Leaf Script - Calligraphy Flourish Friday

Happy Friday everyone!
I thought I'd share some more from my IAMPETH experience.  Another session to which I was really looking forward was Master Penman Rick Muffler's presentation of Leaf Script Capitals.  I love ornamental capitals.  Rick's Leaf Script was influenced by the work of both Master Penman Bill Lilly and engraver Sam Alfano.  Rick directed us to Sam Alfano's excellent online tutorial.  See it by clicking here. 

First, rough out your capital. I based this L on Bill Lilly's Engrosser's Script but without the thins.  I intentionally made it pudgy.

I then outlined the letter - or attempted to - with a .05 marker.  You don't have to do this step, but I want to save my original L, warts and all, in order to use it again. :)

Using my light table, I sketched the L onto my good paper.  Next, add an inner line just inside the outer line.  This creates a narrow channel of space. Then place the left and right strokes for the leaves.  Rick warned us this part can be a bit tricky, and he's correct.  Sam Alfano's tutorial does a good job explaining this step.

Add the details of the leaves.

Go over the lines with a technical pen. I used a .03 Millennium ZIG marker.  Erase the pencil lines.  Add texture and shading.  Rick gave us plenty of cross hatching and stippling ideas for adding texture. 

I added a bit of shading with a pencil. I could spend hours playing!!

Rick also taught us how to create lower case letters to pair with the capitals.

Putting it all together.
I think Leaf Script is beautiful; what do you think?

Thanks to Rick Muffler for introducing me to Leaf Script.
(Sorry, I couldn't find any website or blog links for Rick.)
Thanks to Sam Alfano for his online tutorial.  To visit Sam's websites, click here and also here.

Go forth and flourish!

Flourish Friday - Contemporary Illuminated Letters

Here are a couple of baby cards I made recently using decorated capitals.  At a Calligraphy Guild of Indiana meeting in early 2009, Erika Woods showed our guild what she had learned in her class with Nancy Culmone at the Letters Mingle Souls conference.  The examples Erika showed were beautiful - very subdued and earthy.  I am creating an A-Z alphabet which I'm calling my "Colorific" alphabet. (As in color terrific hopefully and not color horrific.) :)

Speaking of bright colors, have you seen the Jelly Belly masterpieces? I meant to include a little blurb and link back at Easter, but I forgot.  Until June 1st, the Indianapolis Children's Museum is exhibiting the works of Kristen Cumings.  Kristen created eight mosaics of famous masterpieces, including "Mona Lisa" and "Girl with a Pearl Earring" using...Jelly Belly jelly beans!! 

After June 1st, the exhibit will be displayed at the Jelly Belly Visitor Center in Fairfield, California.  You can check out the entire gallery of Jelly Bean Art at the company's website by clicking here. (There's even a William and Kate...oops...Catherine piece!)

Have a great weekend everyone.

Go forth and flourish!