January 2011 Scribnote

Comments from our Chairperson:

It’s not often that I come out of my box and venture into the unknown so to speak, but on October 3, 4 and 5, I drove up to Kalamazoo to participate in the Carrie Imai workshops.  On Saturday and Sunday we did Neuland, Cuneiform and Beyond and on Monday we learned Big, Bad Bone which is a class I have wanted to take for several years.  Since Carrie is from California that became very difficult to do until I saw that the Pen Dragons in Kalamazoo were hosting Carrie in their fair city.  The Pendragons are warm and welcoming and ran their workshops with precision.  I loved every minute of Carrie’s workshop and am so glad that I ventured out of my box and drove 1 hour and 15 minutes twice a day for three days to learn new letters. 

Our annual Christmas meeting and luncheon at Maureen Trubac’s home took place on Saturday, December 4, 2010 and, as always, we had a wonderful time together.  Eleven members got together on a snowy morning to meet and share beautiful, handmade and calligraphed, Christmas Cards.  What eye candy opening up each card with a different style and design.  Thanks Maureen for hosting us again this year!  We also made our plans for our every month meeting/study group and I am excited to say that we have planned for the whole year.  Please check out our schedule, print it out and post it on your refrigerator.  If there is something you would be interested in doing or demonstrating, please let me know and we will try to work it into the schedule. 

MCG Blog – Shannon Wilson has created this blog for the Michiana Calligraphy Guild.  It is a work in progress as our group decides which features will be included (i.e., pictures, supply lists, calligraphers for hire, and any other information our group needs to know during the course of the year.)   Thanks Shannon for all your hard work in creating this for us!

FUTURE WORKSHOPS

Dr. Robert Hosack – We first met Bob Hosack at the Reggie year-long class in January 2000.  Bob was a brave soul being the only male in the class with 16 women.  Bob contacted the guild several months ago offering to teach a class on copperplate.  Bob has put serious effort into this hand and is looking forward to sharing his insights with our members. The guild members voted for this workshop and we came up with a date that was agreeable to all.  Saturday March 5, 2011 from 8:45 am to 5 pm. at Christ the King Lutheran Church.  The fee is $30, and there is a limit of 15 participants.  If you are interested, please send a check in that amount to MCG, PO Box 11513, South Bend, In 46601.  A supply list will be sent to you upon your registration.

Marianne Burke – We have also elected to have Marianne Burke from Kentucky teach us a handmade book class.  Marianne makes beautiful books and will be here on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Christ the King Lutheran Church from 9 am – 5 pm.  The cost of her class will be $30.  We will take registrations in February of 2011.  A supply list will be sent to you upon registration in the class. 

Rosie Kelly – We are going to have Rosie come back to South Bend in the fall, date TBA, to teach us another handmade book.  Cost and supplies to be announced.

Louise Grunewald – Judy Bruzza kindly sent us some Louise’s work and we are excited that Louise can come to South Bend for a workshop on October 29 & 30, 2011.  Louise is a talented artist that works in marks and watercolors.  More information will be forthcoming regarding cost, supplies and workshop times. Please put October 29 and 30, 2011 on your calendar for this workshop.

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

WEBSITES TO CHECK OUT

www.iampeth.com/lessons.php#spencerian

www.victoiriapittman.blogspot.com/

www.davewood.com.au/about.php

www.cecilia-letteringart.com/index.htm

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 8 – We will be making birthday cards for Henni who will be 90 years old on this date

February 5– Recreating Rosie Kelly books we learned in November 10 am – 2 pm

March 5 – Copperplate with Dr. Bob Hosack – Christ the King Church – 8:45 – 5 pm

April 2 – Marianne Burke handmade book – 9 – 5 pm

May 14 – Show and Tell and practicing Bob Hosack’s copperplate

June 4 – Jackie Sullivan DVD – Make your own piece – 10 am – 4 pm

July 9 – Tissue and watercolor technique – Maureen & Ginny 9 am - noon

August 6 – Annual Picnic – Ginny ‘s house – We will make either a book or render a quote

September 10 – Grinding ink and lettering - Ginny

October 1 - TBA

November 5 – TBA

December 3 – Christmas meeting and carry-in at Barbara Rogan’s – Christmas Card Exchange

October and November are TBA’s because we want to have Rosie Kelly and go to St. Mary’s to see the St. John’s exhibit.  We just don’t know which one will be which. We will have that information soon. 

