March Meeting

Tricks of the Trade

IMG_0073

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.

Read More

Ribbon Book

All the participants at the February meeting had a wonderful time making their ribbon books.

Thanks to Eugenia Uhl for another terrific bookbinding project!

Read More

February Meeting

Ribbon Book

20150714_CheeseSand_048

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.

Read More

January 2016 Meeting

Seastone 3

   Seastones–Adding Ovals to Your Copperplate with Maria Helena Hoksch

Saturday, January 9, 2016

9:30 AM to 5 PM

Carlo Ditta Meeting Room

1445 MacArthur Ave., Harvey

Many great artists borrow inspiration from nature.  Platt Spencer, the father of American penmanship, was no exception.  While visiting Lake Erie, he pocketed numerous small stones which became for him a guide to good form.

Over many years of intense study local calligrapher, Maria Helena Hoksch, has developed her own way of using ovals to enhance her copperplate lettering.  She calls this style Seastones.

Please join us as Maria Helena guides us in exploring this lovely style, turning a lettered page into a beach covered with polished pebbles.  We will then apply the Seastone script to addressing envelopes.

Lined guide sheets will be provided.  Prior knowledge of any pointed pen script is useful but not essential.  For those who don’t feel comfortable with pointed pen, you may work with fine tip markers or sharp pencils.

You may participate in a morning session or stay for a full day of more in depth study.

Workshop Fee

Members–$25 for 1/2 day, $40 for full day

Non members–$35 for 1/2 day, $55 for full day

To register please print out the registration form below & mail in by January 5, 2016.

Seastone 2IMG_1043

Supply List

Hard and soft pencils                                                                                

Sharpener

Ruler                                                                                                                    

Eraser                                                                                                                          

Lighter or Matches                                                                                                  

Fine Black Marker (Sharpie Pen)                                                                       

Oblique Penholder                                                                                                

Hunt 101 nibs, at least two                                                                          

Palace Moon Palace Sumi Ink                                                                   

Winsor Newton Ivory Black Gouache                                                                                                                    

Mixing Brush                                                                                                          

Water Dropper

Water container for cleaning/rinsing the nib

Soft Paper Towel

Little Inkwell or Container, for dipping your pen

Canson Pro Layout Marker Pad, 9″x12″

Drafting Dots or removable tape                                                                                                          

Optional Supplies

Blotting paper for cushion, slant board,Ott light & long extension cord, your favorite pointed nibs, Cranford black paper (smooth, comes in pad), Dr. Martin’s  Bleedproof white, another dipping dish, extra envelopes (smooth & thinner), protractor & old toothbrush

You can obtain supplies from David Art or on line through Paper & Ink Arts or John Neal.

Maria Helena Hoksch registration form

Membership Form 2015-2016

WORKSHOP POLICY

Read More

2015 December Meeting

DSCN1748It’s Christmas once again & time for our holiday card exchange.

Please join us on December 12th at 10:00 AM.

Bring a handmade card & your favorite cookies to share.

We will meet at the Keller Library & Community Center

300 North Broad, New Orleans, 70119.

This is a lovely way to greet the holiday season with calligraphy & good friends.

Read More
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: