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.
To inquire about a course or workshop, email cagtinfo@gmail.com.
Cheques can be submitted c/o CAGT 56 Neilson Drive, Toronto M9C1V7.
Date: Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23
Location: Neilson Park Creative Centre
The Calligraphic Arts Guild of Toronto wants you to join us for a weekend filled with beautiful strokes and elegant lettering! Learn the art of Brush Spencerian from the internally-acclaimed, Paul Antonio Attong (www.pascribe.com). This in-person event at Neilson Park Creative Centre is perfect for calligraphy enthusiasts looking to enhance their skills. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to learn from a master calligrapher!
Paul has said of his Brush Spencerian course: "If you have been thinking about learning Spencerian but daunted by its fearful balancing of ink, nib and paper, this workshop will give you a great inroad to a more immediate approach to the script." Registration in this course also gives you access to the pre-recorded version of approximately 20 hours for 6 months.
Materials list will be emailed to participants.
10:15am-3:45pm both days, with a 30-minute break for lunch.
$250 for CAGT members / $275 for non-members. Cost is for both days.
Questions: cagtinfo@gmail.com
Sunday, February 25, 2024, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Neilson Park Creative Centre, 56 Neilson Drive Etobicoke, Studio A2
Course Description
Versals are drawn letters that are outlined and then filled in. They are usually used to begin verses of text, and for headings; and can be decorated and embellished in a variety of ways. As we work our way through the alphabet we will explore various ways of decorating within and around the letters, including using imitation gold leaf.
Materials
Pen holder, Speedball B4 or B5 nib or similar
Black and red fine markers (Pigma Micron or Staedtler pigment liner – 01 or 03)
1 or 2 tubes coloured gouache or watercolour
Gold gouache or watercolour if you have some
Fine paintbrush, mixing brush, palette, water container, paper towel
Grid paper or layout bond/marker paper
Several sheets of watercolour paper
Pencil, ruler, eraser
Some watercolour will be available for participants to use
Instructor Bio
Michele Nidenoff is a freelance illustrator and calligrapher. She has been teaching calligraphy to students ranging in age from children to seniors since 1990. Michele also teaches drawing and watercolour. https://michelenidenoff.com
To register, complete the registration form at the bottom of this page https://calligraphicartstoronto.ca/learn
CAGT Members $95.00 Non-members $110.00
There will be a $5.00 - $8.00 material fee payable to the instructor at the workshop
This full day workshop celebrates our Golden Anniversary! In time for Valentine's day, or for your own pursuits, we will be learning gilding techniques to embellish our work. Nothing is a beautification as time honoured as adorning with gold. Comparing different adhesives typically used, and showing differences between real gold leaf and imitation; we will illuminate a small versal.
MATERIALS NEEDED
- 3 sheets 4 x 4" 300 gsm paper
- old fine pointed paintbrushes to apply the size (unusable after workshop)
- paints with good brushes (watercolour typically used)
- small container of distilled water
MATERIALS FEE: $15
For provisions such as woterclour paper, acrylic size, Instacoll and hopefully gum ammoniac, and gold leaf
Sunday, January 28th, 2024
10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
(Bring a lunch)
at Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive, Etobicoke, Studio A2
WORKSHOP FEE
Members: $90
Non-Members: $110
12 participant limit
See Policies regarding Refunds
This four week course is dedicated to the enthusiast who can write at least one calligraphic script. Mark can help you with your individual letters and will guide you in designing cards: Christmas Card, etc. He will point out the rules of a good layout and the principles of colour harmony.
INSTRUCTOR BIO
MARK LURZ
is a Founding Member of the Calligraphic Arts Guild of Toronto
and has been creating and teaching calligraphy for over 50 years.
MATERIALS NEEDED
You will bring your favourite writing tools,
A palette of gouache or water colour,
Coloured pencils
Inks
Papers and card stock
And any other tools you may need for your creations.
Mark can supply you with envelopes and writing materials.
