May your days be Merry and Bright

 Waking up very early this morning with my mind overflowing with tasks that need to be completed. No matter how busy the season gets for me it is always a joy to work with pen, ink, gold and paint. I feel blessed to face the tasks in front of me and so grateful for all of your encouragement, kind words and support. Thank you for being such a blessing to me this year.  We have worked hard together. Many of you have attended numerous classes with me and you have kept me busy as I watched your work grow and evolve over time. It is an honour to accompany you on your journey. It helps me grow as an artist and an instructor and it means so much to me as I watch your own styles emerge on the paper. I couldn't be more proud of you and know that 2024 will bring more joy in the journey.

My 2024 teaching schedule is robust and filled with new classes, some encore presentations of letter design classes, as well as script hands to enjoy. Flourishing club will resume and I will host some Zoom study schools where we can work together on some illumination skills. So lots to anticipate and so much for me to prepare for. But I am determined to enjoy the passing days of December. I love the sights and sounds of this season even though I am not a fan of snow and winter. I do love the warmth of the lights in the window displays and the thought of sending and receiving cards in the mail. Taking time to pause and prepare a card and a note for a friend is part of the joy of this season for me. Thank you dear friends, students and readers of this blog to be part of the joy of the season. It is difficult for me to put into words just how much of a blessing you are to me. I am not quite finished wrapping up my teaching for the season. Still the Festive Squirrel class to complete, December's Flourishing Club and my private students to receive their December lessons. I will post my 2024 schedule on my website soon, but you can always email me to get a pdf copy of the upcoming classes. I will catch my breath as December wraps up but I am only ever an email away if you want to reach out. The flourishes on this blog post are from the White Christmas class that wrapped up last week. No matter how many times I flourish a festive style design, I find a new pathway, a new idea and a new appreciation for the craft.

All of us, no matter how far along we are in our journey are keepers of this craft and part of this calligraphic collective. We are colleagues together. My hope is that we will continue and to explore this art form together and find the joy and peace that it can bring us. I am constantly aware that I stand on the shoulders of those who have invested in me, mentored me, shared their skills with me and encouraged me to teach. I am forever grateful to my first teacher Michael Sull, who helped me to find my voice and my path as a teacher. Brian Walker who passed away in 2018 helped me hone my skills and gave me eyes to see. Bob Hurford was my first penpal and encouraged me to flourish. He saw potential where I only saw failure in my work. And Dr. Joseph Vitolo was the patient voice who answered all of my questions in the beginning and put the right ink, paper and pen points within my reach.

My ideas, thoughts, skills and designs have evolved over time and are what I share with my students now. But I never forget the pathway that I took and those who helped to bring me to this point. Feeling so thoughtful this morning as I reflect on the teachings of my mentors and continue to work here at this desk, in a career path that I could never have envisioned so many years ago. One step at a time dear friends. May you Flourish! And always remember that you are right where you should be in your artistic journey. Your pace is your own and no one can dictate that to you. Happy December. 

Moments of Grace

 I'm starting my morning with a view of a frosty lawn strewn with leaves. My rose bush is tucked in for the winter and I the last blooms of the pansies and the marigolds are giving me one last smile. Squirrels are bouncing around the yard picking up the peanuts I put out for them a few minutes ago. The birdbath is lightly frozen this morning but looks quite charming with an array of pine needles on it. My garden has been a comfort and a joy for me as I glance up from my studio window. It has accompanied me for every coffee break and every pause I take from my work. I read there, often eat there and always appreciate the moments it gives me, weeds and all. It is hard to tuck it away for the winter but I know it will be reborn.

October swirled past us so quickly but also brought such heartache to the world. It is so hard to work in the calm and quiet of my peaceful life when I know that there is so much pain in the world. Sending this world a collective hug and an ongoing prayer for peace. When I think of such heartache, it challenges my purpose at my little studio desk.In these moments, I need to search harder for grace. I try not to take things for granted as I cherish the quiet around me. When I put pen to paper, it is with a greater sense of thankfulness with each stroke of the pen. The work with our hands can become a meditation no matter what is happening around us. There is a sense of comfort in the familiar sound of the ink and pen on the paper. There is a glimmer of joy when metallic ink leaves a gossamer trail on the page that you hope someone else will enjoy. When an envelope is dropped into the mail box and sent off on its way, there is a spark of joy that you hope resounds with the recipient. We can still do small things and cherish the moments. There is still such grace and beauty to be found around us.

