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

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Posted on February 3, 2026 by SJ

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 (link will be sent to members)

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.

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

Posted on October 13, 2025 by SJ

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.

September 24th Meeting: Taking Photos of Art Work and Calligraphy with your Smartphone with Laurie Kingdon

Posted on September 2, 2025 by SJ

September 24, 2025 from 7:30pm to 9:00 pm
This is an IN PERSON meeting at: Peace Church, 659 52 AVE E, Vancouver, BC V5X 1G8

In this workshop, we will go over the best practices for effectively documenting your calligraphy with a smartphone using a stable surface with a straight-on perspective, to proper camera settings. We’ll discuss the importance of good lighting, why we want to avoid using a flash and how using a tripod with a remote timer is key. We will go over the features on your smartphone like the best lens to use and how to edit your photos for cropping and optimal colour and brightness. We will also answer the question whether it’s better to scan or photograph artwork.

April 23rd Meeting (In-Person): Ruling Pen Rules! with Emmanuel Buron

Posted on April 2, 2025 by SJ

Exploring the Ruling Pen: A Calligraphic Adventure
April 23, 2025 | 7:30-9:00pm

Location: Peace Church 659 E 52nd Ave E, Vancouver, BC V5X 1G8

Join us for “Exploring the Ruling Pen: A Calligraphic Adventure,” an interactive session designed for all skill levels to tap into their artistic side. Discover the versatility of the ruling pen, originally used for drawing lines, now a tool for creating diverse lettering styles.

Participants will discover the different types of vintage ruling pens and learn fundamental techniques, including proper pen grip and arm movements, to enhance their writing quality. The session includes exercises for pen control, expressive strokes, and insights on ink and paper choices. No prior experience is needed—just bring your passion for calligraphy and unleash your creativity

RULING PEN RULES!

March 26, 2025 Program (In-Person): Folk Art and More! with Violet Smythe

Posted on January 31, 2025 by SJ

Folk Art and More! Pilot Parallel Pen Session With Violet Smythe

March 26, 2025 7:00-9:00pm Pacific
Location: Peace Church, 659 52 AVE E, Vancouver, BC V5X 1G8

**The link to the recording of Violet’s presentation, handout and demo sheets are available in the Members-only section as of March 28th, 2025 for a limited period.**

PROGRAM INFORMATION

In this fun session you will learn about pen manipulation and stroke work with a Folk
Art, Valentine and Floral theme in mind. The tool of choice… the Pilot Parallel Pen. The unique nib was designed specifically for calligraphy and lettering practice. The design allows the user to create thin lines or very thick strokes with just a flick of the wrist, and is the perfect tool not just for calligraphy but design work as well.

Are you new to the Westcoast Calligraphy Society? We warmly invite guests to attend one of our in-person meetings for a complimentary first visit! To ensure we’re prepared to welcome you, please email our membership chair in advance: membership@westcoastcalligraphy.com

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES

6.0mm Pilot Parallel pen (or 4.5mm or 3.8mm)
Layout paper that takes your favourite ink (Violet will be working with a variety of inks including fountain pen ink)
Ruler
Pencil
Compass
Watercolour
White gouache
Palette
Brush for loading
Water container
Paper towels

OPTIONAL

Cardstock and/or watercolour paper

HANDOUTS

The handouts for the session has been emailed to members and is also available for download in the members-only section of the website.

February 26, 2025 Program (via Zoom): Let’s Get Knotty! with Valerie Akkerman

Posted on January 29, 2025 by SJ

Let’s Get Knotty! with Valerie Akkerman

February 26, 2025 7:00-9:00pm Pacific
The recording is available on the Members-Only page until April 28th, 2025.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

In this class, we will discover the intricacies and versatility of the Celtic Knot. We will start with the basics of knot construction, progress through more complex traditional design, and then finish with techniques to incorporate these skills into modern freeform shapes. As time allows, we will also briefly cover various ways to embellish and colour your designs.

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES

Mechanical pencil
Eraser
Ruler
Graph paper
Sketch paper or printer paper
Fine-liner (Valerie uses Micron)

OPTIONAL TOOLS
Compass, Protractor or similar circle maker

Note: Valerie will be covering several ways to create knots, so you might get to use some other things in your studio! One of the nice things about Zoom meetings.

Westcoast Calligraphy Society

We welcome members from around the world.

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