Welcome

All workshops are be held at:
Primrose Park Art and Craft Centre
Matora Lane (off Young Street)
Cremorne

Workshops will mostly be held from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays unless otherwise indicated. Most workshops accommodate beginners and those with little experience as well as the more experienced. Please note: some workshops may run on Sunday rather than Saturday.

To book a place in any workshop, email the workshop co-ordinator to check that there is a space available. Bookings are made on a first-come-first-served basis and places will only be secured upon receipt of a cheque or bank deposit transfer within seven days of making the booking. Please assume you are booked into a Workshop, unless you are notified that the class is full, has been cancelled or postponed. Payments made for any workshop are considered non-refundable, unless a replacement participant is found up to two days (unless otherwise stated) prior to a workshop.

Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your booking form OR your email address to receive notification and materials lists. Materials lists are sent to participants as soon as the workshop has been confirmed, usually 2–3 weeks prior to the class. Receipts will be given at the workshop.

If Paying by cheque, please post to:
Attention: Workshop Coordinator
ASC Inc
PO Box 190
WILLOUGHBY NSW 2068

Places are limited:
Unless otherwise stated, maximum workshop participants (at Primrose Park) is 15. Once the workshop places are filled, your name will be added to a waiting list. If any cancellations occur we will contact you.

Workshop kits are available to ASC members who are either disabled and unable to attend a workshop due to their disability, or those who live out of the Sydney metropolitan area. They are $15.00 each and can be obtained by writing to the above address, enclosing an envelope large enough to hold A4 sheets (uncreased), with your name and address and two 50 cent stamps. Please make cheques payablet to The Australian Society of Calligraphers Inc. Please do not send cash.

Workshop kits available include:
Geoff Ford - Batarde
Jane Kent - Versals
Lexie Arlington - Modern Charter Hand
Julie Williams - Family Ties
Heather Courtis - Spencerian Script
Susan Latty - Decorated letters
Di Harris - Pointed Brush
Colleen Little - Lets Get Creative
Julie-ann Williams - Rawhide and Quills
Julie-ann Williams - Enhance your Handwriting
Quite a line-up!

Travelling by public transport?
We know it can be difficult to get to Primrose Park by public transport, so if you are traveling this way don't be put off! We will organise a pick up and drop off from St Leonard's station or a suitable bus stop. Let the workshop co-ordinator know if you require a lift from St Leonards Station to Primrose Park when you book.

WORKSHOPS

Saturday Afternoon
Calligraphic Get-togethers
1:00pm - 4:00pm

These mini-workshop afternoons are open to everyone - whether you have just started calligraphy or have been pushing pens for years! It is an opportunity to focus on your calligraphy for 3 hours a month without any interruptions from the phone or the children. You can choose to participate in the pre-planned themed activities or do your own thing - or even bring along some ideas of your own to share.

We meet at Primrose Park Art and Craft Centre, Matora Lane (Off Young Street), Cremorne from 1.00pm to 4.00pm, on the first Saturday of the Month.

Our first sessions for 2008 have been and gone and we are sharpening our pens for the next one. This year we are alternating sessions of crafty fun with more serious calligraphic pursuits (though still fun we hope). As always, anyone is welcome to come along, no matter whether you are a beginner or more advanced. If you wish to come along for the first time please let one of us know (email editor@asoc.org.au) - this will help us with our planning.

This year we are charging a small fee of $15 per student per session to cover the teaching, materials and afternoon tea costs. This is a bargain compared to full workshop prices and very good value!

Please email us if you would like to come along - this will help us with planning.

We look forward to welcoming you to Pen Pals during the year.

Linda Upfold and Meg Dunworth.

Here is our program for the next few months

SPECIAL PENPALS SESSIONS
will be run to help you with planning and finishing your Easter Show entries. Bring along your drafts, ideas and half-finished works for free advice, help and encouragement. One of our experienced Guild or committee members will be available to offer their advice and help you get over that nasty creative block!

Dates:
Saturday 4 October, 11am-1pm
Saturday 1 November, 11am-1pm
Saturday 7 February 2009, 11am-1pm
Saturday 7 March 2009, 11am-1pm

6 December 
Christmas Party
Once again the ASC will hold a free informal Christmas get-together to celebrate the end of another calligraphic year, starting at the earlier time of 12 noon.

Drinks and cold meats and cheese selection will be provided. Please bring along a sweet or savoury plate or small salad to share. Also bring along any interesting items for ‘show and tell’. We will also talk about our plans for next year.

ALL WELCOME – all ASC members and their guests.

Cadels
With Valerie Keevers
Saturday 18 October
10:00am - 4:00pm
Cost: $55.00 Members - $60.00 non-members

Cadels are some of the most spectacular versals. Created in France in the 15th century they have spanned many centuries, softening the strong letterforms of the late Gothic period. Appearing again occasionally during the Italic era, then disappearing until the 18th century copperplate style when they enjoyed a revival because the Burin made crafting the patterns easy to print. The writing masters developed the Cadels further, adding many filigree strokes and using floral designs to embellish and fill in spaces. 

These seemingly complicated patterns are not difficult to master, a lot of fun to achieve and have a special place in a calligrapher’s box of tricks

Layer It
With Rhonda Ayliffe
Saturday-Sunday, 15-16 November
10:00am - 4:00pm
Cost: $125.00 Members - $135.00 non-members
Suitable for all levels

Many painters, whether working in watercolour, acrylic or oils, create depth and luminosity in artworks by building paint layers. Turner was a master at capturing the various qualities of light through careful application of thin paint ‘glazes’ or washes. This is one way that layers are created in artworks. Modern artists (notably Picasso, Braque, Schwitters and Rauchenberg) often constructed physical layers in their works through collage. When combined, paint glazes and collage offer a myriad of possibilities for calligraphers to explore ‘painterly’ qualities in their work.

This workshop focuses on various techniques for creating layers in artworks: both physically (through paint glazes and collage) and philosophically/conceptually.Participants learn how to incorporate layers of text using paint (acrylic) glazes, scumbling and collage. Paint qualities including opacity and translucency, drying times, and interactions as well as using effect mediums and finishes are examined. Being a self-confessed collage aficionado, Rhonda shares her many collage tips and tricks.Participants also learn about choosing suitable adhesives, making and using paste, conservation value of materials, and practical considerations.

Drying times often make completing finished work difficult — this workshop is an exploration of ideas and techniques and participants are encouraged to keep accurate records of all experiments to provide a valuable future reference, and to work toward a finished piece within their own studio time and space.

Rhonda was featured in the previous issue of Colophon (March 2008).

FLIP-FOLD-TURN:
Mini book and card structures with a difference
With Linda Upfold
Saturday 21 February
10:00am - 4:00pm
Cost: $55.00 Members - $60.00 non-members
Beginners welcome – no experience necessary

Extra flaps and folds, slits and hidden surprises – you will go home with plenty of ideas and templates to create your own unique book and card structures to display your calligraphy.

A small charge will be made for materials supplied on the day.

Developing Pointed Pen Uncial & Italic letterforms
With Jane Kent
Saturday 14 March
10:00am - 4:00pm
Cost: $55.00 Members - $60.00 non-members

Discover the flexibility, gracefulness and the pure joy of using the copperplate nib. Explore the nuances of pointed pen Italic and Uncial letterforms.

We will complete small expressive compositions using watercolour backgrounds and writing with coloured gouache and stick ink.

Some experience with the pointed pen is desirable.

DEAR DIARY

Sydney Royal Easter Show 2009
9-22 April 2009

For more details, see our Special Events page