Julian Waters
Gaithersburg, MD
A51 — Jekyll or Hyde: The Split Personality of the Ruling Pen
One-Day Class, Sunday, July 26
All Levels
Lettering
Since the great German calligrapher/type designer Fritz Poppl started using ruling pens in the 1950s, this magic wand has shown it has at least two personalities: a wonderful tool for 1) careful drawing of letters and graphics, even including Roman capitals and finished work, and for 2) expressive textural writing and mark making. In this one-day introduction to the ruling pen (a general term which includes cola pens and folded pens) we will explore these two sides of its personality and have fun splashing a lot of ink when we speed up.
Supply List
- Whatever ruling pens you have. Julian recommends those made by Tim’s Pens, Oregon
- A selection of paper, from rough to ultra smooth bond surface or clay coated, plus normal layout paper
- Free-flowing non-waterproof ink (test for bleeding on your papers). Color is optional
- Bring plenty of ink and paper
- Rags, paper towels, etc.
Son of calligrapher Sheila Waters and book conservator Peter Waters, Julian Waters studied extensively with legendary calligrapher/type designer Hermann Zapf, who chose Julian to succeed him at the Rochester Institute of Technology in the late 1980s. Julian’s clients include U.S. Postal Service, National Geographic, many agencies, and memorials. His typefaces include Adobe Waters Titling Pro family and ThJefferson for Jefferson’s Monticello. In the 1990s Waters taught typography at Corcoran School of Art, in Washington, DC. In 2001, he was invited to be part of the Zapfest exhibition in San Francisco. Waters has lectured and taught workshops for calligraphers worldwide and has taught several times at Cooper Union, NY, and Wells College Book Arts Institute, NY.