Presenter: Rick Paulus
Sponsored by San Diego SfC
Fridays, September 25, October 9, 16, and 30 6PM-8PM PDT
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: Extend the range of your pointed pen’s potential as we break away from traditional pointed pen scripts and explore the full power of this amazing little pen nib. Following an analysis of historical models as well as the work of contemporary masters, we will put our pens to paper and systematically develop new pointed pen styles out of formal broad-edge hands such as Roman Capitals, foundational, italic, uncial, and blackletter. In addition to the introduction of new hands, each class will include additional tips and topics such as working with color, creating texture, and layout. The methods and skills acquired in this workshop will give participants the tools they need to further their reach with the pointed pen in many ways. This workshop will be recorded and made available for three months.
NECESSARY SKILL LEVEL: Beginner to intermediate
ABOUT RICK: Rick Paulus has been a calligrapher and a teacher for over forty years. He apprenticed for several years at the legendary Tolley Studios, in Washington, DC, before becoming the engrosser for the US State Department. In 1998, he was appointed chief calligrapher of the White House, where he remained for two presidents until, in 2006, he answered the call of the wild and left Washington, DC to explore new adventures in nature and art. Today, in addition to enjoying calligraphic explorations in his studio on the shores of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, Rick is dedicated to sharing the knowledge he gained through many years of studio production and artistic experimentation with students of all ages and skill levels.
HOW TO REGISTER
PAID WORKSHOPS ARE OPEN TO MEMBERS ONLY. No refunds, since recording will be provided.
FEES: $80
Registration is handled by volunteers. Please help keep this efficient by paying within 24 hours. It's a lot of extra effort for us to chase and we may simply cancel the registration, due to workload.
Enrollment is for current paid Society for Calligraphy members only. Your membership must be current at time of sign-up as well as when class is held. No reservation will be held until your dues are current. If your membership lapses, you become ineligible. (To become a member: https://societyforcalligraphy.org/Join-SfC). After April 1, 2026, it is recommended that first time members pay $42 (rather than introductory)--membership will be valid through June 30, 2027. Even for those who aren't local, you'll want to mark the chapters which provide the workshops you love. Some chapters provide perks, such as direct email announcements, newsletters, and other helpful communications.
For confirmation and prompt receipt of supply list, we recommend that your payment arrive no later than two weeks before the workshop. You do not have a spot in the workshop until you receive a confirmation email.
After completing this first step of registration, an automatic email will be sent with a PayPal button, plus instructions, should you prefer to pay by check. If you don't receive that email within a few minutes, please check your spam folder. If you don't find it there, please contact Kristi.
For those affiliated with SfC's San Diego chapter, we do have scholarship funds available to assist in the education and development of calligraphic skills. Please contact Kristi to inquire.
Questions? E-mail Kristi Darwick at sdworkshops@societyforcalligraphy.org
NO audio or video recording of any program, meeting, workshop or other SfC function permitted without prior consent of both guest artist and a representative of the Board of Governors. ** You must ask permission of the artist/ instructor to photograph any copyrighted materials, including demos.
Sponsored by
FRI, November 6, 2026, 6:30-8PM PST
No charge for these Study Group Sessions.
It's that time again! We'll review the basics of Roman structure.
These sessions are led by members, sharing what they have learned. They do not claim to be masters. Members and guests may register for any individual session--there is no requirement to attend prior sessions. The aim is to share knowledge with newbies and to provide a refresher for those with more experience. Each individual session requires separate registration.
The session will be led by Kristi Darwick. We plan to record this session. Kristi asks that you remind her!
Agenda:
Once a year, we try devote two full sessions to reviewing the fundamentals of Roman letter structure, then touch on spacing.
Flexible Schedule for the evening:
6:30 - 6:45 Announcements
6:45 - 7:45 Review some of the basics with regards to Roman Letters.
7:45 - 8:00 Opportunity for those who wish to share what they've completed during the session (and over the summer) and time for questions.
SUPPLY LIST:
graph paper or plain paper Pencil/eraser
Ruler
Optional:
Sakura Micron 08, black
Colored Pencil
Membership in SfC is not required
Zoom invitation and handouts are sent a couple days in advance.
It's not guaranteed that you'll receive them beforehand, if you sign up the day of this event.
PRESENTERS: Wendy Telford and Kristi Darwick
Sponsored by:
Saturday November 14, 2026, 10AM to 3:30 PM. IN-PERSON
Location: San Diego Education Association
Kristi is experimenting with these letters, so please disregard the spacing issues, etc. LOL. She'll be sharing more as she continues to create samples with different tools. And, do take a look at Brian's work on Instagram: @briankurzius.
FEES: no charge for the program. Optional materials fee.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: Wendy will teach cards with pockets--these are so handy to have on hand.
