The Gentle Penman

Unlock the magic of the season by transforming elegant calligraphy strokes into beautiful, intricate snowflakes! In this 2 session zoom class, you'll learn to create cartouche designs—ornamental frames—arranged into a unique festive...

Versals, those beautiful capital letters which traditionally indicate the beginning of bodies of text, have drawn our eyes to the page for centuries. Versals are typically colorful, often decorated, and always full of life and sprit, no matter how...

Including both shading and shadows to our lettering is a fun and easy way to enhance their visual dimension and make our letters stand out. The first part of this class will focus on shading techniques for letters. By using a simple set of drawn...

Back by popular demand –  A new approach to the study of Copperplate! Based on the success of our July / August Copperplate Summer School, we are continuing our Copperplate program by offering five individual workshops, covering a number of...

If you are inspired by the magic of carousel horses, scroll designs, ornamental foliates and flowing ribbons, this holiday flourishing class is for you. We will gather inspiration from historic fairground artistry as we compose an ornate design that is...

No matter how many years you’ve practiced Italic, it never hurts to brush up your skills! Italic can be tiny or large, italicized or upright, made with a broad-edge pen or a monoline tool. In this workshop we’ll cover the basics –...

Jan Rossey, cistercian monk and letter artist Caldey Island Wales, UK.Jurgen will try to explain and get across the character and dynamic of the letters of Jan Rossey. He has a very playful and spontaneous way of drawing letters. Jurgen himself finds a...

The round pen nib, with its distinctive circular tip, is a fascinating instrument that often sits unnoticed in our collections. We admire its unique design but wonder: What types of strokes can it create? How do we hold it effectively? What is its...

Learn how to create beautiful Roman Capitals using a pointed pen. If you’re a pointed pen artist, but never felt like it was time to approach Roman Capitals, this class is for you!​ In this workshop, we’ll break down each letter step by...

Discover the harmony and elegance of Gothic architecture by learning to draw simple yet striking Rose Window designs. In this three-lesson workshop, we’ll explore the geometric foundations of these iconic stained glass windows, focusing on overall...

The focus of this class is on the beautiful pattern on the doors of the Palace of Comares, built by Mohammad V in 1370 to commemorate the conquest of Algeciras. It was also used as a backdrop for the sultan to preside over ceremonial acts, seated between...

Historical Hands In keeping with our commitment to calligraphy education, the Gentle Penman is pleased to announce a new series of short workshops, which will serve as an introduction to a selection of styles of traditional calligraphy over the past 2000...

The Court of the Golden Room of Alhambra Palace, Spain, was named for the golden decorations on the wooden roof behind the portico during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs. Underneath the portico with three arches, the lower part of the walls is...

Unlock your creativity and explore the beauty of acanthus leaf designs in this course. "Advanced Acanthus Ornamental Design" will teach you how to create stunning ornamental patterns using acanthus motifs. You'll start with the basics and work your way...

Have you ever wondered why your attempts at medieval calligraphy lacked that elusive "look" of the ancient originals? Learning and utilizing an authentic medieval hand might just solve your issues.Join us for 3 lessons of intriguing and enjoyable...

This course plan covers the history, design, and practical techniques of Ottoman illumination art, with a specific focus on the Şah Kulu and saz yolu styles.Şah Kulu: A renowned Ottoman court artist, particularly influential in the 16th century. He was a...

Welcome to Modern Storybook Script! This playful and unique alphabet has FUN written all over it!In this workshop, you’ll be guided through the step-by-step process of creating Kathy’s charming, playful, casual script alphabet that gives a...

Introduction to Gothic Script* History and origins of Gothic Script* Understanding its characteristics and letterforms* Exploring different Gothic Script stylesTools and Materials* Essential calligraphy tools for Gothic Script* Choosing the right pens,...

The ability to create a certificate requires some concrete information, some layout knowledge, some calligraphic skills, and some creativity.  If you can use a ruler, a flat-edged or pointed pen, have a reasonable ability to mix colors and use a...

Copperplate Summer School is a relaxing and yet thorough approach to basic Copperplate calligraphy, for novices who have no experience with the hand as well as more experienced calligraphers who want to review some or all of their Copperplate skills...