Leslie

Early Bird

Denise Adler is the Early Bird demo this month; she will show us her Pen Wreaths at 6:30 p.m. You'll want to be an early bird yourself to see Denise's latest pen wreaths.

May Program
"Incorporating Typography and Textiles"

The May meeting will stimulate your creativity for working on alternate surfaces, incorporate lettering with color, and improving your design abilities with Niki Bonnett's lecture and slide presentation.

Niki received her BFA in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design. She was a graphic artist for 15 years and is currently a full time artist whose mixed media work emphasizes textiles, art quilts, fabric and paper collages and assemblages. She is currently teaching at the Southwest Craft Center under the supervision of Jane Dunnewold.

Come and enjoy this incredible artist!
Sally Gooze

Pointed Italic

MINI-WORKSHOP
with Barbara Gere
Thursday, May 18, 2000
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Warm Spring Rehabilitation Hospital
5101 Medical Drive

Pointed Italic is one of many variations of the versatile Italic hand. This particular variation is found in surviving manuscripts by Palatino during the Renaissance. Pointed Italic can allow new expressive possibilities in your calligraphy. This alphabet is frequently confused with the Gothicized Italic hand of Edward Johnston in the early 1900s. In this class we will emphasize the pointed italic hand and will briefly cover the distinctions between these two hands as time allows.

Supply List:

A "Zig" chisel point marker with a 3.5 mm edge. You may also bring a Brause 3mm or a Speedball C-1 nib if you wish to use ink.

Barbara will provide ruled paper for your use.

* * *

If you are interested in attending a mini-workshop, sign up with Gayle Venticinque. If you need to cancel - even if it is the day of the mini, please let Gayle know so she can contact someone to fill your slot - she keeps a waiting list.

Birthdays
04/22/00 --Pamelia "Pam" D. Thomas
(New Member)

5/1 Mary B. Bowman
5/2 Leslie Winakur
5/3 Dawn Houser
5/13 Joan Schmitz
5/18 Sally Gooze
5/19 Rebecca Ingram
5/24 Melanie Capps (new member)
5/29 Brixey Sutton
5/30 Vera Irby

Membership News

Reminder - it's that time again, DUES times! Annual membership dues for the Guild of $24 are now due. No foolin' dues were due on April 1st.

A membership form was enclosed in the April newsletter, if you need an extra, call Jill Adams. She needs the form AND your check for renewal. Please fill it out, even if nothing has changed, and turn it in with your check payable to SACG at the next meeting.

Keep in mind that dues are considered delinquent after June 1st. We need to have your dues by then so you will be listed in the new directory for 2000-2001, you will receive all the newsletters and you will know what is happening with the Guild.
Jill Adams

Visit the Spring Exhibit
"XXVI Letters"
at Ventana Gallery • 8407 Broadway
during the month of April

* * *

Reminder to Secret Pals
Dragon Pals forms are due to Karen Veni
by April 30th
Don't be draggin' this summer, have fun,
be a Dragon Pal!

Cards
C*O*V*E*R*S
&
Closures

SUPPLY LIST:

__ Bone folder
__ Scissors
__ Pencil & eraser
__ Pencil sharpener
__ Triangle (30( or 45()
__ X-acto knife & #11 blades
__ Rag
__ Apron
__ Water jar
__ Metal cork-backed ruler (12" or 18")
__ Notebook for taking notes if you wish
__ Cutting surface (self-healing or scrap of matboard to protect tables)

