This one-day workshop introduces Bone (or “Osteon”), an alphabet that is done with a broad edged pen. Working with this alphabet promotes awareness of the white shapes between and within the strokes. Bone lends itself to close placement of letters, and calls for framing white spaces with its broad black strokes as you explore pen twists, rotations, pivots and slides. A great hand for designers, calligraphers and letter lovers, Bone is a modification of the classical upright bookhand and was invented by scribe Jacqueline Svaren in 1972.

This alphabet works well when written without guidelines. Once you are comfortable with the letterforms you can experiment with various ways of using this hand, through a series of demonstrations and design exercises. Bone is organic, fun, warm, and assertive; it is essentially drawing with shape. 

Materials to Bring: Your favorite large sized broad edged pens (Speedball C-0, C-1, C-2, or Brause 5mm or 6mm); Sumi ink and/or Pilot Parallel Pen (6mm) with your choice of ink; Strathmore 400 drawing paper pad or similar, or Cotton Comp Layout or similar paper for ink; usual drawing kit: small palette, water container, #2 pencil, eraser, blade, ruler, rags, etc. If you like to work in color bring walnut ink or gouache; chopsticks (the kind with bevel end) or other flat items such as popsicle sticks, small pieces of illustration board, etc; 1/2 inch sable or sablette brush if you have one. (such as W&N series 995 or Utrecht); any wide Automatic pens or Coit pens. 

Workshop Fee (includes $15 materials fee): $180.00

Date & Time: Friday, July 24, 2020 :: 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:

[What did you find most valuable about the workshop?] “Hands on practice, getting a fantastic introduction to calligraphy including what tools to use.”

“Ann was organized. She made sure she covered certain topics but allowed us time to explore. She brought extra supplies and tools to help us learn more.”

“The instructor offered a few alternative activities, so if one wasn't working, there was still something good to do.”