Tricia has been teaching calligraphy, book arts and paper craft in TAFE and other venues since 1989. As a registered teacher, she understands how to structure information and techniques in an easy-to-follow, hands-on manner.

Tricia has a number of workshops and classes available, including:

• ARTISTS’ BOOKS (various classes available)
• ITALIC CALLIGRAPHY (shorter and longer courses)
• ADVANCED ITALIC CALLIGRAPHY
• GOTHIC CALLIGRAPHY
• FOUNDATIONAL CALLIGRAPHY
• LAYOUT & DESIGN FOR CALLIGRAPHERS
• DESIGNING WITH LETTERS
• HANDWRITING
• GIFT CARDS (various classes available)
• GIFT BOXES (various classes available)
• PAPER MAKING (RECYCLED)
• PAPER DECORATING TECHNIQUES (various classes available)
• PAPER MARBLING
• PAPER MAKING (RECYCLED)
ANYONE CAN LEARN TO DRAW

  

• INSERVICE FOR TEACHERS (in any of the classes listed above)

 

As well as group classes, Tricia also teaches one-on-one classes.

Tricia provides comprehensive notes to accompany most classes.

 

Costs of classes

If you enrol in a group class, prices vary from $20 to $200 depending on the length of the class and the venue.

If you wish to organise your own classes, Tricia charges $50 (Aus) per hour or $300 (Aus) per day.

 

Contact Tricia for dates and times of upcoming classes, or to arrange one for your group or guild.

 

Detailed information about the classes listed above

ARTISTS’ BOOKS (creating unique books)

ARTISTS’ BOOKS (introduction)
Description: In this class you will be shown many different techniques for making your own books. During the day you will make many types of folded and stitched books. These are great for storing your photos and memorabilia or for recording your thoughts. You will also be shown lots of different variations and extensions of these techniques so you can extend your skills at home. Comprehensive notes included.
Level of experience: suitable for complete beginners as well as more-experienced participants who want to learn new techniques.
Class Time: 6 hours (two 3 hour sessions, or one 6 hour session) or shortened or lengthened to suit specific needs.
What to bring: ruler, pencil, scissors, glue (all other materials supplied for $6 per student)

ARTISTS’ BOOKS (shorter class)
Description: Learn several different techniques for making a variety of folded books. These are great for storing your photos and memorabilia, or for recording your thoughts. Tricia will also show and discuss lots of variations of these techniques, as well as examples of other styles and methods. Comprehensive notes included.
Level of experience: suitable for complete beginners as well as more-experienced participants who want to learn new techniques.
Class Time: 1 - 3 hours, depending on requirements
What to bring: ruler, pencil, scissors, glue (all other materials supplied for $3 per student)

ARTISTS’ BOOKS (specific bindings)
Description: These more time-consuming techniques are usually taught as specific classes, although several can be combined in longer sessions (the class content can be tailored to suit individual requirements). Comprehensive notes included.
Some of these techniques include:
hard-covered stab-bound book
buttonhole binding
pop-up variations
fancy covers
Coptic binding
sewing multiple signatures
flag books
tunnel books
star books (carousel books)
Level of experience: intermediate preferred, although beginners can be accommodated
Class Time: 3 - 6 hours, depending on the technique
What to bring:  the materials required vary for each specific technique (details available on request)

CALLIGRAPHY & LETTERING

ITALIC CALLIGRAPHY (introduction)
Description: Italic is a versatile, elegant style of lettering suitable for writing certificates, invitations, poems, messages on cards, etc. You will learn basic Italic and Roman letterforms, spacing techniques, and also a brief introduction to interesting variations and flourishing. You will have the chance to experiment with a wide variety of calligraphy tools. The course also includes a segment on the history of calligraphy, and the characteristics of many of the different scripts of the western world. Comprehensive notes included.
Level of experience: suitable for complete beginners as well as those who would like to refine their Italic skills.
Class Time: 12 hours (six 2 hour sessions, or four 3 hour sessions, or two 6 hour sessions.
What to bring: $8 kit fee (includes calligraphy felt pen, supplies and instructions)

ITALIC CALLIGRAPHY (shorter course)
Description: As per the class described above, but a much shorter course which does not include Flourishing, Italic Variations, History of Scripts, or Experimenting with Pens segments. Comprehensive notes included.
Level of experience: beginners
Class Time: 6 hours (two 3 hour sessions, or one 6 hour session)
What to bring: $6 kit fee (includes calligraphy felt pen and instructions)

ADVANCED ITALIC CALLIGRAPHY
Description: This class is designed for those who have already completed an introductory class in Italic. As well as fine-tuning the letterforms, you will explore with different flourishing techniques (adding decorative touches to letters) and you will experiment with several Italic variations. This allows you to create your own unique style, and to know how to vary the letterforms to suit particular projects.
Level of experience: intermediate or advanced
Class Time: 6 hours (three 2 hour sessions, or two 3 hour sessions, or one 6 hour session)
What to bring: your own fountain pens or dip pens with a wide variety of nib sizes (preferably ranging from very narrow up to 3mm or larger), ink, water bottle for rinsing pens, old towel, A3 paper (e.g. photocopy paper, bond paper), guidelines ruled to suit your nib sizes (or a pencil and ruler), slope board (optional).

