Showing posts with label dip pens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dip pens. Show all posts

Thursday, November 5, 2009

While Visions of Monolines Danced In My Head


These practice sheets account for several hours
trying to master simple monoline letter forms!

PS: I just had to add back the word verification thing back on comments. I apologize, for that  but recently I have been getting robo 'anonymous' comments. I hope that you will consider leaving me a note anyway!  Hopefully, I'll be able to take it off soon!

I have been fascinated by lovely handwriting & calligraphy since I was quite young. My mother had a very distinctive hand & I've never seen any other handwriting like hers was....so I guess that she was really the reason that I became intrigued by & desirous of a 'good hand'. I've always been a pen addict - and colored pencils, markers, & paints of all varieties - and have used only fountain pens for everyday use for years. Yes, there is a large & active group of pen obsessed, ink fascinated folks. One of the places that penophiles/stylophiles can be found is at the Fountain Pen Network. They are a really great group and my association with them over the last couple of years has made me want to really learn something more about calligraphy & letterforms.

Because of where I live there have been no options for learning true calligraphy. Luckily Creative Workshops & founder Gail Schmidt,  found a great teacher in Martha Lever who is teaching two wonderful, calligraphy oriented classes. One is just plain fun. Called, aptly enough 'Calligrafun'. The other class that just began on Monday, November 11 is called 'Italic Calligraphy' and is is a more structured, formal approach to learning the Italic letterforms. I am thrilled that these classes are availble to me now!


 

This is the first page I started with. These are called monoline forms - & they are more difficult than they may appear. Just getting the right shape for the 'a' is difficult let alone the spacing issues I obviously have !

 
Getting better at the end of my "school" day. Still a long way to go.
I cannot wait to become good enough to skillfully use what I learn on my quilts!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Beautiful Glass Dip Pens & Silks

Is this not one beautiful pen?!


I have, for many years, wanted to learn calligraphy. As I must be self taught, I try to teach myself a bit here & there, and each time I make a bit of progress. I have a long, long way to go. I was very lucky to have been given some gorgeous glass dip pens to try. The same gracious woman, Karen, from Exaclair, has provided me with not only paper & some ink but now she also has graced my with these pens that look too beautiful to use! Unbeknownst to Karen though, she has also driven my desire to learn more calligraphy! I am working on an idea that will incorporate calligraphy on various textiles and papers. Of course Exaclair is the purveyor of my favorite fountain pen ink, J.Herbin. They also make some calligraphy inks - even pearlescent ones that I also hope to be able to try some day.
Here are two bamboo pens and glass pen with a leather-like holder. Simplicity at it's best!
ps: the Buddhas is one of the first gel transfers I made some weeks ago.
It is one fabulous technique to become familiar with !

Simple bamboo dip pens - used for centuries and still going!
This is one of the prettiest, wabisabi-ish, pieces of silk I have ever seen.
Undulating waves of grays with an occasional butterfly to add visual interest!

I have a use for a small piece of this silk already planned!
I had add some photos of some of the more recent silks I have received from Ah!Kimono. As I have mentioned in the past, every month Cherie selects fabrics that for her club members. She has come to know us well. I'm always excited to see that little package arrive in the mail!
Orange on deep,deep brick red. How perfect is this ?!
This one just makes me smile whenever I see it in my pile of silks
A luscious 'wood grained' piece of silk in shades of orange - my perfect color scheme!

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