Back to Basics Tutoring Gig

 Dear Followers,

Having taught Neuland at the beginning of the year for Calligraphy Southscribes, Inc. they have asked me back again to tutor or teach a Back to Basics afternoon. So, if you are in the Sydney region and you would like to dip your toes in calligraphy ink, so to speak, come along and join me and the society for a relaxed but informative afternoon.

This workshop is aimed at our newer members and those wanting to remind themselves of good calligraphic practices.

While we learn a hand or technique each month, many of us have not covered the basics of calligraphy or may like a refresher, so we will be looking at calligraphic terms and what they mean in a practical sense, how to use our pens and inks and everything in-between. We really will be getting back to basics, so think of this as Calligraphy 101. We will also work through a series of exercises to help you understand more about this art form and its associated terms.

It was suggested at our Meeting last month that if any Member who wishes to come on the 12th but do their own Calligraphy work on the day instead of the Back to Basics, catch up with other members and a cup or two of tea/coffee that a fee of $10 to help cover Hall Hire costs would be charged instead of the $20 for this Session.

Materials List:

·        Pen holders

·        A variety of sizes of nibs – small to large (if possible one brand, if you don’t have one brand, don’t worry but you must have a range of sizes, 5 different size nibs is excellent)

·        Ink or gouache – different colours

·        Gouache – bring a form of palate to mix them on

·        Ink – bring small container/s to decant your ink into

·        Water containers

·        Brushes to load your gouache with (if you are using gouache)

·        Ruler

·        Eraser

·        Graphite pencil

·        Layout pad

·        Notebook & Pen to take notes

·        1 quote that means something to you, as you’ll be using it a lot

·        If using Artline Calligraphy felt-tip pens please bring a range of sizes

 

 Date:                 Saturday, 12 August 2023

Time:               1.00pm – 4.00pm

Cost:                $20.00 – Members, $25.00 – Non-Members

Place:              Sylvania Community Centre - Canberra Road, Sylvania   (Near Southgate Shopping Centre)

Bookings Essential: southscribes@yahoo.com.au

Neuland and Tutoring

I belong to a small calligraphy group that meets on the second Saturday of the month for its committee meeting and then in the afternoon for calligraphy for three hours, from 1pm to 4pm. Now these three hours may be calligraphy, like it was this month, or like last month, it can be a Japanese card. For August the committee had decided to ask myself to tutor Neuland. Now while I love using Neuland it was the first time I had actually tutored it, so to say I was a little apprehensive was putting it lightly.

I've tutored before, Uncial twice, once as an eight week lettering course and once as a six week lettering course. Add to that Modern Uncial as a six week lettering course and as an afternoon workshop and I think I have my nerves under control but it seems that tutoring a new script really threw me.

With only three hours to play with and a vast range of calligraphy experience in the room, the lesson plan and ideas needed a rethink on how to present. I decided on creating an exemplar that could be used as strictly an exemplar for the more experience calligraphers or a copy sheet for the beginners. Having requested that all bring along tracing paper to trace their letters this would ultimately speed up the learning process and lead them onto the creative part of the afternoon (thank you to wonderfully experienced tutor for this idea, and she was acknowledged in class).

To get everyone in the mood and to get pens, inks and arms/hands flowing, I asked everyone to practice creating a row of lines at 90 degrees, a row at 0 degrees and a row at +- 30 degrees angles. This I told the class would loosen them up but to also create the pen angles for creating the letters. While they practiced their pens angles I read them a brief history of Rudolph Koch.

After an hour of writing, it was time for a coffee, a brief break and look at what examples I had brought in before proceeding to part two of the afternoon. Using their letters.

Now as most of us know from experience, both as students and tutors that we or the class want to get onto using the letters, and in a three hour class it is no different. So while having explained that for the beginners they would still need a lot of practice to perfect their letter form, to start to get a feel for it, they could trace their letters onto tracing paper and then transfer them to a piece of good paper and they could experiment with using colour. I had suggested that they bring in coloured pencils or metallic pencils if they had them and some black paper for a different look. Most people did and the results speak for themselves.

Once the class was under way and I was able to walk around and offer one on one tutoring the adrenalin eased off and I too, was able to enjoy the afternoon. I now have another lesson plan up my sleeve if ever needed.

Enjoy the results of the Calligraphy Southscribes, afternnoon with Neuland.

Class

Kath's

Colleen's

Kay's

Mirelle's

Gloria's

Glenis'

Tutoring Modern Uncial

On February 14, I was lucky enough to share my version of Modern Uncial with some keen students at Calligraphy Southscribes.

The group, on the second Saturday of the month, from 1-4pm have what they call their "Calliart" afternoon. This is where people like me get to share our knowledge with others. Thank you to Mike Kecseg for inspiring us.

Everyone seemed to have a great time and they still had their pens up at 4pm. Needless to say this tutor was chuffed!