When: Sat. & Sun. May 22-23, 2010
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day
Where: Tiger Lily Press, Dunham Recreation Center, 1945 Dunham Way, Cincinnati, OH 45238
Cost: $125 for members of GCCG;
$150 for non-members, includes 1 year membership
What: Create backgrounds with transparent watercolors by pouring the paints onto watercolor papers. This results in a loose, flowing, colorful wash that makes the perfect background for the calligraphic broadside. After learning the basic wash technique, experiment with various techniques, such as adding Rit dyes, pastel powders, salt, alcohol and more to your work, creating unique and interesting complements to your calligraphy. Once the backgrounds are completed letter on them to create a final piece of work, or layer them to make a collage. Class discussions are held on the layout and design of the works as they are in progress giving you guidance on calligraphic composition. Handouts for the class are presented in a wire bound book giving you a permanent reference source so that knowledge gained in class can be continued in your studios.

Supply List
Pens: Favorite dip pens.
Ink//Paint: Sumi or your favorite ink and/or gouache, pan watercolors or other watercolor palette that you have. No need to buy anything–some pan watercolors available to share or bring your own palette. Most paints provided.
Paper: 2 pieces 22 x 30 cold press watercolor paper cut into fourths
Brush: 1” Watercolor wash brush of medium quality (Ex. Cheap Joe’s Golden Fleece) You may want a few other smaller brushes, instructor will have some to share.
Standard Supplies: Ruler, T-Square, pencil, eraser, tracing paper (few sheets)
Misc: 2 Water containers the size of a 1 lb. cottage cheese container; Tacky glue; workable matte fixative; cookie Sheet (a jelly roll pan with sides, the larger the better) or other tray to catch drips. (This is a MUST, we are pouring color) Bring a sack lunch and/or food to share. A vending machine with beverages will be available.
Materials Fee: $20

Please send your payment by May 13th. Make checks payable to Greater Cincinnati Calligraphers Guild (GCCG) and mail your registration to Jo Diamantes, 6005 Eaglet Dr., West Chester, Ohio 45069.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call 513-600-9505 or e-mail jredmer@roadrunner.com.

Download the flyer for printable registration information.

PASTE PAPER PROJECTS with Marianne Burke

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Snow date is Saturday, February 27, 2010

9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

in the classrooms of Tiger Lily Press (Dunham Recreation Center)

1945 Dunham Way, Cincinnati, Ohio 45238

Have you ever made Paste Papers or bought some gorgeous decorative art paper only to get it home and think, “Now what do I do with it?!” …then this workshop is for you! During this 6 hour class you will be led to focus on ONE of 2 projects with instructions on how you can use your beautiful papers. From years of study with Rosie Kelly, Judy Melvin, Sherri Kiesel and others, I will share some of the techniques and ideas that have developed. This is a day for fun and hopefully will promote interest for more in-depth workshops.

The first project offered will be a handmade book where your papers will be used for the book itself, with decorative elements and/or paper scraps added to enhance each page. You may plan to incorporate text within or you may want a book without word content…it is your choice.

The second project offered will be a framable piece where your decorative papers are used as the background to a quote, poem or short story. You will add small pieces of the decorative paper along with other elements to illustrate the text.

For either project you are encouraged to come with the text you would like to use in your project…keep it at 100 words or less for a book, 50-60 words or less for a framable piece (I will bring quotes to share if you wish.)

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

*For Everyone: bring Paste Papers and/or decorative papers, plain art paper such as Arches Text Wove, Arches Black Cover, Rives BFK, Canson Mi-Tientes, etc. any other favorite papers, charms and decorative elements you may wish to use. Scissors…rulers…X-acto knife…pencil…bone folder/embossing tool…glue sticks or YES glue & brush…Pigma Micron pens if you have them…colored pencils, pastels or watercolors that coordinate in color with your papers.

*For the Book Project …in addition bring sewing needles (blunt tapestry), thread, decorative beads, bullfrog clips, awl, etc. …any bookmaking materials you wish.

*For the Framable Art project …bring a mat and/or frame of your choice. You will want the opening to be 8 X 10 or larger! (I buy CLEARANCE framed art at HomeGoods, but make sure you disassemble it & remove the old art so it is ready to go that day!)

*Calligraphers: …in addition bring your favorite pens, black & white gouache, mixing brushes, water bottle, pencils, eraser, ruler, paper towels & any other calligraphic tools

that you wish.

*Non-Calligraphers will be given some instructions/guidance on how to add text to your project in an easy way. You may want to print out your text ahead of time on nice paper, in segments which can then be cut apart and added to the page, although not necessary. If you wish to try some writing of text, please bring pencils & gel pens in white and/or black.

*ALL levels of skill and enthusiasm are welcomed.