Please note that some of the meetings are not on the first Saturday of the month due to holidays or workshops.  Cut this part of the newsletter out and put it on your fridge.

SCHEDULE

In June, 2011 we will again be watching the Jackie Sullivan DVD and recreating at the same time.  We did this last year, and many of our members took home masterpieces!  I cut mine up to make cards since I didn’t get the masterpiece that day.  But, it was used nonetheless.  We will let you know what supplies you need to bring as it gets closer to June.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

If you have not yet paid your annual membership dues for the Michiana Calligraphy Guild for 2010-11, please send your check to the PO box listed below as soon as possible.  Dues are $15./year with our fiscal year beginning in July. 

Birthdays for January, February, March:

Henni Akkerman, long-time member of MCG, will be celebrating her 90^th birthday on Saturday, January 8, 2011.  Henni is a wonderful artist of several mediums.  We want to wish Henni a very happy birthday and a healthy, happy New Year!     

Also:

Angela Michielutti       January 24

   Barbara Rogan                 February 22 

The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place, from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape. -- Pablo Picasso

The pursuit of art on a regular basis may be the key to healing our minds and bodies. -- Kim Blair

Photos from Carrie Imai Workshop

Carrie wrote out a word for each of us.

Some of the books we made the first few days

Photo of Carrie (front and center) with some of her students

October 2010 Scribnote

Comments from our Chairperson

Summer has come and gone for this year.  It was a hot one compared to last year, but we got to spend a lot more time in the pool than usual as a result of the heat.  MCG concluded our summer with a picnic at my home on August 7 and a Peter Thornton workshop at the South Bend Regional Museum of Art.  Our raffle for this year’s picnic was a year’s subscription to LAR and someone picked my name out of the hat as the winner.  I was thrilled to be the recipient and get to gaze at calligraphic work from some of our most well-known calligraphers.  Our quote exchange in August was a treat for our eyes. At least nine of our members participated in rendering a quote for another member and the results were beautiful.  If all agree, we may do this again next year.  We had 16 members at the Peter Thornton workshop on September 11 and 12 and we each created a book filled with samples of our lettering from Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon.  Peter is a very patient teacher and led us through several different hands from Romans to Casual Caps.  Below are two more testimonials:

I was not familiar with his style but was interested in Roman capitals.  Plus, those who had taken classes with him were very enthusiastic, so I looked forward to the workshop.  They were right!  He has a direct way of teaching, which explains and demonstrates his goal of improving our understanding of Roman caps, resulting in our being able to make them easier. Peter began with showing us how to draw and divide a box (or line) to guide us in making the letter.  He moved on, then, thru a softer Roman and then to variations on Romans,  finally reaching designs using only the letters themselves.  He also shared his “Oh dearie, dearie, dear,”  spoken when a serious error is made.  It was a grand workshop.  I think I will finally begin to be able to draw “dancing” letters, as well as beginning to work the other variations.  -- Jo McPherson

Pushing the Pencil only hints at the complex tasks we were involved in. Sixteen participants used their 2B, 8B, HB, 2H or Derwent wash pencils to accomplish letters that were light with narrow spacing, others heavier with wider spacing, elongated letters and organic letters.  Each project was more and more challenging, exciting and adventuresome.  Peter's input was invaluable in helping us see in which direction to go with our pieces.  Peter wanted us to achieve a SPARKLE to our work.  His demonstrations enabled us to understand how using different weights, spacing and heights, created textures which evolved into wonderful pieces of art.  The final project was to bind our pieces into a book.  Now is it up tous to use these examples to build on our "Pushing the Pencil" experience.  --  Maureen Trubac

Future workshops

Rosie Kelly – We love having Rosie do a workshop for us here in South Bend, so we are having her come again on November 13, 2010.  We will be making another amazing Rosie book.  Cost will be $55.  Supply list will be emailed to you from Ginny.  Times for the workshop will be from 9 am until 5 pm at Christ the King Church in South Bend.  There is a 15 person limit, so please send your check for the full amount to the PO Box as soon as possible and let Ginny or Maureen know that it is on it’s way….”the check is in the mail!”  First come, first served so get your check in the mail!

