Learn Calligraphy and book-making arts.

Local Workshops: Calligraphy & Books

Calligraphy Intro- 

There is a sweet logic to letter forming “Three strokes to Form.

”The broad edge tool invites us to consider calligraphy as WORD DRAWINGThe forming of line, repetition of line, relationship of line, pattern of lines, contour of line,quality of line, direction of line, weight of line and the springing of line. These are the building blocks of drawing and the written word. They serve as a method of study, for growth and understanding of letter forming.  A simple book construct will collate your process and present you with texture on a page. Supplies included

Beginning Calligraphy - Manuscript inspired.

There is a thoughtful structure to the Italic hand, that is found in the branching. In this workshop we think outside the box to get inside the rectangle, and recover the triangle. Letters have families, relationships and form. The broad edge tool denotes a pen angle, and a weight. We could think of our letter construction as “shape shifting” and or “word drawing”. Logic of form and our conscious effort to bring conceptual elements together affords us a security of practice. You can easily own this method of building a solid italic hand. 

A page design process will encourage a book to finish.

More classes below:

Visual Breath Meditation – “The act of presence.

”This is a hands-on meditation using space and line.We all have an intuitive sense of balance and placement.This process of repetition and design of space gives us an opportunity to actualize our own personal breath.The breath being the most exquisite part of our existence, is compelling to absorb through intention.  A simple bound book will keepsake your beauty full breath.Supplies included 

Collage as Mapping Feeding your Creativity-

“Orchestrated Play”Collage is an intuitive process of research and development.An experiment of visual response through our memories, our dreams,Our passions, and experiences. This class is about seeing our internal conversations come to gather as complete thoughts on a platform. Our goal will be to liberate and stretch  boundaries, in search of new possibilities. Self-expression and juxtaposition will be our plan. Bring a magazine, and 5 images (could be copies of family pictures) that you have been saving For the right time, now is the time. Some supplies included. 

Hand Bound Book“ A brush with Sumi – the Art of Action

”This class incorporates the tradition of binding pages with the freedom of mark making, as content. The ideas presented will be stepping-stones into your own internal rhythms with the goal to capture your unique voice,vision and sense of play. Black on white stimulates graphic sparks, that will be our motivation.Collecting and collating pages serves as a design and a binding process.Supplies included.  

Surface Design – “from the inside out”

This process of painting incorporates paste, pastels and paints to create decorative papers; intended for bookbinders.  We will use a printer’s pallet for color (cyan, magenta, yellow black) mixing and intensity. With unfamiliar tools we will activate white space into content, creating a conversation with our own personal response. Pages will be sorted into sequence and result in a format for sewing pages.   A traditional binding process will lead us into a direction of design and composition and holder for content. Supplies included. 

Suminagashi

is a decorative paper technique of floating ink.This class is a hands on segue into visual interpretation. Learning to decipher our capacity for form, and to let go of expectation.We will set ourselves up for embracing composition and instilling the moment.Best of all, the discovery of being an artist. Come as you are.

Mother of Shape

is a restorative view of the circle, “the mother of all shape” Everything begins at a single point, with that in mind we will use a compass in search of relationships, connections, and ultimate possibilities. This is a hands on experience of the“seed of life” an opening to new ways of seeing. YOU are invited to enjoy the wonder of YOU.

Gold and Glow

Gilding is a process of applying gold leaf to a surface. Calligraphers use this technique as a focal point sometimes on letters
sometimes as decorative elements. This class will present some techniques for the laying of gold, traditional and nontraditional. This exploration will give us opportunities to embellish our existing skills with the addition of glow (literally adding light).