Photoshop for Calligraphers - Flourish Friday

Image and permission for use provided by Harvest Crittenden

Next month Harvest Crittenden is launching an online class entitled Photoshop for Calligraphers. I have never taken an online class before, and I am really excited about it. You're tired of hearing me yap about my Photoshop frustrations aren't you?  Although I did learn a great deal in the Photoshop Elements class I took in 2010 at the Indianapolis Art Center, the class was full of people interested in working with....photos! (Imagine that!)  Now, there's a Photoshop class created especially for calligraphers. Yippee! 

The class will consist of 12 parts using video lessons. A great thing is that you can view the videos at a time that works best for you.  Harvest has priced the workshop very reasonably.  If you sign up by May 15th the price is $65.  On May 16th, the price goes up to $75.

What are you waiting for?!  Go check out the course description and sign up by clicking this link to Harvest's Acorn Arts Website:  CLICK HERE

Thank you Harvest for understanding the need and developing a class specifically for calligraphers!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Here is a little Mother's Day flourish for you. Matt finishes his freshman year at Purdue tomorrow. I cannot wait to have kids in the house again! Rachel has been studying abroad this semester. I miss her so much. Although she won't be here for Mother's Day, she is coming home on the 14th (for a few weeks anyway).  I'm thinking I can stretch Mother's Day into a week long celebration! :)

Happy Flourish Friday!
Enjoy your weekend!!

400th Anniversary of the King James Bible and the Folger Shakespeare Library - Calligraphy Flourish Friday

I was contacted by Swim Design Consultants seeking permission to use the above flourish. Swim Design was hired by the Folger Shakespeare Library to create a website celebrating the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.  The website has officially launched, and I'm very honored to have my little flourish be part of such a wonderful project!

The designers at Swim Design did an outstanding job creating and launching the site: 

 http://www.manifoldgreatness.org/

Any lover of calligraphy, the King James Bible, printing, history, or the lettering arts in general will enjoy visiting the site and exploring the pages and pages of interesting facts, informative "how to" videos, and slideshows of early bible manuscripts. The Folger Library also has a very nice blog which you can access from the Manifold Greatness website. I found it all very fascinating, and the "Kids" section is awesome. I love the video of the kids learning how to cut a quill.

Learn more about Swim Design Consultants by clicking here.

(You can view my flourish on the Crossword interactive page in the kids' section, which can be accessed by clicking here.)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Here is a flourish I did this past week for a client job. It's a pretty large flourish (for me at least) at about 6 inches in length. 

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

I designed the second, companion flourish to be a little smaller - about 4 inches.
These flourishes were fun to do.  I'm happy with how the piece turned out and, thankfully, so is the client!  

Just a note to let you know I am praying for those of you that have had an extremely difficult week.

xo Jane

Calligraphy Flourish Good Friday

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Wishing you all a Good Friday!

We have been studying Isaiah 53 at my church in preparation for Holy Week, so I thought I'd share this verse with you. Wishing you all a blessed Easter.

Random.org did its random number generation thing, and the winning numbers for the Kuretake ZIG marker bundles are 22, 2, 8, 21, 19

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Lori was comment 22!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy Design LLC

Jenny was was comment 2!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy Design LLC

Rebecca (neddgirl) was comment 8!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy Design LLC

Joy was comment 21!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy Design LLC

Ann was comment 19!

Congratulations winners!

Please email me your full name and mailing address.  I will get your markers out to you the first of next week. (You can find my email address by clicking on the "View My Complete Profile" under the "About Me" section on the top right of this page.) 

To all those that participated- thank you! I apologize to those wanting to participate but were unsuccessful in leaving a comment.  I'm not the most tech-savvy person myself.  I think the easiest way to leave comments is to create a Google account at Google's website, log in and access A Place to Flourish through your Google - Blogger Dashboard. (It's free.)

Wishing you a contemplative Good Friday and a victorious Easter Sunday!

Go forth and flourish!

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - ZIG Markers & CCC Exploration

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 Here we go! Thanks to the wonderful folks at Kuretake, I am happy to host a ZIG marker giveaway!!

There will be 5 winners. Each winner will receive 4 markers.

If you would like the chance to win one of these bundles, then please leave a comment on this post by next Wednesday, April 20th at midnight (Eastern Time). 

One comment per person please (no emails).  I will randomly choose the winners. I will also randomly assign the bundles to the winners, so please no requesting specific bundles.

I'll announce the winners next Flourish Friday.

Thank you...and thank you Kuretake!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

On this post about ZIG markers, Andy asked how I stored my ZIG markers.  We have replaced 2 dishwashers over the 20 years we've lived in this house.  I saved the utensil baskets from the old dishwashers, and I store my markers in them.  I like them because they are divided, and I can just grab them by the handles and go.  I always store my markers horizontally to prevent them from drying out.

  On a visit to Chicago this past weekend, Tom and I enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Yolk, and a stroll past the Moody Bible Institute on our way to the Chicago Calligraphy Collective's Exploration exhibit and reception at The Newberry Library.

Julie Wildman and Jane Farr

Here I am with Julie Wildman!! My fellow sister-in-Christ! :) I've admired Julie's calligraphy and art for several years now, and it was a privilege to meet her and see her inspiring work in person.  I apologize for my terrible pictures.  They are all so blurry.  I guess I don't know how to use that "museum" setting on the camera after all!