I worked on beautiful wreath designs for my Ardington Flourishing Club students. We have our November and December sessions coming up with some special surprises in store,  My November class will be White Christmas through The Gentle Penman. We will have an easy start to the class but I will build up the strokes to produce more involved flourishes for session two. Many students created holiday card designs in previous editions of this festive flourishing class. Whether you want to refresh your skills, pause for a little while to create beauty or have a sparkling time with metallic inks and Festive ideas, we will cover all of this in White Christmas. 

Looking ahead to January will bring The Alphabet Garden 2024 Edition  to Ardington school online. This is my most popular versal design class where we create a delicate and garden inspired illuminated letter together.

And January will also launch a new class for The Gentle Penman called Faded Love Letters. The Valentine theme is behind the class, but I will be digging into Victorian Sheet Music, Branching Rustic Letters and muted palette as we look at some hidden treasures of letter design you may not have discovered.

There is always so much to discover and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to share with you. I am still finalizing my 2024 teaching schedule but I will be hosting some Zoom School sessions for any of my students who want to work along with me as we dig deeper into techniques and work on completing designs together. More information will be coming soon. I hope this will fill a gap with something I see happening with continued online classes. I want students to gather confidence to bring designs to fruition rather than accumulate notes and good intentions with the courses they take. There are lots of study opportunities to look forward to and to keep me busy at my desk. My hope for you dear friends is that you find grace in the moments that make up your life. Find peace with the work of your hands. Encourage someone around you with a surprise note or letter in the mail. Flourish where you are dear friends. Sending graceful thoughts, hope and peace to you all.  

October Beauty

 What a beautiful beginning to October. The sun is bright and filling the garden with warmth as my roses continue to offer their splendour. These bright blooms have brought me so much joy over the summer months and I am grateful for each blossom they continue to produce. Nature if filled with wonder. Time goes so quickly and I never forget how important it is to slow down, pause, and appreciate the season as it passes. I know the warmth of this morning will not last forever and soon the days will bring frost and chill to my garden. I know I have to prepare for the Festive Season. 

As October begins, I have been flourishing at my desk as I continue to teach for the Ardington School of Crafts. We began our Autumn flourishing club with constrained flourishes of leaves, acorns and mushrooms. The explorations of the students are always a marvel to me. The flourish is such a unique expression for each person and such a peaceful way to build skills with the pointed pen. 

The bookings for the Autumn flourishing club are closed but I will be presenting a very special December class that will utilize character flourishing. It will help you celebrate a Beary Merry Christmas!

Character flourishing has been a wonderful accompaniment to my floral and abstract flourishing. If you want to explore an introductory class with this technique, October Owls will be presented through The Gentle Penman on October 13/14 depending on your time zone. I had a wonderful time creating this course and I now have a full line of Owl note cards as a result of these designs. 

Festive flourishes in white inks on dark paper will be preseented in November online. We will start with simple designs but expand into more complex character flourishes such as a deer or a little gnome, Expect a very playful time in the White Christmas class.

I am hoping the class itself will help you to enjoy the Festive season which can be difficult and stressful for so many of us. Taking time to pause and relax as you flourish is such a blessing. And these flourishes are honing so many pointed pen skills as we work on these seasonal delights. If you have read my blog for any length of time you know how firmly I believe in the importance of offhand flourishing as an essential skill builder. You will build so much confidence as you practice and watch these amazing designs grow on the page. 

Wherever you are in your part of the world, I hope the beginning of October is filled with joy and expectation for you. May you cherish time you can spend with your pen and ink. I hope you are finding peace in your work and beauty in your days. Thank you for blessing me with your friendship, your kind words and the beautiful work you share with me. I am so thankful to hear that my classes have been helpful and inspirational. You are the reason I continue to create classes and to teach. May you flourish dear friends. 

Sweet Silence

 Good Sunday Morning dear friends. This morning I was up early and out in the garden. September is here and the days are cooler after an incredible heatwave. I was taken aback at the silence of the yard. No birds chirping that I could hear, no squirrels chattering and very little ambient noise in the neighbourhood. The calm and peace were so welcoming. I paused and just appreciated the blooms that are still on the rose bush. What a blessing to have a moment of quiet.

I promised to share the new courses I would be launching and the info is now posted online. The upcoming holiday season can easily interrupt our moments of calm, peace, and sweet silence. We can get so caught up in the busyness of the season that we miss the special moments. I always have to think ahead and work on festive designs in advance. If you would like to design your holiday card with me, The Holiday Charmers class is now open for registration.

 I want to focus on the drawn letters and the illustrated mice designs. I will also paint a sweet song bird as well as draw, gild and paint lettering. I will share the techniques for a very soft painting effect that softens the look of dry brush while still maintaining the control and detail.

I will also share why this is one of my most popular ideas that I developed over the years and how incredibly versatile and handy it can be. There is something for all skill levels and I hope to prepare more Merry Mice and Sweet Song Birds as Holiday Charmers to prepare for this class.

The class is in October giving you lots of advance time to prepare for the Festive Season.  I have other upcoming classes online for Autumn but many are sold out. Registration and info for my classes is online here. Wishing you all a beautiful Sunday. Enjoy the calm. Appreciate small details. And do something you love to nourish your soul in this season. Love you all. 

Sweet September

 Another blink of the eye and the calendar page changes. September breezes in sweetly and gently. It is always a bittersweet month for me. I love watching the leaves take on brilliant colours but it is so difficult to watch the blooms in the garden fade away. I know each season passes in its own time and there is always the promise of new growth coming again. It is best to just embrace each season and the changes it brings. Here in my little studio, I am constantly busy and grateful for the work. Pens are being painted and shipped all over the world. I have had commissions to work on and the busy schedule of private students and new courses to prepare.  The Ardington Flourishing Club sessions begin again in September and I am looking forward to sharing seasonal ideas with the community of flourishing artists. 

 I have seen incredible growth with the participants and can't wait to see what happens as we continue to pursue offhand flourishes together. There will be a very special December edition of the Flourishing Club coming up! I will share more info about that as we move closer to the holiday season.

 I am thrilled to share my newest class October Owls for The Gentle Penman online.

This is a single session class and the beginning of some whimsical character flourishing classes that will be released in 2024. October Owls seemed to be the perfect platform for adding a touch of autumn's glow to offhand flourishing.

No matter what path I take in my artistic pursuits, I always seem to return to the pointed pen and the beauty of offhand flourishing. The flourish is so deeply rooted within me yet I am always making discoveries with it. Flourishing helps me to pause, clear my my mind, appreciate the moment and truly be taken aback at the work that is produced when the piece is completed. I see this in the work of my talented students as well. If you have never taken the plunge into the world of pointed pen flourishes, I encourage you to begin. They are joyful, peaceful, meditative and far easier to learn than any script alphabet. I cannot sing loudly enough of their virtues. Wherever you are on your artistic journey, I believe the flourish can unlock so much potential in your work. I hope you have a beautiful September. Take time to pause and appreciate the wonder of the season. Time goes by so quickly. Understand and appreciate each passing day. Sending hugs all around with such gratitude for the kind words of appreciation that you share with me. Happy September beautiful friends. 

A is for Abundant Grace

Are you familiar with page 87 of the Zanerian Manual? I have an image of it here for you. The Zanerian Manual is considered the bible of American Engrossing. The images in the manual are wonderful but they are all in black and white. During my trip to IAMPETH in Scranton, I was able to see the actual specimen of page 87. This engrossing was done by Willis A Baird and is filled with intricate details. The vellum piece is badly faded and in need of reframing to try to readjust the engrossing back in its proper position but it was a delight to see in person. 

Here is an image of the full colour piece that will be housed at the Weinberg Memorial Library in Scranton. 

Here is a detail image of the A. The acanthus are positioned beautifully and the original colours would have been more robust and vibrant but this still has such charm and delight in its faded condition. Observe the delicate shading details that bring the acanthus to life. 

Smaller letters in the composition are still treated with such detail and grace.  There is brilliant precision in this letter. 

Once again, the shading in the T is subtle but effective. This is painted with such skill. 

