1. art and entertainment
2. visual art and design
3. painting

ORANGE COUNTY SOCIETY FOR CALLIGRAPHY
to remove the color
from the paper. Color
will be added back into
some of the bleached
areas and then line
designs will be added.
NOVEMBER
2014
PROGRAM:
Susan Longerot:
MEETING:
Saturday
November 1, 2014
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Clubhouse at the Fernwood Mobile Home Park
10550 Western Avenue
Stanton
BLEACH ON BLACK
IS NOT BLACK AND
WHITE
We will be working with
symbols or letters to
achieve an all-over design
on Arches black cover
stock. The marks will
be made with bleach
See the following page
for a list of supplies
you will need to bring
with you.
Bring an apron and
don't wear any clothes
that you really care
about. That is when
the bleach will splatter.
Susan will provide:
Arches black cover
stock, bleach and
handouts. There will
be a materials fee of
$3.
(See map on
page 3.)
RSVP TO:
SANDY DOERR at LetterRtist@aol.com
or (714) 821-0784
by Wednesday, October 29.
SUPPLY LIST FOR
BLEACH ON BLACK
IS NOT
BLACK AND WHITE
Five or more brush markers in a variety of medium to soft colors.
You can use any brush markers, such as Tombow or Copic, but
watercolors or watercolor pencils work equally well. If you
choose watercolors, bring a brush.
One fine-point, permanent black pen, such as Faber Castell
or Micron. (Any fine-tip black pen that is permanent will work.)
Paint pens in black and white with a medium bullet tip. Susan
uses POSCA, but Sharpie makes a paint pen that is similar. If
you do not already have these, don't buy them. You can use
any opaque white and black marking tools.
Tools to apply bleach. Susan uses a ruling pen or folded pen
to achieve a wide line (3/8"). You can use a folded pen, Q-tips,
a piece of balsa wood or a fine-tip applicator bottle. Paint brushes
do not survive the bleach - they disappear before your eyes.
If you have a book of Zentangle patterns that you would like to use for inspiration, bring it. Susan
will provide some sample designs in a handout.
A small water container and paper towels.
Plastic to cover your work surface.
An apron to cover yourself. Don't wear any clothes that you really care about.
SUSAN WILL PROVIDE:
Arches black cover stock
Bleach
Handouts
(There will be a materials fee of $3.)
MEETING LOCATION:
Clubhouse at the
FERNWOOD MOBILE HOME PARK
10550 Western Avenue
Stanton
CERRITOS AVENUE
PARKING:
Do not park in RED areas.
Do not park in any RESERVED spot.
There are parking spaces all around
the Clubhouse.
WESTERN AVENUE
IDYLWILD DRIVE
POOL
The Clubhouse
is behind the
swimming pool.
KATELLA AVENUE
NORTH
CHRIS'S
CORNER
Color me happy with reds, oranges, yellows, golds, browns and deep purples.
Autumn has finally arrived, at least on the calendar. The weather hasn't caught up
to the cool, crisp mornings and evenings that Autumn brings, but soon we'll need our
sweaters and warm blankets. Autumn also brings apples, pumpkins, corn stalks,
bales of hay, harvest moons, falling leaves and the fragrance of fireplaces.
With the cooler weather coming, we'll have more time to manipulate flowing ink,
instead of the ink drying as it leaves the nib. We'll also have more time to add additional colors to our watercolor washes before the paint dries as it leaves the brush.
I hope Autumn brings you as much joy as it does to me.
I am looking for someone to fill the vacant Sunshine/Outreach position on our Board.
The responsibilities are: 1. Mail get well cards on behalf of OCSfC to OC members
when they are recovering from a hospital stay or a lengthy sickness and mail sympathy cards to OC members who have lost a family member. (Cards and postage
stamps are provided by OCSfC.) 2. Organize volunteers for two bookmark events a
year: One at the Fountain Valley Library and one at the Huntington Beach Library's
Authors Festival. 3. Attend seven OCSfC board meetings a year, held before each
Saturday program. Rachel Foster, OCSfC's treasurer, has volunteered to help with
sending out cards on behalf of OCSfC until we can find a volunteer for this Board
position. If you would like to volunteer for (or learn more about) this position, please
call or e-mail me. You will have the support of the entire OCSfC Board and I will
help you while you learn this position.