Workshops in Kalamazoo – Pendragons

October 2 & 3, 2010 – Carrie Imai – $135. for non members.  This workshop is

filled and only has a waiting list.  


Artful Retreat

The Artful Retreat for next year will be held from October 17-23, 2010 in Boyne Falls, Michigan.  If interested, go to www.artfulretreat.com for more information and registration form.  Spend six beautiful days at Boyne Falls with other artists away from kids, dogs, phone, etc.  For more information please contact Joya Helmuth on the website.

Upcoming Events

October 2 – Peter Thornton practice lettering that we learned in the workshop. Christ the King Church 10 am until noon

November 13 – Rosie Kelly – Handmade book  - Christ the King Church

December 4 – Christmas get together – Maureen Trubac’s home – Christmas card exchange. Meeting at 10 am and lunch at noon.

Please note that some of the meetings are not on the first Saturday of the month due to holidays or workshops.

Studio Arts Classes

There are many classes available for adults and children at Studio Art Classes on Grape Road including drawing, painting, art & design, and calligraphy, of course, by Anne Binder.  If you are interested in any classes at Studio Arts, please go to www.studioartclasses.org.    The studio is located on Grape Road in the JMS Plaza near Outback Steakhouse.

Annual Membership –

If you have not yet paid your annual membership dues for the Michiana Calligraphy Guild for 2010-11, please send your check to the PO box listed below as soon as possible.  Dues are $15./year with our fiscal year beginning in July. 

Birthdays for October, November, December

Diana Stamper - October 10

Maureen Trubac - December 13

If we missed your birthday this year, we hope you had a happy one!

Peter Thornton "Pushing the Pencil"

Who knew such beautiful letters could come from pencil?  Peter Thornton taught us to see letters as texture with graphite as our ink.   We used pressure and a light touch, narrow and wide strokes.  We layered tall and short variations of the same quote, filling in some spaces and leaving others open.  We looked at negative space, and graphic elements, and designed our letters around them...all with a pencil.

One of the many samples Peter generously shared

July 2010 Scribnote

Comments from our Chairperson:

There is nothing in the world like a great workshop to get your creative juices flowing.  On April 24 & 25, 13 participants came together at soggy yet beautiful Fernwood in Michigan for the Tortured Metal workshop with Victoria Pittman.  We all came home with our pieces in hand some of which could be immediately framed and hung.  We loved every minute of being together and creating art to use now or in the future.

Victoria Pittman demonstrating techinique with tissue paper and gold foil

Shannon Wilson's collage

using organic elements and gold and silver foil with patina

From first time workshop participant, Shannon Wilson...
What an amazing, art-filled weekend I recently shared with my calligraphy friends!  We had a chance to take Victoria Pittman's "Tortured Metals" class and our heads are still spinning with all the techniques she threw at us.  She is a generous, open, eloquent, and passionate artist who many times throughout the weekend was almost giddy at the some of the effects we were able to achieve. You could tell she was cataloguing every experience as a springboard for a new creation she would attempt the second she left the building.  My favorite teaching moment was when she described in colorful detail a splatter of rust and paint she saw on a truck while traveling that she just had to emulate.  We learned how to use our eyes as well as our hands that weekend.  Thank you, Victoria.

…..and from Amber Schindler……

Victoria Pittman whisked participants away to a creative wonderland during her “Tortured Metals” workshop held at Fernwood Botanical Garden on April 24th and 25th.  Rain did not dampen our spirits as we learned how to transform metals into reflections of heat and light.  Our gracious teacher prepared a bounty of techniques to share with us using silver, copper, brass, and fake gold, which involved irons, heat guns, ammonia, acrylic, and courage.  Resulting patinas and embellished raised surfaces fueled our energy as we made lovely papers and metal pieces to use as collage elements or by themselves in combination with a line of calligraphy.  Our immersion experience into the art of playing with metal concluded with assembling masterpieces to take home, share, and admire.