Studying the composition in such detail and seeing the delicate colour transitions of the engrossed piece left me in awe and wonder. It always helps to see work in person and come in contact with the "living" work of an artist. I was overwhelmed with beauty of this piece. I think the original piece used cobalt colours and I also believe it was in direct sunlight to have faded so badly. The grey filigree work in the background is almost completely faded but what piece this would have been in its day. 

As I prepare for my upcoming Victorian Pen class through The Gentle Penman, I have been reflecting on the delicate use of colour and the concept of abundance.

American Engrossing utilizes Abundance. The style will mix multiple lettering styles and even the style of Engrosser's Text seems a myriad of lettering styles compressed into one. Somehow, the quirks of abundance seem to work. The Victorian Pen class merges my love of gentle colour, abundant ink work and a touch of gilding to bring results to the page that over the years have become my signature style. I rely on McCaffery Brown ink which is still not technically waterproof, but has an amazing line quality to it and can hold up to watercolour washes.

Colours like Quinacridone Pink, Cerulean Blue, Sap Green and Quinacridone Lilac can create gentle palettes. Naples Yellow also makes a wonderful colour to include in this palette. I feel so inspired to share this class with you next week.

It is my last class of the Summer season before my fall classes begin and I hope to gather as much Victorian inspiration as possible as I teach this class. Many of my Victorian Pen designs have become greeting cards that I reprint and use over and over again.

I hope the workshop will be practical for you and will inspire you for years to come. Sending lots of August hugs your way. I hope your garden is still blooming for you. I can already feel a bit of change in the air as the nights become cooler and the garden goes through its August cycle. Find beauty and grace in your part of the world dear friends. Enjoy the work of your hands and be patient with yourselves as you develop new skills. Remember that we all work at our own unique pace and have different insights that we bring to a page. We are all on this journey together and your skills evolve over time. I am so grateful for all of you and love seeing the work you create. Thank you for keeping me so inspired and ready to teach the next class. Happy August dear friends. 

The Wonders of Walter Crane

 Happy July 1st! It is Canada Day here and I am pausing to reflect and be thankful. We have had such a trying time with smoke from the wildfires. It makes the smoke free days so much more bright. I need to  be thankful for the bright moments. When I see the instant haze on the horizon and watch how quickly the smoke can come in it causes a lot of pensive thought. I don't remember ever experiencing a summer quite like this. Sending hugs all around and hope you are able to breathe fresh air and appreciate the beauty that still surrounds you. One of the greatest lessons learned from these past few years is to not take anything for granted. Although I take a bit of a breather with teaching I am certainly deep into research and study. It  seems to be a joyful pursuit as I take notes on the garden swing surround by chipmunks, bunnies and squirrels. There is never any tedium as I study and prepare for new classes. 

In November, I will be teaching a new class with Martin Beck at Ardington School online. In these informative collaborative classes, Martin will deliver a lecture about Walter Crane and I will do the practical part of the lesson as I dive into the calligraphic and lettering work of the artist. Walter has always been part of my artistic journey. He is in the top three influences of my illustrative work. But as I study the symbolism in his work and his love of decoration, I am falling more head over heels for him! I have found such wisdom and wonder in the work of Walter Crane. I chose the W initial to reflect on his genius and explore his Neo:Classic initials. There is so much intrigue in the stories behind my beloved illustrators. I love learning how his artistic style developed and what influenced his decisions. Beyond the line and wash of his children's book illustrations there is an invigorating aesthetic to his work. I  believe that I will be able to expand this workshop over the years as there is so much depth in his work that is waiting to be discovered.  In the Wonder of Walter Crane Class, I will begin by looking at his letterforms with their linear foliate extensions. 

Walter loved expressive letters and preferred their graceful forms to rigid typefaces. His calligraphy is not perfect by any means but there is something so appealing about his work. His background as a draftsman and wood engraver allowed him to explore sparkling details in his decorative designs. He loved detail and embedded symbolism even into his children's book illustrations.  If you know me as an instructor, you will know that I will have so much fun working on these notes. The letters here are some of my first studies with his Neo-Classic and Lombardic styles with foliate extensions. So much more is waiting to be discovered. 

