Medieval Illumination workshop one.

This week I am visiting Canberra to teach two workshops on medieval illumination. One this weekend and one next weekend.  The class were a mix of calligraphers, bookbinders and conservators from various institutions around Canberra and Melbourne.  What a wonderful group and amazing outcomes.  We used the Endangered Heritage pigments. What a great specialist shop for all things conservation and presetvation - click here to go to Endangered Heritage.  All images are from the Bodleain Bestiary. Nearly all works were on vellum, pumiced, sanderaced and using gum ammoniacum, 23.75 ct gold. 

Enjoy this weekends efforts!

 

More after the second workshop next weekend. In the meantime I am going to play with one gorgeous young boy Hamish Hulbert, hooray!

Today in the post …

Today a special little parcel arrived from my friend Annie in Canberra.  These nibs will get a great working out my friend.  I have already given one of my "lovelies" some and I expect miracles from her.  I am grateful to have such kind friends.

Thank you Annie!

The teapot and ink pots are mine :-)

Venezia 2015

Venezia: calligraphy week

please join me

places available

enrolment open

27th - 30th August 2015

"Lettere Longobarde – Maiuscole e MInuscole, pennino e matita"

Correspondence in

It is amazing how one accumulates correspondence. This is the correspondence pile for the grand tour, dates 25th June - 4th September 2015.  I well know that one should always think twice about printing out emails etc. this pile however is after I thought twice!  I calculate this pile would be four times the height if I had have printed the lot.  I can barely imagine how many hours and hours have been spent on corresponding with contacts around the world all of whom I suspect are volunteers.  To them I say thank you. Without whom I would not be enjoying the privilege. Visit my website for the itinerary.

Calligraphy Summer Scool

T H E   C O U R S E

Painting for calligraphers: more than fine writing 

A workshop for all skill levels! From the simple to the ridiculous!


USQ Toowoomba Queensland 7 - 17 January 2013
On-campus accommodation, meals included.

Come and share with a friend.

Fabulous value!

Enrolments are open and will be closing early December so it is advisable to book really soon.

For more enrolment details please visit the University of Southern Queensland, McGregor classes.

For a chat about the course content please don't hesitate to contact me.

Some of the painting techniques we will cover in the summer school follow:

Writing in Scrolls & family crests

Painted animals

Grounds

Painting for illuminations

Painted Letters & Size Under gold




Logos & LogoTypes




Logos & LogoTypes 





Logo

Logos

Grounds & letterforms





Painted Letters & graphite wash

Painted letters & graphite wash

Grounds

Grounds 

Grounds

Grounds

Grounds

 Logos

Illumination Painting

Ink Grounds

 Grounds

Water colour painting

Quid enim ...

Is there anything sweeter than time spent with letters ...

peace ... rising through the ashes of war

I have started my ALaW year with my alphabet for peace. 

Rather than create a beautiful and peaceful feeling I have chosen to create my peace ... rising through the ashes of war.

Upon the dark & brooding background - which can be a metaphor for either war or the long dark night of the soul - peace in many languages speak out. Without wanting to destroy the image I have designed some letters I originally created for a piece of work which now resides in Portland, Oregon ... and pierced them into the ashes.

I have not worked the whole alphabet yet as the piercing is slow.  They will come on a week to week basis but I have created the words of peace.  The gold cross symbolises the PAX symbol - my schoolgirl motto. You see here peace in French, Javanese, Vietnamese and Dutch with my little ceramic peace crane watching overhead.

The materials used are 300gsm hot-press paper, brush, pen, gesso ink, gold leaf on miniatum gold size and pen white.