ROMAN HOLIDAY 2024 - Julie Wildman - Roamin’ Letters: A Funky Approach to Romans

Roamin’ Letters: A Funky Approach to Romans by Julie Wildman – Level: (A) All levels

If you want to get a little funky and have fun with your Roman letters, then this class is for you!

I get inspired to create new letterforms by looking around my environment and discovering the letters “roamin” around in plain sight. From a bird landing on the water, to patterns in rocks, to the scrolls in a railing, I believe the lettering artist can find unique letters just by observing one’s surroundings.

So, our first exercise will be to “roam” around the campus to dis - cover what’s out there. We’ll take photos and bring sketchbooks to document our findings. (Students may also bring photographs of patterns or other alphabetic inspiration which they’ve previ ously found. I will give tips on what to look for prior to class).

We will spend the next part of the class analyzing the skeletal Roman forms. Studying the letter parts will help students understand not only structure, but the nuances that go into developing unique letters. Through a series of exercises—using both traditional and non traditional tools—we will dis cover all sorts of creative ways to make new forms. Students may choose to work in color or black and white, and whether to use white or black papers—or both.

Our letters will be done in a 3-inch-square format, then assembled in a simple, yet elegantly designed 5" x 5" x 1" accordion -fold book with an origami -type cover. No sewing involved! And the only gluing will be to paste our letters onto the book pages. The pages will be done by folding and using double -sided bookbinders tape to stick them together.

Class Supplies:

• Favorite calligraphic tools (Suggestions: broad-edged and pointed nibs; ruling, parallel, automatic pens; unusual tools like cola or broom bristle pens, twigs, or any other funky lettering tool)
• 1 fine point Pigma Microns in a small size, like 005 or 01
• Medium-sized bottle (6 oz.) of black sumi ink
• Small bottle of walnut ink
• 30 ml jar of Dr. Martin’s or Bleedproof White or a small tube of white gouache
• 1–2 tubes of your favorite gouache colors
• 1-2 tubes of your favorite transparent watercolor
• 1 tube of a metallic in either gouache or transparent watercolor OR a small cake of Finetec or other brand
• Inexpensive flat, watercolor brushes in sizes 1/8" and 1/2"
• Favorite pointed brush (only if you like to do pointed brush writing) OR an Aquash Waterbrush Pointed (medium 12mm tip)
• Any kind of pointed nib and a straight holder to use for retouching
• Small- tipped embossing stylus—(or you can use the tip of a brush)
• White gel pen (your favorite brand) or white paint pen in an extra fine or fine tip (If you bring white gouache, then this supply is optional because you can use your fine point nib with the gouache).
• A 9" x 12" pad (minimum of 10 sheets) of tracing paper
• 1 or 2 sheets 22" x 30" Arches Text Wove (2 sheets if you want to use all white)
• 1 or 2 sheets 22" x 30" black paper such as Arches Black Cover (2 sheets if you want to use all black)
• One Fineline Applicator (preferred size: 20 gauge/.5mm—blue tip) Instructor will bring fluid to fill this.
• Scissors
• Camera (your phone is fine)
• Sketchbook or paper for outdoor sketching
• Pencil
• Sharpener
• Erasers (kneaded and/or white)
• Roll of 1" masking or drafting tape
• A few colored pencils in your favorite colors
• Six-well palette
• Water container (for cleaning tools)
• Roll of paper towels
• Archival glue stick
• Bone folder
• Metal ruler
• X-acto knife with a few #11 blades
• Cutting surface
• One large binder clip (about 2" wide x 1" thick)

Supply Fee: approx. $25 (for book materials, handouts, practice paper, and fluid for the fineline applicator—price will be finalized before class)