Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Gift a Calligraphy or Bookbinding Class or Workshop!

Happy Holidays to all lovers of ink and paper!

If you're stuck trying to decide what to give your friend or relative for Christmas, consider a class or workshop! I've got lots coming up in the new year and guess what? I've lowered my prices to make it easier for students to take a class.

Listed below are upcoming January and February Calligraphy and Bookbinding classes and workshops. I teach in three locations: Binders in Buckhead on Wednesdays, Spruill in Dunwoody on Thursdays, and private lessons from my home in Decatur. Click the links for more information.

Happiest of Holidays to you and yours,

~Anne Elser

Wedding Anniversary Vows

Recent work for a client - their Wedding Vows hand lettered for an Anniversary Gift. It's very gratifying producing work you know will be framed and treasured in the home of a couple who love each other for years to come.

This piece was done with a Nikko G pen in an oblique holder with Windsor & Newton gouache in navy and red, and highlighted with Fine Tec metallic gouache.

I suspect this will be a Christmas morning gift. Wish I could be there!

~Anne

Monday, December 02, 2013

Anne Elser Shop



Check out my new store! 
I've got three cards available for sale and more on the way. Woot!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Botanical Table Name Paintings

Done for a recent bride, these paintings were framed and sat at the Wedding Reception tables in Piedmont Park, instead of table numbers. Wish I could have been there, but the paintings were so much fun. Gouache applied as ink for lettering with a pointed pen, and with a brush for the plant forms. And when the MOB saw them, she cried. :) Always a great sign - happy tears.

To see the full album and closeups, go here!

~Anne





Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Case Bound Book Weekend Workshop at Spruill next weekend!

Stitch, fold, & glue a book with friends you've yet to meet,
with help from Anne Elser all along the way. 
Case Bound Bookbinding Weekend Workshop

Save $20.00 with a Membership- New & Renewal
Course Number:
134PPWB020
Dates:
Su, Sa, November 9-10, 2013
    Check for other dates or times
Sessions:
2
Meets:
10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Instructor:
Anne Elser
Fee:
$210  Fee Breakdown

Course Description

Spend a delightful weekend making your own Case Bound Book! Learn to make a book block of pierced and folded blank pages that are stitched together and then glued. Create a custom cover and spine with raw chipboard you then cover with imported handmade papers (Washi Paper). Case books are both sturdy and handsome and feature a supported spine, bookmark and headbands. It is the most recognized book type and is built to last on bookshelves for years to come. This functional, decorative work of art makes a great gift for you or someone who would enjoy filling it! We'll take a break to eat lunch both days and by the end of class, you'll be very proud of your first Case Bound book. Supply List available on www.spruillarts.org.
   
There is no Supply List for this course.

There are still openings remaining at this time.
A valid credit card will be required for payment. Please have your card information ready.



Monday, October 28, 2013

November Broad Edge Calligraphy Classes

November 6th & 7th I've got two new Afternoon and Evening 6-week Italic Calligraphy classes starting in different Atlanta locations (Buckhead and Dunwoody).

The broad edge provides a wide swash of ink in which once can swim and play and dance. Learning to lay down that much power in one stroke is a powerful sensation. With calligraphy, there are carefully placed strokes, gifting a blank white thirsty page. Each stroke is placed at a specific angle, in a specific sequence and at an easy, slow pace. It just plain feels good.

An Italic calligraphy class is a wonderful way to jump into calligraphy. It feeds your soul, calms the mind, relaxes the body, and provides years and years of delight for the maker, and the recipient - if you'd like to share it.

Click the links below to sign up for a class!

