This is a long overdue post, but my lovely friend Carole Dow won the March draw as I was about to leave for Australia…so:
Carole says:
I’m not really sure what drew me to Calligraphy. I have always admired lettering, but had never thought of actually doing it myself until my local Adult Education centre introduced it. I joined the class, and enjoyed learning the different hands but I wasn’t sure where I was going with it until, after a couple of years, and at another centre, I had the amazing good fortune to meet Lin who was standing in for our tutor who was sick.
That one session was an absolute revelation. Lin opened our eyes to just what could be done with lettering in a creative and exciting way. I went home buzzing!
Her use of colour and texture together with a freer approach to the calligraphic form was inspirational. We continued with Lin as our tutor and I then joined her Book Art group – Open Books Inc.
This group of creative, supportive women further widened my horizons as far as calligraphy and art was concerned. As well as working together, we laugh and sometimes have needed to cry together, and I believe we have grown together in our creative confidence. I know without them and without Lin’s constant encouragement, I would never have made the books or calligraphic pieces that I have.
When Lin moved to Oxford, we missed her inspiration and direction, but her encouragement and influence had given us all such a strong bond that we keep going with our Book Art group – Open Books, sharing ideas, experiences and friendship.
At the moment I do very little formal calligraphy, but I find I use much of what I have learned from Lin – the use of colour and design – in my set design work for our local youth theatre, and of course cards, books and special pieces for friends’ weddings and suchlike, and look forward to doing more as time allows.
I would like to add that I have seen this lovely book which is a collaborative piece. The embroiderer did tiny squares for each line of verse – you can see one on the bottom of the first page – and Carole made the book using silks, laminated monoprinted papers and did the lettering in monoline uncials.
Thank you, Carole, for sharing your calligraphic journey:
Oh and by the way, Carole chose the children’s colour books for her grandsons.
After attending my first weekend workshop with Lin in Perth, I can well imagine the impact of Carol’s experience with ongoing support from Lin in a class situation. Two days with Lin brought out the best in me (studying the lettering of Hermann Killian.
I have been working on it, but have no one there for direction . There is always a point where one doesn’t progress anymore…or you feel you are not. There seems to be a vibe in a group situation which encourages and supports ones progress.
Please come Back Lin…..or maybe I have to come to visit you!
Carole Dow’s embroidered book : looks lovely : is there any way of getting a close up shot of one of the pages?
Absolutely stunning Carol! I love the creativity! I am still doing lots of formal commissioned work but just love it when I have the time for a bit more freedom with letterforms. I’d love to go to a class to experiment with the art side more but it’s always the same – just need more time. I’d love to see more of your work as I am drawn to contemporary calligraphy. One day I will have more time to do pieces I want to do instead of what clients want! Many thanks for sharing. Best wishes, Tina.
Lovely work from Carole and thanks for sharing it Lin. Congratulations to her for winning Lin’s super prize.
What an inspiring blog! Bookmaking has crept up on me over the last few months and I love it – journal or more formally designed. Thank you both.
What encouraging comments, Thank you. I have to say that book making really helped to move my calligraphy forward. I forgot to say how much my prize was appreciated by my grandson – thank you Lin!