Friends of Calligraphy offers classes and workshops
that meet the needs of those beginning calligraphy as well as those who are ready for more advanced techniques. FOC workshops are open to current FOC members. Basic calligraphy classes at Fort Mason are open to the public. They are sponsored by FOC, and taught by FOC members. Also listed below are classes by FOC members who teach in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. They are not sponsored by FOC, but are listed here as a courtesy to our members. Please contact individual instructors for details.

FRIENDS OF CALLIGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

Runic Writing
(download the pdf flyer)
Ann Miller, instructor

SESSION 1
SESSION 2 (identical to Session 1)
Viking Runes are fun to study, and a great introduction to calligraphy and hand lettering. Simple in geometric form and symbolically rich, they allow us to return to the deep-rooted past. We use them today in writing and design, decoration and illustration. This interactive workshop is a unique opportunity to work in depth with the Anglo-Saxon Futhark alphabet and related ancient scripts such as Ogham. An extensive workshop packet will be emailed in advance.

On Friday, after a brief slide show, we’ll set up a grid system for designing a set of related symbols. We’ll then launch into making the signs, working with proportion, style, spacing, and how lines meet and create shape. We’ll look at the visual forces and structural tensions within the page. It’s serious fun. The magic is in the method—several design exercises will show ways of using runes. We’ll start with pencil, then ink, then on Monday we’ll work with color and layering. Ann will demo every step, including a resist/wash/write method, using various tools and media on paper, as we explore ways of developing layered art using runes. A homework assignment, to be done over the weekend, will prepare students for the Monday session.

On Monday, we’ll continue developing the artwork, combining writing, color media, washes, and more writing. There will be more demos, and a chance discuss the submitted photos of student homework.

Whether you’re a beginner, a painter or designer, or an experienced calligrapher, this is a fantastic workshop for working with stroke energy, rhythm, and balance. We’ll explore abstract textures, an alphabet page or text block of symbols, a monogram or name written in ancient signs, or even an element for your next tattoo! Runes are deep in our mark-making history and can be used to design large scale fine art or express style and mood for personal use: unusual place cards, tee shirt art, and other social and decorative uses.

Ann Miller (Stanford University, AB, AM Art) studied painting and lithography with Richard Diebenkorn and Nathan Oliveira and has taught art and art history classes at Stanford, University of Santa Clara, and Community College, and ongoing workshops at San Francisco Center for the Book. In 1979 she founded M2 Design for client work (now celebrating over 40 years in service to the arts), and in 2002 she returned to teaching, creating three accredited onsite and online courses in calligraphy and letterform design at Academy of Art University. Her calligraphy has been published in Letter Arts Review, Bound & Lettered, and Alphabet, and her book titles for Protean Press are in the Harrison Collection, San Francisco Public Library. See her work at www.pennib.com

FRIENDS OF CALLIGRAPHY Fort Mason Classes

Open to the public, these classes are meant for beginners and for scribes who wish to continue improving their skills. Basic supplies required by each student include: black ink such as Higgins Eternal, all sizes of Brause pen nibs, one or two pen holders, pencil and eraser, 18 or 24 inch metal ruler, notebook, cotton rag, a small water jar. There may be additional supplies specified by each instructor and are listed after each class description in the Fort Mason brochure. (Download pdf brochure for 2020)

Calligraphy supplies, especially Brause pen nibs, can be difficult to find. Call or visit your local art supply stores, such as Arch, Dick Blick and Flax. If they don’t have what you need, contact the calligraphy mail order vendors:

John Neal Bookseller, 1-800-369-9598 • www.johnnealbookseller.com
or
Paper & Ink Arts, 1-800-736-7772 • www.paperinkarts.com

Please register for any class at least six weeks in advance. Class size is limited to 16. You will be notified by the Fort Mason Class Registrar if you have a place in the class or are on the wait list. Payment of tuition is necessary to hold your place on a wait list. If you need to withdraw, a full refund will be issued 14 days before the class begins. Otherwise the tuition fee is forfeited unless a wait-listed student can take your place.

Classes will be held at:

Fort Mason
2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123
Free parking outside the gate and metered parking within.

Italic
Patricia Coltrin, instructor
Seven Wednesday evenings • 6:30—9:00 pm
September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14
This is an online workshop via Zoom
$185 FOC members / $205 non-members

Select one:

Special instructions to FOC:

Italic is one of the most graceful, expressive, versatile and widely useful scripts available to the calligrapher. It dates back to Renaissance Italy where it was used by the Church and considered a quality hand among the upper classes.
This class will review the use of the broad-edged pen and study the construction of lowercase and uppercase letters, focusing on proportion, rhythm and spacing. We will look at many historical and contemporary examples for inspiration.
All levels of lettering experience are welcome.