Wednesday Evening Italic Calligraphy with Anne Elser at Binders Art Supply in Buckhead

Details

Calligraphy One: Italic with Anne Elser
6 Sessions | Beginner to Intermediate
ARTZ1314 | Wednesdays, November 6 - December 18, 6 - 8:30pm
 
Description:
The Italic calligraphic hand is one of the most widely used and versatile alphabets around. It's generously wide strokes, produced with a broad edge nib can easily be dressed up or down. Italic is the perfect hand to learn for the beginning calligrapher yet versatile enough to experiment with for the advanced. During this six week course, students will be given handouts and guide sheets, learning the upper and lower case characters. We will also cover spacing and layout for addressing envelopes. Calligraphy is less about pretty handwriting and more about DRAWING each and every letter. It's about establishing a pacing and rhythmic motion as you write - giving you a consistency of shapes and letters, and spaces in between words and lines. It is highly relaxing and meditative. Like yoga for the hands, it centers, calms, and enchants the person making as well as and the person admiring it.
THIS CLASS IS AT OUR ATLANTA STORE.

Additional Information

SKUARTZ1314
Oversized ItemNo
Brand NameBinders Art
Department NameART RELATED MATERIALS
Unit of SaleNo
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price$190.00
During this six week art class, students will be given handouts and guide sheets, learning the upper and lower case characters.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON ITALIC CALLIGRAPHY WITH ANNE ELSER AT SPRUILL

Save $20.00 with a Membership- New & Renewal
Course Number:
134DACA210
Dates:
Thursday, November 7 - December 19, 2013
    Check for other dates or times
Exception Dates:
No class 11/28
Sessions:
6
Meets:
1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Instructor:
Anne Elser
Fee:
$210  Fee Breakdown

Course Description

The Italic calligraphic hand is one of the most widely used and versatile alphabets around. It's generously wide strokes, produced with a broad edge nib, can easily be dressed up or down. Italic is the perfect hand to learn for the beginning calligrapher yet versatile enough to experiment with for the advanced. During the six-week course, students will be given handouts and guide sheets, learning the upper and lower case characters. We will also address spacing and layout for addressing envelopes. This class is appropriate for Beginner to Intermediate students.
   
Supply List

There are still openings remaining at this time.
A valid credit card will be required for payment. Please have your card information ready.



Thursday, September 12, 2013

Beginning Bookbinding at Spruill begins next Tuesday evening!

BEGINNING BOOKBINDING WITH ANNE ELSER

Save $20.00 with a Membership- New & Renewal
Course Number:
134PPBB010
Dates:
Tuesday, September 17 - October 22, 2013  Check for other dates or times
Sessions:
6
Meets:
6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Instructor:
Anne Elser
Fee:
$210  Fee Breakdown

Course Description

If you enjoy stitching, paper, and color in the company of good friends, you'll love this beginning bookbinding class. In Bookbinding 1, discover the fascinating anatomy of a book from cover to spine to fly sheet and how to make one sing in the spirit of good craftsmanship while celebrating your own aesthetic. Not only will you learn to make books (4!) and a custom slipcase for one of them, you'll be making the tools used to create them that make the process easy and enjoyable. Detailed handouts and an inventive and caring instructor are waiting for your heart and hands. This course is great for all crafters, artists, and scrapbookers of all levels and for those who want help in luring their creative side to the surface. Projects included: Piercing Cradle, The Merfect, Side Stab Books, Coptic Book with Visible Spine, Tape Bound Book, Slip Case, and a Case Bound Book. Supply List available on www.spruillarts.org.


Monday, September 09, 2013

Copperplate Calligraphy Classes (day and night) begin this Thursday at Spruill!

CALLIGRAPHY: COPPERPLATE WITH ANNE ELSER: 1:30-4PM

Save $20.00 with a Membership- New & Renewal
Course Number:
134DACA250
Dates:
Thursday, September 12 - October 17, 2013  Check for other dates or times
Sessions:
6
Meets:
1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Instructor:
Anne Elser
Fee:
$210  Fee Breakdown

Course Description

Copperplate Hand poster by Anne ElserThis is an introductory look at Copperplate, an elegant and elastic hand frequently used for formal invitations, documents and bridal events. Completely enchanting, the dramatic thicks and thins of this delicate hand will make you swoon. During the six-week course, students will be given handouts and guide sheets, learning the upper and lower case characters. We will also address spacing and layout for addressing envelopes. This class is appropriate for Beginner to Intermediate students.
   
Supply List

There are still openings remaining at this time.
A valid credit card will be required for payment. Please have your card information ready.



