Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Thinking of You

This is a snippet from a card I designed this past week. So many people are going through difficult times. 

Thinking of you Dear Family and Friends.

You may recognize the background from my previous posts about the Gelli Arts Printing Plate HERE and HERE.  The lettering was done with a pointed pen and added to the design via Photoshop.

For more about the Gelli Arts Printing Plate, CLICK HERE.

Go forth and put a little flourish is someone's day!

xo

Jane

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Isaiah 40:8

Isaiah 40:8 done with Moon Palace Sumi, a Zebra G for the lettering, and Scruffy Brush for the illustration. You can learn more about Scruffy by clicking HERE.

Happy Friday everyone.

Go forth and Flourish!

Flourish Friday - IAMPETH Reflections: Pointed Pen Favorites - A Closer Look with Pat Blair

Day three at IAMPETH brought Pat Blair from the White House for Pointed Pen Favorites - A Closer Look.  All the classes on Thursday were half day classes.  I only have two pages of practice, because I spent most of the morning just drooling as I watched Pat work.

Pat's beautiful, flowing work.

Pat's work on screen. She notes all the oval shapes within a larger oval on the capital B. She cautioned that many calligraphers tend to make the lower bowl too large.

Pat's work on screen. (Beautiful!) She reminded her students to keep their flourishing full and lively - not pinched.  I think that's what strikes me most about Pat's work; it is so full and lively. It breathes. It flows. It waltzes. 

More discussion about keeping the flourishes full and filling a space.

Pat's work on screen.  She taught us the importance of paying attention to the shape of the white space captured when flourishing.

During the break Pat and students discuss *not* pointed pen but share photos of grandchildren. :)

The night before this class was the Round Robin.  At the Round Robin (not in her Pointed Pen Favorites class), Pat demonstrated a wonderful technique using watered down Dr. Martin's Bleedproof White and a particular brush.  I keep calling it "Pat's Magic Brush," but it's actually called the Miracle Wedge.  Of course we all ran to John Neal's shop at the convention, and bought one!

I want to spend more time playing with this cool brush. Jody Meese found some helpful tips on the manufacturer's website.  You can find info on the Miracle Wedge - including loading the brush with three colors - on page 5 of their brush tips pdf by clicking HERE.

While at IAMPETH I mentioned to my sweet friend, Pam Salatich, that I'm always worried those little cylinder, plastic brush guards will bend the bristles on my brushes. (and brushes are so expensive!) The next day in Pat's class, Pam gave me this little device. It is a braided sleeve for make up brushes, but Pam uses them for her artist's brushes. Pam always knows the most useful things!!

You slide it on from the base of the handle...

...and slide it up over the bristles. To take it off,  you slide it up over the bristles - always moving the sleeve in the same direction in order to prevent damage to the bristles. Genius.  They are really called "Brush Protectors," and Pam gets hers from Sephora.  You can find them HERE.

I was so happy IAMPETH President, Debi Zeinert, made changes to the classrooms so more people could take Pat Blair's class.  I love, Love, LOVE Pat.  I've shared before that she came to Indy in 2005 to teach a Spencerian workshop, and I just fell for her style and grace.  She's so laid back but still does a great job teaching, explaining and instructing.  Before class, I had the pleasure of talking with Pat and her son, Tim, while standing in line at Starbucks.  Tim is also a great calligrapher!

Visit Pat Blair's website HERE.

Visit Tim Blair's website HERE.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Go forth and flourish!

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!

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Mandala and Bible Verses

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

I made a few cards this week. The above mandala was done with Moon Palace Sumi and a Zebra G. I wanted to add some corner flourishes. I'm not in love with these corners, but there are parts I'm in like with. :)  More practice and refinement is needed.

For the Psalm 23:4 card I used gouache, a flat brush, and a Hiro 700 nib. I went back over parts of the flower with the same color gouache mixed with Peal Ex powder.  It still need something, so I added some touches of Dr. Martin's Bleedproof White to the center of the flower.

