May 1999

Thank you to Sheryl Hirsch-Kramer
(May Early Bird, Program and Major-Workshop Presenter)
for our cover.

Lines by Leslie

Hi, Everyone. What great meetings we've been having! The April meeting started out with an excellent Early Bird program provided by Karen Veni, Shirley Ginn, and Beverly Carter, each demonstrating new products and techniques. And we had a very productive business meeting to follow, with unanimous votes in favor of the new slate of officers for the coming year, and in favor of the dues increase to $24 per year. Thank you to all for your continued support of this year's Board. We very much appreciate the vote of confidence, as does the new Board for the coming year. We look forward to serving the Guild and to having an exciting year.

Thank you, as always, to Loni Carlson and the hospitality folks. You're too good to us!

We had a wonderful and enlightening hands-on program provided by Paula Webb of Austin, on polylineal writing. Paula did a great job of defining and demonstrating polylineal calligraphy and had us all creating it in one short lesson. Thank you, Paula!

Our Spring Exhibit is just around the corner, so I hope everyone is working diligently on a piece to show. Remember, the theme is "Feelings" and the goal is to share our work with each other and with the public. The more contributors, the better the show, and the more fun we all have. Thank you again to Lynn Rutland for the invitation and poster design, and to Gayle Venticinque for the table decorations. Please be sure to sign up with Judi Hayes if you will be bringing refreshments.

As we mentioned last month, the Board appointed an ad hoc Bylaws Committee for the purpose of clarifying some confusing issues in the bylaws. Please be sure to review the proposed changes in this newsletter and come prepared to discuss them and vote on them at the next meeting. The Bylaws Committee is now working on establishing a complete listing of the standing rules, to be published in the Directory in the fall.

And, please be sure to put the June Pot Luck Dinner and Installation of Officers on your calendar. Barbara Gere has very graciously volunteered her home as the site of the dinner, and we very quickly accepted her offer. So we're looking forward to a great evening and hoping everyone will attend.

Thank you again to all who have so willingly volunteered to chair or serve on committees for the coming year. We already have lots of plans ... for secret pals, workshops, mini-workshops, etc. It's been such a pleasure to see so many members come forward and contribute to the Guild.

I'll see you all in May.
.................................................................................................Leslie

Voted into office at the April meeting:
President -- Leslie Winakur
Vice President -- Maggie Gillikin
Secretary -- Cheri Wolf
Treasurer -- Shirley Ginn
Members-at-large: Joan Schmitz -- Mary Bowman -- Beverly Carter -- Jill Adams
Karen Veni, nominated from membership

Call for Entries
1999 Spring Exhibition
Turn in pieces -- April 30
Jury -- May 2
Reception -- May 7

FEELINGS is the theme for this year's annual Spring exhibition which will be juried on May 2nd at the Ventana Gallery, 8407 Broadway. Entries will be accepted from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on April.30, 1999. The opening reception will be Friday, May 7th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Please comply with the following:

a. All exhibit entries (except textbooks, "tools of the trade" and specific items for the display cases) must be original in concept by Guild members and not have been exhibited previously in a Guild show.

b. All entries that can be framed must be framed and wired for hanging. For safety reasons, all pieces that measure 20" x 24" or larger must have Plexiglas and not regular glass.

c. All framed entries must be labeled on the backside of the entry with the following information: Title of Entry, Price (if for sale) or Value (if not for sale), Media/Medium used, Member's Name, Address, and Phone Number. An entry card (3"x5" index card) with the same information must be supplied on delivery for the catalog.

d. The entry fee is $7.50 for the first entry, $2.50 for the second, and $1 for each additional entry. There is a maximum of 5 entries per member. (Entry fees are not required for display-only items.) Fees will be collected at the time of delivery.

e. If your official entries include handmade books (which must contain original calligraphy work) or hand-lettered fabric pieces, please provide small easels or other display devices necessary too display such items to the best advantage in the glass cases available. If you wish to enter new handmade books for display only (not official entries), a list of the books was due at the April meeting.

