Quiet Appreciation

 This Sunday morning is cold but filled with sunshine. I woke up to the song of a cardinal who seemed to be so joyful. As I prepared to start my day I realized how grateful I am each morning as I get ready to approach my desk. I can't wait to start working. I can't wait to put pen or brush to paper and bring something of beauty into the world. Even though there are struggles, stresses and anxieties to contend with, the pause and anticipation of working with me hands brings on such a sense of appreciation. I have just completed the Pencil Lines for Glittering Vines course for Ardington and next week I will start Nature Sings.  There are still a few spots left if you want to join. We will work on a grisaille technique for butterflies, bunnies and florals.

Each time I present a course, I discover something new. These designs and ideas are part of who I am as a teacher and an artist but I still find new lessons along the way. Although I teach, I find that I learn as well. The ideas that are unpacked by students and the questions that they bring enrich my life in so many ways. I just wanted to share the joy of this Sunday morning with you and hope that you find a moment in the day for quiet appreciation. I want you to know that your notes, emails and comments have been such a blessing to me. Enjoy the beauty of each day. Sending hugs all around. 

Flourished Joy

 It's a frosty February morning! We are experiencing our coldest temperatures of the season right now and there have been lots of cloudy days and grey skies. It is this time of the year that I need colour more than ever. The flourishes on my desk have been bright and cheerful. A parade of bunnies have been keeping me entertained as I chose them for my opening class of Flights of Fancy.

I have 50 students with me for this journey and the magic they are creating on the page is incredible. It was an unusual step for me to create such an advanced course of study. I have all different skill levels in the class, but each of them are taking it so seriously and spending dedicated time with the homework. As an instructor, I could not be more pleased and excited to see what is happening. My work desk is filled to overflowing at the moment. I have new course notes to prepare, commissions to design and pen orders to complete. It is a busy pace and at times, it can become overwhelming. No matter how busy things become, I find that I have to put time aside to pick up the pen to flourish.

It is a form of mediation for me. My mind can release from all of the pressures or stress that surround me and I can play on paper. The emerging rabbits bring me joy and a sense of calm that is hard to explain.

There are so many ways to nurture the sense of calm that is needed in our stress filled world. Whether you take time to brew a perfect cup of tea, read a chapter of your favourite book, pick up needle and thread to embroider or put ink to paper and write a caring note. Whatever it is that brings you that sense of joy and peace, I hope you can put time aside to pursue it. If your part of the world is in that seemingly endless cycle of grey skies and cold weather, I encourage you to bring a flower or two home to enjoy. There is nothing like their bright and cheerful presence to bring a touch of joy to your day!

Lots of flourishes are coming up in my monthly Flourishing Club for The Ardington School. I will also work on the bunnies, butterflies, and a frosted grisaille technique in Nature Sings for Ardington.

I have started a linktr.ee page that makes it easier to find the open registration links some of my course offerings. You can also contact me for my 2023 teaching schedule if you are interested in studying with me. I hope this February find you with pen in hand, flourishing, creating, playing and finding joy and beauty in each day. Sending hugs all around. 

Creating the Charming Cherub Class

This Sunday afternoon is bright and cheerful The sun has been shining for two days now. It is amazing how much I  miss the sunlight when the days are grey and cloudy. The bright sunshine is such a reminder to cherish the joys of each day. Whether it is a glimpse of a bright cardinal, a walk while bundled up for winter or a sip of a perfect cup of tea, savour the moments! I am taking a few moments this afternoon to give another January update on the blog. I just finished teaching Belles Nouvelles Lettres for The Gentle Penman online and I am loving the student work that is being produced. I see new ideas being explored as people really take to the possibilities of Art Nouveau letterforms. This morning I finished a V that I wanted to demonstrate in class, but 2.5 hours each class is just not enough time to do everything. The letter mixed Daniel Smith Wisteria and Daniel Smith Lavender. Rather than creating an infilled letter, I let the shadows around theletter help define the shape. The V could almost be turned toward the left to create a P.

