A Speech to the Garden Club of America" by Wendell Berry - My version is "Fuel"

FUEL has won the Jaffe Collection's Purchase Prize! I'm proud, but I will miss having it around for my drawing students...it's made with Canson charcoal paper and Graphite pour paper, which all my graphite students make in my drawing letters class. It's a diamond burrito book in a hard cover; to see how this book is made, go to Youtube and search for "diamond burrito book".

Kids Making BOOKS!

They brought me back to Martin County again to conduct workshops in several libraries this summer...two in one day! In one branch I had 38 participants, including the moms and dads! Whew! But we ended up having a blast, and the two hour format meant we had time to write stories in our books (even tho some were "dictated" to a parent). And, of course, they were amusing, sweet and heartfelt.
Now I just need to find libraries that will have me give workshops that are closer to home! Because this is what I love to do...

Son Number One did graduate this year! I forced myself to do a formal italic for his announcment, which I worked on last year in the Sheila Water's workshop and invented a border in photoshop with a "snakes and sticks" motif, a reference to his history as a reptile lover and his drum playing...it took a while, but we are proud of his accomplishments!

Patricia's Piece

One of my students in Melbourne, Australia - Patricia Barth - sent me a piece she recently did using graphite. This is not her comfort zone (her profession is calligraphic family trees) but she, like many other australian calligraphers, tries to continue studying what she has learned after the travelling "tutor" goes home. This quote caught her eye due to a friend having some financial problems.
BTW, I welcome any student work inspired by my classes, I'd love to see what your are doing!

Clap Hands - Making Your Mark in Melbourne (Watch this video!)

Summer School Downunder!

I was so privileged to teach in Melbourne, Australia this June/July for an exceptionally well-trained and dedicated group of calligraphers...apparently the craft of handlettering is alive and well in the Southern Hemisphere! To my students: any other pictures you may have are welcome...I never manage to take enough!