 Victoria Pittman Playdate

On Saturday, June 5, seven of our members had a day-long Victoria Pittman playdate at Christ the King Church.  We are trying to incorporate a playdate into our schedule soon after a workshop so that we can remember and remind each other of techniques we used.  Sometimes after a workshop we tend to put everything in the closet and rest, so we want to keep our tools out and make more of the art we did in the workshop.  We worked on metals, acrylics, etc and helped Sharon Esmont join the fun by doing a bit of show and tell.  Sharon was “trapped” in Greece at the end of April due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland so was not able to come to the workshop.  She showed us an incredible slideshow on her laptop of her trip to Greece as we ate our lunch.  To top off the day, Sherri Taylor, a longtime member of MCG, joined us for a couple of hours to see our work and catch up.  Seeing Sherri was a wonderful surprise and we look forward to seeing her more often!

Future workshops

Peter Thornton  - We are very excited about Peter coming to South Bend to do a “Pushing the Pencil” workshop Saturday, September 11 & Sunday, September 12, 2010.   If you would like to see Peter’s work that he will be demonstrating, please email gvanderhey@hotmail.com.  This workshop will be held at the South Bend Museum of Art, upstairs in the art rooms from 9 am until 5 pm. Cost of the workshop will be $122. (137. for non members)  plus your own supplies.  This odd number for the cost of the workshop includes $6. per person, per day, that we pay to the South Bend Regional Museum of Art for the use of the room.  If you would like to have a supply list which will be minimal, please email gvanderhey@hotmail.com.  We do have some out of town calligraphers that are interested in this workshop, so please get your deposit check for $61. to the PO Box listed in this newsletter no later than August 11, 2010. We will be working on some of the many Textures available to us just using the pencil and how to make these textures work much more effectively together in a new and fairly simple technique that Peter has developed.

Rosie Kelly – We love having Rosie do a workshop for us here in South Bend, so we are having her come again on November 13, 2010.  We will be making another amazing Rosie book.  Cost TBD.   

Workshops in Kalamazoo – Pendragons

October 2 & 3, 2010 – Carrie Imai – cost to be announced

Artful Retreat

The Artful Retreat for next year will be held from October 17-23, 2010 in Boyne Falls, Michigan.  If interested, go to www.artfulretreat.com for more information and registration form.  Spend six beautiful days at Boyne Falls with other artists away from kids, dogs, phone, etc.  For more information please contact Joya Helmuth on the website.

ODYSSEY

The 30^th annual International Gathering of Letter Artists will be held from July 24 – July 31, 2010 at Stonehill College, Easton, Massachusetts.  Those wishing to have more information, please go to www.2010CalligraphyConference.com.  

Websites

 At our March meeting, Erin Stamper gave us lots of good information regarding creating a website for our guild information and newsletter.  We will discuss this for a couple of meetings before deciding yes or no on this subject.  We will also discuss having a blog and see what that entails. Having our own website is a big monetary investment, but may mean more locals looking at joining a calligraphy group. 

Upcoming Events

 July 10 – Handmade book - Maureen

August 7 – Annual picnic at the home of Ginny Vander Hey – finished quote

September – No regular meeting on the first Saturday. Peter Thornton – September 11/12

October 2 – We will do some Peter Thornton practice lettering that we learned in the workshop

November 13 – Rosie Kelly – Handmade book

December 4  – Christmas get together – Maureen Trubac’s home – Christmas card exchange

Please note that some of the meetings are not on the first Saturday of the month due to holidays or workshops.  Cut this part of the newsletter out and put it on your fridge.

Quote Exchange

At the March meeting, members exchanged quotes.  The name that was chosen will remain a secret until the August meeting, when we will bring in a finished 8 x 10 broadside as a gift to the person whose name we chose.  In return members will receive a broadside in return from whoever has their name.  If you would still like to participate in this exercise, please email gvanderhey@hotmail.com.  All names are chosen for right now, so we would need an even amount of names.  This will be your own design and lettering preference.  Have fun with it!  If you do not plan on being at the August meeting, please send your piece with someone so that all involved will get their beautiful quote done by a MCG calligrapher.

