Els Van Den Steen Calligraphy & Lettering

It's not long now until the start of my ITALIC CAPITALS course, organised by CLAS and the good news is, there is still time to enrol. This is a CLAS LiveOnline course and these courses are great as beginner/refresher courses.
The course will run over four sessions delivered via Zoom.

Dates: Wed. 17th & 31st January and 14th & 28th February 2024

Time: 7pm - 9pm

Recordings will be available for a month after the end of the course. A Padlet board will be made available for sharing homework.

More information and bookings at https://www.clas.co.uk/clas-live-online/

Wishing you all Joy and Peace at Christmas and throughout the New Year! ⭐️🎄

❤️

Join me for my 2-day in-person Versals workshop, hosted by Cinque Ports Scribes. I look forward to seeing you there!

This 2-Day workshop with Els Van Den Steen will cover Traditional and Modern Versals.
Versals are compound letters built up with separate strokes so the technique is more like drawing than writing and we will use our dip pens.
9-10 September 2023 (10am-4pm)
at Evington Hall, Hastingleigh, Kent
You can join us just for Day One for Traditional Versals
For more info, send us a message or email [email protected]

Hi everyone,
Places are still available at my BISTER POWDER AND BISTER INK FOR CALLIGRAPHERS workshop in London on Saturday 10th June for South London Lettering Association. For further details, please see the information below. I hope you can make it!

For booking your place, please contact Nicola Dunn a.s.a.p. on [email protected] if you’d like to join in.

NEW COURSE ALERT

Posted • Workshop alert: Bister Powder and Bister Ink for Calligraphers with Els Van Den Steen
Saturday 10th June 2023, 10am - 4pm at St. George's Hall, Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2SR

This is sure to be a fun-packed day full of exploration. Els will take you through some exercises to help you discover the potential of using Bister Powder and Bister Ink in your calligraphy. Colour blending, mixing, lifting, diluting, sprinkling, spraying... We will use Bister Ink in the pen and also in the background. The aim of this workshop is to enable you to incorporate the learned techniques in your own calligraphy and use them as a springboard for further personal exploration.

Cost: £30 SLLA members; £35 non-members
Booking/info: Nicola [email protected]
Membership enquiries: Lesley [email protected]

Anyone else looking for an alternative to Roman Capitals? ART DECO capitals, based on the circle and the straight line, are highly legible and create a stylish impression, reflecting the character of the Art Deco period. These streamlined letterforms are written with mono-line writing tools which makes them straightforward and fun to write. This 3-week course is an introduction to Art-Deco lettering, using a selection of writing tools to create different visual effects. In Art Deco, type was believed to be as important as image and Art Deco designs were also heavily stylised. We will look at recurring motifs and learn how to draw some of the key motifs to incorporate in our Art Deco projects. The aim of this course is to learn techniques for creating Art Deco-inspired lettering projects. SUITABLE FOR ALL LEVELS - complete beginners also very welcome.

This 3-week course takes place IN PERSON and ONLINE

For further information or to enrol, please contact me at [email protected]

Cost: £58 for 3 sessions

CHOICE OF DAYS:
- OPTION 1: Tuesday 13th, 20th & 27th June 2023 • 13:30 - 16:00 • IN PERSON in Otford, Kent, UK

- OPTION 2: Wednesday 14th, 21st & 28th June 2023 • 10:15 - 12:15 (BST) • ONLINE

- OPTION 3: Thursday 15th, 22nd & 29th June 2023 • 13:30 - 16:00 • IN PERSON in Maidstone, Kent, UK

My next calligraphy course 'ART DECO LETTERING' will take place during the month of June for 3 weeks. Here is a sneak peek! This course will run again online and in person (in Kent). Stay tuned for further information!

ITALIC HAND for Beginners and Improvers, IN PERSON and ONLINE
Have you always wanted to learn the Italic Hand or are you out of practice? This course will teach you the Italic Hand from scratch and help you improve your skills. We will look at historical and contemporary examples of the Italic Hand and discover the key characteristics. We will start by learning/revising the formal Italic Hand and use it as a springboard to developing script variations and bring variety to our writing. Write out your favourite texts, explore different layouts and experiment with new colour techniques. Italic capitals and numerals are also covered.

For further information or to enrol, please contact me at
[email protected]

Cost: £146 for 8 sessions

CHOICE OF DAYS:
- OPTION 1: Tue pm (13:30-16:00, 2 1/2 hours), starting 17th Jan 2023 and finishing on 21st March 2023. IN PERSON at Otford Village Memorial Hall, Otford nr. Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5PQ

- OPTION 2: Wed am (10:15-11:45, 1 1/2 hours), LIVE ONLINE, starting 18th Jan. and finishing 22nd March 2023. The sessions will be recorded and the video recordings will be accessible until one month after the course has finished. Padlet will be used for sharing homework and for tutor feedback.
Requirement: To sign up for my online course, it is expected that you have already used a square-edged pen before and are familiar with at least one basic hand.

- OPTION 3: Thu pm (13:30-16:00, 2 1/2 hours), starting 19th Jan. and finishing on 23rd March 2023. IN PERSON at Sandling Village Hall, Sandling nr. Maidstone, Kent ME14 3AG

With All Good Wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
Love & Peace & Hope

MODERN GOTHIC HAND for Beginners and Improvers, IN PERSON and ONLINE
We will be looking at historical and contemporary examples of Gothic Hand, focussing on Gothic Quadrata, Textura and Fraktur. We will start by practising the relatively simple structure of straight lines and tight spacing and I will take you through a series of writing exercises to make your Gothic letterforms lively and informal while developing an appreciation of calligraphic textures. The aim of this course is to complete a piece of calligraphy with a formal layout or more informal composition. Capitals and numerals are also covered. Paper cutting and embossing are added to create unique, personalised cards which you cannot buy at the shop. This 8-week course is starting soon, so make sure to sign up.

For further information, a materials list and booking form, please contact Els at [email protected]

Cost: £144 for 8 sessions

CHOICE OF DAYS:
- OPTION 1: Tue pm (13:30-16:00, 2 1/2 hours), starting 20th Sept. and finishing on 22nd Nov. 2022. IN PERSON at Otford Village Memorial Hall, Otford nr. Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5PQ

- OPTION 2: Wed am (10:00-12:00, 2 hours), LIVE ONLINE, starting 21st Sept. and finishing 23rd Nov. 2022. The sessions will be recorded and the video recordings will be accessible until 31st December 2022. Padlet will be used for sharing homework and for tutor feedback.
Requirement: To sign up for my online course, it is expected that you have already used a square-edge dip pen and are familiar with at least one basic hand.

- OPTION 3: Thu pm (13:30-16:00, 2 1/2 hours), starting on 22nd Sept. and finishing 24th Nov. 2022. IN PERSON at Sandling Village Hall, Sandling nr. Maidstone, Kent ME14 3AG

Tomorrow is the last day of the Cinque Ports Scribes' 30th Anniversary Exhibition at the Kaleidoscope Gallery in Sevenoaks (above Sevenoaks Library). Don't miss out on seeing our wonderful selection of beautiful calligraphy! Opening hours 10am-4pm.

The Cinque Ports Scribes' 30th anniversary celebrations continue this week with our second exhibition at the Kaleidoscope Gallery in Sevenoaks (above the public library).
Come along and see the variety of work our members have produced.
Please note that the gallery is not open on Sundays.
The gallery is within walking distance from Sevenoaks station and has its own car park.

www.cinqueportsscribes.org.uk

www.svaf.co.uk

Cinque Ports Scribes is 30 years old!
Our first exhibition at the Red Door Gallery in Rye opens tomorrow. If you are planning to visit, PLEASE USE POSTCODE TN31 7AN.
We look forward to welcoming you!

www.cinqueportsscribes.org.uk

Some more images for my course MAKE A CALLIGRAPHIC GIFT BOX, starting this week and running over 3 sessions. It is still possible to sign up for the in person and online sessions.

Would you like to learn or refresh your Pointed Pen Uncial Hand and use it to create a unique Calligraphic Gift Box for special occasions, such as birth, wedding, anniversary, graduation, etc.?
If so, then this might be the course for you.

For further information and a materials list, please get in touch at [email protected].

Cost: £57 for 3 sessions

Choice of days:
- Option 1: Tue pm (13:30-16:00, 2 1/2 hours), 3, 10, 17 May 2022. In person at Otford Village Memorial Hall, Otford nr. Sevenoaks, Kent. TN14 5PQ

- Option 2: Wed am (10:00-12:00, 2 hours), 4, 11, 18 May 2022, ONLINE. A video recording of the demonstrations will be made available after each session.

- Option 3: Thu pm (13:30-16:00, 2 1/2 hours), 5, 12, 19 May 2022. In person at Sandling Village Hall, Sandling nr. Maidstone, Kent. ME14 3AG

Would you like to learn or refresh your Pointed Pen Uncial Hand and use it to create a unique calligraphic gift box for special occasions, such as birth, wedding, anniversary, graduation, etc.?
If so, then this might be the course for you.
Taking place over 3 weeks, you can participate either in person or online.

For further information and a materials list, please get in touch at [email protected], after the Easter weekend.

Registration starts Wednesday 20th April 2022.

Cost: £57 for 3 sessions

Choice of days:
- Option 1: Tue pm (13:30-16:00, 2 1/2 hours), 3, 10, 17 May 2022. In person at Otford Village Memorial Hall, Otford nr. Sevenoaks, Kent. TN14 5PQ

- Option 2: Wed am (10:00-12:00, 2 hours), 4, 11, 18 May 2022. A video recording of the demonstrations will be made available after each session.

- Option 3: Thu pm (13:30-16:00, 2 1/2 hours), 5, 12, 19 May 2022. In person at Sandling Village Hall, Sandling nr. Maidstone, Kent. ME14 3AG

My new course 'Foundational Hand - Formal & Free' is starting this coming week. Thank you to all those who have jumped on board! There are only a couple of spaces left, so be quick!
The course is for Beginners & Improvers. We first learn/revise the formal Foundational Hand and then explore some playful script variations. Creating coloured backgrounds and using colour in the pen will also be covered.

This course takes place in person and online. A pre-requisite for taking part in my online course is that you have already used a square-edged dip pen and are familiar with at least one basic script.

Cost: £180 for 10 sessions

Choice of days:
- Option 1: Tue pm (13:30-16:00, 2 1/2 hours), starting 11th January 2022, in person at Otford Village Memorial Hall, Otford nr. Sevenoaks, Kent. TN14 5PQ

- Option 2: Wed am (10:00-12:00, 2 hours), starting 12th January 2022, online using Zoom. A video recording of the demonstrations will be made available after each session. A closed WhatsApp group will be set up to share homework.

- Option 3: Thu pm (13:30-16:00, 2 1/2 hours), starting 13th January 2022, in person at Sandling Village Hall, Sandling nr. Maidstone, Kent. ME14 3AG

For further information, email me on [email protected]

Wishing you a wonderful Festive Season! Health, happiness & creativity for 2022! 🎄🌟

I look forward to starting my autumn course 'Uncials and Bister Ink' in person and online. Aimed at Beginners and Improvers, you will learn to write this beautiful hand based on a selection of historical examples. Exercises will be set to explore layout & design. The course will provide further enjoyment by experimenting with the glorious autumn colours of Bister Ink.

Cost: £180 for 10 sessions

Choice of days:
- Option 1: Tue pm (13:30-16:00), starting 21st September 2021, in person at Otford Village Memorial Hall, Otford nr. Sevenoaks, Kent. TN14 5PQ
- Option 2: Wed am (10:00-12:00), starting 22nd September 2021, online using Zoom
- Option 3: Thurs pm (13:30-16:00), starting 23rd September 2021, in person at Sandling Village Hall, Sandling nr. Maidstone, Kent. ME14 3AG

There is still time to enrol!
If you are interested in participating, please email me on [email protected] and I will send you further course details and a materials list.

I am pleased to announce my new, live online course
'BLOOMING LETTERS'. The aim of this course is to create colourful letter designs, inspired by colours found in nature, using watercolour paint. The finished artwork can be used for cards or be framed for your own house or as a gift.

