Writing in a Circle

I actually haven't written in a circle in a long time because usually it doesn't work out and I am too lazy to write it over and over to make it fit. Somehow this one just happen to fit since it was only two words and I could see that one word was about half of the circle. Yes, I would have been very bummed out had it not fit. Sometimes I just throw caution to the wind. This is actually a book cover that I am making for my Westwind graph pad calligraphy practice sheets. I have come to the conclusion... if I don't know what to do with it or how to file it... make a book out of it! So that's what I am doing with this. The cover is scrapbook paper and I used a calligraphy marker for the lettering.

This is Italic Calligraphy (which by the way is starting November 2nd!) Another shameless plug!

Italic Calligraphy Online Class-Starts Nov 2nd

ALMOST READY!!! If you are interested, Gail at Creative Workshops will have registration open soon.

As hard as this class was to organize and teach, it was a complete joy to work intensely with my pens and practice my skills so I could bring to those of you who might be interested in learning calligraphy a good foundation so you can start a successful calligraphic journey. I have developed a step by step approach which will give you the foundation for you to be a good calligrapher. The rest is up to you! It is something that you can do the rest of you life, it never goes out of style and it goes with any style that comes around a goes around. It will make you happy and others happy. What can be better than that?

What is the world is this?

I have tried to resist... yes, I have... tried and tried with all my might but I guess I have given in to my weakness for trying something new---can you guess what I colored this with?? Now don't read any further...can you guess? So, before I tell you (have you read down further yet?) I wanted to first say that these are the calligraphic letterforms that I am teaching in my new upcoming online "Italic Calligraphy" class coming November 2nd. We will learn this basic letterform and a few little variations.

Ok, they are Copic markers. I really don't know what the heck I am doing even after looking at several Youtube videos and a DVD but I must say, they really are fun. You know how I love markers anyway! I need to take a class and there is one here in Jax soon that I am planning to take. The problem is....oh so many colors and oh so expensive! And you really do need many colors to do the shading correctly. I bought some at Hobby Lobby on sale and I guess I will have to get more. There are about 350 colors! Oh goodness....goodness me...

Art hath an enemy

This is just a little quote which will be added as an example in the online class. Today I will be filming lesson three--the letterforms. So far so good!

New Online Class Coming!

I have been practicing my Italic letterforms so I could teach this online class.  It is very much like a musician practicing a particular piece for a concert. It takes practice. In fact, the whole art of calligraphy takes just one thing---practice. As as with any art, this is just what it takes. But I do want to present the correct foundation so that anyone who takes this class  will have started on the right track and not go on a path with stray strokes, pitfalls, and just all around-- bad letters. Lesson one is in the can and I hope how it will go much faster since I don't have to learn Moviemaker this time!  So, I haven't had a chance to create any art but maybe I can sneak in something in between filming. So if you wonder when the Art du Jour is---now you will know!

PS  I am pretty sure that by November I should have it all ready but just don't write that with ink yet. And of course it is all--God willing.

Calligraphy is ART!!

I am planning, God willing of course, to start filming an online "Calligraphy One--The Right Foundation" class which will be hosted by Gail Schmidt at creative workshops.  I am so very passionate about this wonderful art. It grabs you and sinks into your artistic bones and you are off on this wonderful lifetime journey in search of beautiful quotes and Scripture that you can put into beautiful handwriting. That's what calligraphy is, "the art of beautiful handwriting."  It is an art that can truly be --the agony and the ecstasy.  Calligraphy is not for sissies for sure---but it will be the most rewarding thing you have ever done in your life.  It takes hard work---but the hard work is rewarding because you can see yourself evolving and improving daily. You can combine calligraphy with all sorts of collage and mixed media---and making that combination successfully is an art all in itself. But it is do-able for anyone who is willing to learn.  Calligraphy is an art form--not just handwriting---and I should mention this also--your messy handwriting --or beautiful handwriting for that matter has nothing to do with learning it at all.

This was written with  Zig Calligraphy marker, outlined and embellished in black and shadowed with a Platinum Brushable marker.

Calligra-Fun Starts Soon

Hi! Just wanted to thank everyone for signing up so far and I am so looking forward to the class getting started.  I am only an email or blogpost away so  if you need any help at all or need any questions answered please don't hesitate to contact me. I love helping people learn to write with beautiful letters so--don't be a stranger!!!  :)

Online Calligra-FUN class!

Gail from Creative Workshops had gotten all of my information up for my upcoming class which will start on July 22nd.  I have finished all the 5 lessons which are anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes long. 

Lesson 1: Getting to know your Pens and what fun things they will do.

Lesson 2: Learning the Lower Case Alphabet--calligraphy style!

Lesson 3:  Learning the Upper Case Alphabet--Calligraphy style

Lesson 4-  Learning Fun variations with the letterforms and other fun stuff;ribbon, trees,all kinds of flowers

Lesson 5:  Embellishing Words and painting flowers in flowers pots , envelopes and more fun stuff

Plus lots of handouts and help sheets

The cost is $45

You can watch the videos at your leisure and in your own time. You will have a password and can watch then as much as you want.

Hope you can join me for some CALLIGRA--FUN!!