Annual Membership –

If you have not yet paid your annual membership dues for the Michiana Calligraphy Guild for 2010-11, please send your check to the PO Box listed below as soon as possible.  Dues are $15. per year with our fiscal year beginning in July. 

August Meeting – Our annual picnic will be held at Ginny Vander Hey’s home in Elkhart on August 7.  We will be exchanging our quotes and having a raffle.  It will be a pot luck luncheon, so please let Ginny know what you will be bringing.  Main course will be taken care of, but we need salads, fruit, dessert, etc.  Meeting will begin at our usual time, 10 am, and at noon we will be having lunch.  If it is a hot day, bring your bikini’s and towels, and you can take a dip in the pool.  


Birthdays for July, August, & September:
Angie West - September 10
Rose Kopec - September 16
Ginny Vander Hey - September 25

A little tip read recently, but have yet to try:

Cleaning your nib in between lettering: Every once in awhile you push the pen point into a peeled potato and wipe it off, it prevents build up  Sumi inks in particular can leave lots of residue on the nib. No particular kind of potato works better than others. The acid in potato helps to remove most of ink and then wipe with paper towel, in between cleaning well with water, liquid soap and windex.

April 2010 Scribnote

Comments from our Chairperson:

Our first meeting of the year, January 9, 2010, started out with a bang!  We had three returning members and one new member. Welcome Amber Schindler. Each month we meet at Christ the King Lutheran Church, from 10 am to noon , and a member usually volunteers to present a mini workshop to the group. In January, GinnyVander Hey demonstrated watercolor monoprints, and we were all able to complete one of our own by noon.It's just amazing how 12 people can come up with such different color schemes and techniques.

In February, we all brought our varying supplies to make paste paper. Fortunately, we were able to have our room at Christ the King Lutheran for an entire day. Paste paper takes a while to dry and we usually have to end a few hours early.  This enables the paper to dry before we leave. We had a great day and the results, as usual, were amazing.  Once again we are adding these pieces of art to our store of papers at home. March 6th, Pat West demonstrated what she had learned from the Nancy Culmone workshop she attended at the 2008 Conference.  She shared her portfolio with us and we were able to see how she developed different styles for one letter and how to enhance them with watercolors and colored pencils. .As you walked around the room, everyone was doing a different letter with different mediums.  It’s so relaxing to have the time to work on something with no interruptions!  And lastly, On March 27th, five of our members met at the South Shore Railway to attend the opening of the 24th Annual Juried exhibition of the Chicago Calligraphy Collective.  The work created by these Chicago calligraphers was incredible. Tables were also set up for their members to demonstrate different techniques. Books by Rosie Kelly, experimental lettering by Marcia Smith.  Versals with Joe Avila, and embossing with Rita Foltz. Of course, we took advantage of being in Chicago and visited Paper Source.  A few dollars less but richer in some of their beautiful papers.

BOOKMARKS IN CALLIGRAPHY

Angie West was invited to come to the Andrews University Library on March 2 to showcase calligraphy for their art week.  Ginny Vander Hey went along as her assistant and together they calligraphed about 50 bookmarks for anyone passing by through the library.  So many people are interested in our art form and many have taken classes “years ago” but were amazed at the different styles now available as they looked through Angie’s portfolio.  We had a great two hours together talking to people about our work and I think one of the most asked questions was, “how long have you been doing this”.  It seems like we just started yesterday, but as we go over how many workshops we have been through, it’s about 15 years for me and a year or so less for Angie.  The old adage works well here, “Time flies when you are having fun!”. I swear that Angie had all the short names; Joe, Mary, etc. while everyone who walked up to Ginny had names like Tranquillity.  I think we needed longer bookmarks!

