The Art of Italic Calligraphy - Calliarts in June and July 2026

 Dear Members and Followers,

Get your slant on with our June and July Calliarts afternoon as we explore the art of Italic calligraphy.

Suitable for new and continuing students alike.

The Italic hand is probably one of the most versatile scripts available to today’s calligrapher, and although its roots are solidly based in the 16thC it sits very comfortably with us in the 21stC and can be used for any occasion, formal, informal, whether the words are funny, sad, or serious. You name it and Italic will be able to cover it.

For new or beginning students session 1, will focus on correct letter shapes along with correct spacing both between letters and actual words, along with the usual boring stuff you need to know about when starting to learn something new! You will be under no pressure to work faster than you are comfortable with.

For ongoing students wanting to brush up on some rusty skills, in session 1 you will have the added option of trying one or two of the many Italic variations.

Session 2, will see all students putting together a small piece of work suitable to your skill level.

Bring your usual calligraphy kit, along with your favourite chisel edge pens, ink or paint of your choice, paper towel or rag for clean up and reasonable quality practice paper of A3 or A4 size, a small nylon brush for loading ink onto your pen, plus at least 1 or 2 small quotes to work with.

Materials List - 

A3 or A4 layout pad -- or similar for practice work

HB pencil

Eraser

Ruler

 Speedball, Brause or Mitchell nibs.  reasonably large sizes such as SBall 2 or 3. Brause, 2.5 or Mitchell no 2.

Alternatively a Parallel pen 2.4 would work well.   (see note below)

 

Ink of your choice.

Small, cheap nylon brush (#1 or 2) for loading ink into the reservoir.

Water pot, paper towel, or a small hand towel for cleaning up.

A few quotes of at least five / six lines.

NB: we work with larger pen sizes to start with, as these allow us to really see where we might be making mistakes. Smaller nib sizes come after a little practice.

When: 13 June 2026 and 11 July 2026
Where: Sylvania Community Centre - Canberra Road, Sylvania
Time: 12.30pm - 3.30pm
Cost: Members - $20.00, Visitors - $25.00 (per class)
Bookings - email southscribes@yahoo.com.au

Bookings must be made at least 1 week prior to the class commencing.

 

May Calliarts - Unlocking the Majesty of Uncial - Part 2

 Dear Members and Followers,

Please join us for part 2 of Unlocking the Majesty of Uncial calliarts.

This month after a warm up of our letters and writing a few short words, we will be exploring how to use your Uncial. 

Come along for a creative afternoon. 

You must bring:

A4 paper

A3 paper (minimum of 2 sheets)

Pens, Nibs, Coloured gouache, etc. (water jar, palate, brushes) or

Coloured calligraphy/felt calligraphy pens

Ruler

Eraser

Graphite pencils

Geometric compass

Tracing paper

Usual calligraphy gear.

 

It is essential you book in no later than the Thursday night before class, so the tutor has photocopies for you. 

When: 9 May 2026

Where: Sylvania Community Centre - Canberra Road, Sylvania

Time: 12.30pm - 3.30pm

Cost: Members - $20.00, Visitors - $25.00

Bookings - email southscribes@yahoo.com.au

Calliarts - Unlocking the Majesty of Uncial

 Dear Members and Followers,

Calliarts - April & May 2026 – Unlocking the Majesty of Uncial – Cathy

Step back to the dominant script from the 4^th to the 8^th century and discover the hand that shaped early manuscripts. Uncial is one of the most beautiful and influential hands, preserving great bibles and early literary treasures of the west.

This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to slow down, pick up a pen, and master the rounded, rhythmic elegance of this classic majuscule script. We will break the individual letters down, focusing on its signature “roundness” and the specific pen-angles required to achieve its characteristic weight.

Over the two months we will:

·       Foundations – history of the script, tool set-up and basic warm-up strokes.

·       The Alphabet – Group letters by shape and practice.

·       Refining the Hand – Adjusting the X-height, alternate letters, etc.

·       Work on aspects of decoration and usage that are associated with the hand.

Who are these afternoons for?

·       Beginners – No prior calligraphy experience is necessary. Uncial is an excellent starting point for calligraphy as we work with majuscules and limited slopes.

·       Intermediate and More Experienced calligraphers. Time to refine the hand and add some extras to your uncial.

Materials List Across the Two Months:

·       A3 Bleed proof Paper Pad – (Reeves from Officeworks, works well or an alternative from Eckersley’s)

·       Graphite Pencils – HB and 2B

·       Ruler – 40cm

·       Eraser

·       Penholders and broad edge nibs (chisel) in a variety of sizes (beginners April – Artline calligraphy markers in different sizes, again Officeworks)

·       Ink and/or Gouache (you will also need gouache for lettering a piece). Please include a gold gouache.