INVITATIONS. Lynn Rutland designed the beautiful invitations for the exhibit and reception on May.7th (see back cover). The invitations were available at the April Guild meeting; if you did not attend the April meeting, please make arrangements to pick up yours.

WORKSHOPS
Sheryl Hirsch-Kramer

POINTED-BRUSH DANCEWRITING
Saturday & Sunday, May 1 & 2
Discovery School
222 Salem
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost $80

POINTED-PEN HEARTSCRIPTS
Tuesday & Wednesday, May 4 & 5
Christ Episcopal Church
510 Belknap
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p. m.
Cost $80

Student Skills Level: For all levels of experience, including NONE.
Materials: Call Joan Schmitz.

Sheryl has this to say about her "Pointed Pen Writing" workshop -- My workshop first gets into basic strokes of letter construction, into materials, and warm-up exercises, all done with pencil to get people into moving their bodies and minds as naturally as possible. I don't want people to get into that perfectionist mode that can choke the life out of letters before proper technique is learned. When I see that people are comfortable, I then move them into ink and constructing real letters. Eventually, we get into capitals, numbers, layout, experimenting with a number of different variations through a series of timed writing exercise and writing to music, and experimenting with materials of all types, ranging from pen points to inks to papers. Everyone leaves with at least one finished piece done on good paper.

I always tell people that if they walk out of one of my workshops making letters the way that I do, that I have failed them as a teacher. Instead, I encourage them to reach within themselves to discover the HeartScript that is truly their own after learning the basics. There have been many times when I have marveled at the scripts that evolve in class, and dearly wish I could write them as easily as can my students; just because they came out of my workshop, it doesn't mean that they are scripts that flow from my heart! I love seeing people leave my workshops after having developed at least the beginnings of new and intensely personal styles, the thrill of discovery fresh on their faces. All levels of expertise are welcome, from total novice to experience professional, and a wide variety of results are possible for all.

Class size is limited to 15.
Fee is $80 for either class or $150 for both.
To reserve your place in class, send check made payable to SACG and mail to Joan Schmitz.

The following are the proposed changes to the San Antonio Calligraphers' Guild By-Laws:

Note changes are in bold face type.

As now written:
Article IV -- Dues
Section 1. Dues shall be designated to cover and defray the actual necessary expenses of maintaining and operating the Guild and shall be assessed on an annual basis, payable by April 1st.

Proposed change:
Section 1. Dues shall be designated to cover and defray the actual necessary expenses of maintaining and operating the Guild and shall be assessed on an annual basis, payable by April 1st to cover the annual year of July 1 through June 30. Dues are delinquent after the June meeting.

As now written:
Section 2.a. Dues for active members shall be twenty ($20) a year and shall not increase except at the annual meeting with thirty days written notice having been given prior to the meeting.

Proposed change:
Section 2.a. Dues for active members shall not increase except at the annual meeting with thirty days written notice having been given prior to the meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in May.

As now written:
Section 2.b. Secondary memberships are $10.00 for each additional family member using the same address, for either an adult or twelve to eighteen year olds accompanied by a parent. The membership includes one directory and one newsletter per household.

Proposed change:
Section 2.b. Secondary memberships are available for one-half the amount of regular dues for each additional family member using the same address, for either an adult or twelve to eighteen year old accompanied by a parent. The membership includes one directory and one newsletter per household.

As now written:
Section 3. Persons joining the Guild after December 1 will pay a pro-rate share of the annual dues for that year ($2.00 per month beginning in January).

Proposed change:
Section 3. Persons joining the Guild after the January meeting will pay a pro-rata share of the annual dues for that year beginning in February through June 30th.

As now written:
Article VI -- Standing Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees. The President shall appoint the chairpersons of the following committees. Each chairperson shall choose his/her committee members. Standing committee chairperson shall attend all Board meetings and shall present committee reports. Standing committees shall be as follows:

a. Awards & Memorials -- handle the Paul Freeman awards, propose other awards, and see that the memorial books are purchased for appropriate occasions.

b. Book Orders -- order all books and/or supplies in quantity for Guild members using Guild discounts when available.

c. Calendar -- plan, produce and promote calendars for sale by the Guild.

d. Directory -- publish a yearbook in cooperation with the Membership and the program Chairperson.

e. Exhibits -- plan and organize exhibits throughout the year.

f. Fundraising -- be responsible for developing projects needed to sufficiently supplement Guild funds.

g. Greeters -- provite members to welcome guests to meetings. Provide information on the Guild to new members and guests at the monthly meetings.

