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STRONG LINES: Getting Comfortable with the Pilot Parallel

Strong Lines » Class 1 » Supply List Online Class Supply “Kit” Now Available! To make purchasing easy, John Neal Booksellers (USA) has set up a supply “kit” for our class: • 1 - 6mm pilot parallel pen (blue cap) www.johnnealbooks.com/prod_detail_list/1230 • 1 - 3.8mm pilot parallel pen (green cap) • 1 package blue-black cartridges

Paper for Practice: • Premium Inkjet Paper from stationery store OR Bleedproof Marker Paper OR Fine Tracing Paper from art supply store • Option: Use paper you have! It may bleed, but while you learn, that is ok! You can choose to save expensive paper for nearly final work.

Paper for Final Work: • Clairfontaine Triomphe Blanc from fine stationers or online • Bienfang Graphics 360 OR other Bleedproof Marker Paper from art supply store • Hot Press (smooth) watercolour paper – I use 90lb. Arches or Textwove from art supply store

Other: • white paper tape (artist’s tape) OR any other removable tape (green painters tape works well) • , paper and ruler for drawing guidelines or sketching ideas • kneadable rubber eraser (for capping unused ink cartridges) • small glass or plastic container for water • plenty of paper towels or cloth rags – and sink nearby for clean-up long-neck pipette • long-neck pipette for flushing & cleaning cartridges (available at craft stores or online) • good music if possible!

Optional: • Artograph Light Pad

Papers shown in “Your Paper” video To clarify, you do not need ALL the papers shown in this video; I’ve simply provided multiple suggestions. Here’s the exact brand names that I used in the demo: • Bienfang Graphics 360 Translucent Marker Paper • HP Bright White Inkjet • Clairfontaine Triomphe (blank, not lined) • Arches Hot Press Watercolour Paper (90 lb.) And others that were mentioned: • Bleedproof Marker Pad • Canson Tracing Paper • Clearprint Design Vellum

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STRONG LINES: Consider purchasing all four pen sizes as a set, Getting Comfortable with the even though we only need the larger sizes Pilot Parallel Calligraphy Pen listed for this class.

Note:These pens Online Sources for Pilot Parallel Pens are not expensive! Don’t pay more than www.johnnealbooks.com (search Pilot parallel pens) $20 USD for one – I have www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Parallel-Calligraphy-Pen-6.0-mm-Nib-Width/pd/892 seen them online at www.paperinkarts.com/calligraphy-pens-parallel-pens.html super crazy high prices! www.dickblick.com/products/pilot-parallel-pens/ www.quietfiredesign.ca (search Pilot parallel pens) www.gouletpens.com (search Pilot parallel pens)

Online Sources for Clairefontaine Paper www.clairefontaine.com/EN/products-page/triomphe-n2/triomphe-pad-21x29-7cm-90gsm-plain-6170C/ www.gouletpens.com/C6170/p/C6170 www.paperinkarts.com/claire.html www.johnnealbooks.com (search Clairefontaine)

Resources for Left-Handed Calligraphers

My understanding is that the flat nib makes this pen ideal for left-handed calligraphers as it comes from the manufacturer. However, John Neal Booksellers also sells the pens specially cut for left-handed calligraphers, so that is another option. Pens: Left Hand Parallel Pen (modified) are available at johnnealbooks.com Videos: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwjt7Dhdu-g www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzYlQYWM2m4 Books: Insights into Left-handed Calligraphy by Betsy Rivers-Kennedy is available at johnnealbooks.com Resources: www.clas.co.uk/left-handers.html

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Parts of the Pen

Ink Cartridge

Cap Rubber Converter

Nib Ink Controller

Nib Cleaner Barrel

THE PILOT PARALLEL PEN – A CRITIQUE

Strengths Weaknesses • portable, convenient, durable – can be used • not appropriate for small, delicate work anywhere (ferry lineups, watching TV, while your • smallest size (1.5 mm) still has .5 mm hairlines computer processes a large file) (not enough thick/thin contrast) • great for practice – larger sizes allow beginners • colour blending cannot be precisely controlled to concentrate on form • changing colours//cartridgesMonoject 412 Plastic can Syring be fussye • great for achieving rhythm – no pauses for (available through John Neal) dipping or filling • limited to 4 sizes*: 1.5 mm (red) 2.4 mm (orange) • great for fast, expressive calligraphy 3.8 mm (green) • because the nib is flat (not angled), it is suitable for 6.0 mm (blue) left-handed calligraphers as well as right-handed • in some sets, the rubber converter is too loose to • strong, reliable ink flow is especially well-suited be filled with ink; in others it fits tightly for working on textured surfaces • new to the market (about 15 years)insert end so stillof Monoject beyond plastic tab • great for flourishing and hairlines considered ‘unproven’Ink by many calligraphers • long-lasting: metal nibs don’t wear down • if you work slowly,Cartridge or on regular bond paper, ink will tend to bleed, since it is such a strong-flowing ink • great for large work Ensure metal ball moves freely in cleaned cartridge • great for creating interesting colour effects • can be used with a variety of inks * John Neal Booksellers is now modifying pens to • can be completely disassembled for cleaning smaller sizes, and other suppliers are modifying the – right down to the metal plates pens by splicing them for a double-stroke pen.

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TATTOO DESIGN: FOUR APPROACHES

Approach 1: Refine your own art or doodles & sketches. If you keep a sketchbook, or like to draw or doodle, build on what you have already created. If not, pull out those high school notebooks and see what you were drawing and doodling. Take it from there!

Approach 2: Fill in a shape Find a shape that will fit and complement the part of the body where you want your tattoo. You might want to photograph your arm (for example) and sketch an outline of it, then fill in. Use layers of tracing paper or translucent marker paper to refine your design until you love it!

Approach 3: Find a reference you love and change it up! Don’t plagerize! Do find reference material that speaks to you and make modifications to create your own unique piece of art. If your reference is in the common domain (rather than the work of another artist, with copyright) you can follow it more closely. Did I say don’t plagerize? » You’ll find reference everywhere — in books, (look for copyright-free), online and walking down the street!

Approach 4: Explore your cultural roots Each culture has it’s own visual iconography and it often influences us at a young age. Most people Note: In doing this project, today can trace their roots to several cultures. you might feel limited by the pen. Yet having Explore the iconography of your lineage(s) and design restrictions can be very helpful create a tattoo as unique as YOU. to narrow the scope of a project and help you close in on a visual solution. Using the pen will help you simplify your design and the line quality of all your elements will have a pleasing consistency.

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STEPS TO CLEAN UP ARTWORK IN PHOTOSHOP

1. Scan (300-600 ppi) or photograph carefully (well lit, well focussed)

2. Open in Photoshop. Erase any background smudges or visible paper texture. Adjust levels if necessary.

3. Select white background with Magic Wand Tool (set to low tolerance, about 10)

Select/ Similar — to select any enclosed areas or counterspaces.

Select/ Refine Edge — Feather: ~ 1.5 px to soften selection edge

Select/ Refine Edge — Shift Edge: ~ +10% to tighten selection just a hair

4. Fill background with white

5. Select/Inverse to choose tattoo

6. Fill tattoo with black.

RECOMMENDED READING Parallel Pen Wizardry by Brenda Broadbent Foundations of Calligraphy by Sheila Waters The Textbook, 23rd Edition by Joanne Fink and Judy Kastin Design by Nature, Using Universal Forms and Principles in Design by Maggie MacNab

CONTINUED LEARNING Most major cities have calligraphy societies, and they often bring in teachers of international acclaim.

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