__ Watercolors (we will use them "dry" so please bring a set of pan 
   colors such as Pelikan (gouache is o.k., too) or Prang; or if you 
   have tubes, squeeze out a bit of 3 or 4 tubes on a palette/old 
   plate and let them dry before workshop)
__ Brushes (1 or 2 watercolor brushes and a stiff bristle 2" cheap 
   hardware store brush - this one is important and will cost you 
   about 89 cents; bring a few other favorites such as a spackle 
   brush - optional on the favorites)
__ Drafting tape (to mask out areas when using watercolors; drafting 
   tape does not tear the paper when you remove it; if you don't have 
   it, consider getting some as we will use it several times or just 
   bring masking tape)
__ A few writing tools (we won't have lots of time to write with these 
   tools, but if you finish a project early, you may want to add some 
   lettering - optional) 
__ A favorite ink (optional)
__ Crowquill pen (or other pointed pen - optional)
__ Sticks (1 or 2 with a circumference similar to a pencil, about 
   2" long; also bring some thinner sticks about 6" long; time to prune
   some bushes? - or take a walk and hunt for some sticks - this is fun
   and healthy for you)
__ Hole punch (a standard 1/4" round; bring others if you wish,optional)
__ Miscellaneous ribbons, yarns, threads, etc. (a few will do)
__ Several sheets of scrap paper (such as used computer or Xerox paper)
__ A few sheets of practice paper (something that is thin enough to 
   see guidelines through, about 8 1/2"x11" or 9"x12" is fine, or 
   11"x17" folded in half)
__ Pigma micron pen (or similar, .01 black; be sure it's waterproof; 
   other sizes and colors - optional) 
__ Glue stick (such as Uhu)
__ Double stick tape
__ Rubber cement pick-up (to clean up glue stick remnants)
__ Fun pens (such as gold, silver, gel metallics, etc. - optional)
__ Paper bags (one plastic, tape to your table for trash as your work,
   and one brown grocery bag to take projects home in)
__ Matboard (about 11"x14"; you will be taping paper on this to apply 
   watercolors)
__ Gold and/or silver watercolor or gouache or pigments (optional)
__ A few rubber stamps and stamp pads, including gold and especially 
   silver - optional, but you will probably want a couple!

There will be a lab fee of $20 to cover the cost of Xeroxes, papers 
cut-to-size for the projects, threads, some paints, some ribbons, etc.
etc.  This looks like a long list, but I have provided lots of 
explanations to help make things clear for you to have a happy 
packing experience.  We'll be doing LOTS of projects and you'll be glad
you have these things.  If you're attending the workshop with a friend, 
you might consider sharing some items.  See you soon! Carol

Saturday and Sunday, May 20 & 21 * 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Discovery School located at 222 Salem
Carol Pallesen's workshop is limited to 20.
Cost is $90 and includes the $20 supply fee.

To hold your place in class, send deposit check for $45 made out to 
SACG to: Joan Schmitz 

President's Report on the
Southwest Calligraphy Conference

This was my second conference, and I'm still very impressed by all that goes on here.
This year's conference was in Fort Worth, and, the weather left a little to be desired.
We actually saw snow on the ground, and bad weather kept the two Oklahoma guilds
from attending. We really missed them. However, everything else about the entire
weekend was wonderful.

Our hostesses wined and dined us; made sure we were always very comfortable and at
home. Once again, the exchange of ideas and information that took place was incredible.
Last year I did realize that this exchange is the actual purpose of this meeting, but I
thought that the quality of activity was probably unique. Not so. This year I realize that
this is the standard and anything less would disappoint the attendees. I'm also very
impressed that although the member organizations remain the same, the attendees vary
considerably because most guilds have 2 year term limits for the president and
sometimes also for the workshop chairperson. The standard was set a long time ago by
the original attendees and has remained a constant over time.

Again, we were very proud of our guild. We are still the second largest guild in the
conference and one of the most active. Our dues are among the lowest, as are our
mini-workshop fees, and our major workshop fees are average. We were happy to
welcome Kansas City to our conference. It's not exactly part of the "southwest," but
they requested and were granted membership last year because they are a brand new
guild and need some assistance and companionship.

We got some great ideas from the other guilds, which we will gradually bring to the board
and to our general membership. Most of the guilds are facing similar difficulties in
bringing the national circuit teachers to Texas for a reasonable fee. And, therefore, most
have resorted to using local talent for programs and major workshops at one time or
another. All have reported great success with these events, and we all agreed that we
need to take more advantage of our friends and colleagues in our own guilds and the
conference guilds. All of the guilds were agreed that the hands-on programs and
activities generated the most interest and were the most successful.

One guild holds a morning meeting followed by a brown bag lunch similar to our Early
Bird program. One tries to host an informal reception and discussion group at a
member's home to enable all members to meet an out of town guest for no fee, whether
or not the member attends the workshop. One provides a very nice new member packet
with some free information and supplies donated by local vendors.

Most guilds did a calendar for an annual fundraiser, and several have discovered what
fun it is to get together and work on these things as a big group. One guild did a black
and white calendar and then hand colored it. The sample was beautiful. We hand bound
ours and all were impressed with our results. The others were also very impressed by our
eight-pocket pamphlet with note cards and by our up-coming "XXVI Letters" project.
(We sold nine calendars and the last eight-pocket book there.) One guild held a meeting
to construct a 3-ring binder directory with one page per member and then printed only
new information each year. We are still the only guild with access to an actual gallery for
exhibits, and some do not have an annual exhibit.

