Fibonacci and the Golden Ratio as Applied to Botanical Work

by Jan BoydPART 2 OF 2 Over the years I have had the opportunity to study with one of the world’s most renowned calligraphers, Sheila Waters.   She teaches the following for layout in lettering which we can apply to our work with flowers, plants, etc. as well: All of this information can inform our understanding of the plants we paint – both the plants themselves and the understanding of beautiful proportions in the layout on our paintings. Using the Golden Mean and associated Fibonacci numbers, thereby avoiding even proportions both vertically and horizontally, will help to keep paintings from appearing static and dull.   Fibonacci numbers can inform the numbers of foci in a painting – quantities of 1, 3 or 5 are generally perceived as more pleasing to the eye.  Awareness of balance issues can help to avoid images that might appear out of proportion. So now it might be helpful to see these principals in practice by applying them to an Orchid painting I created a few years ago. I believe that it is in reasonable Golden Section proportions. In addition to the general layout, it is also interesting to note that there are 5 large leaves, 3 smaller Read More

Fibonacci and the Golden Ratio as Applied to Botanical Work

by Jan Boyd PART 1 OF 2 As artists, we often come across references to the related concepts of Fibonacci numbers and the Golden Mean.  What do these terms mean, and are they useful in creating botanical artwork? These concepts are quantifiable, identifiable and fascinating.  They can be identified in and related to the beauty we find in flowers, trees, fruit and vegetables, in paintings, in sculptures, in music, in poetry, in the human body and more.  For this short article I will concentrate on how they can impact our botanical artwork in a meaningful way. For a more thorough presentation you can view my Youtube video. Beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder, but in studying the beauty of nature, art and architecture, we can discern a common principle – the universal experience of pleasant proportion.  This basic understanding of proportion has been recognized since antiquity and named by philosophers and mathematicians variously as the Golden Proportion, Golden Ratio, Golden Section or Golden Mean. All these terms (which can be used interchangeably) represent what can be reduced to a mathematical equation, which identifies and quantifies proportions that please the eye.  In everyday life we use Read More

2024 Fall Gathering and General Meeting, Sunday, October 27th from 11am to 2pm

We will gather at the beautiful Grafton Community Barn, 37 Wheeler Road, North Grafton, MA. Come meet our very special guest, Margaret Shepherd, who will speak about her process in creating her recent work, Song of Songs — the Bible’s Great Love Poems in Calligraphy.   We are incredibly excited and honored to welcome Margaret as our guest. As many of you know, she has authored a multitude of books on calligraphy over the years.  Her titles sit on the bookshelves of countless aspiring calligraphers around the world. If you would like to learn more visit her very thorough and informative website at www.margaretshepherd.com Please RSVP: rdcalow@aol.com   Coffee and tea will be provided. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. (Make sure to label with ingredients.) Remember to bring some work for our Show & Share! We will also have a tables set up for exchanging books and supplies. You never know what kinds of goodies you’ll go home with! New members and curious guests are always welcome and encouraged to come see how much fun we have sharing our love for letters. We look forward to seeing you live and in-person this October! Read More

Live Calligraphy Demonstrations

On Saturday, August 17th, members of Masscribes will be at the Westwood Public Library demonstrating calligraphy. This event is open to the public and will run from 10:30 am to 12 noon. We invite anyone who is interested in learning more about calligraphy and how different types of calligraphy pens are used for different styles of lettering. All materials will be supplied. Read More

Willie Wonka comes to Masscribes! December 28, 2023 9-5PM Norwood Club!

Spend the weekend experimenting with a variety of media & techniques which will add color, life and interest to your work. This is an opportunity to open yourself to the endless media possibilities (lots of cheap tricks) that you’ve wanted to try…but just needed to be nudged a little. This class will cover the magic of Black, Bleach, Stencils, Soft Pastels, Dyes, Painters Gesso, Matte Medium, Gouache, Watercolors, and with whatever time allows. We will begin working on Arches Text wove, black paper with endless possibilities! As a card designer for a fast-paced industry, Judy quickly learned to work with a variety of media, often a new card each day! She worked with the writers and learned to honor their words and design. “Art attracts, words sells!” Registration opens on December 25 at 6AM! Class options: FULL PRICE: The Letters of Imre Reiner $119.00 USD Comments or requests: Notice: JavaScript is required for this content. Read More

“Rhythm & Movement in Calligraphy” with Andrew van der Merwe, September 29, 30 and October 1, 2023 at 9AM-5PM

