The Gentle Penman

Flourishes are graceful extensions and decorative embellishments that add wonder, movement, and live to our letters and words - inviting readers to take a closer look.  This class unravels the fundamental concepts behind flourished Copperplate...

For enthusiasts of pointed pen calligraphy, the nib stands as the quintessential tool. Personally favoring Hunt 101 and Hunt 22, Barbara discovered the value of achieving a seamlessly smooth style by transposing the same technique to the brush. Whether...

Take your offhand flourishing skills to a new level with character flourishing. In this workshop, student will learn how to design Sweet Characters in flourished spring settings. Student will use delicate infill strokes to flourish their characters along...

Step and Repeat patterns are graphic compositions composed of one or more given designs presented in such an arrangement that by duplicating the designs, the pattern can be enlarged in any direction and to any degree possible. The average person seldom...

In this workshop we will be looking at the Pilot Parallel Pen and the many possibilities the pen enables you to create. Suzie would like to share with you some great design ideas, not only will we be looking at creating different borders but you will be...

The Monoline letter is ubiquitous and it has many voices. It was a favorite of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, it has been a staple of advertising for generations, and it takes on new life in the twenty-first century as it plays its role in the...

Italic is one of the most versatile styles. It lends itself to many variations that give the letters a more contemporary look with different characteristics. In this workshop student will focus on the creation of capital letters, looking for new...

Inspired by my enchanting visit to Banff, British Columbia, Canada, I was truly captivated by the majestic mountain scenery and the breathtaking hues of the lake. I invite you to embark on an enjoyable and soothing artistic journey, where we will...

Fraktur is a 16th century German style of Blackletter which combines the dense vertical texture of Gothic Textura and the lively curves of Gothic Batarde hands.  The name Fraktur, derived from the Latin word fractura (meaning "broken"),...

Calligraphy has long been paired with paintings, ornamental scroll work, and other pictorial objects to enhance a piece's visual impact. In this class, we will explore the relationship between ovals and curvatures, and learn how to use them strategically...

In this short workshop, we will learn about the interesting design possibilities offered by a type of paisley decoration that was used in the 16th and 17th century joint to calligraphic works. We are going to learn the basics of paisleys shapes and their...

Join me on a journey of artistic expression inspired by tropical scenery in Hawaii! In our Bottle Painting Class, we'll unlock your inner artist and transform everyday bottles into captivating works of art. Here's a glimpse of the adventure that...

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...

This workshop is a step-by-step journey into crafting contemporary initials inspired by nature. Student will discover how to create stunning compositions and embellish them with intricate details. Throughout this workshop, student will utilize graphite...

Cadel letters are created by combining various pattens like Celtic Knots to create interwoven strokes. With the large number of patterns and the creativity of the scribes there is no standard alphabet. Using the work of a Spanish scribe the class will...

Liberate your italic from the broad edged pen and see where it takes you! Learn how to master a simple and highly versatile technique to create dynamic letters with mono-line writing tools. You will discover that it is not only practical and speedy but...

This workshop will explore the chunky and versatile hand of Neuland. By varying the x-height, customizing crossbars, using slight pen manipulations, adding outlines, in-lines, and embossing, an artist can easily personalize this hand to make it...

Hermann Kilian (1929 – 2004) was a German calligrapher, typographer and book designer whose work was epitomized by classical simplicity with an underlying tension within every letter. I have been studying his works and sharing my study of his...

Throughout their lives, most people simply take their handwriting for granted. In truth, if the quality of their handwriting has become little more than a scribble over time, then whenever they do have a need to actually handwrite something, it is often...

Oh, the allure of an ancient Medieval manuscript! The beauty of those exotic, colorful Versal letters! In this workshop, Brian will demonstrates different techniques in creating attractive medieval-style versal letters. He will also show you various ways...