Thurs. Nov 16, Wed, Nov 22, Thurs. Nov 30, & Thurs. Dec 7, 2023
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
at Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive, Etobicoke, Studio A2
WORKSHOP FEE
Members: $110
Non-Members: $130
See Policies regarding Refunds
This six week course is designed for the beginner student, or the practitioner wanting to revisit the history of italics and the basic structure of the simple but attractive 'Canadian' version developed by our founder - Alf Ebsen. Of all Western writing styles it is the easiest to learn but has the potential to present itself as one of the most beautiful scripts.
You will be guided through the basic lower and upper case letters, arabic numerals and the ampersand to create a 5 x 7 Thanksgiving card and envelope with fanciful flair.
INSTRUCTOR BIO
Being a graphic artist and print professional for close to 40 years, Lee has traversed the spectrum from handwritten to typeset and offers a breadth of knowledge in both the raw calligraphic approaches to digital layout and commercial printing..
MATERIALS NEEDED
Pilot Pens 2.4 and 3.8
Broad edge nibs and nib holder (Mitchel l1, 2 and 4)
Rodia A4 graph pad or Canson Pen and Ink pad
Pellican 4001 Black ink + one other colour.
(Materials can be purchased in class with advance request)
Thursday Nights from September 28 - November 2 (Excluding October 12)
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
at Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive, Etobicoke, Studio A2
WORKSHOP FEE
Members: $145
Non-Members: $165
See Policies regarding Refunds
This is a Geometric Construct he developed to give practitioners a simplified approach to the learning of Italic. The whole script is based on extrapolations of 30° where the form is an upright 90° Italic. Once you understand the angular construct, I add movement exercises using both Whole Arm and Muscular Movement.
This base script can then form the basis of handwriting with a monoline tool and once it is slanted to 52°, it is reminiscent of Palmer Script and can help with the learning of said script. As a result, it also helps with the learning of Spencerian and Copperplate Scripts.
When a broad edged nib is applied to the monoline form, the learning of italic at 90° is simplified and the practitioner can choose to add a slant to the script if they so desire as the upright version aids in letter shape, understand and spacing.
This is a pencil class only as it is the first part of the 2-day class I normally teach. At the end of the day, I will demonstrate with broad edged and pointed nibs to show how this base script creates the framework for all the above scripts.
With Paul's charisma and captivating style, this presentation will leave you an aspiring historian and dedicated calligrapher.
INSTRUCTOR BIO
Having begun his academic studies at The Department of Typography and Graphic Communication at the University of Reading studying Letterform History, he then attended Reigate School of Art and Design training as a Calligrapher, Gilder and Heraldic Artist. Returning to my academic studies at Birkbeck University he studied: English Palaeography 600 – 1600, Arabic Calligraphy, Archaeological Illustration and Middle Kingdom Ancient Egyptian.
Saturday, September 2, 2023
9:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Doors open at 9:00
at Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive, Etobicoke, Studio A
WORKSHOP FEE
Members:as of June30 - $125
Non-Members: $175 (Available after July 15th)
MATERIALS NEEDED
Please ensure your inks, nibs and papers work together.
Paper – A4 or US Letter size
Canson Marker, Daler Rowney Layout, Bienfang Marker (thin enough to see lines behind)
Ideal you want a paper with a little bit of tooth so the pencil doesn't slip
Pencils – HB, 2B, 4B (normal pencils), carpenter’s pencil if you have one
180P Sandpaper
Rulers – Little Tee Square, Set Squares, PAScribe Lining Template
Erasers, pencils, and the other things you normally bring.
Sharp Stanley Knife if you have one, no scalpel blades please.
See Policies regarding Refunds
CAGT_RegistrationForm_2024 (pdf)
Download1) A substitute can be found.
If people are on the waiting list, they are given a chance to fill the spot. If none available, enrolee may find a substitute
or
2) There is an emergency in the immediate family
or
3) The workshop is cancelled
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