Discover the timeless elegance of 8th-century script in our engaging introductory course! Perfect for beginners, this course unveils the charm of a script that stands out with its unified letterforms—no distinction between “upper” and “lower” case letters. Immerse yourself in the beauty of this historical writing style, master its techniques, and bring history to life on the page.

Discover the timeless elegance of the Foundational Hand, a clear and refined script developed by Edward Johnston with roots in historical manuscripts. This beginner-friendly course will guide you through the fundamentals of writing with a broad-edged pen, exploring the script’s structure, techniques, and versatility for various calligraphic applications. Perfect for those looking to delve into the art of beautiful handwriting.

Unleash the vibrant possibilities that colour can bring to your calligraphy in this exciting two-session workshop. We’ll begin with quick-fixes using felt-tipped pens, then progress to mixing colours to achieve your desired results while avoiding the dreaded “mud.” Experiment with colour changes in the pen, enjoy some relaxing “colouring-in,” create messy washes for dynamic backgrounds, and learn the best techniques for writing over them.

Each session includes live demonstrations, plenty of opportunities to ask questions, and hands-on practice. You’ll also have access to Padlet for follow-up questions and recordings to revisit the lessons at your own pace.

Session 1: Explore colour in the pen using felt tips and dip pens, master colour mixing for stunning combinations, and discover quick cheats with chalk pastels.

Session 2: Dive into creating simple yet effective backgrounds, learn techniques for writing on top (including white on dark surfaces), and explore tonal values for maximum impact.

PART 1: Matisse – Cut, Colour & Collage

PART 2: Exploring Matisse Lettering with an Automatic Pen

These two, 2 hr on-line workshops aim to explore and play with the dynamics of colour and Matisse’s collage and cut lettering and all that it can bring to your work.

PART 1: Drawing inspiration from Matisse’s paper cut outs and lettering with reference to colour theorists, we will be firstly exploring colour and creating anindividual colour palette then developing a personal cut and collaged word or phrase. Students will combine pen made marks and collage using automatic pens. Should you wish, you can create your own ‘colour reference book’ to keep (have more medium weight A3 cartridge to hand if this is the case).

PART 2: This session will be a deep dive into Matisse’s cut lettering using an automatic pen and collage paper. After focusing on Matisse’s cut lettering, you will create your own response to these bold lettering forms using both pen and collage to create dynamic and bold lettering.