Tag Archives: toronto

Oktoberfest Calligraphy Tutorial

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Oktoberfest Gold Oktoberfest wallpaper grass

Oktoberfest is right around the corner, and what a better way to mark the event but with classic German calligraphy.  This calligraphic typeface is based on Klingspore by Rudolf Koch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Koch). This is a beautiful Gothic typeface.

This authentic calligraphy was created using a 6.0 mm Pilot Parallel Calligraphy Pen.  It was later scanned, and digitally processed to create the gold raised effect.  It was finally draped on top of the two background images.  The pooling of the ink by the original calligraphy pen creates differences in height and colour.  This effect mixes authentic calligraphy with modern digital arts.  The digital effects were created with GIMP & Inkscape (FREE software). Read more at http://flickr.com/steveczajka.  And “en Prosit!”

Cheers
Steve

Learn Gothic Calligraphy and Lettering – Online Calligraphy Course

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Gothic Video Based Course Logo - SQ

Learn Gothic Calligraphy & Lettering in this online calligraphy course.  All available as a digital download.

Click Here to Purchase via PayPal or Credit Card:

View Steve’s portfolio at http://flickr.com/photos/steveczajka

Below is a listing of the course topics . . .

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Gothic Calligraphy Course – Last Chance to Register

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FrakturThe Gothic Calligraphy Course starts this Tuesday, March 18th in Toronto taught by Steve Czajka. There a only a few spots left so if you are interested please contact Steve Czajka at ( steveczajka [at] hotmail [dot] com ) soon.  Seating is limited.

The above shot is an example of one of roughly 30 exemplars students will receive in this course.  Read about the course at:

https://torontocalligraphyguild.org/2013/12/26/gothic-calligraphy-course-with-steve-czajka/

UPDATE: March 27.  This course is in full swing now.  I am in the process of creating an eBook for online or correspondence calligraphy learning.  The eBook including printable exemplars will be closer to 50 pages in length and covers the materials, history, modern interpretations and my three easy keys to learning calligraphy & lettering.  I am totally excited about this eBook.  Details will be made available soon on this website soon.

 

Gothic Calligraphy Course with Steve Czajka

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Gothic Calligraphy Course MasterDates: March 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15 and 22nd (Tuesdays)
Times: Six Sessions from 7:00-9:30 pm
Place: Neilson Park Creative Centre – STUDIO A – West, Toronto (Map)
Cost: $150 (or $135 for CAGT Members & Friends of CAGT)

Description

  • This six session course will teach students how to perform flat-brush calligraphy while also learning Fraktur, one of the most popular Gothic scripts based out of Central Europe 16-19C.  Fraktur is also one of the most free-style calligraphy scripts around.  Students will:
    • Be presented with some of the best examples of Fraktur from all over the world with a critical analysis of what makes great lettering.
    • See demonstrations by Steve Czajka on different methods of calligraphy including: traditional calligraphy pens, double pencil technique from Roman times, and even wide-format paint markers (used in the Calligraffiti movement).
    • Learn the basics of brush lettering, edge pressure, paint preparation, cleanup, and brush manipulation to achieve amazing looking letter forms. Similar to (video)
    • Learn about basic letter flourishing & decoration techniques
    • Work towards a final assignment focused on a flourished capital letter, surrounded by Gothic text of their choice and design.
    • Learn to letter their works onto: paper, cloth, sign boards, dry wall, wood, glass, mural applications, and even coated concrete surfaces.
  • Steve Czajka is a calligrapher with over 30 years of experience.  His work has appeared as a headliner for a television show, and Steve was invited to teach at an international calligraphy conference.  Steve’s work is planned to be featured in “Bound and Lettered Magazine” from John Neal Bookseller.  You can see Steve Czajka’s portfolio at http://flickr.com/photos/steveczajka

Read more…

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Calligraphy and Desktop Publishing

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Desktop Publishing Course - CD Jacket WallpaperCalligraphy is making it’s way into mainstream media (print, digital, and video), and desktop publishing is one of the tools to accomplish this.  Recently I created a course called Desktop Publishing (using free and open source Scribus).  This course is available at

http://gimpmagazine.org/desktoppublishingcourse/

Scribus (http://scribus.net) is an amazing package similar to Adobe InDesign, QuarkExpress and MS Publisher, but Scribus is free, open source and available to anyone in the world.  Scribus was used to create CAGT’s 2012-13 professional looking brochures featuring hand-done calligraphy from Mark Lurz and myself. Continue reading →