I will have a busy few months as I travel to IAMPETH, visit my daughter in Newfoundland and continue to prepare for upcoming classes. If you want to expand your flourishing techniques with my signature Victorian Line and Wash designs, you can register for August's Victorian Pen through The Gentle Penman. This class is a bit more advanced than my other flourishing classes but even those who are new to the pointed pen will find skills that they can build on for years to come. I utilize these techniques so often and they are rooted in Victorian Book Illustrators like Walter Crane and Kate Greenway. It is funny how deeply rooted the Victorian aesthetic is in my work.

I am updating the handouts now as this is the first time I have taught the course since 2019. If you are interested in really refining your flourishes and understanding what makes them look the most beautiful, I will be presenting Flourishing Finesse through Ardington School online. This course has something for all skill levels. Beginners will be enlightened and intermediate and advanced students will be able to enhance and refine their skills. We will refine the all important cartouche designs that are so central in my work. If you are are new to offhand flourishing, I can't begin to relate just how much it has helped me as a calligraphic artist. I was able to find a sense of flow in my calligraphy through learning how to flourish with the pointed pen. I recommend it as a starting place for all pointed pen work. I believe it is more helpful to study than any script hand. But that is a subject for another blog post. 

There are actually more new classes being prepared for the Festive Season! I don't want to overwhelm you with all the details at once but I will keep you updated through IG. I hope you are having a beautiful day wherever you are in this wondrous world. I keep you all close to my heart and thank you so much for reading my blog posts and for being such a source of encouragement to me. Much love to you all. Happy July dear friends. 

Ground Breaking Growth

 The first morning of June is bright and beautiful and offers the promise of extended warmth and growth. I have been in the garden every morning to tend to the weeds, water the seedlings and feed the birds. I have been watching baby robins bounce around the yard and take time in the bird bath. I have stepped back even as small bunnies manage to eat a whole pansy plant in what seems like seconds. The garden is ever changing, evolving, growing and causing me to pause in wonder. When I finally see a leaf sprout through the ground I start to anticipate its bloom. What a blessing this garden has been and although it is a lot of work, I appreciate each stage of growth and each action it requires of me. I wish I could slow time as each day passes so quickly. I am determined to really pause and observe this beautiful season. 

Here in the studio I have been extra reflective and appreciative. The first group of students in The Flights of Fancy Master class have completed their program of study. I watched amazing growth. I felt privileged and honoured to accompany them and watch their skills bloom. As the first course came to a close, I could see that the light bulb had turned on for so many of them. Many are on the verge of finding the skills that have been calling out to them for so long. It was a journey that I could never have imagined or hoped for. Group Two will wrap up late this month and then we have a celebration class for both groups in September.  I will be launching Soaring Higher Enrichment Sessions for these students to add some special techniques that we were not able to fit into course.  The whole amazing process has caused me to appreciate teaching with fresh eyes. Each student is a blessing and they all have a gift to offer this world.  After such an intense season of Mater Classes, I feel surprisingly refreshed and look forward to a very Victorian summer. The Victorian Pen Workshop will be offered in August through The Gentle Penman. This improvers and intermediate level course is where I first began to solidify my Line and Wash techniques along with my love of the Victorian Era.

 I wanted to elevate the basics of offhand flourishing through ornamental design. This class has since created several offshoot classes over the years but they all have their foundation in this course.  If you love pen drawn florals, trailing vines, spinning acanthus, twisted ribbons and delicate birds, this will be the class for you. We explore a delicate technique for colour as well as some opulent ideas that will enrich your flourishing journey. 

This will be my only major online workshop for the summer as I slow down to get ready for IAMPETH as well as prepare for several new courses for late fall and 2024. The Victorian Pen workshop, represented ground breaking growth for me as an artist. I was starting to find my voice and my vision and find a way to articulate my techniques. It contains so much of my heart and soul. 

I will be working on new course handouts and posting fresh images on IG and Facebook. I hope you follow the path of the course development as it evolves in the next few weeks. I also wish you all the beauty of this glorious season. Take time to appreciate each stage of growth as you see it. Greet the flowers as you see them. Each one has a different face and personality and offer us so much beauty along our paths. Cheering you all on in your own personal growth. Please keep in touch. Sending hugs this beautiful June Morning. May you Flourish!