World Cup Flourish Friday

Happy Flourish Friday!!

Collaborative Art Journal for A Place to Bark

The beautiful, talented, and compassionate Renee Troy has worked tirelessly these past few months on a special book project for A Place to Bark.  A Place to Bark is a no kill, animal rescue and sanctuary located in Tennessee and operated by Bernie Berlin.  Bernie is the author of Artist Trading Card Workhop, a terrific technique and reference book used and loved by many artists.  Renee has had on her heart to do a special project that would minister to abused and hurting animals.  She thought of Bernie's work at A Place to Bark, and decided to organize a collaborative artists' book to auction off.  Renee brought together the work of nearly 30 artists.  This is my page for the book. I used a Speedball B nib and sumi for the background text and a pointed pen and Dr. Martin's Bleedproof White for the flourishing on the dog.  The text is Albert Schweitzer's "A Prayer for Animals" and also the King James Version of Job 12: 7-10. Please view the work of each artist and the completed, bound book on the slideshow at Renee's blog here.  Renee has listed this wonderful book for auction on Ebay.  All the proceeds will got to A Place to Bark and the work that Bernie is doing there.  Some lucky and generous soul will not only be donating to the great work Bernie is doing at A Place to Bark, but they will also be the recipient of an incredible work of art.

Maybe that lucky and generous person is you! 

To visit the Ebay auction and consider bidding, click here.  

Thank you Renee for your warm and creative spirit.  Like Bernie, you are an inspiration, and it was a privilege to be a part of this!!!

Father's Day Flourish Friday

I thought I'd do a little flourish in honor of Father's Day.  I don't know what I was thinking.  I see Tom in a tie nearly every morning, and I still didn't get this right.  I guess instead of a Double Windsor, it's a Double Jane.  (That little, extra, round knot is my special signature...)

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads out there, including Rachel and Matt's terrific dad!

I tried to play around with the descenders a little bit.

All of today's flourishes were done with a vintage Gillott 404 and Moon Palace Sumi. I then scanned them and played with them in Photoshop Elements.

This is my champion. His name is Floyd.

This was taken a few months ago on his 80th birthday.

My dad is one of the sweetest guys you'd ever meet.

Happy Father's Day Dad! 

I love you!!!

XOXO

Janie Bird

He's the only one that gets to call me that! :)

Flourish Friday with Diane Von Arx

I recently had the privilege of attending my local calligraphy guild's workshop with Diane Von Arx.

The workshop "Oh My Gouache" was excellent!  Diane taught us there are only two things that can go wrong when working with gouache: getting the gouache too thick or getting it too thin.  

She had us trace Roman letters and practice painting them with our fine point brushes. We were to leave a small gutter between the letter and our background to help the letter pop.  My gutter got a little clogged here and there, so I went over it with a pointed nib and Dr. Martin's Bleedproof White.

Diane continually challenges her students to look, really look, to be observant, critical and exacting.  She encouraged us to pay attention to the details and to always expect the best from ourselves.

Here Diane demonstrates painting a Roman letter using a student's paints.  (Diane's favorite gouache is Windsor & Newton Designer's Gouache.)

Here is the lovely Diane! Don't let that beautiful smile fool you...she is a taskmaster!! (But in a good way, not in an intimidating way.) :) She demands that you always do your best work. Don't just draw a baseline, get out the T-square and do it right.  Why create a piece, when you can create a MASTERpiece?!

Here Diane explains one of the Special Treatments she did for The Saint John's Bible.

If you would like to learn more about The Saint John's Bible project click here.

To say the project is "incredible" is a gross understatement.  In addition to the books that are already available, Diane said there will be a special edition of The Saint John's Bible. I can't wait to see it!

Diane was gracious enough to do lettering for each student to take home.

She was too savvy to take me up on my request for "Merry Christmas....Love, The Farrs"

Drat!

However, she did email me her 2009 Christmas card.

How beautiful is this?!!!!

Thank you Diane for a terrific workshop, and thanks to Jacquie Banks for the great job she does as the Calligraphy Guild of Indiana's workshop chair!

To visit Diane's website, click here.

To visit Diane's page on The Saint John Bible website, click here.

Happy Flourish Friday everyone!

xo

Love One Another - Flourish Friday

Love one another. It's as easy and as difficult as that. :)

Today's flourish was done using gouache (naples yellow-tinted) and green pearlescent Mica watercolor. I used both Spencerian No. 1 and Hiro 700 nibs.  I can't decide if I'm done with it yet or not....

Thanks for all your graduation good wishes for Matt!

As you can see, he (on right) and a couple of his buddies are thrilled to be done.

It is an exciting time in his life, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for him.

Wishing you a happy and flourishy weekend!!