Browsing through Shops & Tuesdays & Thursdays - Homework

I suppose like most of you I enjoy browsing art shops, book shops, paper...Well I just love browsing and seeing what new materials, paper and inks have been introduced. 

In Johannesburg I have a wonderful contacts at Herbert Evans Art Stores in both Rosebank and Fourways. The staff are extremely helpful and keen to search for new calligraphy inks and nibs. So let's be positive and perhaps we will be surprised by the next shipment. Canson, gros grain ribbon and board can be found along the newly set out shelves. If all else fails please speak to Steven or Juanli in Rosebank or Dee at Fourways.

For special papers I find that Paper Cafe in Glenhove Road has some interesting papers and ribbon. Claudia of Scrapalicious in Waverley has lovely scrapbooking paper as does Karin of Kartworks. Please mail me should you wish to make contact. dmoore@iafrica.com

The class work and your dedication is really great, thank you for your enthusiasm.

Tuesday and Thursday homework: 

Concertina Books: Please complete as much as you can. Cut covers out of board, 1cm larger all round, than the book size. Please find some suitable paper to cover the board. Paper should be firm and compliment the interior of the book. Grosgrain ribbon to match. [About 2 metres].

Portfolio preparation: Please buy an A2 heavy card for your portfolio cover. Try to find a suitable colour in Canson. Grosgrain ribbon to match. [About 2 metres].

Board for Block pieces. Please buy black backing board/mount board as a background for your abstract block project and heavy duty double-sided tape. 

Tin Book Project: Use Canson paper which matches the colours of the tin. I find that 7cmx11cm size pieces work well. Round the corners for a more professional finish. Ten pieces are required. Please prepare more pages should you wish to. Collect quotes for the paper. 

Lettering: Please continue to practice the lettering you are learning.

Enjoy the week.

Anne-Marie

African Alphabets

I often wonder what the students do while I am away. I like to set a project and see the results. We have been exploring letter form with an African theme. One of the tales from Rudyard Kipling's Just So stories was the inspiration: How the Alphabet was Made. Reading the story was great fun as was creating the letters.

 Ghita's A

 Jeannette's Cheetah

 Lyn's Taxi

Jill's Albatross

We have been working on an African Alphabet and making concertina books.Mostly geared for children the images and themes are African.

 Lyn, Ghita, Jill and Jeannette

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.

More Creativity

The students have been working hard on the end of year project. 

Various paints, nibs and water colour paints were used.

 

Use a larger nib and write the name of a flower. Add a drop of colour and design the page.

Draw or paint a flower and add some writing around the edge of the design.

Choose a capital letter. Draw some flowers through and around it. Write out a suitable quotation. 

Be creative and enjoy yourself.

Workshops

It is always exciting to view other people's works and attend workshops with visiting calligraphers.

This past week I attended a day and a half workshop with my friend and colleague Heleen de Haas from Cape Town. Not only did we have fun, but we explored letterform yet again.

We stretched letters, used various writing instruments from wooden coffee stirrers to calligraphy markers.

Fun and creative! Here are a few of my pieces.