Kristi will walk us through a fun, narrow version of Romans, inspired by the lettering of Brian Kurzius. Participants will have the option to attend both sessions or only the morning or afternoon session.
SKILL LEVEL: All levels.
ALPHABET
With permission, Kristi adapted this alphabet from the work of Brian Kurzius, which she has long-admired. She continues to experiment with various tools and techniques and we'll play with what we have in this session. Brian uses an EZ-A pen, which is no longer available. Bring that if you have it. Kristi likes built-up letters and has tried fine-point markers, such as Micron .01, as well as a pointed pen. She'll also show a technique from Brian where he outlines the letter forms in black and fills the strokes with a line of bleed-proof white. Bring whatever tools you'd like to use to experiment. Some ideas--none of these is required:
For confirmation and prompt receipt of supply list, we recommend that you register no later than one week before the program. You do not have a spot in the session until you receive a confirmation email. Membership in SfC is not required.
IN-PERSON with Barbara Close
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 9:30AM to 4:30 PM, includes a one hour break for lunch.
Location: San Diego Education Association, 10393 San Diego Mission Rd, Suite 100, San Diego, CA
COST: $50
PAID WORKSHOPS ARE OPEN TO MEMBERS ONLY. No refunds unless your spot can be filled from the wait list.
PLEASE SCROLL TO HOW TO REGISTER.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: We will be taking a look into the marvels of the Uncial hand with Parallel Pens. The beauty of this lettering style is that it can be stacked tightly on the page with very little interlinear space and thus get a lot on the page. With fun and interesting exercises, we will expand our knowledge of Uncial, create some interesting pages and have fun along the way..
The Uncial script originated in the 2nd to 4th centuries. They were the primary book hand, used in religious texts until the 9th century. They continued to evolve and were used in the hierarchy of scripts beginning in the Carolingian era. Today, this elegant alphabet may be used alone or combined with other hands. The rhythm of round and upright strokes that give this hand its distinctive appearance is what I love.
We will look at many ways to use this script for modern, contemporary use for today.
SKILL LEVEL: All levels
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Barbara is an internationally known calligrapher/artist and teaches in southern California, across the USA and Canada. She also teaches online global classes through Zoom and loves the idea of reaching so many people. Her work includes a wide variety of lettering styles and mixed media applications. She has exhibited across the country and has work in many private collections. Her work has creative passion with skillful execution. She has taught at several International Lettering Conferences, our own LETTERS CA STYLE Conference, and IAMPETH conferences. Barbara has designed the logo for Somerset Studio Magazine and the Calligraphy Collection font cartridge for Cricut. She’s also designed several greeting cards for Marcel Schurman, now Papyrus. Her philosophy of “Follow Your Heart” shows in her work, and continues with growth, heart and inspiration.
www.barbclose.com
barbara.close IG & FB
PAID WORKSHOPS ARE OPEN TO MEMBERS ONLY. No refunds unless your spot can be filled from the wait list. .
Questions/comments? please contact Kristi at sdworkshops@societyforcalligraphy.org
PLEASE READ:
Enrollment is for current paid Society for Calligraphy members only. Your membership must be current at time of sign-up as well as when class is held. No reservation will be held until your dues are current. If your membership lapses, you become ineligible. (To become a member: https://societyforcalligraphy.org/Join-SfC.)
PLEASE IGNORE THE INVOICE. Payment instructions will be automatically emailed to you--PLEASE ALLOW A FEW MINUTES FOR THE EMAIL TO ARRIVE. If you don't receive that email within a few minutes, please check your spam folder. If you don't find it there, please contact Kristi. Make a payment of $50 via PayPal or check. Please do this at your earliest convenience as we may not be able hold your spot in the workshop--others may be waiting for it. You do not have a spot in the workshop until you receive a confirmation email.
Sunday, December 6, 2026, 9:30AM to 4:30 PM, includes a one hour break for lunch.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: Whether you're new to Uncial or looking to expand your lettering repertoire, trying Uncials with your pointed pen will inspire you and give you some expansion on variations. Enjoy the discoveries with new possibilities.
Enrollment is for current paid Society for Calligraphy members only. Your membership must be current at time of sign-up as well as when class is held. No reservation will be held until your dues are current. If your membership lapses, you become ineligible. (To become a member: https://societyforcalligraphy.org/Join-SfC)
PRESENTER: AMITY PARKS
SPONSORED BY SFC'S SAN DIEGO CHAPTER
Saturday, January 9-10, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (Pacific Time)- in-person
(All paid workshops are for Members-only.) No refunds unless the spot can be filled from the waitlist.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: This class will be spent learning a broad edged pen version of a chunky Roman capital alphabet. This fun and bold hand has a more casual and contemporarylook than its more formal cousins. We’ll practice the pen manipulation that allowsfor dynamic stroke transitions. The boldness of this lettering style creates lovelytextures and white spaces. Once we’ve learned the alphabet, we’ll add somecolor. This hand lends itself to fun color blending when spaced tightly, as the boldstrokes stay wet and allow for bleeding from one letter to another. We’ll play with a powdered ink, called Bister, from Belgium to get some gorgeous and transparent color effects with our lettering. We’ll also explore design ideas by combining our Chunky Caps with some contrasting hands and tools for variety. Finally, we’ll get out our pencils and add some graphite effects to our lettering to really make it. This workshop will NOT be recorded.
