LETTERS CALIFORNIA STYLE!

A MOST WONDERFUL CONFERENCE IN POMONA!

Oh the fun we had last weekend at the Kellogg Conference Center in Pomona. The Society for Calligraphy has for the last 5 years trucked in 10 very special teachers in all sorts of specialties. For four days we live and breathe letters- exhibits, Brenda's Pen and Ink store, demonstrations and great food. Ive posted my pictures on my flickr-the link on the right! One of the highlights was my friend Rudy, aka KenosOne came with his friend Dies and painted his name graff style-it was the old guard meeting the new-
If your interested in this conference-yes we'll be doing it again next President's WEekend-but hurry to sign up-theres already 84 registrants and we only take 100 participants.heres the link to my pics! www.flickr.com/photos/25736261@N00/


Oh and more Italy info coming soon-time is running out -so if youd like to join me please go to www.adventuresin italy.net

LINK TO SHIMMER AND SPARKLE WORKSHOP!

OOPS -this will help you find the Shimmer and Sparkle workshop on the Crescendoh website! Go to: http://www.crescendoh.com/shop/workshops/shimmerandsparkle.shtml

ANNOUNCING... A VERY SPECIAL WORSKSHOP!

THIS IS SO EXCITING!

Shimmer and Sparkle Workshop
Saturday March 5, 2011
Santa Ana, CA

For those of you that have asked me about a local workshop in Southern California-here you go! This will be the very first workshop in a new series of events held in the lovely hoem studio of the wonderful Jenny Doh ( you may know her as the former editor of Somerset Studios et al!) If you havent visited her new spot at www.crescendoh.com you must go there now-Its amazing-there is so much to visit and see and do! Here is the info about the workshop-its gonna rock-I started making these little sparkly heart necklaces ( above) and I couldn't stop-We're cooking up so cool workshop kits and a catered lunch if you'd like-but there's limited space so if you're interested at all please sign up quickly!

Shimmer & Sparkle All-Day Workshop
with Lisa Engelbrecht

Join multi-media artist Lisa Engelbrecht, author of Modern Calligraphy and Hand Lettering, at the home studio of Jenny Doh on Saturday, March 5, 2011 for a very special all-day class. Lisa will guide us with assorted writing instruments to explore and discover experimental lettering and mark-making. The letters and marks will be incorporated onto canvas, and combined with exciting mixed-media techniques to add special shimmer and sparkle by creating metallic hearts with duo adhesives, foils, double-stick tape, and metallic pens. Students will learn how to create mixed media art quilts and mixed media pendant necklace. For students who need support for any portion of the techniques, Lisa and Jenny will be on hand to provide support.
SCHEDULE:

* Arrive & Settle: 8:30 :: Time for students to arrive, settle in, and grab a cup of coffee.
* Class Segment A: 9:00-12:00 :: Class time with Lisa Engelbrecht who will demonstrate and guide the first part of class.
* Lunch & optional walk: 12:00 PM :: You can choose to brown bag it or decide on a catered lunch option* and then weather permitting, take a walk in a scenic, historic Santa Ana neighborhood and park.
* Class Segment B: 1:00-4:00 PM :: Class time with Lisa Engelbrecht who will demonstrate and guide the second part of class.
* Show & Tell, Clean-Up & Depart: 4:00-5:00 PM

NOTES:

* In order to optimize a quality learning experience, class size is very limited. First come, first served.
* Each student will receive a class kit created by Lisa, which will include basic supplies needed for class. Lisa & Jenny will also have on hand, tools and supplies to share. Students are asked to bring the following items to class:
o Favorite acrylic inks or paints (an assortment from your collection)
o Brushes (an assortment from your collection)
o Gel pens & markers (an assortment from your collection)
o Old T-shirt
o Ziploc bag filled with small fabric scraps (to incorporate into art)
* If you'd like to purchase a catered lunch, please purchase the class with catered lunch option.
* Lisa will have a limited number of original art items on hand for those interested in purchasing her art.
* The class location is in Santa Ana, California. The address will be provided upon purchase of class.
* Due to limited class size, the spot for this class is transferable but payment is non-refundable.

I hope you can join us -if you like shiny things and bling -this is for you!

Un Assiagio di Orvieto ( A taste of Orvieto!)

