IAMPETH 2023 - ROMANtiCAPS - Maria Helena Hoksche

Romanticaps - Intermediate to Advanced

“Romans” are everywhere these days, from toddler’s first attempts on letters to highly skilled masters’ artwork. So why another class on these classics, why ROMANtiCAPS? All the many years I have studied Romans, mainly with the late Sheila Waters, I have been intrigued about what, if anything, could they offer to pointed pen enthusiasts. Calligraphers who perhaps don’t have the command of broad edge pen or brush, traditional tools for Romans. Or just to those who love pizazz, flourish, freedom, energy and movement, but also respect order and rhythm: qualities that these timeless letters sill strongly suggest. Can some “romance” be put into Romans, without losing their imposing character? Realizing that some general rules, both for pointed pen AND Romans, had to be bent, and using my decade-long experience of my favorite research - How to modernize historic hands - ROMANtiCAPS were born. Leaning letters forward added movement, curving a few “straights” allowed to flourish (and taught where NOT to flourish) Strokes of pointed pen, that normally go from thin to thick to thin, had to be reversed. In this ROMANtic daylong class, we practice the most helpful tips: How to put straight letters on slant without loosing their integrity. How to keep positive, uplifting look to your lettering for all who lay eyes on it. How to taper strokes the right way. Where exactly to keep flourishing under control. How to maintain legibility with decent spacing. At the end of day, you shall walk away with an alternative hand that shall mix/match nicely with your Copperplate script.

Class Supplies

• Pencils: 2B and 4B (PL38)
• Sharpener (PL13)
• Eraser (E13)
• Canson Pro Marker Layout Pad (P32)
• Ruler (S270)
• Oblique Pen Holder (H129)
• Hunt 101 nibs (at least two) (N77)
• Your favorite pointed nib 
• Lighter,
• Black Ink (like Moon Palace Sumi) (I70)
• Dipping container + water dish + paper towel (S620) (S1005)

OPTIONAL:

• Smooth black Paper (in pad, if you like) or black Stonehenge (P58)
• White mechanical Pencil (S769)
• Dr. Martins bleed proof white (I38)
• Tube of gouache, any color (can be shared, need very little) (WNG1-4) (SG27)
• Mixing brush (BR43)
• Water dropper (S1017)
• Clean dipping container (S620)
• slight slant board