“Illuminated Capitals” with Gail Wilson

Cost: Half day members/non members $20/$25, full day $40/$50

The word ‘illumination’ means to enlighten, and refers to the addition of decorations, often with gold and silver, in manuscripts. An illuminated letter is an enlarged, decorated capital letter that traditionally embellishes the beginning of a
chapter or section in a handwritten manuscript. Lavishly decorated letters marked the beginning of passages and gave visual clues to the context of the page. Full pages of decoration also separated the books into sections.
Morning Session–
1. Simple Celtic Knot letter
2. Pencil Border
3. Ornamental Design Borders in one colour eg. Blue, Black and white pencils.
Afternoon Session–
4. Use ornamental design to produce a Delft Design Letter (Blue and White or Walnut and white/Black)
5. Modern Design Letters or Numbers of choice on White, Black, or Tan Paper

Materials List:

• Good quality Smooth Watercolour Paper-at least 200 gsm- eg. Arches. Cut this into A4-4 pages folded once into
  A5 size.
• 2B Pencil, kneadable eraser, coloured pencils/watercolour pencils or gouache (see below) black charcoal pencil
• Gouache – black, white, blue, yellow ochre, red
• Ruler
• Tracing paper and Armenian Bole/or transfer paper.
• Fine liner brush, small round brush (small brushes for detail work)
• Palette
• Water container
• Permanent Fineliners – .005/ .03
• Finetec Arabic Gold or any good gold/ metallic paint e.g. Calligraphica crystals.