Author Archives: raoulpat

About raoulpat

I got started as a calligrapher in 2009, and haven't put my pen down since. Some of the services that I provide are wedding calligraphy, quinceañera calligraphy, envelope addressing, place cards and transforming inspirational citations into framable artwork.

Raphael

Extrait du Paradis Perdu, John Milton, traduction de François-René de Chateaubriand, 1861.Pour le fils de ma nièce. Publié dans le Speedball Textbook, 25ème Edition.

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Il Canzoniere, Poem 4

The Renaissance poet Petrarch, one of the earliest humanists, wrote Il Canzoniere (The Songbook) in the vernacular Italian. Many of the poems in this collection were dedicated to Laura, whom he allegedly met on 6 April 1327. This excerpt from … Continue reading

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Jacques Chesnais Quote

Jacques Chesnais (1907 – 1971) was a French engraver, painter, illustrator and marionnettiste. His troupe, Les Comédiens de Bois de Jacques Chesnais, performed throughout Europe. A friend of mine who is a puppet enthusiast commissioned this piece. Citation attributed to … Continue reading

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I Remember Sky

This song by Stephen Sondheim has always moved me. But given the recent wildfires that have obscured the sky of Northern California, the lyrics are particularly appropriate.

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Te Quiero Verde

Verde que te quiero verde. Verde viento. Verdes ramas. El barco sobre la mar y el caballo en la montaña. Con la sombra en la cintura ella sueña en su baranda, verde carne, pelo verde, con ojos de fría plata. … Continue reading

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Sonnet XVIII

Preparing for my copperplate demo at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center on Thursday, November 8th, 2018. The text is from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, published 1609. I also have a piece on display at the exhibit, which will be open until … Continue reading

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El Amor Duerme en el Pecho del Poeta

In 1984, ABC brought to light the love sonnets of Federico García Lorca, making quite a stir. The sonnet The Beloved Sleeps on the Poet’s Breast, the next to the last in the series Sonnets of Dark Love, is the … Continue reading

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De Rerum Natura

In his only surviving work De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things), the philosopher and poet Lucretius expounds on his theory that all matter is composed of tiny particles, making him the world’s second atomic physicist (Democritus, in fact, … Continue reading

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Jean-Théophane Venard’s Last Letter to his Father

A missionary working for the French Foreign Missions in West Tonkin (northern Vietnam) Jean-Théophane Vénard was arrested and executed in 1861 for proselytism. During his captivity, he wrote inspiring letters to his family and superiors, demonstrating his outstanding faith. He … Continue reading

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The Call of the Wild

This quote from Jack London’s Call of the Wild always gives me goosebumps. My calligraphy is on exhibit at the Saratoga Library through January 31st. I will be giving a calligraphy demo there, with other Pacific Scribes calligraphers, on January … Continue reading

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