*PLEASE be prompt as there is a lot to cover in 6 short hours.

*Bring your own lunch to eat as you wish (there is a small refrigerator but no microwave)

*Parking is FREE at Dunham Recreation Center

For those who would like to take this class, but do not have Paste Paper or some of the other listed materials, DO NOT let that stop you! We will have Paste Paper for sale and sharable supplies aplenty. Arches Text Wove and other decorative papers will also be available for sale by the sheet.

Cost is $15 for those who attended in November and $20 for all others.

Send your name, address, e-mail and phone number with a check by February 1, 2010 made payable to: GCCG (Greater Cincinnati Calligrapher’s Guild)

Mail to: Jo Diamantes

6005 Eaglet Drive

West Chester, OH 45069

Have a question? Feel free to contact Jo Diamantes at jodiamantes (at) cinci.rr.com or Marianne Burke at mburke (at) fuse.net

430 Oliver Street, Cincinnati, OH 45214 in the studio of Marlene Steele

Bring Your Own Lunch…there is a refrigerator

PARKING: in the lot across the street or on-street

Paste Paper, the adult version of finger painting…in its simplest form we wet a sheet of paper and cover it with ART paste, acrylic paints, marks, patterns and designs and let it dry. The sky is the limit for your creations and designs! Wear old clothes and be prepared to play and experiment. You are guaranteed to go home with VERY cool and sophisticated papers that can be used in your artwork and handmade books. Once you’ve tried it you’ll be addicted! Read below about next workshop that will put your Paste Papers to good use!
Elmer’s ART Paste will be provided….Supplies you must bring:

• Paper: any that you want to turn into paste paper (we’ll have some available for you at cost if you don’t have any). Paper must be able to withstand wetting, application of paste mixture, drawing various tools across it without tearing and moving it to a drying location.  RECOMMENDED PAPER: ARCHES TEXT WOVE …other suggestions are Canson Mi-Teintes, Strathmore and Mohawk Superfine.. Black paper turns out elegant especially with a touch of gold or silver.
• Large Water Containers…1-2 quart size
• Smaller containers (i.e. butter/yogurt tubs) with lids for mixing and storing paint and paste
• Sponges and/or brushes for wetting paper and applying paste
• Newspapers/blotter paper to lay wet paste papers on to dry out
• “Tools” to create designs – toothbrushes to spatter, cut up plastic cards to draw with, brushes to write with, stencils, sponges, craft sticks, tile-grout tools with “teeth”, calligraphic tools as you wish
• Paper towels
• Latex Gloves if you don’t want to have the colors on your hands

Supplies to bring IF you have them…and only if you have them as we share:

• Acrylic paints. Golden brand acrylics are # 1 choice, but most any acrylic paints work.
• Matte medium (needed if using non-permanent coloring agents, such as watercolors or gouache)
• Other inclusions like mica powder (Pearlex Pigments), Pastel Chalks, Oil Crayons, etc.
• Anything else you can think of to mark and color paper

PLEASE RSVP to  Jodiamantes (at) cinci.rr.com by NOVEMBER 1, 2009 to reserve space!

PASTE PAPER PLAYDATE continues … with Marianne Burke
Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
In this one-day workshop, you will use the paste papers from the NOVEMBER workshop to create a framable piece of art or handmade book. For this project, it is suggested that you make 3-4 sheets of paste paper painted on BOTH sides. Plan to use 3 to 5 acrylic colors that coordinate when painting your Paste Papers. ARCHES TEXT WOVE is the suggested paper. If you can’t attend the November session you can still attend the February workshop.

More details for this workshop will follow after the New Year.

Both workshops are open to painters, calligraphers, bookmakers, etc…

ALL levels of ability and everyone with a desire to create.

WORKSHOP FEES: $10.00 for November $20.00 for February date covers handouts, paste & misc. supplies BUT…If you sign-up to attend both workshops, the fee is $25.00 for the two.  You may pay at the November session.

Have you ever bought a calligraphy book for inspiration?   Usually the exemplars are so-so,  a re-hash of previously printed books, but the galleries are fresh. Exemplars are fine but the artwork is what makes you want to get out paper and pen.

This presentation will feature artwork you have never seen and may never ever see anywhere. It is very exciting stuff and David and Holly are looking forward to sharing it with you. It runs the gamut from large canvas abstracts to tiny paintings on vellum.   They’ve been working to color-correct the images and if you love calligraphy, you will not want to miss this.

Forest Park Public Library (655 Waycross Road)
Saturday, October 17, 2009
10:00 am – Noon
Forest Park Public Library
655 Waycross Road, Cincinnati, OH 45240
Parking is free behind the library
Library opens at 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, September 19, 2009
10:00 am – Noon
Corryville Branch of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
2802 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Parking is free behind the library
Library opens at 10:00 a.m.

