Without turning a page in a calendar, I know August is approaching by the sounds of the bumblebees in the Japanese Anemones along my garden fence. The first sounds I hear while I sit at my garden swing with my morning books and my cup of coffee is the garden music of those bumblebees. It can be overwhelming and mesmerizing. The anemones remind me to appreciate every last ounce of summer before the inevitable change of the season. I did not plant these beautiful flowers, they just drifted into my garden from my neighbour's yard and I welcome them with joy each summer.
Though these summer days are passing by just as quickly as the blossoms open and fade, I am enjoying a summer of being refreshed by my favourite flourishes and favourite books. As a summer project for Ardington's Flourishing Club, I set a challenge to practice bird flourishing. I know several students are practicing these lovely designs and I have enjoyed become more and more fluent with these little winged beauties. The practice of bird flourishing brought back a flood of wonderful memories for me and I have used this summer season to refresh my mind and my practice with the styles that drew me into the calligraphic world in the first place. In my heart and soul there are the designs and patterns of ages past. I love the opulence of the Victorian era, the jewel tones of the Medieval and Renaissance worlds and the ornate pattern designs of William Morris. I am just as at home with a little mouse scampering across a page of Beatrix Potter's Work as I am with a page of historic Italian Hand penmanship. I can be moved to tears by a children's book and the older I get, the more I realize how important it is to pursue the things that you love. Actively pursue what brings you joy!
These designs can be a bit intimidating at first glance but when broken down into simple shapes, they are wonderful to explore. Registration is open for both of these fall courses and I am almost ready to send out an announcement about my November Study Day. I will keep you posted about it! As these days of summer seem to rush by for me and I know I will soon be immersed in my fall line up of classes this theme of staying refreshed is so important to me. I truly appreciate all the labours of the pen and the diversity of studies I have been exploring. I love making discoveries, working through all the ideas and releasing new classes. But I never tire of the sound of the nib on the paper, or the feel of the pen in my hand as I begin a tiny flourish on an envelope or a large illuminated piece. This work is such a joy and I am so very grateful to attentive students who are eager to learn and find that same joy and peace in the process. Sending hugs all around. Thank you to all who read this blog, correspond with me and take time to attend classes or watch the recordings. I hope you have a beautiful August. Enjoy each day as it passes knowing that there are treasures to find!
I think there can be such a sense of refreshment in revisiting your favourite things. This is also a valuable form of practice. Some of my absolute favourite pieces of artwork were flourishes or illuminations I have done over the past several years. They get tucked away in a portfolio and forgotten. But leafing through the designs again, makes me want to do more and more of them. As I flip through the pages of my portfolios, I see the heart motif over and over again. I will likely never stop doing that motif, but I learn something new about each design I create.
Italian Hand practice also follows similar flourishes and even similar words on the exemplar page but each stroke of the pen and each letter that I create, refreshes my mind and my skills with the pen. There is a welcome sense of comfort in this practice.
I think you know that you are still passionate about a subject through your desire to continue to work on it. If you are feeling a bit stuck at times, try to review some of the work you have done in the past and see what sparks with you.. Try not to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others or feeling you should have progressed more than what you see on the page. Trust the speed of the journey you are on and be content. Progress comes at a different pace for all of us.
I think you know that you are still passionate about a subject through your desire to continue to work on it. If you are feeling a bit stuck at times, try to review some of the work you have done in the past and see what sparks with you.. Try not to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others or feeling you should have progressed more than what you see on the page. Trust the speed of the journey you are on and be content. Progress comes at a different pace for all of us.
After all these years as a calligraphic artist, I still feel the bounce in my step as I open the studio each morning. I want to get the administrative tasks out the way so I can work on artwork. Looking at the past has refreshed me in so many wonderful ways this summer but I am also brimming with new ideas. The Fall edition of the Ardington Flourishing Club will be a Rhapsody in Blue. Blue flourishes in many shapes and sizes and all done with the passion for the pointed pen.
The Festive class planned for The Gentle Penman online for October is Festive Faire. Once again, the increased study time in offhand flourishing had me diving into carousel horses and scroll designs with the vibrancy of Fairground art. I will give you a sneak peek here. The class will explore flourish infills as well as a simplified inlay technique. 
