March 2014: The majuscules of Imperial Rome have obviously survived the test of time...
In ancient times, the structures of capital letters followed a formula. That formula will be introduced by means of a demonstration, using a flat brush. The flat brush is believed to have been the tool used by Romans for writing on vertical surfaces. By seeing what kinds of marks the flat brush can make, observers will get a better idea of how capital letters acquired their shapes.
Questions which will be answered:
1. Can brush lettering be done without using a drafting table?
2. How long will it take me to learn brush lettering well enough to make money at it?
3. Have any of your former students become famous or successful?
4. Where do you get your brushes and materials?
5. Is it possible to run a profitable lettering business from home?
Presented by John Downer & Paul Herrera
March 11, 2014 11:00 CST
John Downer has been a journeyman sign painter for more than 40 years. He branched into the field of type design 30 years ago, and learned to use a Macintosh about 20 years after starting in the sign trade. His expertise in creating and critiquing letterforms is highly regarded. In addition, his best-known typefaces—Brothers, Roxy, Iowan Old Style and Vendetta—all have distinct structural elements which come directly from his knowledge and practice of professional hand lettering.
Paul Herrera’s calligraphy and lettering training was done exclusively with Reverend E. M. Catich. Beginning as an undergraduate in 1967 and after a short interruption of military service, Paul worked as inscription cutter and calligraphy seminar assistant with Father Catich until the time of his death in 1979. At that point Paul was invited to teach Father Catich’s classes at St. Ambrose and would continue to do so until 1989. During that time Paul also served as a faculty member of five international calligraphy conventions. They include; “The Calligraphy Connection” held at St. John’s University in Minnesota 1981 and 1984, “The California Experience” held at Scripps College in Claremont, California 1985, “Innovations” held at Stevens Institute in Hoboken, New Jersey 1986, and “Calligraphy Northwest” held at the University of Portland, Oregon in 1987.
During his forty year career Paul has conducted numerous lettering seminars for calligraphy organizations throughout the Midwest and Canada. He continued inscription work for Wichita State University and an architectural firm in Chicago as well as individual clients. Additionally, he was watercolor and calligraphy instructor at the former Davenport Municipal Art Gallery from 1973 – 1984. He retired from civil service in January of 2009 and now works full time in his studio and offers workshops in calligraphy.
To join us for this interesting webinar please register here.