President’s NoteI’ll bet everyone is heaving a collective sigh of relief that the holidays are past us. I don’t know about you, but I could easily get used to three day work weeks! Thanks to Ann for coming early to set up everything for our holiday party–and to everyone who brought food, which was delicious.Thank you to Richard Legeckis for the delightful fes-tive piano accompaniment. Especially big thanks to Carl Rohrs who gave a delightful slide presentation and talked about his personal journey and experiences with other calligraphers and font makers in Europe and elsewhere.Speaking of Carl, those of us who took his wonderfully planned and thought out two day workshop in December were thrilled with it. Carl gave us personalized(!) and bound hand-outs which were among the most complete and thorough handouts I’ve ever received. He took us through pen manipulations which illuminated some of the more puzzling fonts he had collected and made them into letterforms with which we could actually work. Thank you ,Carl, for putting such great effort into your class.Speaking of programs, Chris Tischer has put together some wonderful workshops for 2009. Keep an eye on your mailbox for the Workshop Bulletin which will come out shortly. Once you receive it, please keep it in a safe spot�it will be the only one you receive. Of course, if you do misplace it, you can always obtain the information from our website, www.calligraphersguild.org .Happy New Year – and I wish the best of everything in the coming year to all of you.

Deborah E. BaselPresidentdeborah@baselfamily.org

December 2008/January & February 2009

Deborah E. Basel

Carl Rohrs’ Workshop Pics

...those of us who took his wonderfully planned and thought out two day workshop were thrilled with it.

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photos by Deborah Basel

In SympathyWith much sympathy we extend our condolences to Nan Jay Barchowsky over the loss of her husband, Paul, last year. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Nan.

Graceful Envelope ContestIt’s time for the 2009 Graceful Envelope Contest! This year’s theme is Address the Environment. Think green with all the colors of the rainbow! Focus on flora or fauna, accentuate the air, highlight H2O�or give a big hug to Mother Earth herself. Design an envelope that promotes the preservation of our natural world and address it artistically to:The Graceful Envelope ContestWashington Calligraphers GuildP.O. Box 3688 • Merrifield, VA 22116Envelopes must be postmarked by Thursday, April 30, 2009. There is no entry fee (and no prizes other than nice certificates)!This is the contest’s 15th year. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum created and administered it until delegating responsibility to the Washington Calligraphers Guild in 2001. Beginning in 2003, the National Association of Letter Carriers agreed to partner with us to sponsor the contest and exhibit the winners. Winning envelopes are also exhibited online at http://calligraphersguild.org/envelope.html .Please spread the word among your artistic friends (and local schools, because there are two separate categories for children). Full rules and a flier suitable for posting are at http://calligraphersguild.org/envelope.html and on page five of this Bulletin.Have fun as you Address the Environment!

Bound & Lettered If you never peruse the newsletter of John Neal Bookseller, you are missing out on interesting information and links. The newsletter contained a request for submissions for Bound & Lettered paraphrased slightly as follows:Paul and Devender are hard at work on the next issue. They are always looking for new contributors to the magazine.Does your work include book projects with calligraphy or do you use letters and text in an innovative way? Book projects do not have to include calligraphy to be of interest to Bound & Lettered readers. Contact them if you have an article or how-to project that would be appropriate. So, e-mail them at either john@johnnealbooks.com or pauldmcneill@yahoo.com .

Request for SubmissionsIn this Bulletin, we have four reviews of workshops, and photos to go with them. We would absolutely love to have more of your work to show our members.Please consider sharing some of your lettering art with our membership by sending it to the Bulletin editor via e-mail at terribarber@gmail.com.For 2009, we have resolved to showcase works of our extremely talented Guild. Beginner or master, everyone would enjoy the opportunity to see what you have been doing with your lettering!

Stipula Italic Pen for SaleNan Jay Barchowsky has a used, Stipula italic pen for sale. It has a 1.1 italic nib. She has used it minimally, and her hand is light, so it should suit anyone who would like it. Price: $125.00. Contact her at 410.272.0836.