First, Ann Alaia Woods is going to help us start our 29th year in a special way on Saturday, August 29 at our first meeting of the year at the downtown branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (8th and Vine).   We don’t normally meet in August but we wanted to make sure you each got the chance to see the four beautiful calligraphed banners hanging in the library as part of the Cincinnati Book Arts Society Bookworks 10 Exhibit.  The banners were calligraphed by Marianne Burke, Karen McMannon, Holly Monroe and Marlene Steele.  As our theme this year is “start to finish” we asked Ann if she would speak to us about the awards she has been making for the University of Kentucky for several years and she agreed.  She will talk to us about the “inspiration-perspiration” ratio which involves background research, editing and arranging the text, and figuring out the structure.  This ratio is very fluid and changes as the deadline creeps closer.  As the saying goes -  a picture is worth a thousand words, so to view pictures of several of these fantastic awards go to Ann’s blogspot.  Click on the Awards R US category and you will see some extraordinary works by Ann.  (For you cat lovers make sure you also click the link “Sumi Seeks Catnip.”)

The meeting will be 10am - Noon.  We are meeting in Room 3B in the library - third floor of the old (south building).  It is also labeled as the Keith Kuhn Room.  While there are meters around the library they DO have to be fed on Saturday and the longest they will last is 2 hours and many are shorter than that.  So, one parking option is  the Garfield Garage located at 13 West 9th Street. Entrance to the garage is off 9th Street (one way street west bound) between Vine Street (one way street northbound and Race Street (one way street south bound).   Web site for map and other details is http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/entsrv/pages/-4866-. To exit you pay in the lobby before you retrieve your car.  There are directions in the garage for those of you who may not have encountered this type of process before.  Another option is Grammercy Garage located at 710 Elm Street.  I’ve been told parking on Saturdays there is only $1.00.

We thought since this is August and we normally don’t meet in August we’d do a little something risqué like go out to lunch after the meeting.  Current plan is to adjourn to Cafe Martin (On Vine Street) right across from the library after the meeting.     When we send out a reminder later in the month I’ll ask for RSVP’s for lunch just so we can get an approximate number of people who might be attending.

Second, if you are planning to attend the Ohio State Fair be sure and stop by the Cox Fine Arts Building so you can view two paintings by Marlene Steele.  The fair runs from July 29 through August 9.  For information on the fair go to www.ohiostatefair.org Marlene is exhibiting 2 oil paintings that are urban landscapes:  one from her studio neighborhood and one of St. George Church in Clifton. (Note from Jo:  not everyone gets accepted to show their art - let alone two pieces! so this is a “major big deal.” )

It’s that time of year again when we send out the membership renewal notices.  Click here for this year’s  form.  To check on when your membership expires note the date on the label on your copy of New Letters.

Last note is the Art Academy of Cincinnati has posted their Fall 2009 courses at http://www.artacademy.edu/community_education/ce-course-schedules.php.  While there are lots of interesting things to take I’d like to point out the workshop on page 13 Calligraphy Foundations: Italic Style.  Registrations begin August 24.  One note of caution - if you’d like to take the course please sign up as soon as you can make the commitment.  They tend to cancel courses early that don’t have sufficient enrollment and if you wait until the last week or two (I’m not sure of their cut off timing) you may find the course has been cancelled due to lack of interest.

Ann Bain of Dayton, Ohio will share her expertise in creating meaningful and artistic collages. Her collages exhibit vivid use and coordination of colors within pieces and from piece to piece.  She combines the arts of painting, drawing, poetry, drama, color, composition, ideas and words under the encompassing category of “lettering arts.”  In her work she likes to tune in to images, shapes, colors or textures that amplify an author’s meaning, and engage the viewer’s imagination in the process of understanding.  In turning content into form, her intention is for her art to call attention, to clarify, to aspire, to inspire.

Prospective participants should begin finding a particular personally meaningful passage they would like to work with.  It does not need to be long, perhaps just a phrase, but it should be personally meaningful.  Participants should also start collecting scraps of images, old writings, rich papers to use in the collage.  Other supplies would include basic tools, gel medium, chalks or pastels, decorative papers, old practice papers, tear sheets of things you love, and a full sheet of 140-300# cold press paper.  We’ll have bottled water and a crock pot of soup but you’ll need to furnish other snacks and drinks you might want during the day.

Date
Saturday, April 18th, 2009 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location
2nd floor auditorium, Junior League Hall - (513) 871-9339
3500 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226
Limited parking in small lot behind building and on Delta Avenue

Cost
$85.00 ($45.00 deposit required) for members
Non-members $105.00 (includes GCCG membership for a year)

Register
E-mail Jo Diamantes.