Waikato Pointed Brush Lettering Workshop

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REGISTRATION FORM: 
Pointed Brush Lettering Workshop

NAME: ................................................................................................................... 
ADDRESS: ............................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................
E‐MAIL ADDRESS : ............................................................................................. 
PHONE NO: .......................... FEE ENCLOSED $.............................

This workshop is limited to 16 people, so register early to be sure of a place. We are planning to provide a catered lunch for $14.00 (payable on the day). If you do not opt for this you will need to bring your own lunch. Tea and coffee provided.

I would like to have lunch provided: Yes /No (circle one) If you have any dietary requirements such as vegetarian/ gluten free comment here: ......................................................................................................

Please print and post completed registration form to: E.Riddell, 5 Dunsford Mews, Hamilton, 3204, with a cheque for $30 (made out to E.Riddell). If you prefer to pay online, e‐mail waikatocalligraphers@gmail.com  for the account details. Enquiries to Pamela Fricker (07) 8345605 

Waikato Brush lettering Workshop

Graffiti (after reading L.A.R. Editor's letter) 

In the Letter Arts review 26:3 Christopher Calderhead (Editor) writes about the graffiti technique. I do hope you get to read his letter, it should be in the library soon. It got me thinking that I should try and find some graffiti in my home city and yes, we have graffiti and taggers. I met some today, articulate, keen to explain the process, they knew about calligraphy, and were kind enough to suggest other locations that they knew had examples. This one was on a derelict site in Glen Innes, huge concrete walls going nowhere. I forgot to measure them, a guess would be 30' x 10' high. The artist for this one was an australian and his style is different, he uses finer and sharper lines. 

This one took several hours for two people to execute. It is drawn and written straight from the paint can and rollers. It was done by the couple I  spoke to. They were packing up when we drove across the paddock to get up close. They were certainly colourful and stood out. 

Can you decipher what this one says? The young woman said that there was a long wall down in Manukau City near the Supa Centre that has artwork all along it, so I headed for there next. I found more  and more. I left out the tagging examples as that seems to be another sort of urban lettering, more personal signatures. This is graffiti lettering and early examples can be seen in Pompeii, they survived the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Click on the images to see them larger.

Manukau City

Manukau City

Manukau City

Manukau and Otahuhu Railyards

Engraving Agate

One of Ruth's larger agates

Ruth Venner lives on Macleay Island in Moreton Bay, and is an artist and calligrapher. You might be interested to know that she has been engraving agates for some 20 years, finding them by visiting lapidary shows, alternative crystal shops and even car boot sales. She kindly agreed to share the process with us. (Thank you Ruth.)

Some of Ruth's tools

The tools she uses are diamond burs in a flex drive. For lettering, a 1mm round and 10mm long bur is used, this gets shorter as the tip is has to be kept flat. She designs the lettering to suit the stone shape and size, and writes on it in gouache.

An agate being processed

This one has been written on in gouache and is waiting to be engraved. If the surface is washed thinly first with gouache the pen should write on the surface. The centre of the letter forms are then engraved, the gouache is then carefully polished off before slowing engraving away the rest of the letter forms, bit by bit. Leave the thins as fine as possible, occasionally using a ball bur for the thickest areas.

One of Ruth's medium sized projects.

A smaller agate.

This is a special piece Ruth sent to Herman Zapf, 95mm x 75mm.

If you want to see more of Ruth's tools please visit here.

Extraordinary meeting 25.8.12. 

Serious, exciting business is being considered by your dedicated committee people. Here they are from left to right - Tom partly obscured, Gill's back, Jan, Mary, Roselda has the floor, Rose partly obscured, Glenice reaching down and Hillary, the candid shooter out of shot.

We are on the move and have found a new venue for our monthly meetings and workshops. Details need to be formalised before we start there. It is quite central in Windmill Road, Epsom and we will share it with the Embroiderer's Guild. Watch this space and you will be advised when it starts. To coincide with this, a new programme will be started and we would like some feedback from members as to what you would like to see us focus on. Please, a moment of your time to take our poll in the right hand column.

