February 2008
Issue #2
THE BIRMINGHAM C ALLIGR APHY GUILD ’S NE WSLE T TER Includes Schedules, Birthdays, Upcoming Events, Nibbles and Bits www.birminghamcalligraphy.org
Upcoming Workdays:
COLOR STUDY with Peter Thornton
Sat. March 8 and Sat. April 19 On March 8th, the entire workday will be devoted to Engraver’s Script. 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Mtn. Brook Board
Thanks to Peter Thornton, we are all looking at the colors found in nature with new eyes! In one of the exercises, the workshop participants brought in a found item from nature. Using watercolors, we then documented all the colors present in that one item. What we found surprised us all! We never knew so many color variations existed! This exercise was helpful when choosing colors to illustrate our calligraphic letters. Those that attended Peter’s “Drawn and Decorated Letters” workshop have a new appreciation of Adlof Bernd’s work of illustrated letters. We also decided that we need to get Peter back for more work with versals!
Upcoming Birthdays Feb. 26- Jan Pruitt May2- Deb Warnat May 16- Mary Ann Morrow May 16- Sasha Arijanto June 4- Ann Phillips June 27- Marsha Wood June 28- Saidee Gardner Sorry- Dues Paying Members Only!
Mark your Calendars Upcoming Event: The Board of the Birmingham Calligraphy Guild is planning an event to honor the founding members. Les Elumineurs was created over 20 years ago. Details will follow. If you are willing to help with this event, please call or email Louise Meredith (967-8786, 529-7080) loumeredith@bellsouth.net
Upcoming Workshops: Feb. 23-24, 2008 Mike Kesceg-Master Penman “Contemporary Pointed Pen” (sorry, this workshop is full w/ waiting list) June 2-6, 2008 Carol Pallesen and Annie Cicale “Painter’s Books (still room in this workshop! sign up now!)
About the upcoming workshop “Painter’s Books”: At a number of the international calligraphy conferences, Carol Pallesen and Annie Cicale have taught a class together called Painter’s Books. It has been a resounding success! “The nature of the class is such that it cannot be covered in a weekend workshop; indeed, there is barely enough time at a week-long conference to cover the material presented. Many of our students were not lucky enough to receive a formal education in the visual arts. We proposed this class as a small step in helping students look at great artists to integrate their ideas into their own work. The premise of the class is the combination of three separate disciplines—painting, lettering and bookbinding—in order for students to integrate each into their work. We begin by introducing a number of artists through slides, lectures, and books, and ask the students to respond to them by doing quick studies of compositions and color schemes in a journal format. Since we are not art historians ourselves, we want to show students a working artist’s approach to art history by looking at artists’ lifestyles and methods of working. Each artist that we present was chosen for a specific contribution to visual thinking. After introducing a few binding styles, each student then designs and executes an artist’s book, using their own inspirations as well as imagery inspired by the painters presented. Students should have an interest in at least one of the three disciplines presented: painting, calligraphy or bookbinding, and a moderately strong interest in working in the other areas. No formal training is required, but students should expect to work fairly hard and should have some workshop experience. The real prerequisite is a desire to learn.”
The Birmingham Calligraphy Guild’s Alphabet Book Update We’ve had a great response and have 26 players! It’s time to start planning for the due date of March 31. If time allows, please put a little something on the back of your page too. Let your personality show through! I can’t wait to see all the fantastic pages. Send to Deb Warnat, 6767 Remington Circle Pelham, AL 35124 by March 31, 2008 with a self-addressed, stamped box (USPS) or large envelope and $5 to cover the binding cost.
Nibbler Bits: Looking for something different? Check out: Penland School of Crafts www.penland.org Great summer classes on books and paper!
