with Connie Furgason

Two perspectives, both very positive! Read the following:

By Elizabeth Kenney

Once again our SDFC experienced a very enjoyable workshop with Connie Furgason from Lethbridge, Canada. This two day workshop, titled "Color, Illustration and Text", was held June 16 and 17, 2007, in Rancho Bernardo.
 
This class focused on simple illustration and watercolor techniques the first day then adding in letterforms to our newly created art on the second day. I am a beginning calligrapher/artist, so I tried to absorb all the useful information given. It was fascinating to see watercolor come to life with such few strokes of the paintbrush. Connie taught us to make very simple brush strokes and then to create something out of them. Before long, we were making flowers, trees, windows, fruit, vegetables and much more. Even the seasoned calligrapher/artist learned something new. Connie emphasized that leaving white space creates an intriguing interest. We practiced free versals and italics that are pulled in very tight and narrow. This created a
“dance” out of the lettering that when put on the page with our simple illustrations made for very delightful pieces of art.
 
Besides the learning of technique for our art, we experienced a wonderful camaraderie and the bringing together of ideas. We took the time to look at everyone's work and discovered new possibilities from all the individual perspectives. After all, art is our very own, and created to be an original!

More photos are coming. Check here again!

By Jeanen Monteleone

The workshop was great. We did pages and pages of watercolor flowers, petals, leaves, fruits, etc., and by the second half of the second day we worked on “Very Free Versals” and tall, narrow Italics. Connie carefully explained how to do her Italic version, and she went around the room working with each of us individually, which helped solidify her instructions on the letterforms. I now understand how to draw the Italics, even though my hands will need more time practicing the techniques in order to make letters that look as lovely as Connie's.
 
Her free versals are exciting, carefree and joyful, and look wonderful with the watercolor sketches. We also worked on monoline caps and cut out scraps and tidbits to put into our journals. She gave us lots of pointers on combining the letters and sketches, such as having the letters touch the drawings so your eye sweeps around the page, use goauche, not ink, over watercolor for lettering, and such. Connie uses only her own words and verses to decorate her drawings. The day was filled with helpful tips and little bits. She gave us a thick pack of worksheets, information and color photos of her gorgeous work.
 
Connie has a brand new website up now: www.conniefurgason.net.  You can get a better understanding of all she had to offer by looking directly at her lovely sketches and lettering. Connie does gorgeous work. I hope I will remember all she showed us. All but two of the workshop participants had already taken her last workshop, so it was a good refresher, and her calligraphy is enchanting. A good time was had by all.