Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Making Fine Art Papers-Iowa Workshop Saturday October 28!!

I am so excited to be preparing to offer my Making Fine Art Papers workshop in Iowa for The CATFISH Letter Arts School, a division of The Art Legacy League.  I serve as a Member of The ALL Board of Directors and am also a Core Faculty Member for The CLAS. The other two Core Faculty for CLAS are other Catich Students Amy Nielsen, a well known Quad City artisan and Paul Herrera, Chairman of the Board of Directors for The ALL and who was Father Catich's last apprentice before he died.

Making Fine Art Papers is an introductory workshop that will introduce participants to the fundamentals of making handmade paper, hand marbled paper, and paste papers which are used in hand book binding, card making, and making boxes.

This workshop is part of the new Fall 2017 Workshop Series in Book Arts being offered by The Art Legacy League in our new home at the JB Young Opportunity Center, 1702 North Main Street, Davenport, Iowa. Through December we will be offering one Saturday workshop each month. Other upcoming workshops are Introduction to Calligraphy, instructor Amy Nielsen, and Introduction to Brush Writing, instructor Paul Herrera.

You can see the complete Making Fine Art Papers workshop description and register online through our secure Eventbrite site by clicking  HERE. PLEASE NOTE we do not anticipate the workshop being cancelled for any reason, but if it should happen, everyone registered will receive a full refund.

We can accept only 12 registrations for this workshop, so do not delay. This is a rare opportunity to learn the history and fundamentals of these three areas in a one day workshop! Participants will take home approximately 25 sheets of various papers to use in their own projects as well as a course note handout with instructions and reference information to continue producing their own fine art papers at home.

The photos shown here are from past "Making Fine Art Papers" workshops I have offered in the US and Canada.


Preparing to remove the deckle from the mold, forming the sheet.


Papermakers in the workshop.

George from The ALL Board of Directors making Suminagashi papers.


Making designs in colored paste applied to paper.


Combing the colors for hand marbling pattern.




Hand Marbling paper combs made by Nancy Trottier.


Paul, Chairman of The ALL Board of Directors, making Suminagashi papers.




Pulling a sheet with wire watermark design added to the mould.






Saturday, October 7, 2017

Off to Iowa for a CATFISH Letter Arts School Workshop!!!

I am pleased to announce that as a Core Faculty Member for The CATFISH Letter Arts School, I will be offering a Making Fine Art Papers Workshop on October 28, 2017.

The CATFISH Letter Arts School is the working division of The Art Legacy League. During the past year The ALL has been working to establish office, gallery and shop space, and classroom space as part of the JB Young Opportunity Center in Davenport, Iowa. Our offices and gallery space are not yet ready for occupation, but we have classroom space available and have been using it this Summer.

We have organized three workshops through December. MAKING FINE ART PAPERS, October 28th, INTRODUCTION TO CALLIGRAPHY, November 18th, and INTRODUCTION TO BRUSH WRITING, December 9th.

CLICK HERE  for links to our secure EVENTBRITE registration site which has complete course descriptions and a link to register online.

Registrations for each workshop are limited to 12 participants. We expect these workshops to fill up quickly, so do not delay!!



Sunday, July 23, 2017

So Long Away From My Website...

I have been away from my blog for months. In late March into early April my husband nearly died a couple of times from complications related to a misdiagnosis, an emergency gall bladder removal that turned into an almost 5 hour surgery, and complications afterwards. Thankfully he is recovering well and we are actually able to leave tomorrow for our Summer Holidays at our cottage on the lake.

View, front of the cottage, studio
The first photo is a beautiful photo of the studio with skylight. Last year François connected the studio to the front deck of the cottage with a lovely walkway. This means I can wake and prepare my breakfast and meander to the studio in my jammies and slippers every morning!


There is nothing quite like walking out into the lake mists of early morning (around 5:30-6:00 a.m.) to this wonderful sanctuary of the creative spirit!  Normally by this time of year we have had many weekends at the cottage, doing maintenance, getting ready for our holidays. However this year we have only been over to stay the night twice. We are so looking forward to the final "pack up" tomorrow so we can make our leave taking until September and our return.




