About us
The Canberra Calligraphy Society was founded in 1986, when three friends gathered and called for people interested in calligraphy to come together. The Society was formed and since then has gone from strength to strength, maintaining a membership of roughly 60 calligraphy enthusiasts. In 2016 the Society celebrated its 30th anniversary and is looking forward to another exciting 30 years of calligraphy in Canberra. As ideas and techniques change the penmanship also evolves. Tutors for workshops are sourced from amongst our members, interstate and international calligraphers.
Workshops are held once a month at the Urambi Village Community Hall in Crozier Circuit, Driveway B, Kambah, usually from 1 pm–4.30 pm on the 4th Sunday of every month, except December and January. Once or twice a year the Society organises weekend workshops with visiting tutors.
Workshops are held once a month at the Urambi Village Community Hall in Crozier Circuit, Driveway B, Kambah, usually from 1 pm–4.30 pm on the 4th Sunday of every month, except December and January. Once or twice a year the Society organises weekend workshops with visiting tutors.
Calligraphic News
Brushing Up
April 2018 workshop with Jenni Cole
The April workshop was the second part in Jenni’s series on brush lettering. Eleven participants left their pens, ink and good papers at home and came along with cartridge paper (for practice) and acrylic paints.
The aim of the workshop was to complete two small projects, the raw materials for which were supplied by Jenni. The first was script on coloured card which the participants were invited to take this home and turn into an A 3 size document folder. The second project was script on a handsome piece of spotted gum, to be used as an outdoor sign.
Using slightly diluted acrylic paint and a good quality rounded brush (preferably size 6 but perhaps 4 or 8) the first exercise was to produce simple shapes. Diagonal strokes and crescents. Sometimes starting thick and tapering to a thin point. Sometimes the opposite. Jenni’s demo made it look easy. But it proved to be difficult.
Many of us blamed our failures on our brush or our cheap paint. And Jenni agreed that a really good brush (sable / ox is the best you can get) and really good paint (Jo Sonja’s is nice and creamy) will assist to make uniform and consistent shapes. The correct technique was to use pressure to make the thick strokes and then ease off the pressure and twist the brush slightly to make the tapered thin strokes. For some participants, working with the paper on an angle helped to get a consistent diagonal slope. Wetting the brush before dipping it into the paint, using a light grip, holding the writing hand high and not resting on the paper were other useful tips.
Next we practiced upper case and then lower case in a script Jenni called “Free Style Script” which looks a little like a brush version of copperplate – but more relaxed in look and feel. The capitals are complex and flowery, whilst the lower case proved generally simpler and easy to master. We could cheat a bit by painting over draft penciled letters. The script has no defined stroke order, and advanced scribes may use a flowing ‘running writing’ technique whilst beginners usually favour building up each letter with several strokes.
Everyone went home with the materials for their document folder and a wooden sign appropriate for a workshop, garden shed, vegie patch or car space. All it needed was a slurp of varnish to make it waterproof.
Thank you Jenni for the workshop, the materials and for the lovely little ceramic brush rest she gave to each participant. We barely even noticed that in reality it was a chop stick rest. A lovely gift! And I need hardly mention that the afternoon surpassed our usual standard.
Judith Wood
April 2018 workshop with Jenni Cole
The April workshop was the second part in Jenni’s series on brush lettering. Eleven participants left their pens, ink and good papers at home and came along with cartridge paper (for practice) and acrylic paints.
The aim of the workshop was to complete two small projects, the raw materials for which were supplied by Jenni. The first was script on coloured card which the participants were invited to take this home and turn into an A 3 size document folder. The second project was script on a handsome piece of spotted gum, to be used as an outdoor sign.
Using slightly diluted acrylic paint and a good quality rounded brush (preferably size 6 but perhaps 4 or 8) the first exercise was to produce simple shapes. Diagonal strokes and crescents. Sometimes starting thick and tapering to a thin point. Sometimes the opposite. Jenni’s demo made it look easy. But it proved to be difficult.
Many of us blamed our failures on our brush or our cheap paint. And Jenni agreed that a really good brush (sable / ox is the best you can get) and really good paint (Jo Sonja’s is nice and creamy) will assist to make uniform and consistent shapes. The correct technique was to use pressure to make the thick strokes and then ease off the pressure and twist the brush slightly to make the tapered thin strokes. For some participants, working with the paper on an angle helped to get a consistent diagonal slope. Wetting the brush before dipping it into the paint, using a light grip, holding the writing hand high and not resting on the paper were other useful tips.
Next we practiced upper case and then lower case in a script Jenni called “Free Style Script” which looks a little like a brush version of copperplate – but more relaxed in look and feel. The capitals are complex and flowery, whilst the lower case proved generally simpler and easy to master. We could cheat a bit by painting over draft penciled letters. The script has no defined stroke order, and advanced scribes may use a flowing ‘running writing’ technique whilst beginners usually favour building up each letter with several strokes.
Everyone went home with the materials for their document folder and a wooden sign appropriate for a workshop, garden shed, vegie patch or car space. All it needed was a slurp of varnish to make it waterproof.
Thank you Jenni for the workshop, the materials and for the lovely little ceramic brush rest she gave to each participant. We barely even noticed that in reality it was a chop stick rest. A lovely gift! And I need hardly mention that the afternoon surpassed our usual standard.
Judith Wood
People's Choice Awards at the Workshops
To be in the running to win a free Sunday afternoon workshop simply bring along a piece you created in the theme of the previous workshop to pin up on the Gallery wall. The artwork which collects the most votes at the workshop will win...it's that simple!
Below is a small sample of pieces our members have worked on in recent workshops.
To be in the running to win a free Sunday afternoon workshop simply bring along a piece you created in the theme of the previous workshop to pin up on the Gallery wall. The artwork which collects the most votes at the workshop will win...it's that simple!
Below is a small sample of pieces our members have worked on in recent workshops.