CALLIGRAPHY: COPPERPLATE WITH ANNE ELSER 6-8PM

Save $20.00 with a Membership- New & Renewal
Course Number:
134DACA260
Dates:
Thursday, September 12 - October 17, 2013  Check for other dates or times
Sessions:
6
Meets:
6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Instructor:
Anne Elser
Fee:
$210  Fee Breakdown

Course Description

Copperplate Hand poster by Anne ElserThis is an introductory look at Copperplate, an elegant and elastic hand frequently used for formal invitations, documents and bridal events. Completely enchanting, the dramatic thicks and thins of this delicate hand will make you swoon. During the six-week course, students will be given handouts and guide sheets, learning the upper and lower case characters. We will also address spacing and layout for addressing envelopes. This class is appropriate for Beginner to Intermediate students.

There are still openings remaining at this time.
A valid credit card will be required for payment. Please have your card information ready.

Sunday, September 08, 2013

Calligraphic Hand-Painted Anniversary or Wedding Hankerchief


Ever since my wedding vow hankies made it to the pages of Martha Stewart Real Weddings, I've had a lot of requests for more. But at $340 per hankie, not a lot of newlyweds have that extra money in their budgets to have two hankies made, each with the vows they read to their intended, as they walk down the aisle. What makes these worth the expense, though, is that you've got a family heirloom waiting to be framed and hung on the wall for generations to admire. And you've also helped put my son through college. :)


If two hankies isn't in your budget, this anniversary present might suit you just fine. Select the best portion of your wedding vows to be painted on one hankie, along with your names and the date of your wedding. Keep it under 40 words, choose a linen color and poof - you're set to go.


You might also select to have me calligraph just one name, or create a monogram, or a specific piece for something blue to carry down the aisle, or one for each of your groomsmen or bridesmaids. There are infinite options.


The paint I use is permanent fabric paint and stands up very well to multiple washings. I'm a hankie user myself - preferring the feel of fabric as opposed to kleenex. You can use your hankie for one year, then frame it at your following anniversary.


I actually still have the table napkin my great, great grandfather used on the ship during his immigration from Norway to Ellis Island. My aunt framed it and left the butter stains intact - so you get a glimmer of the full experience of how our family started in this country. It tells such a wonderful story.



Want to see more Anniversary hankie shots? Go here to browse the full collection

Go here to see the process shots from sketch to final

Go here to see other hand-painted linen ideas from hankies to hand towels. 

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Tonight: Calligraphy 3 begins at 6PM!

Calligraphy Three: Advanced

MORE VIEWS

Calligraphy Three: Advanced

$190.00
| Class/Wkshp by Anne Elser|
OR

Details

Calligraphy Three: Advanced with Anne Elser
6 Sessions | Intermediate to Advanced
ARTZ1328 | September 4 - October 9, 6 - 8:30pm

Description:
Calligraphy 3 is an advanced beginner calligraphy class designed for those who have taken Calligraphy 2 & 3 or who already know the fundamentals of any calligraphic hand and are ready for the challenge of applying the words and other elements to the page.Whether you are addressing envelopes, designing a monogram, laying out a certificate, document, or quote of any size, this class will help you understand the concept of hierarchy on a page, drama, stable compositions, and the balance of elements. You will also be encouraged to take the plunge into the world of flourishing! Experimentation with color inks, gouache, metallics and paper is also encouraged. Bring in your free spirits and let's have fun!

Friday, August 09, 2013

Italic Calligraphy Workshop August 24th-25th, 2013

Friends! If you've wanted to learn Italic Calligraphy but can't spare the time it takes to commit to a six week course, you can condense the basics easily in a full weekend workshop.

I'll be teaching this workshop later this month on August 24th and 25th at Binders Art School. Slots are still available and you will love how good you'll feel at the end, having gifted yourself with the soothing experience of pen, ink, strokes, peace, and paper.

Click the link to sign up!

~Anne

Italic Calligraphy with Anne Elser



Description
The Italic calligraphic hand is one of the most widely used and versatile alphabets around. It's generously wide strokes, produced with a broad edge nib can easily be dressed up or down. Italic is the perfect hand to learn for the beginning calligrapher yet versatile enough to experiment with for the advanced.