- Chris Ewen
OCSfC President
MESSAGES
A Message from Holly Monroe
"While teaching in CA, I mentioned some of my favorite paper, Twinrocker. I've used it for years
and love the deckled edges, both feathered and traditional deckle. They have various weights
and colors and will even hot press it for you. Watercolor paper is available, too. Their Cream for
Calligraphers paper is a great standard (I've used this in the Book of Remembrance on my website). I also buy my dyes for paste paper from them. I thought perhaps some of your guild members might appreciate the connection. If someone wants to get on their mailing list, contact them
at twinrocker@twinrocker.com."
Greetings from Michael Jacobs
Magic is keeping me very busy. I attend a monthly magic club meeting where each member
performs one effect. And I go to Magic Monday (and have performed at this venue four times)
once a month to watch other magicians. My first paid gig was back in April at a jazz club here in
Seattle and I've got another performance in December at a different venue. I practice and/or read
about magic almost every day - in short, I'm in seventh heaven.
News from Marsha Brady
We are winding down after three exhibitions of our work, the most recent being one at the hospital.
Big reception. Over 150 people. We were part of five shows at the hospital gallery for this year.
Lots of nice exposure. Now gearing up for our Xmas card. All is well here. Expecting Randy
Hasson this coming week before he goes to Colorado Springs for a workshop. Always fun. Hello
to all our friends.
Shirley Holland
Shirley is recovering nicely from her latest surgery and is finally pain free. She is getting around
with a walker, but it will be a while before she can get back to attending calligraphy events. She
sends her best to everyone.
INFORMATION
Greeting Card Contest
Strathmore Artist Papers has announced their Spring 2015 Greeting Card Contest. The deadline
for submissions is Friday, December 5, 2014. Winning artwork may be featured on promotional
materials or on social media sites. They will select three featured artists from these submissions:
1st Place - Awarded $500, plus $200 retail value of Strathmore card products;
2nd Place - Awarded $250, plus $100 retail value of Strathmore card products;
3rd Place - Awarded $100, plus $50 retail value of Strathmore card products.
Artists selected will be credited by name whenever their artwork is featured (on social media sites
or Strathmore promotional materials). Anyone is welcome and encouraged to submit artwork.
Style and mediums used on cards are up to the artist. The theme or subject matter should focus
on spring and summer seasons. Cards must be created on Strathmore card product. There is no
fee to participate. You must enter online by Friday, December 5, 2014 at www.strathmoreartist.
com/spring-2015-greeting-card-contest.html.
SfC Members featured in UPPERCASE Magazine
The fall issue of UPPERCASE magazine is out and has a special focus on calligraphy and
lettering. Joy Deneen and Linda Yoshida are featured. Joy also wrote an article about Jake
Weidmann for this issue. Web address: www.uppercasemagazine.com/issue23/. You can use
code letterlove until October 31 to get $15 off subscriptions.
SfC's Trash & Treasures Sale and Potluck Lunch
Now is the time to clean out your studio and get rid of supplies you no longer need (and make
room for new stuff!) Bring your trash - it could be someone else's treasure. Pre-price items for
sale. All proceeds benefit the SfC - cash and checks only. Bring a potluck dish or finger foods to
share.
Sunday, November 16, 2014, 10 AM to 1 PM
DeAnn Sing's home: 4032 Marcasel Avenue, Los Angeles
Our dear friend and long-time
SfC member, Lefty Fontenrose,
passed away peacefully on
September 28, 2014, at the age
of 93. He will be greatly missed
by all his friends in the calligraphy community.
I have fond memories of Lefty. A few
years ago, I spent a weekend workshop sitting next to him, which was
delightful. I brought him a notebook of
my many inversions/ambigrams and he
seemed pleased by my sharing them.
In June, when I heard he was ailing, I
sent him a get well card, and I hope he
enjoyed my version of his name on the
envelope. Bon voyage, Lefty!
- Karin Gable
IN
R
E
B
M
REME F T Y
LE
In the years I've been
with SfC, Lefty has been
a permanent fixture. He
would go around and talk
to people, leaving us with a
smile and that feel-good glow.
He was a gentle man and a
large talent. His mirror image
writing was beyond compare,
and he did it so effortlessly.
I will miss this extraordinary
man.
