Calligraphy & Illustration at ART IN ACTION 19-22 July 2012

Calligraphy and Illustration sit side by side at Art in Action, complimenting and enhancing each other. Jacqueline Sinclair who curates the section explains what visitors can look forward to, «...this year in Calligraphy and Illustration we are offering an exciting variety of artists including two new illustrators and two letter artists who are old favorites but haven’t exhibited their works for several years. I’ve asked the demonstrators to reflect on ideas relating to the Diamond Jubilee. Of course this could take many different forms, and I’m fascinated to see what arises from it.»

Celia Lister is a lettering artist with over 20 years of experience who enjoys working on a wide range of projects exploring the expressive potential of words, often combining with illustration. She will be demonstrating colourful contemporary calligraphic lettering, using various tools.

Gaynor Goffe will be demonstrating broad nib pen calligraphy in a variety of Western alphabets. She is particularly interested in the more personal, creative aspect of calligraphy, working with painted backgrounds, gold leaf and collage, and experimenting with capitals and cursive scripts. Gaynor collaborates and exhibits with Tom Perkins, also appearing in the Calligraphy Section.

Iris Milward returns for another year with her incredibly popular ‘poetry tiles’. Instead of using pen and ink, she cuts the lettering and illustration into clay, a technique that has been used since Roman times to make patterned floor tiles. She says «I use clay as a medium to carry poetry so that it can be a constant visual presence in our lives».

Josie Brown uses historical scripts and ancient techniques to inform a wide range of contemporary methods, showing how calligraphy is writing as an expressive art. As well as being highly accomplished in calligraphy, heraldry, gilding and illumination, her impressive book binding and various paper works mark her out as a rare treat.

Paul Antonio will be demonstrating the history of western calligraphy starting from the 4th century BC up to the present. There will also be specific talks on Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and English lettering. His crowd stopping demonstrations will include formal square edged brush and pen, as well as pointed pen calligraphy, different aspects of decorative flourishing and modern tools and scripts.

Paul Antonio

Tom Perkins is one of the most influential designer-craftsmen working in the field of carved lettering in stone and slate today. His highly individual work is much sought after and has been exhibited and sold in exhibitions at Sotheby’s, Bonhams and The Gallery in Cork Street, London. He collaborates and exhibits with Gaynor Goffe, and will be demonstrating letter carving in stone with mallet and chisel.

Event details
Venue:
Art in Action
Waterperry House, Near Wheatley
OXFORD OX33 1JZ
Website: www.artinaction.org.uk
Tel: 020 7381 3192
Date/time: 19-22 July 2012, open 10am-5.30pm daily

Source: Boutros