Friends of Calligraphy

For more information, or to register, go to our Classes page (www.friendsofcalligraphy.org/pages/classe...) and scroll down to Italic.

Supplies: Basic Supplies*, plus layout bond paper (9 x 12” pad and either 11 x 14” or 11 x 17” pad); Brause nibs or Parallel Pens (3.8mm & 2.4mm sizes); protractor, ruler (C-Thru recommended)
**Date skipped

the list is endless. In this class, you will learn the minuscule and majuscule alphabets, focusing on the letterforms, rhythm and spacing. We will also cover layout and ways to create variations.

Class Description
Arising from Humanist cursive writing during the Italian Renaissance, italic has come down through the centuries as one of our most versatile calligraphy hands.
This elegant, graceful, and practical script can be used for nearly anything: poems, envelopes, certificates, signs, book

Italic
Meredith Klein, instructor
7 Tues. nights • 6:30 – 9 PM • Online
March 10, 17, 24, ** April 7, 14, 21, 28
$205 non-members / $185 FOC members

How to set up a page according to the pen width. She is amazing.” — Elaine D., former student

"It was immediately evident that Meredith is a compassionate caring instructor who cares deeply about who she is instructing. This class was so much more than just showing how to form Italic letters. She covered so many aspects of calligraphy including layout, spacing of letters, and my big one:

There are still spots left in Meredith’s Italic class starting March 10 online! Whether you are a beginner or an experienced calligrapher, this Italic class will get your calligraphy in shape.

From a brush lettering design, cut paper mounted on decorative papers. From a workshop with Carl Rohrs.

#FOCFeatured @bunniebun

Lettering variations on painted and collaged paper. From a workshop with Jacqueline Sullivan.

Alphabet variations on paste paper.

Rustics on a Barn Wall — Lyrics from “Old Paint” western folk song. Project for a class with Judy Detrick.

Richard Avedon quote lettered on painted and textured layers. From a workshop with Jacqueline Sullivan. (Full quote is “The surface is all you’ve got. You can only get beyond the surface by working with the surface.”)

Our featured member of Feb is Joanna Witzel:

I have always been fascinated with letters, paints and surfaces. These pieces combine those elements, from working on painted papers to writing on a barn wall.

We got some interesting responses to this month's art prompt:

Write a quote about your favorite animal.

Artists who submitted entries:
@artistic.figures
@anncalli
@caroldubosch

#foccreates #focartprompt #calligraphyprompt #friendsofcalligraphy #calligraphy #lettering

Write something with a fountain pen.

If you post with the hashtag #foccreates0226 before February 25, we might repost it!

Artwork by @raoulpat

#friendsofcalligraphy #lettering #calligraphy

This piece and more can be seen in the Richard Harrison Collection of Calligraphy & Lettering, Book Arts and Special Collections (@sfplbookarts), on the sixth floor of the SF Main Library.

#richardharrisoncollection #sfplbookarts #sfpubliclibrary #FOCremembers

We continue to enjoy a day of fun with the Trivial Pursuits program she created and nurtured, now in the able hands of Lily and Charles Stevenson. Of course, there are a host of other ways people got to know Anne and to experience her sense of joy and love of letters and her warmth and humor."

I was personally inspired by her dedication to serving others, perhaps most by her ongoing project of having calligraphers send beautifully lettered cards and envelopes with birthday wishes to San Francisco senior citizens, through Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly.

Anne Yamasaki was a beloved member of the Friends of Calligraphy. Meredith Klein wrote this in her letter from the Prez, Bulletin 99, June 2010, "I write in sorrow at the recent passing of our very dear friend, Anne Yamasaki, who touched our lives in ways we will remember forever.

This month we remember our former member, Anne Yamasaki.

Tell us about a favorite calligraphy piece hanging in your studio.
Artwork by @fredijuni
#friendsofcalligraphy #focquestion #calligraphyquestion

We used his traditional kraft paper for exercises and Joyce Teta, who is the organizer, gave us some wonderful recycled paper to paint and write on. I had a fantastic time. The three details at the end show the varying effects of ink on this paper.
#FOCFeatured

I am a past president of Friends of Calligraphy.
These pieces were all a part of a John Steven's workshop at Cheerio. John gave us so much to experiment with and learn about forms, balance, graphics, layout and even three letterforms to add to the mix.

Later, I became a design and production consultant to the fashion industry and master educator of San Francisco Fashion Incubator. I also am a teacher of arts and crafts and work in various venues in the USA and volunteer at the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Mexico.

I have been fortunate to win some recognition for my endeavors but have a long way to go. Creative calligraphy covers so much territory, and I want to find them all.
Creativity has been in my life since 1959 when I attended a fashion design school and went on to work with a manufacturing company.

Our featured member of Jan is Dorothy Yuki:
There is always something to learn in calligraphy. Since 1990 I have been trying my hand at it...pun intended.
Calligraphy is just one part of my creative life but a big part. It helps me with my creative itch.

Pointed pen Cyrillic calligraphy piece by @calligraphira

In early December, Jerry Lehman hosted the annual FOC holiday party at her lovely home in San Francisco. We had lots of food, friends & calligraphy!

Flyer by @Cassandra.Calligraphy
Pointed pen Cyrillic calligraphy piece by @calligraphira

8-9-Workshop was at Letterform Archive. Rob Saunders pulled many interesting originals and books for us to see in person. He used Katie's workshop handout making his selections.

10- class photo

#friendsofcalligraphy #calligraphy #flourishing #letterformarchive @letterformarchive @kmdleavens

6-student work, trying out the options, top to bottom, left to right: Joan Passarelli, Michael Starkman, Meredith Klein, Elena Caruthers, Meredith Klein

1-Katie demo'ing one way of analyzing a flourish, Elena Caruthers's notes doing this analysis

2-3-4 three of Katie's many historical examples

5-student work, trying out the options, top to bottom, left to right: Dorothy Yuki, Laura Bernabei, David Samas, Dean Robino, Sarah Cortes, Jerry Lehman