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MembershipA very warm Welcome to our newest Members who recently joined. We’re so glad to have you ! Candis Hall Aaron–Washington, DC Margo Francine Beshears–Atlanta, GA Stephanie Chao–Laguna Niguel, CA Luigi Crespo–Frederick, MD Nancy W. Danielson–Wayzata, MN Elina Erlendsson–Arlington, VA Leigh Harrington–New York, NY Carolyn Hopper–Philadelphia, PA Rita Kaplan–Poughkeepsie, NY William Kemp–Albuquerque, NM Claudine Klose–Washington, DC J. Thomas Lockard–Gambier, OH Kathy McCreedy–Royal Oak, MI Alison McHale–Falls Church, VA Donna Peter–Alexandria, VA Cathey Newsome Sale–Anderson, SC Susan Salsberry–Summit, NJ Our sincerest thanks to these Members who recently renewed/joined as Sustaining, Patrons or Supporting Members. We are so appreciative of your generosity !

Sustaining Pamn Klinedinst–Bethesda, MD Milton S. Venezky–Silver Spring, MD Patrons Elizabeth S. Gates–Doylestown, PA Charles A. Gibbs–Manassas, VA Dorothy Pollet Gray–Alexandria, VA Jean Larcher–FRANCE Nick Olmos-Lau–Washington, DC Gail Mosely–Jacksonville, FL Susan Reeves–Cave Creek, AZ Quentin Ted Smith–Atlanta, GA

“I think the most important thing I came away with was to think for myself and question, question, question.” This is what Carolyn Goss wrote to me when I asked her for some input on what she came away with from our trip to Wales.This past September, four of us were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to study in Wales with Ieuan Rees. Our two week stay was enriched by the fact that as a small group, we were able to pursue individual studies in our

Supporting Iris W. Anderson–Silver Spring, MD Nan Jay Barchowsky–Aberdeen, MD Ronald Batistoni–St. Michaels, MD Nancy Beckmann–Clearwater, FL Pam Bennett–Uwchlan, PA Brenda Broadbent–Woodsboro, MD Annie Cicale–Fairview, NC Chris Crofton–Kensington, MD Mary A. Evans–Freeland, MD Anne Fantone–Wethersfield, CT Barbara Gere–Walkersville, MD Mariela Gerstein–Atlanta, GA Barbara Greig–Vienna, VA Sallie S. Halley–Virginia Beach, VA Leigh Harrington–New York, NY Louise M. Harris–Columbia, MD Mary L. Henderson–Burke, VA Lorna Ingram–Penryn, CA Julie Kacerguis–Clifton, VA Marta Legeckis–Bethesda, MD LaVerne J. Magarian–Potomac, MD Betsy Maguire–Savannah, GA Susan Makris–Falls Church, VA Irene McCann–Fairfax, VA Alison McHale–Falls Church, VA Judy B. Montague–Chantilly, VA Katherine Rehm–Burke, VA Donna Spangler-Boop–Sunbury, PA John Stackpole–Ft. Washington, MD Leigh Powers Stephens–Lexington, KY Carla J. Tenret–Albany, CA Ingrid A. Weber–Wolftown, VA Nickie L. Williams–Washington, DC Mary A. Wilson–Trappe, MD Gail Y Workman–Littleton, NC Lynn A. Zigoris–Vienna, VA

Ieuan Rees Workshop RetreatReviewed by Marta Legeckis

chosen fields of interest. The result was an interwoven group involved in stone carving, drawing, and calligraphy. We all began by drawing from observation. We had to concentrate on putting on paper what we really were seeing versus what we thought we were seeing. Sitting outside in the lovely Welsh drizzle with people looking over our shoulders was an experience.Back in the studio, these lessons of observation came into play as we began our individual studies. Our stone-

