GEMMA BLACK : ARTIST / CALLIGRAPHER

At the Textile and Fibre Forum ContextArt workshop in the Blue Mountains NSW, April 2013 I will be running two workshops. The first for two days on Understanding Formal Scripts and the second workshop for four days on Your Personal Calligraphic Journal. When we start our calligraphic journey our intention is to make beautiful letters. We engage in the discipline of mastering formal hands though we may lose the vitality and enthusiasm in our work. This class will help develop a sound understanding of calligraphy & calligraphic practice.  Explore the tricks of the trade, develop your own personal script then bind your findings into your personal calligraphic reference journal or artists diary. As a point of departure we will start with a cursive Italic and move towards creating dynamic lines of writing.  In this workshop we will dare to move into unchartered waters and explore ways to invigorate our love for letters both well-structured and newly developed. Spe...

Gouache & ink on vellum Josep Batlle replicates knot work and spirals from the Lindisfarne Gospels & the Book of Kells. Gouache & ink on vellum Spanish calligrapher and artist Josep Batlle, has devised a theory that the scribes of the high Celtic art manuscripts may have worked with metal coils to create their hundreds upon hundreds of spirals.  An article in the Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society (CLAS) Journal, V.12 Issue 5 Summer 2007 , introduced by Irish calligrapher Denis Brown, lead me to contact Josep and explore this theory with him. Josep has kindly created these spirals and knot work for me to share with you.  Recently I gave an evening presentation for the gathering of calligraphers from all around the world at the Calligraphy Northwest Conference in Portland, Oregon.  Over the weeklong conference many people followed up with me to view some of these tiny & incredibly intricate pieces of work Josep produced just for ...

At the recent CNW conference my class handouts came divided by "pink" pages. So what to do with them ... demonstrate of course!

I was proud of my class!  Their efforts, graciousness and generosity in sharing has given me courage and strength in my own work. Again! And again! Sharon Zeugin Annie Cicale Ewan Clayton Brody Neuenschwander Denis Brown These are a mere glimpse.  By this stage of the gathering my memory card was full so I enjoyed but can't show you, the rest of the inspirational tables. Sheila Waters Joke Boudens Lieve Cornil Check out this amazing young woman. Her school for calligraphy & more is an energising and refreshing move forward in our global love for letters. Julian Waters Carl Rohrs Tim Botts Susanne Moore Randy Hasson ... ... and more.

Two wise men. Two wise friends. Carl Rohrs & Yves Leterme Calligraphy Northwest 2012

The Father E.M. Catich stones 1954.  I was surprised that the v-section carve was not deep though, very even and exquisitely painted.  Kindly lent by the Portland Art Museum for the duration of the Calligraphy Northwest calligraphy conference which wound up this morning. Housed in the Library of Reed College. See stone for information Lloyd Reynolds - ink on brown paper The Library, Reed College Portland Oregon. The opportunity to see these works does not happen often. I feel privileged.