WORKSHOP REVIEW:
La Ronde

WHO: Marie Perrier-Penloup
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, July 16th & 17th 2005
WHERE: The Village Corner Restaurant, 6655 James B. Rivers Drive, Stone Mountain GA


Calligrapher Marie Perrier-Penloup, from Louverne, France, is well known for a French Blackletter cursive variation called "La Ronde", and her extensive two-day workshop on the subject began with a history of this beautiful hand with roots dating from 1557. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the early Gothic look lead to a more rounded "Ronde" style. There are 5 different variations of ronde and we used Marie's examplar to first practice minuscules.

La Ronde is similar to script writing done with a broad edge nib. It is an upright letterform of square proportions with the down stroke at an angle of 30 degrees. The upright thin lines are at about 45 degrees. Minuscule letters are 4 pen widths with d and t extending to 6 pen widths. All other extenders are twice the x-height of letters such as a and o which form the basis of all other letters.

At our stations were vials of lavender, paper with very very fine lines, ink, very small Ronde nibs, other kinds of paper, chamois that she brought with her from France.

We had the unique experience of starting out by first using a few drops of the Lavender oil on our hands to sooth the skin, giving the feeling of relaxation and the added pleasure of the aroma from the Lavender.

Even though we had our own calligraphy tools, we did use items that Marie provided, including ruled lines. This process made work much faster as lines did not have to be drawn. Marie detailed how paper would respond to the ink and also to the nibs that we cleaned with a flame and sharpened a stone.

 
                                            

The first day we worked hard to get familiar with the alphabet and tried to memorize the minuscule letter forms. Marie gave each of us lots of personal help and numerous times would do demonstrations. She worked a lot from the display board creating the letters.

By the end of the first day each of us had a hand written Ronde examplar that she would write which served as a reference for the way to make our letters. This made it easier for the next day when we were trying to gain more control preparing for writing on black paper in color. Marie challenged us to work with the small nib with very thin ink.

The thin lines were actually very thin about the thickness of a thread. Marie insisted that every letter needs thin lines and words should be connected. Though she had example of pieces where letters were all left without connection.

She taught us how to manage the use of gouache and mix colors to enhance our pieces. It was particularly interesting to learn the way of going from color to color. By making the gouache thin on the nib it would go very wet on the paper and then a contrasting color could be added to the puddle and the two colors would meld together.

Several persons in the group came up with really very striking pieces. It was quite rewarding to see the development of learning that took place with the tangible reward of a created piece with an appropriate quote.

In reflecting on this workshop and also Ward Dunham's Blackletter workshop I feel so very blessed to focus on the broad edge nib from very large to very small, from very straight strokes to curved strokes and see the variants between the two hands. More importantly is the development of the skill that happens because one becomes challenged to try something new.

Marie is a charming person, and her fluent English made us most comfortable with the instruction. She very generously provided a wonderful booklet of her own creation that she gave to each student. In it was a wealth of information about La Ronde.

I want to thank members of the guild who have reached out to me following my surgeries for your support and especially let you know that lettering has been a wonderful outlet for healing. When we go to workshops there is excitement in learning new things, being a participant, becoming motivated and inspired. Such a joy!

— Wilma Rhoads