Online Workshop
Pointed Brush with Luca Barcellona
By popular demand, Italy’s Luca Barcellona returns to the Society of Scribes—this time treating us to another one of his specialties: the pointed brush!
Brush writing is one of the most expressive forms of calligraphy in use today. Many styles can be recreated with the brush using pressure techniques, both classical and otherwise—from italic forms, to varieties of cursive, to sign painting. This workshop tackles the basics of how the round brush works, starting with a formal model initially based on the skeleton of the italic. We will primarily be using Tombow brush pens, later moving to real brushes with bristles. After initial exercises with single strokes and developing control of the tool, we will move on to the construction of the alphabet, of words, and of small texts.
More flexible and sensitive to pressure, the round-tipped brush allows for greater manipulation of strokes and application of ink, allowing for varied and contrasting weights and thicknesses. Starting with a formal and disciplined study of the dynamics of brush writing provides students with the basis from which to later tap into the tool’s great potential and create a more expressive individual style.
Together we’ll learn to appreciate the simplicity and organic nature of brush writing, to know how to “look” with a critical and in-depth approach at the subtle details in calligraphy, in order to improve ourselves both as calligraphers and as people!
In the week between each live session, students will have time to practice and submit assignments online for brief instructor critique.
The sessions will be livestreamed and will also be available as recordings to watch online until February 12, 2022.
Dates: November 13, 20, 27, and December 11, 2021 (four Saturdays)
Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Eastern time
Price: $120 for members / $150 for non-members
(Society of Scribes members: check your email for the discount code!)
Registration for this class has ended
Cancellation policy: A link to the online class will be emailed at least 72 hours before the first day of class. No refunds will be issued after November 9th, 2021
MATERIALS LIST
A convenient list of supplies specifically for this class is available at John Neal Books → view
At least 3 Tombow dual brush pens in black and/or another dark color of your choice.
Warning: The tips of brush pens such as the Tombow tend to wear out quite easily. It is advisable to have enough brush pens (3–4 for each day of the course, to be used on a very smooth and not-too-absorbent paper, such as layout or tracing paper). Do a test run to make sure the ink dries quickly and at the same time does not spread.
Optional: Tombow Fudenosuke hard tip brush pen (good for writing small)
A3 layout pad or fairly smooth layout paper.
1 or 2 good quality round-tipped brushes for the last session. Luca uses Da Vinci or Daler-Rowney. Brush sizes are at your discretion—they can be slightly smaller or larger than the tip of the Tombow. In any case, not very small and not huge, in order to get reproducible writing on the paper size used during the course.
Gouache (dark colors) or sumi ink
Some small jars or containers for water
2B pencil
Paper tape, ruler, pencil sharpener, eraser, cutter
A few sheets of white/colored good quality paper
Some short texts
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Luca Barcellona was born in 1978 and began studying calligraphy in 1999. Based on his origins as a graffiti artist, he combines the study of classical ancient letterforms with new languages and streetwriting expressions.
Over the years his work has been commissioned by the most important worldwide brands and has taken form in ever-expanding types of media, from graffiti to classic calligraphy, to murals and wall-painting, to virtual-reality calligraphy, typography and letterpress printing. His works have appeared in many publications, and a monograph, Take Your Pleasure Seriously, was first published in 2012.
In the last fifteen years, Luca has conducted workshops, exhibitions, conferences and performances all around the world, from Australia to Brazil, USA, Argentina, Japan and all over Europe. He is a member of Associazione Calligrafica Italiana.
Luca works as a graphic designer and calligrapher from his studio in Milan, Italy. Letters are the main ingredient of his creations.
→ Follow him over on Instagram: @lucabarcellona