In this one-day workshop, you will explore and use the symbols, signs and letters of scripts native to the African continent, such as Tifinagh, Phoenician, Shü-mom or Amaji, etc. These scripts are alive, and will inform your calligraphic line in a new way and provide character to your artwork. You will learn traditional pen and brush techniques, work with ink, wash, and matte medium, and gain skill in lettering design and working with a theme.

The act of writing with unfamiliar scripts stimulates fresh, new perspective in layout and design. We will work with pattern, movement, and spacing, and add new forms and rhythms to your mark-making. There will be warmup exercises and a system for combining a layered page.

Students will leave with artwork made using these signs, along with an exciting and painterly way to approach a page of lettering or calligraphy design. Ideal for making a richly developed background  as a foundation for legible handwritten text or letterpress printing, or as a single abstract work. Many individual possibilities here!

Materials to Bring: Drawing paper - 11 x 14 pad or cut sheets (or similar); #2 or dark pencil; non-waterproof black ink (sumi or Pelikan); monoline Speedball B-2 or B-3 pen and cola pen or folded pen if you have it; Kuretake Vellum Writer black waterproof calligraphy marker or similar; inexpensive 1 or 2” brush; medium round or pointed brushes for acrylic media; any watercolor pan set or 1-2 favorite tube colors; matte medium; small palette, water container, ruler for tearing paper. 

• Recommended: A sheet or two of Arches 140# Hot Press watercolor or printing papers such as Rives BFK, Arches Text Wove will take more moisture and layering
• Extras: Bring your basic tool kit (xacto blade, scissors, tape, eraser, water containers, lint free cloths, towels, apron etc) along with any favorite tools and media.

Workshop + Materials Fee: $175.00

Date & Time: Monday, November 16, 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. If you are registering within 3 days of the start date for this class, please call 415-565-0545 ex.105 to complete your registration 

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 authored two courses in calligraphy and letterform at Academy of Art University and continues teaching online.

Her calligraphy has been published in Letter Arts Review and 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.