- Pat Bennett
G
I remember Lefty coming
to Barbara Close's ABC class years
ago and showing us his Dewdrop and
Chopstick alphabets. He was a terrific
gentleman and a great calligrapher and
teacher. He will be missed by all!
- Jan Benz
One of Lefty's famous inversions.
A special thank you to Margaret
Lammerts of the Edmonton Calligraphic Society for the use of
her notice board backgrounds.
high
When Lefty was teaching
a class of
ch
school, he offered to tea
He talked
misfit boys how to draw.
se students
about how several of tho
him for became back and thanked
ss turned
lieving in them. That cla
around.
several of the boys' lives
us how to
Lefty tried to teach all of
us had the
do inversions, but few of
eing lettering
mental capabilities of se
uld write a
the way he did. Lefty co
way that it
word or name in such a
up and upcould be read right side
th the inside down. I struggled wi
uld often
version process. Lefty wo
ng on my
ask me if I was still worki
I'd
inversion word, to which
n't
do
I
t
respond, "Yes, bu
ng
know if I'll ever get the ha
of it."
A few years back, Lefty took one of Janet
Takahashi's Ocean Pines weekend workshops in Camarillo, CA. There was a big
football game scheduled for Sunday. While
the group of us was in town sketching, Lefty
took off and drove to a bar so that he could
watch the game. We got the biggest kick
out of that. Lefty loved his sports!
Lefty always looked for the best in his
students, friends and those he came in
contact with. If there was any calligraphy
meeting, program or gathering, you'd
always see Lefty there, chatting with
everyone.
Lefty's love of calligraphy will continue on
in all of us who loved and adored his spirit
of "can do."
- Chris Ewen
Oh, my goodness! Lefty
was such an icon in our
Society for Calligraphy for
many years.
Lefty and I shared the same
birthday and I always teased
him and called him my "twin
brother." We exchanged cards
and phone calls. He called
me from the hospital this last
birthday.
y.
Left n,
u
o
y
ge
's to lented, my
e
r
e
.
a
H
tat
R.I.P
Wha s soul!
erou .
d
ohrs
frien
R
l
r
- Ca
He was such a wonderful
guy. I will miss him.
- Barbara Close
Lefty's
mirrorimage
Orange
Ink logo.
Goodbye, friend -Lefty Fontenrose,
90+ years on this
earth. Teacher, artist,
calligrapher, master of the
ambigram, master and
teacher of left-handed
calligraphy and inventor
of the Dewdrop hand.
- C.C. Sadler
specially
a
s
a
w
e
s
his
tenro
Lefty Fon apher who shared
r
l"
ig
gifted call ching. His "Funcia is
h
a
e
te
r
e
y
talent b
habets w s
lp
a
"
p
o
r
d
a
and "Dew hey were playful,
T
ed
.
s
s
is
creation
sorely m
e
b
l
il
w
e
H
munity.
was he.
phic com
a
r
ig
ll
a
c
by the
ai
- Carrie Im
Lefty and I were in Louis Lemoine's class together
at the 2013 IAMPETH Convention in Albuquerque.
It was a real treat to meet him and see his work.
He readily let me photograph him as he explained
his working "inversion"/mirror-image word process
(read: mountains of tracing paper). I only wish I'd
known him longer and better.
Lefty's niece, Marilyn, has
set up a Facebook page
in memory of Lefty at:
www.facebook.com/groups/
leftyfontenrose/#. If you join
the group, you can leave a
message or photo and read
all the other messages.
- J.P. Panter
Our Society for Calligraphy
lost two incredible long-time
members, Pat Topping and
Lefty Fontenrose. It is hard
to imagine the future parties
at Nancy Campbell's without them.
One thing for sure, heaven will have two
of the greatest artists/calligraphers in its
midst. Lefty was such an inspiration to
me, personally, on many levels.
Lefty had this special gift of
seeing things in a very different
way. He always amazed me at how fast he
came up with ambigrams for so many people. I
told him on occasion that that was what was keeping his brain active. So, in honor of Lefty, I have created my tribute to this special guy. It took me a lot
longer than it would have taken Lefty, but I know
he is smiling right now.
- Louis Lemoine
I'm saddened by the death of
Lefty. He was an amazing
calligrapher and a nice man.