 I am trying to be more disciplined about lettering bible verses.  During my quiet time, I'm always jotting down scripture references which I intend to letter "someday."  For this week at least, I actually followed through on a couple.  Both Isaiah 54:10 and Hebrews 6:19 were done with Moon Palace Sumi and a Zebra G comic nib.
***Update:  If you are interested in prints of any of my work, please contact me. You can find my email above on the right. Thank you! Unless otherwise noted, all work on this site is ©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC. All Rights Reserved.***

Thank you all for your continued support of A Place to Flourish.

I appreciate your comments and emails.  I enjoy my wedding calligraphy business very much, but your support spurs me on to include other types of lettering in my daily life.

Enjoy your weekend!

xo

Jane

Flourish Friday - Pointed Pen Lettering

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

This lettering was done with an Esterbrook 355 nib and Winsor & Newton Indigo Designer Gouache.  I made the background paper during Artiscape 2010 in Jacqueline Sullivan's "Experimental Water Media" workshop. (Read about that here.)  This is the last verse from the old hymn "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" by James M. Black.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

The lettering on this baby card was done with the same nib and gouache.  I made the "J" template from my own lettering.  The little drop out piece at the very top of the J was sure tricky to get glued down at the correct angle.

I appreciate all the kind comments and emails this past week.
Thanks everyone. :)

Happy weekend!!

Go forth and flourish.

Word Verification with A Flourish

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 I crack up at some of the word verifications that Blogger generates. You know the word you're asked to type in the box when you want to leave a comment on some blogs? Well, I've been collecting these silly, little words in a journal in hopes of getting a complete A-Z list.  I was always taught it's better to practice writing words rather than just individual letters when studying calligraphy.  Instructors will have you choose a category (cities, flowers, trees, names, etc.) and then write a list of words A-Z.  So this is my A- Z list of goofy word verifications.  I'm just playing here - I had no particular script in mind.  I'm missing K, X and Z, so if you happen upon any word verifications beginning with those letters you'll know where to send them. :) I used a Gillott 1068A nib and Moon Palace Sumi on a watercolor background.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 This was a recent commission. I used a Spencerian No. 1 nib and Dr. Martin's Bleedproof White on periwinkle card stock.

Thank you so much for all the 25th anniversary congratulations and good wishes!

(((Big Hugs))) You all are the best!!

I hope you have a delicious, sweet filled weekend.

Where did October go?!

Love One Another - Flourish Friday

Love one another. It's as easy and as difficult as that. :)

Today's flourish was done using gouache (naples yellow-tinted) and green pearlescent Mica watercolor. I used both Spencerian No. 1 and Hiro 700 nibs.  I can't decide if I'm done with it yet or not....

Thanks for all your graduation good wishes for Matt!

As you can see, he (on right) and a couple of his buddies are thrilled to be done.

It is an exciting time in his life, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for him.

Wishing you a happy and flourishy weekend!!

Flourish Friday - Calligraphy Christmas Tree

For today's Flourish Friday, I wanted to do something festive!

I saw this beautiful, calligraphic Christmas tree on page 105 of Bill Hildebrandt's book Calligraphic Flourishing: A New Approach to an Ancient Art. Isn't it a beautiful design? I used my graph paper transparency to assist in the layout. I then put my layout rough onto my light table, placed my good paper over the rough and did the flourishing.

I added some touches of color to give it a more festive feel.

After 25 years, I got hair cut short! I didn't realize how long my hair had grown until my stylist said, "I think you have enough for Locks of Love." Actually, at 9" it was an inch short for LOL, but my stylist knew of a place in Mississippi that takes any ponytails over 6". So, I pray my hair is being used by Pink Heart Funds to brighten some one's life. To learn more about Pink Heart Funds, or how to "Share Your Hair" click here.

Put some Flourish in your Friday - have a great weekend everyone!

Flourish Friday - Santa's List

On which side of Santa's List will your name be this year? :-)

Yesterday I was treated to a studio visit by one of my blog's followers! It was a real pleasure to welcome Marilyn from Tennessee and talk all things calligraphy. I think calligraphers are some of the most kind, sharing, and interesting people. Thanks to calligrapher and artist Jan Hurst for being the initial liaison. I appreciate all my blog's visitors and followers! Your comments and emails have really brightened my life this past year!! Big cyber hugs to each of you!

Go add a little flourish to your Friday....