Topics

1

2023 Exchanges / What Dreams May Come 2023

« on: May 16, 2023, 06:39:31 PM »

Oh no - all your teeth fell out! You fell off a cliff... You're back in high school and didn't study for the big exam. Crazy dreams, your biggest day dream, a dream come true ... you decide! This exchange is all about dreams.

Sign Up Deadline: Wed, May 31, 2023
Postmark Deadline: Mon, June 19, 2023

Sign Up form: Dreams Sign Up Form

PLEASE NOTE: Because of issues with spam bots, the form is now password protected. PW: Dreams (capitalized)


YOU MUST SIGN UP VIA THE FORM ABOVE OR YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED SIGNED UP. You should receive a confirmation email.

NOTE:

1. If you did not complete a past exchange you signed up for, you cannot participate.
2. If you will be busy and cannot meet your obligation, please do not sign up. It is not OK to think, "Life happens" and not fulfill your obligation. It is OK if circumstances require you to send your exchanges late, however, you will still not be able to participate in an exchange until yours are sent.
3. You must be a registered, activated member and you must have made at least one post, introductory or otherwise, in order to participate.

As always, the following guidelines apply:

1. Calligraphy should be used on both your exchange insert and envelope.
2. You will send a card to every member on your list (typically 7-9 members).
3. Must be related to the theme.
4. All skill levels welcome!
5. If you end up not being able to participate, please contact me ASAP. If you don't send your cards after the list has gone out, you will not be able to participate in the next exchange.
6. You must sign up before the deadline. No late sign ups.
7. HAVE FUN!

2

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Illustrated Letters

« on: May 14, 2023, 12:56:52 PM »

I went to see the Beatrix Potter exhibit at the Frist Gallery in downtown Nashville yesterday (after a fabulous Nashville Calligraphers Guild meeting). I have loved Beatrix Potter’s work since I was a child. It was incredibly inspiring. She began drawing (incredibly) around age 7. By 10 her work was masterful. Her Peter Rabbit series began as letters to children. She said she didn’t know what to say so she wrote stories and drew pictures.

Really impressive to me was the extremely delicate hairlines she achieved in both pencil and ink. Also, many of her drawings were no bigger than 3” x 5”. Astonishingly small! With such incredible detail. She and her brother used to either stuff their dead pets or boil their bones for study. She was also quite interested in mycology and was quite the scientist. They had a pet bat, snake, and of course bunny (which was quite expensive back in the day). Beatrix Potter Society

Today I came across this feature about Illustrated Letters . Not calligraphy but still very cool. 

3

Spencerian Script / The USA was founded by feathers!

« on: April 21, 2023, 07:22:03 PM »

More Spencerian practice. I loved hearing this quote! I only made one mistake (and it wasn’t even the calligraphy!). It’s the spacing after the end of the first line for the bracket. Oh well (I’m embracing my imperfection).  I did this on the fly and didn’t want to do it again. Thus the reason the quill flourish is a bit rough, too. The quill is based on one I saw in a journal. If I’m feeling ambitious, I may try it again.

Strathmore Writing Paper
Walnut Ink
Hunt 101
Photo Scan

4

Spencerian Script / Letter Writing Makes Good Company

« on: April 15, 2023, 09:24:42 PM »

Love this quote! Letter writing also makes good memories. 

I think my final flourish is a bit too rounded up on the left as it creates a trapped white space. Would have been more effective if it was a bit more horizontal but I can’t bring myself to write it again. 

Hunt 101
Tom Norton’s Walnut Ink

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Calligraphy Wabi-Sabi

« on: April 14, 2023, 07:12:53 PM »

I did a little calligraphy wabi-sabi.  The pen skipped and made a little splat as I was coming up and around for the flourish so I added a little decoration. See … I *can* embrace imperfection. 

6

ProCreate Calligraphy / ProCreate Spencerian Class!

« on: April 14, 2023, 07:09:00 PM »

One of our members, @jordantruster just launched a new Procreate Spencerian class! If you have ever wanted to learn to do calligraphy on ProCreate, this looks like a fabulous way to do it. And you get a Spencerian brush for ProCreate. Jordan’s ProCreate Spencerian is GORGEOUS!

This is a great way to learn both ProCreate calligraphy and Spencerian. I truly believe learning on the ipad can help with pen and ink calligraphy as it instills muscle memory and can take your calligraphy to a whole new level. Plus it’s SUPER fun!

Good luck on your class Jordan! 

7

Spencerian Script / Cherry Blossoms! - And Spencerian Pen Hold for Whole Arm Movement

« on: April 10, 2023, 03:57:10 PM »

Spring has sprung here in Tennessee! And we are getting a cherry tree. 

