Line & Shape: Letter Formation & Calligraphic Composition by Yukimi Annand – Level: (A) All levels
I am interested in "forms" of nature, architecture, painting and anything I see surrounding me. As a calligrapher I have been experimenting to create letterforms based on the forms I capture from the surroundings and play with them by writing text. The Roman alphabet is basically designed with a geometric system and the letter O is the mother form for developing a set of 26 letters.
In this workshop, we will start by making variations of letter O. We will get ideas from existing letterforms, ancient sine language, man made architects, nature forms and abstract paintings, and use plenty of imagination for finding the best form that is suitable with an individual's chosen text. We will work with the meaning of the text and the form of O to create a unique alphabet.
We will work on lines that are made by writing the text from legibly written words to in abstract composition with developed letterforms. We pay attention to the negative and positive spaces, shapes we created while playing lines, and combine the lines and shapes into the composition to create unique calligraphy pieces with unique shapes as accent or dominant elements.
Class Supplies
Shared Materials (the following supplies will be PROVIDED:
- Sumi ink
- Japanese Thin Washi paper
- Balsa sticks (1 or 2 small size sticks, 20mm x 40mm x 1.5mm and middle size sticks, 30mm x 55mm x 1.)
- Fluid matte medium Golden
- White regular glue like Elmer's glue or PVA
- Acrylic ink: Schmincke Aero Color 602 brown Brazil, FW Acrylic ink Payne's Gray, Schmincke Aero Color 301 Red Madder Dark, Magic Color MC390 Grecian Olive, Magic Color MC510 Aqua Blue
Paper:
- Practice paper A3 or 11"x17" size about 50 sheets
- Arches text wove—2 full sheets
- Arches MBM paper—2 full sheets
- Black Ingres paper Hahnemuhle—2 full sheets
- Gray Ingres paper Hahnemuhle—2 full sheets
Tools:
- HB, 2B, 4B pencil and eraser
- White paint (gouache or Dr. Martin’s Bleedproof White)
- Pipettes, dishes and plates for ink and paint, mixing brush,
- Water container
- 1 or 2 6-well plastic palettes
- Rag or paper towel, cover for table, and apron
- Scissors
- Masking tape
Any tools you wish to make marks, such as:
- Cola pen, any kind of folded pen (Tim's radius cut pen recommended) and ruling pen
- Pointed brush, middle size (#5 to 7) or a Pentel color brush pen
- White china marker (Dixon Phano White China Marker works well) or white oil crayon
- Calligraphy pens: any kind of chisel and pointed nibs and holders you have
- Tools from nature: Twigs, pine needles, seeds pods, sticks, seashells, stones, etc.
- Automatic pen #5 or larger (optional)
- Flat brush ½" and/or 1" (2" optional)
General Supplies:
- Binder clips
- Glue stick
- Bone folder
- Ruler
- X-acto knife and cutting surface
- Pointed needle tool or tapered awl
- 4-5 sheets of tracing or layout bond paper
Optional:
- Artist quality watercolor and/or acrylic ink (any brand): 2 or 3 of your favorite colors
Supply Fee: $10
Recommended books:
- Paul Klee, Painting Music by Hajo Duchting
- Codici 1 by Thomas Ingmire
- The Calligraphic Line - Thought on the Art of Writing by Hans Joachim Burgert
- Calligraphy A Book of Contemporary Inspiration by Denise Lach
- Journeys in Calligraphy: Inspiring Scripts from Around the World by Denise Lach
- Expressive Drawing by Steven Aimone.
- Sumi Workbook by Christine Flint Sato.
- Experiments with Letterform and Calligraphy by André Gürtler
- Lettering as Drawing by Nicolete Gray
- Japanese Calligraphy The Art of Line & Space by Christine Flint Sato
- Painting the Spirit of Nature by Maxine Masterfield
- Mark-making in Textile Art by Helen Parrott.
- Drawn to Stitch by Gwen Hedley
