Massimo Polello
Torino, Italy
A41 — Gone with the Flat Brush
One-Day Class, Sunday, July 26
Intermediate, Intermediate/Advanced, Advanced
Lettering, Painting
Enter into the fantastic world of my favorite tool, the flat brush, and learn why it is a great tool to express yourself. Through practical exercises and compositions we will examine the quality of rhythmical lines and learn to use this tool with several historical calligraphic styles. The flat brush offers you much flexibility and expressive possibilities. To learn to use the flat brush means having the ability to write on any surface: walls, textile, wood, glass, etc.
Supply List
- Basic calligraphy supplies plus:
- Winsor & Newton series 995 flat brush size ¾″
- 2 – 3 very flat brushes, sizes1 ½″ – 2″
- A flat palette at least 4″ x 4″; can be a small ceramic square tile with straight edges or a plastic palette
- Plastic palettes for mixing gouache
- Good quality gouache in black, white and colors of your choice (suggested Talens or Winsor & Newton)
- 10 sheets Rives BFK printmaking papers 19” x 26”, cream or white
- 3 sheets black paper, approximately 19″ x 25″ (not heavy weight)
- A pad of smooth sketching paper, (lighter weight papers) 14″ x 17″ or preferably 11″ x 17″ layout bond paper
Supply fee: $5 for brown kraft paper
Based in Turin, Italy, Massimo Polello has worked as a calligraphic artist for over a decade. Since studying calligraphy at the Toulouse Scriptorium with numerous calligraphers and internationally recognized master penmen, he has explored its classical and contemporary applications. These include designing packaging and signage logos for companies, museums, and individuals, as well as applying his designs to walls. He has exhibited and led workshops internationally in the US, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Pakistan, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, and England. Massimo worked on several short films, and is a contributor to Graphicus, TipoItalia and Letters Arts Review magazines. He published Traité de la peinture-Extraits with Editions Alternatives Publisher, Paris and worked with artist and film-maker Peter Greenaway in Peopling the Palace and with the director Luca Ronconi on the installation of the of 150th anniversary exhibition of the Unification of Italy, La Bella Italia (youtu.be/o97eJUAc6Gg).
Massimo is the president of the Turin calligraphers’ guild Dal Segno alla Scrittura and owner of Studio Gallery ABC Atelier and has collaborated with the Medicea Laurenziana Library in Florence. He sums up his approach to calligraphy: “…letters become a means to exist outside myself…going beyond the letters, captured by a sole need to see. They become signs, images, evocations, urgent needs, emotions.”