Seniors

Therapeutic Calligraphy – The Art of Beautiful Writing

April 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

For people 50 and older, “any artistic endeavor is therapy,” says Ruth Murphy. “Calligraphy – The Art of Beautiful Writing” is a class instructed by Ruth at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Kennesaw State University.

“Once you master a new art form or hobby, there is a great deal of satisfaction in that.” The College of Continuing and Professional Education strives to offer courses through our OLLI program which will stretch the mind and imagination of all our students. Many students who enroll in Ruth’s calligraphy course start out just wanting to learn to ‘write pretty’ for personal greeting cards, wedding invitations and posters. But, many of them complete the class with the realization that they have created beautiful works of art.

“Calligraphy is rewarding in that you create something beautiful. I think we all yearn for beauty in our lives and if we create the beauty,how much better is that?” asks Ruth. In learning calligraphy, students will strive to express harmony and emotion through the forms of letters. Ruth’s calligraphy course focuses on uppercase and lowercase as well as basic italic lettering using the broad pen.

“Students start off with double pencils and graduate to the wider wedge,” says Ruth. “Each person in the course ends up with his or her own individualized form of italic calligraphy.” Ruth defines calligraphy as more of a creative art form than a typical writing technique. “It is a form of drawing focusing on the proper shapes in combination to make letters. It is different because you do not move your hand, you move your entire arm to create the shapes,” she says. By the end of the first class, Ruth’s students are able to form correct calligraphy lettering and by the end of the second class, they are able to form complete calligraphy words. “Everyone who completes the course can create calligraphy,” says Ruth.

“Ruth’s patience in working with our students stems from her years in the public school system. She truly loves to teach and is ready for the challenges each new group of calligraphers might bring,” says Michelle Girage, Assistant Director of OLLI.

Find your new artistic endeavor and experience beauty through calligraphy!

This course is great for beginners, students, teachers, draftsmen, and production technicians. The course fee of $79 includes all the materials you will need to create something beautiful. Next classes begin EITHER May 7th OR August 13th at noon and run for three consecutive Monday’s. For more information or to request our quarterly Newsletter, please contact Michelle Girage at 770-499-3340.

Filed Under: Seniors, [Featured], [PostToSocial] Tagged With: Kennesaw State, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute