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!

The Marvels of May

 As I sit at my desk today on May 1st, the view is a soggy backyard. We have had days of grey skies and lots of rain, but I seen the green grass emerging and I am grateful for the beauty of this day.  It seems like we just blinked and the calendar pages have turned so quickly.

May always comes bringing promises of blooms and colour. I look forward to the emerging garden and the quiet work it brings. I want to take some time to thank all of my students who have been journeying with me for long term classes as well as continuing to take new or repeated courses. I am also continuing with private students and we get to explore territory that is so specialized and tailored to each student. The African Daisy sketch above was requested by a private student. I had to locate a specimen at the garden centre and then figure out a simple way to try to teach it. We could only progress so far in the lesson but felt so good to try something a bit different. I don't think I had ever noticed an African Daisy before. With each study that I do, I feel like I take a deeper look at nature and come away more appreciative.  I feel so blessed to accompany each student and watch as new skills emerge for each one of them. 

 I just completed the April session of the Flourishing Club at Ardington school and I am thrilled to see the work that the students are producing. April focused on floral roundels. They are easy to do. The design principle is repetition. You can start with a simple floral outline and then decide what elements you wish to repeat around the roundel. You can try one of these simple outlines. I would love to see your work if you do give this a try.

Whether the designs use a loose floral technique or a more pointed pen etched floral, the results are often surprising and very addictive.

 More fun is in store for the Flourishing Club for May, June and July if you are interested in joining the community. The course is currently sold out, but you can still register your interest in the class and we can see about opening a few extra spaces. We really did not know what to expect when we started the club and it is wonderful to see it grow. The other May class I have will be The Alphabet Garden Peacock Edition through the Gentle Penman. I am completing the course notes this week and I look forward to seeing the fanciful designs emerge on the pages. For sure, these designs are more complex than my usual Alphabet Garden class but I think I have found a way to break down the steps into easy components. At any rate, there is always joy as we learn together and I hope these techniques will enhance your skills. 

Finally, this Saturday I will begin my final offering of Italian Hand for 2023. This course is hosted by The Art of Letters in Singapore and will be kept very small. If you want to be introduced to the delicate grace of Italian Hand, registration info is available online. 

I hope this month is bright and cheerful for you. Enjoy each stage of the changing season. As I complete this blog post, the rain has stopped and the sun has broken through. Time is so precious and things can change quickly. I want you to know how much I appreciate your kindness and support. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing with the work of your hands, I am cheering you on and sending you a grateful hug. I hope May is full of marvels for you.

The Music Of Spring

 Yesterday morning was grey, and filled with sleet and ice pellets. There were still mounds of snow in my backyard. This morning, on April 1st, it is as if a switch has been turned on. The grass is green. The music of robins and cardinals is playing in the backyard and I can see squirrels and rabbits bouncing playfully. What a difference a day can make. And how welcome is this blue sky and bright sunshine. I love this season.  I will try to take my eleven o'clock tea time with my book on a the porch rocking chair. I don't take one moment of this brief season for granted. It really is my favourite season.  I will be using soft, gentle colours in my palette as I work in my studio. 

This month, I will be teaching a Master Class in Italian Hand through the EPPC online. This will be running from April until September. It is a slow study method and presented to a small group of students. We have a single opening for the class if you are interested. You can email me directly with questions if you are thinking about it. Consider this to be an Extended Play edition of the course. I am still completing the extensive course notes and discovering so many nuances along the way.  I will be gleaning from George Shelley, John Ayres, Joseph Champion and George Bickham as well as others. Somewhere between all of these influences, I have found my own own hand and the joy of Italian Hand. Although this is called a Master Class, this hand still has distinct mysteries for me and I hope to explore them together with you. We will be of course, finding ways to incorporate flourishes and compose calligraphic work with this playful hand.

Victorian Frames and Labels will be presented in May through Ardington online. This has been such a delicate skill to learn and I have found this pointed pen etching technique to be so helpful for cards and envelopes. The class evolved out of a single Victorian card that I found during the pandemic. This pointed pen etching technique is easier to learn than offhand flourishing and the results can be so surprising and inspiring. 

More upcoming classes are listed on here for you on my linktr.ee page. There are lots of classes coming up  if you are interested. It is always such a joy to accompany students on their journey and I never take these teaching opportunities for granted. You are such a blessing to me. The rest of April will be a bit of a sabbatical for me. I will be catching up on some very special commissions and painting pen orders. When I enjoy a cup of  tea at 11:00 AM each day. I take time to pause and reflect on the joy that you have brought to me as students and friends. Appreciate each day my dear friends. Take time enjoy the work of your hands. I hope you have a beautiful April. Sending bright Spring hugs all around. 

Season of Perpetual Hope

I had my March post all ready to publish on March 1st but life got ahead of me. Here were are on the 22nd day of the month and I am still hoping for Spring. I see signs of life in my garden. The Hellebore has budded and I am sure it will be in bloom soon. I hear robins and I have seen the red winged blackbirds already this season and they bring me so much joy. It is amazing how something as small as a bird can make such a large impact. 

As the different sights and sounds come into view through my studio window and my perspective at the desk will change. I love this season. I love anticipating the emerging of green and blossoms. Winter has its own peace and beauty but Spring represents so much Hope for me. I have lots to keep me busy at my desk these days as I prepare for new classes. I have had numerous requests to run a class about my Peacock initials and have agreed to teach a Peacock edition of The Alphabet Garden for The Gentle Penman. There is so much I can dive into as we construct the peacock together but the most important highlight of the class will be exploring a luminous painting technique. Info for registering for the class in may can be found here. 

In May, I will also be offering Victorian Frames and Labels through Ardington online. This is the class that takes a deep dive into the pointed pen etching technique while letting the wonders of the Victorian era shine through.  This class is a great one for any skill level. There are very easy techniques to explore with just pen and ink and the designs are surprisingly meditative. I have been etching away and finding so much joy in the process. The Sprinkle Joy piece is on bamboo paper which has quite a texture to it.

At this stage, I pause and consider the colour palette that will bring it to life. I often want to leave these designs just at the pen etch stage as they have a charm with pure ink on paper. In the end, I did choose to add colour to the design. 

Victorian Frames and labels are wonderful small studies for cards, envelopes or menu designs. They are highly addictive! There are still a few spaces left for this class if you are interested in joining us. Ardington classes are kept small so I am able to offer more interaction and feedback for the students in the courses. 

Finally, if you want to look ahead as far as June, I will be presenting The Passionate Pen class for Ardington School online. The Passionate Pen is my look Anglaise or English Roundhand. This is my approach to the beautiful English Script writing that is such a graceful form of handwriting. English Roundhand sings a song of its own and it is a delight to explore. There are only a few seats left for this course in June so I thought I should mention it on the blog if you were considering it. The graceful writing style is a perfect compliment for Victorian Frames and Labels. 

 I am grateful for the opportunity to share my work with students from all over the world. What makes me happiest is seeing their own interpretations of the work that is presented and watching how they grow. I hope that you are having a beautiful Spring wherever you are. Thank you for taking the time to read the blog and send me emails. I am always so happy to hear from you. Looking forward to the emerging season with you and I hope you find joy with the work of your hands. Sprinkle Joy dear friends!