MICHIANA CALLIGRAPHY GUILD (update 2025-4-8)

MICHIANA CALLIGRAPHY GUILD 

(April 8, 2025 Update)

It's been a while since our last post; however, our Guild has been as active as always.  We hosted a 2-day virtual workshop in February with Suzie Beringer. Many of us enjoyed her class "Playful Pressurized Letterforms". Suzie is always so generous with her tips, tricks, and answering our questions.  

In addition, we held our monthly virtual business meeting the first Saturday in April.  One of our favorite parts of the meeting is the Show ‘n Tell section.  Rose collects members’ pictures of their work for the past month and puts them in a Power Point slide presentation. Renee then plays the slide show so we can look at each one separately and discuss them.  We enjoy seeing work in progress, finish work, asking for advice and options from each other and just generally enjoying each other’s company.  All the artwork, done by our members, is welcome and encouraged.  As you can see below, it isn’t only calligraphy that our members enjoy.  However,  by the time many pieces are complete, hand lettering if often included.  It’s just who we are!  We are here to support and encourage each other.  And when someone is having a hard time with their artwork or getting motivated, we are there for them also. 

FUN FACT:  Did you know that about half our members being from different states than just Indiana?    

Work in progress from Traci.

Pat's beautiful painting on cards.

Some beautiful lettering!  Everyone wants to feel Peace!

Ginny doing a Circle of Squares from our study group.

Judy practice from a demonstration taught by Traci at a March meeting.  

Both pictures above are from a book making class Renee attended in Kalamazoo this past week.

Angie playing with the double Seed of Life, the Circle of Squares and 

another design everyone wants to learn now.  

 DECEMBER 12, 2024 MICHIANA CALLIGRAPHY GUILD

Our December Guild meeting was held via Zoom as our meeting usually are. We had a short meeting but enjoyed several Show 'n Tell items from some of our talented members.  We had some time to talk about our next geometry study group meeting on January 15th. All members are invited to join in at any of these meetings.  If you aren't on the Zoom link distribution list, please contact  Renee to join in.

At our January 4, 2025 MCG Guild meeting, we will discuss some virtual workshops we have an opportunity to view from Sally Penley. We also will hear more about our upcoming Suzie Beringer "Playful Pressurized Letterforms" workshop, scheduled for February 22nd & 23rd.

Lots of exciting things are coming this next year! And a few show 'n Tell from our December meeting are shown below.

All of us at MCG would like to wish you a Merry Christmas!

          Submitted by Judy T. 

NOVEMBER 2024 MICHIANA CALLIGRAPHY GUILD 

At October's meeting, Renee demonstrated Art Deco lettering and flowers. It was a fun meeting. At this November meeting, we decided to enjoy socializing and spend extra time viewing and discussing the Show 'n Tell Power Point that Rose put together for us. The great thing, about our guild, is that we enjoy talking about each other's works of art, sharing techniques and building each other up. Traci specifically mentioned that this sharing is one of the things she appreciates most about being a guild member.  

Below are just a small sample of some of the show' n tell we enjoyed at the last meeting.

Our December meeting will be a shorter Zoom one because several of our members are gathering for lunch at Villa Macri to celebrate the holidays.  

Submitted by Judy T.

 September 22, 2024  -- Michiana Calligraphy Guild

We had a delightful summer picnic, in August, hosted by Renee at her home. Good food, several guild members present along with a few attending our meeting portion via Zoom. We also enjoyed a handmade bookmark exchange with members who wanted to participate. Then, during our September meeting, most of our artists explained what their inspiration was and how we made the bookmark they gifted to another member.  Wonderful surprises and fun were involved. Everyone seemed so pleased with the bookmark they received.  Below are just a few that were made.

Just a reminder that a brand new study group is beginning in mid-September. And then at our October 5th Guild meeting, we will see a demonstration of some art deco.

I'm sorry that I can't give credit to each artist, but I don't have that information on a couple of them.  So I felt it was only fair to not mention the artists at all.  Besides, we have to many talented members, if you are interested, you might want to join Michiana Calligraphy Guild.  We have members from all over the country!  

Submitted by Judy T.

 

July 18, 2024  -- Michiana Calligraphy Guild

We had a very enjoyable virtual meeting on July 13, 2024.   We are looking forward to our MCGAnnual Picnic in August and have decided to do a handmade bookmark exchange with those who signed up. We have a great suggestion for a demonstration to do at one of our future meetings.  This leads us to realized our fiscal year is almost over.  If anyone has any other demo suggestions, we would love to hear them.

Annual Dues are to be paid by August 3rd.  We are still keeping them at only $20.  

