Classes and workshops will be either online or in person. REGISTRATION WILL TAKE PLACE ONLY ON EVENTBRITE. Our first major 3 day workshop will be online this October. The Mentor Meetups are small group gatherings that are in person. Members of ECS will receive information on all upcoming events via email/Ebulletin.
The Edmonton Calligraphic Society (ECS) offers regular classes and workshops throughout the year, taught by both local calligraphers and out-of-town guest instructors. Whether you’re an experienced calligrapher or just getting started, there’s sure to be a class for you!
General Meeting Classes
Introductory/Refresher classes are typically held within the context of a General meeting. If you’re just getting into calligraphy, or want to brush up on basic skills, these classes are a great way to get your feet (or pen) wet!
THERE IS NO NEED TO REGISTER FOR THE ONLINE GENERAL MEETING CLASSES. THIS IS AN ECS MEMBER BENEFIT AND MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.
2023/24
September – in person – Neuland Now with Barbara Keir
October – in person – Falling for French Ronde with Brenda Foster & Jeanine Alexander
*November – ZOOM – Copperplate Majuscules with Joe Deneen
*December – ZOOM – Christmas Boxes with Barbara Close
*January – ZOOM – Flourish with a Heart with Heather Held
*February – ZOOM – Art Deco for Calligraphers – B nib – with Gemma Black
March – in person – Paper Parfleche & Popsicle Sticks with Peggy Marce & Margaret Poznansky
April – in person – Spencerian Splendour with Renita Land
May – AGM & Social
Mentor Meetups:
Held at The Paint Spot’s Artelier
10 AM to 3 PM
Register on Eventbrite for our Mentor Meetups & workshops for a small fee. Please note that they will not be posted on Eventbrite for registration until the month they occur with details of the event.
September: Mentoring
October: Begin with Blackletter & Lefties , Earl Peavoy
November: Mentoring
January: Handwriting Day, Fluids & Inks
February: Mentoring
March: Pressure & Release & Painted Backgrounds, Gail F. & Mary W.
April: Flourishing, Valerie Lewis
Please bring your lunch and a water bottle.
Come and enjoy ECS’s Mentor Meetups.
Workshops
Two Day Workshop
ECS Ruling Pen Techniques with Rachel Yallop -Sep 23 & 30,2023 9am-11:30 am
The ruling pen is a very versatile tool: learn to produce everything from explosive to subtle marks and letterforms with a master.
When and where:
Date and time
Sat, Sep 23, 2023 9:00 AM – Sat, & Sep 30, 2023 11:30 AM MDT
WORKSHOP LOCATION: This is an online workshop hosted on Zoom. The Zoom link will be shared with participants via email a week before the workshop begins. All sessions will be recorded and available for participants until December 31, 2023. Please note that there will be a maximum of 95 participants for this workshop.
Workshop Description
The ruling pen is a very versatile tool not least because it comes in more than one form: the folded, the pointed, and the Cola pen. Even then there are different shapes within these groups which affect the marks made. Unlike many of the tools we use that have specific purposes, the ruling pen requires the writer to determine what it will ultimately produce. It is capable of everything from explosive to subtle, and traditional to contemporary.
In this workshop we will:
- Look at the various tools and make a Cola pen.
- The ruling pen, of whichever sort, makes a unique line. Pen manipulation and the position in the hand, which forms a large part of this, will be demonstrated.
- Looking at the marks made, how to achieve the spatter effect and instruction on how to enhance lines through touch-up.
- Designing letters in skeletal form and practicing both formal and informal letter shapes, we can create the ultimate contrast from writing large multi-lined, textural letters, to the more restrained built-up capitals, word design, or a combination of all these things.
Materials List
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- Old, new, or borrowed ruling pens: pointed, folded, cola, or even ruling writers. The more there are to experiment with the better.
- We will make a Cola pen. For this you need: an empty drink can (eg. coke or lager), scissors and a craft knife to cut can, masking or parcel tape, a nail file/emery board, an old pencil to use as a handle for the pen.
- Lots of paper! Basically, more paper than you think you could ever use! Layout paper for working out letter designs, cartridge/drawing paper for practice, also some watercolour/textured paper and black paper for writing in white on black.
- Ink. You will need quite a lot of this too, but a full pot should be enough! I use Pelikan 4001.
- White gouache if you would like to try writing in white on black. I use Schmincke Calligraphy gouache or Dr Martin’s Bleed Proof White.
- A water jar, brush, and palette for mixing the gouache. If you have any small, narrow pots/old ink pot with lids, these can be great for storing mixed gouache and are the right dimensions for dipping in the pen.
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- A piece of felt or some kitchen roll to make a padded layer under paper.
- Pencil.
- Handouts will be e-mailed to participants a week before the event
About the Instructor
Rachel Yallop is a calligrapher and lettering designer based out of the UK. Since 1988 she has been teaching a wide variety of calligraphic disciplines in art schools, and at conferences and workshops both in the UK and internationally.
Workshops
Workshops offer more extended and highly focused training. A typical workshop involves instructional time, where a new lettering skill is taught to workshop attendees, along with time to practice and complete lettering exercises. Most importantly, the workshop instructor has the time and expertise to provide feedback on letterform and the composition and design of calligraphic art.
Workshops are arranged to meet the emerging needs of hand-lettering artists. They take on many forms. Examples of past workshop formats include:
- Evening and daytime 3-hour workshops
- One-day (6 hours) or two-day (12 hours) weekend events
- Extended study (classes which take place over a number of weeks or months)
If you have questions about whether a workshop is right for you, don’t hesitate to email the Workshop Chairperson at edmcalligraphy@gmail.com
How to Register
Register through Eventbrite.ca
Registration dates for particular classes will be distributed through Ink Drops (our online members newsletter). Registration to classes and workshops is offered to both the general public and ECS members via Eventbrite. Details on how to register via Eventbrite, including the day on which registration opens, are provided on the event-specific pages listed in the Upcoming Classes and Workshops section below. Note that when you register through Eventbrite, an additional service fee may apply.
Registrations are not accepted by mail or through the ECS website.
Unless otherwise stated, class/workshop supplies are not included in your registration fee.
See the Membership page for added benefits of being an ECS Member.
Upcoming Classes and Workshops
Below, you’ll find a listing of our upcoming classes and workshops. For our most recent events, classes and workshops check our blog. See the Membership page for added benefits of being an ECS Member.
One Day Workshops
TBA
Series of Classes
TBA
Member-Taught Calligraphy Classes
In addition to the classes and workshops provided by the ECS, our members teach a variety of introductory and advanced workshops and classes on lettering, handwriting, gilding, and more. These classes and workshops are offered throughout the Edmonton area. For a listing of upcoming member-taught classes, visit our In The Community page.