Beyond the Letters

Calligraphic Flourishing with FOC - Fall2025

Published on Oct 25, 2025

Beyond the Letters: Calligraphic Flourishing — written in black, flourished copperplate and italic calligraphy by Katie Leavens

A two-day in-person workshop

Saturday & Sunday, October 25–26, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM–5:00 PM PDT
Location: Letterform Archive
2325 3rd Street, #4R, San Francisco

Cost:
$200 (FOC members)
$240 (non-members)

Sign up now!


Calligraphic flourishing is the art of embellishing writing. It is the accessories that enhance calligraphy’s elegance and expressiveness. In this class, we will explore how to extend letter strokes with flourishes and create balanced designs. We will focus on practicing and planning flourishes with a pencil, while also experimenting with our favorite tools.

Calligraphers are often advised to master a lettering style before attempting flourishing. But flourishing itself improves pen control, increases writing fluidity, and encourages creativity. By studying and practicing flourishing, students will gain confidence in their movements and discover new ways to enhance their calligraphy compositions.


Flourished “Laughter” in pencil on tracing paper—diagrammed with colored pencil, tracing ovals and stroke direction One of the many projects from the class. Learn how the masters of the past flourished.

Flourished oval chain in pencil, pointed pen, and broadedge Learn how your tool affects the outcome of the flourish. This is the same flourish in a pencil, pointed pen, and broadedge.

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