Stages of a New Work

Perhaps my last in the pseudo Yves Leterme style, this one is also the largest. I'm almost finished exploring this idea, I think. Here are some of the stages this watercolor paper is going through.

1. & 2. Watercolor background...very random. I then added pen and ink strokes.

3. Illegible pencil lettering - achieved with the left hand.

4. Partial obliteration of all the above with gesso.

5. I have added some ink spatters.

What's next? I'm not sure where to go next. It needs some contrast. I think I'll add some color back in, and possibly some legible lettering. Must think of the right words. It will sit awhile until I get enthused about it again. Perhaps I'll switch it all up and turn it toward collage.

See examples of Yves' work and news of his new book, Thoughtful Gestures, on his blog, Animal Scribax.

Indiana Calligraphy Guild Hosts Harvest Crittenden Workshop

I attended a wonderful workshop called The Antique Page in Indianapolis on March 5 & 6. The workshop was on antiquing papers to give them a Victorian look and was taught by Master Penman from Michigan, Harvest Crittenden. If you have a chance to take this or any other workshop she presents, you will not regret it. She will be teaching at IAMPETH in Phoenix this summer, as well as at workshops around the country.

This first picture is my as yet incomplete final project from the workshop. I will attach a small photo of my grandmother in a frame covered in similar papers, and I will letter words about her life in calligraphy. It features many of the techniques we tried during the two days of study (and play.)

This photo is of some of the samples of antiqued papers and final projects Harvest shared.

These next photos show some of my papers. We used coffee, walnut ink and fruit tea solutions to dye the papers, and many additional techniques were employed to embellish them. The process is fairly uncontrollable in the dying stage, but the choice of embellishments and finishing will change them considerably. One objective of the coffee and tea staining was to establish a very Victorian look to the papers. Incorporating each new technique or embellishment was important to the overall antique look of the papers.

Most of my papers were Arches text wove, that wonderful workhorse of a paper known to all calligraphers. I also used some 140# watercolor papers just to see if they would result in different looks. Other than those curling more, there was little difference in the appearance.

Calligraphy Catch Up

Here is the logo I created a couple of years ago for the company I now have the privilege to work for. The job was created for me...the owner paid me a great compliment saying he didn't want me to get away. Blush! Little did I know when I lettered this that I would be carrying it on my business cards nor that it would be larger than life on a marquee of sorts. Great fun!



I completed (all but the framing!) this piece in a recent workshop near Cincinnati. Jacqueline Sullivan was the instructor of the aptly titled "Wet N Wild" watercolor workshop. We poured watercolors, sprinkled metal powders, salt, sand, powdered dyes and alcohol, tore paper and generally had a wonderful time.



Here are some escort cards and envelopes I recently did as part of a much larger package.




And here's an oldie I recently ran across. From a Barbara Close greeting card workshop years ago, a display of student work. This was a great workshop. Barbara is delightful as well as talented. We all created many FuN cards.