 “Getting your pen to fly, glide and land with speed, purpose and precision, and what beach calligraphy has to teach” Engage in an entirely unique workshop! We have selected a studio near the beach and the beach will teach us all sorts of wonderful things about pen and paper calligraphy. The workshop will begin at Rick Paulus’s Wareham, MA studio with a study in hand-arm mechanics and how they can be used for easier precision, for getting your pen to go where you need it to go. Then, we will delve into how different rhythms can be used to naturally produce different styles. We’ll apply the concept of ergonomics to calligraphy, exploring how your posture and height at the table relates to your calligraphy, right down to how to change it for different hands. We will explore sensing the body’s momentum and tension for specific movements in your calligraphy using wind-up and release. If you are surprised how liberating all this can be you will be blown away by the effect of beach calligraphy! Over 3 days , one full day and 2 mornings will be spent indoors with pen and paper and 2 afternoons will be spent on the Read More

“The Magnificent Monoline letter” with Rick Paulus, September 17-18, 2022 at 9AM-5PM

The Monoline letter is ubiquitous and has many voices. It was a favorite of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods and continues to thrive today. Discover the diverse and lively world of the magnificent monoline letter in this colorful workshop. From creating White House invitations (really!) to expressive calligraphy pieces and logo design, monoline lettering is as diverse and as easy to create as it is fun! Regardless of skill level, this workshop will bring new, exciting life to your work. Rick Paulus has been a calligrapher and a teacher for over forty years. Rick apprenticed for several years at the legendary Tolley Studios, in Washington, DC, before becoming the engrosser for the US State Department. In 1998, he was appointed chief calligrapher of the White House, where he remained for two presidents. Today, in addition to enjoying calligraphic explorations, Rick is dedicated to sharing the knowledge gained through many years of studio production and experimentation to students young and old alike. WHEN: September 17 & 18, 9AM – 5PMWHERE: Norwood Sportsmen’s Association, 576 Nichols St. Norwood, MAREGISTRATION: Opens August 19, 2022Scholarships are available for current members. Download the flyer with registration information HERE. As this is an in-person Read More

Rick Paulus workshop – pay by PayPal

The total cost for this workshop is $125.  Payments are welcome through PayPal. We greatly appreciate your effort to pay the registration fee electronically. You do not need a PayPal account to proceed with payment – any credit card will work. If you wish to pay by check, make it payable to Masscribes, Inc. postmarked no earlier than Friday, August 19, 2022. Mail to Elissa Barr, 697 Boylston Street, Brookline, MA 02445. Please include your email address and phone number. Enrollment is limited to 18 Masscribes members. If more than 18 enrollments are postmarked or made by PayPal on Friday, August 19, 18 participants will be selected in a lottery from the registration requests. You must be a Masscribes member to take this workshop. If you haven’t renewed your membership for 2022/2023, please fill the form and submit the payment on the Masscribes membership page . Workshop fees are refundable only if your space can be filled from a waitlist. Questions? Please contact Workshop Coordinator Elissa Barr at: penpusherink@gmail.com Read More

“Play on writing/ Writing textures” with Denise Lach, March 13-15, 2020 at 9AM-5PM

The word texture comes from the Latin word ‘textura’ which means “yarn weaving”. It also applies to the links of the chapters of a literary work, as well as the mineral constitution of rock. In the 15th Century, a gothic small letter was named “textura” which points out its precision and the way of interlacing each letter to write a word. First, the participants will practice interlacing letters starting from their handwriting. Then, they’ll work on capital letters practicing their calligraphic knowledge. After which, they will progressively get free from readability and experiment with a playful approach leading to a very large range of writing textures. The first objective of this workshop is to show how endless the possibilities of creating textures are and also the part they play in a composition. The second objective is to enrich graphic vocabulary and scriptural composition. See the flyer for this workshop HERE. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content. Read More

Denise Lach workshop – pay by PayPal

The total cost for this workshop is $185.  Payments are welcome through PayPal. We greatly appreciate your effort to pay the registration fee electronically. If you prefer to  mail a check, please send it payable to Masscribes, Inc., postmarked no earlier than Friday, January 10, 2020, to Elissa Barr, 697 Boylston St, Brookline, MA 02445. Please include your email address and phone number. Enrollment is limited to 18 Masscribes members. If more than 18 enrollments are postmarked or made by PayPal on Friday, January 10th, 18 participants will be selected in a blind lottery from those enrollments. You must be a Masscribes member to take this workshop. To pay your dues or to join Masscribes, include a separate check for $30 or join by PayPal on the Masscribes membership page. Workshop fees are refundable only if your space can be filled from a wait list. Questions? Please contact Workshop Coordinator Elissa Barr at: penpusherink@gmail.com Read More