Calligraphic Arts Guild

Catch us on Saturday!

ITALICS WITH LEE THURESON

Date: Sat. April 11 & Sun. April 12, 2026 from 1 pm to 4 pm

Location: Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario
Studio A2

Course Description
An introductory level illustrating the structure of a basic, sharp-angled approach to the Italic hand. We will talk a little bit of its history and share some admired exemplars from 15th century Arrighi and current Scribes Julian Waters and Reggie Ezell.

Materials
Pilot Pen 2.4
Grid paper (Rhodia suggested)
Please email Lee at [email protected] if you would like to purchase material in class

Member Price: $95
Non-Member Price: $110

It’s March, and we’re only a couple of months away from our annual guild exhibition, so today we’re playing with colour and white markers for our collaborative piece. We’ll reveal the big showpiece on May 5!

Mark your calendar to visit our exhibition from May 5 to May 23, 2026 at !

👀 Our new handwriting exhibit made it on The Star’s “The Must List”—their roundup of cultural picks.

Loops, Swoops & Curlicues: A Legacy of Handwritten History is now showing at Toronto Reference Library.

All are welcome. Open seven days a week. Free.

Plan your visit 👉 https://tpl.ca/tdgallery

February Guild Meeting
Sunday, February 8 from 1-4PM
Neilson Park Creative Centre

It’s the month of 💕 so Mark Lurz is taking us through the steps for designing a Valentine. Then Nancy seals it with a kiss with a demonstration on how to add a wax seal touch to your card.

Guild members: Just bring your favourite writing and colouring tools.

✒️ Curious about old ways of writing? Join our conservator’s talk on iron gall ink—from how it was made to its perils. Plus, try your hand using a nibbed pen.

After the event, you'll also have a chance to join a guided tour of our latest exhibit all about handwriting: Loops, Swoops & Curlicues.

Feb 5 at 3 pm | Toronto Reference Library

Register now: https://ow.ly/Yty950Y0Wgb

Memories of our 2025 guild exhibition.

Title: White Vine M
Artist: Sarah King Head

PASTE PAPER WITH LILY YEE

Date: Saturday, March 21 & Sunday March 22, 2026 from 1 0 am to 4 pm

Location: Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario
Studio A2

Course Description
Paste is a simple way to add colour and texture to plain paper. Of course, your pasted papers can be used in bookbinding projects as covers and endpapers. Or to decorate handmade boxes. But what about lettering? You may be mystified about why it’s so challenging to incorporate lettering on your pasted paper surfaces. It’s not your lettering! Uncover the secrets of decorating and treating papers to support and highlight your lettering.
Day 1 will introduce you to the basics of decorating paper with paste. Use your favourite colour palettes to create dynamic and subtle patterns to transform plain paper.
Day 2 will maximize the secrets you learned on day 1 to specifically integrate lettering. Bring your tools and wet media to express your creativity using favourite lettering hands unique to you.
In the workshop, bind calligraphy experiments in a simple book format for further study and reference. Your experiments will lead to discoveries that make your calligraphy projects stand out.

Member Price: $200
Non-Member Price: $225

Register via the link in our bio! 👆

Our annual holiday card exchange!

FOUNDATIONAL WITH MICHELE NIDENOFF

Date: Sunday February 22 , 2026 from 10 pm to 4 pm

Location: Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario
Studio A2

Course Description
The Foundational Hand was developed by the Calligrapher and Typographer Edward Johnston in the early 20th Century. It is based on his study of the Ramsay Psalter, a 10th century Carolingian manuscript written in Wi******er, England, which is now in the British Museum. Foundational has been taught as a basic alphabet in England for some time. It is very legible and is often used for longer texts. Many of our modern typefaces are based on it. This course is suitable for beginners. All levels welcome!

Materials
Pilot Parallel Pen (2.4mm) or
Penholder, Ink, Speedball C-3 nib or Mitchell size 2 or Brause 2mm nib
Pencil, ruler, eraser
Grid paper (4 or 5 squares to the inch), 1 or two sheets of plain paper (can be marker paper)

Instructor Bio
Michele Nidenoff is a freelance illustrator and calligrapher. She has been teaching calligraphy to students ranging in age from children to seniors since 1990. Michele also teaches drawing and watercolour and is a longtime member of CAGT. https://michelenidenoff.com

Member Price: $95
Non-Member Price: $110

Register at our link in bio 👆

Having fun with lettering while using fun lettering at our November guild meeting led by Charlene.

Medieval Europeans used animal skin to make parchment. Watch a master demonstrate this nearly-forgotten craft: