Chop/Seal, a workshop with Ruth Renner. 

By Dale-Cormack Pearson, our reporter in the field. 

What a wonderful packed day, filled with lots to learn. The four of us - Glenice, Jan, Barbara and myself - were very spoilt to have Ruth to ourselves. Ruth started by showing us her seals and telling us their history.

This was followed by a lesson on carving into soft stone. We all found it much harder than we expected, but with practice, like all things we would hope to improve. Before we knew it was lunchtime. Ruth then talked about her latest exhibition 'She Dreamt'. Spending time explaining about mulberry paper, moon paper, a soft see through paper, and what magic you can create when you use chinese ink and a brush.

Our chance soon came and we had time to play with some mulberry paper, brushes and chinese ink. We practised bamboo, characters, learning about the meaning of the strokes, how the energy takes you from one part of the stroke to completing the letter. We all have a better understanding of the construction of characters now.

After that we went back to our chop/seal carving and finally produced something. I am not entirely sure that we were happy with them. I realised I had carved mine back to front, I had to laugh. Jan made one for Sue, as she had wanted to come but ill health prevented her.

We would like to thank Ruth making time during her holiday to teach us and look forward to her next visit.

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.