All the guilds struggle with similar problems. One guild lost the program chairperson
mid-year due to a transfer out of town and discovered that there were no programs
scheduled yet for the rest of the year. Several guilds scrounge for a suitable meeting
place; this seems to be a problem that continues to rear its head on a regular basis.

All worry about the library and how to make it available to all members without having to
haul it to the meeting monthly, and no one has a good solution for this problem as yet.

The newsletter is a continuing problem for all guilds. Some publish every 2 to 3 months,
with an occasional postcard to remind members of meetings in between.

Some guilds struggle with the dichotomy between novice and advanced calligraphers
among the members, and all struggle with the balance between calligraphy/letter arts and
applied arts and crafts.

We are a very lucky guild. Our membership numbers remain strong and we continue to
have an active general membership with many interests. When I hear how other guilds
struggle with some issues, I am reminded that we are riding a crest right now and our
situation could very well be different at any time in the near future. The health of our
guild depends, as always, on the on-going active participation of as many members as
possible. It's wonderful that we can split off into small interest groups: painters, book
artists, stampers, paper makers and marblers, etc. And it's wonderful that we can all get
together on a regular basis and share our interests with each other. This ongoing
exchange of ideas and talents within our own guild and among the members of the
Southwest Conference is what will keep our guild alive and well.

Leslie

Marbling Workshop
with Bev Carter & Betty Lou Jordan
Saturday, May 6th
at Rod Smith's Ranch - Dilly Digs

Have you always wanted to make beautiful marbled paper? Here's your chance. Rod Smith offered his ranch for a marbling workshop and Bev Carter and Betty Lou Jordan will supply the know-how. This was "cooked" up rather quickly at the April meeting and it may change between then and when it actually happens - so call Bev Carter for more details and to sign up. When I left the meeting, this is how things stood:

Bring a $10 supply fee and paper - marbling works on all kinds of paper including envelopes. You will be working with acrylics. If you have some favorite colors, bring them.

If you need directions to Rod's ranch, call Rod.

May Play Day -- "Coloring Tyvek"
Mon., May 8 • 9:30 a.m. until ??
Bonnie Houser's Ranch

Bonnie has called a Play Day so we can get the June newsletter cover "colored" before it goes to the cover artist. (Please Note: Play Day is on MONDAY, May 8th now - Bonnie had a conflict with the other date.) Many hands make light work. The cover needs to be colored in a certain way before it goes to Denise for her magical touches, but if you have a tyvek envelope or two laying around the house and you would like to experiment, bring it/them with you.

If you want to Play in May with Tyvek - call Bonnie Houser to register and get directions - it takes about 30 minutes to get there.

A few words from Shawn Behrens

First of all, a few words about my mother, to whom this cover is dedicated. Many of you have now gotten the chance to meet her since she became a member two years ago. And you are blessed for it. She is a Godly woman who has helped mold me into the person I am today. (Try not to hold that against her ... he he.) Seriously, I thank God for her and the positive influence she and my Dad have had in my life. I count myself very fortunate to have been blessed with parents like them. I am very proud of her and her calligraphic efforts in the Guild (as well as excellence in other art media), although I see now that her main goal was to spend time with me before I move on to another segment of my life. And that's just fine with me.

Second, I would like to thank several members. When I first joined the Guild, I was totally self-taught. I had started in the 8th grade with a set of Old English stencils a friend had, when I decided it would be easier to do it free-handed than to mess with those awkward plastic things. I used felt-tip pens, until I got my Shaeffer cartridge pen with fine, medium, and broad nibs! That was a highlight for sure. I was so excited. Then, I guess about four years ago, (has it really been that long?!?) I was at this wonderful newly discovered art store, Herweck's, and was asking about copperplate nibs. I was--and still am--fascinated by that gorgeous hand.

The staff wasn't familiar with that kind of nib, but they said "that lady Thea" with "that calligraphy society" might know. One can hardly blame them...I was trying to describe something out of a book that I'd only read about, and had never seen. Well, Thea Moore was indeed home and invited me over, and hasn't ceased to this day to be a wonderful source of knowledge. That hour or so was the opening of a new world for me ... I learned about this stuff called gouache, and metal nibs you use with them, and yes, I got some copperplate nibs and holder that day also! Thank you for everything Thea.

