Category: teaching

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“Ben Shahn-ish” workshop, another edition

This week I begin teaching a 3-week, online edition of my workshop, “Ben Shahn-ish.” In preparation, I have continued to improvise with Ben Shahn’s folk hand as a basis. I last taught this more than a year ago, but each time I revisit the hand I discover more about it.

Ben Shahn’s folk hand is a wonderful canvas for improvisation in so many ways. As far as I know, we don’t have conclusive information about what tool he used for these letters. Ignorance is bliss in this case: I’ve tried them with a broad-edge pen, a pointed pen, a folded pen, a pointed brush, several pencils, and more. Each tool teaches a little more.

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Workshop in Great Falls: Capitals as Text & Tiny Paintings as Graphical Elements

I had a wonderful time last weekend teaching my workshop, “Capitals as Text & Tiny Paintings as Graphical Elements,” to my own state guild. We had a good time studying a fragment of this 5th-century manuscript book written in square capitals (see this earlier post), improving our tiny nibs, making tiny broad-edge nibs from pointed nibs, and getting into the weeds with pens, gouache, and paper. It is nourishing to be among friends who share our love of all things alphabetic!

Mohawk prayer made in celebration of Earth Day. Calligraphy made in preparation for the workshop: "Capitals as Text & Tiny Paintings as Graphical Elements."
Mohawk prayer made in celebration of Earth Day. 6″ x 6.5″ content area.

The workshop name is problematic: “Capitals as Text & Tiny Paintings as Graphical Elements,” “Tiny Capitals & Tiny Painting,” “Small Capitals & Landscapes” — perhaps some day I’ll settle on a cogently brief name.

This is only the second workshop our state guild has hosted since the pandemic, and it was so good to be together again. Many thanks to my friend Mary Jo who put me up in her lovely house. I’m amazed at what a stellar job she and Ruth did in organizing the workshop. (AND we got to see baby geese!)

Geese mother and chicks
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Current workshop: Capitals as Text & Tiny Paintings as Graphical Elements

Various examples of work that pairs small capitals as a text hand with small painted landscapes.

About this workshop: The idea of monumental Roman capitals is intimidating for many calligraphers. But making and arranging small capitals on a page can help us to connect with the fun of lettering while focusing on some basic design principles.

Great for beginners and the experienced letterer alike, this workshop explores the use of text capitals and creation of texture in our texts. We’ll do this with small broad-edged and pointed pens through the manipulation of letter spacing, color changes, and other design decisions. We’ll also examine how the act of writing creates rhythm and movement. In the second session, we’ll create tiny painted landscapes as a graphic element. And we’ll make them meld beautifully with our texts through the magic of color theory.

Depending on the length of the workshop, some of the following topics also covered include optimizing our working space, tools, and materials; developing layout options, including a variety of strategies for planning and making guidelines; painting and color theory.

I have now taught this workshop several times through various calligraphy guilds, and will teach it at least three more times in February and March. I have developed this workshop to work in several formats:

  • a two-session workshop, two hours per session one week apart
  • a three-session workshop, two hours per session one week apart
  • a two-day in-person workshop

If your guild is interested in hosting this workshop, let me know.

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Teaching Ben Shahn -ish letters

My exploration of Ben Shahn letters. Click on the image for a closer look.

I enjoyed teaching Ben Shahn lettering to members of our local guild this month. Well, my take on them, at least. Clear examples of Ben Shahn’s actual lettering in this style have not been gathered into a book that is easy to acquire. In The Complete Graphic Works of Ben Shahn, there are some small images and one large but very faint image.

The renditions of contemporary calligraphy teachers vary widely. I think this is because the way the letters are put together with one another is as important as the letter forms themselves. Ben Shahn delighted to nest letters together, especially “LL”, to enclose one letter wholly or partially within the preceding letter, and to allow adjacent letters to sometimes share a single stem. It is a gently playful hand that is a delight to write.

We also explored the properties of Bister inks, which are similar to walnut ink but made in a range of colors.

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Small Capitals with Small Landscapes – a workshop

examples of small landscapes with small Roman capitals
examples of small landscapes with small Roman capitals

I’m looking forward to teaching a two-day workshop titled “Small Capitals with Small Landscapes” in September.

In this workshop, we’ll mix small Roman capitals fun with a landscape that is just one square inch. Start with pencil and fine marker, we’ll begin with monoline Roman capitals and gradually shrink them down for use as text lettering. Then we’ll focus on what creates rhythm and movement within those texts. We’ll use small broad-edged and pointed pens with gouache or watercolor, and I share a few strategies for making our small lettering sharp and clear. I’ll demonstrate a couple of ways to load the pen with changing colors that add further texture to the text block. And we’ll play with other kinds of texture, letter spacing, and more. And then we’ll create tiny painted landscapes as a graphic element that melds beautifully with our lettering.

These little paintings make beautiful greeting cards, bookmarks, and small framed pieces.

