Gemma Black
I consider myself a calligraphic designer, artist & teacher of modern, decorative and traditional works of quality. I enjoy a variety of art techniques that involve mostly calligraphy, simple book structures, decorative paper techniques, abstract watercolour painting and grounds for calligraphy. I like to teach, as I like to be taught. My approach to teaching is through constructive criticism, an atmosphere of enjoyment and a proactive & positive attitude.
In 1991 I received a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study in Europe. It allowed me to research, observe and learn the practice of calligraphy. I am also an Honoured Fellow and Fellow of the prestigious Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society, UK. My work is housed in private and public collections including the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK, the European Parliament, Berlin Calligraphy Collection and Parliament House Canberra. I also feature in a flim called “the Mark Maker” produced by Women of the Island, a series of short videos on Tasmania women:
https://www.womenoftheisland.com/#/the-mark-maker-1/
I have always believed that you can pick up a little something from every tutor but some special people have made a deep and meaningful impact on my lettering career as support, stimulation and inspiration. If I had to choose just a couple they would be Gaynor Goffe as I studied with Gaynor for two years on the Roehampton course where we became close both calligraphically and friendship wise. Ethna Gallacher, as I spent a year studying first hand with her on a course called “Calligraphy in the Making” here in Australia that I later based my yearlong course “The Way of the Pen” on. Thomas Ingmire, for all those exceptionally hard versals and Trajan capitals on his yearlong Graphos course and finally and more latterly, Ewan Clayton for giving me so much more of an understanding of the spirit of the letter and an even deeper understanding of my own spirit and self within the letters.
Having studied printmaking, bookbinding and watercolour disciplines as a young adult I use these allied arts to feed into my primary love of calligraphy. Other than those, I read voraciously. Books, newspapers and journals become my company. Or, I work whilst listening to audio books. When I am not working with words I listen to them. A couple of calligraphers I know do the same and we enjoy swapping the best audio books we’ve listened to.
In 1991 I received a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study in Europe. It allowed me to research, observe and learn the practice of calligraphy. I am also an Honoured Fellow and Fellow of the prestigious Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society, UK. My work is housed in private and public collections including the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK, the European Parliament, Berlin Calligraphy Collection and Parliament House Canberra. I also feature in a flim called “the Mark Maker” produced by Women of the Island, a series of short videos on Tasmania women:
https://www.womenoftheisland.com/#/the-mark-maker-1/
I have always believed that you can pick up a little something from every tutor but some special people have made a deep and meaningful impact on my lettering career as support, stimulation and inspiration. If I had to choose just a couple they would be Gaynor Goffe as I studied with Gaynor for two years on the Roehampton course where we became close both calligraphically and friendship wise. Ethna Gallacher, as I spent a year studying first hand with her on a course called “Calligraphy in the Making” here in Australia that I later based my yearlong course “The Way of the Pen” on. Thomas Ingmire, for all those exceptionally hard versals and Trajan capitals on his yearlong Graphos course and finally and more latterly, Ewan Clayton for giving me so much more of an understanding of the spirit of the letter and an even deeper understanding of my own spirit and self within the letters.
Having studied printmaking, bookbinding and watercolour disciplines as a young adult I use these allied arts to feed into my primary love of calligraphy. Other than those, I read voraciously. Books, newspapers and journals become my company. Or, I work whilst listening to audio books. When I am not working with words I listen to them. A couple of calligraphers I know do the same and we enjoy swapping the best audio books we’ve listened to.