drawing the figure, or any subject, and I find the same enjoyment in drawing letters. Several of these logotypes have lead to my own original typeface designs. I sketch out letter form in the same way I sketch drawing subjects. The hand lettering and logotypes shown on this panel were done over the last thirty years. Many of them were originally done for packages or posters. Looking back it seems that I created special lettering for nearly every project. My acute attention to detail and knowledge of letter form created a willingness to modify letters whenever the situation arose. Some letter modifications are to make the diverse geometry of adjacent letters more compatible. In other situations I carefully created a decorative element to letters to make the word or words more eye catching and significant. Many of the word marks use of letter form modifications to symbolize a process or object related to the primary function of the organizations. Comments on the Creation of Logotypes: All of the logotypes shown on this banner were sketched in pencil. In recent years I have traced the pencil sketch in the vector drawing program Adobe Illustrator or Font Lab. All the logotypes that were done before 1990 were inked on paper by hand using various drafting tools. The majority of logotypes shown here are hand done. The hand drawing process enabled the special letter formation. The single flick of the pencil or an accidental eraser mark often suggested an idea appropriate for further development. As a package designer in the 1970s I did all my lettering by hand. Having drawn so many letters by hand, I have a distinct physical knowledge of their forms. Years of hand lettering by necessity, i.e. no computer, has turned out to be very valuable gift. This gift has made the drawing or modifying of letters second nature to me. Thanks to my Advanced Typography 430 class: In the process of assembling my work for this show I decided to trace most of my older logotypes in the vector format. I wish to thank my Advanced Typography Class for letting me integrate the tracing process in Adobe Illustrator into their first project. The knowledge of the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator and the tracing of hand-drawn lettering in its vector format is a necessary skill for the graphic designer. Twenty or so of these earlier logotypes were traced by my students with a little touchup on my part.

Menu for restaurant located at 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA.

Items on the menu include Blackened Fish, the Fisherman's Plate, Chicken Piccata, Pasta Pesca, Filet Mignon, Porterhouse Steak, Filet and Shrimp Scampi, Australian Lobster, Shrimp and Scallop Combo, Fresh Fish Vera Cruz, Peach Cobbler, Butterfinger Ice Cream Pie, Chocolate Mousse, and Toffee Cheesecake.

Buona Tavola, Northern Italian cuisine.

Restaurant located at 690 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.