The Gentle Penman

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...

Have you ever wondered how to present your calligraphy in a way that matches its beauty? Do you struggle with how to express what your writing means to you through the photos of your work? Do you wonder how you can share a glimpse of your emotions with...

Enhance your artwork with the elegance of Gothic ornamentation! In this three-session online course, you will learn how to construct geometric border designs inspired by Gothic architectural details such as panelling and guardrails. ​What is geometric...

The world of “informal” tools is vast: ruling pens, folded pens, cola pen and narrow bladed ruling pen. The tools are numerous, with many names and the most varied shapes, but they have one thing in common: they allow us to create...

The workshop focuses on the vertical broad pen lettering style called French Round Hand. This lettering style was used extensively in France and Germany in the 1700 and 1800’s. This is an easy-to-read text lettering style. Engrossers in the United...

In this workshop, we will delve into the relationship between ovals and curvatures, learning to use them strategically to create an enchanting girl in a rabbit constume adorned with elegant scroll work. While it may seem daunting at first, with practice,...

Join me for a two-day workshop where we'll explore painting a simple traditional Rack of Lamb recipe layout that is perfect for Easter. I'll share some techniques I've learned about capturing grilled meat textures, mixing color palettes, and creating...

Italic handwriting is of basic knowledge to every calligrapher. There is never a day for me without writing some lines of italic, because it is such a simple, elegant and versatile letterform. I use it a lot in my notebook, and because the paper...

This workshop will take you on an exciting adventure with a tapestry of amazing fractions of color “bits” to create beautiful word-page designs. For years I’ve been fascinated with mosaic tiles and the art that is created. There is so...

Learn how to use your coloured pencils with finesse as we created beautifully embellished floral pages. This class introduces a subdued coloured pencil approach to adding botanical details to your calligraphic pages. Students will be working with white...

What fun to add a little whimsy and color to your art! Join me for a light-hearted, creative but beneficial workshop where we will doodle and paint, while learning about color palettes and pen control and design. First , using a small liner pen, we will...

Lesson 1 What is Spencerian? The Legacy and Heritage of Platt Rogers Spencer The Steel Pen and America’s Golden Age of Penmanship Combination Muscular Movement Posture, Paper Position, Proper Table Height for Writing Straight and Oblique...

Decorative floral ornamentation has long captivated our imaginations with its beauty and elegance, from intricate Mamluk manuscripts to the vibrant tiles of Iznik and the splendid marble inlays of the Taj Mahal. In this workshop, we will begin to unlock...