Kia Fart

I bought these letters from Michaels years ago and they've been on our kitchen fridge ever since. Coupla weeks ago I put them on the back of my Kia Soul. I didn't get any fingers but at every stoplight, I'd look in the rear view mirror to see the person behind me squinting and smiling. Reaction. Love pushing buttons. :)

Tina's Scarf

My friend Tina knit me this scarf for my birthday this year. I nudged her months ago to buy the pattern. She whined. And then she bought the pattern. And then she gave me the scarf!

This Spring has been so crazy weather wise and so I've been able to wear it and use it.

Yesterday I went to a school picnic with Anton and wore my oven mitts I brought with the mac and cheese I made to share. Ridiculous.

Anton's 2010 School Pictures

Anton entered the Atlanta Progressive Preschool's program midway this school year. We had just begin to recover from a bad experience at his previous school, the Kingswood School and stumbled upon the philosophy of the Reggio Emilia Approach at the APP. FASCINATING and wonderful in so many ways - it's structured in a way that fosters a child's love of learning by keying in on their own natural instincts, interests and creative choices. Rather than giving each child a watered down approach to subject matters like math, science, language, PE, etc., it allows for each child to explore these subjects and skills in the medium and approach they choose. It's how we successful and happy adults build our own careers, by following our bliss. The ER approach offers the same blissful discoveries to flourish for children, who are not so very different than we are.

It is with the celebration of the above, that I share with all of you Anton's APP school pictures! Such a dear in a dear, dear place. We love you APP and can't wait for next year.

Sip Into Spring Menu

Here's the Sip Into Spring menu I designed for the lovely event earlier this week. Thank you Yu-Kai for such a great night. Loved meeting new people and shaking the hands that held my envelopes. :)

New Summer & Fall 2010 Bookmaking & Calligraphy Classes: Beginning, Intermediate & Advanced

Hello Friends!

Beginning July 20th, I will be opening up my teaching slots at Binders to include a Tuesday DAY time class from 1:30-4:00. Tuesday evening classes will always be a bookmaking class and Wednesday evening classes will always be a calligraphy class. The Tuesday DAY classes will rotate through all the classes I teach, so a person who wants that slot for any of the classes, may choose from the rotation schedule.

I have also designed both of these areas to include classes organized by experience - from beginner-intermediate to intermediate-advanced. Very excited about this structure and I believe the organization will make sense to everyone and make it a little easier to decide which class to take and what the next steps might be.

To see all of my future classes mapped out, you can view my personal iCal calendar to see what's coming up.

Anne's 2010 Class schedule

You can also keep track of what's going on by taking a look at the far right column on this blog. It lists current and upcoming classes with links for immediate sign-up on the Binders website.

The Calligraphy classes will be divided into three sections:
Calligraphy One: Italic
Calligraphy Two: Copperplate
Calligraphy Three: Advanced Calligraphy

The Bookmaking class will now have a second class available to students who want to take blank journal bookmaking to the next logical step: making a book with content.
I will offer the following two bookmaking classes:
Bookmaking One: Beginning Bookmaking
Bookmaking Two: The Opened Book

So excited!

Here are the new class descriptions. Enjoy and hope to see you soon!

~Anne

Bookmaking One: Beginning Bookmaking with Anne Elser

Tuesday Afternoon
Sept-Oct 2010
Tuesday, Sept 7, 14, 21, 28 Oct 5, 14
1:30-4:00pm
Min4/Max 15

Tuesday Evening
Sept-Oct 2010
Tuesday, Sept 7,14,21,28 Oct 5,12
6-8:30pm
Min 4/Max 15

Tuesday Evening
Dec 2010-Jan 2011
Tuesday, Dec 7, 14, Jan 4, 11, 18,25
6-8:30pm
Min 4/Max 15

BOOKMAKING 1: Beginning Bookmaking with Anne Elser
Beginning to Intermediate | Fee: $140 | Min. 4/ Max. 15 We will be making books and boxes in this class with a variety of materials and techniques. We will complete at least three books and one container for a book to nest in. The objective is to give you a fundamental understanding of how books are made. The anatomy of a book is fascinating, as are the adjustments one can make to any book to make it yours from start to finish. The covers, spine, folios, signatures, fly sheets, headbands and more are all waiting for your heart and hands. A little bit of folding, gluing and stitching goes a long way and we'll learn how to do it in the spirit of good craftsmanship. And remember - your "mistakes" are opportunities. We will learn how to make adjustments to our books as we create. Plenty of opportunity for invention. Take a look at the samples at the front of the store and you'll see what we mean by the term inventive. They are SO much 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 a need to share the FUN we're having! Our bookmaking classes are very social and entertaining. You won't want to miss a moment!


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Introducing Bookmaking Two: The Opened Book with Anne Elser


Tuesday Evening
July-Aug 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 27, Aug 3,10,17,24
6-8:30pm
Min 4/Max 15

Tuesday Evening
Oct-Nov 2010
Tuesday, Oct 26, Nov 2,9,16,23,30
6-8:30pm
Min 4/Max 15

Tuesday Afternoon
Dec 2010-Jan2011
Tuesday, Dec 7,14, Jan 4,11, 18, 25
1:30-4:00pm
Min4/Max 15

BOOKMAKING 2: The Opened Book with Anne Elser Intermediate to Advanced | Fee: $140 | Min. 4/ Max. 15 If you've taken one or several bookmaking classes and are ready for the next step of creating content on those lovely hand-bound pages, join us in Bookmaking 2: The Opened Book. Nothing can be more intimidating than a book of blank white pages. We will begin by creating signatures with a mixture of several different types, colors, ages and textures of papers - anything from vintage sheet music, magazines, lined or graphed paper, envelopes, postcards, etc. By alternating these pages with blank pages, you'll have a book that wants to be altered further: touched, written in, cut into, stitched, painted, repainted and filled with purposeful doodling, writing and drawing. Working at your own pace, your book can be themed or worked into loosely. Set your sights on the color palette and theme of your choice and by the end of the first week, you'll have "accidentally" found a collection of things you're enchanted with to incorporate into your book. Bring all the scraps of fabric and paper you've been saving to incorporate into the covers or pages of your book. The approach in this class from to the "treasure hunt" pasting, binding, working and re-working will be an intuitive one, with the correct assumption that as artists, we have all the answers inside and before us, even before we begin. We will work in a relaxing, engaging and completely intuitive manner, while sharing each of our unique talents, discoveries, experiences and processes with each other. You won't want to miss a moment. We will make at least one book and a box for your book to live in. And if you're really hungry for more - make two! Bring all your bookmaking supplies and at least one set of color paints/inks in the medium of your choice and a set of drawing pens/pencils/markers.


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Calligraphy One: Italic with Anne Elser
Wednesday Evening
Sept-Oct 2010
Wednesday, Sept 8, 15, 22, 29 Oct 6, 13
6-8:30pm
Min4/Max 15

Calligraphy One: Italic with Anne Elser Beginner to Intermediate | Fee: $140 | Min. 4/ Max. 15 The Italic calligraphic hand is one of the most widely used and versatile alphabets around. It is highly legible and 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. 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.

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Calligraphy Two: Copperplate with Anne Elser

Callig #2: Copperplate With Anne Elser
Tuesday Afternoon
July-Aug 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 27, Aug 3, 10, 17, 24
1:30-4:00pm
Min4/Max 15

Callig #2: Copperplate with Anne Elser
Wednesday Evening
Oct-Dec 2010
Wednesday, Oct 27, Nov 3,10,17, 24, Dec 1
6-8:30pm
Min4/Max 15

Calligraphy Two: Copperplate with Anne Elser Beginner to Intermediate | Fee: $140 | Min. 4/ Max. 15 This 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. 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.




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
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
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.

New Advertising

Designed a new print ad for Anne Elser Calligraphy to appear in the Atlantan Brides magazine. Excited!
Drawn in pencil, traced in Illustrator, painted in Photoshop, flattened and soon to appear on paper in people's hands. :)

Anne Elser Portfolio

Hi Friends!

