Author Archives: SJ

February 28, 2026 Program: Brush up on Brush Pens (via Zoom)

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What: Brush up on Brush Pens – Minuscules with Valerie Akkerman

When: February 28, 2026 (Saturday) from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Where: Online via Zoom

The Zoom recording and handout is available in the Members Portal: https://wcs.s1.yapla.com/en/
Log in to your account and go to Program Recordings.

Join us for an exploration into brush pen calligraphy!

In this workshop we will look at the various pen options available, basics strokes, and the press/release techniques needed to create a minuscule alphabet.

Brush up on Brush Pens – Minuscules with Valerie Akkerman

Supplies:

  • Brush Pen – chances are, you have a pointed brush pen somewhere in your stash of supplies!
  • Valerie will be demonstrating with a variety of brush pens.A good beginner pen is the Tombow Fudenosuke.
  • -aper – Smooth paper works best!HP32 laser paper, Rhodia pads, and Canson marker paper are great options
  • Optional: Ecoline watercolor

Please log in to Zoom around 9:45am so we can be all ready to go at 10:00am.

March 28 & 29th Workshop with Richard Draffin (Official Calligrapher for Veterans Affairs)

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Both members and Non-members may register by clicking here: https://wcs.s1.yapla.com/en/events

For MEMBERS:
1. Click the Register button 
2. Select I am a member, and log in with your email and password. Click Next.
4. Click the button “+ Add a participant” and proceed with registration.

For NON-MEMBERS:
1. Click the Register  button
2. Select I am NOT a member
3. Then click the button, “Sign up without becoming a member”
4. Click the button “+ Add a participant” and proceed with registraiton.

** Registration ends March 23, 2026 **

An Introduction to Gestural Lettering – This con-temporary calligraphy uses gestural strokes to make more calligraphic than traditional letters. This work-shop will focus on the variations in letterforms, rhythm, and script that result from incorporating speed and movement into the writing process, using a variety of tools.

Class size is a maximum of 18 registrants.

WHEN: Saturday, March 28th & Sunday, March 29th, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m (please arrive by 9:30 a.m. to set up)

WHERE: South Surrey Recreation and Art Centre in the Turnbull Gallery
South Surrey Athletic Park, Address: 14601 20 Ave, Surrey, BC V4A 9P5

>> Download the FLYER here.

Fees: Canadian / American WCS Members registration is via the website live on February 1st, 2026. You have the option to pay by e transfer or credit card (all done through the Yapla platform). The workshop fee includes the processing fees. 

  • Members: $156.40  CAD        
  • Non-members: $171.75 CAD

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Violet Smythe at seminars@westcoastcalligraphy.com.

About the Calligrapher/Artist…

Since 2009, Richard Draffin has been the calligrapher who updates and maintains Canada’s Books of Remembrance for Veterans Affairs Canada. Calligraphy requires a great deal of care and technique. Using traditional methods of lettering, every brush stroke and every letter is done by hand and his meticulous work ensures that the books are preserved for years to come.

Richard has studied under many notable calligraphers. From Thomas Ingmire, he learnt to break from traditional with the introduction of Roman Cursive scripts. From Denis Brown, he gained specific skills on the stroke and where the stroke fits into a piece. From Yves Leterme, he learned how to move into gestural movements from known scripts (or a more common script) and from Brody Neuenschwander, he started to appreciate the whole broadsheet as one, which in some ways took him back to his studies with Thomas Ingmire.

Here is a link to a video that can be viewed on Facebook where Richard speaks to the work that he does on Canada’s Books of Remembrance: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BnGvt5jWB/

January 24th Meeting: Mouse Roman Online Workshop with Josie Brown

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This event is now over and the link to the recording has been emailed to the members. Members may also log in to the Members-Only area of our website to access this for 30 days from the date of the program. Thank you!

Time: January 24, 2025 10:00am to 12:00pm Pacific
Zoom Meeting

It’s fun, it’s lively and it’s contemporary!  This session is an  introduction to a script which is easy to learn for beginners and a light-hearted contrast to other hands for those with some experience.  It can be carried out simply in monoline form or penmanship skills can be developed using press & release techniques.  This script is particularly useful for informal and spontaneous work like greetings cards, journals or little books and anyone can play with the letterforms, enjoying their happy-go-lucky stance on the page.

Materials:

  • Small pointed nib such as a Brause 66EF or a Brause Rose nib or just a mapping nib, if you have one and nib holder.
  • HB pencil, Eraser, 30cm ruler
  • A4 (8.3″ x 11″)  OR A3 (11″ x 17″) pad of layout or cartridge paper
  • Paper towel, water container
  • Non-waterproof ink or gouache or watercolour paints (ready mixed for writing with) and a palette
  • Colour pencils  (optional)
  • Fine liner pen such as a Uni, Pilot or Staedtler pigment liner (size 0.2 or 0.3).
  • Metal rule (or metal edged ruler), cutting mat (or back of a pad) and craft knife
  • A few short, snappy or comical quotations, riddles, haikus, etc

 If you’d like to work along with the tutor, have some A4 sheets of cartridge or layout ready-ruled with pencil lines at:

  • 1 cm (X-height) and 2 cm (interlinear gap), and
  • 5 mm (x-height) and 1 cm (interlinear gap)

December 6th – Christmas Social 2025 (In-Person)

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Christmas Tea Social 2025
Members Christmas Social Luncheon Pot Luck and Bake Sale

Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: Peace Church, 659 52 AVE E, Vancouver, BC V5X 1G8.