Traci has our Instagram account up and going.  Even though we have just started, we are so pleased with the number of people who are now following us.  If you are interested, you can find us at mcg_1990.  We have lots more to share in the upcoming months!   

For this meeting we choose to not plan a demonstration but leave extra time for visiting and enjoying the Show ‘n Tell of our creative members.  So, what have you been up to this summer?  You need to join our Guild to see them all.  Here are just a few.     

 

P

 Pat is just amazing!  She made this 5 x 7 birthday card based on an enhanced picture she took from a dragon book.  All the details and painting of this art show her talent.  

 

Angela is another one of our members that enjoys making special handmade cards for her family and friends. The second birthday card she cut out letters in the shape of flag, woven with cutouts letters on top of the weaving.

Anna her watercolor washes with ink scripts using Mary Oliver quotes. Used walnut ink to lighten a bright green watercolor, interesting color reactions. Played with adding other colors with saran wrap technique to manage bleed through and brightness of a color she didn’t prefer.

MCG CALENDAR FOR 2024 (subject to change if necessary)

August 3, 2024 – Guild meeting; Picnic at Renee’s home. Bookmark exchange.

September 7^, 2024 – Guild meeting

October 5, 2024 – Guild meeting

November 2, 2024 – Guild meeting

December 7, 2024 - Guild Christmas Party; Virtual meeting 10am–Noon. Lunch following at Rocky River. Ornament exchange.

Submitted by Judy T 

 

 

 

On May 4^th, our Guild hosted a virtual workshop with Suzie Beringer called “Sharp Italic”.  Suzie is always a delight to have for a class!  She willingly answers questions, shows tools she uses and how to care for them and makes the class fun with her genuine love of her art. 

Suzie often adds humor in her presentation which was the case when she explained that she just is not a “mathy person” and how she hides that by using her clear ruler to line things up.  Another funny one was when she said, “I’m a girl and I can change her mind”.  NO one disagreed with her.

Her style of opening spaces, branching off and using just the corner of the tool makes up Suzie’s Sharp Italic variation.  Her goal was to teach us an elegant hand that we could do with a bit more speed than some other lettering styles.  And she wants us to push ourselves to see what type of changes we can try to make our own style. 

I found myself with most of the supplies on her list, however, her using one item I did not have, which was an Elegant Writer, made me wish it had been on the list and I could try it.  It really showed her pen strokes much better than what I had.  She recommended using a broad edge nib such as a Brause or Tape (her preference) no smaller than an 2mm.  I thought I had a Brause but realized I did not the day before.  I had to use a Mitchell and I tried a Pilot Parallel Pen just because I was curious.  The Mitchell nib worked best.  Suzie had trained us, in the past, to use tracing paper and scraps of the same paper we were using for our final piece.  This she calls, “ your dress rehearsal”  so you know how it is going to work. 

In conclusion, if you have a chance to take any of Suzie Beringer’s workshops, please give them a try.  She has a wonderful selection of different classes.  I am glad I took the Sharp Italic and know it will be used often in my future calligraphy journey. 

Submitted by Judy T (5-23-24)

Sharp Italic by Ginny VanderHey

Sharp Italic by Judy T. 

JANUARY 2024

A MESSAGE FROM THE GUILD PRESIDENT 

Onward and upward! Last year was a bit rough for me as is obvious in the lack of content in the 2023 Blog. Hopefully things will be better this year.

I only posted twice last year, and you would think I did nothing all year, but that is not true. Though the year was a struggle for me I was busy taking classes and learning things. Just wasn't very productive. So, this year I will work on that, and part of my problem is lack of organization so that is the first thing I must tackle. 

For the last couple years MCG has gifted the members with a workshop. The only rule was that their membership had to be paid in full. Last year we had a workshop with Sally Penley on the art of Etegami and here is an article written by our own Denise Gooch.

What a wonderful gift to the Michiana Calligraphy Guild members! On October 28, 2023, all the current members were invited to a free zoom class with Sally Penley titled "The Art of Etegami".

The premise of Etegami, which was started by Kunio Koike in the 1970"s, is a postcard with simple painted images and a few words or a haiku to reflect the image that are mailed to a friend or loved one. These are done on 140# watercolor postcards with sumi ink, a sumi brush and up to three watercolors loosely applied to the image, often running off the paper. Each is signed in vermilion ink or cinnabar paste with a chop, which the artist can carve from a white ]plastic eraser. This "chop" is used in lieu of a signature and can be the artist's name, initials or something meaningful to the artist.

