The Gentle Penman

This multi-week program introduces participants to the fundamentals of depicting nature within the tradition of Ottoman miniature painting. Each week focuses on a key natural element—clouds, trees, rocks, water—and teaches both the symbolic...

Welcome to Madaresque!​ In this workshop we will work on lively, ornate lettering projects inspired by the work of Louis Madarasz. We will create a variety of flourished names, envelopes, short quotes etc.​ We will first study the script used by Madarasz...

This workshop introduces the intricate and lavish beauty of historical manuscript art, a tradition that embodies harmony through its design principles by marrying the structure of geometry with elegant, freehand drawing. ​Taking inspiration from a...

Using the Italic hand as a starting point, we’ll work our way towards abstraction to embrace it as our ally. Through a series of targeted exercises, we’ll break free from conventional patterns and explore fresh letterforms and personalized...

The white vine is a common decorative technique in Renaissance manuscripts, born in Italy. It is based on vegetal patterns that decorate the initials or borders in interlaced and colored scrolls. In this course, we will see how to build a vine around a...

This workshop introduces you to the art of ornamental mandala drawing, where precise geometry forms the foundation for elegant decorative detailing. Designed for beginners to intermediate learners, the workshop emphasizes structure, symmetry, and mindful...

The Radiant Letter: Reviving the Lost Initials is a gentle, historically grounded introduction to the initials of illuminated manuscripts from the Romanesque era. In this workshop, students will create one refined illuminated letter inspired by...

With a pencil in hand, we will begin by exploring the foundational strokes that give these letters their character. Each line, each curve, will guide us toward a deeper understanding of the balance and proportions that define humanist styles. We will...

Most everyone has loved puzzles as a child, maybe as an adult too. Now we can use this concept in designing letters & marks as puzzles, then giving the viewer a legible solution. In this workshop we will be abstracting, collaging, painting and more...

Break the rules of the rigid "Classic Roman" and find your rhythmic flow. In this workshop, we’ll take the skeleton of traditional Roman capitals and infuse them with a funky, eclectic energy using the pointed pen. Learn how to balance classical...

The scrolling acanthus technique will be the focus of this class; you will master the basic strokes and combine them to create your own beautifully adorned Roman-type initial.  This motif is very versatile, being appropriate for gifts, commissions,...

The focus of this two-session introduction to Copperplate design will be a “first run” at taking the words of a text and finding a way to express them through a series of choices, including size, texture and color.  We will work with a...

This intermediate workshop is for those ready to elevate their flourishing for both complex uppercase and lowercase letters. We take a logical approach, breaking down advanced flourishes into buildable parts. You will dive deep into shape variations,...

This workshop is your introduction to calligraphy flourishing for both lowercase and uppercase letters. We will start from the very basics, making the process simple and clear. You'll learn how to execute graceful flourishes that complement your writing...

Welcome to Capital Letters - a two-part online workshop dedicated entirely to the graceful world of Engrosser’s Script majuscules. ​In this 2-session series (each 2 hours long), we’ll slow things down to explore the beauty of the all caps...

Learn to write Engrossers’ Text like a pro!Engrossing hands, or engrosser’s texts, are uniquely American hands, derived from the influences of French and German roundhands. These hands are the workhorses of the certificate and diploma...

A 4-day immersive course blending intuitive watercolor florals, fine-line lowercase calligraphy, and Japanese-inspired scroll art. Students craft delicate details that evolve into a personal emakimono-style roll, using Asian papers for hanging or storage...

This online course is an introduction to geometric drawing through 5- and 10-fold symmetry — a fascinating system based on pentagons and five-pointed stars, used to create rich and original patterns.This type of symmetry has a unique mathematical...

In this workshop, you will learn practical skills to improve your blackboard art and succeed as a freelance artist. You’ll be guided through painting a scannable QR code from start to finish, working efficiently on A-boards, and accurately tracing...

Step into the world of floral roundels, a timeless design practice inspired by ornamentation found across Central, South, and West Asian artistic traditions. In this online workshop, you’ll learn how rotational symmetry and circular geometry forms...