Schmincke Finest Artists’ Calligraphy Gouache Colours have been especially developed for use in calligraphy. The colours are brilliant and mainly opaque, and their fine consistency perfectly suits the different forms of application in calligraphy.Schmincke Calligraphy Gouache is available in 13 colours. The colours are brilliant, mainly opaque and of a fine consistency due to the pigments being finely ground.Schmincke Calligraphy Gouache

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Over the weekend saw our blog’s first birthday.On Saturday we had a big party The morning was spent preparing food; making sandwiches, cakes and trifles etc. I love party food!People starting arriving in the middle of the afternoon. In total there were about 20 of us.After chatting to all the guests I came to conclusion that with the exception of my family and a couple of other guests, no one knew what a blog was, nor had they ever been on the Internet! In fact they did not own a PC. Perhaps this observation was something to do with the age group. The youngest guest was 5 and eldest was over 100. I reckon the average age was about 70.Well after all it was Grandad’s 102 Birthday Party! A good time was had by all. Afterwards, Grandad said what a nice a time it had been and he had particularly enjoyed talking with his 85 year-old apprentice who had not seen for decades.

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Mary Noble is a professional calligrapher. She works to commission, teaches at residential and day workshops across the country and has regular classes locally in Hampshire. As well as teaching, Mary has written or co-authored several calligraphy books. They cover a variety of approaches on calligraphy and are all aimed mainly at beginners. Where possible, the books have been able to include Gallery pages of high quality work by professionals.Mary is a Fellow of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators (SSI) and a Fellow, Associate and Accredited tutor of the Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society (CLAS). She actively supports both societies as well as the South Hampshire Calligraphers.Mary Noble

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I thought it would be useful to have a section on our blog to tell you about interesting websites. Most will be calligraphy related – but not all!The first website to share with you is the The Edward Johnston FoundationEdward Johnston (1872-1944) by his teaching and practice almost single-handedly revived the art of formal penmanship which had lain moribund for four centuries. His major work Writing and Illuminating, and Lettering, first published in 1906 and in print continuously ever since, created a new interest in calligraphy and a new school of excellent scribes. The life he breathed into this ancient craft and its continuing tradition even in today’s hi-tech world can be ascribed to his re-discovery of the influence of tools, materials and methods.”Nobody had such a lasting effect on the revival of contemporary writing as Edward Johnston. He paved the way for all lettering artists of the twentieth century and ultimately they owe their success to him” Hermann ZapfThe Edward Johnston Foundation is a registered arts charity dedicated to the promotion of a public awareness of calligraphy, not only as an art form in its own right but also as the seed and reference point for many other lettering applications including modern typeface design. These aims are backed with four objectives:1) to establish an archive and library which will support teaching and research and provide accessible data for use by all2) to build a collection of contemporary work which is international in scope3) to develop a full educational programme in calligraphy and allied subjects4) to initiate research into the use of new electronic mediaThe Foundation is based in Ditchling, Sussex, the birthplace of the twentieth-century calligraphic renaissance in Britain.The collection of contemporary work comprises some 10,000 individual items with an acquisitions policy for rapid expansion to represent many related disciplines. The library currently stands at over 1000 volumes.The Edward Johnston Foundation

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The Encyclopedia of Colour Calligraphy is written by Mary Noble and Adrian Waddington.The use of colour in calligraphy can produce stunning results. For example, using Autumnal golds, browns and olives will give extra emphasis to a seasonal invitation; fiery reds and purples will add drama to a composition.The Encyclopedia of Colour Calligraphy begins with an in-depth analysis of colour relationships and examines the range of media available. Clear step-by-step photographs and instructions describe the techniques used to apply colour. This book is divided into five easy-to-use sections: lettering, backgrounds, how to combine the two, borders and images, and gilding. Each technique is demonstrated in different colour combinations, from subtle hues to bold swathes of pigment, to help you visualise the many effects which can be created. Step-by-step photographs show how to apply colour to lettering and backgrounds, how to combine the two, and how to enhance a composition with borders, images and gilding examines the fundamental principles of colour and demonstrates each application technique in a striking range of colour variations.Finally, a gallery of colourful works from leading calligraphers will inspire you to even greater heights of achievement.This is a great reference book for any calligrapher wishing to experiment with colour, from subtle shading to vibrant textural splashes.Scribblers Calligraphy Books

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