Another person who has been a wonderful teacher and inspiration is Joanie Schmitz. From one of my first mini's--Carolingian--to classes at Michael's, etc., etc., etc, .... you have helped me grow more than you, or I, can imagine. Thank you for always being such an encouragement. Maggie has broadened my horizons as well, in bookmaking especially, and more recently Uncial, as well as a ton of other great info. Thank you Maggie.

There are so many to whom I owe so many thanks, I can't name you all ... I might as well just cut and paste the whole directory in here. You have all been so supportive. THANK YOU!!! I especially want to thank everyone who has over the years taken the time to teach a mini or other class. Through your sacrifice of very valuable time I have learned so many terribly neat things.

And last, I want to encourage all of you who are new to the Guild, or maybe you are just not too confident in your work. Although I am certainly no expert, please let me tell you what's helped me. Make use of the wonderful information you have at your fingertips ... there are so many gifted people in this Guild who are more than happy to share it. Ask questions. You'll get answers ... wonderful answers! Take every mini-workshop and class that you possibly can. As I mentioned above, I have learned so many neat techniques and hands at them. I just sign up for everything that my schedule and pocketbook will allow! Anyway, not exactly a heap of wisdom from me - just be encouraged! Keep up the good work! I am so excited to be in the Guild, learning new stuff every time!

(Sorry this turned into a letter ... I just had so much to say!!!)

God Bless!
Shawn Behrens :o)

Design is not an easy thing to learn (or to teach); there are so many variables, so many possibilities, that it is not helpful to be dogmatic or simplistic. However, calligraphy is a two-dimensional art form and so, compositionally, it relates to painting and photography (with the important addition of literary content). And for all two-dimensional visual arts there are some general guidelines which, although they don't guarantee immediate success, they do at least prevent major bloopers.

Two-dimensional compositions are assembled from a number of different elements (like Color and Contrast); they are the "Building Blocks" of design. If the Building Blocks are assembled sensitively, then a balanced, visually stimulating, and appropriate composition will result.

Because words are incorporated into calligraphic designs, "appropriate" is a particularly important consideration. Each of the Building Blocks should be closely related to the meaning and content of the chosed words. Each element should enhance (rather than conflict with) the literary content. So, for the calligrapher, the first task is to identify this content in the chosen words. It is the overall meaning and mood of the words that needs to be identified, not just individual phrases or words (However thought provoking they may be). Avoid the temptation to color "THE BIG SKY" in the blue, or to write "DAZZLING BRIGHT" with lots of flourish and accent. This is too literal, too obvious. It leaves nothing for the viewer to do. Remember, "Less is more." John Betjeman, the English writer, once said, "Inference is better than statement" -- and this is good advice for visual designers as much as it is for authors. Don't spell out everything, leave something for the viewer's imagination. In this way, the viewer becomes more involved, more stimulated by your composition.

What are some of the Elements of Calligraphic Design?

XXVI Letters Poster and Book

We still have many XXVI Letters posters and about half of the limited edition books. The poster sells for $10 (including tax) and the book, an accordion fold in a slipcase, will be a numbered limited edition of 100 and will sell for $25 until the May 4th Guild meeting, after which it will sell for $30. The books, using the same XXVI Letters as the poster, will be made by hand this summer.
Jill Adams

--- Reminder ---

The deadline for June Flourishes is Thursday, May 4 - the night of the May meeting. If your copy of Flourishes arrives late, damaged or not at all - please call Mavis Caudill, she has extras until the next meeting, then they go to Jill Adams, Membership Chairperson.

Advertise your Summer Play Days, Workshops & Classes
in the June issue of Flourishes.

If you have Internet access, take a peek at previous editions or view the latest Flourishes on the web at our website http://www.axs4u.net/home/inksmith/sacg.htm where it is posted. A special "Thank You" to Francene Smith and her son-in-law, Frank Rippel, for providing this for our members.

Photos of Guild Member's Studios on the Web

If you have access to the Internet, go to the Flourishes website and admire the photos of Guild Member's Studios, get some great ideas and enjoy the show.
http://www.axs4u.net/home/inksmith/sacg_studios/studios..htm

***

Calligraphic Flourishing

with Joan Schmitz
Sign up for class at Michael's
located at 2375 N. W. Military Dr.
on Wed., May 24, 2000, cost is $12
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Call Joan for more information.

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