- Susan McNally
Here is an upsidedown/mirror-image
inversion Lefty did
for Ann Doskow at
the SfC Retreat
in 1988.
hanged
Lefty and I exc
as cards
many Christm
. This is
over the years
my favorite.
l
- Joan Bechte
Rest in peace, Lefty Fontenrose,
calligrapher extraordinaire. I'll
think of you whenever I cheer on
those Golden Bears!
This is indeed very sad news. I
met Lefty in the early years of SfC.
He was a real gentleman. Not only
was he a very talented calligrapher
and artist, but a very caring, kind
and generous human being. He was
witty and practical, along with being
a wonderful instructor.
I will always remember his twinkling
eyes, friendly smile and his artist's
beret. Lefty will be sadly missed by all
his calligraphy friends. He was a real
icon and a true friend.
- Andrea Factor
- Nancy McCarthy
This is a photo I took
of Lefty when he was
living in a senior facility
in Westminster, CA. I
was interviewing him for
an article published by
OCSfC. He showed me
all around the facility.
Lefty helped out at our
bookmark events and
also made bookmarks
for the seniors at the
Westminster Senior
Center.
- Judith Hicks
Visits from Uncle Lefty
were always a highlight in my
life. As a child, I felt lucky if we got to
My
see him two or even three times a year.
truck and
favorite thing was to follow him out to his
plies. He
"help" carry in his art and calligraphy sup
. I loved to
worked on his art everywhere he stopped
word, a verse
watch him practice or expertly execute a
, and I
or a pun. He always described the process
Ioved it.
gave me when
I still have some of the art supplies Lefty
d to take up
I was growing up. I've always had it in min
classes this
calligraphy and I have been searching for
wed me his
past year. With his passing, my cousin sho
ized Lefty
sketchbooks. Looking through them, I real
ut the same
didn't start calligraphy until he was just abo
age I am!
- Marilyn Fontenrose
Lefty was one of the first calligraphers I got to know in SfC.
I think he drove all over Orange
County and beyond delivering or
picking up bulletin notices, often
with his canine passenger.
He was always so generous
with his time and skills, always
ready to do more than what
was necessary … and
always with good humor!
We won't forget that great
smile and laugh.
- Marilyn Carlson
When
we
used to lived in Squ
aw Vall
s
ey, Lef
visit his top every ye
ty
a
r
b
was su rother in San on his way t
o
ch
Francis
chat ab a wonderfu
l guest co. He
out call
. W
igraphy
in touc
h with
and he e would
w
here. M
ha
ke
y heart t was going o pt me
felt con
n down
dolenc
family.
es to h
is
- Shirle
y Holla
nd
I don't know exactly what year Lefty became
part of the Society, but he was in it all the time that
I can remember. He came to our Solar Nibs meetings, often when Louis Lemoine was on the program,
because they had become great friends. He was a
kind, generous artist - one we will miss but long
remember.
- Linda Renner
On a visit in the early 70s, I
was eight and Uncle Lefty was
teaching me how to do tricks
with his dog, Deke. Lefty had
taught Deke to howl when asked,
"Who's the first pup on the moon?"
And what was the treat?
Not animal crackers, but people
crackers - in the form of policemen,
mailmen, doctors, etc. I'll never stop
missing Lefty's sense of humor, always
with an eye on current culture.
(Photo of Michael and Lefty
by Janet Martorello.)
Lefty roomed with me at one of
the conferences. When I returned
to my room after the first day of
class, I found my name beautifully
calligraphed so it read forward and
backward when viewed in a mirror.
I was quite taken with this intriguing
mini work of art!
It's been years since I met him, but
he is fondly remembered.
- Marilyn Fontenrose
- Michael Jacobs
I have been in
many workshops
with Lefty and I
once won an inversion done by him.
I just have such a
warm place in my
heart for him.
Marsha and I were grieved to hear that we
lost Lefty and Pat on the same day. We go
back a long way with both of them. Good
friends and wonderful colleagues.
Marsha and I met Pat Topping for the first
time at Donald Jackson's first U.S. workshop in Santa Cruz in 1973. She was a calligrapher for Los Angeles County at that time. She
was also one of the dozen or so people that
founded the SfC. Pat was a gracious lady and
excellent calligrapher.