The CCC put on a lovely reception with demonstrations, a live performance and a scrumptious spread of food.  I was a little nervous walking in, but straightaway the warm and beautiful Pat Kutz made us feel very welcome.  CCC President, Kathy Mandell, introduced herself and welcomed us too.  I don't really know how I come off to my blog's readers, but I actually knock the ball out of the park as an Introvert on the Myers-Briggs' test, and I really appreciated the friendly greeting by all the members of the CCC.

Here are a few photos of the demonstrations by CCC members:  

Pointed Pen demonstrated by Janice Kiska.

Neuland demonstrated by Lisa Kivland

Lisa Kivland demonstrating Neuland using graphite and a wet brush.

Pam Sussman demonstrating bookbinding.

Below are some photos of the actual Exploration exhibit. There is so much talent in the CCC! I felt like a calligraphy groupie. (Oh there's Tim Botts! Oh, oh, there's Rosie Kelly! Oh, Oh, Oh...Linda Hancock? I LOVE her work...it just went on and on in my head like that.)

Entrance to the Exploration exhibit at Chicago's Newberry Library.

The 2011 Newberry Purchase Prize Award winner "Silent Poetry" by Janice Kiska.

Pieces by fellow CCC members and bloggers Luce Zolna (far left) and Julie Wildman (far right).

Piece by Mike Kecseg. (Swoon!!)

25th Anniversary exhibit of past Newberry Purchase Prize Award winners.

The photos below are of the live calligraphy performance.  I believe a CCC member, Jack Scott, provided the live jazz music. It was wonderful. Tom loved the live performance!

Live calligraphy performance: Karen Brooks (with Whopperplate) and Pam Paulsrud.  

Live calligraphy performance: Julie Wildman

Live calligraphy performance: Tim Botts looks on as a fellow CCC member performs - a lefty lettering backward!

Live calligraphy performance:  Anne Binder

2011 Exploration live performance piece at the Newberry Library in Chicago.

As an added bonus, The Newberry Library had a special exhibit of 20 French Renaissance illuminated manuscripts and printed books from their collection. It was amazing!

Special Exhibit at the Newberry Library

Special Exhibit at the Newberry Library

If you have the chance to make it to Chicago in the next month or so, be sure to include The Newberry Library on your itinerary.  I am so glad we were able to go. Our experience at The Newberry was the jewel in our Chicago weekend!

The Illuminated Manuscripts and Printed Books exhibit runs until May 28, 2011.

The Exploration exhibit runs until June 25, 2011.

Please visit Marjorie Boyd's terrific blog (April 10th posts) to see better pictures and descriptions from the Exploration reception and exhibit by clicking here.

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to be a winner in the ZIG marker giveaway.

Good luck!

Thank you for your support of A Place to Flourish!!! :)

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Oblique Pen Holders

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

I am back! Here is a full body shot of the penholder pictured in this March 25th post.

A few readers asked about it, and Heather Held is correct! It is a Bill Lilly original.

It is one of my favorites. Not only is it beautiful but the neck is a little larger which I prefer.

It has a little chip in it, because I accidentally dropped it. 

(Shhh....Don't tell Bill, or I will be in the doghouse.)

Isn't the marbled, background paper gorgeous? 

I'll have to tell you more about it in a future post.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 The top part of the pen is a cool looking, poly resin and the bottom is rosewood (I think).

It pulls apart.....

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

.....to reveal a hidden compartment for a spare nib.

Typical Bill Lilly cleverness!!! 

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Here is my collection of oblique penholders to date.

I know some folks look down their pointed pen noses at the Speedball Oblique Pen Holders (the black, plastic ones), but I learned Copperplate with the Speedball and I have a soft spot in my heart for them. :)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Here are close-ups of my other, favorite Bill Lilly pens.

He calls them Natural Grip pens, and I love, love, LOVE them.

If you're interested in a Bill Lilly penholder. Just contact him via email. You can find his email address at his blog just beneath the photo here.  Kim over at The Constant Scribe has a post about her new, luscious Jake Weidmann penholder. Read about it here.

I have received another parcel of ZIG markers from Kuretake!  I asked the Kuretake representative if it would be okay to do a ZIG marker giveway, and I was given the go ahead. Please visit A Place To Flourish next Friday for a chance to win some of these terrific markers!

Tom and I are off to Chicago this morning. I am so excited to see the Chicago Calligraphy Collective's Exploration exhibit at the Newberry Library tomorrow!!!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Go forth and flourish!

xo

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Bookbinding

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

This is a little book structure I made recently under the patient instruction of Sharon Turrini.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

The spine was a thin piece of wood which I painted brown.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

It's a great structure for incorporating a cool, vintage button.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

I haven't decided yet whether to fill the pages with writing or not.

I have been out of the studio. 

If you have tried to contact me, I appreciate your patience. 

I will be back in the swing of things very soon.

Have a great weekend!!

Calligraphy Flourish Friday

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

See?! I told you I was heavy handed! :)

Have a great weekend everyone.

Go forth and flourish!

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 Sea, Europe 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.