Calligraphy Monogram Design - Flourish Friday

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 Happy Friday everyone! 

Another class I took at IAMPETH was Michael Sull's Monogram Design.  

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Michael taught us to use tracing paper and different colored pencils when designing monograms.  For a personal monogram, he had us start with sketching the initial of the first name using one color of pencil.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

  We then used a second piece of tracing paper, layering it on top of the first. Using a different colored pencil, we sketched the middle initial all the while trying not to get too much spaghetti going on in the design.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 We then layered a third piece of tracing paper over the first two in order to begin working on the last initial. (I only had two colored pencils with me.) :)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 I really like the F, but I wasn't thrilled with the spacing between the J and A.  I thought they were too close to each other.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

This is a little better....hmmm...maybe too much spacing now. Also, I think the top of my J needs to be higher.   What kind of wacko would want to spend hours playing around with 3 letters?!! umm... ME!! :)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

At home, I practiced with pen and ink. I used a Zebra G nib and McCaffrey's black ink.  I practiced at various sizes. Let me tell you, it's much easier with a pencil - for me at least.  I really enjoyed the class.  Michael also taught us how to do family monograms. In a family monogram, the initial of the last name is in the center and is usually a bit larger than the first initials of the wife and husband. Traditionally, the wife's initial goes to the left of the last name initial and the husband's goes to the right.

Thank you all for your kind and caring comments and private emails last week. It is nice to know I wasn't the only one that was feeling overwhelmed.  I also appreciate the good advice many of you shared with me. You're a real blessing in my life.  The lettering community is a pretty special group of folks!   I hope you enjoy your weekend!!

((Big Hugs))

Jane

Calligraphy and Woodworking

Several weeks ago my sixteen year old son asked if I would letter his initials for him.  He wanted a specific size and style.  He was designing a chess board and case in his Manufacturing Processes class at school.   His class was learning veneer and inlay techniques, and he wanted to include his initials on the bottom of the case.  I thought he might abandon the idea once he got started.  It is hard enough for me just to cut curved letter forms out of heavy paper let alone wood, but he did it. Here is his result:

I think he did a great job.  He stayed after school many days to work on his design.  He is fortunate to attend a public school that has a varied curriculum.  The art and design departments are extensive, and it is difficult to choose from all the great courses offered.

I think Matt has been bitten by the handcrafted bug!  He took two years of ceramics and loved it.  Now in this class, he is learning woodworking and metalcraft. He was so excited to show us his work and talk about the different woods and tools he used.  His case is now being displayed in the Principal's office.

I am on the hunt to find some chess pieces to match his board for his birthday next month.  His class has moved on to learning about assembly line construction by designing and creating Adirondack chairs!