We have reconsidered the Lake House, Victorian Display, mooted for nearer Christmas, and have decided not to participate with them this year. 

Dale our President is now on sick leave and Tom is holding the position in  the meantime. Get well soon Dale.

Our country meeting at Dawn's near Huapai.

We were met with the delicious smell of hot scones and freshly brewed coffee, Dawn had kindly invited us to her home and studio for our monthly meeting. Once we had all gathered and settled down Glenice gave a report of her recent visit to Melbourne and the conference - Summer School in Winter. She talked about different teaching styles, the people she met, the various courses offered, and in particular the ones she took. There will be a much fuller article in the next magazine issue. There was more discussion about the Lake House Victorian display and what we would be making to have ready for November. After a delicious lunch the pens were finally put to work.

Mary, Gill and Dale listen to Glenice.

Jan, Mary obscurred, Gill, Roselda, Glenice obscurred, and Susan.

Celebrating 21 Years of Calligraphy: Our 2012 Exhibition

Opening night of our Exhibition:

The Warkworth Group,         Margaret and Roselda forefront.

This year it was held at Lake House, and over a short five day period. Thanks have to go to the small group of members who worked so hard to deliver this event to us all. On this blog you will see photos of only a small selection, which have been divided into sub groups, although in the gallery the works mingled.

Glenice and Al,             Peter and Tom,                Dale and Gill.

Art Works: Nearly 20 members participated in supporting the call for submissions, and many had multiple works for sale. Beginners, intermediate and advanced members worked hard to create for the exhibition, it was wonderful to see the skill and range of abilities. There is no way I can do justice to the individual art works but below are a few snapshots of the work after hanging in the gallery. 

The Alphabet on Canvas: The Society purchased 6" square blocks, covered in canvas and primed. They were offered to old and new members who were to decorate with a given letter in any style they chose. These were all for sale with proceeds going to the society.

Making A Mark: Small similar works, where each was added to over a period of time, building up to a final image. This was open to all levels of calligraphers.

Dale's work immediately above, Glenice's below.

Book Artists: Recent books covering a large range of construction types, both experimental and traditional. All levels participated. You can see a few of the books submitted below.

Thanks to Dale-Cormack Pearson  who took  all the photography for this post.

Our group met here at Lake House, Takapuna on 24th June. The rain came down and the sun shone - a bit like the meeting. It was the place to remember this past year, our successes, the busy times, to air our grievances, to plan our program and  to improve for next year. 

We are considering participating with Lake House, who are planing a display of Victorian paraphernalia which they will hold towards the end of the year. After the meeting we gathered round the main table which was filled with ideas. We made thaumatropes, discussed vovelles, and how we could apply calligraphy to other everyday victorian items.  Finishing off with the legendary home baked afternoon tea.

Do you recognize these hands?

One of the small projects that our regular group was set for the end of April, was to consider the iconic images of New Zealand birds and to arrange and use letters within their shape. Other media examples were discussed and examined. Various templates were chosen if needed and the challenge started with pencil, brush and pen.

Some works in progress.

In Auckland the New Zealand Calligraphers attended the Art and Craft Show held in mid March of this year. A group of experienced, dedicated people manned the booth, meeting those interested in calligraphy, helping with queries about supplies and demonstrating various writing styles and tools.

Glenice and Jan in the booth

We had examples on the walls around our booth of envelope exchanges, small quotes suitable for framing, and weather grams etc. On the table we had our magazines for sale, the various raffles, and a small space in which to demonstrate.

Dale

This year we ran several raffles with grateful thanks to our faithful sponsors for their support with these. One of the happy winners posed with her prize.

Our happy winner

The overwhelming opinion was buoyant and positive as we felt it was good to be in front of the public, just letting them know we existed.