I had fun designing this Valentine’s Day card for my wife. I had been practicing Copperplate calligraphy, getting ready for a new calligraphy how-to video app, and decided to do more modern-style lettering to loosen up This was the result. Looks great tipped against the vase of roses I got her.
Valentine’s Day card I did in calligraphy for my wife, 2014.
In-class Uncialicious practice, copying a handout.
I had a great two “Uncialicious” classes with Jane Shibata, who taught several varieties of the Uncial lettering style to our monthly Orange County Society for Calligraphy members. Here are several in-class work and homework projects. Continue reading
When you make a thick (“shaded”) Copperplate downstroke, don’t you hate it when they are rounded at the top and not square? I made a video showing how the flat top is made. I show both stroke tops so you can see the difference:
Do you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall with your calligraphy? You feel like you’re never going to be good enough?
Then read this:
http://zenpencils.com/comic/90-ira-glass-advice-for-beginners/
Sometimes we would like to get more information about our hobby (or livelihood). I remember back when I started in calligraphy (which was on or not long after 1972, based on the 20th Edition Speedball Handbook copyright, one of my first books), we had few resources; no Internet; there were no discussion groups or YouTube videos, few classes, and certainly no TV shows devoted to calligraphy. The Internet has come a long way to give us articles to read on our favorite topics. Google has a browser tool that will sift through the information it has gathered from around the world for items related to your subject, then sends it to your email box. Continue reading
Barbara Close presented her students with this wonderful certificate, which started out as a blank piece of paper. She gave it to her students who had taken all four of her classes throughout the year.
She used the pointed pen, her favorite tool, and a folded ruling pen for the names, lines and illustration. Colors look like navy blue and sepia. Gold powder (barely visible on this scan) was dropped into each letter of the name before the gouache could dry.
I am just thrilled to have her as a teacher!
Calligraphy Certificate by Barbara Close, 11/2013
I was inspired to create this flag book from the directions in the book, Making Handmade Books, by Alisa Golden, and from my calligraphy workshop series by Barbara Close. Our class did all the paper work, smearing acrylic paint on heavy paper in creative (and messy) ways. While the rest of the class followed the steps to bind their books with thread and needle, I used my pages to create this flag book. All the text are quotes from the Bible on prayer promises.
Flag book by Steve Husting
In the past, I let my spiritual side lead me and waited for inspiration to strike before I started on a calligraphy project. But that way was hit-and-miss, and led to long stretches of time between projects. Now that I’m putting my design training to use, I’m finding that the ideas come more quickly. In this post, I’m going to show you a process I’ve used recently. Continue reading
As soon as we finished singing this song in church this morning, I was inspired with the design and jotted it down in my notes, then came home and created it. All the designs were hand drawn/written with parallel pens and automatic pen, then scanned into Photoshop and the color added.
From a Christian hymn, Moment by Moment
Updated January 19, 2014.
(Contents links not working? Just scroll down.)
Writing with different instruments (Japanese language)
Envelope addressing, by Schin
Professional Wedding Calligraphy
Luca Barcellona & Francesca Biasetton 1
Luca Barcellona & Francesca Biasetton 2
Japan Letters Art Forum demonstration
Theosone: custom lettering practice
Heather Victoria Held: “Peace”
