The Gentle Penman

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...

A century ago, there were several abilities in penmanship that when performed spontaneously and consistently to a very high degree of skill, were considered to be defining qualities by which a person was generally regarded as a “Master...

Journey back in time to discover the elegant Uncial script, a rounded majuscule hand that shaped early manuscripts and became the dominant book hand from the 4th to 8th centuries. You'll learn its flowing forms and understand why it was so perfectly...

A growing garden of pointed pen flourishes is waiting for you in this delightful class. We will use vines, leaves and an expanding variety of wildflowers to embellish our graceful flourishes as we celebrate summer together. True offhand flourishing is...

Blackletter, in its Renaissance forms, may be one of the scripts that lends itself most to decoration and countless variations. Gothic capitals in particular, lend themselves to decoration and even more to abstract compositions based on the balance...

Bubbled Letters have been a popular way of handlettering for school students and children for many decades. This font requires no special tools and is charcterised by it's puffy, bulbous and whimsical look. In this workshop we will look back at this...

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.This...

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...

In this workshop, Michael will show you exactly how to create an eye-catching and bold piece of Blackboard Art using acrylic paint pens and a few other essential tools. Michael will teach you on how to create a smart layout, as well as a few different...

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.This...

Do you want to spice up your Italic and make it dance? Both subtle and demanding, the skill of pressurizing can create forms that are suffused with greater energy. That skill of pressure and release (sound familiar to pointed pen people?) Can transform a...

The incomparable contrast between black and white is always striking and particularly the drama of white letters on a black background. Add to this an accent or two of red and the design comes alive. This class will concentrate on this limited but highly...

In this workshop we will draw and paint a Missal letter on calf vellum. Painting on vellum is lovely and truly a perfect surface!  In book making the vellum cannot be stretched as one usually paints on the verso.  Therefore, the painting...

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.This...

During the American Golden Age of Penmanship (1850 - 1925), the Spencerian Standard became the backbone of Business Penmanship and Ornamental Penmanship styles.  However, other lesser-known styles emerged from Spencerian as well, including a series...

We will dive into the world of wet techniques, exploring different methods and materials to create unique artistic compositions. We will work with watercolors, inks, different mediums, understanding the importance of paper quality and how it influences...

Join Barbara for a three-day journey into the world of lettering, where we will explore the art of drawing letters with both structure and expression. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced calligrapher looking to refine your skills,...

Unlock the beauty of expressive lettering with our 'Casual Capitals with a Pointed Pen' workshop, focusing specifically on creating relaxed and stylish capital letters. We'll explore how to build a versatile alphabet of casual capitals, perfect for...

Come learn how to make letterforms that will almost dance off the page. In this workshop you will be shown you the 'ins' and 'outs' of pressurized letterforms. Not only will you discover how to create elegance in your letters but also how to make them...

Historical HandsIn 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...