I always try to choose words that are meaningful when designing pieces for workshops, and after brainstorming for a while, I decided on the word “Hope” for this session.  We all have our own stories to tell, and our own battles to face, and in the midst of everything happening around the world, I just wanted to remind us all to have hope.  Hope that things will turn out okay, and that somewhere there is light at the end of the tunnel.

 

This workshop will be suitable for all levels as I will be showing you a step-by-step approach on how to create this piece with me by combining different techniques, from design, to gilding and adding colour to our piece.

 

In the first workshop, we will look at Lombardic letters/ Versals briefly where I will guide you through the process of drawing and spacing out the letters, how to tweak the letterform to make the piece more cohesive.  The second half of the workshop, we will be spent looking at patterns that you can design within the letterforms and also pattern designs to fill in the negative space around the letters, so that by the end of the workshops, you can walk away with something that is uniquely yours.

 

For the second class we will look at some of the tools used in gilding, how to apply Instacoll so that you can achieve a smooth surface, we will go through factors which you will have to consider when gilding, as well as techniques for you to experiment with at the end of the workshop.  By the end of this workshop, you will know to create a raised gold effect using 23k loose gold leaf and Instacoll. 

 

The final workshop we will be adding the final touches to our piece where we will be going through paintbrush techniques, how to paint the patterns, yet making it more organic and less flat.  In addition, we will also look at how to incorporate filigree designs around our letters. 

 

I hope you will enjoy creating this piece as much as I have.  I always try to incorporate new techniques or a new design aspect so that previous students will also be able to take away something new after taking this workshop.  As always thank you to The Gentle Penman for hosting me, forever grateful.