Calligraphy workshops writ large

By Kath Gannaway
WHEN Cecilia Sharpley says anyone can create beautiful art work with letters, you can actually believe her.
As she says, anyone can write letters – if you’re a doodler, so much the better!
Cecilia is taking two workshops – Terrific Textures – Lettering Art and Simple Bookbinding – at the Yarra Valley Arts Council’s Summer School of Music and Art in January.
Cecilia has taken calligraphy to wonderfully creative new dimensions and she is inspirational in sharing that creativity.
Her passion for letters began with a six week course at Montrose in 1991.
That course whet her appetite and she went on to gain her Certificate of Calligraphy and complete a further two year intensive lettering course.
“A lot of people think of calligraphy as a drawing with some pretty words.
“My concept is that lettering is the art, so the lettering has to stand on its own,” she says.
The alphabet is the framework around which summer school students will create textured pages of lovely artwork.
“I feel the lettering I teach is ideal for people who either just want to take a new direction with their artwork or who feel they don’t have an artistic bent.”
In Cecilia’s bookbinding workshop students will make two very different concertina-accordion books – one on a rainbow theme and the other on a theme of fire, water or forest.
In all, the 2007 summer school is offering 22 workshops across a broad range of interests.
They include choir and creative dance, embroidered landscapes, life drawing, jewellery making, film-making for youth and art for kids.
Workshops are led by professional, sought-after artists who encourage and extend students of all ages and abilities.
The school runs from 8 to 12 January.
Phone Rita or Georgia on 5962 6423 or 0423 932 483 for further details.