These letters are subtle and relatively quick to do and I will continue to explore them and see what else evolves with them. As I concluded the workshop, I was asked to talk about the upcoming Valentine special edition class called Charming Cherubs. I had a few minutes to show the work that will be explored but I wanted to share a bit on the blog about the process of creating a workshop. Although these courses are presented in a relatively quick fashion, this particular class has been years in the making. Like so many of my courses, there is a root in Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts. My illumination teacher Debbie Thompson Wilson was the first one to introduce me to the possibilities of painted angels and cherubs. I would spend time perusing illuminated manuscripts to find examples I could study in detail.  I worked on faces, hands, wings, hair, folds in fabric. Each study had a lesson for me to learn and I loved trying to recapture the vision of the original illuminator. Although I love illuminated manuscripts, my heart is in the Victorian era and studies of Victorian scraps and cards will lead you to very charming cherub designs.

Many of the Victorian cherubs look more like children with wings and the illustrators had a wonderful time putting the cherubs in any settings you could imagine.

As I continued to study and glean from historic sources, I did not want to copy or re-do that which had already been done. I wanted to put these little cherubs into either flourished settings or acanthus settings. Over the years I created several miniature paintings and flourished cherubs that have found their ways to their new owners. Some were created as portfolio pieces and sold and others were created as special gifts for friends and family members. Cherub Dance was the first flourish that I did which incorporated a little cherub.

I continue to reproduce this card design even though I know my skin tone for the little cherub is far too pink. I still love the dance of the cherub. The thank you note that is included with the purchase of a Held Pen is my Cherub With Quill design. Again, it incorporates my love of offhand flourishing.

 My very first Angel of the Acanthus design was created for one of IAMPETH's silent auction. It was my first attempt at integrating a Victorian acanthus setting with the cherub.

 Evan's Hope was created for a local child who did not have long to live. Our little village here is St. George celebrated Christmas early in October for Evan. As a village, we put up our Christmas lights early and even had our Christmas parade in October so he could celebrate his favourite holiday one last time. I still get emotional when I think about this and I created his cherub design as a memorial card.

When I was asked to create a Valentine workshop that incorporated some kind of cherub design, I realized that I did not have any of my original pieces left to share with the class. I do have digital images that continue to be reproduced as cards, but it can be tricky to produce handouts when so much the original artwork is in private collections. When I considered the project for the class, I had to recognize that three hours for a class is very little to share something that I have been practicing for years. Usually, the drawing and painting of cherubs is reserved for my private students so I can take more time with some of the nuances of the designs. This Charming Cherub class will take the students through the painting of the skin tones, the nuances of the wings and will touch on the folds of the fabric, twisting ribbons and beautiful roses. The cherub is strategically hidden behind a scroll design to accommodate the restricted time frame for the class.

Even with hiding part of the cherub, this is an ambitious class to try to present. My hope for the class is that it will spark an interest and maybe spur the students on to trying to add figures into their work. I have watched private students and the small Ardington class students add figures into their illuminated letters and flourish designs so I am hoping that this will continue to happen.  Much of the foundation of the design is built up with pen and ink.

It could be left at the inked stage or brought to life with watercolour. The notes for the class will glean from some of my special Victorian trade cards and I do my best to fill the notes with lots of pathways for interested students to continue to study. Registration is open now through The Gentle Penman if you are interested in this single session course.
Years of personal study have gone into this class and I know that I will just be able to skim the surface of the possibilities in this class. But, the course notes will also really help me as I continue to teach a more involved cherub for my private students. Creating courses and workshops is a long and tricky path to navigate. I feel like I learn so much along the way. I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of some of the background for the course. Each course takes so much time and research to prepare  and then it seems like it is over in a blink of an eye. But I hope the lessons and the inspiration from each course lingers on for a long time. Happy Sunday dear friends. 

May You Flourish

 The first 10 days of the New Year have flow by and I am back in my regular studio routine of teaching, working on commissions, painting and shipping pens. No complaints! I am thrilled to have the work and I love seeing what students are doing and how they are growing. When I ship out pens and write a note of thanks to my client, I sign each note with the phrase "May you Flourish!" As a former florist, I know that the root word of Flourish can mean " bloom". I delight in watching others flourish and blossom on their own path. The floral world for me was always filled with such beauty. Each petal of flower is precious and when I handle them, I try not to bruise or damage their delicate beauty.

They are unique and one of a kind even if you get a dozen of the same flowers. I always appreciate their individual beauty. The calligraphic world is very different from the floral world but from the time I picked up the pointed pen, I was trying to merge the two worlds together. I love flourishes that blossom and bloom. I love wandering over a page with pen and ink and seeing what ideas emerge. The process of flourishing for me is like thinking on paper. Although the strokes are simple and now very familiar to me, each design is one of a kind and has that same delicate nature as a flower. When I flourish with pen and ink, I enter into a place of quiet peace. I am undistracted, calm and filled with a sense of wonder and appreciation. It is very difficult to to explain. When I teach, I try to tell my students about this sense of peace but this is something that has to be understood by each person. My hope is always that each student "will flourish," and find that sense of quiet peace.  There are so many ways for you to study and learn flourishing techniques. There are many online classes, in-person classes and tutorials that you can find. Take whichever route is most comfortable for you. This year, I will be teaching a few flourishing classes and The Ardington School will be presenting two of the first. A unique opportunity this year, and also an experimental way of teaching will be the Flourishing Club through  the Ardington School.

 The hope of The Flourishing Club is to share some of this quiet peace and have you integrate flourishing into your daily routine at least for a few weeks. There will be a variety of flourishes explored and I hope to see students take the flourishes into unique directions. 

See what happens. See what emerges on the paper. And see how you grow in the process. Nature Sings will be presented in March.

Ardington School classes are kept small and allow me to interact with the student and help nurture skills along the way. 

This is a class that was launched to highlight a grisaille technique for flourishing. It is rooted in the beauty of nature and anticipates Spring with butterflies, bunnies and florals. It's a breath of fresh air as we pull out of a grey winter. White underpainting can give spectacular effects in the flourish.

 I am still amazed and surprises at what happens on the paper when I flourish  using the grisaille technique.

 Although I have been playing with offhand flourishing for 20 years now, the flourish still teaches me, amazes me, and fills me with the same appreciation I have for a beautiful flower. If you would like to ask me any questions about these courses please reach out through email. I would love to encourage you on your journey and help you to flourish and grow. I firmly believe that Flourishing is easiest of all pointed pen skills to learn and is the key to unlocking confidence and letting go of the fear of a blank page. May you truly Flourish dear friends in this beautiful new year. Sending hugs!

The Practice of Peace

 As I open a new calendar page for a bright New Year, the word that I have been pondering is Peace. As I close out a year and think about the year in front of me, I do a bit of reflecting. I am not good with resolutions or making lists of what I want to accomplish. I try to be mindful in my daily tasks and set reasonable goals for each day. When I begin to work at my desk, I take time to appreciate the work in front of me. It is a blessing to be able to work with my hands. As I was painting the little blue birds on their glittering vines, I was aware of how peaceful the process is for me. Many students and friends have written to express the same thoughts about working with their hands. One friend, remarked that she was looking at her hands as miracles when she saw what was emerging on the paper. Whether you knit, embroider, sew, write, draw or paint, what we do with our hands can be a source of wonder and peace. This year, there are many tasks in front of me that can seem overwhelming.That may be why I am so reluctant to list them! But every time I pick up the pen or the brush, I am finding peace. I realize that when I teach my classes, I am trying to share that same sense of peace. I think what is more clear to me than ever is that we are striving to bring excellence to our work and improving areas that we want to work on. But as we do this, rather than taking a deep dive into the faults that are there, look for the joy in the process. I have stated many times in my blog posts and in my classes that I am a very slow learner. I have failed so many times and looked at work that appeared to be making no progress at all. But there are moments when I can feel skills strengthening and I can see visible improvements. Everything happens in its own time.  My first class this year is Belles Nouvelles Lettres hosted by the Gentle Penman online. Registration is open if you would like to join the class. 

