Saturday Workshop - Versals

It is always a challenge to find good materials and ideas for calligraphy and creative workshops.

What better way than to look at Versals. Based on Skeleton Roman capitals, they lend themselves to fine design and colour.

The Pretoria calligraphers drove through to Johannesburg and enjoyed several hours of creative calligraphy as they poured over examples from old texts and more modern interpretations of the Versal letters.

Thank you once again for bringing 'the team' over for a workshop.
Homework and preparation:
1] Complete letters for words chosen [Logic etc]
2] Start and complete Letter Collage: Use pen, pencil. Black. White. Brown. Shading. Grey. 15 cms x 15cms
Get this photocopied onto white cardstock
3] Decorate an initial with black and a colour of choice with a 'dash' of gold.
4] Place all finished pieces into a book. Bind
5] If you would like a very fine calligraphy nib, bring a mapping pen nib and holder to the next workshop.
6] Bring a quotation in preparation for Christmas/Holiday fabric banner.

I look forward to exciting creativity at the next workshop in August.

Well done all!

Exhibition - Isonke Calligraphy Plate

Exhibitions are always a challenge. When we decided to participate in the Isonke Calligraphy Plate exhibition we decided that we would all paint at least two plates which became three then four! The Penfriends Thursday morning students all painted four, much to their astonishment.

Plate designs were calligraphic in feel although some people wrote words and phrases.

After the opening half the plates were sold and by the end of the exhibition only 10 plates were left.

We are able to send a 'tidy amount' to the Isonke feeding scheme. Flour is bought and given to people to make bread for children in need.

Watch out for our Christmas outreach - we may even surprise ourselves.

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.

New Creations

As a teacher I am always on the look out for new ideas and plans for creative projects for my students.

I have spent several weeks with a friend of mine who has shared her skills and expertise using multi-media. We've pasted, coloured. Used found objects, lace and papers. Canvas was the base and imagination essential.

Using various techniques there was no limit. And then there are surprises. An old photograph here, a leaf there. Don't forget the old nibs and pencils that lie about. All to enhance and add interest.

Of course that simply flows over to the calligraphy aspect which will take on a more colourful outlook.

The best thing of all, of course, is that I have a pile of new projects for my students.

Pretoria Calligraphers Explore Uncial

A rainy day and a warm and friendly afternoon.

A group of 12 calligraphers gathered in Penfriends Studio this afternoon to explore various aspects of Uncial. We started with Greek uncial and moved to a modern day font.

Try out some exercises. Find pictures of old manuscripts. Look at the lettershape. Observe letters that you are familiar with. How do they differ from the Uncial you already know?

Write a line of Greek uncial letterforms.

Write a block of letters. Use black, grey or white paper. Use different kinds of ink.

Explore, experiment and create a great monogram using your initials and the uncial letterform.

Crazy Calligraphy!

Not only have we been making Peace posters but we have been painting plates for a project which hopefully will highlight calligraphy and its versatility.

Here is one comment from Michael Warner, organiser of the Peace posters in the USA:
We arrived back this afternoon from a nice long Spring time walk with the grand daughters. Opened the mailbox and what peered out from the inside at us? My grand daughters were thrilled to no end to see something "... ALL THE WAY FROM AFRICA!" Well, to tell the truth, the 7 year old was thrilled because she can now find Africa on a world map. The 3 year old was thrilled because ... her sister was. So we cut the tube open and all sat around and looked at the beautiful banners from the other side of the world. "Grandpa ... the confetti is falling off." Hmmm, I have some regluing to do. Beautiful work. Flowing. Artistic. The works from France are dark and brooding. The Canadians are bright and flashy. The Australians have very controlled hands. What you sent us was so very smooth and soft. Almost ... delicate. By hands and by colors and layout. Really lovely work. The Guild sends its thanks and appreciation. I will send you photos when we hang - which has been pushed to early summer. Hopefully June, before we have our National Conference - Odyssey.

At the moment we have another project on the go: A few calligraphers have been doing an Uncial update with Heleen de Haas in Cape Town and feel that we don't simply want to STOP. So we each working on a final 'project' to give away to friends at the end of the year. So as I said - calligraphy is crazy here at the moment.

Cape Town Calligraphy

Have just returned from a wonderful week of teaching and sharing in Cape Town.

Classes from the Non-verbal Impact of Letterform, In the Art of seeing the Invisible and Thinking out of the Box were the challenge.

All students were encouraged to participate fully and with as much enthusiasm as possible.

Not only were we able to share teaching but had a wonderful day in the city itself. Cape Town was hot and the mountain was clear.

The evenings cooled down - although teaching in the heat - and keeping everyone awake was a challenge, we all shared and enjoyed a great time.