One of my main intentions is to taste all the things I couldn't when I was sick last time in Italy! I mean to tell you the opportunities are endless! On our first night there Kristin and Bill treated us to a simple dinner at a lovely family's pizzaria. So light-so delisioso. and that was just the beginning! We had picnics, olive oil tastings,pasta we made ourselves, pigeon (!) -there's a story there! The farmers market just footsteps away was a delight to all the senses.( Full roasted pork!) We wanted it all! The beautiful patio at our convent di Ludovico provided a wonderful break from our work-lively conversations with fellow artists in the shade and fantastic food and drink! Is this heaven? Im so looking forward to this-! One thing I missed while in bed was the vineyard tour-I cant wait-this is included in your trip. My daughter raved about the wine and the setting-and brought two bottles home-Orvieto is world reknowned for its wine!
# Oh but I did go to the dinner ( also included) where we prepared our own four star dinner-( guided by pros natch!) Another amazing event! We created deep fried Zucchini blossom appetizers-from that day's market and made our own fresh pasta-incredible!
# The dining here is divine-and you can go simple with just a pastry ( again to die for!) and a cappuchino while you sit outdoors as you paint watercolor flowers-can we go now please?
#

# YES! Please join me in this incredible adventure!

# PLEASE NOTE The deadline to sign up for this Italy trip is fast approaching! Please go to www.adventuresinitaly.net

Some Flower Pictures-You will do this after my class in Italy!

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Fiori Botanici-My Class in Italy!

I am so excited to be teaching this subject in Italy this May-Watercolor Flowers and Calligraphy! We will have the opportunity to paint on the streets and parks of the tiny unique town of Orvieto-It really looks like the place where Romeo and Juliet would have lived. Flowers are everywhere, cascading down walls and overflowing pots on almost every doorstep-Heres the class description and itinerary

For my second trip I thought, 'What an wonderful opportunity to explore the nature and beauty of plein-air flower painting.'"

Plein-air is a french expression that means “in the open air” and that’s where this workshop will venture - out into the city.
You will begin by learning the basics of Lisa's no fail “Really Easy” watercolor flower techniques in the lovely classroom at our B&B. You will use fresh flowers from the local farmers market to study! Soon you will venture out to the quiet streets and meadows of Orvieto, a classic hilltop town in central Italy. Communal class painting and individual solitary sojourns will spark individual and class critiques.

Midweek Lisa will introduce a simple style of pointed pen lettering you will love - even if you’ve never done calligraphy before. Lisa promises you will succeed at this wonderful art form.

Once you are lettering, you can label your paintings, write flower quotations, and journal your innermost thoughts and feelings.

Lisa is truly excited to share with you this style of painting. You will learn about and paint the semitropical flowers of Orvieto like bougainvillea and wild orchids. You will receive a book of exemplars and samples for further study while you create a floral journal to remember this once-in-a- lifetime trip.

Itinerary
May 15 - Arrive Orvieto, introductions, tour of our B&B, group dinner
May 16 - Morning Studio:
• Introduction to the Idea of flowers
• Basic Watercolor Techniques,
• Leaf basics,
• Beginnings studies in the garden
Afternoon Exploration:
• Introduction to Italian culture, olive oil and wine tasting
in an Etruscan setting
• Walking tour of Orvieto - scouting inspiration
May 17 - Morning Studio:
• Petals and flower structure
• Calyx and leaf groupings
• Plein-air study in nearby meadow
Afternoon Exploration:
• Cooking class - learn to make pasta and other dishes,
and enjoy the fruits of your labors!
May 18 - Morning Studio:
• Lettering introduction
• More flowers
• Plein-air study: individual painting, in-town locations
provided!
• Individual or group critique
Afternoon Exploration:
• Etruscan cave tour
May 19 - Morning Studio:
• Painting in the local market
• Work on floral journal
• Group critique
Picnic lunch with food from the market.
Afternoon Exploration
• Vineyard tour - visit a local vineyard, learn the vintner’s
passion for wine. Sample several wines, including
Orvieto Classico.
May 20 - Morning Studio:
• Fun additions to your compositions including gold!
Afternoon Studio:
• Final details and presentations
May 21 - Depart Orvieto


Oh but time is running out to sign up for this once in a lifetime trip-my next blog I will feature my companion on my first Italy trip-my daughter Krisitn-who will clue you in as to how the companion tour works-so you can bring your lover, partner, friend, significant other too! Go now to www.adventuresinitaly.net or email Kristin or Bill at info@adventuresinitaly.net

Il convento di San Ludovico

THE CONVENT AT SAN LUDOVICO!
Continuing my festival of all things Italy-I'd like to tell you about the wonderful accomodations in Orvieto-where my weeklong class will be held in Italy in May-Giant doors open to a quiet courtyard bordered by trees and gardens. I felt immediately the sense of place that pervades this lovely convent. Its guest rooms are newly refurbished-bathrooms modern and giant windows open to the beautiful views of the Italian village and countryside. It is incredibly quiet and peaceful. I spent many hours watching out my windows at the birds swooping nearby and though it wasnt my choice to stay in my room all the time that I did ( I was pretty sick at that time!) it was a time that I could rest and restore-and I look so forward to this again! The nuns take incredible care of you -and breakfast is held daily in a dining room adorned with ancient frescoes. Everywhere there are beautiful paintings and sculptures, a small chapel and a stations of the cross garden where I spent time painting flowers-and where I think we will spend our plein air study for part of our workshop-just beautiful! The room where our workshop is held is bright and airy and has all we need for our creative work-again surrounded by flowers. The town of Orvieto is another blog that will come soon!

