CSI: Alphabet

Manny's decorative alphabet ideas are shown above.

Manny investigating alphabets

Some work produced during the October workshop

At the October workshop intrepid CSI: Alphabet investigator Manny Ling noted at the scene of the incident that there were 'many common body parts to letters'. He drew this conclusion while exploring how decorative letters can be made by adding fine lines or lifting off corners of the nib when writing. Using automatic pens to create the straight strokes then embellishing them or dragging the nib to make a fishtail are part of the hardened letterer's modus operandi.

Scribes were able to test their own investigative powers later when encouraged to be free with their hand movements and create decorative letters of their own. Released from the shackles of formal alphabets some interesting findings were made and the afternoon came to a satisfactory conclusion with an identity parade of work done during the day. Whether any of them were crimes ... I could not possibly say.

Manny Ling workshop in October

Manny will be doing a workshop on decorative letters at our 16 October meeting. Please bring walnut or Chinese inks, size 3A automatic pens, small nibbed pens, red gouache, cartridge and layout paper and a ruler and pencil. We are at our usual meeting place at Bede's World in Jarrow and will start at 10.30. Anyone interested in learning about calligraphy is welcome to drop in and see what we do. See you there.

Sticks and stones at September workshop

Writing on natural objects including stones, leaves, driftwood from Lindisfarne and bark was the core of our last workshop with Marlene Gray. With stones you can wash off your mistakes which is a great advantage and there is also no shortage of leaves at this time of year either! Shown in the photograph above are some of the pieces made during the session.