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| ©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC |
Merry Christmas!!!
This is the design I came up with for our Christmas cards this year.
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| ©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC |
I first tried (and failed) to letter "Merry Christmas" straight off with pen and ink. The descending and ascending strokes were not playing nicely together, and the result looked like a tangled strand of Christmas lights. So I pulled out my trusty pencil and some tracing paper to try and work out the problem areas.
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| ©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC |
Then holding my breath, I went back to the pen and ink. (Actually, I do better if I slowly exhale...) I used Moon Palace Sumi and a vintage Gillott Principality nib. The script is not of any particular style, although I did try to include some of things I learned from Bill Lilly in the capital M and C. I wanted to incorporate little, holly leaves in the M and a little jewel like ornament in the C. I then scanned and reduced my lettering on the computer and printed a smaller version using my HP printer and its carbon based, Vivera ink (black #92).
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| ©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC |
Next, I burned a master on my B6 Print Gocco and applied the ink. (Gocco ink for paper; color: silver)
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| ©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC |
Unfortunately, the fine detail of the holly leaves and jewel ornament were lost on the Gocco. They look more like blobs. :) The flourish on the far left didn't burn completely. If you scroll back up to the first photo, you can see where I've tried to camouflage the blobs and skipping line.
I had ordered what I thought would be beautiful, blue paper for the silver ink. Unfortunately, the blue was not a good match. The silver was too difficult to see on the blue. I like silver on black, so I did a bunch of prints on black paper.
I had ordered what I thought would be beautiful, blue paper for the silver ink. Unfortunately, the blue was not a good match. The silver was too difficult to see on the blue. I like silver on black, so I did a bunch of prints on black paper.
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| ©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC |
Of course I had to try printing on many, different papers and envelopes.
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| ©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC |
I quickly ran out of drying racks and soon had every available surface in my studio covered! :)
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| ©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC |
Some of you may remember the front design from a post I did last year.
(To see that post, click here.)
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| ©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC |
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!!
May 2011 bring happiness, good health and beautiful flourishes!
XOXO
Jane
