Intro to Basic Calligraphy
In-person with Elaine Muth
Course Description
Transform the written word into a fascinating art form. Create your own expressive letterforms, cards, mail art and other graphics using pen, pencil or brush. Through demonstrations, guided practice, and individual exploration, students will develop skills in calligraphy and decorative lettering while building confidence in their handwriting and design abilities. Demonstrations, discussion and practice will include a variety of calligraphic styles inspired by historical traditions, from medieval manuscripts to contemporary lettering and design principles.
Course Fee: $280 (supplies not included)
Syllabus
- Overview of essential calligraphy terms, tools, paper options and materials
- Picture plane design and composition
- Correct pen angle, letter styles and cypher sizes
- Formatting letter spacing, line spacing and slant
- Final project using acquired skills
Supplies
- Pens:
- 3 to 5 black calligraphy marker pens: sizes medium (M), broad (B), extra broad (XB)
- Coloured calligraphy marker pens in 5 or more colours in M/B sizes. Recommended: Staedtler Calligraph Duo double-ended calligraphy markers; Speedball Elegant Writer Calligraphy Pens
- Metallic brush pens. Recommended: Staedtler Metallic Brush pens
- Fine-line black felt pen. Recommended: Sakura Pigma Micron 0.5 tip size
- Ballpoint pens in red, green, blue and black or a BIC four-colour ballpoint pen
- Coloured pencils: yellow plus at least six colours (Prismacolor Premier pencils are recommended)
- 2 graphite pencils: HB standard
- Ruler
- Glue stick (Elmer's or other)
- Masking tape: 1/2" wide
- Bone folder for creasing and burnishing paper
- Utility knife (box cutter)
- Paper:
- Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel 12" x 16" assorted colours paper pad (24 sheets)
- 8½"x 11" or larger practise paper lined (standard ruled foolscap will do) and unlined (plain white copy paper will do) 100+ sheets of each
