Tune Up to Play Calligraphy

A two to five day workshop with Denis Brown (Longer duration workshops naturally cover more content)
Level: intermediate to advanced

This unique class delves into the concept of "play" in calligraphy through musical analogies, drawing inspiration from the world of music. Just as musicians play their instruments, calligraphers also play with ink to create beautiful strokes on paper. In this workshop, we will explore how the essence of music can be translated into calligraphic art. Lettering can evolve into a free-spirited expression, capturing the playfulness and joy of the creative process.

Denis will share enlightening lectures and captivating demonstrations to guide you in infusing your projects with a sense of playfulness. Rather than focusing on specific scripts, he will encourage you to unleash your creativity and explore new artistic possibilities using your existing skills.

Join us on this artistic journey where calligraphy transforms into a symphony of ink, echoing the melodies of the soul

Student supplies 

Ensure you have all the necessary tools and supplies before starting  class :
-Calligraphy pens, particularly of the 'dipping' kind as distinct from fountain pens or markers. e.g. Brause Bandzug nibs, or Speedball C series, or similar plus pen-holders.
-Pencils; 17″ ruler; scissors or scalpel
-A sponge for wetting papers Black ink such as a bottle of liquid sumi or black gouache paint
-some gouache colors
-Paint brushes and palette for mixing paint as well as a paintbrush suitable for making large calligraphic marks, like a flat 1″ nylon brush
-Finely powdered gum sandarac
-Some plastic transfer pipettes or a glass one
-Any other tools you have that can make large calligraphic marks- e.g. sponge-brushes, ruling pens, automatic pens, or even just a household paintbrush
-A couple of plastic cups or glass jars large enough to dip your large tools in -
10 large sheets of drawing paper (c.22″x30″) which is heavy enough to withstand wetting (5 sheets will suffice in two day versions of this class).
-11 x 17″ pad of practice paper
-A pad or several sheets of tracing paper 11″x17″ or larger
-6 or more large (c. 22″x30″) sheets of either heavy tracing vellum or (preferably) polyester drafting film (3 sheets will suffice in two day versions of this class).This is a sheet like tracing vellum but is made of polyester and therefore is waterproof—commonly used for architectural drawings that need dimensional stability. You want one that has a matte translucent surface (not transparent like acetate).