Viking Runes Online Workshop

 Registration is closed for this event

November 16th, 2020 4:00 PM

  • Instructor: Ann Miller
  • Workshop Type: Arts
  • Workshop Status: Closed
  • Workshop Start: November 16th, 2020 4:00 PM
  • Workshop End: November 30th, 2020 6:00 PM
  • Sessions: 3

There is a fascination for ancient alphabets. There is also a need for unusual hand lettered alphabets, role-playing game alphabets, symbols for branding, tattoo design, and inspired scripts looking back to ancient cultures. This workshop presents a unique opportunity to work in depth with the Anglo-Saxon Futhark alphabet, using a classic method for letter and font design. 

We begin with a grid method for drawing the set of symbols and continue to experiment with the possibilities of transliteration, arrangement and development exploring style, spacing, and the visual forces and structural tensions that happen within the page. It’s serious fun. The magic is in the method and a series of simple exercises leads to surprising and satisfying results.

There are two main directions you can pursue:
1) focus on the signs and work toward a mixture of effects that you want, drawing and redrawing and developing details from pencil to ink
and/or 2) focus on composition and work toward a more abstract, expressive and painterly use of your signs, using drawing and painting tools, mixed media and layering to create an experiential work. 

We do exercises in gestural writing to build design flexibility and make a range of examples. We prepare several sheets for applying layers of color, symbols and text. We will use watercolor, sumi, white and black acrylic (or Ziller's inks), white china marker, matte medium and other forms of resist using broad and pointed pens and brushes, folded pens, and other tools. Have at hand the media and tools you have questions about or would like to experiment with.

This workshop will get your head and hand moving, and you will learn a lot about the old Scandinavian and Germanic writing systems. 

There is an extensive folder of examples and research material for all students to download. You’ll come away with your own runic alphabet, some experience in abstract writing, your name in Runes, and possibly a magical message. 

 

Before enrolling, please note that this class has an extensive supply list separated into Required and Optional materials. This is an opportunity to learn about and see different media in action. There will be many examples and demonstrations in the first session so if you're unsure about what you want to use, just bring tracing paper, a dark pencil, and a medium marker and/or brush marker to the first class.

Please bookmark this page and use it as your resource when purchasing supplies.


Materials to Bring: Students should have these supplies or reasonable substitutes. See note above regarding supplies for the first session.

Standard art toolkit: mixing palette, water container, wipes, blade, scissors, etc; rulers not needed.

The links below are provided as examples; please purchase from your preferred local art retailer.

Required:

PAPERS 

TOOLS

INKS    You may wish to use both waterproof and non-waterproof inks for layering.

or choose other black inks, such as 

RESISTS - You should have at least one resist or masking medium/frisket for the layering exercises.

You may choose from the following alternate resists also, including white acrylic inks:


Optional / Recommended:

  • Good paper for wet media or color, such as Aquabee SuperDeluxe Sketchbook 11 x 14" 
  • A small watercolor block 
  • or any random cut sheets of watercolor paper
     
  • Charcoal and/or charcoal pencil (optional, for shading and effects)
  • Pan Pastels, NuPastel, Conte or colored pencils of any kind to add color. 
  • Prismacolor pencils offer an informal slightly waxy resist when washed over with watercolor
     
  • Pens: any Speedball nibs, A, B, C, or D series, or others you may have 
  • Brush Pens: Pentel Brush pen, Kuretake, Zig, Pitt, or others
  • Folded pen or ruling pens: Great to use with runic writing 
  • White china markers - waxy white pencils
  • Markers - Kuretake - Zig Writer (has two fiber tips) and/or Pigma Micron brush tip are excellent waterproof calligraphy markers (great for layering) - highly recommended
  • Walnut ink - if you like to work with earth tones; lightfast, semi-permanent ink from crystals, just mix with water 
     
  • Tombow Mono Zero Round Eraser or other white nylon eraser such as 
  • Mars Plastic Eraser  or 
  • Pentel Clic Eraser
     
  • A few favorite tubes of watercolor or gouache (a range of contrasting tones: warm/cool, intense/earthy, light/dark) or a watercolor pan set.
  • Watercolor brush, round, plus a larger brush for wash layering

Workshop Fee: $120

Date & Time: 3 Mondays :: November 16, 23 & 30 :: 4-6pm Pacific time

Location: Online over Zoom

Please note: These are live workshops. Video will not be available for later viewing.

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 design commissions. In 2002 she began teaching online for Academy of Art University, authoring three 15-week online courses. 

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 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 or https://www.instagram.com/anncalli/


Past Student Reviews:

“I loved that this workshop included not only making the letters but also history, the reading of runes, a chance to see demos and test out different mediums, as well as a push towards creating art with the new letterforms. It was a calligraphy class but also so much more!”

“I very much like Ann Miller's approach to calligraphy and art. She has a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill and is an excellent teacher.”

“Ann tailored her help to each person's level of expertise. She was very approachable, very experienced, and very 'hooked' on her craft.”

Online Via Zoom
CA
United States