Patricia Coltrin has been inspired by letters since 1984, initially studying with John Prestiani and Thomas Ingmire. She began a freelance business in 1992 and has since been a student of many other local and international calligraphers. Patricia teaches both privately and for FOC at Fort Mason. She finds her greatest pleasure in sharing this craft with others both through teaching and learning.

Pointed Pen Alternatives: Capitals, Numbers and Flourishes
Rick Paulus, instructor
Fort Mason • Four Saturday mornings • 10:00 am—1:00 pm
October 31, November 7, 14, 21
$135 FOC members / $150 non-members

This class is full and a waiting list has begun. You must register to be put on the waiting list. If no space becomes available, you will receive a refund.

Select one:

Special Instructions to FOC:

With an exploration of historical as well as contemporary techniques, we will take a pointed pen journey beyond the basics as we integrate alternative capitals, numbers and flourishes to add diversity and pizzazz to our pointed pen calligraphy.
Some knowledge of the pointed nib is helpful, but all levels of experience are welcome.

Rick Paulus has been a calligrapher and a teacher for over forty years. Rick apprenticed for several years at the legendary Tolley Studios, in Washington, DC, before becoming the engrosser for the US State Department. In 1998, he was appointed chief calligrapher of the White House, where he remained for two presidents. Today, Rick enjoys calligraphic explorations from his studio nestled in the coastal hills of Sonoma County.

Friends of Calligraphy Lecture

There are no lectures currently scheduled.

MEMBERS WHO TEACH

San Francisco:

Thomas Ingmire • Call 415.673.4938.
International Calligraphy Correspondence Program. Classes at all levels.
CPA-HO, 1040A Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

Raoul Martinez
Copperplate and blackletter classes for beginning, intermediate and advanced students.

Ann Miller • Call 650 558-8270
Calligraphy and Letterform. Advanced Calligraphy.

East Bay:

Patricia Coltrin • Call 510 524-5208

Georgianna Greenwood • Call 510.841.6924

Meredith Klein • Call 510.205.1119

Kaori Ogawa

Antonia (Nini) Smith • Call 510 526-7249
Year-round classes at Piedmont Adult School

Erma Takeda• Call 925.284.7368

Carla Tenret • Call 510.526.1214
Year round classes at Albany Community Center

Ben Yates • Call (925) 451 - 2643

South Bay:

Melissa Dinwiddie • Call 650.938.3939
Calligraphy, book arts, and illumination

Sara Loesch Frank • Call 408.446.3397
Ongoing calligraphy classes for beginners and intermediates.

Marian Gault • Call 408.395.8026

Ann Thompson • Call 408.378.6965

Marin County:

JoAnn Burchfiel Brand • Call 415.924.2625

Jody Meese • Call 415.272.3612

Mendocino:

Judy Detrick • Call 707.964.9276
Ongoing classes at all levels.

Sonoma County:

Christine Renden Haggarty
Ongoing classes in Asian calligraphy for beginners and intermediates.

Sherrie Lovler • Call 707.528.1723.
Calligraphic Abstract Painting.

Rick Paulus • Call 774.323.0050

Melissa Titone • Call 707. 573.3810
Ongoing classes and private lessons in Santa Rosa.

Yolo County:

Sumner Stone
Type design workshops in Rumsey, CA

Santa Cruz/Monterey/Carmel:

Debra Ferreboeuf • Call 831 655-4311

Carolyn Fitz • Call 831 335-2886

Ruth Korch
Art and calligraphy classes in the Santa Cruz area

Kern County:

Chris Paschke •Call 661 821-2188
Ongoing classes at all levels in Tehachapi

Reno/Tahoe:

Carol Pallesen • Call 775 329-6983
Ongoing classes in calligraphy and book arts

New Mexico:

Bill Kemp • Call 505 235-4983
Teaching and tutoring in Albuquerque

Online:

Ann Miller • Call 650 558-8270
Calligraphy and Letterform. Logo, Font, and Lettering for Illustrators. Two accredited Online courses through San Francisco Academy of Art University

Harvest Crittenden • Call 517 545-3031
Online classes in Spencerian, Flourishing, Copperplate and Photoshop for Calligraphers.

Meilissa Esplin
Brush lettering, gestural pointed pen, and chalk lettering.