Roehampton University is recognised internationally as a unique centre of calligraphy education and many of Britain’s leading calligraphers, and a substantial number of those practising elsewhere in the world, are graduates of the Diploma course. All tutors are experienced practitioners, exhibiting and carrying out commissioned work of their own as well teaching calligraphy and related disciplines in the UK and abroad.Subject to approval, starting in September 2008, Roehampton will be offereing a new calligraphy course Diploma of Higher Education in Calligraphy.Beautiful hand-written letters, printed and digital lettering, as well as painted and carved letters are all possible with the knowledge and practical understanding of how letters are written with a wide nib.The Calligraphy Diploma is a two-year course concentrating on the technical skills of calligraphy, starting from a historical perspective and then addressing their application and development for contemporary use.Elements of the diploma include:

• Bookbinding helps students learn to use tools and materials and to discover techniques of presentation. In the second year those skills are developed to be used in context with calligraphy, providing valuable experience for carrying out commissioned work.
• The relevance of art to calligraphy is explored through colour studies, drawing, museum studies and art history.
• Traditional skills, with practical studies in gilding and illumination, use of vellum and quills. Also, at the other end of the historical timescale, the value of the computer as a tool for calligraphers is investigated.
• Much time is devoted to drawn lettering, how it springs from an understanding of calligraphy and how it can be applied to painted, carved and digital lettering.
• In the second year in particular, emphasis is placed upon what happens after training: workshop practice, exhibiting and selling work, working to commission.

Visit Roehampton University for more information.

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Some papers ideally need treating before writing to give a sharper, crisper surface. Pounce gives a tooth to smooth paper helping produce crisper letters.Pounce is also used to remove the grease from the paper surface, preventing the ink from spreading. It can help prevent ink from spreading on unsized paper or over an erasure, as well as to prepare vellum to take writing ink.Pounce can be used for a paper that is too absorbent, on which the ink sinks into spreading and bleeding.Pounce is a finely ground powder prepared from gum Sandarac mixed with pumice or cuttlefish bone.To use, sprinkle a little Pounce over the surface and gently rub in with a soft cloth. Then, remove the excess with a soft brush. If there is a gritty feeling on the paper or the Pounce collects in the nib, you need to have another go at dusting the paper.Pounce Powder

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Jan Pickett is a professional Calligrapher, Lettering Artist and Illustrator. She undertakes many and varied commissions, both private and commercial. Jan is an Honoured Fellow of the Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society (CLAS) and a Fellow of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators (SSI), and is active in, and supports, both Societies.Jan offeres a wide range of workshops including3D and shadow lettersHalf Uncials with Celtic charisma…Cut-paper lettering – levels I and IIHalf Uncials and Celtic decorationTaster calligraphy session days for beginners – ‘Learn it and love it!’Jan Pickett

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