These drawn and painted letters have a peace of their own. Rooted in Toile de Jouy fabrics, French inspired colours and a dash of Art Nouveau influence, these letters combine simplicity and elegance. They have been a pure joy to explore and I can't with to share some of the discoveries I have made with them.  One of the colours that has been so enticing is Eau de Nil. I have been trying to recreate this glorious colour as it goes so well with lavender, pinks and blues.  Even if you think you can't draw or can't paint, there will be something for you in this class.  If you would like my updated 2023 teaching schedule, please send me an email.  Happy New Year Dear Friends.  Welcome to 2023 and the possibilities it will bring. Keep practicing peace!

What the Teacher Sees

This morning I finished teaching my last class of the year. I was teaching The Enchanted Meadow for the Ardington School and demonstrating some special request techniques for the group of students. What a delight to paint this little white rabbit. 

As I closed the class, my heart was filled with joy and such pride for my students. Not just this group of students, but all the students I am blessed to see each year.  Throughout the year, I saw some incredible growth with my dear students as well as changes with my own work. I will explore these changes and ideas in 2023. Instruction really is a two way street. I love preparing for the classes, going over the notes and updating the content and getting my mind ready for each workshop. But as the students progress and join in for repeated offerings of the same class I watch as wonderful things unfold. I can see refining happing in the techniques of the students. I watch imaginations ignite with new ideas as each student finds their own voice and expression. I hear about how painting, writing, flourishing or gilding is bringing peace in an anxious world. I am truly overjoyed with what I see you producing on the page and hearing about the joy in the journey. It is really you, the student, who keeps me preparing and working on course content.

Thank you for another wonderful year of classes. I know they are an investment not only of the tuition fee but of your time and energy. I hope you continue to benefit from the notes and the instruction and keep exploring your ideas. You have surpassed all I have hoped and dreamed for these classes. It brings me such a sense of delight to see your work. Thank you for sharing your images with me.  There will be more updates coming up on the blog and you can email me for my 2023 teaching schedule if you are interested. Each class offering seems to be exploring specialized techniques and I hope there is something for every skill level in the upcoming classes. Belles Nouvelles Lettres through The Gentle Penman may look complex, but these letters are exercises in simplicity and contrast.Painting this initial gave me such an appreciation for Daniel Smith Quinacridone Red.

 Pencil Lines for Glittering Vines will have a touch more of William Morris influence this time around as blues and greens no doubt will come out to play.

We will explore the acanthus leaves, gilding and painting as well as how to draft these vines.  We can  draw and paint sweet song birds in For the Love of Birds.

 At the time of this blog post, there is one seat left in  For The Love of Birds offered through Ardington. I will have an ongoing flourishing program in the form of a Flourishing Club coming in the New Year

as well as the new course with Martin Beek, The Victorian Book Illustrators.  Right now Kate Greenaway, Walter Crane and Arthur Rackham and working their magic as I explore ideas. From bookplates, to pen etching, to the delicate colour palette of Kate Greenaway, it feels like I really get to indulge my inner Victorian!

There is so much more I could mention but I will wait until the time comes closer and talk about each class in detail. I have allotted myself two weeks off from studio work but I am sure I will be playing at my desk. Enjoy the peace and wonder of this season. Take time for yourselves. Relax and stay warm. As I close out this year with such gratitude I look forward to the year ahead. Thank you for reading and for being part of my life. Hugs all around. 

Shine Like Stars!

 There will never be a way for me to express my thanks and gratitude to you my dear students, friends and readers of this blog. You have encouraged me this year in so many ways. You sent photos of your work, the plants in your garden and even book covers that you thought I might like. Seeing a glimpse of your lives and watching your work evolve in ways that surpasses my wildest expectations is more blessing to me than I can ever express. Thank you for letting me know that the online classes are a blessing to you as well. I can clearly see the growth in your work and you are continually moving me into new territory as I explore your requests. You are truly stars and  it is a delight to watch you shine.

