Renate’s Calligraphy

Special poems, certificates, placecards, addressed envelopes, artwork–there are many uses for elegant hand-lettering.

Lettering with Capitals

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Capitals, either built-up or casual, make a clean, legible, strong impression. Here are several examples of our artwork featuring capital letterforms.

 

excerpt from The Season Settles In - capitals

(Excerpt from THE SEASON SETTLES IN, by Keith Worthington. Renate’s letters are made by manipulating the nib angle of the Capitals.

Capitals by Renate
Apples of Gold – italic and capitals, lettered by Renate

 

Two examples of Proverbs 25:11, lettered in Capitals, Versal “A”, and Italic. The lettering in the Saint John’s Bible was my inspiration for these pieces.

Growth: capitals and original words by Renate
Chockstone: Keith Worthington, built up capitals lettered by Renate

 

GROWTH: Words and letters by Renate, are presented as a page in the Bow Valley Calligraphy Guild book celebrating one of the BVCG milestones.

CHOCKSTONE by Keith Worthington. Renate’s letters are built-up capitals penned on a translucent vellum overlaying the artwork.

 

WAITING FOR SNOW by Keith Worthington. Renate’s lettering is a mix of Italic letters and informal Capitals.

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Season’s Greetings, Hockey style

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Renate Worthington "Oldtimers Tournament"“Old Cocks, Old Shots, even Old Flames
Who’s to say what’s in a name
Rusty Blades, Rusty Spurs,
Bombers, Blasters, Harriers,
Antiques, Model A’s, Model T’s
waitin’ for the ice to freeze…”

These few lines are part of the poem “Old-Timers Tournament” from Keith’s poetry book, After The Flood: Hockey Poems. Renate’s artwork is called a “calligram” and features the names of many old-timer hockey teams. The original size of the hockey player is 4 by 6 inches, and was drawn using several sizes of fine-tipped markers. Season’s greetings to all!

 

More Calligrams by Renate:

Calligram – Renate Worthington
“calligram” of cats by Renate

Carolingian-style letterforms

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This style of calligraphy is a good choice for longer poems and quotations. It is vertical, therefore easier to read, and relates to present-day fonts, so is a familiar set of letters. Some calligraphers use the traditional heavier ascenders; I have chosen to keep them slim. Here are some examples where I have used my own particular adaptation of this style.

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ALBERTA BOUND -excerpt from lyrics by Paul Brandt,  lettering and boots by Renate. Another two versions of Alberta Bound is written in “Neuland” below.

Alberta Bound – Renate’s lettering, words by Paul Brandt

(Practise chunk)

 

Carolingian letters - Renate

Private commission lettered by Renate

 

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PRINCIPAL:  Words by Keith Worthington, lettering by Renate Worthington.

 

A MARKING OF TIME: poem by Keith, artwork and “Carolingian” lettering style by Renate.

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RINK IMAGINED- poem by Keith Worthington, from AFTER THE FLOOD: Hockey Poems ©2013,  lettered by Renate,

Medieval letters in a modern world

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It is the 21st century, but the appeal of Versal letters still attracts us. My students are on their last session of a six-week adventure into drawing, decorating, colouring and boxing in their letters. New forms emerged and have been re-purposed for cards, envelopes and special occasion words. Names were lettered with an artistic flair. Metallic pens  created magic on dark paper. The thrill of creating an original bit of art remains  in our fast-paced modern lives.  The artwork above was done by Renate with pointed nibs, gouache and ink on vellum. Each letter is about 3/4 of an inch in height.