Create an Art Nouveau Style Illuminated Initial

About the Workshop

This workshop transports you back to the ‘Fin de Siècle’ by celebrating the beautiful fluid curves that typify Art Nouveau style… think of the Paris Metro or Moulin Rouge You will be guided through the process of producing an Illustrated and Illuminated Initial, using real gold leaf and quality watercolour paints You will use simple watercolour techniques to illustrate your chosen floral design and learn how to mimic traditional manuscript gilding using modern methods You will be able to choose from 3 design options and spend the morning preparing your design and laying your gilding material. In the afternoon you will gild your initial and then take your time painting a beautiful curvaceous, floral decoration in the style of Alphonse Mucha You then get to admire your artwork and take home a mounted Art Nouveau Style Illuminated Initial, ready to be framed or gifted You will be able to choose one of three different floral options on the day to work on, which vary a little in complexity, but you will get a copy of all three designs to take home to keep practising All materials needed for the workshop will be supplied and you will receive a colour handout with process instructions and supporting images to help you with your colour choices Extra supplies will be available to purchase from your tutor on the day if you wish to practice more at home (please bring a small amount of cash if you think you may want to purchase) Welcome drink will be provided As this is a full day workshop there will be a 1hr lunch break where you are able to purchase food from the cafe or bring your own lunch Tutor Info Vanessa is a Belper based lettering artist who has a particular interest in gilding and illumination, but generally all things inky. She is a member of her local calligraphy group, Mercian Scribes (who meet in Burton) and is also a member of CLAS (Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society) where she has exhibited in their annual Art and The Letter exhibitions. Workshops take place on the 1st floor accessible by steps Refund & cancellation policy To protect the time and effort that goes into preparing for a workshop we have a non refundable and non transferable policy Should anything unforeseen happen and we need to cancel the workshop then a full refund will be given