Create Your Own Personal Syllabary

 Registration is closed for this event

September 10th, 2016 9:30 AM

  • Instructor: Ann Miller
  • Workshop Type: Arts
  • Workshop Status: Closed
  • Workshop Start: September 10th, 2016 9:30 AM
  • Workshop End: September 10th, 2016 5:30 PM
  • Sessions: 1

The magic is in the method. Explore the subtleties of mark making and refine spacing skills with a series of exercises that lead to better design judgment, confidence, and creativity in your work.

In this one-day workshop, you will create your own personal invented code, a “syllabary” or sign/pictograph alphabet. Beginning with structure, students will study a basic method for lettering design, discuss calligraphic spacing and explore the visual forces and structural tensions that make or break a page. The class will work with codes and methods, and in the afternoon each student will  prepare several backgrounds for applying text. By the end of the day, students will be writing sentences in their codes and creating well-balanced gestural art with their own alphabets. 

Once you have settled on your 26 signs we use a series of methods for organizing or layering marks, using watercolor, sumi, white acrylic, white china marker, matte medium and other forms of resist using broad and pointed pens and brushes, folded pens, and other tools. Bring media you have questions about or would like to experiment with.

This workshop will get both your head and your hand moving freely, together, with this exciting approach to calligraphy and letterform design and welcomes beginners and cross-platform artists.


Materials to Bring: Strathmore 400 Drawing paper - 11 x 14 pad or (or similar sketch paper); 2B pencil or darker; Speedball B series nibs medium sized (B-1, 2 or 3); Folded or ruling pen if you have it; Non-waterproof black ink (sumi or other, even black gouache); Kuretake Vellum Writer black waterproof calligraphy marker or similar; medium round or pointed brushes or brush pen; a few favorite tubes of watercolor or gouache (warm, cool, intense, earthy, light, dark) or a watercolor pan set; Golden Fluid Matte Medium; X-acto blade, scissors, tape, eraser, water containers, small palette, lint free cloths, towels, apron etc.; optional but recommended: A sheet or two of Arches 140# Hot Press watercolor OR printing papers such as Rives BFK, Arches Text Wove or other wet media papers that will take more moisture and layering, old watercolor blocks, etc; any favorite brushes, pens, writing tools large and small. 

Available at SFCB for student use during workshop: utiility knives, scissors, tape, water containers.

Workshop + Materials Fee: $180.00

Date & Time: Saturday, September 10, 2016 :: 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, AB, AM Stanford University, studied painting and lithography with artists 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 design. In 2002 she authored two courses in calligraphy and letterform at Academy of Art University and is currently writing a new course covering logo, font, and lettering for illustrators.

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 art is in public and private collections and has been widely exhibited. 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 the NBC television series “Who do you think you are?” Visit Ann at http://www.pennib.com.


Past Student Reviews:

“Great atmosphere in the classroom.”

“Ann Miller is a wonderful teacher, experienced artist. Her hand outs will be used and how!”

 “I liked learning about different techniques and resources.”

375 Rhode Island St
San Francisco, CA 94103-5133
United States