Meetings Archive 2019–2020

Below is a summary of the meetings held during the 2019–20 year.

During this series of program, the focus was on Pointy Tools.

The April & May 2020 programs were cancelled due to COVID-19. The June program has been added to our new YouTube channel.

June 3, 2020

Calligraphy: How I Fell In, Out, and In Love Again

Online Presentation by Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord

Watch YouTube Video

June’s program will be a special presentation from a guest artist.

Susan Gaylord will give an illustrated talk about her forty-year relationship with calligraphy from her beginning days, through her shift to book arts, and then her return to words and letters with a more open spirit. She will share what she has learned from books, teachers, and experience about the art process, Zen philosophy, patience, and struggles with self-doubt. She encourages the audience to think about their own creative endeavors and find their own stories.

To learn more about Susan and view her art, visit her website.

March 4, 2020

Pointed Brush

Presented by Elizabeth McKee

brush pens

March’s program was brought to you by the pointed brush!

The preferred tool of oriental calligraphers, the pointed brush has recently become popular in the west. For this program Elizabeth McKee will demonstrate the versatility of this tool and set up stations around the room where participants can try out different brushes that are available on the market.

You will need to bring:

  • A pad of Borden & Riley #37 Marker Layout Bright White Translucent Visual Bond paper or something similar that has both tooth and is translucent.
  • Any brushes you would like to try out or share with the group.
  • A cushion or two to boost your seat.

Elizabeth McKee was first introduced to calligraphy while teaching English in Japan in 1970. She abandoned the brush when she discovered occidental calligraphy in 1980 but in the last few years has decided to concentrate her calligraphic efforts on brush work. Her work can be seen on her website 60by62.com

February 5, 2020

Folded Pens

Presented by Elizabeth McKee and friends

folded pens

February’s program was brought to you by the folded pen!

The folded pen is a relatively new tool in the calligrapher's kit. In this program Members will demonstrate how make a folded pen out of a aluminum flashing and learn basic strokes they can make using their new tool.

You will need to bring:

  • A wooden pencil that you wish to convert into a pen
    OR chopstick
    OR 6" piece of 3/8" dowel
  • Strong scissors/shears, or tin snips if you have them

January 11, 2020
Board Meeting

Board Meeting at Elizabeth McKee's house, Nob Hill, Albuquerque.
All members are welcome to our meetings!

December 8, 2019 @ 2pm

Member Holiday Party

Details and location are emailed to members. Spouses and partners are very welcome! Members bring an appetizer or desert, and Escribiente supplies the entree.

Optional: If you’d like to participate in the gift exchange, please bring a small calligraphic art-related item or original art.

November 6, 2019

Calligraphy with the #2 Pencil

with Patty Hammarstedt

November’s program was brought to you by the #2 pencil!

The ubiquitous # 2 pencil is an ideal pointed tool with which to practice and perfect flourishes as it can move freely across paper without ‘drag’. And, for a growing number of calligraphers this is the preferred writing implement for their fine artwork.

In this program Patty Hammarstedt will demonstrate how to use flourishes to add emphasis and sophistication to calligraphic letter forms.  Members will learn the components of successful flourishes and simple practice techniques to help achieve successful flourishing. The holidays are fast approaching so why not add a bit of elegance to your holiday cards and letters!

You will need to bring:

  • A couple of Number 2 pencils
  • An eraser
  • A sharpener if you have one
  • A semi-transparent ‘layout’ tablet such as Borden & Riley #37 Boris Marker Layout or tracing paper tablet
  • Seat cushion (optional)

Patty Hammarstedt is a calligraphic artist and photographer whose work can be seen on her Facebook Artist Page (even if you don't have a Facebook account) and on her website.

October 2, 2019

Calligraphic Ornaments with a Pointed Pen

with Bill Kemp

October’s program was brought to you by the Pointed Pen!

Bill Kemp will show how to lay out traditional calligraphic ornamentation with a pencil and then demonstrate how to ink them in with a pointed pen. He will give some basic rules for ornament design and feather plumes. 

This should be good practice for those familiar with the pointed pen and informative to those who are just learning. Bill is a master penman and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this subject.

You will need to bring:

  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Sharpener
  • Tablet for taking notes
  • Pointed pen with a holder if you have one, plus ink
  • Seat cushion (optional)

September 4, 2019

Learn to Letter like a Sign Painter!

with Heather Martinez

Explore another way to work with brush markers by making letters like a Sign Painter would! This program is for anyone wanting to letter better in this retro lettering style. Great for cards/envelopes, bistro menus, signage and more!

After studying with master sign painters, Heather Martinez has translated their techniques into brush markers, specifically the Neuland Art® marker.

The benefits of learning How to Letter like a Sign Painter include:

  • Helps improve control over the brush tip marker.
  • Offers variations to fit your individual style.
  • Easy to learn and use when wanting to write fast in a stylized way.

Come learn how to letter like a sign painter in this hands-on session. Supplies will be provided, including:

  • A Neuland Art® marker
  • Practice sheets
  • The exemplar is in the form of a zine that you can take with you. 
  • In addition, members are granted access to the How to Letter like a Sign Painter online course ($35 value). (Coupon code will be emailed to all members so you can watch in advance. Note that no homework grading is included with free class!)
  • You will receive a 15% discount voucher if you choose to place a Neuland order.

This makes this hands-on, in-person class well worth the investment of time.

You’ll be lettering like a sign painter in no time! (With markers that is.) Heather will also cover how the style can be used with other types of markers that you have on hand. So bring them!

Heather Martinez is the author of Lettering Journey. Designed with the visual practitioner in mind, Lettering Journey is a how-to, exemplar book inspired by a cross country road trip and the letters found along the way. This practical guide includes eight lettering styles that are designed to be learned quickly and used to letter with markers on paper. More info... 

Click here to buy the bundle – a color copy of Lettering Journey plus a set of Neuland markers.

Weds, August 7, 2019 @ 6:30pm

Show & Share

Members are encouraged to share their projects and recent workshops for this popular annual program. No supplies necessary. Pictured above: Beth House’s display from Ghost Ranch 2019.

Our next newsletter will be released for the August meeting, along with our annual printed Membership Directory.

We will also have a fundraiser for the Pen Fund, which is allocated for the purchase of calligraphy markers and handouts so our members can offer a free introductory class to local schools. Trish Meyer & Meredith McPherson are donating a scroll created for the recent Art of Haiku exhibit which will be raffled off to a lucky winner. Tickets $5, cash only. [Thank you to all who contributed; we raised $175 for the Pen Fund!]

NM State Fair: Note that the entry deadline is earlier this year: Monday, August 19 & Tuesday, August 20. See Exhibits page for details.

Mark your Calendar! The fall workshop will be pointed pen with Lee Ann Clark on November 2–3, 2019. Registration opens at our September 4 meeting. More details on Workshops page.