What truly resonated with me was the concept of wabi-sabi and that imperfections are ideal. The motto of Etegami is that clumsy makes it better. You don't correct your mistakes! While this seems contrary to calligraphy, it does allow for us to spread our wings. The lettering on an Etegami postcard is to be written in a simple, easy to read style as well as minimal, the fewer words, the better. Allowing the image(s) to speak is key. White space is also important, including within the image.

Sally shared sources for traditional Japanese art supplies, including Akashiya postcards, as well as her choices for materials. She also colored with pastel dust, which are shavings from Faber Castell soft pastel sticks that she applies with pieces of cotton balls or Q- tip type applicators for a softer look. She had a plethora of tips and products to help in our creative process and her freezer paper for tossing brushes when you're too caught up in creating to clean is genius!

Sally created postcards as we watched and did two power point presentations during her class. These included many eye-catching examples from her creations and also others who practice Etegami. And in order for it to be true Etegami, it must be mailed to another person.

I found the class and Sally as an instructor to be refreshing! I prefer a teacher who is open to questions and open to more than just the topic; Sally was resoundingly both. I personally use my calligraphy in card making and I absolutely love to mail things I make. Even if you don't think this is for you because the loose, less precise art form isn't your preferred style (like me), go and watch the video replay that Renee posted for the Guild. I found multiple ideas that Sally shared that I can use for other projects. I ordered the corner rounder she recommended because she hit the nail on the head when she said every other one, she has ever tried didn't cut cleanly.

Going forward, I am thinking that I can easily share this with my ten-year-old niece, who loves to make artwork with her old Auntie. Who can you encourage with some Etegami? Sally showcased a gorgeous postcard that said "Give Joy! Get Joy!". I am running with that idea. Thank you, Michiana Board, for such a great opportunity to learn and grow.

Denise Gooch,

grateful guild member

 

Here are some wonderful examples!

Angie West

Angie West

Ginny VanderHey

Judy Theuerl

Judy Theuerl

Judy Theuerl

Judy Theuerl

 CALENDAR for 2024 

 January 6: Meeting and Demo of simple geometric design by Renee 

February 3: Meeting and Demo by Angie on Versals in pencil. 

March 2: Meeting and Demo by Ginny on Brush Letters. 

April 6: Meeting and Etegami revisited (from our Sally Penley workshop) 

May 4: Meeting and TBD 

 June 1: Meeting and TBD 

 July13: Meeting change due to holiday TBD 

August 3: Picnic TBD 

September 7: Meeting and TBD 

October5: Meeting and TBD 

November 2: Meeting and TBD 

December 2: Christmas Party TBD 

 THINGS OF INTEREST

 https://www.pendragonscalligraphy.org/ 

 UPCOMING WORKSHOPS 

To Be Determined

 P.O. BOX IN SOUTH BEND Due to a lack of much mail at our Post Office box in South Bend we have suspended any mail sent to that address. If you have anything to send to the Michiana Calligraphy Guild, please send to Angie Wesr 1212 Elder Court, Niles, Michigan 49120 or Renee Tuveson, 928 Finch Dr., South Bend, Indiana 46614. 

 POLICY FOR MCG WORKSHOPS

Our workshops seem to have people sign up and then decide not to attend. We have been very generous in returning monies paid for the workshop if someone decides not to attend at the last minute, but we are going to have a change in this policy. There will be a nominal fee if you drop out of a workshop. If there would be an emergency, for instance the birth of a grandchild, illness, etc., then the board will take this under advisement to decide on a course of action regarding a refund. Also, if the workshop is filled, and there is someone to take your place, that would also qualify for a refund. So please, if you want to sign up foe the workshop, make sure that you put that date on your calendar as a commitment. We have a small calligraphy group and we struggle to fill workshops at times. We need all of you to attend as many as possible so that we can continue to have quality instructors. 

 ARE YOU ON FACEBOOK? 

If so, look up your favorite calligraphers, because they are on Facebook also. I like to look at Barbara Blose, Reggie Ezell, Julian Waters, John Stevens, Rachel Yallop, Pendragons, Capital City Scribes, Yukimi Annand, etc.. 

AMERICAN FRAME 

Just a reminder that if you order from American Frame, please mention MCG, and they will give us a small stipend. 

 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP 

Annual dues of $20 are due at the July meeting. Our annual dues have not changed in many years and are put to good use for supplies for our Make It/Take It at meetings and our annual raffle in August, and in December our donation to local charities. Please remember to bring your dues to the July meeting or send to Angie West, our treasurer, 1212 Elder Court, Niles, Michigan 49120 

 OFFICIERS 

 Renee Tuveson, President and Blog 

Angie West, Treasurer 

Judy Theurel, Secretary

 Ginny VanderHey, Advisor