classes

FOC Workshops

    Seasonal Cards

FOC Classes

Basic Supplies

Memorial Scholarship

FOC Lecture

Members Who Teach

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






  • Friends of Calligraphy is pleased to present

    Seasonal Cards
    with Barbara Close

    Monday, January 25, 2027
    10:00am — 1:00pm PST
    All levels of experience welcome.
    online via Zoom

    Cost of workshop: $35 for FOC members, $45 for non-members

    Registration will open at 8:00 a.m. Pacific on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026, on our FOC Classes web page at https://friendsofcalligraphy.org/pages/classes.html. Scroll to the Seasonal Cards workshop and click on the Pay Now button.
    This workshop is limited to 30 participants. If more than 30 registrations are made on December 2nd, 30 participants will be selected in a blind lottery from those registrations. FOC members will be given priority. You can join FOC for $40 at the Member Sign-Up webpage: https://friendsofcalligraphy.org/pages/mbrsignup.html.
    Workshop fees are refundable until Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027; after that date, we can refund your fee only if your space can be filled from a waiting list.

    Questions? Please contact Joan Passarelli at joan.passarelli@gmail.com.
    Download the PDF flyer here

    In this creative class, we will celebrate the beauty and inspiration of the seasons through color, design, lettering and artistic details. Experiment with playful compositions, expresive marks and thoughtful embellishments to create unique handmade cards that capture the spirit of the season.
    Come ready to play, experiment and let your creativity bloom.

    Barbara Close is an internationally known calligrapher and artist. Her work includes a wide variety of lettering styles and mixed media applications. She has exhibited across the country and has work in many private collections. Barbara designed the logo for Somerset Studio Magazine, the Calligraphy Collection font cartridge for Cricut, and several greeting cards for Marcel Schurman, now Papyrus.
    Barbara is also known for her teaching. She has taught at several international lettering conferences, as well as IAMPETH and Letters California Style. Barbara values exploration and discovery as much as the finished piece and encourages artists to follow their creative hearts, stay curious, and enjoy the process of making art.

    Website: www.barbclose.com
    Instagram: barbara.close
    Facebook: barbara.close.73
    EMail: barbicl@aol.com, barbaraclose.calligraphy@gmail.com


FRIENDS OF CALLIGRAPHY FOC Classes


Open to the public, these classes are meant for beginners and for scribes who wish to continue improving their skills.

Basic Supplies: Non-waterproof black ink (i.e., Pelikan 4001, Higgins Eternal, or Dr Ph Martin’s Hydrus Carbon Black), all sizes Brause pen nibs, one or two pen holders, pencil and eraser, 18 or 24 inch metal ruler, notebook, cotton rag, a small water jar.
If other pens, nibs or holders are specified for a class, then it is not necessary to buy the Brause pen nibs on the Basic Supplies list.
There may be additional supplies specified by each instructor that are listed after each class description in the FOC Classes brochure.

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.johnnealbooks.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:

  • Online via Zoom
  • Fort Mason, Building C
    2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123
    Free parking outside the gate and metered parking within.
  • Albany Senior Center
    846 Masonic Ave., Albany, CA 94706


FOC has scheduled several future Fort Mason classes. They will be posted as soon as flyers are available.


Friends of Calligraphy Memorial Scholarship


The Friends of Calligraphy has a scholarship fund honoring beloved members.
To apply, click here.



Friends of Calligraphy Lecture



    FOC has scheduled several lectures. They will be posted as soon as more information is available.


MEMBERS WHO TEACH


San Francisco:

  • Katie Leavens
    Calligraphy & Illumination classes

East Bay:

  • Patricia Coltrin • Call 510 524-5208
  • Meredith Klein • Call 510.205.1119
  • Raoul Martinez
    Copperplate and blackletter classes for beginning, intermediate and advanced students.

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.
  • Ann Thompson • Call 408.378.6965

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.

Yolo County:

  • Sumner Stone
    Type design workshops in Rumsey, CA

Santa Cruz/Monterey/Carmel:

  • 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:

  • Risa Gettler • Call 951-520-3010
  • Nancy Hills
    Email Nancy for information about current classes.
  • Ann Miller • Email, or call 650 558-8270
    Art 50 and Art 53: Two zoom courses at Stanford Continuing Studies
  • Kestrel Montes
    Pointed Pen Calligraphy and Engraving
  • Rick Paulus • Call 774.323.0050
  • Sally Penley
    Email Sally for a list of current Zoom classes