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A world of inspiration and play is waiting for you through drawn letter forms. This class offers a fresh look at drawing and decorating beautifully ornate letters. Taking visual clues from Art Nouveau typography, Toile Du Jouy fabric, decorative florals, and the delicate colours of a Parisian inspired palette, we will create these whimsical letterforms. The Art Nouveau period gives us slender, curvaceous forms that are richly inspired by nature. Using pencil, eraser and a pen etching technique as our simple tools, we will explore the possibilities of these wonderful letters. With time and practice, they can become as simple or as complex as you like. You will never see letters in quite the same way as we explore this class! Open to all skill levels. Bring a sense of play and curiosity to this class.
About the Instructor:
Heather Victoria Held is a Canadian freelance-lettering artist who operates The Victorian Pen studio in St. George, Ontario. She has studied extensively with Master Penman Michael Sull and Master Penman Brian Walker. In 2009 she was the recipient of the Spencerian Heritage Award given through Michael Sull at the Spencerian Saga. She was a long time member of Master Penman Brian Walker’s Spencerian Review Study Group, CLAS, The Copperplate Special Interest Group, and a faculty member of several International Calligraphy Conferences. During 2013-2014 she served as the President of IAMPETH and continues to support IAMPETH on the Board of Directors as an advisor and as an instructor for the conferences. Her teaching style is gentle and encouraging while helping students to achieve the next level in their skill sets. Her work in promoting handwriting skills has attracted television, magazine and radio coverage in Canada. She conducts intensive workshops in Offhand Flourishing, Decorative Lettering and Ornamental Penmanship world-wide. Her art work is in private collections around the world and has been featured in Pen World, Bound and Lettered, Calligrafia, Somerset Studio, Romantic Homes, The Penman’s Journal, The Spencerian Review, 1000 Handmade Cards. The Speedball Textbook, The Copperplate Manual and Good Mail Day. She and her husband Chris create hand dyed or painted Held Pens which are highly sought after and in the hands of artists throughout the world.
Supplies:
Mechanical pencil, Eraser, small ruler and drawing paper (I often use graph paper)
Tracing Paper and Soft Graphite Pencil or Light pad to transfer design
2 or 3 pieces of 5” x7” 140 Lb Hot Press Watercolour paper
Medium Flexible Pointed pen such as Zebra G in a straight pen holder
Water dish, Small pointed round watercolour Brush and Paper Towel
Small white china paint for palette
Your favourite colour of watercolour or Gouache ( I often use Payne’s Grey or Prussian Blue for the pen etched letters but you can use any colour you like)
Optional: Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Stardust Pen or Metallic Watercolour to add extra sparkle
Optional Gilding Supplies such as Miniatum Ink, Size 0 Extra Firm Clay Shaper tool and 23K gold leaf if you want to gild these beautiful letters
Requirements:
Students should have the following:
Ability to receive handouts via email and print them before the workshop.
Computer or other internet-connected device with a built-in camera.
Zoom conferencing software and familiarity with the platform.
In order to access the workshop on Zoom, you will first need to download the free Zoom app (called Zoom Client for Meetings) on your tablet or computer, if you don't already have it.
Click Zoom before the workshop to download the Zoom app.
If you are new to the platform, Zoom offers tutorials here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697. Please contact the Workshop Chair in advance if you are totally new to Zoom. Her contact info is in the confirmation email.
Recording: Will be available for one month after class ends.