Letters Mingle Souls Conference in Chicago July 19-28th
2009
We are one of four sites hosting Reggie Ezell’s year long study www.reggieezell.com
Walnut Husk Ink (Melinda Sapp got this recipe from a friend she met at the Spencerian Saga she attended last fall) •No need to remove nuts, if present •If the husks are green, roll up in a brown paper bag and let rot a week or until they are all black. •Stuff them into a nylon stocking, or fine mesh bag. •Put them into a pot and cover with distilled water (I use my high iron content water with no ill effects) •Bring to a boil and simmer down until they are complete mush - solid color. You may have to add water as it boils away if the husks aren’t completely soft. •Strain the remaining liquid several times - using nylon again or a very fine sieve. •Add clove or tea tree oil to prevent mold if you like. Bob Hurford says to skip that and let the ink continue to ferment. •If the resulting ink is too thin, I simmer it more. If it is too thick it can be thinned with water. •A dash of gum arabic will help keep it from wicking into paper if necessary. •I have also added finely ground charcoal (made from Lake Erie driftwood - just to keep it purely Spencerian).
Nancy Culmone Uncial workshop in New Orleans Interested? Contact Georgia Dufresne 504-858-1260
Graceful Envelope Contest 2008 This year’s theme is “C’s the Day” Entries must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 30th and addressed in elegant and /or creative hand lettering to: The Graceful Envelope Contest Washington Calligrapher’s Guild P.O. Box 3688 Merrifield, VA 22116 Attention: Lorraine Swerdloff There is no entry fee. Check out previous winners of this prestigious contest and send in an envelope before April 30th. http://calligraphersguild.org/envelope.html
Calling All Guild Members! We have lots of reasons to be proud of our guild. I think it is one of the best kept secrets in Birmingham! But we do not need to keep it a secret.... Please begin to create one-offs (works for speculation) for a possible show of guild member’s work in late fall. (Don’t say you weren’t warned! This is Feb.)
Nibbles
HERSHEY’S SYMPHONY BARS
Bettie Perkins brought these delicious goodies to our recent workshop.So yummy! Thanks Bettie!
2 packages fudge brownie mix. Follow pkg. directions. ( I use White Lily ). 3 large Hershey Symphony Bars w/ toffee bits...... blue label ; about 8 oz. bars
SEASONED OYSTER CRACKERS 2 (10 oz.) bags oyster crackers 2 (0.7 oz.) packages dry Italian salad dressing mix 3/4 cup vegetable oil 2 T. Italian seasoning 1/2 t. garlic powder Preheat oven to 200. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place crackers in a large bowl. In a small bowl combine other 4 ingredients. Pour dressing mixture over crackers, tossing gently to coat. Pour crackers onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 min. Store in an airtight container.
Chocolate Frosting 3 T. Butter 2 T. Cocoa 2 T. milk 1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups 10x sugar
Grease/flour 9 x 13 pan. Pour 1 prepared brownie pkg. in pan and bake at 350 for about 10 -15 minutes. Remove pan from oven and lay the 3 candy bars carefully over the partially cooked brownie layer. Then pour the other pkg. prepared brownie mixture over the candy. Cook for about 35-40 minutes or so. Remove from oven . Let cool a bit. Mix frosting ingredients, boil til all mixed well and smooth. Spread over brownies.
Honey Bun Cake Step 1 1 box yellow cake mix 1/2 cup sugar 2/3 cup oil 8 oz. sour cream 4 eggs
Step 2 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1 T. + cinnamon 3/4 cup brown sugar
Mix this together well & pour 1/2 mixture into a prepared 9 x 13 pan.
Sprinkle 1/2 of this mixture over cake in pan and add remaining batter; top with remaining raisin/nut mixture. Marble by dragging a knife through batter. Bake at 300 degrees for 45-60 minutes.
Officers of Birmingham Calligraphy Guild (Les Elumineurs)* Pres. - Louise Meredith VP - Dana Jacobson Treasurer - Melinda Sapp Secretary -Bettie Perkins Newsletter -Eve London Website - Deb Warnat Membership - Mary Ann Morrow Workshop - Suzan Bishop *founded 1987
Step 3 GLAZE 2 cups powdered sugar 5 T. milk 1/2 t. vanilla Mix well over medium heat.......... don’t let boil !
The Birmingham Calligraphy Guild welcomes both amateurs and advanced calligraphers. All you need is an interest in hand lettering. If you would like to join: Dues: $20.00 to Birmingham Calligraphy Guild.. Mail your dues to: Melinda Sapp: 2320 Derby Drive Birmingham, AL 35216 Being a member keep you up to date with events and workshops!