February Meeting

Ribbon Book

Saturday, February 13, 2016

9:30 am to 1:00 pm

East Bank Regional Library

4747 West Napoleon Ave., Metairie

Book making has always been a much requested topic.  So once again we have called upon Eugenia Uhl to lead us in a hands on demonstration of the construction of a Ribbon Book.

 For the covers of these delightful books, you will need two pieces of thick decorative paper. Eugenia has printed  photographs onto Arches paper using her home printer.

Please be sure to have you paper & ribbons cut to the specified sizes as this will speed up the process.

Materials List

Ribbon 1.5 x 21 inches, cut in 3 equal pieces (7” each) OR thick decorative paper works too

Covers, thick decorative paper, 2 pieces: 9.5 x 8.5 inches

Bookbinding thread 1 ply, 9x height of book (8.5″) = 76.5 inches

Inside pages: 28-8.25 x 9.25 inches, we will fold these to make 7 signatures, use whatever type paper you would like on the inside of your book

Bookbinding needle

Piercing Cradle (a phone book works well) We will have some to share

Bone folder

Awl

Pencil, eraser, extra piece of scrap paper (3×8.5”)

Xacto knife, ruler, cutting board

PVC glue, cheap glue brush, scrap paper (to glue on)

Paper Towels

2 medium book binding clamps

Calligraphy Classes

Several of our members teach calligraphy classes throughout the year.  Roxanne Beard will be teaching “Calligraphy Basics Series-Italic” on March 5th.  Eugenia Uhl teaches several classes in bookbinding and calligraphy at the New Orleans School of Art & Craft.  Please click on Calligraphy Classes in the main menu for contact information on Roxanne and Eugenia and for a listing of current classes at the New Orleans School of Art & Craft.

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January 2016 Meeting

   Seastones–Adding Ovals to Your Copperplate with Maria Helena Hoksch

Saturday, January 9, 2016

9:30 AM to 5 PM

Carlo Ditta Meeting Room

1445 MacArthur Ave., Harvey

Many great artists borrow inspiration from nature.  Platt Spencer, the father of American penmanship, was no exception.  While visiting Lake Erie, he pocketed numerous small stones which became for him a guide to good form.

Over many years of intense study local calligrapher, Maria Helena Hoksch, has developed her own way of using ovals to enhance her copperplate lettering.  She calls this style Seastones.

Please join us as Maria Helena guides us in exploring this lovely style, turning a lettered page into a beach covered with polished pebbles.  We will then apply the Seastone script to addressing envelopes.

Lined guide sheets will be provided.  Prior knowledge of any pointed pen script is useful but not essential.  For those who don’t feel comfortable with pointed pen, you may work with fine tip markers or sharp pencils.

You may participate in a morning session or stay for a full day of more in depth study.

Workshop Fee

Members–$25 for 1/2 day, $40 for full day

Non members–$35 for 1/2 day, $55 for full day

To register please print out the registration form below & mail in by January 5, 2016.

Supply List

Hard and soft pencils                                                                                

Sharpener

Ruler                                                                                                                    

Eraser                                                                                                                          

Lighter or Matches                                                                                                  

Fine Black Marker (Sharpie Pen)                                                                       

Oblique Penholder                                                                                                

Hunt 101 nibs, at least two                                                                          

Palace Moon Palace Sumi Ink                                                                   

Winsor Newton Ivory Black Gouache                                                                                                                    

Mixing Brush                                                                                                          

Water Dropper

Water container for cleaning/rinsing the nib

Soft Paper Towel

Little Inkwell or Container, for dipping your pen

Canson Pro Layout Marker Pad, 9″x12″

Drafting Dots or removable tape                                                                                                          

Optional Supplies

Blotting paper for cushion, slant board,Ott light & long extension cord, your favorite pointed nibs, Cranford black paper (smooth, comes in pad), Dr. Martin’s  Bleedproof white, another dipping dish, extra envelopes (smooth & thinner), protractor & old toothbrush

You can obtain supplies from David Art or on line through Paper & Ink Arts or John Neal.

Maria Helena Hoksch registration form

Membership Form 2015-2016

WORKSHOP POLICY

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2015 December Meeting

It’s Christmas once again & time for our holiday card exchange.

Please join us on December 12th at 10:00 AM.

Bring a handmade card & your favorite cookies to share.

We will meet at the Keller Library & Community Center

300 North Broad, New Orleans, 70119.

This is a lovely way to greet the holiday season with calligraphy & good friends.

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NOLAA meeting – November 14, 2015

Blackletter Workshop

*Please Note:   New Location We will meet at the North Kenner branch of the library at 630 West Esplanade at 9:30am

November’s meeting will be a hands-on study of blackletter led by Vince Mitchell and Yvette Rutledge of Mystic Blue Signs. We will begin by making the basic forms of this constructed alphabet, then we will follow the video of Reggie Ezell’s version of the same alphabet, step by step. We will use black ink as well as mixing colored gouache and watercolor for use in pens.

Materials:   For lettering,  you should bring
 *a broad-edged pen of of your choice:
  a parallel pen size 3.8mm or
  a dip pen like Speedball C1 or Brause #5
  (with bottled ink like Higgins Eternal) or
  a chisel-edge marker 3.5 mm
 *pencil, eraser, ruler, water jar, paper
  towels
 *practice paper–something heavy enough
  that the ink doesn’t bleed through
For working with colored gouache or watercolor,  please bring
 *a mixing tray, a small brush, a tube of
  watercolor or gouache paint.
  You will need to use a dip pen with this
  paint

 **Knowing the fundamentals of blackletter will be helpful at our spring 2016 workshop with Irish calligrapher Denis Brown, who will spend two of the four days he is in town showing us a cursive form of blackletter. (See the previous post “Save the Dates” below for more info)

Note: In 2017, Reggie Ezell will be teaching a year-long workshop for NOLAA where we meet for a weekend every two months. The workshop will cover many advanced techniques.  Our November meeting is a good opportunity to preview his teaching style.

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Save the Dates

     Mark your calendars for an unsurpassed opportunity to study                with lettering artist, Denis Brown.

From April 15 to April 19, 2016, Mr. Brown will conduct two workshops in New Orleans.

Half Uncial will be featured April 15 & 16.  This is an introduction to the Celtic hand that is seen in Irish manuscripts such as the Book of Kells.

On April 17 we will begin the topic of Gothic Scripts.  The workshop will continue on the following two evenings, April 18 & 19.

Cost per workshop is $200 for NOLAA members and $225 for non-members.

If you are taking both workshops the cost is $350 for NOLAA members and $375 for non-members.

NOLAA is extremely excited to host Denis Brown and hopes that you will be able to join us.

To use PayPal click on the PayPal button in the main menu.

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