Inside the studio

The last two photos show the inside of the studio before I had a chance to work on cleaning it up last weekend. We use it during the winter to store the outdoor stuff-chairs and grill, etc, during the winter to keep them out of the elements. This past week my dear friend Nora traveled over with me to drop of the first load of supplies and equipment for the summer creative holiday. When we leave tomorrow I will have several more tubs of supplies and small tools, as well as my book weights and sewing frame, and a number of books, that will help me keep busy over this lovely summer holiday.




My workbench, waiting!
I am so very blessed to have a fabulous skylight and beautiful big window that look out directly to the lakefront of our property.  We are planning lots of work on our lot this year-clearing brush, removing dead trees, and deciding which ones of the new trees to keep and nurture.

However, in between the masses of outdoor maintenance work we will be called to do, I will be hunkered down in this lovely studio my husband built for me. My creative verve is soaring as I finish cleaning our home, packing up the studio, and loading the truck and our car for the trip over to the cottage.




As I write these words, and I contemplate the last  four months, my heart aches with joy. If  you would have asked me even two months ago if we would be able to spend our holidays at the cottage this year, I would not have answered in the affirmative. So many weeks in and out of hospital, and then home with CCAC home nursing care, masses of IV antibiotics through a central line, and an appetite that did not seem to return, conspired to take my husband's energy and hope from him on more than one occasion. Thankfully, with the help of God, amazing doctors and nurses, the love and support from current and past parishes, the power of prayer has helped to lift us both up in so many amazing ways.  

There were times in the middle of the night when I sat by his hospital bed, trying to remember what time zone around the globe our children were in, (Iowa, Endinburgh, AbuDhabi, Brisbaine) that my heart would sink a bit, and I would allow a tear or two to sneak past my eyelids. I would then close my eyes and allow my soul to be taken up with prayer. 

It was in those quiet, dark moments, when I opened my heart and my soul to prayer that I would be lifted up in light, and I could feel the prayers of all those around the globe who were praying for us loud and clear, tangible, as if they were right in the room with us. I have tried to explain this feeling to others and so far have been inadequate. It was almost as if I could feel the brushing of wings past my heart, so gentle, that it took my breath away. Clearly, this experience was meant for me to know that all will be well, and all will be well, with the grace and peace of healing by God our Mother, all will be well.





Friday, March 17, 2017

Workshops for Making Handmade Papers, Marbled Papers & Paste Papers MERGED!!!

DUE TO THE MANY REQUESTS I received via email and phone, I have combined the Making Handmade Papers workshop and the Making Marbled & Paste Papers workshops. This new workshop will be held on Saturday April 8.

ONLINE REGISTRATION CAN BE COMPLETED BY CLICKING THIS LINK.

COMBINED Making Art Papers Workshop


ON THIS PAGE YOU WILL SEE ALL THE WORKSHOPS LISTED. BE SURE TO SELECT THE TITLE ABOVE. WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF MERGING THE OTHER TWO WORKSHOPS.

If you have any questions, email me nancy@ducksinarowpress.com.

DESCRIPTION
This workshop will introduce the novice to the fundamentals of making hand-made paper, hand marbled paper and hand made paste papers. Participants will learn how to make paper pulp using recycled paper and paper pulp sheets, how to form the sheet using a deckle and mold, and how to make poured paper sculptured sheets with additions. Instruction will also be given in the fundamentals of formal marbled paper patterns, suminagashi marbling, and making Simple Starch Paste for making paste papers. Participants should be prepared to bring an apron and notebook for taking notes. Participants will make approximately 25 sheets of paper to take home along with their course note handout.
This workshop combines the original posting for the Making Handmade Papers workshop on March 26 and the Making Marbled Paper & Paste Papers workshop on April 8.
This workshop is part of a new Book Arts Workshop series hosted by St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Deep River, ON, from March - May 2017. The all day workshops will take place in the Church Hall which is accessible by elevator. Participants are asked to bring a sack lunch to be eaten in the workshop space.
Participants will learn the fundamental techniques in each of the areas offered and will complete at least one finished project per work shop. Instruction will be provided in group and one-on-one. Participants willtake home their completed work and course work-book. Each workshop has a maximum of 20 students and pre-registration is required, so sign-up early.
The Registration Ticket price includes the $50 workshop fee + $20 materials fee + Eventbrite processing fee.
The instructor reserves the right to cancel the workshop if enough registrations are not received.
All current registrations for the original workshops will be honored for this workshop. If you have questions, email the workshop organizer, nancy@ducksinarowpress.com.

Friday, February 24, 2017

New Book Arts Workshop Series!!!

I have just uploaded all the course descriptions and registration information for my new Book Arts Workshop Series. This year I am using Eventbrite for all registrations. You can access all my workshops, with complete ONLINE registration by clicking HERE.

The poster to the right gives the basic information about each of the workshops. I have prepared a formal brochure that is available on this page in PDF form for reading online or downloading to print each page. Just click on the caption below the image for the link to the PDFs.

Complete descriptions for each of the workshops is also included on the Eventbrite Registration site.



CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLE PDF




CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLE PDF













These workshops have been created with the novice in mind, but also for those who would like to update and refresh their skills.

As always, the emphasis will be on creating an atmosphere of collaborative exploration as each participant learns new skills or polishes skills from past workshops.

As always, we ask that everyone bring their own sack lunch to share in the studios. Morning and afternoon Tea Breaks will be provided, complete with home-made goodies!

The Church Hall, which is accessible by elevator, will become our studio for the day.

If you have questions, please email me at nancy@ducksinarowpress.com.


Friday, February 10, 2017

Studio Update

Finally back in the studio and online after several months away.

Herrera Slate Inscription Carving Workshop Students
In early December Paul Herrera, from The Art Legacy League, came to Ottawa to offer a Slate Inscription Carving Workshop at Spike Minogue's Studio in Franktown. For two days these folks from the Calligraphy Society of Ottawa met to learn the basics of cutting letters in slate from Paul, who was Father Catich's apprentice at the time of his death in 1979.

They came prepared with their own work to share and simple designs they wished to use to learn the craft. By the end of the second day everyone was well on their way to completing their first slate inscription carving. The group plans to meet again in the Spring to compare notes on the progress they have made.









Working on practice brush stroke cutting
I served as workshop coordinator, but also kept my hand in with working on a couple of slates as well as helping people get the hang of things. It really was a wonderful experience!

I have a new head gear magnifying set, with little lights, which really helps me see better for cutting. Since the workshop I have tried to keep cutting a little each day.

The group atmosphere was quite something. There seems to be an energy that develops in a studio filled with novice carvers. As they each cleared a hurdle, or realized they needed to do something differently, there would be a loud exclamation and they would invite us all to check their progress!  I miss that group interaction in the studio now that I am back in Deep River, working on book arts, printing, and calligraphy projects on my own. I am thinking of hosting an open studio workshop day here in the Spring. Stay tuned!





Nancy, Sheila and Paul examining MSS page.
Immediately following the workshop, I was fortunate to travel to Fairfiled, PA to interview Sheila Waters, a very well known Calligrapher and one of the founders of the Washington Calligraphers Guild, for an upcoming article in Letter Arts Review about her Studio Archive.

My dear friend Paul Herrera, joined me on this visit and helped to interview Sheila. We are currently sorting through the hundreds of photographs and hours of audio and video tape in preparation for completing the article.  We hope to have it into the editor, Christopher Calderhead, in March. I will post when we know in which issue the article will be printed.

We were both very honoured to be given such rare access to the incredible archive and library that Sheila has in her studio. Her archive includes layouts and original work for historical maps created for publishers, certificates, book layouts, broadsides and more.

Sheila also has in her archive an original Catich Rubbing of The Trajan Inscription in Rome and a complete collection of her late husband, Peter Waters, bindings. Peter was the Conservator for The Library of Congress, and created the recovery system for National Library of Florence books after the Florence flood in the 1966. Sheila has written a wonderful book about that experience, Waters Rising: Letters from Florence, which can be found HERE.



Hardouyn 1507 Book of Hours, Kislak Center
When we completed the interview, Paul went on to New York to teach two slate inscription carving workshops for the Society of Scribes and I went to Washington, D.C. to conduct research for the second time this year at The Library of Congress Rare Book Room.

I am currently completing codicological research on their 1505 Hardouyn Book of Hours and a 1507 book of hours from the collection of the Kislak Center for Rare Book and Manuscripts at The University of Pennsylvania, shown here. Both organizations have graciously invited me back to give a talk on the results of my research conclusions. I will present a preliminary draft of this talk to the CBBAG-OV march meeting.

Here is a bit of the blurb about the talk, which is open to the public:
The Archaeology of the Book: Codicology in Early Printed Parisian Books of Hours by The Hardouyn  
CBBAG-OV meeting
March 8, 6:30 p.m., Sandy Hills Community Centre, Ottawa, ON
Nancy Mortensen Trottier, B.A., R.N.G., M.A. Art History, University of Iowa, CBBAG member, will present a brief lecture introducing the practice of codicology (from Latin cōdex, genitive cōdicis, "notebook, book"; and Greek -λογία, -logia).  Codicology is a methodology utilized in the study of books as physical objects.  It originally developed as a discipline that helped define how the historian would examine manuscripts written on parchment (or paper) in codex form. Codicology as applied to the study of early manuscripts and also early printed books bridges the area of paleography, (the study of hand written scripts), with the study of narrative and ornamental images contained within the structure of the book. The study of written features such as marginaliaglosses, ownership inscriptions, etc. falls in both camps, as does the study of the physical aspects of decoration, which otherwise belongs to art history.

Trottier's work in codicology looks specifically at the transition from script to print in early printed books of hours produced in the first quarter of the sixteenth century in Paris by Guillaum Anabat for the Hardouyn Publishing House. Her lecture will include a discussion of her methodology in examining early printed books as objects, how the information gleaned from such study can shed light on concepts dealing with book ownership by women in the sixteenth century, and how the analysis of the book as object can inform us about workshop practice in sixteenth century Parisian press rooms.




Recipe Cards in process
In the past few weeks I have also returned to working on the press and making paste papers for book arts projects. The CBBAG-OV chapter is working on a "Swap" project this year that involves Recipe cards. We have 19 people participating. Each of us makes a set of cards with recipes. We each end up with 19 different sets of cards that we then bind in some creative fashion and then share with the group.

I have completed 4 "Book Arts Recipe" cards for the project. One was recipe was printed with letterpress, one was printed with inkjet as a title/colophon page, and two more recipes were printed with inkjet. Each of the recipe cards has a sample of the material produced with the recipe included. It was really fun to dig into my files for recipes related to my book arts studio practice.

When I have completed the book from the "Swap 2017" I will post a photo!





Paste Papers hanging to dry
I also took time to make paste papers for several days last week, which was great fun. One of the recipe cards I printed on the Vandercook was for a Super Simple Starch Paste that I have been using for years. I needed to put a sample of paste paper on the card, so I made past papers for four days and had a wonderful time!

Making the paste papers using 100% Rag Certificate paper as the substrate was really interesting.  I found that the polished surface of the paper allowed me much more freedom in creating patterns that allowed the paper itself to show through, making lovely areas of white amidst the coloured portions.

It has really been a great joy to be back in the studio again and also to be able to attend CBBAG and Calligraphy Society of Ottawa meetings this past week. Being able to meet with colleagues and share their studio progress has been wonderful for me.



Irma Trottier
The winter has been a difficult one for us. Our youngest daughter and her husband moved half way around the world to take up a new post in the UAE with a new studio art program there. My mother-in-law died on December 27th after an extended stay in hospital and we are grappling with the responsibilities that estate work brings to the ones who are left. She told me often that last month that she was 91, had lived a very wonderful life, and was ready for what came next. We miss her every day, but are so happy that she is no longer suffering.

As we wrap ourselves in the warmth of the woodstove fire and select a movie for watching on these cold winter evenings, I am reminded of winters in Iowa. My father would light the living room fire each day before he left for work and my sister and I would add wood during the day to keep the warm fire burning. My mother would have hot chocolate on the stove for us when we came in from playing in the snow and if we behaved, there were always samores from the fireplace as the sun went down.

We are moving into the middle of winter now and the days, although very, very cold and full of snow, are getting longer. The sun we have enjoyed for the past three days here in Deep River has been a gift for the soul. My creative verve is beginning to stir again gently, and I know with all my heart, that as the winter wanes, all will be well and all will be well, with the grace and the light of God in my life, all will be well.




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