“Uncial Script” with Ailsa Fergusson

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

Uncial is an uppercase script commonly used by Latin and Greek scribes between the 4th and 8th centuries, forming a fascinating step in the evolution of the lowercase letters we use today. It is most familiar to many in the form used in The Book of Kells.

In the morning session we will explore many of the uncial variations that have evolved over the last 1500 years through to the contemporary, including one that will bring a big smile to your face.

In the afternoon we will take a journey into paper cut forms of uncial, suitable for simple pop up lettering and beautiful layered cut lettering. Then we’ll move on to some Celtic knotting for those ready for a greater challenge.

Materials:

Morning: 

• 3.8mm parallel pen
• practise paper, non-bleeding layout paper, A3 if possible
• slope board for writing if you have one
• ruler, pencil
• pointed pen if you have one
• brushes suitable for brush lettering to explore some variations of uncial, if you have some.

Afternoon:

• paper folding and cutting tools
• cutting mat and craft knife/paper cutting tool that’s very sharp *
• range of coloured and textured papers 120-160gsm A4
• removable/magic tape that you need to keep the layout paper in place so you will have a beautifully cut final piece.

Additional notes on materials from Ailsa:

*I will also be bringing some sharpening tools to show you how to then sharpen the edge even better …..

The papers for cutting depend on which option you choose. The pop-up lettering needs only a couple of sheets of A4 size in a light coloured card so the shadows read well.

The non-popup lettering needs one sheet of a plain colour card and a few complimentary patterned pieces to be viewed through the cut areas. There are many variations from simple to complex for these, and the very keen can cut some Celtic knotting, but suspect time may run out for this, as I will not be teaching the drawing of the knotting in this short workshop.

I will also bring some patterned papers for those without paste papers, maps and old wrapping paper supplies…..