This sketch, done in one of my ruling pen workshops, explains my goal as a teacher: For me calligraphy is not about copying only but about varying, creating, discovering.
Vary what you have learned.
Create your own style.
Discover the pleasures of strolling through the wilderness instead of following the same ol’ paths, centuries-old.
Rose Folsom (former editor of the LetterArtsReview) once said about my work:
“You look to me like a child that discovered it could play outside the playground, too.”
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Ruling Pens Beyond the Rules
Because the use of the ruling pen as a freestyle tool presupposes a solid mastery of letterforms and a sense of rhythm and texture, this class is intended for students who have had some previous calligraphic experience. In this course, participants will be introduced to several types of ruling pens, and will have the opportunity to experiment with the great variety of strokes that are possible with these instruments. The only rule is: There is no rule. This script will have no consistent baseline, no equal heights, widths, proportions in the single letters; no equal width of the stroke. Have fun! Level: Intermediate Length: 2 or 3 days Please note: Over the years I developed a very good step-by-step method of how to understand the technical side of this tool. It takes almost two days to learn it because the ruling pen is so different from any other tool, and the basics are necessary to learn how to be creative with it. Therefore I highly recommend to offer the subject for 3 days, if possible. |
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Ancient Chinese SecretEverybody loves Chinese lettering and characters! But to learn how to create and understand them would take you years of intense studies. In this informative and fun workshop Thomas |
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The Alchemist‘s Kitchen
Have you been to all the workshops, gathered scripts, techniques and tools, but never learned the “spells” to turn these ingredients into a piece of fine art? Supply list: Your basic kit, and everything you like to work with. Some quotes (prose!) with about 10-15 words. |
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Fraktur, mon amour!When Blackletter blossoms... In the second half of the 15th century Blackletter evolved into lacy, flourished Fraktur. Some initials of that time appear as an arbour covered with wild proliferous vine. Days: 2-3 |
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Neuland TextureIn this workshop you will learn how to take the script a step further: text becomes texture. Length: 2-3 days |
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Modern Textures – From norm to expressive formIf you want to advance in calligraphy, whether to work more expressively or to be more creative with your classical scripts, it is essential to leave the basic letterforms behind.One way to exercise this is to develop textures. In this workshop you will learn a modern approach to the subject. No block, no regularity, no Blackletter. You could form a texture by letting the single strokes become denser, touch each other or overlap. You could write, draw or work with momentum. It could look solid, delicate or geometric. All these different aspects will be shown, discussed and exercised. All my design related subjects are regardless of the scripts the students know. But it is important to have solid knowledge about it to be able to work independently. Most suitable as a starting point is Italic; some experience with Romans or, even better, Roman Lapidary would be good, too. Supply list: Broad edge nibs, Automatic Pens, Brause Ornamental Nibs, ruling pen or a nib for drawing, ink or sumi. |
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Farbenfrohe Buchstaben Es muss nicht immer Schwarz sein! |
