I will be presenting the following workshops during the Cape Callibash 2004. The two workshops to be presented at Riebeeck Kasteel will also be presented in my studio. The beach and pavement workshops have the additional purpose of stimulating public interest:-

       * Fri 16/4, 09h30-16h30: Flourishing with Flair!
              In my studio at 100 Stella Road, PLUMSTEAD; R180, light lunch incl.
       * Tue 20/4, 07h00 - 11h00: Calligraphy on the Beach
              at Muizenberg (subject to change at short notice if the weather doesn't oblige),               R75, breakfast and sunrise over False Bay included!
       * Wed 21/4, 09h30-16h30: Monogramme Design.
              In my studio at 100 Stella Road, PLUMSTEAD; R180, light lunch included.
       * Fri 23/4, 12h30-15h00: Pavement Writing.
              Venue to be announced (an uncrowded public space), R50.
       * Sat 24/4, 09h30-17h00: Monogramme Design.
               at RIEBEECK KASTEEL.
       * Sun 25/4, 09h30-17h00: Flourishing with Flair!
               at RIEBEECK KASTEEL.
Further details regarding these workshops are provided below.

              B O O K I N G
       Places are secured in advance by the payment of the workshop fee. This is fully refundable on cancellation if before 9 April and 50% refundable at shorter notice.
       Payment can be made by cheque to Andrew van der Merwe, 100 Stella Road, Plumstead, 7800 or by direct deposit to Standard Bank account in the name of A van der Merwe, number 071402489, Rondebosch branch, code 025009.
My phone/fax number is 021 761 4400, e-mail: andrew@writtenword.co.za

       Please note: For booking fees and details re. the RIEBEECK KASTEEL workshops, please refer to the CFC programme.


              F L O U R I S H I N G  W I T H  F L A I R !

        Calligraphy must be seen as structured movement, not as static form.
It is the movement and its techniques which produce the form. Nowhere is this plainer than where flourishes are concerned. The whole reason why flourishes please the eye is because of the graceful flight of hand that they suggest. The techniques of flourishing lie at the core of calligraphy. It is my intention that this workshop develop skills which feed into better, more confident writing.
        The focus of the workshop will be on the use of flourishes in the design of wordmarks for corporate or personal stationery and short calligraphic compositions (prose will not be discussed). The workshop will begin with a brief discussion of the structure of flourishes after which we will spend some time focussing on the techniques. These include the use of speed, hand-arm spring, board angle, posture, etc. Some useful tips will be given. The afternoon part of the workshop will focus on the completion of at least one design and, with your permission, some of the results will be put on a virtual pin board on this web site.

       * Level: All levels of experience welcome.
       * Equipment required: Stiff nibs (eg: Osmiriod) and flexible nibs (eg: William Mitchell, quills), Any other pens you might have (eg: Automatic pen), Quink ink and gouache, pointed pencil, chisel edged sketching pencil, Pentel Fine Point Correction Pen, cutter, glue stick, plenty of scrap paper, a few sheets of quality paper (A3).
       * Please bring some company/business names, couple's names and/or short quotes (maximum, 10 words) to work with, and any existing examples you would like to discuss.

        Here are some relevant samples of my own work:

       

       

               

 

              M O N O G R A M M E  D E S I G N

        This workshop focuses on the design of monogrammes for corporate ID, personal stationery and wedding invitations. It is a very satisfying challenge in design logic and teaches us a lot about the letters we work with. The workshop will begin with a discussion of some basic principles and some examples. Most of the day will be spent working under my guidance on monogrammes of your choice. With your permission, the results will be put on a virtual pin board on this web site.

      * Level: All levels of experience welcome.
       * Equipment required: A wide variety of writing instruments, ink and gouache, water-colours, pointed pencil, chisel edged sketching pencil, Pentel Fine Point Correction Pen, cutter, glue stick, plenty of scrap paper, a few sheets of quality paper (A3).
       * Please bring some letter combinations you would like to work with and any existing examples you would like to discuss.

        Here are some relevant samples of my own work:

                      

 

                          

                            

 

                         

              C A L L I G R A P H Y  O N  T H E  B E A C H

        What can I say? Life is a beach! While this is sure to be lots of fun, the opportunity will be taken to give some input on varying your writing styles and how the medium impacts on the style -an important sensitivity to develop.
        Sunrise and "champagne" with OJ will be followed by a short discussion and an introduction to some interesting "writing" instruments. This part will be brief to allow as much writing as possible while the sun is still low and the shadows deep. The last hour of the workshop will be spent on calligraphic sculpture in sand.
        Photographs will be put on a virtual pin board on this web site. We also hope to draw some media attention. Sand sculpture has recently enjoyed a fair amount of interest.

       * Level: All levels of experience welcome.
       * All you have to bring is a soft broom and a 5 or8cm wide paint brush.

        Please note that the start time for this workshop has been moved earlier. Please ignore the time stated on earlier versions of the CFC Callibash programme. The reason for this is to work with the tide, heat and weather and, most importantly, to grab the best time of the day and suck the marrow out of it!

        Here are some relevant samples of my own "work". (The scupture photographs didn't come out well. I'll put some others on the web site later):

              P A V E M E N T  W R I T I N G

        This workshop has been inspired by the Chinese calligrapher's tradition of writing on the town square using water and very large brushes. Crowds often gather and applaud good work. The water evaporates and the "page" is ready for the next piece. The first part of this workshop will begin in this way with the use of gelatine-sized water while in the second part we will use chalk, in the Western tradition.
       While this is sure to be lots of fun, the opportunity will be taken to give some input on varying your writing styles and how the medium impacts on the style. Writing on this scale is very satisfying because of the level of control and insight into letter forms which is achieved.
        Photographs will be put on a virtual pin board on this web site. We also hope to draw some media attention. Applauding crowds are not guaranteed!

       * Level: All levels of experience welcome.
       * All you have to bring is a broom, 3 paint brushes between 5 and 12cm wide, one large pointed brush and a small bucket (1-2 litres).

        Some examples will be posted to this site in the near future.