Versal Workshop - Pretoria

It is always a privilege to be invited to present a workshop. I was invited to Margo's guild in Pretoria where we 'initiated' her delightful new studio. With lots of light and space, we all fitted in and enjoyed the wonderful facilities. We talked about Roman Skeleton Letters and how important they are as a basis for creating beautiful letters.

 A-M demonstrating a Versal Letter.

 Some of the work created by students

And then you have to stretch!

Another piece

Colour work

And then we have the pencil!

Thank you Margo and ladies for a wonderful afternoon.

Africa - Letters & Words

The Penfriends Envelopes have left South Africa and are on their way to France, Begium and other parts of the world. Here are the 'girls' proudly holding up one of their creations.

Our new project is far more intense and involved. 

Have you ever wondered how the alphabet developed? Well think no further [for fun and literature] than Rudyard Kipling. He wrote a delightful tale 'How the Alphabet was Made' from Just So Stories written in 1902.  About a little girl and her dad, this story takes us from A-Z in descriptive and intriguing 'old fashioned' terms.

We have been working on Letter Shape and Form using the skeleton Roman hand, moving into Foundational, as we develop an 'African Alphabet' from which to choose letters and then to create a book.

Project details: 

Paper: Use 'toothed' Water Colour paper at least 250gsm.

Tear: 28 sheets of paper 12x12 cms in size.

Research: the meaning of letters

Research: Quirky Questions

Prepare the paper leaving a small pencil hand drawn border around the page.

Watch this space for details and illustrations through the next few weeks.

Lin Kerr Workshops

We have just completed 10 days of fantastic, creative calligraphy workshops with Lin Kerr from England. Lin is an 'old' South African and returned to delight us with inspiring workshops.

From colour to design, black and white with Ben Shahn and Herman Kilian as inspiration.

The Cape gave us perfect weather and in many instances we melted as we wrote. We all inspired each other as we painted, swirled and cut.

Here are a few images to tantalise and inspire.

Post cards from the Edge

One of my favourite Ballads by Leonard Cohen: Ben Shahn style

An 'E' in the style of Adolf Bernd

Three 'old hands': Heleen, A-M and Lin

It is always an insporation to have an 'outside' calligrapher visit us. Thank you Lin

Start of the Envelope Project

We all enjoy projects [well most of us anyway] and the Mail Art across the World theme is a great opportunity to participate in a world wide group project.

 Swirled background

 Backgrounds using water colour & cling wrap

Some of the creators!

Using water colour paper, paint and salt and plastic wrap the 'students' created great backgrounds for envelopes.

Now we wait for the lettering on the envelopes to see what creative ideas are used. Any ideas? What about Versals, Skelton Romans or extended letters? The choice is endless. 

Calligraphic Inspiration

It is remarkable how often I am reminded of calligraphic line when I am 'out and about'. If you look at the image of the desert, the curving lines and soft shapes are reminders of exquisite lines of Italic and even Foundational.

The shapes make me want to grab a pen and some watercolour paper to curl, swash and sway letters across the page.

At the moment we are looking at creating envelopes for the Art Across the World project which closes in April. The class is working hard and I will be posting the creative envelopes in the next few weeks.

In the mean time here are a few 'natural images' to inspire you.

 Perhaps use: A fine pen, muted colours and a touch of water colour

 Perhaps use: A large brush, earthy water colours and Roman Capitals

Perhaps use: Muted greys and creams in water colour and letters using a square brush

Envelopes, Creativity & New Blogs

I've just discovered 2 new blogspots which are creative and fun for calligraphers!

One is a Place to Flourish, the other 'A Letter a Week'. So very stimulating and exciting.

Another project I will challenge my students to participate in is the Mail Art Across the World. Create a beautiful envelope using colour and calligraphy and send it to one of the addresses given before the 1 April.

More visuals in a few weeks time when we have completed some creative envelopes.

Thursday Mornings

The group is back and ready to go!

This year we will study the origins and structure of the Alphabet with focus on the skeletal forms which are, after all the basis for letters.

Starting with Rudyard Kipling's tale of How the Alphabet was Made we will progress through the story to ponder on the creation of the alphabet as we know it and perhaps move onto creating our own 'African' based letter collection.

At the end of the year, the garden will be adorned with creative 'installations' using letter forms, paper, sticks and wood, which will form part of an open day exhibition.