Friday, March 18, 2011

Flourish Friday - Kuretake ZIG Calligraphy Markers

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
I was contacted by a representative of Kuretake, the makers of ZIG Calligraphy markers, asking if they could post some of my work on their website.  As a thank you for granting permission, Kuretake sent me a wonderful assortment of their markers.
©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
Woohoo!! I have been using ZIG Calligraphy and Brushables markers for years, but included in the package were some pens that were new to me.  The representative told me they are getting ready to launch a new range of sparkly pens called "Wink of Stella." Sounds wonderful!
©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
I really like the new "Journal & Title" markers. They have a 3.5mm broad edge on one end and a .5mm bullet tip on the other.  The size is perfect for me. I like the combination of broad edge and bullet tip on one pen too. 

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
On the "Calligraphy" markers, there's a 5mm on one end and a 2mm on the other.  I like the 5mm for decorating, but it's usually too large for the lettering I want to do.  

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
The 3.5mm size on this new "Journal & Title" marker is great.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
According to the Paper & Ink Arts catalog, they're available in a variety of colors.  I think ZIG markers are a great option for beginning calligraphers.  My guild's president, Cathy Arnold, organized a service project with an Indianapolis area school.  Guild members spent several weeks teaching calligraphy to students using ZIG Calligraphy markers.  See photos from the project by clicking here.  The kids loved it, and the project was a huge success. 

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
Another new marker from ZIG I'm lovin' is the "Calligraphy Metallic Colours."  

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
I love working on dark paper, and I really like these markers for that.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
There is a 3.5mm broad edge on one end and a 2mm broad edge on the other. It's nice to letter with the 3.5mm size and then go back with the 2mm in a different color to add shadows - or to add a stroke within a stroke.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
I haven't been able to play with the rest of the markers yet. There's Brushables (which I use regularly), Art & Graphic Twin, Fine & Chisel, Millennium, Kurecolor, Artist Sketching Pen, Vellum Writer...a smorgasbord of marker goodness! I think the Millenniums will be nice for monoline lettering, ruling, and Zentangles. Do you use ZIG markers? Leave a comment and let me know your favorites and in what ways you use them.  I'm especially unfamiliar with the Kurecolor.  

Kuretake is a Japanese company. (For the Japanese website, click here. There's an English button at the top.)   Kuretake UK Limited handles all the distribution for western markets.  You can view the Kuretake UK website by clicking here, and the gallery of artists' work by clicking here.  My page is here.

Hasn't your heart been broken for the people of Japan?  The events of this past week have been overwhelming. A few of you have asked about the family my son, Matt, stayed with when he participated in a student exchange. They are fine. Although they felt the earthquake, there was no significant damage in their area.  They are shocked and overcome with sadness for their countrymen. They are very worried about the nuclear plant and the efforts to keep water in the spent fuel storage pools. 
Calligraphy by my son, Matt.  (The Kanji for "Japan")
The Japanese are a big part of the calligraphy community. Even here in middle-America, many times there will be Japanese students enrolled in a calligraphy class.  Certainly, the Internet has made our world a smaller place.  We realize how connected we are.  I've been thinking of John Donne's Meditation No.17 from "Devotions upon Emergent Occasions" (No man is an island/For whom the bell tolls) I've lettered it in the past, but I want to do it again:

No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a Clod bee washed away by the SeaEurope is the lesse, as well as if aPromontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.

I'm sorry to be so wordy this week. 
For the people of Japan, let's all continue to pray and give.

15 comments:

  1. I am so jealous! It looks like you had a lot of fun trying those out and the metallic ones are simply amazing! Very cool!

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  2. What a treasure - I think I would have been flabbergasted while opening, then done a happy dance and then play time. I have long used ZIG, they are great fun and wonderful colors. Remember that book, 'ABC ZIG' by Karen Charatan? It was a great resource from 1993. Maybe it is time for YOU to put out a new one!!! Love the names with blackletter and flourishing! As always, beautiful and inspiring!

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  3. Absolutely beautiful--you make it look so easy!

    Love your blog.

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  4. YAY! New Zig pens! I will have to get some. Can't wait to get the metallics. They look like fun. Your samples are lovely!

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  5. Beautiful as always Jane!!! What a lovely package of toys to recieve in the mail. Enjoy.

    Heather

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  6. Beautiful work Jane n' thanks for reminding me about my Zig markers (Scroll and Brush). Now that I am a calligrapher -11 mnts into my journey- the capabilities of the Zig markers are making me giddy. Lol. Three yrs of barely used and when I pulled them out today they were fine. Thanks for the reminder.

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  7. Your calligraphy is so beautiful even with markers it shines.
    What a fun package to receive. Play, play, play!

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  8. How fun to receive all those fun goodies! I really love the metallic ones! The color is vibrant and solid against the black background. So pretty Jane!

    Praying for Japan.

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  9. As I've said on Flickr These are simply marvellous! I wish you'd make a font based on those uppercase I designs, I just love them.

    But that's beside the point, what I want to know is where and how do you store all those pens, mine dry up when stored vertically and I can't seem to find boxes the right size for all the colours in each set?

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  10. Hi Jane! Congratulations on having your work placed on the Zig manufacturer's website and for the delicious booty of pens they sent you! You are one lucky gal!!! (And you deserve it, that's for certain!) Lovely post... your lettering always inspires me to get up in my studio and "get to it", meaning lettering practice!!! Thank you, too, for reminding us of the tragedy in Japan and our connection as human beings to our suffering fellow man (and women). Hope you are doing well! Here's to making beautiful letters! xoxo Kathy

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  11. Great post, Jane!!! What lovely samples! How cool that you got to play with all those great tools?!!!!!

    Thanks for sharing with us.

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  12. What great fun!

    Happy Weekend to you~~

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  13. I would have died to receive such a wonderful package in the mail! And I just *love* the decorated envelopes you created with the Journal & Title pens.

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  14. Beautiful work, I found you thanks to Kuretake Tweeting this post.

    I'm a novice at calligraphy, and enjoy the forgiving nature of the Zig calligraphy pens. I adore the Art & graphic pens as they are such a fluid colour, it is a unique nib and very exciting to use.

    I'd love to try the Journal and Title pens though, as I tend to work small and their nib size sounds like it would be more suitable for me.

    Haven't found a Zig marker that I don't like,my only problem is that I am a magpie for colours and tend to 'need' them all.

    Best wishes

    Billie

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  15. Totally gorgeous penmanship! And what awesome markers.

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