Pointed Pen Diaries

A Flourishing Weekend

2010-04-26T02:51:30Z

Pointed Pen Diaries LogoSooner Scribes in Oklamoma City hosted a flourshing field flourishworkshop with Linda Schneider. So I packed the Jeep and off I go to enjoy two fun-filled days with my pens and some new friends. Picked up several great tips and tricks which I'm anxious to use.

The art of flourishing has finally been demystified. Supplies needed are minimal, but your imagination must be fully engaged. Most any monoline writing tool can get you started … pen, pencil, micron, you get the idea. Be brave, try it with the pointed pen. The desired fluidity comes from the arm movement, not your wrist. Barely touch the pen to the paper, and let the magic happen. Choose the finest nib in your collection. I used the Gillot 303. The EF 66 was so used. Linda called the EF 66, "tiny, yet mighty."

Spontaneous Combustion

2010-04-19T02:50:06Z

Where should I start. I'm still in tail-spin from this workshop.

The Melvin MouseKnowing how to meld the art of calligraphy with layering has been a long-time desire. Not any more; Judy Melvin brought this mysterious technique within reach. She was such a delight! Gosh, so many new ideas, tips and tricks. Truly, I feel as if she helped me become a better lettering artist. I wanna call in sick tomorrow and just play with paints and pens. For more pieces from this workshop, please view "Fine Art" located in the Portfolio section.

Just knowing this nifty little trick with the letter "M" made the entire workshop was well worth the money. The only materials required were contact paper, exacto, micron and watercolors. Then let the magic happen. Actually, I goofed on this one. The little mouse you see was a "happy accident". How ironic to have a blob in the shape of a mouse on the letter "M". Lucky me.

Abstract Watercolor

2010-04-15T13:40:19Z

Creative Studio Night is proving to be an inspiration. There's just something about being around other artists that gets the creative juices flowing. Here we go! Abstract Watercolor is self explanatory. We made random marks on a (16x24) page using a variety of tools such as Chinese Marker, Micron, Graphite Pencil, Sumi and Walnut Ink.

watercolor & sumi ink

With the self-made view finder, we cut out small pieces (1 x 1/2) of visual interest. With this small, yet very abstract piece, we re-created a larger version on a 5x7. We used sumi ink to emphasize the random marks, then painted watercolor around such. Must remember to leave a small ditch around the sumi -- meaning just keep the watercolor away from sumi by about 1/8 of an inch.

watercolor & sumi ink

I chose the wet on wet watercolor technique. With dirty water, I wet the area I wanted to paint, then dropped in a variety of colors. These are not colors I would ordinarily choose, but since it's creative night, I took some risks. Turns out I quite liked the result, and so did the neighboring artist sitting next to me.

Metal Effects

2010-03-11T16:16:19Z

Embossed SunflowerThis month's Creative Studio Night was Metal Effects. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect or if I'd like it. Being a calligrapher, I'm comfortable with my pens, ink and paints. So, working with metal and a new set of tools … threw me.

Turns out I loved it! We walked away with 'dog tags'. No, not the military variety. We made these wearable art masterpieces. Everyone's turned out so completely different and fun! My brain is trying to figure out how to get lettering onto these little beauties. I can't wait to make more more more.

I am working on four more uniquely different dog tags. For $25 each, I'd be willing to part with them. Interested?

Simplify Wedding Planning

2010-02-12T00:24:25Z

Gotta love Google! This information came my way and wanted to share. If you haven't tried Google Docs - TRY IT! This clip called Planning a Wedding is very enticing. Gosh, I wish Google Docs - Template Gallery was available when I was planning my wedding.

Monoline Magic

2010-02-11T04:53:11Z

Monoline SamplesCreative Studio Group is a group which meet one evening a month to do an art project. All of the supplies are provided - I just love that! Show up and do some art with someone elses supplies. Ahhh!

So tonight's topic was "Monoline Magic". We had loads of fun and created some funky letters using a micron. Then added a bit of color which really made it P-O-P! I was hard at work up until the very last second. I didn't want to quit, but it was already 9:30pm. Then the commute home is another 45 minutes.

Monoline with Gel PensI walked away with two monoline pieces for my blog. Definitely got my creative juices flowing. Looking forward to more creative doodling.

Food Network

2010-02-04T03:37:31Z

One of my routine activities is watching Food Network. I am passionate about cooking (and calligraphy). One day, while visiting with my mother and grandmother, we were watching - guess what - Food Network. It was something about a wedding cake competition. Honestly, we were chatting and sort of watching t.v. Then a van with a familiar logo flashes across the screen.

You know that nano-second in your head when something has provoked a slew of random thoughts. Well, mine was, "how do I know that logo? OMG! I did that logo. [outloud] Mom! I did that logo. It's been several years ago, but that's my work that just drove across the screen."

I must say that I felt famous for that moment in time.

Triplets?

2010-01-16T04:11:00Z

No, not triplets, just three requst for poems and vows which use the exact same layout - OH MY! It's not often I get back to back requests which I can use the same template.

So these requests all came the last of December, and finished up the last request mid-January. The layout is one from the Alan Furber book, "Layout and Design for Calligraphers". Tried and true ideas that can get you through even the most challenging of requests.

These layouts are right aligned, which I like. All three used a pointed pen variation, which is my favorite! NOTICE the change in color and lettering style? In lieu of a title, I used this idea for visual interest as well as to convey the emotion of the piece.

Glow Worm

2009-12-31T23:57:00Z

"We are all worms, but I do believe that I am a glow worm." -Winston ChurchillA dear friend from dinner club had asked me to do this quote for her a year and half ago (6/2008). She was patient and never bugged me about it. I didn't have a deadline, so it wasn't a priority. *The artists out there know what I'm talking about.

All my ideas didn't seem right. I never felt ready to execute the final. Then one day, in a paste paper workshop (12/2009), I created this piece. I thought to myself, "This is it! This the glow worm poem."

I finally felt as if I had the right paper, the right colors, the right everything. Once I was ready to put the pen to the paper ... the ink repelled. No matter how much Blair spay fix I used, (the paper was saturated) ... the gouache repelled. I went over and over it - and over again. Patiently let it dry. The gouache seemed to finally stay in place. Much rejoicing!

This is the final photo. Paste Paper. Lettered in gouache. Pointed pen variation and Foundational variation.

Kaligrafos Retreat

2009-10-31T22:33:00Z

Every other year, Kaligrafos has a Retreat. This year, the guild hosted Lisa Engelbrecht at the Springhill Retreat Center in Richardson, Texas. Lisa shared her knowledge about creating fabric books and how to add calligraphy.

Lettering on fabric sounds terribly daunting. To my surprise, it was easy! Choose your weapon of choice and just do it! Simple, really.

The retreats have always been inspiring, pleasant, relaxing, fun, social -- most enjoyable, and this was no exception. There were about 20 lettering artists present, and we had a ball. I love the sharing and camaraderie among our group.

The photo shown is only one of my creations from this day. We were to work through the alphabet and include one word to go along with the letter. Having a theme in mind for this project would be a good idea.