·       Some sort of palate, cheap small brush, good small brushes (000, 00 and 0 – not expensive), water jar/s, paper towels or cloth for cleaning

·       Black fine liners

·       Tracing paper

·       Grid paper

·       Geometric compass

·       Suitable quotes, + one longer piece

(the list may seem extensive, but I promise we will use everything).

When: 11 April 2026 and 9 May 2026

Where: Sylvania Community Centre - Canberra Road, Sylvania

Time: 12.30pm - 3.30pm

Cost: Members - $20.00, Visitors - $25.00

Bookings - email southscribes@yahoo.com.au

March Calliarts - Running Bookhand Part 2

 Dear Members and Followers,

Calligraphy Southscribes are trialling something new this year. Instead of a different hand each month, we are instead enabling our members to extend their lettering skills by working across the one hand for two months.

So, on Saturday March 14 we will be working on Running Bookhand - Part 2 with Glenis Sheather.

Running Bookhand Part 2 will build on what we covered in Part 1 last month. This will entail using different size nibs and tools.  In particular, we will be using double pencils for larger letters, which can be used for a decorated letter at the start of a piece of work or for a full word or name.

 

We will also look at creating a small piece of work, with instructions on how to arrange your chosen wording on your page.

Materials List:

 

·           A3 Bleedproof layout pad

·           2 x graphite pencils, either HB or 2B

·           2 x rubber bands or masking tape to bind the pencils

·           A variety of nib sizes (bring what you have)

·           Any monoline pens you may have, eg. Speedball “B” Series nibs, biros, gel pens, etc.

·           Ink or gouache of your choice, if using calligraphy nibs

·           Coloured pencils or watercolour paints

·           Plastic Ruler

·           Eraser

·           A sheet of tracing paper

·           A piece of better-quality paper, A5 size.

·           A short quote      

·           Usual calligraphy gear.

When: Saturday, 14 March 2026

Where: Sylvania Community Hall, Canberra Road, Sylvania

Time: 12.30pm to 3.45pm

Bookings Essental: email southscribes@yahoo.com.au for payment details.

February Calliarts - And Welcome New Year with Running Bookhand

 Dear Members and Followers,

We are back with more calligraphy in February 2026 starting off with Running Bookhand.

The first Calliarts workshop for the year is Running Bookhand with Glenis Sheather. A modern variation of a 10^th Century hand, Running Bookhand is easily read and written, which makes it an ideal script for beginners.  

This workshop will be taught over two months and in Part 1 we will be working on the lower- and upper-case letters of this lovely hand.

We won’t forget our experienced calligraphers, who can use the workshop as a refresher, as well as trying some other variations.

Materials List:

 

·        A3 Bleedproof layout pad

·        Nibs, such as a William Mitchell 2, Speedball 3, Brause 2 or a chisel edged felt tip pen, such as an Artline Calligraphy Pen size 2 (available at Officeworks)

·        Ink or gouache of your choice, if using calligraphy nibs

·        HB or 2B pencil

·        Plastic Ruler

·        An A4 sheet of tracing paper     

·        Usual calligraphy gear.

When: Saturday, 14 February 2026

Where: Sylvania Community Hall, Canberra Road, Sylvania

Time: 12.30pm to 3.45pm

Bookings Essental: email southscribes@yahoo.com.au for payment details.

November Calliarts - Let it be Crafty, Let it be Crafty

 Dear Members and Followers,

The November Calliarts will see us getting into the Christmas spirit, with tutor Glenis Sheather showing us how to make a Christmas card using the Iris Folding technique.  Iris Folding has been around for quite a few years now and the designs are formed from strips of paper.  The paper shouldn’t be too thick; envelopes, wrapping paper, Japanese paper or Origami papers are all suitable.  This will be a fun afternoon making some cards in time for the Christmas mail.

Materials List: 

·       2 x A4 sheets of craft card - one dark and one light colour (which will make 2 cards)

·       2 or 4 different papers, which can be contrasting or matching, but should match your cardboard

·       Narrow ribbon or cord

·       1 sheet of tracing paper

·       Cutting mat

·       Craft knife

·       Small scissors

·       Steel edged ruler

·       Bone folder, if you have one

·       Sticky tape (in a dispenser if you have one)

·       Removable sticky tape, if you have it

·       Double sided tape or glue suitable for cardboard

·       Pencil and plastic ruler

When: Saturday 8 November 2025

Time: 12.30pm to 3.45pm

Where: Sylvania Community Centre, Canberra Road, Sylvania

Bookings Essential: email southscribes@yahoo.com.au for payment details

October Calliarts - Embossing with Valerie Keevers

 Dear Members and Followers,

Embossing is a technique for creating raised, three dimensional designs on paper (as well as other materials), using tools to apply pressure and form. It adds texture and depth, with the opposite technique, creating a sunken design.