FUTURE WORKSHOPS

Victoria Pittman – Victoria Pittman will be coming to South Bend for a two-day workshop on April 25 & 26, 2010.  Victoria will be teaching a workshop entitled Tortured Metals.  Cost for the workshop will be $110.  For further information contact gvanderhey@hotmail.com.    My name is first on the list since my 4-year old granddaughter was born the day before Victoria came to South Bend in 2006 and I was not able to attend. The first 15 people who register and pay will be able to participate in the workshop and we now have 13 attendees.   The  workshop will be at Fernwood Botanical Gardens in Berrien Springs, MI.  Times are: Saturday, April 24 10 – 5 and Sunday, April 25, 11 – 5.  Check out her blogspot and her beautiful work victoiriapittman.blogspot.com/. 

Peter Thornton  - We are also very excited about Peter coming to South Bend to do a “Pushing the Pencil” workshop September 11 & 12, 2010.   If you would like to see Peter’s work that he will be demonstrating, please email gvanderhey@hotmail.com.  Cost of the workshop to be announced. 

Rosie Kelly – We love having Rosie do a workshop for us as so we are having her come again in November 6, 2010.  Topic to be announced. 

Workshops in Kalamazoo – Pendragons

May 1 and 2, 2010 (Saturday/Sunday): Diane von Arx will teach a two-day workshop for the Pendragons. Topic still under negotiation, but they are tending towards some element of design.

STUDIO ART CLASSES

There are many classes available for adults and children at Studio Art Classes on Grape Road including drawing, painting, art & design, and calligraphy, of course, by Anne Binder.  If you are interested in any classes at Studio Arts, please go to www.studioartclasses.org.    The studio is located on Grape Road in the JMS Plaza near Outback Steakhouse.

www.studioartclasses.org

www.newgalleriesonlww.com

www.annebinder.org

ARTFUL RETREAT

The Artful Retreat for next year will be held from Oct. 17-23, 2010 in Boyne Falls, Michigan.  If interested, go to www.artfulretreat.com for more information and registration form.  Spend six beautiful days at Boyne Falls with other artists away from kids, dogs, phone, etc.  For more information please contact Joya Helmuth on the website.

ODYSSEY – The 30^th annual International Gathering of Letter Artists will be held from July 24 – July 31, 2010 at Stonehill College, Easton, Massachusetts.  Those wishing to have more information, please go to www.2010CalligraphyConference.com.

WEBSITES

At our March meeting, Erin Stamper gave us lots of good information regarding creating a website for our guild information and newsletter.  We will discuss this for a couple of meetings before deciding yes or no on this subject.  It’s a big monetary investment, but may mean more locals looking at joining a calligraphy group.  Below are a few guilds that have websites among other websites: 

http://www.ccscribes.com/CapLetFeb2010.pdf - Austin, TX newsletter

www.Societyforcalligraphy.org

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons.php#guidesheets

http://wildmandesigns.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-make-cola-pen.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carmelscribe/sets/72157603955840808/

http://carriedesigns.com/carriecalig.html - Coming to Kalamazoo in October

http://www.scribblers.co.uk/cgi/gridlines.pl

http://www.pengraphicsstudio.com/Home_Page.html (Mike Kecseg - calligrapher)

www.reggieezell.com (Reggie’s Primitive to Modern Classes)

Upcoming Events

April –  No meeting - Easter

May 1 – Show and tell – Victoria Pittman

June 5 – Victoria Pittman Playdate

July 10 – Handmade book - Maureen

August – Annual picnic at the home of Ginny Vander Hey – finished quote

September – Peter Thornton – September 11/12

October 2 – TBA

November 6 – Rosie Kelly

December 4 – Christmas get together – Angie West’s home

Please note that some of the meetings are not on the first Saturday of the month due to holidays or workshops.  Cut this part of the newsletter out and put it on your fridge.

Quote Exchange

At the March meeting, members exchanged quotes.  The name that was chosen will remain a secret until the August meeting, when we will bring in a finished 8 x 10 broadside as a gift to the person whose name we chose.  In return members will receive a broadside in return from whomever has their name.  If you would still like to participate in this exercise, please email gvanderhey@hotmail.com.  All names are chosen for right now, so we would need an even amount of names.  This will be your own design and lettering preference.  Have fun with it!

Birthdays for April, May and June

Sharon Esmont and Amber Schindler       May 18