THE BIRMINGHAM C ALLIGR APHY GUILD ’S NE WSLE T TER

Issue #12 November, 2011

www.birminghamcalligraphy.org

FOOL’S

Autumn is time for “Leaf Script”

See Jane Farr’s How-to on Page 3

BirminghamCalligraphy 3rd Annual

Holiday cardExchange

Sat. Dec. 1011:00 am

Have you ever wondered about the differ-ence between Finetec Inca and Schmincke Gold? What about Pelican Pale Gold and Ya-sutomo watercolor Gold? Dr. Martin’s Cop-perplate Ink vs. Holbein Brilliant Gold? At the Birmingham Guild Meeting on Tuesday, October 4, members were treated to experi-menting with over 48 metallics, watercolor and acrylic paints and inks. We were able to record a sample of each and write our own impressions (ie..creamy, grainy, good cov-erage, subtle or bold) Members took home a great refference sheet of all 48+ samples to remember their likes and dislikes for fu-ture calligraphy projects. A favorite among most members was the set of Finetec gold (6 pans of German pearlescent watercolors)which has been rumored to last forever. (pic-tured left) Many thanks to Melinda Sapp and her mother, Sharron Adams for this wonder-ful experiment!

FieldTrip to

Paper &Ink Arts

Nov.1910-3

Join the fun!

Mark Your CalendarsUpcoming Events:November 19- Trip to Nashville to Paper and Ink Arts

December 10- Christmas Brunch and Card Exchange 11:00-1:00Eve London’s house88 Country Club Blvd. 35213

2012Jan 14 – Photoshop Elements beginner class EOL Library

Jan 28 – Photoshop Elements class - Library

Feb. 4 - Photoshop Elements class - Library

Feb.13 - Night Meeting - MBBE

March 3 - Workday - MBBE – Easter Card designs based on Zentangles, taught by Leah Dueffer

March 17-18 Barbara Close Workshop www.bcdezigns.com

April 9 - Night Meeting - MBBE

May 5 - Workday - EOL Library

May 19-20 Kathy Milici Workshop www.24karetdesigns.com

June 11 - Night Meeting - Library

July 28 - Workday - Library

August 25 - Orientation Fair - Library

October 13-14- Annie Cicale Workshop www.cicaleletteringdesign.com

December 15 - Christmas Brunch / Card Exchange...need hostess

Ready for Card Exchange 2012?It is coming!

Make sure you’ve signed up for the 2012 BCG exchange. The 2011 has been a huge sucess! All that is required is to send 1 envelope once a month to the person indicated on the grid. Sit

back and enjoy the envelope you get. They are a “work of art” and so much fun to receive!

The Tina Motoyama Auction at the Orientation Fair raised $400+ and will be able to provide scholarships to 2 people each year for work-shops. Thank you to thoses who donated!

Contact Melinda at melinda_sapp@yahoo.com

Visit the “mecca” of calligraphy supplies and books. Join the guild as they travel to Nashville to see Pa-per Ink Arts new home! Meet the new owner, Jenni-fer Allen and tour their warehouse full of everything imaginable and more! If interested, contact Melinda Sapp 824-4447PS Don’t forget your checkbook!

Field Trip to Paper and Ink

Arts in Nashville, TN on November

19th. 10-3

Holiday Brunch Card ExchangeDecember 10th

11-1at the home of Eve London

88 Country Club Blvd

Everyone participat-ing will make 24 cards and pass them out and exchange at this fun holiday event!The deadline was November 1st. A few spaces remain so call quick and get in on the fun!

An Ornamental Holiday Gathering

contact Melinda at melinda_sapp@yahoo.com

ReggieEzell

Barbara Mitchell Barbara Mitchell is from Cullman, Alabama and has been interested in forming letters since she was a young girl. She began doing calligraphy 10 years ago. It took going to IAMPETH in Rhode Island to find The Birmingham Calligraphy Guild right down the interstate from Cullman. At IAMPETH,she met Me-linda Sapp and Deb Warnat who encouraged Barbara to join the

events in Birmingham. Since that time, she has been an active mem-ber of the BCG. Barbara’s favorite calligraphy book is The Universal Penman which is a compliation of engraved plates of George Bick-ham. She has been greatly influ-enced by CS Lewis’s Till We Have Faces. Barbara’s work (featured left) was Reggie Ezell’s “pic of the week” (week 39)and has had an envelope posted in Bound and Let-tered. Shandra Smith said it best when referring to Barbara Mitch-ell’s calligraphy- “When you’re hot- you’re hot!”Barbara Mitchell’s Envelope published

in a recent Bound and Lettered.