Fun announcement here:
I've updated my portfolio under the new Anne Elser look (better known as the Anne Revolution.) My plan is to do the same to this blog - add more columns and a lot more customizing.

Anne Elser Portfolio

Really fun to see how the work has evolved over the years and as I get closer to the real me, the work follows. It does just what art is supposed to do: record the cultural changes of an entity - whether is be a nation, universe or an individual. This is art's gift.

And thank you Apple! Did this with iWeb, using my .me account. All my work was already categorized within iPhoto - creating the site took me under an hour. No shit!

My Truth Doesn't Matter

One more issue. I've spent my lifetime trying to please other people, at the expense of my own happiness. Most of the time I didn't even know I was betraying myself - it just felt good to get my jollies this way - depending on the good graces from others - needy for their positive feedback - unsure of my own instincts.

But we do these things to elicit love from others. And most of us learned this behavior way back in our childhoods.

So if you can learn it - you can UNlearn it. Easier said than done - but little by little, I am chiseling away at the adult defensive exterior and giving Anne what she really wants. So rather than pushing away - I can turn my attention to the things I want, which may or may not be a yes or a no to someone else - it's just my own Truth.

No one can argue against the truth and if it's yours, then poof - make it so.

Yes. No. Maybe. Another time. Not right now. We will see. I will know. Let me think about it.
All these statements are now possible if I ask myself what I really want.

The answer is always inside me. I am learning to listen for it.

Scallops

SO I've been pretty enchanted with scallop patterns for a while now. It wasn't until a couple days ago I actually sat down with my graph paper to plot one out. I'd love to knit a long, thin tubular scarf about 5 inches wide and really long. Maybe teal lines against a creme background and red dots now and then. I think it'd be yummy.

And by the way - this is the first pattern graph I've invented and it's tough! I redrew this a few times before I got the symmetry to work and for the scallops to look like scallops instead of diamonds. Well worth the effort for this little triumph. :)

Need To Be Right

This is one I've been working on - an issue that blocks me from growing. Not needing to be right sort of redefines what being "wrong" means. Being wrong, or making a mistake is an opportunity. For change. No one's fucked up. No one's "done it again." No one fails. If you see those challenging and scary "errors", the one's that make us feel bad, the one's that make us worry about being labeled stupid, difficult, wrong, in trouble - as nudges in a different direction, then they're not so terrifying and are easier to bear.

Think of the child inside you - and telling that child they're a fuck-up. Could you really do that? Point to a little kid and be that cruel? So why do that to yourself? Or an event? Or another person? If I'm OK with my nudges, then I'm more okay with those that other people experience. And then, POOF, I'm more tolerant. And I've just nipped in the bud Headache # 23, 746.

Suddenly, I'm allowing love to touch me. And all those nudges really are love. And now I'm more loving.

Wow.

Don't be embarrassed by your "mistakes." It's your own movement. Everything is a gift.

Painted Pattern Book

Now that I've returned to painting, the books and materials used to create them have shifted into a new direction. Yay, change! I've started painting my own patterns on solid washi paper using acrylics. SO much fun. I lay a big roll out on the table and dot, slash and highlight away. Once dry, they get incorporated back into my paper stash and are used when I'm moved, usually paring with something delish and imported.

I've got three different, yet related, hand painted patterns in this book and box set. Y U M.

Anton

Here's a portrait I did of Anton as a class demo during Production at PC. Such fun! Love you little bunny.

Below are a few I've done over the past coupla years....

New Save the Date

So I've got a new client who echoed a recent client's sentiments of "more flourish." I gotta say, things are moving closer and closer to fun and crazy with every job I take. Makes me really glad I made the decision to do what I love and love what I do.

See? It all works out. :)

Above is the final artwork, first sketched (see below) and then traced with the pen tool in Illustrator. The keystroked font is called Engraver's Gothic. LOVE the combo.

I did this for a fellow designer who will have this made into a rubber stamp and she'll hit some of the fruit/leaves with dabs of watercolor. FUN!

Sip Into Spring Invite

Here's the final invite for Sip Into Spring. SO much fun to do.

