Revised Christ Monogram

Flowering at last.

Calligraphic Kudos From Shira Savada

Anne Elser got a calligraphic kudos from Martha Stewart Wedding's editor Shira Savada recently on the PaperCupSketchbook.com blog from a story named "Inside Shira's Sketchbook." Can't resist sharing with all of you. :)

~Anne

Brush Work

Writing with a brush is tough to learn. Creating interest in your strokes and crisp, defined marks is tricky, too. Been doing a lot of brush work practice lately, especially since Barbara Calzolari's Pointed Pen Variation Workshop.

She had me practicing with a brush, then the pointed pen and back again to the brush. They are essentially the same tool - just the brush is more sensitive. HIGHLY sensitive - which can be maddening. But it's good. I am in search of a brush lettering workshop and my goal is to take one from John Stevens.

While practicing with the brush, I started with black in. Then Barbara introduced me to the idea of using gouache. Now gouache is my preference. It makes my brush slow down because there is a slight chalky texture to it. It takes curves nice and slowly and I can feel the slight vibration in my hands. It's an amazing feeling.

I've been using the cheapest brushes I can find to practice with, but have just upgraded to a nicer version - Windsor Newton Series 7 Miniature Sable brushes in #00, 0, 1 and 2. They have a lovely waist on their short blue handles.

Beaded Copperplate

I've always wanted to do this. String beads on a flouncy, confident copperplate capital. Here's an experimentation I did in Advanced Calligraphy at Binders the other night. Had a blast and now I want more!

I've been Buzzed!

Thank you to Bride Buzz for this awesome write-up!

Anne Elser Calligraphy

Some of the coolest calligraphy we've ever seen...

Every once in a while we feel our passion for calligraphy fading. After all, it’s so traditional and old-school (not too mention expensive), that sometimes we forget why we love it so much. Then one day we come across a calligrapher like Atlanta-based Anne Elser and we quickly remember just how special and stunning calligraphy can be. Honestly, her stuff is totally insane.

Elser does everything from basic requests like envelopes and place cards to more intricate jobs like invite design and save-the-date creation. And her style is amazing. She can do anything from modern to romantic to super-traditional. And everything is beautiful.

Though she’s based in Atlanta, more than half her clients are from out-of-state, and the process is totally simple: Just look through her site (obsessed!) and then let her know what you love. She will create a few pencil sketches and then send them to you to get your opinions. You and she can work together until everything is perfect, then she will “ink it up” and send you a final image to approve via email.

Her waiting list can be long, and the prices aren’t low, but honestly, if you can afford it, you should definitely get in touch and see what she can create for you. It’s like adding works of art to your wedding vision. Hard to top that.

Pencil Power

When I get a job, the first thing I do is sketch. Monograms are especially fun to sketch. I do a dozen of them, pick my faves and send them off to the client. A client approves one direction and then off I go to create the final.


Here are some sketches I did in the last session of Advanced Calligraphy, where we spent a couple of classes working on monogram variations. These are too much fun to throw away. So here you are.

Calligraphy Three: Advanced Calligraphy

Calligraphy 3: Advanced Calligraphy with Anne Elser
Wednesday Evening
July-Aug 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 28, Aug 4, 11, 18, 25
6-8:30pm
Min4/Max 15

Calligraphy 3: Advanced Calligraphy with Anne Elser
Tuesday Afternoon
Oct-Nov 2010
Tuesday, Oct 26, Nov 2,9,16, 23, 30
1:30-4:00pm
Min4/Max 15

Calligraphy 3: Advanced Calligraphy with Anne Elser
Wednesday Evening
Dec 2010-Jan 2011
Wednesday, Dec 8, 15, Jan 5, 12, 19,26
6-8:30pm
Min4/Max 15

Calligraphy Three: Advanced Calligraphy with Anne Elser
Intermediate to Advanced | Fee: $140 | Min. 4/ Max. 15 Calligraphy 3 is an advanced 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 balance of elements.

You will also be encouraged to take the plunge into the world of flourishing! Experimentation with color, gouache, inks and paper is also encouraged. Bring in your free spirits and lets have fun!




