Category Archives: Meeting

May 27, 2026 Meeting: Medieval Manuscript Marginalia with Lindsay McArthur (In-Person)

Posted on by
Reply

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

Explore the whimsical world of creatures in the borders. Together, we’ll look at the forms these illustrations took, how they were used, and how they can be applied in a contemporary context. Come prepared to create!

Medieval Manuscript Marginalia

Supplies to bring :

  • Pencil, eraser, fine point Micron pen
  • Tracing paper
  • Smooth paper that will take water media (I like hot presswatercolour paper)
  • Calligraphy pen for the hand of your choosing
  • Selection of short quotes (I like them sassy to pair with the creatures)
  • Optional: grid tracing paper, saral paper, light box,gouache, small paint brushes (0 round and smaller),water pot, rag/paper towel

 

April 22, 2026 Meeting: Meandering Books with Wendy Cowley (In-Person)

Featured

Posted on by

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

The meeting handout and recording are available at the members-only portal (please log in and go to Program Recordings): https://wcs.s1.yapla.com/en/

Wendy will be teaching her simple book-making method that she uses as an alternative to bookbinding and has turned into thumbnails, cards, alphabet books, and even a record of a lettering class she took.

“Folded and meandering books are simple books made out of a single sheet of paper. I am not a bookbinder, but I can make these simple books successfully. I use them for thumbnails, cards and alphabet books. I even have one that is a record of a lettering class. We will look at several ways of folding a single sheet of paper into books with 8 to 32 pages using simple folds and cutting on selected folds. Folding directions are included in this notice. Please print them  and bring them with you.  All paper will be provided. Please bring a bone folder if you have one and scissors and/or a cutting mat, x-acto knife, and metal ruler. (I will just be using scissors,) I hope we will be able to complete 4 books at the meeting. 3 will be with 8 sections and one with 16.” – Wendy

Folded Books with Wendy Cowley

We will look at several ways of folding a single sheet of paper into books with 8 to 32 pages using simple folds and cutting on selected folds.

Folding diagrams and instructions has been sent out to members. All paper will be provided.

Supplies to bring:

  • Scissors and/or cutting mat and x-acto knife
  • If you have one : a bone folder

From Wendy:

“Here is an example of one of the books we will be making tomorrow, It started off as a 12 inch by 12 inch piece of scrapbook paper. Tree straight cuts divided it and it was then folded. 16 2 sided pages are the result. We won’t fill in the content of your book tomorrow, but you will go home with a book to fill in.”

March 25, 2026 Meeting: Italian Print with Violet Smythe (In Person)

Posted on by

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

Handouts and printable guideline sheets are available at the members-only portal (please log in and go to Program Recordings): https://wcs.s1.yapla.com/en/

Membership has its benefits – register here to become a member.  
Would you like to check us out before committing? Please contact our Membership Chair at membership@westcoastcalligraphy.com to arrange a complimentary guest visit during this in-person meeting. We would love to meet you!

 

“This is a hand that I discovered in my research for a workshop I was creating in Art Nouveau letters.  It is from the Draughtsman’s Alphabets – A series of Plain and Ornamental Alphabets designed especially for Engineers, Architects, Draughtsmen, Engravers, Painters, etc. by Hernamm Esser.  Published by Keuffel and Esser Co. New York 20th Edition.  I found it on Archive.org which is a great resource: https://archive.org/details/draughtsmansalp00essegoog/page/n6/mode/2up

The handout I created is based on this hand using Pilot Parallel Pens (PPP) 3.0mm size pen.  I have created guidelines for pen sizes 2.4mm to 6.0mm so you need only print off the guide sheets that correspond with your pen size.  If you don’t have a Pilot Parallel Pen then you can try the hand with a broad edge nib like a Speedball C 2 nib.  

See you at the first in person Meeting on March 25th!”

– Violet

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

Posted on by

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.

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

Posted on by

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)

November 22nd: WCS Saturday Meet Up

Posted on by

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)

Posted on by

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.