Enjoy festive teas, light sweet and savoury treats, and good company with fellow calligraphy lovers. We look forward to celebrating this festive season!

November 22nd: WCS Saturday Meet Up

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Mark your calendar and get ready to join us for our 2nd WCS Saturday meet up! These sessions are one-size-fits-all events for beginners to experienced calligraphers.

November Program: Falalala Brush Pens

Join us in creating some seasonal florals and lettering using brush pens.

Date:           Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time:           10:30am to 2:30pm
Location:     Surrey Library, Clayton Branch – located inside the Clayton Community Centre on the 2nd floor.
Address:      7155 187A Street, Surrey BC V4N 6L9 (Clayton Community Center is easily accessible from 72nd Street.)

RSVP will be required for these events, as space is limited. Maximum: 20 registrants. Please email seminars@westcoastcalligraphy.com to let us know you’re coming!

Membership has its privileges!  There will be no fee for members to attend!

Guests and Non-Members may attend one complimentary WCS event.  Please email Violet at seminars@westcoastcalligraphy.com to ensure we are prepared to welcome you to your complimentary first visit. There will be a nominal $5 drop-in fee for non-members to attend subsequent sessions.

November Program: Get Your Jingle On! [WCS Saturday Meet Up Nov 22, 2025]

Supply List 

  • Smooth paper – Rhodia pads, HP Premium 32 laser paper, or Canson Marker Paper are all good options
  • Optional: Strathmore Bristo
  • Basic Tool kit: pencil, eraser, ruler, paper towel, water dish
  • Micron or similar waterproof fine-liner
  • Brush Pens – Bring what you have or borrow one from us
  • *Valerie will be demo-ing with a variety of brush pens; specifically – Tombow large, Staedtler Mars Graphic 3000, Ecoline, Pentel waterbrush pen.

Optional Supplies:

  • Strathmore Bristol
  • Helix circle maker or similar circle maker if you have one
  • Color blender or small piece of acetate sheet

This is also an opportunity to bring other calligraphy projects to work on alongside your fellow society members, brainstorming ideas, and learning valuable tips from others to share in our love of letters. 

Additional Details

  • The room can be located in the library on the upper floor.  There is an elevator just inside the entrance of the community centre.  When you exit the elevator, turn right, and the room is just down the hall.
  • Bathrooms are located right beside the room.
  • Brown Bag!  We will not be coordinating tea/coffee; however, you are welcome to bring along a bag lunch, snack, drink, or something to share.  There is a kettle, fridge, and microwave available for our use.  Please bring utensils, plates, mugs, etc., as they are not provided.
  • There is a shopping plaza a short drive away if you forget your lunch or need to grab a coffee.
  • Free parking & fully accessible location.

If all goes well, we will have a second gathering on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025!

Event Organizers & Hosts
Valerie Akkerman and Violet Smythe
If you have any questions or suggestions not covered here, please reach out to us: seminars@westcoastcalligraphy.com

We hope you join us!  It’s the perfect opportunity to brainstorm ideas, learn from others, and share in our love of letters!

November 26th Meeting: Medieval Manuscripts w/ Doris Major (via Zoom)

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Please join us for our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, followed by our program with Doris Major.

The Zoom meeting room will be open to members beginning 6:45pm

SCHEDULE:

  • 7:00 – 7:30pm Annual General Meeting
  • 7:30 – 9:00pm Medieval Manuscripts with Doris Major program

There’s nothing quite like diving into the magic of a medieval manuscript! Doris Major will be sharing incredible photos from books in the restricted library of the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (PIMS) at the University of Toronto—a place you need special permission to enter.

Together, we’ll flip through stunning facsimiles of masterpieces like the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels, to name a few. We’ll get a peek at Visigothic lettering in all its glory, marvel at pages that make you wonder, “How on earth did they do that?” and even spot a few mistakes. To top it off, we’ll look at the tiniest letters penned with a quill.

October 22nd Meeting: A Night in the Runes with Laura Erikkson (IN PERSON)

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Time: 7:30 to 9:00 pm
Location: Peace Church Peace Church, 659 52 AVE E, Vancouver, BC V5X 1G8.

It was this collage of images for the class “Calligraphy Design and Norse Runes” which caught my eye. The design, textures and interesting symbols fascinated me. After inquiring more about this course, I realized it was beyond my budget for my own ‘Calligraphy enrichment’. But through the generous scholarship provided by the Westcoast Calligraphy Society, I was able to enroll.

A very huge “Thank You” for this! I am delighted to share with you some of my learnings at our October meeting, calling it “A Night in the Runes” We will study the 24 characters of Elder Futhark, their names and how they sound. Norse Runes are simple and geometric, so our class will be a combination of art, phonics and geometric designs. We will construct the 24 symbols of Elder Futhark.

We will write runes as word and pattern. I will demonstrate the stages of writing runes with a resist medium and washing over it with water colours. I will show some examples of monograms using runes symbols.

Mostly, we will stretch our brains and our calligraphic language, reach back hundreds of years, yet using contemporary tools.

Calligraphy… the art of beautiful letters…. even in an ancient language.