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: Intermediate/Advanced Level
ABOUT AMITY: Amity Parks is a visual artist and calligrapher based in Missoula, Montana. With a deep passion for the lettering arts, she has spent many years studying calligraphy through intensive weeklong workshops and private instruction with internationally acclaimed teachers. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Tulsa and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Montana.
Amity’s work has been widely exhibited and published in both national and regional venues. A dedicated educator and active member of local and statewide calligraphy guilds, she frequently teaches workshops across the U.S. and abroad. Her teaching résumé includes serving on the faculty of multiple national and international lettering arts conferences.
Most recently, Amity has partnered with Brody Neuenschwander to host immersive, two-week calligraphy retreats at Casa Verna in Umbria, Italy. Her work and course information can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and at www.amityparkslettering.com.
REGISTRATION: You must be a member both when you register and when the class is held. Pay by check or PayPal. No refunds.
COMPLETED REGISTRATION REQUIRES 2 STEPS:
1. FIRST PRESS THE REGISTER BUTTON.
2. PLEASE IGNORE THE INVOICE. Payment instructions will be automatically emailed to you--PLEASE ALLOW A FEW MINUTES FOR THE EMAIL TO ARRIVE. Make a payment of $100 via PayPal or check. Please do this at your earliest convenience as we may not be able hold your spot in the workshop, since others may be waiting for it.
Non-members, here is information on how to join SfC: https://societyforcalligraphy.org/Join-SfC. We recommend you select up to two regional chapters, which provide extra perks at no extra charge. You may want to choose those that sponsor the workshops you enjoy. PLEASE NOTE: there is no guarantee you'll have a spot in this workshop.
Your membership must be current at time of sign-up as well as when class is held. If your membership lapses, you become ineligible and your space will be filled from the waiting list. No refunds, unless your spot can be filled from the waitlist.
Questions? Kristi Darwick at sdworkshopsteam@societyforcalligraphy.org.
Presenter: Filip Ciślak
SfC-Parent Group Fund-Raiser, Facilitated by San Diego SfC
SAVE THE DATES! Registration will open soon.
Tuesdays, April 6, 9:30-11:30, and April 13 and 20 9:30AM-Noon PDT
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: Gothic Textura is arguably the most recognizable Blackletter style, celebrated for its rhythmic character, dramatic contrast, and visual punch. Far from being an anachronistic relic, it is a highly expressive modern medium. Whether your goal is to create formal, tradition-based works or bold, contemporary interpretations, Textura provides the perfect foundation.
Over the first two classes, we will cover both lowercase and uppercase alphabets, focusing on core construction, common mistakes, and spacing principles. As we progress, we’ll explore variations that allow you to add a personal, creative touch. In the third class, I will demonstrate alternative interpretations to show you where you can take Textura next. You'll receive homework assignments between sessions, and at the end of classes 2 and 3, I will lead brief critique sessions to review selected student work.
I will provide detailed printed handouts filled with exemplars, letterform variations, exercises, and helpful hints to guide you during the class and your practice at home. This workshop will be recorded and made available for three months.
NECESSARY SKILL LEVEL: The class is suitable for beginners and more experienced calligraphers alike.
ABOUT FILIP: I’m a designer, letter artist, and calligrapher based in Katowice, Poland. I’m also an academic teacher at the Graphic Design Department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice. In 2022, I earned my Ph.D. for my work on methodology and visual systems for teaching calligraphy to graphic design students. I’m a member of the Calligraphy Masters collective and the Speedball Artists Network.
I have led numerous live calligraphy workshops in Poland and abroad, including Rome, Helsinki, Bratislava, Zaragoza, and Zlín, to name a few. Additionally, since 2016, I have been teaching regular calligraphy classes for the Academy’s students. I’ve also been running online
FEES: $100
Registration is handled by volunteers. Please help keep this efficient by paying within 24 hours--it's a lot of extra effort for us to chase.
Enrollment is for current paid Society for Calligraphy members only. Your membership must be current at time of sign-up as well as when class is held. No reservation will be held until your dues are current. If your membership lapses, you become ineligible. (To become a member: https://societyforcalligraphy.org/Join-SfC). Even for those who aren't local, you'll want to mark the chapters which provide the workshops you love. Some chapters provide perks, such as direct email announcements, newsletters, and other helpful communications.
