Mike Kecseg - Engrossing Certificate Design - Jan 6, 13, 20, & 27

Engrossing is an unfamiliar term to most of today’s calligraphers. However, from about the mid 1800’s through the mid 1900’s engrossing studios flourished throughout the U.S. employing hundreds of calligraphers or engrossers. Mike was lucky to have worked in an engrossing studio just before they all began to disappear. Mike continues to work today as an engrosser through his own engrossing business.

In this workshop, students will go through the entire process of designing and producing a certificate in a traditional engrossing style from layout to completion. Mike will be sharing many of his ideas, tips and tricks that he learned as an engrosser for over 40 years. With each step in the process, he will also provide detailed instruction along with samples of work to serve as visual help and inspiration. 

Lesson 1 – Layout and Design 

The first step in certificate design is laying out the certificate. Students will be making decisions on how to break down the provided copy into components based on their importance. Mike will go through each component and talk about the best lettering styles and sizes of lettering to use on each one. Mike will also talk about where and how to add illumination and decoration to the certificate and how to best work with clients.  

Lesson 2 – Lettering 

Discussing and demonstrating the most used lettering styles when designing an engrossed certificate. The styles will include Roundhand, Engrosser’s Text, Engrosser’s Script, Old English, rapid and retouched, Versals and Boxed Versals.  

Lesson 3 – Illumination and Decoration 

Illumination and decoration can be added to some or all the components of an engrossed certificate. It can be as simple as adding color to some of the text or as complex as adding a highly decorated border. Mike will discuss the best elements of illumination to add based on the client’s taste and budget. Adding gold using modern alternatives to traditional raised gilding will be shown and discussed. 

Lesson 4 – Putting it all Together 

Students will put all the elements that they've learned to the test and produce a certificate from start to finish.

Engrossing Certificate Design
Mike Kecseg, Hosted By The Gentle Penman

Live (Also recorded for later viewing)

January 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2024 (Saturdays)
22:30 pm – 00:30 am (Hong Kong Time)

Class Cost : HK $ 1,170.00 or USD 150.00

Registration Link : https://www.thegentlepenman.com/engrossingcertificatedesign

All Skills Levels

Supply List:

Lesson 1

• Grid paper or layout paper at least 8.5” x 11” (P25, P22, P69, P70)

• Tracing paper (P43, P112)

• Soft pencil, 2B or 3B. Mike prefer using a mechanical pencil with 0.5mm 2B leads (PL38)

• Eraser (E13, E09)

• 6” ruler (S1143)

• Longer straight edge. Mike use a piece of scrap mat board

• If you already own and use a drawing board and T-square

Mike will talk about supplies in the first lesson or if you’re not sure just buy the minimum needed.

Lesson 2

• The above supplies plus:

• Broad edge nibs : Brause 2mm, 1.5mm, 1mm, 3/4mm, 1/2mm OR Mitchell #2, #2.5, #3.5, #4, #6 (N02, N04)

• Pointed nibs : 3-5 of your favorite OR Nikko G, Hunt 101, Gillott 303 or Leonardt Principle EF (N113, N77, N72, N120)

• Straight and oblique pen holders (H114, H113, H133, H129)

• Black ink (I37, I126, I08)

• Micron pigma markers, 005 and 08 (M17)

Lesson 3

• The above supplies plus:

• Good quality pointed brush, #0 or #1. A synthetic brush is fine. I like W&N Sceptre Gold brushes (BR26)

• Mixing brush (BR43)

• 3 colors of gouache, blue, red and green of your choice. Student grade is fine (HG749, WNG1, SG27)

• Dr. PH Martin’s bleedproof white or white gouache (I38, HG749)

• Prussian Blue or Payne’s Grey watercolor (I153, WNWC1, S3041)

• Gold ink or paint. I use W&N Gold Drawing Ink. Kuretake Gold Ink or Coliro Mica Pan Gold are good alternatives (I56, I140, S1000) 

• Small Palette, mixing pan or small mixing cups (S679, S1094)

• Dropper bottle with water (S1017)

• Paper towels

Lesson 4

• All the above supplies