Tag Archive | calligraphy

Invitation to the Governor in Copperplate

        

What a delight to write in the centuries old Copperplate hand!  It speaks such elegance and beauty, don’t you think?  It is my favorite hand because it feels like dancing across the paper………pressure on the down stroke, pause, …lift slightly,… no pressure at all on the upstroke.  Pause at the top, …begin downward movement with gradually increasing pressure.  Stop if a straight tip is needed, or lighten up and round the descender tail as the stroke flows effortlessly upward.  Continue, adding flourishes as they fit the spaces, ….Dance, Pen, dance!CopperplateGovernor

Finding a Calligrapher – not the easiest task

Today a woman brought me a small certificate that had been presented without the name and date being filled in.  She had purchased a lovely silver frame, and wanted the name written artistically.  Cindy had shopped at Michael’s for a calligraphy pen, only to realize that there is more to hand lettering than just having a certain tool.   Then she contacted the Yellow pages listings, but each of these brought only frustration.  She reported wasting her time talking to businesses that handle commercial accounts, require a minimum of $30, or provide machine fonts, not hand written words. 

Her hunt continued for a reasonably priced calligrapher.  When a paper goods store provided my name from their file, Cindy got her happy ending.  She exchanged a five dollar bill for the result she envisioned.  Cindy left my studio pleased with a framable award.

This award is entirely hand lettered.

Julian Waters October Workshop for the Saint Louis Calligraphy Guild

Carol letterng

Carol writing italic

Guild members in Crestwood Court Art Space.

Saint Louis Calligraphy Guild members welcomed logo and font designer Julian Waters for a weekend of italic exploration.  A Friday night lecture introduced us to much of Julian’s extensive portfolio of hand lettered calligraphic art.

Two full days of instruction in improving our italic hands followed.

Technology allowed us to see minute twists of his pen on a large screen display as Julian Waters demonstrated his calligraphic skill.