Upcoming Workshops

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• Let's get Italicized! Master the Basics of Italic Calligraphy

  • Start
    November 11, 2023
  •  
    (PST)
  • End
    December 09, 2023
  •  
    (PST)
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Online - Zoom

  Presented by Elmo van Slingerland

  
  

  Sponsored by 

  Saturdays, November 11, 18, December 2, and 9, 10am-noon PST 

  ABOUT  THE WORKSHOP: We will take a look at the history of the Italic hand, the tools and materials used, and the various techniques to create a script that is both powerful and beautiful. 

  Welcome to this workshop where we'll cover the basics of italic! Our focus is on the Italic hand and how to use the broad-edged pen as our primary tool. We'll start by looking at the construction of letters, developing good proportions and rhythm, and exploring how to write texts that are pleasing to the eye. Our approach is slow and concentrated, allowing us to take the time to fully immerse ourselves in the craft. 
  
  Through practice and dedication, we will gain the knowledge to take our formal lettering to the next level. 

  By the end of the workshop, we hope to have developed the skills necessary to create a refined and elegant script.

  ABOUT ELMO: He was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He studied at the Rotterdamse Grafische School (school for printing and graphic arts) and finished his study of graphic and typographic design at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. In 1986, Elmo attended a workshop in France with Claude Mediavilla and considers this his start on the path of calligraphy. He has taught workshops in different countries in Europe, as well as in Australia, South Korea, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.. Elmo has also taught a post-graduate course in type design at The Royal Academy of Arts. After graduating from the Academy, he worked as a freelance type designer for DTL, and worked as a graphic designer. He has exhibited calligraphy in Belgium, France, South Korea and the Netherlands and has also had work published in several publications.

  All levels - beginners will learn and for others it will be a fantastic refresher from this master. 

  Workshop will be recorded and available for two months.

  Zoom invitation will be sent a couple days in advance.

  Cost: $120, paid by check or Paypal (see details below)
  

  REGISTRATION: You must be a member both when you register and when the class is held. Pay by check or PayPal. No refunds.  (Contact Kristi for the information on paying via paper check.) 

  MEMBERS ONLY

  
  

  You must be a member of SfC when you register and when this program is held. Enrollment is limited to current paid Society for Calligraphy members only. No reservation will be held until your dues are current. Please click HERE to join via check, or contact Kristi at sdworkshops@societyforcalligraphy.org to inquire about becoming a member of SfC.
  

  Questions? Contact Nan Anantharaman and Kristi Darwick: SDWorkshopsTeam@societyforcalligraphy.org.

  For prompt receipt of supply list and confirmation, your check should arrive no later than two weeks before the workshop. You are not registered until confirmed by the workshop coordinator.
  

  NO audio or video recording of any program, meeting, workshop or other SfC function permitted consent of both guest artist and a representative of the Board of Governors. *** You must ask permission of the artist/instructor to photograph any copyrighted materials, including demos. 

  Show details
• Dancing Petals: Painting the Charm of Loose Watercolor Roses

  • Start
    January 05, 2024
  •  
    (PST)
  • End
    January 06, 2024
  •  
    (PST)
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Online - Zoom

  Register

  Presented by Shreya Verma

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Sponsored by San Diego SfC  

  Friday and Saturday, January 5-6, 2024  6pm-9.30pm PST

  $50     MEMBERS ONLY

  About the workshop: 

  Immerse yourself in the delicate and expressive world of watercolors with our specialized workshop, “Dancing Petals: Painting the Charm of Loose Watercolor Roses” Guided by Shreya Verma, a passionate artist who finds inspiration in nature’s beauty and the vivid world of colors, this workshop is an invitation to explore the art of watercolor painting in a relaxing and supportive environment. 

  What You’ll Learn:

  1. Fundamentals of Watercolor Painting: We’ll start from the ground up, covering essential watercolor techniques. This includes brush handling, color mixing, and understanding water control - perfect for beginners who are taking their first steps in watercolor painting.  

  2. Loose Watercolor Roses: Dive into the graceful world of watercolor as you learn to paint roses with a loose and fluid approach. This session emphasizes capturing the essence and charm of roses in a relaxed style, focusing more on expression than intricate detail. It's an approachable and satisfying way to create, suitable for artists at any skill level.  

  3. Creating Filler Elements: Complement your roses with charming filler elements. This session will show you how to balance your main subject with subtle, yet impactful, additional details. 

  4. Crafting an End-of-Class Project: Bring together everything you’ve learned in a final project that combines your watercolor roses, fillers, and shimmery accents into a cohesive and beautiful piece. 

  5. Envelope Creation: Conclude your artistic journey by crafting a bespoke envelope, perfectly paired with your watercolor project. It’s a wonderful way to present or preserve your art. 

  6. Interactive and Fun Atmosphere: Engage in a fun-filled, interactive session where questions, experimentation, and self-expression are highly encouraged. 

  This workshop is not just about learning watercolor techniques; it’s about finding joy in the creative process, embracing the beauty of imperfections, and expressing yourself through art. Whether you’re looking to refine your skills or seeking a peaceful artistic escape, this workshop offers a nurturing space to relax, create, and connect with fellow art enthusiasts.  

  Join us for this colorful journey and let your artistic spirit flourish!

  The workshop will be recorded and available for two months.

  Experience Level: Beginners through advanced.

  About Shreya: Allow me to introduce Shreya, a gentle soul who finds solace in the beauty of nature and expresses it through the soothing strokes of watercolors. Her art is a tender portrayal of flowers and natural wonders. Shreya is not just an artist; she's also a journaling enthusiast, using words and colors to find peace amidst life's challenges. She believes in being gentle with herself, taking breaks, and embracing creativity at her own pace. Her heartfelt advice to fellow nature lovers: Create from the heart, and don't fret about others' opinions; let your art flow gently like a calm stream.

  REGISTRATION:

  You must be a member both when you register and when the class is held. 

  Pay by check or PayPal. No refunds.

  Cost: $50, paid by check or Paypal (see details below)

  A COMPLETED REGISTRATION REQUIRES 2 STEPS:

  1. FIRST REGISTER. 

  2. Second, Make a payment of $50 via PayPal or check. 

  Once you have registered, you will be sent a confirmation email with the PayPal button to complete your registration.
  

  To pay by check email Kristi, for instructions, at SDWorkshopsTeam@societyforcalligraphy.org 

  Include your current name, address, phone number, and email with the check (s) in the envelope. Non-members, include a separate check for $42, made out to Society for Calligraphy, along with your membership form: https://societyforcalligraphy.org/resources/Site/Membership/Membership.pdf or contact Kristi to process membership electronically. 

  Enrollment is limited to current paid Society for Calligraphy members only. Your membership must be current at time of sign-up as well as when class is held. If your membership lapses, you become ineligible and your space will be filled from the waiting list. For prompt receipt of supply list and confirmation, your payment should arrive no later than two weeks before the workshop. Supply list will be provided within the week following receipt of your registration.

  Questions? Contact Nan Anantharaman at SDWorkshopsTeam@societyforcalligraphy.org

  Show details
• The Gilded, Painted Letter and More with Rosemary Buczek

  • Start
    January 13, 2024
  •  
    (PST)
  • End
    February 03, 2024
  •  
    (PST)
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Online - Zoom

  
  

  Sponsored by Inland Empire Chapter

  January 13, 2024 - February 3, 2024, 8:00 am-10:00 am PST
  

  About the Workshop: We will look at the classic Versal letter, a letter so adaptable as to allow all sorts of decorative elements.  We will focus on the use of 23K gold, drawing the versal letter and looking at the elements of the letter that make it so bold and unique.  Then we will paint the letter in watercolor, paint its background, perhaps a diaper pattern or a damascene pattern, one of Rosemary's favorites.  Then we will go beyond the letter and work on a simple vine to tie it all together.  
       We will take a look at contemporary sizes used to apply 23K gold in both raised and flat methods of application.  These contemporary sizes have a simple method and we will go through that step by step so that each student will be able to successfully apply gold leaf to any of their designs.  
       Next we will take a look at painting the letter with interesting detail and apply flourishes to finish it off.  We will complete a beautifully ornamented letter by the finish."

  Workshop will be recorded.

  About Rosemary Buczek:  Rosemary graduated from Caldwell College, New Jersey, in 1971 with a Bachelors in Fine Arts. She began freelance work from her home and in 1987 formally opened her studio, "The Gilded Quill". Rosemary's love of the Medieval Manuscripts of the Medieval Ages has influenced her designs and use of color.

  WORKSHOP IS FOR MEMBERS ONLY
  Cost: $75, paid by check or Paypal (see details below)

  REGISTRATION: You must be a member both when you register and when the class is held. Pay by check or PayPal. No refunds.  

  
  

  To pay by check,  contact Alessandra Kawakubo at iepv.sfcworkshops@gmail.com.

  Enrollment is limited to current paid Society for Calligraphy members only. Your membership must be current at time of sign-up as well as when class is held. If your membership lapses, you become ineligible and your space will be filled from the waiting list. For prompt receipt of supply list and confirmation, your payment should arrive no later than two weeks before the workshop. Supply list will be provided within the week following receipt of your registration.

  To pay by check, Contact Alessandra Kawakubo at  iepv.sfcworkshops@gmail.com. Include your current name, address, phone number, and email with the check (s) in the envelope. Non-members, include a separate check for $42, made out to Society for Calligraphy, along with your membership form: https://societyforcalligraphy.org/resources/Site/Membership/Membership.pdf or contact Alessandra to process membership electronically. Limited to 30 participants.

  Show details
• Decorated Lombardic Capitals

  • When
    January 21, 2024
  •  
    9:30 AM - 4:30 PM (PST)
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  PRESENTER: Cora Pearl
  

  
  

  SPONSOR: South Los Angeles Chapter (Solar Nibs)

  COURSE DESCRIPTION:

  In this one-day workshop, appropriate for all levels of experience, you will learn to make hand drawn Lombardic Capital letters, how to decorate them, and how to paint them. By drawing these letters, you will learn to create consistency in letter weight and proportion through careful observation and practice. We will decorate these traditional letters in a modern way (as shown in student examples above). Skills that will be addressed include drawing letters, basic design, working with watercolors, and creating a color scheme.

  
  

  There will be a 1-hour lunch break during class. 

  This workshop will be recorded and available for a month. 

  Zoom invitation and handouts, if any, will be sent out a few days prior to workshop date. 

  
  

  SUPPLY LIST: 

  PDF link to supply list here --> Lombardic Capitals Supply List.pdf

  
  

  ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: 
  

  The workshop will be taught by Cora Pearl, Portland lettering artist and teacher of lettering arts. Cora Pearl started studying calligraphy at age 11 and has been doing calligraphy and hand lettering ever since. She has a BA in Art and Art History from Oberlin College. Cora works as a full-time calligrapher and teacher of lettering arts. She teaches calligraphy and hand lettering in the art department at Portland Community College and teaches independent workshops, classes and private sessions, and year-long classes in design for lettering art. She has taught at several calligraphy conferences including Letters of Joy, IAMPETH, Letterfest, the International Calligraphy Conference, Letters California Style, and TypeCon. Cora also does calligraphy commissions in addition to her teaching. Cora is passionate about teaching and values a holistic approach to learning based on building trust and safety in the classroom environment whether in person or online. Cora has taught almost 2000 hours on Zoom since 2020.

  For more information about Cora or her work go to: www.corapearlcalligraphy.com

  
  

  REGISTRATION DETAILS:

  1) First, register by clicking the "REGISTER" button at the top left of this page.

  2) Then, make payment by PayPal or check. Workshop fee is $55. 

  
  

  To pay by check or if you have any questions, email sfc.solarnibs@gmail.com.

  Registration is for Society for Calligraphy members only. Your membership must be current at time of sign-up as well as when class is held. For membership, please go to: https://societyforcalligraphy.org/resources/Membership.pdf

  NO audio or video recording of any program, meeting, workshop or other SfC function permitted without prior consent of both guest artist and a representative of the Board of Governors. You must ask permission of the artist/ instructor to photograph any copyrighted materials, including demos. 

  Show details
• Fraktura with Viktor Kams (In-Person)

  • Start
    February 21, 2024
  •  
    9:30 AM (PST)
  • End
    February 22, 2024
  •  
    4:30 PM (PST)
  • Location
    Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute, 1964 W 162nd St, Gardena, CA 90247

  Register

  PRESENTER: Viktor Kams (In-Person Workshop)
  

  
  
  

  SPONSOR: South Los Angeles Chapter (Solar Nibs)

  
  

  COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

  This class is the result of a series of studies and practices inspired mostly by the work of late German calligraphers Hans Schreiber and Hanns Thaddaus Hoyer, whose work was introduced to me by Carl Rohrs at the 2019 conference in Montreal.
  

  
  

  I have tried to develop my own technique to build up these double stroke letters one stroke at a time as opposed to what we can achieve by writing with a scroll pen. Therefore, the intention of this technique is to have more control over every little detail of each letter, like where and how to start and end each stroke and the amount of space between strokes in certain parts of the letter.

  The class starts with an introduction to classic Fraktur calligraphy. My personal version of this  gothic hand it’s inspired by the work of Hermann Zapf and Claude Mediavilla but it is also influenced by the teachings of contemporary master John Stevens.
  

  
  

  Once the students are comfortable and confident with their Fraktur practice we will start exploring the technique I use to build the double stroke letters. We will work on letters and words and will progress to create Headers, tittles, logos or Lock ups to work on ways to apply this to real work at the same time that we can combine it with text exercises of Fraktur.

  
  

  I will do a series of demonstrations showing different tools like pens and brushes and how I work with each one of them.
  

  
  

  By the end of the class students will be encouraged to create one or more final pieces applying their choice of techniques learnt during the workshop so we can make a group review of everyone’s work and debate about each student's choices and the challenges presented by them.

  
  

  ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: 
  

  Víctor Fernández better known as “Mr.Kams” or “Viktor Kams” is a calligrapher, graphic designer and tattoo artist born and based in Madrid, Spain. He had an early love for written and drawn letters through the art of graffiti which was prominent in his town in the beginning of the 90’s. Around 1992 he started writing and painting himself. Studied graphic design at Sussex Downs College in the UK and had his first contact with calligraphy through the work of Irish calligrapher Denis Brown. Being a freelance calligrapher, lettering and tattoo artist for nearly 15 years, he had the opportunity to show his work in numerous events and galleries as well as teaching workshops in Spain and internationally for more than a decade. Kams has been a member of the international collective “Calligraphy Masters” since 2014.

  
  

  www.misterkams.com

  @misterkams

  
  

  
  

  
  

  REGISTRATION DETAILS:

  1) First, register by clicking the "REGISTER" button at the top left of this page.

  2) Please do step 1 first (register), then, make payment by PayPal or check. Workshop fee is $125. 

  To pay by check or if you have any questions, please email Lona at sfc.solarnibs@gmail.com. 

  
  

  Class is limited to 16 students. You must be a member of SfC when you register and when the class is held. Your membership must be current at time of sign-up, as well as when class is held. No reservation will be held until your dues are current. Please follow the link on the main website page "Join SfC" to become an SfC member. 

  NO audio or video recording of any program, meeting, workshop or other SfC function permitted without prior consent of both guest artist and a representative of the Board of Governors. You must ask permission of the artist/ instructor to photograph any copyrighted materials, including demos.
  

  Show details
• Fraktur with Viktor Kams

  • Start
    February 24, 2024
  •  
    9:30 AM (PST)
  • End
    February 25, 2024
  •  
    4:30 PM (PST)
  • Location
    San Marcos

  IN-PERSON EVENT

  
  

  Sponsored by the San Diego and Inland Empire chapters

   

  IN-PERSON: Saturday-Sunday, February 24-25, 2024 9:30-4:30

  MEMBERS-ONLY, $100

  SAVE THE DATES! MORE INFO TO FOLLOW
  

  ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: This class is the result of a series of studies and practices inspired mostly by the work of late German calligraphers Hans Schreiber and Hanns Thaddaus Hoyer, whose work was introduced to me by Carl Rohrs.

  We build up these double stroke letters one stroke at a time, rather than limiting ourselves to the effects of a scroll pen. Our goal is to have more control over every little detail of each letter, like where and how to start and end each stroke and the amount of space between strokes in certain parts of the letter.

  The class starts with an introduction to classic Fraktur calligraphy. My personal version of this  gothic hand it’s inspired by the work of Hermann Zapf and Claude Mediavilla but it is also influenced by the teachings of contemporary master John Stevens.

  Once the students are confident with their Fraktur practice, we will explore techniques to build the double stroke letters. We will work on letters and words, and will progress to create Headers, tittles, logos or Lock ups.

  I will do a series of demonstrations showing how I work with different tools, such as pens and brushes.

  Students will be encouraged to create one or more final pieces applying their choice of techniques learnt during the workshop so we can make a group review of everyone’s work and debate about each student's choices and the challenges presented by them.

  ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:  Víctor Fernández better known as “Mr.Kams” or “Viktor Kams” is a calligrapher, graphic designer and tattoo artist born and based in Madrid, Spain. He had an early love for written and drawn letters through the art of graffiti which was prominent in his town in the early 90’s. He started writing and painting them himself. He studied graphic design at Sussex Downs College in the UK and had his first contact with calligraphy through the work of Irish calligrapher, Denis Brown. As a freelance calligraphy, lettering, and tattoo artist for nearly 15 years, he has had the opportunity to show his work in numerous events and galleries as well as teaching workshops in Spain and internationally for more than a decade. Kams has been a member of the international collective “Calligraphy Masters” since 2014.

  www.misterkams.com

  @misterkams

  Registration to open soon
  We wish to help arrange carpools and lodging

  Show details
• Calligraphy Rhythm & a Spark of Gold! with Andrea Wunderlich

  • Start
    March 09, 2024
  •  
    (PST)
  • End
    March 24, 2024
  •  
    (PDT)
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Online - Zoom

  Register

  
  

  Sponsored by San Diego SfC  

  Saturday-Sunday, March 9-10 & 23-24  10am-12pm PST/PDT

  About the workshop: 

  Letters act as practical and useful signs, but also as pure and inner melody -Wassily Kandinsky

  Pure form, the quality of the line and the ornamental potential of writing - this is what it´s all about in this class. We will play with letterform variations, experiment with layout-ideas and then finish it all up with a spark of gold.

     Basic alphabet will be the Antiqua-letterforms - even if you haven´t tried writing them yet, your eye is used to them. We will use them and play with them, transform them and create new compositions. Step-by-step through the creative process up to a series of works.

     We will incorporate gold, will learn about some glittering effects, highlighting certain areas and a very easy way of gilding. Let´s have fun!

  The workshop will be recorded and available for two months.

  Experience Level: Beginner through advanced.

  About Andrea: Andrea is a freelance calligrapher & book artist from Germany. She´s working on commissions on a wide field of sign-painting, lettering, logo-design and murals. In her free artwork, she loves to follow the historic paths of alphabets and enjoys expressive transformations into the contemporary. Her art is shown both nationally and worldwide and is part of private and public collections like the Berlin calligraphy collection, the Center of Book Arts, San Francisco & the Int. Museum for Cont. Calligraphy, Moscow. She´s a member of German societies ars scribendi and Schreibwerkstatt Klingspor Offenbach, CLAS fellow (Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society), full member of LX (Letter Exchange) in London and member of Friends of Calligraphy, San Francisco.

  REGISTRATION: YOU MUST BE A MEMBER BOTH WHEN YOU REGISTER AND WHEN THE CLASS IS HELD. 

  Pay by check or PayPal (see details below). No refunds.

  Cost: $75

  A COMPLETED REGISTRATION REQUIRES 2 STEPS:

  1. FIRST REGISTER. 

  2. Second, Make a payment of $75 via PayPal or check. 

  Once you have registered, you will be sent a confirmation email containing the PayPal button to complete your registration.

  To pay by check, email Kristi, for instructions, at SDWorkshopsTeam@societyforcalligraphy.org 

  Include your current name, address, phone number, and email with the check (s) in the envelope. Non-members, include a separate check for $42, made out to Society for Calligraphy, along with your membership form: https://societyforcalligraphy.org/resources/Site/Membership/Membership.pdf or contact Kristi to process membership electronically. 

  Enrollment is limited to current paid Society for Calligraphy members only. Your membership must be current at time of sign-up as well as when class is held. For prompt receipt of supply list and confirmation, your payment should arrive no later than two weeks before the workshop. Supply list will be provided within the week following receipt of your registration.

  Questions? Contact Nan Anantharaman at SDWorkshopsTeam@societyforcalligraphy.org

  Show details
• Gothicized Italic with Nina Tran-SAVE THE DATE

  • Start
    April 13, 2024
  •  
    9:30 AM (PDT)
  • End
    April 14, 2024
  •  
    4:30 PM (PDT)
  • Location
    Online - Zoom

  
  

  Sponsored by San Diego SfC  

  SAVE THE DATE! Details to follow

  Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14, 2024 9 :30am-4:30pm PDT

  About the workshop: 

  Details to follow

  The workshop will be recorded and available for two months.

  Experience Level: Beginner through advanced.

  About Nina: Details to follow

  REGISTRATION: YOU MUST BE A MEMBER BOTH WHEN YOU REGISTER AND WHEN THE CLASS IS HELD. 

  Pay by check or PayPal (see details below). No refunds.

  Cost: $100

  Questions? Contact Kristi Darwick at SDWorkshopsTeam@societyforcalligraphy.org
  

  Show details