This technique would be great for Christmas cards, etc. especially with the CSS Christmas card swap happening again this year.

General Requirements:

• Pencil, ruler and eraser
• Masking tape
• A4 pad, tracing paper and bone folder if you have one.
• A5 or any size pieces of 120 - 180 gsm papers. Coloured paper is fine but white is better.
• Light weight card stock (optional)
• Watercolours and fine brish or coloured pencils (optional)

Tools:

• Ball or spoon embossing tools
• Fine double ended embossing tool
• If you do not have any of these ...... an empty ball point pen can be used - ensure it has no ink in it.
• Small teaspoon can be useful

If you wish to make your own stencils:

• Light weight card (e.g. cereal box)
• Fine pointed scissors
• Cutting mat and sharp craft knife
• UHU type glue
• Needle point tweezers are handy as is a satay stick.

Date:     Saturday, 11th October, 2025

Time:     12.30pm – 4.00pm  

Cost:      $20.00 – Members, $25.00 – Non-Members  

Place:    Sylvania Community Centre - Canberra Road, Sylvania  

              (Near Southgate Shopping Centre)  

              Bookings Essential: southscribes@yahoo.com.au 

Payment Options: Direct Deposit, Cash on the day or Cheque. When booking, please advise which payment option you will be making. 

Exhibition - It's Getting Closer

 Dear Members and Followers,

Come join us for our October 2025 exhibition and various workshops.

Opening 1pm Saturday 4th October 2025

All classes bookings via Eventbrite

 Celebrating Calligraphy Workshop with Cherrie Grant - Saturday 11 October 2025 - 10am to 4pm

Bookings close – 3 October 2025 – Minimum of 6 people for the class to run.

This is a hands on workshop, we’ll be creating gift ideas and celebration cards for those special events for our loved ones, including the christmas workplace party, birthdays, dinner parties or that special thank you gift to brighten someones’ day. Acts of kindness never go astray or get old.

Students can choose to use either Akim or Art Deco script for their calligraphy. These are monoline scripts and easily to learn.

Participants should bring with them the following:

• Lunch and cushion
• Cutting mat
• Steel ruler
• Craft knifr/cutter and scissors
• A pair of compasses - geometric
• 0.5 - 1.0 copic/uni/staedtler fine liner marker - permanent black fine liner
• Gel pens, white pen, metallic pens
• Pencils - 2H, HB or F and pencil sharpener
• Kneadable eraser (rubber)
• Coloured envelopes
• Double sided tape and tweezers
• Washi tape
• Favourite one liners - limited to 10 words.

Krafty Kersals Workshop with Cherrie Grant - Sunday 12 October 2025 - 10am to 4pm

Bookings close – 3 October 2025 – Minimum of 6 people for the class to run.

We’ll look at krafting a Kersal, and adding a monoline script which can be used for a Name, celebration event or poem. We can look at your own handwriting and work on it so you can expand upon it. Have some fun creating your own script.

Participants should bring with them the following:

• Lunch and cushion
• Watercolour pencils / water-soluble graphite pencils (Derwent Graphitint) + plus colour swatches
•  Gold watercolour or Coliro/Finetec Metallic watercolours
• Tracing paper 
•  0.5 – 1.0 Copic/Uni/Staedtler fine line marker / permanent fine liner black 
• Pencils – 2H, HB or F and pencil sharpener
• Kneadable eraser/rubber
• 2 A3 size sheets of 300 gsm Smooth/Hot Pressed Watercolour paper 100% cotton (Arches, Fabriano, Hanumuele etc)
• Palette or White ice block tray
• 2 Water containers
• pipettes
• Pointed brushes sizes 1, 2, 4 and 6 & mixing brushes 
• Rag or paper towel 
•  Double sided tape & tweezers

Bend it like Bernd 2-day Workshop with Cherrie Grant on 18-19 October 2025 - 10am to 4pm

Bookings close – 10 October 2025 – Minimum of 6 people for the class to run.

 Adolf Bernd used the colour from his wife's flower garden as his palette. He started making decorated letters from the age of 58 until his death in 1994.