SPECIAL NOTICE! I will be featuring my daughter Kristin as my guest blogger -she was my companion and she will tell you about the Discover Orvieto portion of her trip as my guest!
PLEASE NOTE The deadline to sign up for this Italy trip is fast approaching! Please go to www.adventuresinitaly.net

Il mio ritorno in Italia ( A Five day adventure!)

AHHH! A return for me to the beautiful country of Italy-I've decided to make it a festival of sorts on my Blog and website-if you go to my website www.lisaengelbrecht.com you'll be treated to Italian Love songs in the background! I will be returning to Italy in May and the deadline for you to join me on this excellent adventure is approaching quickly! I don't want to have you left out. I will be teaching a Five Day class called Fiori Botanici, a watercolor flowers and calligraphy adventure. We'll be learning many things in this class-and I will have a 'theme' for each day of my Italy fest here-but today I want to focus on the adventure itself.
I think of the leap of faith made by Elizabeth Gilbert in the wonderful " Eat Pray Love". Not knowing the language, or really anyone in the country she traveled to Italy. After my big year I find its essential to my spirit to maintain this sense of adventure and spontaneity. I would love to share this with you ( and your partner too!) Words can't really describe this country and Orvieto-the town where we will settle is the quintessential small Italian village-flowers and cobblestones and a sense of peace that you rarely find. Have you been thinking of going? I do hope you'll consider this trip-it truly is going to be once in a lifetime! Please go to www.adventuresinitaly.net for even more beautiful pictures and consider leaping with me-it's going to be great!

Ohhhh-Free Books! and you can win too!

This is so cool-I put up a list of very cool books from Chronicle and then they *MIGHT* choose me and one of my readers to win this haul-for the Haulidays-HA HA=Get it?Oh you have to comment below to have a chance at winning!

Heres my listo!

Creative Time: The Book:

Permanence: Tattoo Portraits by Kip Fulbeck

Street Sketchbook: Inside the Journals of International Street and Graffiti Artists

Indie Craft

Stencil 101 Journal

Gig Posters Volume I: Rock Show Art of the 21st Century
Quirk Books

Subway Art: 25th Anniversary Edition

Young Guns 6 and The Undiscovered Letter

Street Sketch Book-Journeys-looks cool
The Exquisite Book- a collab of many artists-this looks very cool-how can you go wrong wiht DaveEggers?
David Choe-He so crazy ( but so so talented!)
Pictorial Websters-all the neato drawings from the dictionary with out the pesky words and all
AIGA Year in Design-the top of toppermost graphic designers compete here
Cult Streetwear-thats what I would like the Letterworks project dudes and dudettes to do

Made & Sold: Toys, T-shirts, Prints, Zines, and Other Stuff

More Things Like This

Art by Tattooists: Beyond Flash

Dan Eldon: The Art of Life

Urgent 2nd Class: Creating Curious Collage, Dubious Documents, and Other Art from Ephemera

The Handy Book of Artistic Printing: A Collection of Letterpress Examples with Specimens of Type, Ornament, Corner Fills, Borders, Twisters, Wrinklers, and other Freaks of Fancy
Princeton Architectural Press

I think these blue lettered ones will link ya right to the books themselves-give it a try ( I just got tired of typing!

Right on Chronicle Books! I love that I got to browse these ultra cool books-what a selection -and Im not just saying that to get chosen-at all!

RETURN TO GLEN IVY

My holiday class at Glen Ivy Hot Springs!

Holiday Lettering from the Heart with Lisa Engelbrecht
Friday, December 10, 1:30pm, in the Tiempo Lounge, at Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa in Corona.

The class session with supplies are all included in Glen Ivy Hot Srings Spa general admission price of $52.*
Enjoy this holiday mini-class with Lisa, along with a relaxing day at the Spa.
For more details,paste this link into your browser

http://www.glenivy.com/2010/11/23/holiday-lettering-from-the-heart-with-lisa-engelbrecht/

Note: This event is hosted by Glen Ivy Spa, and no advance reservations are required.
For more info visit, www.glenivy.com
* there is a15% discount on admission price for 55+ and teachers with ID.