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iPad Calligraphy with Melissa Esplin

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Focusing primarily on the Procreate App, its features and its functions with the Apple Pencil to create realistic pointed pen calligraphy!

About this event

About the course:

Streamline your workflow and learn how to mock-up ideas and digitize your calligraphy with the iPad! In this beginner digitization class, we'll focus primarily on the Procreate App, its features and how it functions with the Apple Pencil to create realistic pointed-pen calligraphy! As time allows we will dive into creating colorful effects and how to simply vectorize your work for quick turnaround times. We will start with the essentials of raster/bitmap digital file creation. If time allows, we will cover the basics of vectorizing artwork.

We will be working exclusively within the iPad platform. If you don't yet have an iPad and you want to take the leap, I highly recommend the 2020 10.9 iPad Air with the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil (it's about the same price as a used 2nd gen iPad Pro). It's a huge investment! If you're not sure if you want to make a purchase of this size just before class, come anyway!

About the Instructor:

Melissa Esplin graduated with a BFA from Brigham Young University in 2007. She and her husband Chris moved into a tiny one-bedroom apartment in Menlo Park, California—the heart of Silicon Valley—shortly after graduation. Chris had landed a job in the valley, and Melissa was going to paint and start a family. The family part of the plan played out marvelously, but the painting never happened.

Melissa's interest in painting gave way to other arts and crafts, which she began to document on MelissaEsplin.com. Blogging was all the rage back then, and she threw herself into creating an arts/crafts/everything blog that covered all of her interests. It wasn't—and isn't—the most focused blog, but its readership grew, and Melissa spent every spare moment creating awesome projects to share online.

Salt Lake City

Chris's job in Menlo Park melted away with half of the financial sector earlier in early 2009, so the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. With an unemployed husband and more free time than ever, Melissa spent hours each day creating and blogging.

Melissa had long practiced calligraphy and lettering, and sometime after the move she was approached by a friend about teaching a local class in Salt Lake City. She booked a space, prepared a curriculum and taught the first of many local classes.

Of course Melissa blogged about the classes she was teaching, so it wasn't long before her blog readers emailed her about teaching in their cities. She set up a simple web form where people could request a class in their area, and the requests poured in. It became clear that she needed to take her class online, and her husband Chris had recently changed careers to become a Front-End Web Developer... so the timing was right.

I Still Love Calligraphy

Melissa and Chris launched IStillLoveCalligraphy.com in early 2012 to bring Melissa's calligraphy course online. It grew slowly, but as international interest picked up, Chris quit his job in the summer of 2013 to rewrite the website and help Melissa manage the business.

Supplies:

Supply lists will be emailed two weeks prior to the workshop beginning or within 24 hours of registration in that two week period.

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.

Michigan Association of Calligraphers (MAC)

MAC is a non-profit organization open to all who are interested in calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing. Its principal purposes and functions are to perpetuate, enhance, and promote the art of calligraphy. Guild membership covers a calendar year (Jan-Dec). We invite you to follow us on Eventbrite.

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October 3

MAC Board Meeting

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October 23

iPad Calligraphy with Melissa Esplin