GOTHIC CALLIGRAPHY (Black Letter and Pointed Gothic)
Description: Black letter and its variations were important scripts in medieval times, and remain popular today for creating impressive documents. Comprehensive notes included.
Level of experience: beginner
Class Time: 6 hours (two 3 hour sessions, or one 6 hour session)
What to bring: $8 kit fee (includes calligraphy felt pen, supplies and instructions)

FOUNDATIONAL CALLIGRAPHY
Description: This easy-to-read ‘printing’ style is an elegant script in its own right, as well as an excellent basis for learning other styles of lettering. Its origins date from Renaissance times and it was revived in the early 20th century as a teaching tool. Comprehensive notes included.
Level of experience: beginner
Class Time: 6 hours (two 3 hour sessions, or one 6 hour session)
What to bring: $8 kit fee (includes calligraphy felt pen, supplies and instructions)

LAYOUT & DESIGN FOR CALLIGRAPHERS
Description:Well-planned layout is just as important as nicely-formed letters. In this class students will be shown useful techniques for creating pleasing designs. These would be suitable for invitations, certificates, Christmas cards, etc. as well as for writing out quotes and poems. You can bring your own texts and ideas to work on, or use what’s provided.
The class includes a discussion about using colour and borders. More innovative approaches for creative lettering designs will be covered for students who would like to use their calligraphy in expressive art works.
Level of experience: intermediate or advanced (students should have knowledge of at least one calligraphic style - no letterforms as such will be taught in this class)
Class Time: 6 hours (three 2 hour sessions, or two 3 hour sessions, or one 6 hour session)
What to bring: notebook to record new ideas, bring any examples or queries you wish to discuss

DESIGNING WITH LETTERS
Description: Give a new twist to your artwork! In this workshop you will be shown a range of different techniques for creating innovative designs based on letters, words, symbols or numbers. You will create several unique patterns which are then ready to use later in your future projects. You can choose whether your message is very legible or more abstract, and we will discuss how to transfer the designs into your chosen medium (appliqué, embroidery, clay, paper, tapestry, knitting, crochet, weaving, silk painting, etc). No previous training in calligraphy or lettering is necessary, just the desire to express yourself creatively using letterforms!
Level of experience: all levels, from beginner to experienced
Class Time: 6 -12 hours, depending on requirements
What to bring: paper, cardboard, pencils, pins, tape (specific list available on request) or all materials supplied for $10 fee.

HANDWRITING
Description: Being able to write so that others can read it easily is a real asset. Learn skills to help you improve the legibility of your handwriting while still writing at speed.
Level of experience: all levels
Class Time: variable, depending on requirements
What to bring: paper, pencil, samples of your current handwriting

PAPER CRAFTS

GIFT CARDS (various classes)
Description: Learn to make a great variety of cards, using many different techniques (including creative folding, embossing, stamping, origami, quilling, punching, paper tole, etc - dependent on the length of the class). You take home all the samples you make on the day, plus the expertise to make more at home.
Level of experience: complete beginners, as well as those who want to learn new techniques
Class Time: 2 - 12 hours (one 2 hour class, or several sessions of 2 or 3 hours)
What to bring:  ruler, pencil, scissors, glue (all other materials supplied for $2 - $6 per student)

GIFT BOXES (various classes)
Description: Learn to make a great variety of boxes and packages, using several different techniques of paper cutting and creative folding. You take home all the samples you make on the day, plus the expertise to make more at home.
Level of experience: complete beginners, as well as those who want to learn new techniques
Class Time: 2 - 12 hours (one 2 hour class, or several sessions of 2 or 3 hours)
What to bring: ruler, pencil, scissors, glue (all other materials supplied for $2 - $6 per student)

PAPER DECORATING TECHNIQUES (introduction)
Description: Learn many different ways to decorate paper and card (including patterned dyeing, paste patterning, crayon melts, embossing, stamping, stencilling, spattering, unusual printing techniques, etc - dependent on the length of the class). The decorated paper and card is suitable for gift wrapping, covering books, making gift cards, paper modelling, paper collage, making boxes and origami.
Level of experience: all levels
Class Time: 2 - 6 hours, depending on the technique
What to bring:  the materials required vary for each specific technique (details available on request)

PAPER MARBLING
Description: Paper marbling is a method of decorating paper by floating paint or ink on water or jelly. You will learn several different techniques including Suminagashi (Japanese marbling using ink), Turkish marbling (using gouache paint) and oil-paint marbling. You take home all the samples you make. Comprehensive notes included.
Level of experience: all levels
Class Time: 2 - 6 hours, depending on requirements
What to bring: $8 fee covers all the materials required, bring any special papers you wish to marble (optional)

PAPER MAKING (RECYCLED)
Description: Learn how to make your own paper from old envelopes and scrap paper. Add colour, as well as flowers and leaves, to give your hand-made paper a unique look. Comprehensive notes included.
Level of experience: beginners
Class Time: 2 - 6 hours, depending on requirements
What to bring: $4 fee covers all the materials required, bring any special papers you wish to recycle (optional)

ANYONE CAN LEARN TO DRAW
Description: This class is specifically designed for those who wish they could draw, but who believe (or have been told) that they can’t. You will learn simple techniques for overcoming mental blocks, and for learning to draw in easy stages. The course is based on Betty Edwards’ methods as outlined in her book  “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain”.
Level of experience: beginners
Class Time: 12 hours (six 2 hour sessions, or three 4 hour sessions, or two 6 hour sessions).
What to bring: A3 cartridge pad, 2B, 4B and 6B pencils, eraser