Workshop is from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. both days. For all levels.
Come and explore exquisite versal forms from every lettering genre since the first century CE.
We will study, trace and research a wide variety of how the versal form was used from visually exciting to the majestic.
In this two-day workshop we will touch on the foundations of the versal, its history then work in chronological order using examples from the Grandval Bible through to Irene Wellington, the more contemporary and beyond. Traditional techniques will be learnt along with new and more gestural verbal forms.
The outcome of this class will give you sound structural knowledge of letterforms, show possibilities of what can be done. This study will leave you more confident in working with both traditional and contemporary versals.
Gemma Black is an artist, teacher and calligraphic-designer. In 1991 Gemma received a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study in Europe that allowed her to research, observe and learn the practice of calligraphy. She is an Honoured Fellow and Fellow of the prestigious Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society, UK. For over 25 years Gemma has taught extensively for calligraphy, bookbinding, art & craft organisations around Australia including the Australian National University.
She has also joined the faculty at international lettering-art conferences in Italy, Germany, the USA, Canada and the UK. Her work is housed in private and public collections including the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK, the European Parliament and Parliament House Canberra.
Gemma teaches a variety of art techniques that involve mostly calligraphy, simple book structures, decorative paper techniques, abstract watercolour painting and grounds for calligraphy. She also has a series of illustrated calligraphy lectures available for presentation.
Gemma lives in Tasmania, Australia