Simple & Semitic

1-Day (4+ hour) Workshop Available through June 1, 2022

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Description

Come explore the beauty of the Hebrew Alef-bet! This one-day workshop emphasizes the calligraphic aspects of Hebrew, and how it is both similar to and different from English, a distant cousin. Participants will learn the 27 beautiful and simply-crafted letterforms of the Hebrew alphabet, along with variations to create a style that is uniquely their own. No knowledge of Hebrew is necessary.

Supplies

PAPER

    1. I will provide practice sheets with sample letters, strokes, or exercises on them. These handouts are pre-ruled for a letter height of 4-5 pen widths, and will pair well with the 3.8 mm Parallel Pen (see outline 2a below). You can write directly on the handouts (you will have to print them out, preferably on bleed-proof copier paper) or work on separate paper.
    2. You may want to have other paper on hand to “graduate” to, and I recommend pencil ruling it before class begins with guidelines based on your preferred pen nib. Make your GUIDES AND THE SPACE BETWEEN LINES 4-5 pen widths. If you are new to this and need some hand-holding, please contact me (see below).
    3. A good pad or ream, either COMPLETELY blank, or with a square grid. Some suggestions: 
    4. Borden and Riley “Paris Paper for Pens” #234, 11×17 or 14 x 17. 
    5. Calligraphy practice pads or bond layout pads
    • Grid paper or calligraphy pads with grids (Avoid paper with slanted or diagonal lines, as these are designed for Italic calligraphy, not Hebrew!)
    • Bleed-proof copier paper (for example: Staples bright white 28)

    PENS

      1. My top recommendation to start is a Pilot Parallel Pen, size 3.8 (green cap). Be sure to get some refill cartridges! The handouts I will give are ideal with this size pen or something similar in size (3-4 mm).
      2. Bring other pens you like working with, such as Brause, Mitchell, Speedball, even crisp new calligraphy markers will work.

    INK/PAINT

      1. If you are using a Parallel Pen (see above), you will not need special ink or paint. If you use a dip pen, you will.
      2. INK: Some good practice ink is enough. Examples include: Higgins Eternal, Higgins Sepia, Walnut ink, Sumi ink, etc.
      3. PAINT: If you like working with gouache or acrylics or watercolors, be sure to have a water can, mixing palette, mixing brushes and some paper towels at hand.

    DRAFTING and NOTE-TAKING MATERIALS

      1. Metal ruler or t-square big enough to rule lines across the paper you have (please pre-rule a bunch beforehand).
      2. Pencil (#2 or harder), eraser, notepad/notebook
    Janet Takahashi

    Click on photo to visit biography page

    WORKSHOP LINKS

    YUKIMI ANNAND
    Sequence: Journey of Experimental Calligraphy

    SUZIE BERINGER
    The Unconventional Pointed Pen

    GEMMA BLACK
    Drawing the Fibonacci Sequence

    IVAN CASTRO
    Basic Rudolf Koch:
    Blackletter Und Neuland

    ANNIE CICALE
    Value Contrast: Exploring the Grey Areas
    Word Meets Image on the Page

    BARBARA CLOSE
    Letters & Blossoms
    Graphite Explorations

    SUZANNE CUNNINGHAM
    Beginning Copperplate Script

    JUDY DETRICK
    A Letter and a Rectangle

    CAROL DUBOSCH
    Ben Shahn Lettering

    JESSIE FORA
    (M) Handwritten: The Art of Tattoo Lettering

    RISA GETTLER
    (M) Painting Knotty Letters
    Visigothic Versals

    TAMER GHONEIM
    Gothic Lettering Magic with Procreate
    Blackletter Circles on Steroids

    MIKE GOLD
    Breaking the Rules
    Spontaneous Creation
    (M) Variations in A

    HEATHER HELD
    The Glittering Vine
    Victorian Frames & Labels

    NANCY HILLS
    (M) Learning to Sketch Out Celtic Knots

    THOMAS HOYER
    Dynamic Textures
    Ruling Pens Beyond the Rules
    The Alchemist’s Magic

    CARRIE IMAI
    Playful Letters
    (T) Mastering Italic

    GINA JONAS
    (M) A Meditative Calligraphy Technique

    SALMAN KHATTAK
    (M) Pen to Pixels
    (M) Lines & Tines

    MARTA MAPELLI
    Expressive Pointed Italic
    Pointed Brush

    HEATHER MARTINEZ
    (M) Learn to Sketchnote!

    HOLLY MONROE
    Decorated Letters
    Italic Lettering - Basics & Beyond
    (M) The Business of Calligraphy
    (M) Lettering on Vellum

    SUZANNE MOORE
    In the Glow of Gouache
    Page Dazzle: Patent Leaf Gilding

    LORNA MULLIGAN
    Loosening Up With Calligraphy & Paint

    MICHELE NIDENOFF
    (M) Decorative Borders w/Simple Tools
    (M) Watercolor & Lettering with Masking Techniques

    CORA PEARL
    Monoline Lettering with a 'B' Nib
    Monoline Lettering Techniques
    (T) Foundation Tune-up Class

    SALLY PENLEY
    Sensational Sumi!
    (M) Pastel Dusting Technique
    (M) Pleated Scroll Book

    JAN PICKETT
    Creative Colour for All Occasions
    Embossing with Extra Pizazz!
    Letters Unlimited

    ALI RICCARDO
    Graffiti Writing - The New York Lesson
    Rudolf Says

    ROBBIE SASLOW
    (M) Playing With Pens & Pencils
    Round & Robust: Exploring Uncial
    Simple & Semitic

    LINDA SCHNEIDER
    The Graceful Marker: Pointed Brush Script
    Calligraphy on the Go!

    CAROL MEASURES SCOTT
    (M) Captivating Color in Calligraphy

    MARINA SORIA
    The Empty Space, Womb of Shape

    JACQUELINE SULLIVAN
    Cold Wax Calligraphic Abstracts
    (M) Calligraphy & Mark Making with the Gel Plate
    (M) Mini Book Madness

    JANET TAKAHASHI
    The Art of Miniature Painting & Lettering
    Sketching Flowers with Watercolors & Ink

    NINA TRAN
    Flourishes Unraveled

    ELMO VAN SLINGERLAND
    Broad-edged pen: Roman Capitals

    MARK VAN STONE
    Versals
    Versals & White Vine Decoration

    JURGEN VERCAEMST
    Colorful Lettering Composition

    JULIE WILDMAN
    Akim Variations and Long Compositions

    ELEANOR WINTERS
    Gothicized Italic