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.