Calligraphy by Raoul

Homage to Liu Xiaobo

Posted on July 16, 2017 by raoulpat

In memory of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, who died in prison on 13 July 2017. This citation is from the Charter 8 manifesto, which he and other Chinese intellectuals and human rights activists authored in 2008.

Posted in Blackletter, Calligraphy, Quotes | Tagged Calligraphie, calligraphy, Calligraphy by Raoul, citations, free speech, human rights, Liu Xiaobo, Nobel Peace Prize, Quotes, Xiaobo | 1 Comment

I’m With You

Posted on June 19, 2017 by raoulpat

Alan Ginsberg dedicated the third section of Howl to Carl Solomon, whom he met at a psychiatric hospital in 1949. Ginsberg sympathized with Solomon, who, like Ginsberg’s mother, struggled with mental illness and received shock treatment. He describes the events that occurred in Solomon’s life, including the horrors he endured in the psychiatric institution (Rockland.)

This piece was accepted into the Painted Words exhibit at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. It will be there through July 23rd.

Posted in Blackletter, Calligraphy | Tagged Acrylic paint, Allen Ginsberg, Blackletter, Calligraphie, calligraphy, Calligraphy by Raoul, Carl Solomon, Gothic, Gothique, Howl, Mental Illness, Painted Words, Sebastopol Center for the Art, Sumi ink | 4 Comments

We Stand Together

Posted on May 28, 2017 by raoulpat

In remembrance of the victims of the bombings at Manchester Arena on May 22nd, 2017, and in support of their families and friends.

Posted in Blackletter, Calligraphy | Tagged Calligraphie, calligraphy, Calligraphy by Raoul, manchesterarena, manchesterattack, manchesterunited, prayformanchester, standtogether, standwithmanchester, Sumi ink, Westandtogether | 3 Comments

O Sleep

Posted on May 16, 2017 by raoulpat

I have always sympathized with King Henry IV who desperately laments his inability to go to sleep.

Continue reading →

Posted in Blackletter, Calligraphy, Quotes | Tagged Calligraphie, calligraphy, Calligraphy by Raoul, Ink stick, Pergamenata, Shakespeare, Sleep, Sumi ink | 7 Comments

Happy Birthday William Caslon

Posted on April 22, 2017 by raoulpat

William Caslon put England on the typographic map in 1734 when “Caslon” came out, providing stiff competition for Dutch typefaces. It became the most popular typeface of the 18th century, in particular in the colonies, where it was used to print the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. George Bernard Shaw admired the typeface so much that he insisted that all his work be set in Caslon. When not designing type, William brewed beer for his monthly soirées.

Posted in Calligraphy, Copperplate, Pointed Pen, Typography | Tagged Calligraphie, calligraphy, Copperplate, William Caslon | Leave a comment

Italian Hand

Posted on April 14, 2017 by raoulpat

Last weekend, I attended the Poetic Pen calligraphy workshop, taught by Heather Held, where we learned Italian Hand, the ancestor of English Roundhand. It’s quirky, but Heather’s enthusiasm is infectious, and I soon fell in love with its blobs and flamboyant curlicues. This is my exemplar.