ROMAN HOLIDAY 2024 - Brody Neuenschwander - Codes & Other Alphabetic Mysteries

Codes & Other Alphabetic Mysteries by Brody Neuenschwander – Level: (I/A) Intermediate/Advanced

We do pretty well with our 26 letters. But there are more ways to write a story. In this course we will look at some fanciful ways of creating codes and other secret writing systems. You would be amazed at how many ways there are to hide a message in plain sight. We will also create “Wrong Letters” using an automatic pen and a pointed brush to re-think the shapes and identities of our ancient alphabetic friends. Combining these two ideas, codes and wrong letters, will give us the chance to make new and exciting compositions with fascinating contrasts and playful colors.

If you feel like you’ve been playing it safe for too long, this is your chance to exit your comfort zone and enter a new zone of playful experiment. Your calligraphic skills will be very useful as we create letter variations and investigate how far we can go before we lose legibility. And that will be very far indeed!

And don’t think this will all happen just on paper! We will try our hand at an on-campus installation, photographed and recorded on our phones. Calligraphy is the art of visual language. We will explore this endlessly fascinating artform in as many ways as we can in five exciting days.

Class Supplies

• (PS91, PS107) 5 sheets good quality calligraphy paper (such as Fabriano 5, Rives BFK, Saunders Waterford) minimum size 50 x 70cm / 20" x 27"
• (P22) Calligraphy practice pad or practice paper, minimum size 30 x 42cm / 11" x 17". It helps if the practice pad is good quality. Thin, slick paper will not give much satisfaction.
• (N27) Automatic pen C5
• (BR28) Kolinsky sable pointed brush (such as Rembrandt number 4; Winsor & Newton Series 7 number 2 or 3, or another good quality sable pointed brush)
• Selection of other pens, including handmade pens, favorite pens
• (HG749, WNG1) (BR43) Selection of gouache colors and mixing brushes
• (I109, I70) India or sumi ink
• (S679, S1094) Palette/small dishes for ink and gouache
• (S1665, S1622) Scissors or scalpel
• A short story in your own words (suggested length 200–300 words) about an experience in your life that made a strong impression on you. The quality of your writing is not important. A simple diary style will do. The story can be about anything at all, personal or public. You will not be required to show the story to anyone.