October 2016 Meeting

Saturday, October 8, 2016

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

East Bank Regional Library

4747 West Napoleon Ave., Metairie

In September we began our study of Copperplate with the basic strokes and the lowercase letters.  We will continue our exploration of this elegant hand by focusing on the capital letters.  Copperplate capitals can be ornate and filled with flourishes or they can express the simple beauty of the oval and the compound curve.  Since you need a firm foundation on which to build, we will concentrate on the unadorned letters.  You have to walk before you can run.

Materials List

Oblique Pen Holder

Your favorite pointed nib (such as Hunt 101 or Nikko G)

Smooth practice paper  (such as Canson Pro Layout Marker or Borden & Riley Marker Paper)

Moon Palace Sumi Ink

Dinky Dips or Dappen Dish

Ruler

Eraser

Pencil

Scratch Paper

Small Water Container

Paper Towels

To register for the October Meeting email  debra.fleming25@gmail.com

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September Meeting

Saturday, September 10, 2016

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

East Bank Regional Library

4747 West Napoleon Ave., Metairie

Welcome back to another year with the New Orleans Lettering Arts Association.  We have some wonderful events planned for a year that includes a not to be missed opportunity to study with Reggie Ezell.  If you have not already registered for this extraordinary year long course, there is still time.  You can even take advantage of the installment plan by using PayPal.

Copperplate calligraphy has become wildly popular.  So this year we will focus our general meetings on demonstrating this beautiful hand.  The September meeting will be an introduction to Copperplate.  It will include the very basics of using the pointed pen, the pressure and release technique and the lowercase letters.  This is a wonderful opportunity for beginners who have always wanted to learn to write in Copperplate script.  It also offers more advanced calligraphers the chance to hone their skills.

Materials List

Oblique Pen Holder

Your favorite pointed nib (such as Hunt 101 or Nikko G)

Smooth practice paper  (such as Canson Pro Layout Marker or Borden & Riley Marker Paper)

Moon Palace Sumi Ink

Dinky Dips or Dappen Dish

Ruler

Eraser

Pencil

Small water containerPaper towels

Scratch Paper

Please don’t forget to register for the meeting:  http://www.neworleanscalligraphy.org/events/5/september-meeting/

 Reggie_Ezell_26_Seeds_Registration_Form

Membership Form 2016-2017 website version

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May Meeting

 

Saturday, May 14, 2016

10:00 am – 11:30 am

East Bank Regional Library

4747 West Napoleon Ave., Metairie

It’s hard to believe that another year has flown by!  Throughout the year we have been talking about the upcoming course with Reggie Ezell and even using his CD’s as instructive media during our meetings. Reggie is an extraordinary teacher and he will be retiring at the end of 2017.  Beginning next year we are privileged to host his final course of 26 Seeds: A Year to Grow.  Join us for this unique adventure.  Whether you are an experienced calligrapher or someone whose passion for lettering has just awakened, this chance to study with Reggie Ezell should not be missed.

LaVerne Parfait has been fortunate to have taken Reggie’s courses many times over the years.  Come and hear how you too can be a part of this faboulous opportunity.

Scribe & Describe

Share with us your latest calligraphic efforts.  It’s always great to see what everyone has been up to!

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Denis Brown Workshop

Time is running out!

But it’s not too late to register for an opportunity to study with a master calligrapher.  Denis Brown has been studying & practicing calligraphy since he was fifteen years old.  He holds a degree in calligraphy from London’s Roehampton Institute & at age 20 became the youngest Fellow in the UK Society of Scribes & Illuminators.  Please visit his web site at quillskill.com to see some examples of his extraordinary work.

Mr. Brown will be traveling from his native Ireland to be in New Orleans from April 15th-19th conducting two major workshops.  There is still space but you must register by April 1st.

Please note that the Denis Brown workshops will take the place of our regularly scheduled monthly meeting.

There will be no meeting on April 9th.

C E L T I C S C R I P T : I N S U L A R  H A L F  U N C I A L

        Friday, April 15th & Saturday, April 16th

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

$200/members, $225/non-members

Level: Beginner to Intermediate

An introduction to Celtic writing. We will practice a simplified form of insular half uncial, the Celtic script as used in Irish manuscripts of the Early Christian period such as The Book of Kells.

Tools and Materials: Broad edged calligraphy dip-pens (Brause, Mitchell, Speedball, or similar; large nib sizes, (fountain pens are not suitable), ink, gouache paints, palette, mixing brushes, water jar, pencils, ruler, sable watercolor brushes, sizes 000, 0 and 2, 11”x17” layout paper or other practice paper plus a sheet of quality paper such, e.g. Arches Text Wove or BFK Rives or your own preferred brand. Finely powdered gum sandarac plus a clean bristle paint-bush to apply it with, a cheap brand is adequate, medium/large size.

 

G O T H I C I Z E D   I T A L I C   S C R I P T

Sunday, April 17th, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

April 18th & 19th, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

$200/members, $225/non-members

Level: Intermediate to Advanced

This hybrid of Denis’ energetic italics with Gothic characteristics results in a lively modern form. Denis’ theory of italic will be introduced so students can aspire to understand forms rather than merely copy them. Advanced pen manipulations will help bring the forms to life.