Proposed change:
Section 1. The President shall appoint the chairpersons of the standing committees. Each chairperson shall chooose his/her committee members. Standing committees along with their responsibilities and duties are delineated in the Standing Rules.

As now written:
Article VIII -- Elections

Section 1. There shall be a nominating committee consisting of two membres appointed by the Executive Committee and one member elected from the Membership. These positiosn shall be voted upon at the November meeting of the Board and the Novermer or December membership meeting. The committee shall publish a slate of officers to the membership at the annual meeting in March. Nominations shall also be accepted from the floor with prior permission of the nominee. Elections shall be by a simple majority.

Propsosed change:
Sectoin 1. There shall be a nominating committee consisting of two members appointedby the Executive Committee and one member elected from the Membership. The nominating committee shall be voted upon at the January meeting of the Board and the February membership meeting. The committee shall publish a slate of officers in theApril newsletter, and shall present the slate of officers to the membership at the annual meeting in May. Nominations shall also be accepted from the floor with prior permission of the nominee. Elections shall be by a simple majority at the annual meeting in May.

Just got word that a few of our members need our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Bev Carter has a bad broken arm. Eleanor Russell is pretty sick and unable to attend meetings due to Sjogren's disease, which is an autoimmune disease -- sort of related to lupus. Rod's wife (Beeper) is in the hospital for surgery. And, Rosemarie Siebenhausen is still recovering from knee surgery in March. All of these folks would appreciate your encouragement, thoughts and prayers right now.

Classes

Joan Schmitz is teaching Copperplate at
Michael's located at 2375 N.W. Military Hwy.
two Mondays in May.

with Joan Schmitz
at

Michael's
located at 2375 N.W. Military Hwy.
Monday, May 17 & 24
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
344-7675 for reservations

Mary B. Bowman is teaching two workshops on carving your own signature seal, chop, or "HANKO" in Japanese. Chops are carved using an X-action knife on an inexpensive eraser, which will last a lifetime. Red gouache does well for brush inking to print with them.

Supplies: bring an eraser or purchase one from Mary, bring a brush and a tube of red water paint, carving tool, and paper to practice on. Mary will have note card sets, postcards, gift wrap and rice paper available for purchase so you can try your new HANKO.

HANKO Workshops
Tuesday, May 11th 1:30
or
June 18th - 19th
Fee is $25
Call Mary Bowman at 692-9099

3-Hour Books with Maggie Gillikin

On April 25 and 26 Maggie will teach classes on how to make a book in three hours. Call her for details.

( Our own SACG talented member, Charles Ingram, has his own web page showing samples of his murals, paintings, and illustrations. Check his website out at: http://www.muralcleworks.com .

( A wondrous medieval book designed and created by a pair of amateur (?) scribes in Pittsburg can be viewed on the Internet. This is what they have to say:

Due to the number of requests for information we have received regarding the book we did, Eibhlin and I have constructed a webpage that shows what we did and how we did it. (It is a long web page.) The site is located at: http://www.angelfire.com/pa2/scribal/index.html .

From Cyberscribes on Pricing

What to do about clients who bring you wedding envelopes piece-meal after the initial order has been picked up and paid for. This is what Ellen in Indy does …

I try to treat my calligraphy business as a business. That does not mean being hard edged but it does mean charging fairly for my work. I continually get calls from calligraphers about PRICING.

What never ceases to amaze me is the prevailing attitude of so many calligraphers - They are AFrAiD to charge what their work and time worth!! Many feel ApoLOgeTiC about charging whatever amount they charge. And they are afraid to treat their business as a business.

