Ampersands & other Ligatures


Ampersands & other Ligatures - a two day workshop


Jill's experiments - all participants created pages and pages of examples.


The following are highly decorative ampersands from the Book of Kells. After much study of, and then research in pairs of both ampersand forms, the origins of the ampersand's nomenclature and it's variety of forms including Tironian Notes this was a relaxing way to wind down the workshop. On the afternoon of the second day we each took a different decorative ampersand from the Book of Kells and worked it in whatever fashion we wanted. The participants could use gouache, coloured pencils, watercolour or pen and ink and only had about two hours to play with these exquisite historic forms.

Some participants had illumination experience and others didn't but everyone enjoyed their results.


Sorry this one is a little blurred but I wanted to be inclusive rather than not.












My demonstration roll - nothing beats the glistening of wet ink flowing off the broad nib, yum!


My whiteboard - a very slippery demonstration surface.



The following photos are of the participants working in pairs on a research project I set them.

Angela & Lyndell


Some of the CCS participants at Urambi Village

Sara & Christine

Pamela & Ann deep in research


Maureen & Pamela


Jill & Jenni


Canberra Calligraphy Society President Jill Robertson & New Recruit Sara Posgay

Chris & Mike


Carol & James




Here are some of the photos from the weekend workshop in Canberra. It was a marvellous time of research, and pure pleasure revelling in Ampersands & other Ligatures. I was delighted with the response and the results of their research and subsequent work. Thank you Canberra for being the first to experience this Ampersands & Other Ligatures workshop ... who said anything about guinea pigs!

If anyone is interested in having me teach this fascinating two day workshop for your group please contact me and I'll look at my remaining 2011 schedule, though I am also making workshop bookings for 2012 already.

Comments

ronnie said…
looks like everyone had a great time (I'm hoping the teacher did too.....)

nice work!
October 28, 2010 at 8:29 PM
CJ Kennedy said…
What a fantastic class! Sure wish I lived closer.
October 28, 2010 at 11:52 PM
Gemma Black said…
I loved it. Thanks for your comments gals. x x gb
October 30, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Marg Peachey said…
Very impressive work. I am sooo sorry I missed it.
November 6, 2010 at 8:23 AM
Gemma Black said…
Oh Marg it was a great weekend ... because I got to see all my friends again! Luckily you and I had a nice catch-up on the Thursday ... thank you!

x gb
November 6, 2010 at 3:05 PM
Kit @ Dreamscribe said…
Looks like it was a great weekend, Gemma! Who knew there were so many variations? I bet you could run heaps of calligraphy workshops on all marks that *aren't* letters (ampersands, punctuation, numbers!).

Welcome home (again).
:-)
November 8, 2010 at 11:43 PM
Gemma Black said…
Hi Kit, there are a zillion marks that can be explored and enjoyed. And, that is not even considering Tironian Notes!

Kit ... I believe I have an ampersand to send off to you ... a trinket I promised if I still had it ... send me your address in an email and I get it off to you!
x gb
November 9, 2010 at 11:18 AM
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