In this workshop, predominantly practical, together with Monica Dengo we’ll see why handwriting, which is an expression of the whole person that cannot be reduced to a font pre-designed by others, is one of the skills in the package of technologies we should all have at our disposal. We’ll begin with the rhythm and then we’ll study the ductus, the forms and the joins of ‘italic’ writing, which is the cursive at the origin of all western modern cursives, the one that, having developed for practical reasons, has reached the highest level of simplicity and fluidity. From the handwriting of Niccolò Niccoli, the Florentine Humanist who first used “italic” script, we will develop our own personal rhythm, a clear and legible hand to use every day, on a post-it, in our sketch-book, on the graphic tablet, for a more effective and personalised video presentation, and more.

Materials:

— Thin tip pen (e.g. Pilot V5 hi-techpoint 0.5)
— Brush pens (e.g. Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pen) in black and red plus other colours of your choice
— Felt tip pens of your choice
— Sketchbook A4 (i.e. Favini Schizza e strappa)
— Notebook with lined paper A4 or A5 (e.g. Fabriano EcoQua)
— 2B Pencil, rubber and 30 cm ruler

Monica Dengo (http://www.monicadengo.com/) was born in Italy in 1966. In 1993 she moved to San Francisco (California) and in 2001 she acquired dual citizenship, Italian and American. Currently she lives in Arezzo, Italy. Monica began the study of graphic design in Venice, Italy and England. In London she studied calligraphy and bookbinding at the Roehampton Institute (1991-1992) with Gaynor Goffe and Ewan Clayton. In 1993 she moved to San Francisco (California) and spent three years studying independently full time manuscript production techniques, illumination, design and history of lettering with Thomas Ingmire. She also studied figure drawing with Eleanor Dickinson. The San Franscisco Art Instiute Library, the Correr Museum and Marciana libraries in Venice (Italy) were also a part in her independent studies. In 2012 she was artist-in-residence for two month at the Emily Harvey Foundation in Venice. More on http://www.scritturacorsiva.it/en.html and http://www.smed2015.it/

P.S.: if you are SMED MEMBER ask for a code to have a discount, write to presidente@smed2015.it