Snap, snap, grin, grin ...

The theme of our March meeting was cameras and calligraphy and Robert Cooper talked to us about how photographs could be used to create imaginative layouts or to stimulate layout ideas for pieces of calligraphy. He showed us a slide show of some photographs he had taken to demonstrate what we were to look out for.

He then set us snapping in the grounds of Sunderland's riverside campus with a list of features to try and include as a guide for observations. Examples we were to look out for included 'pictures with lines to lead the eye around the composition' and 'a picture in which a particular shape is echoed a number of times' or 'a picture in which there is a contrast of texture'. The modern campus of the Business School at Sunderland is full of interesting lines and angles and once you got your eye in for particular features you could find interesting visual images to match Robert's criteria. Some folks wandered over to St. Peter's Church to find more classic images to work with.

The photographs above show how a photograph of an air vent in the wall was taken through to a draft via a thumbnail sketch and below there are pictures of some of the ideas developed from photographs taken during the workshop ... say no more!

Southern European and Curvaceous

Mike introduced us to the friendly, curvaceous and very southern European Rotunda hand at the February Scribes meeting in Sunderland. Rotunda script was particularly favoured in Spain and Italy over the more angular picket-fence style of the northern Gothic letters. It is more rounded and less compressed than its straight up and down northern cousins. When letters have a bowl such as 'o' or 'b' or 'd' the internal curves become sharper than in roundhand scripts and the straight strokes the bottom of the letter finishes with an upwards curve rather than diamond shaped feet.



Using examples from writing manuals by Antonio Tagliente and Juan de Yciar we wrote large letters with broad nibs to get the feel of this hand. Many scribes found this a comfortable hand to write and some of the work created during the workshop is shown here.


One remarkable thing we did learn was how to rotate our tittles when making letters like 'i' and 'j' which had a dash at the top. For further information about how to do this and also what a jot is please contact Mike.

Merry Christmas from Christine

Christine Markey emailed to say that she had recently cleaned out her calligraphy bag and found all her Christmas cards for fellow scribes (as well as her TV remote). So, as late is better than never, here is Christine's design which she created using versals coloured in with watercolours. She had planned to bring them to our Christmas meeting but couldn't make it and forgot about her cards. Merry Christmas.

Programmes!

Slightly late, but here is the programme of meetings for Northumbrian Scribes from January to June. Please note that the February meeting will be on 19th not as shown on Susan's timetable.
PLEASE NOTE: The February meeting is now to be at the Business School at Sunderland University, room 312A. The tutor will be Mike Mavromichaelis and we will be having an all round good time studying Rotunda. Usual calligraphy kit and caboodle applies.

Calligraphy makes you live longer - it's official

Northumbrian Scribes now have the honour of having two nonagenarians amongst the membership. Our President, Tom Fleming, celebrated his 90th birthday at the beginning of January and here he is receiving some gifts and a card from Susan Moor at the last monthly meeting. Tom thanked everyone and promised that he would definitely be back to celebrate his 100th birthday with us in due course.Scribes Janet Ashmore, Mike Mavromichaelis, David Karle, Judi Postle, Maureen Ormston and others watch Susan Moor present Tom Fleming with his birthday presents.
Tom Fleming at the January meeting.

Calendar Girls (and Boys)

The January meeting was all about planning ahead for the Northumbrian Scribes' 2012 calendar on the theme of 'favourite places'. The whiteboard shows some of the ideas put forward although there is still room for a few more if anyone missed the meeting and would like to participate. Contact Mike Mavromichaelis if you are interested and he will let you know which options are still available.
After the calendar boys and girls had finished discussing that project Mike showed some of the decorated envelopes he has received through envelope exchanges. He has quite a collection and keeps them organised in folders because they are useful for ideas and inspirations. Scribes Tom Fleming and Norma Hickey are shown admiring the ingenuity and skill of some of the envelopes collected.
Tutor Mike also showed us some of his extensive collection of calligraphy books including those he keeps as examples of how not to do it!

Calligraphy Workshops in Hexham

There are two calligraphy workshops on the uncial script being run in Hexham as part of the Northumbrian Fragments project. Robert Cooper will be leading the workshops which cost £10 per day. For further information contact Judy Lloyd on (01434) 6062930.