Instructor Bio: Atlanta native, Anne-Davnes Dusenberry Elser earned her BFA in painting and ceramics from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1991. She then studied Graphic Design at The Portfolio Center in Buckhead, where she has been teaching design classes for over 10 years. In 2003, she began teaching classes here at Binders. Anne makes her living as a painter, illustrator, bookbinder, designer and calligrapher. She is also an instructor in these fields. Her award-winning work has been featured in design annuals, books and magazines (Print, CMYK, Graphis and Communication Arts, Minimal Graphics, Then Is Now) and can be seen in several book jackets (Memory Of A Large Christmas, Storyville USA, Trickster Lives, Let Them Eat Data.) While Anne’s experience gives her classes real value, her candor and sense of play allow for a fun, friendly environment. She has two cats named Gunther and Olaf, a son named Anton (who is amazing) and a husband named Doug (who is also amazing.) She also can’t wait to meet you.

Emma

A little fun sketch I did in our last Advanced Calligraphy class at Binders last week, after I'd watched the last 3-part presentation of Emma. Poor Emma. Sunny, yet scolded.

You can watch the entire series on the PBS site. Such a great service.

Emma on PBS.

2010 Anne Elser Calligraphy and Bookmaking classes at Binders Art Supply

Hi Friends,

Beginning in the new year - I'll be teaching four nights a week at Binders right here in Atlanta and bringing back the ever-popular Calligraphy Two class. Monday night will be Calligraphy 2, Tuesday night is Bookmaking, Wednesday night is Copperplate Calligraphy and Thursday night is Italic.

Here's a list of class descriptions and live links for you to purchase a class right now if you like. Very excited about 2010 and to play a part in the positive, creative and energetic flow that Binders Art Supply in Atlanta is cultivating. I just love it there and know you will, too.

Click here for Calligraphy supply lists.

Click here for Bookmaking supply lists.

Calligraphy 2 w/Anne Elser (CLASS 1/4-2/8)

Calligraphy 2 with Anne Elser :: Mondays, 6 sessions, Jan. 4 - Feb.8 :: 6-8:30pm :: Fee: $140. Theres good news for those of you who have already taken a Copperplate or Italic class from Anne and feel stuck - staring down that blank stack of envelopes with no idea how to tackle all that space. Introducing Calligraphy 2, an advanced calligraphy class designed for those who already know the fundamentals of any calligraphic face and are ready for the challenge of applying the words to the page. Whether you are addressing envelopes, 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 balance of elements. You will also be encouraged to take the plunge into the world of flourishing! Experimenting with color, gouache, inks and paper is also encouraged. Bring in your free spirits and lets have fun! THIS WORKSHOP OR CLASS IS AT OUR ATLANTA STORE.

January - February 2010

Bookmaking with Anne Elser (CLASS 1/5-2/9)

Bookmaking with Anne Elser :: Tuesdays, 6 sessions, Jan. 5- Feb. 9 :: 6-8:30pm :: Fee: $140. We will be making books and boxes in this class with a variety of materials and techniques. The objective here is to give you a fundamental understanding of how books are made - a backbone of knowledge so you can create your own books and journals. There will be an emphasis on neatness and craft and most of all FUN. Making books is a very rewarding experience. They make wonderful gifts, sketchbooks for yourself and journals, photo albums, etc. The only skills required are a love of paper, attention to detail, patience and again - a need to have FUN!
THIS WORKSHOP OR CLASS IS AT OUR ATLANTA STORE.

February - March 2010

Bookmaking with Anne Elser (CLASS 2/23-3/30)

Bookmaking with Anne Elser :: Tuesdays, 6 sessions, Feb. 23-March 30 :: 6-8:30pm :: Fee: $140. We will be making books and boxes in this class with a variety of materials and techniques. The objective here is to give you a fundamental understanding of how books are made - a backbone of knowledge so you can create your own books and journals. There will be an emphasis on neatness and craft and most of all FUN. Making books is a very rewarding experience. They make wonderful gifts, sketchbooks for yourself and journals, photo albums, etc. The only skills required are a love of paper, attention to detail, patience and again - a need to have FUN!
THIS WORKSHOP OR CLASS IS AT OUR ATLANTA STORE.

January - February 2010

Copperplate Calligraphy (CLASS 1/6-2/10)

Copperplate Calligraphy with Anne Elser :: Wednesdays, 6 sessions, Jan. 6- Feb. 10 :: 6-8:30pm :: Fee: $140.Are you fascinated with how beautiful calligraphy looks and want to try it yourself? This is an introductory look at Copperplate, an elegant and elastic hand frequently used for formal invitations, documents and bridal events. After we learn each upper and lower case character, we will spend the last two classes learning layout techniques for envelope addressing, a bit of flourishing and color experimentation. Calligraphy is less about pretty handwriting, but more about DRAWING each and every letter. Its about establishing a pace and rhythmic motion as you write - giving you a consistency of shapes, letters, and spaces in between words and lines. It is highly relaxing and meditative. Like yoga for your hands! THIS WORKSHOP OR CLASS IS AT OUR ATLANTA STORE.