FML Hankie

This was a gift I finished last night for a friend with the same wicked sense of humor I have. FML in beautiful script says it all. :)

Portrait of Ubi

This is Tina's dalmation Ubi, who has just passed.
Happy Birthday Tina. I love you!

A Little Grace Movie

Goodnight Moon by Anton

My sweet boy, Anton - 3.5 years old - reciting one of his favorite books. My sweet husband made this video.

Springtime Calligraphy

Sketched in pencil, drawn in Illustrator.
Loved on screen. Printed on paper.
Fin!

Spring Calligraphy

Working on a Spring event and addressing envelopes today. Created a variegated effect with greens and teals on creamy white envelopes. SUCH fun. My Petal Pod is hard at work. :)

Welcome to Flow

Today is my 42nd birthday and man his this year been amazing so far. My errand list for yesterday was a list of four items:
1. Kai Lin Art Gallery
2. Binders
3. Bobbe Gillis Gallery
4. Bank

Did you see that? Art and money. Two forms of energy that are now trading frequently and fairly. I am learning how to balance it all, ask for what I want, create with flow, bend in the wind more easily without losing my footing. It's a me I've just met. The way over your fears is to dance with them. And I do mean dance.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me virtual kisses today. I love you all!

Mom's taking me shoe shopping today. I am smiling.

~Anne

Grace: Atlanta Food & Wine Month Kick-Off Party

These three beautiful models stood in the window display during this event and MAN was it cool to see them dancing with flourish. Took some fun pictures of Ashlee and Jim, who came with us.

I got to speak a little to the crowd about what my paintings inspire in me (and the other way around.) Was a pleasure to be heard and responded to. I also loved hearing the other artists talk about their approaches.

This is the third Grace event and I'll keep coming back for more!

Spring 2010 Calligraphy & Bookmaking Classes

Friends!

Next week marks the beginning of a new round of Bookmaking and Calligraphy classes I'll be teaching in Atlanta for the Spring of 2010.

Click on the links to be taken right to the sign-up pages.


Italic Calligraphy: Apr. 15 - May. 20 | 6 session Class @ Binders | Thurs. evenings 6:00-8:30 | $140.00 | Beginner to Intermediate | Min.4/Max15


Copperplate Calligraphy: Apr. 14 - May 19| 6 session Class @ Binders| Wed. evenings 6:00-8:30| $140.00| Beginner to Intermediate| Min.4/Max.15


Bookmaking: Apr. 13 - May 18| 6 session Class @ Binders| Tue. evenings 6:00-8:30| $140.00| Beginner to Advanced| Min.4/Max.15

More Flourish

This was done for a recent client and I won't post the entire image until well after their wedding - but this gives you an idea of how much fun it is being a calligrapher and dancing on the page.

What you see here is the result of a request from the client to me for "more flourish." Not every day I hear those beautiful words. So yeah!

This couple was such a delight to work with - really - most of them are. The whole Bridezilla thing is blown way out of proportion. All of the brides I've worked with have been so sweet and grateful for and excited about inviting the living, inking hand into their wedding plans.

This artwork was first sketched out in pencil and then completed in Illustrator with the pen tool. LOVE those handlebar curves!

Guilty Pleasures

Inspired by a warm cup of goodness at my local Caribou.

Red Barn

Coptic bound "Red Barn" is now for sale at the Peachtree Battle Paper Affair! Comes with it's own box and is lovingly covered with, Washi Paper from Binders Art Supply and vintage children's book illustrations I found at Atlanta Vintage Books!

Count Your Blessings

Coptic bound "Count Your Blessings" is now for sale at the Peachtree Battle Paper Affair! Comes with it's own box and is lovingly covered with, amongst other things, vintage russian foldin' money I found at Atlanta Vintage Books!

Morning Roast

Coptic bound "Morning Roast" is now for sale at the Peachtree Battle Paper Affair. Comes with it's own box and is lovingly covered with wrapping & washi Paper from The Paper Source and vintage children's books illustrations I found at Atlanta Vintage Books.