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.
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.
Register here for a new pointed pen calligraphy class beginning January 7
- 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.
New calligraphy class in Jan-Feb 2018
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.
- 4 Mitchell dip pens (in 4 sizes) + 1 ink reservoir
- 1 basic pen holder
- 1 pad of Strathmore Drawing 300 paper
- 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 11x14 paper will cost about $11 (or less with a Michaels coupon or when it's on sale).
Eight-week class: making a manuscript book
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/.