All levels welcome!

To participate in the course, you do not need to have any prior knowledge of colour mixing, letter design or calligraphy.

This course is for anyone interested in learning or further developing their skills in:

- Drawing letters
- Designing decorative backgrounds
- Using colour

What will be taught:

- Techniques for designing our own letters, using traditional &
innovative techniques
- Techniques for designing decorative patterns for the
background of our letters
- How to mix & match colours, using watercolour paint
- How to select colour combinations that work

Course Dates: 3 Wednesdays: 16, 23, 30 June 2021

Times: Option 1: 10am - noon
Option 2: 2pm - 4pm

Cost: £60 (for the 3 sessions, 3 x 2 hours)

- The sessions will be recorded and the video link will be available
for 2 months, to allow opportunity for further individual practice.
- Homework will be shared in a private Facebook group.
- Materials are not included in the course fee.

For bookings and materials list, please email me at [email protected]
Bookings are completed when payment has been received.

Happy to be teaching the Formal Italic Hand with CLAS. Not long to go now! I look forward to seeing some familiar faces as well as new ones. To secure your place, don’t delay signing up with CLAS.

Interested in learning to draw VERSALS with a dip pen?

These capitals have been around for centuries and are still perfect for contemporary calligraphy. Based on Roman capitals, they were historically used for headings and to mark the beginning of a verse.

Spanning 5, online, Zoom based sessions, you will learn to construct these letters, starting with a pencil and progressing onto a dip pen. Script variations and colour techniques will also be covered, bringing life and diversity to your projects.

Aimed at beginners and improvers, some experience with a dip pen is advisable.

Dates: 5 Wednesdays, every other week
February: 3, 17
March: 3, 17, 31

Times: Option 1: 10am - noon
Option 2: 2pm - 4pm

Cost: £80 (for the 5 sessions)

For more information and to book a place, please contact me at [email protected]

And so, a new year has begun, starting with January.
During these dark and cold days, I am looking forward to all the heart-warming things 2021 will bring us.

I created this design for the Cinque Ports Scribes 2021 calendar.
It's always fun to do a group project and see the variety of work.

Merry Christmas everyone!
Wishing you all a peaceful Christmastide.

My new online workshop 'Capitals, Carols & Christmas' starts next week and promises to get you into the Christmas spirit.
We will use the Roman Capitals to create a modern, decorative paper structure for Christmas.

Level: Beginners & Improvers

Cost: £50 for 3 sessions

Wednesday: 2, 9 & 16 December 2020

Time: - option 1: 10am - 12.30pm (2.5 hours)
- option 2: 1.30pm - 4pm (2.5 hours)

The sessions will be recorded and a link to the videos will be made available to those who sign up.

For booking & further details, email me on:
[email protected]

My new 5-week course MOUSE ROMAN is starting on 22nd September.
Course level: Beginners & Improvers
Cost: £75 for 5 sessions of two and a half hours each.

Choice of days:
- Option 1: Tuesday pm (13:30-16:00) at Otford Village Memorial Hall, Kent, UK - under COVID-safe regulations
- Option 2: Wed am (10:00-12:30), using Zoom
- Option 3: Wed pm (13:30-16:00), using Zoom
_ Option 4: Thur pm (13:30-16:00), using Zoom

If you would like further information, don't hesitate to contact me on [email protected]

Thank you to everyone who participated in my online CPS workshop 'Nature's Manuscript' last Wednesday. I wish you all the best with creating your own alphabets, layouts and projects, inspired by nature!

Cinque Ports Scribes

There are only a few spaces left so don’t miss out.

Spaces available to non-members on a online workshop via Zoom on 12th August with Els Van Den Steen. Nature’s Manuscript - details attached.

It was wonderful to run the first online calligraphy workshop for Cinque Ports Scribes on Wednesday, using Zoom.
The 2 hours went by quickly, but we managed to fit it all in. If anyone else is interested, give me a shout.

Today it is Fathers' Day in Belgium. 'V' stands for Vader, Vriend, Vrolijk & Vrij (Father, Friend, Happy & Free).
Happy Fathers' Day!