Learning the Art of Calligraphy
The Calligraphic Arts Guild of Toronto offers courses featuring local, regional and international instructors primarily at our studio facilities at Neilson Park Creative Centre. Open to youth and adults, CAGT members have registration priority; non-members pay a small additional cost.
Interested in modern or traditional calligraphy? Learning scripts using tools such as the broad edge pen, pointed pen, brush, marker? Art techniques from illumination, book and paper arts? Individual course information details will help ensure the best fit for your skill level and interest.
Date: September 27, 2025 from 10 am to 4 pm.
Location: Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario
Studio A2
Course Description
Italian Hand is a playful, delicate, and joyful script that can drastically lighten your touch with
the pointed pen as well as help you develop a stronger understanding of other script hands.
This beautiful hand evolved from italic writing and predates English Roundhand and Spencerian
Script. It has a unique, charming quality than can captivate the onlooker and draw them in for a closer look. Italian Hand is meant to be written rather than drawn and is a very practical script to add your repertoire. The lower case letterforms are delicately shaded and simple to write. Capitals are varied and can take the form of a very delicate English Roundhand style capital or have more complexly shaded and flourished forms. This script hand is extraordinarily forgiving and expressive. It is a wonderful place for a beginner to start with as it encourages a very light touch with the pen. This hand has a very gentle quality to it that makes it such a pleasure to explore. I look forward to sharing the history of this hand with you as well as the unique possibilities it can add to your script. I hope you will enjoy exploring the playful nature of this hand.
Supplies:
Straight holder
Medium Flexible Pointed Pen Nib for delicate effects: Hunt 22, Gillott 404, Zebra G
Flexible Pointed Pen for more dramatic effects: Leonardt EF Principal or Hunt 101
Your favourite practice ink for pointed pen work such as: McCaffery Black, Stick ink, Sumi Vermillion, Walnut Ink or Sailor Manyo Fountain Pen Ink
Size A4 Layout Paper. I prefer Daler Rowney. You may substitute your favourite practice paper, but you should be able to see guidelines through it.
Pencil, Ruler, Eraser, Note Taking Supplies, Paper Towel, Water dish, Two Paper Clips
Optional: Maruman Imagination Series Graph Paper (size 8.3” x11”) for those who prefer to work on graph paper rather than using guidelines.
Member Price: $130
Non-Member Price: $150
Date: September 20, 2025 from 1 pm to 3 pm
Location: Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario
Studio A2
Course Description
TBA
Date:
Part 1: September 18, 25; Textura (Basic Blackletter)
Part 2: October 2, 16; (Elegant Renaissance Gothic)
Part 3: October 23, 30; Rotunda (Round Gothic)
Thursday evening classes from 7:00 to 9:00
Location: Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario
Studio A2
Mark Lurz will approach each script with the lower- and upper case letters.
You will learn the characteristics of each style, be encouraged to embellish an initial letter and use colour to design a piece of art for each script.
Mark can show you lots of samples from his collection.
There will be lots of free photo copies and all kinds of materials.
Materials:
Bring your basic tool kit;
Pilot Parallel pen 2.4mm
Whatever nibs and pens you have
Pointed nib for embellishing
Fine line markers
Ink
Gouache colours or colour pencils
Practice paper (Rhodia)
Pencil, eraser, ruler
Mark can lend you or sell any materials (cash)
You won't have to go shopping.
Part 1 - Member Price: $65
Part 1 - Non-Member Price: $70
4 evenings for 2 scripts, $125 or $130 non member
or register for all 6 classes, $180 or $190 non member
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