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carving enthusiast, Carolyn Goss, attacked her stone with zeal and gusto! Her tap-tappings came in loud and clear. As the two weeks passed, we noticed a subtle difference with each day. The gusto and zeal were still there, but now they were tempered by a sensitivity that came through in the changing rhythms of her tapping–the loudness diminishing to softness and back again. Subtle nuances were creeping into her carving.Lorraine Freeman came to expand on her interest in drawing. Her studies of botanical drawing had already honed her observational skills. We really couldn’t figure out why she was there! She was the lucky one who got to go outdoors to sit and sketch every day. Sometimes, Chris Tischer and I would join her. By looking and observing more and drawing less, Lorraine’s drawings became freer and had more life to them because with fewer, but more knowledgeable lines, she was able to capture the essence of her subject matter.Chris Tischer and I opted for more calligraphic study. Our motto was, and still is, “you can never get enough!” One evening we saw a harp performance. This had a profound effect on Chris and her work. As she watched the hand movements of the harpist, it brought to mind Ieuan’s stressing of the importance of your entry and exit strokes. It was all in the way that the hands/pen do the preliminary movements in the air before landing and gracefully end in the air – not abruptly on the paper. Chris felt that this helped her to do her calligraphy with more fluidity and ease. In a letter to Ieuan, she wrote “…you have given me so much that I am now able to feel

(Ieuan Rees WorkshopRetreat, continued from page 3)

such confidence with my letters. I know you were always wondering if I was getting what I wanted and I assure you that the pleasure in making letters now comes from my hand to my heart with the beautiful gesture of follow through.”I decided to use the Foundational as a springboard towards discovering other styles without the use of alphabet sheets. I already had quite a good idea of what happens (or should happen) when you change the rhythm, tempo, size of nib and x letter height. What I always lack is the time to sit and explore. Every day, I would just keep on writing and writing and noting the changes. I began to listen to the sound of the pen as it stroked across the page, creating a certain rhythm and tempo. I would get stuck, but with Ieuan’s encouragement I persisted, and by the end came up with my very own version of the Carolingian.Originally, we were to have the workshop in the morn-ings under Ieuan’s tutelage. In the afternoons, we were to pursue our studies on our own. In actuality, we had Ieuan’s undivided attention for as long as we were in the studio. His dedication to meeting our individual needs was not only commendable, but phenomenal. He has a gift of interpreting each student’s needs and how to point him/her in the right direction for answers. If you ever have the chance to study with Ieuan, you will not be taken by the hand and led from step one through step 10. You will be encouraged and pushed to ask “why” constantly, and to realize that in the end you, by yourself, are capable of finding the answers.

photo provided by Marta Legeckis4

From the left: Marta Legeckis, Lorraine Freeman, Ieuan, Chris Tischer, Carolyn Goss

Lee Ann Clark’s WorkshopReview by Gretchen ElsonMany of us in Virginia have long dreamed of workshops once again held in the Commonwealth. When Lee Ann Clark offered her “Pointed Pen Workshop” on a weekend I was free and the class was to be held in Vienna ten minutes from home, how could I lose? And was I right! I consider myself an average, perhaps a little above average, calligrapher, but I have little imagination and certainly have never been able to break out of a rigid form. As a matter of fact, at Letterforum when my teacher asked us to write the word “chaos” in freeform, I thought I was doing great, writing the word over and over again in ever changing sizes, styles and directions, only to sit back when finished and realize that the entire composition formed a perfect circle. ARGH! My love is of beautifully executed letter forms. I do not need decoration; I do not need flamboyance. Just give me a meaningful quotation wonderfully written and I can study it for hours. It would be nice, however, to do something a little different when the mood strikes me. I am not sure if I will ever be able to do that, but Lee Ann certainly gave me hope. She had some good ideas—I never have any new ones of my own—and gave me encouragement. Her demonstrations and suggestions were most helpful as were her many exemplars and samples of her professional work. What more could you ask from a workshop? I know! Good friends and new ones, all pleasant and fun with whom to spend two days. And if that were not enough, I bought some of the most delicious smoked salmon I have ever tasted from Lee Ann. MONEY AND TIME WELL SPENT! Thank you WCG, and thank you Lee Ann for a great workshop.

