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

There are no workshops scheduled before June 2015. Please check back later. Meanwhile, perhaps a class at Fort Mason would be of interest. See below.

FORT MASON classes

The basic calligraphy classes at Fort Mason are open both to FOC members and to the public. The class size is limited to sixteen people. Classes may be paid online via PayPal using their secure online payment service. You do not need to have a PayPal account; simply click on the Pay Now button for the class of your choice. All major credit cards are accepted. If you wish to register by snail-mail, please download the Fort Mason brochure and send the registration portion of it with your payment. For more information on Fort Mason classes please contact Elizabeth Nisperos.

Please register for any class at least six weeks in advance of the first meeting. Class size is limited to 16. Payment of tuition is necessary to hold your place on a wait list, and will be refunded after class begins if no space opens.

Cancellations: A full refund will be issued up to 14 days before the class begins. After that, tuition is forfeited unless your place can be filled from the wait list.

Basic supplies and additional or different supplies specified by each instructor are listed at the end of each class description. The term “Basic Supplies” refers to: black ink (Higgins Eternal or Pelikan Fount India), all sizes Brause pen nibs, one or two pen holders, pencil & eraser, 18”– 24” metal ruler, notebook, cotton rag, a small water jar.

Calligraphy supplies, especially Brause and Mitchell pen nibs, can be difficult to find. Call or visit your local art supply stores, such as Arch, Dick Blick, Flax, Michaels, Pearl, Utrecht. If they don’t have what you need, contact the calligraphy mail order catalogs:
John Neal Bookseller, 1.800.369.9598, www.JohnNealBooks.com
Paper & Ink Arts, 1.800.736.7772, www.paperinkarts.com

The folowing classes are on the schedule for 2015
Download the Fort Mason brochure in pdf format.

Foundational Hand
Chris McDonald, instructor
Seven Saturday mornnings • 10 am–12:30 pm
February 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11
$140 FOC members / $150 non-members

This class is full and a waiting list has been created. Payment of tuition is necessary to hold your place on the waiting list, and will be refunded after class begins if no space opens.

Select one:

Developed a century ago by British calligrapher Edward Johnston, the Foundational Hand has evolved into an ideal model for the beginning student and an important source of inspiration for the seasoned scribe. Aimed at first-time calligraphy students, this class will offer an introduction to the broad-edged pen and the clear, rigorous forms of this time-honored hand. With an emphasis on the importance of spacing, the class will also touch on simple layout strategies, and provide an opportunity to experiment with a variety of tools and materials.

All levels of lettering experience are welcome.

Chris McDonald began practicing calligraphy in 2008. He has studied with several local calligraphers, primarily via the introductory classes and workshops offered by the Friends of Calligraphy. A proud Fort Mason “alumnus”, Chris hopes to draw new students into the Bay Area calligraphy community and to otherwise help encourage the practice, study and appreciation of this vital and fulfilling craft.

Uncial
Judy Detrick, instructor
Seven Saturday mornings • 10 am–12:30 pm
April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
$140 FOC members / $150 non-members

Select one:

Uncial, an all capital alphabet, was in use during the so-called ‘dark ages’ from approximately the 5th through the 9th centuries. Updated for use in the 21st century, this very popular alphabet stands alone or blends well with other styles. In this class you will learn the basic letterforms, and the rhythm and spacing that gives uncial its distinctive appearance. Also covered will be suggested tactics for successful layouts.

All levels of lettering experience are welcome.

Judy Detrick has taught calligraphy and graphic design at College of the Redwoods on the Mendocino coast for more than 25 years, and developed the Graphic Arts Certificate Program there. She was editor of Alphabet, the Journal of the Friends of Calligraphy, 2007–2010. Her work can be found in the Harrison Collection of Calligraphy and Lettering at the San Francisco Public Library.

Copperplate
Melissa Titone, instructor
Seven Tuesday evenings • 6:30–9:00 pm
September 8, 15, 22, 29, October 6, 13, 20,
$140 FOC members / $150 non-members

This class is full and a waiting list has been created. Payment of tuition is necessary to hold your place on the waiting list, and will be refunded after class begins if no space opens.

Select one:

Copperplate is a beautiful flowing script which was developed in the seventeenth century and is commonly used today for invitations to formal events such as weddings. In this class you will practice the pressure and release action of the pointed pen while learning the upper and lower case alphabets, along with numbers and punctuation. We will also discuss how to vary the letterforms to create different styles and cover techniques for addressing envelopes.

All levels of lettering experience are welcome.

Melissa Titone has owned a freelance calligraphy business since 1988, doing everything from wedding invitations to commercial lettering. She has enjoyed teaching children and adults, both privately and in workshops and classes. Her work has been published in several books, including Greeting Card Design, The Speedball Textbook, American Corporate Identity, Letterheads Gone Digital and The Artful Letter Engagement Calendar.

Italic Handwriting
Patricia Coltrin, instructor
Four Tuesday evenings • 6:30–9:00 pm
October 27, November 3, 10, 17
$80 FOC members / $85 non-members

Select one:

The italic hand was used both as a formal and as a cursive script in Renaissance Italy. Its clear, elegant forms provide a wonderful model for modern handwriting. Using pencils and fountain pens with broad-edged calligraphy nibs, students will study the construction and proportion of the letters and methods for joining them into a cursive script. The class will start with a slower, semi-formal cursive and work towards a more freely written version through exercises for developing rhythm and speed. Students will see many historical and modern examples.

All levels of lettering experience are welcome.

Patricia Coltrin has been inspired by letters since 1985 when a friend loaned her a Pelikan pen. Initially studying with John Prestianni and Thomas Ingmire, she began a freelance calligraphy business in 1992 and has done both commercial and private commissions. Her work can be found in Belle Lettere (1997).

Friends of Calligraphy Lecture

There are no lectures scheduled at this time.

MEMBERS WHO TEACH

San Francisco:

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

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

East Bay:

Patricia Coltrin • Call 510 524-5208

Georgianna Greenwood • Call 510.841.6924

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

Holly Ynostroza • Call 510.655.7591
Private classes; Adult Program, Orinda Community Center

Sonoma County:

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

Sherrie Lovler • Call 707.528.1723.
Calligraphic Book Hand for Book Artists.

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

Marin County:

JoAnn Burchfiel Brand • Call 415.924.2625

Patti Cooke • Call 415.888.3299

Mendocino:

Judy Detrick • Call 707.964.9276
Ongoing classes at all levels.

Sacramento and Placer counties:

Phawnda Moore • Call 916.630.0505
Ongoing classes in lettering styles, correspondence, journaling, and the creative process at beginner to intermediate levels

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
Calligraphy classes at South Side Community Center

Ann Thompson • Call 408.378.6965

Monterey/Carmel:

Debra Ferreboeuf • Call 831 655-4311

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. Advanced Calligraphy. 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.