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 - July 31

For today's Flourish Friday, I thought I'd show you a few of my treasures. Most are from the IAMPETH convention. One evening during the convention, there was a Round Robin where any member could host a show-and-tell station. Last week's Flourish Friday post showed you a technique that Barbara Calzolari demonstrated during Round Robin night. There were probably 20 or more stations to visit, and I know I didn't get to all of them before the night was over.
This was what Maria Thomas of Pendragon did at her station. She had designed and created these beautiful cards with the Tennessee state flower - the Purple Iris - and then left a blank area to fill in names during the Round Robin. Isn't it beautiful? Maria and her husband, Rick, are the creators of Zentangle. You can see a photo of me with Maria during the Round Robin here.

On another night, several IAMPETH instructors and Master Penmen were penning names for IAMPETH members and for anyone from the Nashville community. White House calligrapher, Rick Muffler, penned the above for me. You can see a photo of Rick here. Directly behind him in the photo is his sweet and kind mother, Marie. Marie was a real trooper. Next to Marie is Rick's wife, Jenny - a wonderful and friendly person and a terrific calligrapher. You can visit Jenny's website here.

The above was done by John DeCollibus. He makes working large look sooo easy. You can see a photo of John at the Round Robin here.

And this is an envelope and signature from the great Master Penman Bill Lilly. Even though Bill wasn't at the convention, I could definitely feel his presence there. All of these scribes have been so generous with their time and talent. IAMPETH is a special group of people.

Happy Flourish Friday!