February - March 2010

Copperplate Calligraphy (CLASS 2/24-3/31)

Copperplate Calligraphy with Anne Elser :: Wednesdays, 6 sessions, Feb. 23-March 31 :: 6-8:30pm :: Fee: $140. Are you fascinated with how beautiful calligraphy looks and want to try it yourself? This is an introductory look at Copperplate, an elegant and elastic hand frequently used for formal invitations, documents and bridal events. After we learn each upper and lower case character, we will spend the last two classes learning layout techniques for envelope addressing, a bit of flourishing and color experimentation. Calligraphy is less about pretty handwriting, but more about DRAWING each and every letter. Its about establishing a pace and rhythmic motion as you write - giving you a consistency of shapes, letters, and spaces in between words and lines. It is highly relaxing and meditative. Like yoga for your hands! THIS WORKSHOP OR CLASS IS AT OUR ATLANTA STORE.

January - February 2010

Italic Calligraphy (CLASS 1/7-2/11)

Italic Calligraphy with Anne Elser :: Thursdays, 6 sessions, Jan. 7- Feb. 11 :: 6-8:30pm :: Fee: $140, The Italic calligraphic face is one of the most widely used and versatile alphabets around. It is highly legible and can be transformed (dressed up or down) with ease. A wonderful face to learn for the beginning calligrapher yet versatile enough to experiment with for the advanced. We will spend 6 weeks learning the Italic face. Students will be given handouts and guide sheets. We will also address spacing and layout for addressing envelopes.
Calligraphy is less about pretty handwriting, but more about DRAWING each and every letter. Its 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. THIS WORKSHOP OR CLASS IS AT OUR ATLANTA STORE.

February - March 2010

Italic Calligraphy (CLASS 2/25-4/1)

Italic Calligraphy with Anne Elser :: Thursdays, 6 sessions, Feb. 25-April 1 :: 6-8:30pm :: Fee: $140, The Italic calligraphic face is one of the most widely used and versatile alphabets around. It is highly legible and can be transformed (dressed up or down) with ease. A wonderful face to learn for the beginning calligrapher yet versatile enough to experiment with for the advanced. We will spend 6 weeks learning the Italic face. Students will be given handouts and guide sheets. We will also address spacing and layout for addressing envelopes.
Calligraphy is less about pretty handwriting, but more about DRAWING each and every letter. Its 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. THIS WORKSHOP OR CLASS IS AT OUR ATLANTA STORE.

Bitter Sweet

Bitter Sweet is a new product I'm developing. Custom made stationary sets of 20 cards packaged in a telescoping box. These happen to be a set of offensive statements for that special someone.

Hello Pretty

This little girl passed Anton by on the street. She was dressed in pink and white, her skirt was poofier than her entire body. She was sweet and confident and innocent, as was Anton who rubbernecked and said with a smile as she passed him, "Hello Pretty!"
Life doesn't get much sweeter than that. 

I told Debra about it, who suggested I ink up these feelings without overworking the studies. I did a ton with my class last night in Advanced Calligraphy. We had a blast! 

I am going to start painting again, People. Ya hear me? Painting again. I'm doing it now, in celebration and in love. 

I've heard several of you ask about the "Seamless Life" I've nodded to in my Wee Manifesto you see to the right in this page. Seeing Debra is part of that process. She had me hooked during our first 2-hour session, which she gives freely to her clients, in case you were interested. Try it! Her work as an Emotional Intuitive allows for a deep, deep excavation of the truth in you, what your body is literally crying out to be freed from. She helps bring out the truth in you and helps heal you of everything that gets in the way of all the good you can create, all the love you can share, all the joy you can multiply and all the peace you can be in. 

Watch out world. Here I come.

Advanced Calligraphy Progress

We are having a blast in Advanced Calligraphy at Binders. Everyone is so open to experimentation and I love being a part of all this discovery. Here are examples of the work my students are doing. Some work in Copperplate. Some in Italic. Lots and lots of color. Next week we'll do envelopes. What you see here are clusters of character studies in lower and upper case families. Aren't they fun?! LOVE, love, love it!

Comparative Broad Edge Pen Width Chart

A helpful resource for calligraphers!