Tom Norton’s Original Walnut Drawing Ink
Hunt 101
Koyuko (practice) copy paper
Draft #21 

8

Open Flourish | General Discussion / The King’s Coronation Invitation

« on: April 06, 2023, 08:13:44 PM »

@Jean N mentioned this in another post and I thought it worthy of its own. This is an article about the King’s coronation invitation . It states, “the design, created by heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator Andrew Jamieson, will be printed on a recycled card with gold foil detailing.”

So it seems like the card was designed separately and the calligraphed invite will be printed on it. But there is a space to fill in the guest’s name with calligraphy!

9

2023 Exchanges / Word Salad 2023

« on: March 31, 2023, 06:02:39 PM »

This is going to fun! Ready to make a word salad? The interpretation is up to you ... fruit, vegetable, salad, mixed up words, confusing prose, whatever ...

Sign ups are now CLOSED.

Sign Up Page.

Sign up Deadline: Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Postmark Deadline: Monday, May 8, 2023


YOU MUST SIGN UP VIA THE FORM ABOVE OR YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED SIGNED UP. You should receive a confirmation email.

NOTE:

1. If you did not complete a past exchange you signed up for, you cannot participate.
2. If you will be busy and cannot meet your obligation, please do not sign up. It is not OK to think, "Life happens" and not fulfill your obligation. It is OK if circumstances require you to send your exchanges late, however, you will still not be able to participate in an exchange until yours are sent.
3. You must be a registered, activated member and you must have made at least one post, introductory or otherwise, in order to participate.

As always, the following guidelines apply:

1. Calligraphy should be used on both your exchange insert and envelope.
2. You will send a card to every member on your list (typically 7-9 members).
3. Must be related to the theme.
4. All skill levels welcome!
5. If you end up not being able to participate, please contact me ASAP. If you don't send your cards after the list has gone out, you will not be able to participate in the next exchange.
6. You must sign up before the deadline. No late sign ups.
7. HAVE FUN!

10

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Naughty Nuns and Fart Jokes in Medieval Marginalia

« on: March 22, 2023, 03:29:08 PM »

This just made my day... fabulous article detailing the amazing little pictures drawn in the margins of medieval documents, known as Marginalia.

Those gorgeous illuminated margins on old documents didn't always contain just beautiful acanthus leaves and lovely flourishes. This fabulous article by Hunter Oatman-Stanford also includes some incredible images of crazy beasts, a naughty nun picking unique body parts off a tree, and a pooping cleric.

See more fascinating information at this medieval manuscripts blog.

11

Workshops & Conference News / IAMPETH 2023 anyone?

« on: March 18, 2023, 12:15:35 PM »

Anyone going to IAMPETH in PA this year? I just registered. 

12

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Charlton Valentine Howe & Fanny Sargent - A Love Story

« on: March 12, 2023, 01:00:38 PM »

Fanny Sargent (1881 - 1978) was an accomplished engrosser when she designed the March 1901 edition of the Penman-Artist and Business Educator. She also included a small self-portrait sketch inside the journal. It caught the eye of engrosser Charlton V. (Valentine) Howe. He made inquiries to C. P. Zaner who connected the two and they began corresponding via mail.

They were married a year later on April 12, 1902 in the living room of Zaner. They had only met in person a week or two before.

Charlton died in 1950 but Fanny continued to run the studio until she retired in 1973.

There is a small collection of some of their work at the University of Scranton archives from both Fanny and Charlton. What I found interesting is the university website does not post any of the work in digital form. It must be viewed in person. There is a disclaimer that the work may contain “harmful or offensive language or imagery.” They note in the interest of historical integrity, they do not remove the work but notify potential viewers so they can decide for themselves if they wish to view it.

The IAMPETH convention is in Scranton PA this summer and will have field trips to the archives. This collection will be first on my list.  Not because of the intrigue of the “offensive language or imagery” but because I love a good love story!

13

2023 Exchanges / Love Letters 2023 Valentine Exchange

« on: March 08, 2023, 12:11:57 PM »

I really enjoyed this exchange. I went beyond my comfort zone and tried some new techniques. I decided to do mini-folders with a bookmark, exemplar tag, and a "specimen" card. This definitely took some time but every minute gave me such enjoyment. I also included a little sneak peak of the new "passionate flourish" script capitals I am including in my upcoming book (hopefully, some day  ).

I also received a really LOVELY bunch of Valentines from my listmates. Thank you all so much for participating!

P.S. The faux stamps are a free download from The Graphics Fairy.

Please share your exchange below if you'd like.

14

Show & Tell / the Art Penman

« on: March 06, 2023, 11:54:36 AM »

I saw this in an old Business Journal. I really like the outlined look and thought I would give it a try. What do you think? Does it detract or add to the calligraphy?

15

Guidelines / How to Draw a Spiral for Calligraphy

« on: March 03, 2023, 02:09:27 PM »

Excellent mini-tutorial by oliveleafcali on Instagram.

Spiral How To