Tools and materials: Square edged dip-pens, (Brause size 3mm & 4mm particularly recommended in addition to students own preferred brand); ink; ruler; pencils; pad of practice paper A3 size (11″x l7″) or larger; gouache; palettes, mixing and loading brushes. A couple of sheets of a quality paper such as Arches Text Wove or BFK Rives. Finely powdered gum sandarac plus a clean bristle paint-bush to apply it with, a cheap brand is adequate, medium/large size.

Both Workshops: $350/members, $375/non-members

All workshops will be held at Carlo Ditta Meeting Room

1445 MacArthur Ave., Harvey

Please fill out the attached registration form to reserve your space for this exciting workshop opportunity.

You may also pay using PayPal by clicking on the PayPal button in the Main Menu on the left.

Denis Brown Workshop Form

WORKSHOP POLICY

 Membership Form 2015-2016

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March Meeting

Tricks of the Trade

Saturday, March 12, 2016

9:30 AM to 1:00 PM

East Bank Regional Library

4747 West Napoleon Ave., Metairie

Have you ever become frustrated because your ink will not flow from your pen or your letters don’t appear crisp or your paper feathers?  Don’t throw up your hands in dismay, instead come and learn some tricks of the trade from master calligrapher, Maria Helena Hoksch.  Here is a class that will benefit beginners and experienced calligraphers alike.

Concentrating on the broad edge nib, Maria Helena will share her knowledge of why one nib is better suited to a project than another.  What to do if your nib is dull, your ink too thick or your work surface too flat.  She will also explore papers.  So bring your favorites or you can purchase samples from Maria Helena for a small fee .  Copies of catalogues from Paper & Ink Arts and John Neal Bookseller will be available so that you can see the price of the materials.

The following supply list is long but don’t run out and buy anything new.  Bring what you have along with a notebook to write down all the amazing hints Maria Helena will impart.

Supply List

Blotting paper for cushion
Your favorite practice paper (one piece)
Your favorite good paper (one piece) such as: Frankfurt paper(white and/or cream), Nideggan, Frankfurt Smooth, Zerkall Book paper, Arches MBM paper (Ingres de’Arches), Arches Text Wove

Few sheets of Canson Pro Layout Marker

A few sheets of inexpensive copier paper
Gum Sandarac
Staedler white eraser
Scalpel or exacto knife
Very fine Sand Paper or Arkansas Stone
Slant board
Paper towel
NO Grid paper, PLEASE
Tracing paper (one sheet is enough)

Your favorite ink: Sumi or Walnut or whatever you like to use

Winsor & Newton Gouache: Ivory Black or other color

 Watercolor in a tube:  Ivory Black or other color

Gum Arabic
Mixing brush
Feeding brush ( I prefer small, soft and flat, it can also be your mixing brush)
Dipping container (about 1″ deep)
Mixing palette or mixing pan
Water rinsing dish for cleaning tools
Water dropper

Pencil and sharpener
Flexible Centering Rule by Letterlines, or just a plain ruler
Lighter or matches
Straight pen holder or several
Speedball C series nibs (C-0, C-1, C-2 only)
Mitchell nibs, various sizes, and at least one reservoir
Brause nibs, Various sizes
Optiviser for small nib lettering

Remember it is not necessary to bring everything on this list.  Bring what you have on hand.

You will go home with a wealth of new knowledge.

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February Meeting

Ribbon Book

Saturday, February 13, 2016

9:30 am to 1:00 pm

East Bank Regional Library

4747 West Napoleon Ave., Metairie

Book making has always been a much requested topic.  So once again we have called upon Eugenia Uhl to lead us in a hands on demonstration of the construction of a Ribbon Book.

 For the covers of these delightful books, you will need two pieces of thick decorative paper. Eugenia has printed  photographs onto Arches paper using her home printer.

Please be sure to have you paper & ribbons cut to the specified sizes as this will speed up the process.

Materials List

Ribbon 1.5 x 21 inches, cut in 3 equal pieces (7” each) OR thick decorative paper works too

Covers, thick decorative paper, 2 pieces: 9.5 x 8.5 inches

Bookbinding thread 1 ply, 9x height of book (8.5″) = 76.5 inches

Inside pages: 28-8.25 x 9.25 inches, we will fold these to make 7 signatures, use whatever type paper you would like on the inside of your book

Bookbinding needle

Piercing Cradle (a phone book works well) We will have some to share

Bone folder

Awl

Pencil, eraser, extra piece of scrap paper (3×8.5”)

Xacto knife, ruler, cutting board

PVC glue, cheap glue brush, scrap paper (to glue on)

Paper Towels

2 medium book binding clamps

Calligraphy Classes

Several of our members teach calligraphy classes throughout the year.  Roxanne Beard will be teaching “Calligraphy Basics Series-Italic” on March 5th.  Eugenia Uhl teaches several classes in bookbinding and calligraphy at the New Orleans School of Art & Craft.  Please click on Calligraphy Classes in the main menu for contact information on Roxanne and Eugenia and for a listing of current classes at the New Orleans School of Art & Craft.

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