photos by Lorraine Swerdloff5

Judy Melvin’s WorkshopReview and Photos by Jill LichtyFrom Oct 10th through the 13th of last year, Judy Melvin masterfully shared her years of experience and creativity in a workshop called “Spontaneous Combustion.” Judy took the participants through many techniques. She commented that she was so glad we had four days to have fun rather than the usual two days, so that we could cover the many things she had in store for us.One of the techniques involved painting sumi ink strokes that extended off the page on each of the four edges of the paper. The next step was to cover the page with walnut ink. We then made more defined mark making in areas of the design. We found that Plaka paint will show through many substances, such as the walnut ink, that are painted over the entire or partial surface. Thus, beautiful designs develop.Writing with bleach on the walnut or tech ink surfaces resulted in various designs that could then be pushed further with more writing or inks. Whatever the technique, Judy always had an idea or suggestion if a person was struggling or was not able to complete the piece. She also made the person feel like her creation was yet another masterpiece. Judy’s skill in bringing the best out in a person’s work is a very important teaching method. It creates further exploration and inspiration for the student. On the last day, one of the fun activities that ended the workshop was to create “barcode art.” Barcode art. Each student artistically interpreted a barcode, thus creating diverse and wonderful pieces of artwork. As Judy stated in her handout, the title, “Spontaneous Combustion,” implies that once the process begins and the seed of an idea appears, one design isn’t enough and the race is on! The class certainly was spontaneous because of Judy’s inspiration and guidance. Much was learned and fun was had thanks to this wonderful artist, Judy Melvin.

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The Bulletin is published monthly from September to May, with a com-bined issue for December/January. Printed by Insty-Prints in Alexan-dria, Virginia. The decorative elements (snowflakes) in this Bulletin were created by Suk Ying Wong and downloaded from istockphoto.com . Feb. 10, 2009, is the deadline for the March 2009 issue.Please send text and artwork to:Washington Calligraphers Guildc/o Terri Anne Barber8406 Robert E Lee Drive • Spotsylvania, Virginia 22551terribarber@gmail.com

Your submission constitutes permission to use in the Bulletin. Mention in the Bulletin does not constitute endorsement by WCG. Artwork must be original and may need to be reduced to accommodate available space and will be used on a space-available basis. If possible, please submit articles via e-mail.

Calendar for 2009 Meetings(held at Concord–St. Andrews Church)

12/2008-02/2009ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Member of Cultural Allianceof Greater Washington

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDMerrifield VA

Permit No. 742

Feb. 9 Board Meeting in the Upper Room

Feb. 21 Movies and Popcorn Free afternoon of videos about lettering! This is a Saturday meeting. Come join us from 2:00-4:00pm.

March 9 Board Meeting in the Upper Room

April 25 Program Meeting (tentative date)

May 11 Board Meeting in the Upper Room

June 20 Program Meeting (tentative date)

ReminderCooler weather is here, and it can be unpredictable. Please check the WCG website for last minute cancellations due to snow or ice storms.

DirectionsConcord–St. Andrews ChurchSocial Hall5910 Goldsboro Road Bethesda, MDConcord–St. Andrews Church sits on a hill at the intersection of River Road and Goldsboro Road in Bethesda, Maryland.

• Take the Beltway to River Road (exit 39—towards Washington).

• Turn left onto Goldsboro Road.

• The entrance to the church is almost immediately to the right within a matter of several yards.

• The entrance to the Social Hall is the first door on the left side of the church as you face it from the front.

2009 WorkshopsKeep watching your mailbox for the Workshops Bulletin. It is packed with a whole year’s fun learning!

Next MeetingMovies and Popcorn!Saturday, Feb. 21st, 2-4pmFree afternoon of videos about lettering!