JUBILEE SCRIPT CALLIGRAPHY

     For our March workshop, grab your broad edged fountain pen or marker and easily tackle the unusual & original forms of the JUBILEE Script. These letters are the perfect choice for titles, envelopes, short quotes and any projects that need a fresh and con­temporary look.

In this class, Carol DuBosch will demonstrate the JUBILEE Script and discuss the many ways that each artist can invent alterna­tive letters to personalize the script. She will also explore the design possibilities of this unique style of writing.

You might ask how this script came to be. Here is Carol's explanation:

"I took a weeklong workshop a few years ago and did experimental mark making, leading up to a very goofy script that I invented 'on the fly' and used to write several pages of large text.

The new letters stayed with me and when I came upon the quote 'In the right light, at the right time everything is extraordinary', I knew it would be my New Years card using the unusual script. It was then my task to put myself in that playful inventive mode again and work to develop the letters into a coherent script.

I wrote the letters with a broad edge poster pen. the thick strokes are done with some manipulation of the pen edge angle and the pen corner creates the thin strokes. Pilot Parallel Pens are also an excellent tool for this script.

JUBILEE Script is casual and loose, yet artful. It needs to be written with care. The letters are both easy and difficult, yet must be kept energetic. It has taken me fifty years as a calligrapher to be able to work in this seemingly haphazard, non-traditional way --bending old rules to craft new letters."

SUPPLY LIST:

*You will need a broad edged pen. This can be a calligraphy marker, or a calligraphy fountain pen (Pilot Parallel Pen 3.8 mm or wider). Your pen needs to be fairly wide to make these bold letters, at least 3.5 mm. Regular calligraphy dip pens don’t work for JUBILEE Script.

When:  March 14 at 10 a.m. PDT

Where: On your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom

RSVP:   Dolores Guffey by March 9 to receive the password

Workshop Questions: Carol DuBosch abcdubosch@frontier.com

Zoom Questions: Bobbie Hayes

Contact information is in the newsletter

Eureka NORBAG Workshop

Our first in-person class of the year will take place

March 28, 2026 from 11:30-2:30 p.m. at the Eureka

Center for Spiritual Living, 239 Buhne St. in Eureka.

Michele Kamprath will be teaching: Notebook with

wrap around cover and window. More information

will be sent to local members via email by the second

week in March. Please look for it in your in-boxes. 

Below are photos of Michele's book.

We've had some problems for members getting to the Cafe lately. The best way is to click on the link on the banner page of the digital March newsletter. Or, in the hard copy of the March newsletter only use the tiny URL, NOT the ID or passcode. Those items will be corrected for future newsletters.

Upcoming Conference Information

Newport Paper & Book Arts Festival April 23-25

Newport, Oregon. - Registration is now open

For complete information on the classes being offered see: https://coastarts.org/newport-paper-book-arts-festival/ 

There are both one and two-day classes being offered 

Focus on Book Arts Conference (FOBA) June 24-28

Western University, Monmouth, Oregon - Registration opens March 28

See their catalog at:  https://focusonbookarts.org/foba-2026-catalog/

There are 22 instructors and 45 classes being offered.

 

NORBAG Calligraphy (Chancery Cursive) Workshop with Kathy Warren

On Saturday, October 14, we had our monthly meeting and workshop. Kathy Warren taught us Chancery Cursive which is based on Italian Renaissance manuscripts. As we said in our newsletter, this was developed as a "speed writing" technique for Papal scribes. Kathy mentioned that when she was in college and learning the various scripts, she learned three in one semester while Copperplate took a full semester to learn. With that in mind, we were very aware that we would be learning the most basic forms of Chancery Cursive and would need to practice at home.

Kathy supplied us with a sheet showing the basic strokes for each letter as well as the proper angle to hold pen and nib. A second sheet gave us resources to read and purchase. A third sheet showed us letter groups (letters that use similar strokes), related forms (where to start on letters, where the pen is picked up, the position of crossbars, etc.), spacing and some common mistakes. We also received several pages of lined paper for practicing. And finally, she gave us Zig Memory System Calligraphy fiber tipped pens to use in our practice.

Kathy brought an overhead projector that is ideal for this kind of workshop.

These are the materials that Kathy provided.

Lynne, Edge and Linda practiced with the Zig marker.

This is what the practice looked like.

It is somewhat ironic that we are practicing this delightful script and use it to enhance our daily writing while school children are no longer learning cursive in many schools.

Our entire workshop was done in black and white. No scissors or glue. Just quietly working with a pen and paper. For a bit of color, here is the table with the exchange books. Exchange book photos will be posted on Flickr by the end of the month.

CALLIGRAPHY - CHANCERY CURSIVE

The October workshop will be an opportunity to learn how to add some beautiful calligraphy to your book art. Kathy Warren will be teaching us how to construct the letters, but to really develop the skill, practice practice practice is necessary. Cursive writing is based on Italian Renaissance manuscripts and is an italic form of writing. It was developed as a "speed-writing" technique by Papal scribes. It is one of the easiest forms to learn and to apply to everyday life. By adding exaggerated flourishes it can be used in art pieces or simply for adding sentiments to blank cards, names to certificates, or for addressing snail mail. Here are some examples:

Tools to bring:

• Calligraphy pens and inks
• Books or other example supplies if you have them, but not necessary

What will be provided:

• All necessary paper 
• A zig calligraphy marker for everyone to keep ($3.39 value)
• Practice pages
• Instruction alphabet pages and a resource page

When:   Saturday, October 14 at 12 noon
Where:  Eureka Methodist Church at Del Norte & F Streets
Bring:    See above list
Cost:     $5.00
RSVP:    YES, by October 9 to Kathy Warren (contact info in the newsletter)

November Workshop Registration Forms

Decorated Capitals Workshop 

Taught by Judy Detrick – November 8, 2014

Whether hand drawn or type set, initial capitals adorned with textures, patterns and colors are

certain to draw attention to any text. You will work through the stages of drawing your capital

letter, applying a design motif to it, tracing it, and transferring it to its final destination. Then you

will learn painting techniques with watercolor or gouache to bring your capital to life in full, living

color.

Tools List for Workshop:

Pencil, ruler, eraser, watercolor brush size 00, 2 or 3 tubes of gouache or watercolor, small palette,

colored pencils, small water jar, rag.

Cost: $40 plus $5 materials

When: Saturday, November 8, 2014

Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (with 1 hour lunch break)

Location: United Methodist Church – Del Norte & F Streets in Eureka

See www.norbag.blogspot.com (September 2 post) for maps

To register, complete the form and send with your $45 check made payable to NORBAG.

Must be received by October 28th

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

NAME_____________________________________________ PHONE___________________

EMAIL ADDRESS______________________________________________________________

MAIL TO: NORTH REDWOODS BOOK ARTS GUILD

PO BOX 225 – CUTTEN, CA 95534

Click to download registration form (pdf)