LINC demonstration

Yesterday I gave a demonstration to patrons of the local LINC Library.

It was such good fun!

First up was a call to the onlookers to help me out with the demonstration theme - great literary giants with no preset layout plan.

I thought we would just go with the flow and build a page of text. This worked well.

As I proceeded with their input we worked our way around the 300gsm Arches medium surface fine art paper the artwork took shape.

I was using Horizon Pens and Brause nibs with walnut ink supplemented with Noodlers colours.

Only two spelling mistakes which I put down to being distracted.

Luckily both were able to be fixed as I was using such good paper.

I had the patrons quoting me lines from each literati and some even resorted to google!

 "Look mum, no lines!"

 After the demonstration all the patrons (and some staff) walked away with bookmarks for themselves as well as some for their families!

 It was a lovely and rewarding few hours.

My thanks go to Jane & Tanya who helped me with set up and promo for the event and to Kingston LINC.

With the Mayor ...

With Mayor Dr Graham Bury at the award ceremony.

The exhibition runs until Sunday 11 May - Mother's day!

Honoured ...

You may have seen this earlier in the year ...

Last night this piece of work won the Kingborough Acquisition Art Prize.

I didn't find out until I walked into the show. It was opening night.
A wild, windy and horrid evening, I could not believe the crowd - huge.
I am delighted and very proud

that a piece of calligraphy has won a major multidisciplinary acquisition prize. 

My thanks go to the Kingborough Lions Club, the Kingborough Council where my work will hang,

the artists and the people who come and enjoy the show for the art.

Lettering at the LINC

Today I set up the foyer cabinet at my local library with a calligraphy display.

It looked like this to start with ...

... and this when I finished!

The main aim in choosing the materials I did was to educate, young and old alike.  Some of the works are mine, some others by Gaynor Goffe, Tom Perkins, Ann Hechle, the Australian Society of Calligraphers and the Friends of Calligraphy, San Francisco. There are hand bound books, pens, inks, gouache, sticks, stones, ink bottles, quills, pots, nibs and works from medieval manuscripts to modern.

It was fascinating the number of people who were interested in lettering & writing as I was setting up the cabinet. Chat, chat, chat, chat, chat ... what a rewarding little project.

 

My very helpful link at the LINC has been Jane Dobbs who has collected all the calligraphy books off the shelves and set up a calligraphy book borrowing section just inside from here.  I am running weekly classes at the Blackmans Bay Community Hall on Wednesdays. All enquiries are welcome.



LINC Tasmania is a statewide network that gives Tasmanians access to library services, research and information, adult literacy support, community learning, online access, and archive and heritage services.
Originally the acronym was short for 'Learning and Information Network Centre' but the full name is no longer used. The name, 'LINC Tasmania' reflects our vision: To enrich the lives of Tasmanians by linking them to learning and information, their history and their communities.

A good Friday walk

There is nothing like a long hard walk to get the endorphins pumping,

bringing on that feeling of well-being.

Today's walk started out perfectly. Still, sunny and warm

until it turned to light and misty rain. Lucky we are pre-shrunk!

 Blackmans Bay 9am Good Friday 2014 Beautiful! We headed for the far clifftop. A gentle stroll.

 Up and around the clifftop.

 Stunning views with every step!

An hour later, back down onto the beach ...

"what happened to the glorious weather?" asks the oboe player.  Oh well, that's Tasmania!

It really is a good Friday!

Thank you, Paper and Ink Arts

It is always so lovely when someone offers to write something about you

or to be given the opportunity to write about yourself.

Thank you, Paper and Ink Arts for putting me in Calligrapher's Corner!

Some things just take time ...

A few years ago I created a lovely little Christmas card using a painting to the line technique inspired by Adolf Bernd's work. I have not used the technique since then but was teaching this method at the recent summer school.  You may have seen a snippet of this before.

Lilium et Rosa

I started this little work as an in-class demonstration and now I have finally finished it.

Lilium et Rosa (detail)

Also a couple of weeks ago I finished this work to be sent to Europe for a competition.
The theme of the competition is The Great War 1914 - 1918. Understandably, I concentrated on the ANZACS.

I have decided not to send it for a couple of reasons. 

To send this framed piece to Europe is approximately $250.  So what with the framing costs,
the cost to send to Europe, possibly the cost to send the work back, plus the entry fee,
I have had to say to myself, enough, it just isn't going to happen.

I got a quote through Pack & Send and also checked with Australia Post insured to Europe.

The competition has a nice prize purse but you must be in attendance on the opening night
to actually claim it - a little difficult from Australia.
Not that I would expect to win mind you but the kudos of winning,
the organisers told me, was more than one would want, surely.  Ha!

 Lest We Forget

 Lest We Forget (detail)

 I just love the way the watercolour behaves on this Hahnemuehle paper.

It is a lovely work and I am glad I have done it and that for me is what counts.