Art for Non-Artists…

In calligraphic interpretation of words, we sometimes need to create a mood or enhance a theme, add excitement, power, serenity or drama to our calligraphy. Have you ever been stumped as to how to get that passion and expression down on paper? This class gives you the tools. It will be an exploration into artistic expression through mark-making and background techniques for the artistic and those who think they’re not artistic.

Through a series of exciting and fun exercises, participants will learn techniques using a variety of media such as watercolor, acrylic, inks, metallic powder and metallic leaf and innovative tools such as wood veneer, folded metal pens, plastic, pine needles and cardboard in the process of making expressive art. The objective for this class is to give the participants an introduction to the use of a variety of media, tools and techniques. We will create a soft-bound book to journal what is learned. We will also make some experimental writing tools. Lots of sharing and personal attention in this hands-on environment will assure a successful, fun experience and will develop a sense of familiarity and competence with tools to add to your repertoire. Lots of “Aha’s” happen in this class.

Big Bad Bone…

The Bone alphabet is one of my favorites because I’m never quite sure how it is going to come out. It has a wonderfully sensual and playful quality because of the very manipulated strokes, creating beautiful waisted strokes and sexy shapes within and between the letterforms. The letters dance up and down and nestle into another. It was designed by Jacqueline Svaren as a “loosening up” exercise and it definitely achieves that. The wonderful thing that happens besides learning a great new alphabet, is that the manipulation skills learned in forming these letters carries into your other alphabets, making them “come to life”. Projects incorporated into this course will include a tent sign, an envelope and greeting card, and a soft-bound book as a sampler of the alphabet and variations for review when the student returns home.

It requires an entirely different pen hold than other alphabets, so I like to give lots of personal attention in the beginning. Once the students understand how the manipulation is achieved, the fun really begins. The student outcomes from this class above all my others has been remarkable because of the infusion of the Bone alphabet into all their lettering following this class. Quantum leaps are achieved.

Each participant will receive a bound book of exemplars, samples and handouts.

Foundational…

The Foundational alphabet is a beautiful, legible, very versatile and very usable hand based on Roman forms. The name foundational was coined by Edward Johnston as it was his feeling that this alphabet is the foundation for all the others. It is a must for your calligraphic repertoire, and one you will find yourself using over and over.

Gothic…

The term “Gothic” is a very broad classification for many types of blackletter alphabets, which depend upon time of inception and country of origin. Each has its own personality and they can be quite varied. What they all have in common is the very textural, architectural quality. It can almost look like a weaving with the letters connecting to one another, and sometimes losing legibility. It is surprisingly easy to learn and lovely to behold. I think you will learn to love the rhythm and consistency of this historical, and modern alphabet. In this workshop, we will have time to learn the basic Textura Quadrata style and pair it with the beautiful Fractur capitals.

Italic…

Beginning Italic…
Have you always wanted to write beautiful invitations, greeting cards, gifts and correspondence? Italics is a beautiful, flowing and consistent style of calligraphic lettering. It is a good alphabet to begin your calligraphic education or early in your training. You will find yourself using this alphabet most often.

Mastering Italic…
This workshop will be an in-depth study of the Formal Italic Alphabet through demonstration and hands-on attention. We will study each of the components of the alphabet – what makes it look the way it does – and use this information to determine how your personal Italic can be improved. I’ve seen quantum leaps in improvement in this workshop.

You’ll learn how to fix new, old and “yucky” pens so they become “good” pens. You’ll learn how to make gouache and watercolor flow beautifully through your pen. Individual attention will help you to become your own teacher.

Italic ‘Formal to Funky’…
Starts with an in-depth review of the formal Italic alphabet. Individual attention will help to sharpen your italic hand. We will study each of the components of the alphabet – what makes it look the way it does – and use this information to determine how your personal italic can be improved. We will then use those component parts as a basis for a series of simple, fun exercises to explore the boundaries of each component. You will discover ways to give your lettering expression and personality, stretch your perception of what Italic is, and broaden your vision of what it can become to give you the tools to commit emotion to paper through lettering.

Playful Letters: Dance of the Pen

So, OK – you’ve been studying calligraphy for a while. You’ve disciplined yourself to maintain pen angle, slant, pressure, proportion and spacing. Your letterforms are respectable, but they look stiff. You look at the work of other calligraphers and admire the liveliness and expressiveness of their letterforms, but aren’t sure how to get it into yours.

That’s what this workshop is about. It gives you the tools to make expressive letterforms, but better yet it gives you permission to PLAY! But this is serious play that will open up new doors and potentials to your letterforms. We will study the elements of an alphabet and learn ways to alter them to make your letterforms more expressive. We will then use those techniques to innovate new alphabets. I feel that as calligraphers, we are artists that use letters and words to express emotion on paper, as the painter uses still life and landscape. This class will help loosen you up and give you a whole new slant on your letterforms. You will risk, drop your guard, make a mess, have a great time and surprise yourself with some of the liveliest and best lettering you’ve ever done!

Neuland, Cuneiform & Beyond…

This course will cover 3 wonderful alphabets and the skills to create endless variations. We’ll begin with the modified Neuland, written basically at a zero pen angle, then the Rudolf Koch-style Neuland, which is manipulated to the max, followed by the Cuneiform alphabet and then progress to outrageous variations. This class is open to all levels of experience because the modified Neuland and the Cuneiform alphabets can be learned quickly and easily by even non-calligraphers, and with their infinite variations, give the novice and the more experienced student endless possibilities. The more seasoned calligraphers will enjoy the challenge of the manipulated Koch-style Neuland. But ALL will discover the beauty and flexibility of these 3 alphabets and have a fun and successful experience.

Each participant will receive a bound book of exemplars, samples and handouts.

Uncial…

Uncial, the beautiful, open and round, historical alphabet as seen in the Book of Kells, is sometimes called the early Christian alphabet as it was used in much of the early Holy writings. It is an all majuscule alphabet, so is quickly learned by all and is a good beginning for those new to calligraphy. The more seasoned calligraphers will refine and develop their Uncial and will create new looks with the myriad variations. All will love its smooth flow and beautiful open quality.

We will begin the course with an in-depth study of the classic Uncial form and graduate to a more modern style by exploring the many Uncial variations to create a more expressive, personal Uncial.