Please contact me to inquire about teaching availability.

WEEKEND WORKSHOPS

Constraints: A key to a calligraphic journey, 2-3 days

What happens when we mix basic italic lettering, an open mind and a bunch of wild constraints? Hopefully a creative weekend that stretches our calligraphic work past old boundaries and sparks new ideas that can be placed on paper. Additional day can be added to this workshop if a review of basic Italic calligraphy is requested.

Introduction to Italic Calligraphy, 2 days

Students will be given a brief history of the Italic Script, an overview of tools and materials and instruction on how to use them. After learning some basic strokes using a steel nib students will delve into learning the upper,lower-case letters, numbers and puncuation. Students will practice letter spacing and layout and challenged to complete a small project. Students will leave class with a detailed exemplars and guide sheets for practice at home.

Introduction to Copperplate Calligraphy, 2 days

Students will be given a brief history of Copperplate Script, an overview of tools and materials and instruction on how to use them. After learning some basic strokes using a traditional steel nib and oblique pen holder, students will delve into learning the upper and lower-case letters. Students will practice letter spacing and layout and challenged to complete a small project. Instruction on flourishing may also be provided if time allows.Students will leave class with a detailed exemplars and guide sheets for practice at home.

DAY or HALF-DAY CLASSES

Full-Day Introduction to Copperplate Calligraphy, 6.5 hours (+ lunch break)

Students will be given a brief history of Copperplate Script, an overview of tools and materials and instruction on how to use them. After learning some basic strokes using a traditional steel nib and oblique pen holder, students will delve into learning the lower case letters and after a lunch break finish the day with learning uppercase. Students will leave class with a detailed exemplars and guide sheets for practice at home as well as all supplies provided in class. No calligraphy experience (or good handwriting!) needed, advanced or intermediate students will also benefit from guidence by an experienced instructor. 

Mini Intro to Copperplate Calligraphy (lowercase only)

Students will be given a brief history of Copperplate Script, an overview of tools and materials and instruction on how to use them. After learning some basic strokes using a traditional steel nib and oblique pen holder, students will delve into learning the lower case alphabet. Students will leave class with a detailed exemplars and guide sheets for practice at home as well as all supplies provided in class. Uppercase exemplar will be provided for home study. No calligraphy experience (or good handwriting!) needed, advanced or intermediate students will also benefit from guidence by an experienced instructor. 

Mini Intro to Copperplate Calligraphy + Project (lowercase only)

Students will be given a brief history of Copperplate Script, an overview of tools and materials and instruction on how to use them. After learning some basic strokes using a traditional steel nib and oblique pen holder, students will delve into learning the lower case alphabet. The class will end with instruction on very simple flourishing and guidance on completing simple gift tags (or place cards).

Students will leave class with a detailed exemplars and guide sheets for practice at home as well as all supplies provided in class. Uppercase exemplar will be provided for home study. No calligraphy experience (or good handwriting!) needed, advanced or intermediate students will also benefit from guidence by an experienced instructor. 

Copperplate Calligraphy Monogram Design (+ optional) Rubber Stamp Project, 3-4 hours

Students will be given a brief history of Copperplate Script, an overview of tools and materials and instruction on how to use them. After learning some basic strokes using a traditional steel nib and oblique pen holder, students will delve into learning uppercase case Copperplate letters. The class will end with instruction on simple monogram design as well as time and guidance for completing a personalized monogram in class.  Monograms will be sent home with the instructor to be scanned into Photoshop and sent to an Omaha-based rubber stamp maker. Students will receive a personalized monogram stamp in the mail within 3 weeks of class completion!

Students will leave class with a detailed exemplars and guide sheets for practice at home as well as all supplies provided in class. Lowercase exemplar will be provided for home study. No calligraphy experience (or good handwriting!) needed, advanced or intermediate students will also benefit from guidence by an experienced instructor. 

Intro to Uppercase Copperplate Calligraphy + Return Address Stamp Project, 3.5 hours

Students will be given a brief history of Copperplate Script, an overview of tools and materials and instruction on how to use them. After learning some basic strokes using a traditional steel nib and oblique pen holder, students will delve into learning uppercase case Copperplate letters. The class will end with guidance on completing a single letter monogram to be used on a personalized return address stamp.  Student's completed letters will be sent home with the instructor to be scanned into Photoshop and sent to an Omaha-based rubber stamp maker. Students will receive a personalized return address stamp in the mail within 3 weeks of class completion!

Students will leave class with a detailed exemplars and guide sheets for practice at home as well as all supplies provided in class. Lowercase exemplar will be provided for home study. No calligraphy experience (or good handwriting!) needed, advanced or intermediate students will also benefit from guidence by an experienced instructor.

Developing Your Own Modern Calligraphy Script

Foundational Script

Italic Script, an introduction

Italic is (in the words of calligrapher Gillian Hazeldine) "probably the most important script for the modern calligrapher as it is capable of almost endless variation, able to express on the page a huge range of emotions." This adaptable, beautiful script is also a joy to write.

Students will learn about the history of Italic and be introduced to tools and lettering materials before learning basic strokes. Students will leave class with detailed exemplars, guide sheets for home practice as well as all necessary calligraphy supplies. No calligraphy experience needed, beginners welcome! Intermediate students will benefit from guided review by an experienced instructor. 

Brush Calligraphy

Brush lettering is inherently more free and informal than many lettering styles, and you'll leave the class with your own piece of artwork that you can be proud of!

To make sure our brush letters have a solid foundation, we'll begin class with pencil italic letterforms before moving on to brush work technique and tips. Students will work with a basic brush lettering exemplar and be given tips on how to vary and personalize their letterforms.