Nibbler Bits

The Nashville Calligraphers Guild is sponsoring Reggie Ezell’s 26 Seeds: A Year to Grow in 2012. Some spaces remain in the workshop.Ann Cobb, Workshop ChairNashville Calligraphers Guild Please contact Ann for more information. cobbann02@aol.com

While making these fun letters in a recent Bar-bara Close work-shop, Mary Lou Sherman used Diamond Glaze to give her calligra-phy a 3D effect.

MemberSpotlight

First, rough out your capital. I based this L on Bill Lilly’s Engrosser’s Script but without the thins. I intentionally made it pudgy.I then outlined the letter - or attempted to - with a .05 marker. You don’t have to do this step, but I want to save my original L, warts and all, in order to use it again. :)

Using my light table, I sketched the L onto my good paper. Next, add an inner line just inside the outer line. This creates a narrow channel of space. Then place the left and right strokes for the leaves. Rick warned us this part can be a bit tricky, and he’s correct. Sam Alfano’s tutorial does a good job explaining this step.

Go over the lines with a technical pen. I used a .03 Millennium ZIG marker. Erase the pencil lines. Add texture and shading. Rick gave us plenty of cross hatching and stippling ideas for adding texture.

Add the details of the leaves.

Jane Farr is a freelance calligrapher working out of her home studio. Most of her work is lettering envelopes and place cards for weddings. She has a passion for calligraphy and an insatiable appetite for learning new things to incorporate with her lettering.Please check out Jane’s blog: /janefarr.blogspot.com/ A Place to Flourish. It is a wealth of inspiration and examples! “Leaf Script” has been printed with her permission.

Jane Farr attended IAMPETH last summer and was excited to learn “Leaf Script” from Master Penman Rick Muffler. Rick’s Leaf Script was influenced by the work of both Master Penman Bill Lilly and engraver Sam Alfano. Rick directed students to Sam Alfano’s excellent online tutorial. (www.igraver.com/drawing_leafscript/)

LeafScript

Orientation AffairAugust 20, 2011

Officers of the Birmingham Calligraphy Guild(Les Elumineurs*)

President- Melinda SappVice President-Sharron Adams

Treasurer/Membership- Ann StevesRecording Secretary- Accepting volunteers

Workshop Chairs- Melinda Sapp and Shandra Smith

Email Communications: Leah DuefferWeb Site/ Historian: Mary Ann Morrow

Hospitality: Elsa Penso-AllenNewsletter: Eve London

Exhibits/Publicity: Louise Meredith

The Birmingham Calligraphy Guild welcomes both amateurs and advanced calligraphers. All you need is an interest in hand lettering.

If you would like to join:Contact Ann Steves

p47ams@yahoo.com

Dues are $25.00 to Birmingham Calligraphy Guild(September 1- August 31)

Mail your dues to:Ann Steves

5637 Hampton RoadBirmingham, AL 35210

205-956-5493

Adobe Photoshop Elements 10

forCalligraphers

Do you want to learn the ins and outs of Photoshop Elements and how it can help with your calligraphy?This is the class for you! Join Eve London at the Emmet O’Neal Library: Jan.14th,Jan. 28th and Feb. 4th for “hands-on” instruction using Photoshop Elements ⦿ Learn how to scan, select and manipulate your calligraphy ⦿ Learn how to “clean-up” and get your calligraphy “camera-ready” for printing ⦿ Learn how Photoshop can help you design your finished piece before inking your pen ⦿ Learn to resize, color, and replace letters within your scanned piece ⦿ Advanced techniques such as creating a one-of-a kind border ⦿ While learning the above techniques, you will begin to uderstand the tools, organization and format of Photoshop Elements.Cost: $50 for the 3 lesson package. Deposit of $25 required to hold your spot. Maximum of 20 people. This will be a hands on class with Eve walking us through all the tools of Elements and then demonstrating some of the wonderful ways that this computer software can be used to enhance our calligraphy! Send deposit $25.00 to Ann Steves (info below right) and indicate on the check it is for Elements.

Class Supplies -Extension cordLaptop that will run Photoshop Elements (i.e. a newer model laptop) if possible. If you do not own one, you can still take advantage of the classes by either taking notes and looking on while Eve demonstrates.Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 or newer (Students should be able to download a free 30 day trial version of Elements off the Adobe website just before the workshops begin if desired.)The first class will be an extra slow, beginner session for those with little or no experience so if you do not fall into that category, you may wish to bring something to work on that day or plan to help those who are just getting started. The following classes will be moving at a little faster pace.