Participants should bring with them the following:

• Lunch and cushion
• Tracing paper
• 0.5 – 1.0 Copic/Uni/Staedtler fine line marker / permanent fine liner black
• Pencils – 2H, HB or F and pencil sharpener & Ruler
• Kneadable eraser & Tombow eraser
• 300 gsm Smooth/Hot Pressed Watercolour paper 100% cotton (Arches, Fabriano, Hanumuele etc). 4xA3 or 8xA4 sheets we will leave a 2.5cm margin on the left-hand margin. For binding into a book.
• Watercolour pencils / water-soluble graphite pencils (Derwent Graphitint) + plus colour swatches
• Watercolour tubes or pans – professional/designer/artist grade is best 3 warm & 3 cool colours.
• White ice block tray or Palette
• 2 Water containers, pipettes & Rag or paper towel
• Pointed brushes sizes 1, 2, 4 and 6 & mixing brushes
• Light pad
• Double sided tape & tweezers

Vivacious Versals Workshop with Valerie Keevers - Saturday 25 October - 10am to 4pm

Bookings close – 17 October 2025 – Minimum of 6 people for the class to run.

Versals are the capital letters that were used to begin a new chapter or paragraph in manuscripts.  This workshop will show you how to modernise capitals for our time.  They can be vibrant, colourful, and fun to do.  Come and see where your imagination will take you as we look at many different ways of drawing letters.  Class suitable for every skill level, from people who have never drawn a letter to those who have great experience.

Please bring: An A4 plain paper pad OR some A4 Computer paper.

Alternatively bring some A5 size pieces of watercolour type paper.

HB Pencil, eraser and ruler.

Coloured pencils OR watercolour paints.

If using watercolour paints you will need a small pointed brush, mixing brush and water jar.

Black outliner pen.

Know Your Line with Sharon Barker - Saturday 26 October - 10am to 4pm

Bookings close – 17 October 2025 – Minimum of 6 people for the class to run.

In this workshop we will study line, looking at historical examples for inspiration to find patterns of line, geometric structure, rhythm, gesture and quality of line.

We will explore the relationship lines have with each other, using various tools and mediums both traditional and experimental.

September Calliarts - Bend it like Bernd with Cherrie Grant

 Dear Members and Followers,

This September sees us looking at the designs of Adolf Bernd, a German born in 1909.

Fans of his designs are attracted to modern letter forms with decorative elements. He didn't use masking fluid but got a similar effect and with water colours there is a fresh result. 

His three main elements in his designs are:

• Subtle colours.
• White interlinear lines.
• The patters in the surrounding areas.

Materials List

Scripts – Neuland, Art Deco or Art Nouveau. Alphabets which have more weight to them – or look in our fabulous alphabet book in the library

Tracing paper – Office works has a Study Mate branded pad for under $5

0.5 – 1.0 Copic/Uni/Staedtler fine line marker / permanent fine liner black

Pencils – 2H, HB or F and pencil sharpener

Kneadable eraser & tombow eraser

Ruler

A3 x 300 gsm Smooth/Hot Pressed Watercolour (Arches, Fabriano, Hanumuele etc) . or 2 x A4 sheets we will leave a 2.5cm margin on the left hand margin. For binding into a book, if we have time.

Watercolour pencils / water-soluble graphite pencils (Derwent Graphitint) + plus colour swatches (if you have them)

Boku-Undo E-sumi Japanesque watercolour & plus colour swatch (if you have them)

Watercolour tubes or pans – professional/designer/artist grade is best especially when it comes to pigment. 3 warm & 3 cool colours. If you don’t know if they are warm or cool – in your internet browser search  …<is name of your paint colour a warm/cool colour?> if that fails feel free to contact me

some Colour suggestions are

Warm > Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Phthalo or Winsor Blue

Cool > Alizarin Red, Lemon Yellow, Ultramarine Blue

 

White ice block tray &  Palette

Water containers x 2

pipettes

Pointed brushes sizes 1, 2, 4 and 6 & mixing brushes

Rag or paper towel

Light pad

Bookings - southscribes@yahoo.com.au 

Paper, Scissors, Rock - Calligraphy Exhibition - Gallery on Track Goulburn

  Dear Members and Followers,

Come join us for our October 2025 exhibition and various workshops.

Opening 1pm Saturday 4th October 2025

All classes bookings via Eventbrite

 Celebrating Calligraphy Workshop with Cherrie Grant - Saturday 11 October 2025 - 10am to 4pm

Bookings close – 3 October 2025 – Minimum of 6 people for the class to run.