I’ve taught this workshop, “Small Capitals with Small Landscapes”, once before. This time I’ll be teaching members of a southern California guild. I look forward it!

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New classes beginning in January 2019

UPDATE 20 DEC 2019:
It’s now settled that I will teach two classes this winter — one on journals and sketchbook bindings, and one on brush and pointed pen lettering. So I’ve removed the interest survey. But you can get a complete description of the classes and/or register and pay for a class here.
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Pointed pen practice/play

I’m having the best time teaching a great group of students this winter. Although I’ve taught calligraphy classes for [checks résumé] 30 years (!), this is the first time I’ve taught pointed pen scripts in a classroom setting. To teach others is always to educate myself. Determining how to explain a concept often spotlights previously ignored fuzzy areas in my own thinking.

We’ve begun with a business hand and no pressure, gotten an intro to pointed pen nib and offset holder and ink, and then moved on to a working copperplate hand that is not too fussy (think Buddy Blackwell). 

Here is a bit of silliness that broke out during a practice session focusing on whole-arm movement exercises. Contrary to what this image may suggest, I do not plan to cover “modern calligraphy” in any depth. I was just having fun. Click on the image for a closer look.

 

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Register here for a new pointed pen calligraphy class beginning January 7

I am offering a 6-week calligraphy class from 5:30-7:00 pm on Sundays, beginning January 7. We will study pointed pen lettering, with an emphasis on monoline and copperplate styles.
 
Please use the form below to register for the class. 
 
The cost will be $95 per person, payable the first day of class or via PayPal here.
  
The class will be limited to 10 participants.
 
We will study the letter forms and how to use them in projects such as greeting cards, bookmarks, place cards, little books, and more.
 
Pointed pen lettering requires a bare minimum of tools and materials. You’ll need the following for the class:
  • Strathmore Drawing 300 pad at least 9″ x 12″
  • Oblique pen holder
  • Leonardt Principal EF pointed nib (I can supply 1 nib for $2.50, same price at John Neal)
  • a black fine point marker such as Sakura Pigma Micron 01 or ZIG Millennium 01, approximately 1/4mm width
  • pencil, sharpener, eraser
  • metal-edge ruler at least 12″

Except for the Leonardt Principal nib, everything here is available at the MSU Bookstore. I’ll offer a basic kit, which includes the first 3 items, for $12 to those students who let me know that they want a kit by January 1.

 
In addition, I will provide some tools and materials for your use, and others for you to try out. I always say that many a budding calligrapher got their start due to a case of OSD (Office Supply Addiction).
 
Class will be held in the social hall of Temple Beth Shalom at 2020 West Koch; this is just west of 19th Avenue South, near Albertsons.
 
Class will commence on Sunday, January 7, and meet weekly except for January 21. The last class will be held on February 18.
 
Email me with any questions. I look forward to seeing you in class! 
 

Class registration 2018

 
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New calligraphy class in Jan-Feb 2018

I’m planning to teach an 8-week class in January and February in Bozeman.
 

To make it as inclusive and accessible as possible, I’ve set up a poll to discover what you are interested in learning and what time of day and week you could attend. If you’re interested in taking the class, scroll down the examples to let me know what interests you and when you could attend.

In response to some questions about the class, here is a little more information.

Depending on how many students we have, the cost will be $100 to $120 per person for the course.

Students are welcome to bring what they have that would work. For those who want it, I am happy to provide a beginner’s kit for students on the first day of class. The cost is $18 and includes:
  • 4 Mitchell dip pens (in 4 sizes) + 1 ink reservoir
  • 1 basic pen holder
  • 1 pad of Strathmore Drawing 300 paper
 A student starting from scratch will pay $15 – $35 for basic calligraphy supplies if they purchase them individually. At a minimum, we’ll use 
  • dip pens — a sampler of pens is $12.95 or $15.95, although a student could buy a few nibs from me @ $1.25 each;
  • sumi ink — available at the MSU bookstore or pay $6 for small jar of Moon Palace at John Neal;
  • Strathmore Drawing 300 paper — a pad of 11×14 paper will cost about $11 (or less with a Michaels coupon or when it’s on sale). 
(I assume people will have basic office supplies on hand, such as pencil, eraser, ruler, etc.)
 
To give you idea of how I run a class, check out this link to a class I taught in 2015. At the bottom of the class you can see syllabus and assignments, week by week.
 
 
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Eight-week class: making a manuscript book

manuscript-book-class

I am offering a 8-week class on the manuscript book that will begin January 18 and run, with some breaks, through April 11.

In this class we will examine a variety of handmade books, learn about the parts of a book. Then we’ll design, make and bind a manuscript book.

We’ll choose content, materials, and layout. We’ll learn how to copy fit, good ways to practice the lettering, and much more before finally creating and binding our own books.

To read more or register for the class, go to callibeth.com/class-2016/.