How many printers can you call at 11:00 Friday night or 8:00 Sunday morning? Can you take a job to a printer, order 10 to be printed (not photocopied) and not pay the minimum price for 100%? Can you give the printer an order for 200 to be done in two-color printing and expect to pick it up in 24 hours and only be charged for black ink?

A suggestion … make yourself a written out price list for your use only. Figure out how much to charge for 100 works, black ink, no unusual layout or paper. Then you can charge additionally for additional things - but at least you do have a base price. Do the same for 150 words, 200 words, 250 words. This gives you a starting point. Then, when someone calls you, you can say, "well my minimum charge for 100 words is $xx. If you want additional artwork, color or layout there is an extra charge." That eliminates those who want you to write Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" for $10.

By having it in writing, you can look at your price list and give a quote. If you are uncomfortable, tell your potential client, "Let me look at my price list - I want to make sure I don't over quote my minimum charges."

We all know that the same 100-word poem can be done innumerable ways. It can have artwork or not. It can have color or be in black. It can be done using good paper or cheap copy paper. Ask your clients how much they want to spend. That will give you an idea of what kinds of creative things you can suggest to them. You are not going to gild for the same amount you would letter in fuchsia.

Give your client reasonable time limits. If you can do 50 envelopes/certificates a day on a steady basis then you figure you can do 250 a week, if it is 30 envelopes/certificates a day then it is 150 a week. Can you letter that many steadily? Do you have anything else in your life that might interfere with your working on this order daily? If so, allow for that.

Don't' do work with resentment - it causes WriNKleS!!!

If you are giving someone a discount, write out the invoice showing the regular price and then the discounted amount. Or do the work for free as a gift. But never do the work so cheaply that you resent it. Not all work can be done with love and job, but it can all be done with a great amount of satisfaction for a job well done.

Done lecturing. Good luck and have fun.

Vicki and I would like to send a big "THANK YOU" to all of you who sent us sympathy cards, for your encouraging words, and for your many prayers for our Dad. The last few months have been an ordeal and your prayers and support have been very greatly appreciated!
Vicki Belcher and Darla Peek

The committee has chosen Cranberry as the ink color to be printed on white paper for the Y2K calendar. The due date for turning in your entry is June 3 -- with the absolute deadline of June 30 to submit camera-ready artwork. Please contact the calendar editor if you have not yet signed up to contribute.

I signed up for this workshop immediately. I knew that I needed to loosen up creatively, having gone as far as I cared to go with repetitive practice.

Paradoxically this workshop included a description of research on creativity along with loosening up exercises. Intellectually oriented information on the creative process could be helpful for some, an unwelcome distraction to others. With the judgmental side of the mind active spontaneity is impossible. For me, distracting my overly critical side with information was helpful. I have found naming blocks to creativity was an important first step in recognizing them and beginning to work through them.

The loosening up exercises began with five minutes searching in the yard for objects that could be used as writing tools. Next we made marks on paper using any media or writing tools we wished. We moved to another person's paper and added our marks. Last, we moved to yet another student's paper. We cut out a small window out of paper and moved this over the work until we found a small area that pleased us and cut it out. We then discussed what worked in these small areas.

We also did a collaborative work. Each student began to make marks on strips of paper. Then the paper was passed on to others who wrote the first thought that came to mind in response to the images. Then all the images were shared and divided up among the students in order to be made into a book. We were taught the sueded paper technique ostensibly for a book cover, but most of us ended up playing with our tools and colors.

A slide presentation showed us works that had major mistakes that were changed into assets by continuing on to see what could be made from the "error." In one case, a misspelling in a block of text was completely painted over. Then the text was rewritten with a larger tool. Interestingly, the text discussed things behind the surface.

Bob is a proponent of the "instant gratification" school of calligraphy as exemplified by rubbing candle wax on a painted surface in order to add flecks of patent gold. This method adds irregular patches of gold to the design. To apply gold to a letter or other drawn shape, more traditional methods will be needed.

Our last demonstration was on pen manipulation to free us from the idea that the pen must be held to only one consistent angle such as thirty degrees. Rules have their place but at some point it becomes time to break them.

Birthdays