This one-day workshop is all about moving with the brush; it is a great lettering experience. Dishu (di = square or earth, shu = book or writing) is the art of writing on the ground, with a large brush and water; it is fun, social and public. The practice of dishu originated in a park in Beijing in the early 1990s and has spread to many cities across the world. In class we’ll look at the internal stroke patterns and stroke order that give traditional beauty to eastern brush work, practicing with ink and brush at the table and on the floor. We’ll explore Notan, pressure, and line quality working with ink. Then we’ll make a foam brush for working outside and practice writing with water. Any alphabet that you know well can be used; interesting models from all over the world will be provided! We’ll work on the subtleties of expression that are imparted through large movement and a wider radius of focus than the normal small page layout.

Ground calligraphy is environmentally sustainable and carries a strong message for care of the earth and its resources. It is also a very nice way of moving!

You will come away with a hand made tool that produces a new kind of stroke. In this way of writing you expand the radius of control over markmaking, and encounter a fully engaged means of writing that is social and active. It is a gentle performance art that serves to expand one’s understanding of letters, words, and action. 

Materials to Bring:

• ½ inch Yasutomo round Japanese Bamboo Calligraphy Brush (for reference see this at dickblick.com 05418-1006)
• Other large round brushes you have on hand, the larger the better, preferably with a pointed tip
• Sumi ink & container
• Drawing paper, at least 50 sheets for many exercises, plus a roll of student grade rice paper or your choice. 

Workshop + Materials Fee: $170.00

Date & Time: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 | 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Note: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.

About the Instructor | Ann Miller

ANN MILLER (Stanford University, AB, AM Art) studied painting and lithography with Richard Diebenkorn and Nathan Oliveira and has taught art and art history classes at Stanford, University of Santa Clara, San Mateo Community College district and in local guilds and arts venues. In 1979 she founded M2 Design for calligraphy and graphic design work. In 2002 she has authored two courses in calligraphy and letterform at Academy of Art University and continues teaching online and onsite in the department of Illustration.

Her calligraphy has been published in Letter Arts Review, Bound & Lettered, and Alphabet, and her book titles for Protean Press can be found in the Harrison Collection at San Francisco Main Library. Her work is in public and private collections. She created of a series of large calligraphy murals for the City of Belmont's new public library and a 12-foot long family tree scroll for actress Brooke Shields for an early episode of the NBC television series “Who do you think you are?” Visit Ann at http://www.pennib.com(link is external)