Let this season be one of peace and joy. Take time to pause and watch the season unfold around you. Nurture yourselves. This time of year can be overwhelming. Thank you for being such a blessing to me! I will be taking two weeks off in mid December to pause as I prepare for my 2023 schedule. A brand new course is being prepared along with Martin Beek for Ardington School. I will be able to indulge my love of the work of Kate Greenaway as we explore Victorian Book Illustrators. Bookplate designs will be part of the course but I couldn't resist the charm of creating a festive infused Kate Greenaway wreath. 

Sending hugs to you all. Thank you for being such a blessing to me and I look forward to peace and hope for 2023. Keep shining like stars!

Flourish and Grow!

 

On a very cold Sunday Morning in November, I wanted to share a quick post of how happy you have made as students and as readers of the blog. I appreciate all of you who have let me know they have not been receiving the notifications of the blog posts. It has been because of a setting change on this platform but I am happy to add your name to the list again if you contact me. Thank you for reading and being interested. This week my heart has been so joyful. I have just completed teaching The White Christmas Flourishing class at the Ardington School Online. Honestly, I don't know when I have seen such joyful flourishes emerge from a group of students. I think the Festive theme launches so many whimsical thoughts and people love to add a bit of sparkle to their work.

The special focus of working with white ink on dark paper also helps the students to see things with fresh eyes. I watched flourishes emerge that I have never seen students create before. We had angels and gnomes emerge on the paper! It was so exciting and incredibly satisfying to see the unique vision of the student come forward throughout the class.

 I have students who have been signing on for courses for many months now and to see their work skyrocket just brings me so much joy. Education builds as you continue to study. One student took the time to tell me that online classes really do work. I would never be able to meet with these students in all of these different countries in person. It is such a blessing to know that the classes are making a difference. As 2023 approaches, I want you to flourish and grow as you work with your hands. Find the sense of peace and joy that creative pursuits can bring. I let go of pursuing perfection years ago. I am pursuing improvement and peace in the process. I will be continuing to teach online. The Gentle Penman will have my Belles Nouvelles class in January. I have written about this before but this is a wonderful starting place if you want to learn the pen etching technique with the influence of Toile du Jouy and Art Nouveau colour influences. From antique soap labels and perfume labels to lettering on signs and even colours of pastries, there is so much to explore in this class. 

 The Ardington School will have several courses as well and we will be launching a monthly Flourishing Club as well. The Flourishing Club will be a place to play and place to grow. I will keep the flourishes to seasonal themes and we can explore techniques together. I have some spring ideas for our first set of club meetings!  Each meeting will be one hour and we will be able to chat together as we work on flourishes. The focus will be creating an atmosphere where we can grow and explore together.

You can sign up for Ardington's newsletter on their site or contact Gemma at Ardington to be included in the notification when the Flourishing Club launches. The Ardington offers so many wonderful courses with wonderful instructors. Enjoy looking through their course catalogue.  I will also be teaching For the Love of Birds at Ardington in early January. . This is a drawing and painting class where were can work together on gaining confident skills.  Here in Canada, January can be a bleak and wintery month and I hope to awaken Spring Joy in this class. We will draw birds and branches tougher and form a sweet branching heart for your Cerulean Warblers.

Your finished design can serve as a beautiful Spring card. We will explore pencil drawings of various birds and I hope this will be a confidence builder for you.

 And if you want to design gilded borders, I will be running my Pencil Lines for Glittering Vines course again. Although these look complex, I break this down into simple steps and you will have such fun designing your beautiful border. We befriend the pencil before we gild and paint. You will learn how to create a clean draft before you put paint and gold to paper. 

 Enrolment is kept quite low at Ardington. The classes are small and we interact with each other on a discussion board. I feel as if I am part of your journey and not just teaching and then closing the door. Although these classes are so much work to prepare, I am so grateful as I watch your skills blossom. Please reach out to me if you have any questions about these courses. I am so excited about what is in store and I will be cheering you on as you flourish and bloom. I know there is anxiety, fear and uncertainty in our lives. Lots of real struggles and pain. As artists and calligraphers, I think it is so important that we reach out to others, send a note of encouragement and bless others with the work of our hands. A little act of kindness goes a long way. Thank you dear students, readers and friends for the blessing you are to me. Keep flourishing!