This workshop was an adventure in working with complementary colours and degrading a colour by adding its opposite on the colour wheel. The one-day workshop began with mini-collages, one of which used tints and tones of a colour and its opposite as a focal point. Working out a range of colours followed, going from one colour to its opposite incrementally, and discovering a wonderful subtle range of "delicious" colours Anne-Marie Moore's interpretation from collage to watercolours The swatches … [Read more...]

This is the first time many South Africans have had the opportunity to learn gilding on gesso. This specialist course was done over three sessions and everyone showed a real commiment to learning this exciting skill, espcially as they were enrolled on other courses and often had families to care for as well.. There were nine people in Heleen's studio - some people had flown in from Johannesburg and Durban. The third and final session began at 7.00am to make sure that the humidity levels in Cape … [Read more...]

Participants look at how to create a personal alphabet design by analysing the lettering and rhythms by modern lettering artists including Burgert and Shahn, using various instruments. Using their understanding of letter inter-relationships inspired by modern alphabets, they extrapolate what they have learnt to create their own alphabet. Studies: Colin Lumsden, Ann Whitbourn, Shirley DavisonThis is then used in a composition of either a few words or a body of text. Participants considered … [Read more...]

Towards the end of his life, Matisse used letters in his wonderful cut-paper art. We will examine the context of his use of words and see how we can create something with a similar moodBottom centre and bottom right: Matisse's workMaggie felt that Matisse was best expressed in primary colours.  It was incredible seeing how studying Matisse’s cutouts inspired such a variety of work. We began by anyalysing his work and looking at photos of him working. We considered his enormous scissors, the idea … [Read more...]

Adolf Berndt combined crisp modern letter forms with decorative elements from illuminated initials. Using masking fluid and water colours the outcome was a fresh, very individualised result.We will study his artwork and techniques and work out a way of producing something inspired by this great artist and include touches of gold!The workshop began with analysing some of Bernd's magnificent decorated capital letters, his colour schemes and his techniques. Everyone began by doing two capital … [Read more...]