This is a hands on workshop, we’ll be creating gift ideas and celebration cards for those special events for our loved ones, including the christmas workplace party, birthdays, dinner parties or that special thank you gift to brighten someones’ day. Acts of kindness never go astray or get old.

Students can choose to use either Akim or Art Deco script for their calligraphy. These are monoline scripts and easily to learn.

Participants should bring with them the following:

• Lunch and cushion
• Cutting mat
• Steel ruler
• Craft knifr/cutter and scissors
• A pair of compasses - geometric
• 0.5 - 1.0 copic/uni/staedtler fine liner marker - permanent black fine liner
• Gel pens, white pen, metallic pens
• Pencils - 2H, HB or F and pencil sharpener
• Kneadable eraser (rubber)
• Coloured envelopes
• Double sided tape and tweezers
• Washi tape
• Favourite one liners - limited to 10 words.

Krafty Kersals Workshop with Cherrie Grant - Sunday 12 October 2025 - 10am to 4pm

Bookings close – 3 October 2025 – Minimum of 6 people for the class to run.

We’ll look at krafting a Kersal, and adding a monoline script which can be used for a Name, celebration event or poem. We can look at your own handwriting and work on it so you can expand upon it. Have some fun creating your own script.

Participants should bring with them the following:

• Lunch and cushion
• Watercolour pencils / water-soluble graphite pencils (Derwent Graphitint) + plus colour swatches
•  Gold watercolour or Coliro/Finetec Metallic watercolours
• Tracing paper 
•  0.5 – 1.0 Copic/Uni/Staedtler fine line marker / permanent fine liner black 
• Pencils – 2H, HB or F and pencil sharpener
• Kneadable eraser/rubber
• 2 A3 size sheets of 300 gsm Smooth/Hot Pressed Watercolour paper 100% cotton (Arches, Fabriano, Hanumuele etc)
• Palette or White ice block tray
• 2 Water containers
• pipettes
• Pointed brushes sizes 1, 2, 4 and 6 & mixing brushes 
• Rag or paper towel 
•  Double sided tape & tweezers

Bend it like Bernd 2-day Workshop with Cherrie Grant on 18-19 October 2025 - 10am to 4pm

Bookings close – 10 October 2025 – Minimum of 6 people for the class to run.

 Adolf Bernd used the colour from his wife's flower garden as his palette. He started making decorated letters from the age of 58 until his death in 1994.

Participants should bring with them the following:

• Lunch and cushion
• Tracing paper
• 0.5 – 1.0 Copic/Uni/Staedtler fine line marker / permanent fine liner black
• Pencils – 2H, HB or F and pencil sharpener & Ruler
• Kneadable eraser & Tombow eraser
• 300 gsm Smooth/Hot Pressed Watercolour paper 100% cotton (Arches, Fabriano, Hanumuele etc). 4xA3 or 8xA4 sheets we will leave a 2.5cm margin on the left-hand margin. For binding into a book.
• Watercolour pencils / water-soluble graphite pencils (Derwent Graphitint) + plus colour swatches
• Watercolour tubes or pans – professional/designer/artist grade is best 3 warm & 3 cool colours.
• White ice block tray or Palette
• 2 Water containers, pipettes & Rag or paper towel
• Pointed brushes sizes 1, 2, 4 and 6 & mixing brushes
• Light pad
• Double sided tape & tweezers

Vivacious Versals Workshop with Valerie Keevers - Saturday 25 October - 10am to 4pm

Bookings close – 17 October 2025 – Minimum of 6 people for the class to run.

Versals are the capital letters that were used to begin a new chapter or paragraph in manuscripts.  This workshop will show you how to modernise capitals for our time.  They can be vibrant, colourful, and fun to do.  Come and see where your imagination will take you as we look at many different ways of drawing letters.  Class suitable for every skill level, from people who have never drawn a letter to those who have great experience.

Please bring: An A4 plain paper pad OR some A4 Computer paper.

Alternatively bring some A5 size pieces of watercolour type paper.

HB Pencil, eraser and ruler.

Coloured pencils OR watercolour paints.

If using watercolour paints you will need a small pointed brush, mixing brush and water jar.

Black outliner pen.

Know Your Line with Sharon Barker - Saturday 26 October - 10am to 4pm

Bookings close – 17 October 2025 – Minimum of 6 people for the class to run.

In this workshop we will study line, looking at historical examples for inspiration to find patterns of line, geometric structure, rhythm, gesture and quality of line.

We will explore the relationship lines have with each other, using various tools and mediums both traditional and experimental.