Our week-long class at the international calligraphy conference at St. Ambrose University with John Stevens was simply wonderful. My main frustration was that there was so much else to do at the conference that I didn’t get enough time to work in the classroom. Every full day that I’ve been home since then, I’ve been … The post After the Roman Holiday, the daily Trajan Romans practice first appeared on Painting Speech ..read more

I’ve just returned from the most wonderful week at St. Ambrose University with hundreds of lettering artists and faculty. The first international calligraphy conference in five years was a roaring success. The exhibit of Rosie Kelly’s work was a jewel among the many week-long offerings. Imaginatively and beautifully curated by Pamela Paulsrud (and maybe another person?), it was a delight. Here are some photos from the exhibit. The text from one of Rosie’s artist books was transferred to a decal for the wall. Rosie’s hanging pieces depending from branches mounted to the wall. In a corner of t ..read more

Roman Holiday, the annual calligraphy conference, commences this Saturday, June 22! At Market Night I’ll have for sale copies of my pencil portfolio, How To Be In The World, now in its 2nd printing. I’ll also be selling a few small originals. Here’s a preview. If you’re at the conference, stop by my table and say hello! The post Roman Holiday — the calligraphy conference, not the movie first appeared on Painting Speech ..read more

This week I had occasion to write out a poem in letters of nearly 1/2″ x-height. It had been a long time since I had written anything of any length with a 3mm-wide nib, so I began with my go-to practice page, the alphabetical list of related terms. The first page was of upright italic, and then I tried something with a good slanted. The final piece had a slant that was somewhere between these two, but these two sheets were a good starting point and a great warm-up. The post In calligraphy, practice approaches perfection, right? first appeared on Painting Speech ..read more

I had a thoroughly good time at our state guild’s spring workshop last weekend. Suzie Beringer taught her “Once Upon A Circle” and was a fantastic experience. Helena’s local guild were wonderful hosts. Deb brought a slice of her store, Queen City Framing & Art Supplies, for our shopping pleasure and also hosted a dinner Saturday night. All in all, a beautiful weekend, and I’m grateful to have had to opportunity to be there. The post Lots of fun with Big Sky Scribes and Suzie Beringer first appeared on Painting Speech ..read more

Watercolors, collage, Cocoiro brush pen, bookbinding thread on watercolor paper. 11 x 14 in. I’m having a good time with these new watercolors … and some sewing. At least a few parts of this page are interesting The post Letters and watercolor and collage, oh my! first appeared on Painting Speech ..read more

Response to an online prompt: What are you listening to? Walnut ink on drawing paper. 5 x 10.5 inches. The post What I’m listening to in my studio this spring first appeared on Painting Speech ..read more

I thought this was a Tolkien quotation, but found out as I was lettering it that it was said by the director of the movies. Still, others have said similar things. Gouache and pen. About 5″ square. The post A quotation with a green Celtic twist first appeared on Painting Speech ..read more

26+ Alphabets in 4. Gouache and metal pens on paper. 4 x 4 in. I’m so pleased to have my work included in this year’s juried annual issue of the Letter Arts Review! My copies arrived in the mail today. In making this piece I found myself exploring many of the same design elements that quilters contend with: proportion, color, texture, direction. At just four inches square, this was an exercise in small writing. Each 1-inch quadrant contains a large letter made of white space, the remainder of the alphabet in medium-sized capitals, and a lot of smaller complete alphabets.  T ..read more

Gouache, Zig Cocoiro brush pen, ZIG Mangaka 01 pen on Canson XL watercolor paper. 6 x 9 in. I’m continuing to enjoy Akim lettering. I made these in preparation for next month’s local guild meeting. Even though I switched to a brush pen for the main lettering, I tried for a fairly monoline effect. I love doing Akim lettering with a brush pen. Gouache, ZIG Mangaka 01 pen on Canson XL watercolor paper. 6 x 9 in. Here I used the same palette as for the first one, but mixed neutrals. After I penciled in the box and did the main lettering, I went over the lettering inside the box with Pebeo masking ..read more