During this weekend workshop, students will be given handouts and guide sheets, learning the upper and lower case characters. We will also cover spacing and layout for addressing envelopes.

Calligraphy is less about pretty handwriting and more about DRAWING each and every letter. It’s about establishing a pacing and rhythmic motion as you write - giving you a consistency of shapes and letters, and spaces in between words and lines. It is highly relaxing and meditative. Like yoga for the hands, it centers, calms, and enchants the person making as well as and the person admiring it.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Blooming Brushes: Atlanta Penabler meeting, Friday August 2, 2013

Blooming BrushesJoin us for our next Atlanta Penabler meeting, Blooming Brushes on Friday, August 2nd from 6-8PM at Binders Art School for an evening of experimentation with the brush. Whether you're a broad edge or pointed pen enthusiast, there's a brush out there waiting for you.

We'll discuss the numerous advantages to using a brush, over a steel nib, bamboo shoot, or quill and demonstrate with each other the possibilities a brush gives you in both texture, weight, and size.
We'll also give a quick recap of Barbara Calzolari's most recent American Cursive Handwriting workshop. Take a look at the fun we had here!

And don't forget, Carl Rhors will be with us in October for a weekend brush workshop, so dive deep with us and be prepared for your calligraphic hand to be liberated by the movement and grace of the brush. If you'd like to be updated personally about sign-up availability for Carl's workshop, please contact Jacob Gunter at Jacob@BindersArt.com.

What to bring:
• Paper (as large as possible)
• Pencil & eraser
• Ink
• Brushes (old, new, flat (for broad edge) or round (for pointed pen), watercolor, Pentel Color Brush, or Niji Waterbrushes)
• A snack or drink to share
• Yo Bad Self

See you there!

Monday, July 22, 2013

New July-August Italic Calligraphy Courses at Spruill!

Two new Italic Calligraphy courses are beginning at Spruill Center for the Arts this month: Daytime Italic and Evening Italic starting this Thursday, July 25th!

CALLIGRAPHY: ITALIC WITH ANNE ELSER

Save $20.00 with a Membership- New & Renewal
Course Number:
133DACA210
Dates:
Thursday, July 25 - August 29, 2013  Check for other dates or times
July 25, Aug 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Sessions:
6
Meets:
3:30 PM to 6:00 PM
Instructor:
Anne Elser
Fee:
$210  Fee Breakdown

Course Description

Italic Hand poster by Anne ElserThe Italic calligraphic hand is one of the most widely used and versatile alphabets around. Its generously wide strokes, produced with a broad edge nib, can easily be dressed up or down. Italic is the perfect hand to learn for the beginning calligrapher yet versatile enough to experiment with for the advanced. During the six-week course, students will be given handouts and guide sheets, learning the upper and lower case characters. We will also address spacing and layout for addressing envelopes. This class is appropriate for Beginner to Intermediate students.
   
Supply List

There are still openings remaining at this time.
A valid credit card will be required for payment. Please have your card information ready.



====================================

CALLIGRAPHY: ITALIC WITH ANNE ELSER

Save $20.00 with a Membership- New & Renewal
Course Number:
133DACA220
Dates:
Thursday, July 25 - August 29, 2013  Check for other dates or times
July 25, Aug 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Sessions:
6
Meets:
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Instructor:
Anne Elser
Fee:
$210  Fee Breakdown

Course Description

Italic Hand poster by Anne ElserThe Italic calligraphic hand is one of the most widely used and versatile alphabets around. Its generously wide strokes, produced with a broad edge nib, can easily be dressed up or down. Italic is the perfect hand to learn for the beginning calligrapher yet versatile enough to experiment with for the advanced. During the six-week course, students will be given handouts and guide sheets, learning the upper and lower case characters. We will also address spacing and layout for addressing envelopes. This class is appropriate for Beginner to Intermediate students.
   
Supply List

There are still openings remaining at this time.
A valid credit card will be required for payment. Please have your card information ready.