- Sandy Doerr
When I think of Lefty, the word "delighted"
flashes across my mind screen. He
seemed to be delighted in living every
moment of every day. He always had a
smile on his face and a chuckle in his
throat. I first remember him at our
Calligraphy Retreats at La Casa de Maria.
He would come in his camper with his
dog and sporting a
Marsha and I enjoyed a long friendship with Lefty
Fontenrose. Lefty and I had an especially close
friendship, as we were both "lefties." He and I
spent many times together sharing information
and techniques on our left-handed approach to
calligraphy. Lefty even came and took several
classes from me at Cerritos College.
I learned a lot from him.
- Larry Brady
Lefty
g
chin
sket t the
a
alini
i
red beret. He loved disF sc ch
Ran e
covering new things, sharing
erv
Pres 07.
and showing. It especially
in 20
delighted his brain to create his
word inversions - like your first
name reading in one direction
and, turned upside down, you
could read your last name. I
remember how thrilled he was
to go to Fontenarosa, his namesake city in Italy, and traveling
with Elder Hostel to many
places, including Iceland, a
dream fulfilled. He shared his
photos and excitement at a San
Gabriel social. He was a genuinely nice, happy and positive
person … delightful in so many
ways.
- Janet Martorello
Lefty was awarded honorary membership with SfC at
the 2013 Annual Meeting. Barb Close
had beautifully lettered his name on the certificate. Unfortunately, the car carrying it broke down en
route and the certificate never made it to the meeting. It
wasn't until a year later that the SfC Board learned that
Lefty had never received that document. I volunteered to
hand-deliver it to him in Lake Forest. I'm so glad that I
did. I learned that Lefty had moved to assisted living and
was using a portable oxygen tank. Usually, both of his
daughters visited him every day and Christi was there
when I visited in July. Lefty seemed his usual energetic
self and talked animatedly regarding what he had learned
by studying with masters, such as John Stevens, and
about his calligraphic hopes for the future. I knew from
that meeting, where he talked offhandedly about his
health, that it was declining; but he was so energetic that
day that I didn't dream that he would leave us so soon.
- Kristi Darwick
I first met Lefty at the Casa Maria Memorial Weekend retreat. Actually, my table
and where I was sitting was perpendicular to his. I had a direct view of his magnificent "inversion" technique. Since I
was a novice and a newcomer to this
event, Lefty was very kind, encouraging
and helpful. I believe I only met him once
since. He made a strong and lasting
impression on me.
I would have attended his funeral, but I
had a mandatory meeting from 11 a.m. to
3 p.m. that day.
Lefty, may you enjoy the rewards of
everlasting life with your Heavenly Father
in heaven.
Here's a photo from the
2001 retreat. Two of our
legends - Lefty Fontenrose
and Harry Dougherty.
Sorely missed!
- Kitty Moloney, DMJ
- Nancy Campbell
There are certain things
I loved in Uncle Lefty that I
attribute to his generation and others
specifically to him. There was a gentleness in being, a non-complaining way of moving through life,
example-setting without dogma or telling others how
to live, a gentle sense of fun and humor, always dry
and never shy of a pun. He was a doer, a helper,
a teacher, a friend, an encourager and a provider.
All of these things were done with pomp. Lefty was
kind and thoughtful. He was subtle, but he made an
enormous impact on my life. Lefty was introspective,
and in recent years we would talk about our lives,
philosophically, about adversity, about letting go and
finding peace in the moment. And, boy, was he a
talker! I appreciated his deeper thinking and his
willingness to share.
- Marilyn Fontenrose
Lefty wrote an article on
inversions in the Winter
1988 Calligraph and he
provided several examples.
He talked about some
names that came easy and
could be finished in 15 minutes and others that he
worked on for a lot longer,
sometimes as long as a
year. There was a really
nice article about Lefty in
the 1983 issue. If you have
these old Calligraphs, take
a look and enjoy the memories of a kind, generous
artist - one we will miss but
long remember.
- Linda Renner
GE
A
S
S
E
AM
FROM
'S
Y
T
F
E
L
RS
E
T
H
DAUG
Terry, Lefty and Christi
We thank all of you for sharing your memories and for your heartfelt
condolences. We will always miss our dear father, but we will also be
grateful for having had him with us for so long.
Both of us hold special memories of him, as do all of you. It is so gratifying and comforting to know how deeply he touched so many. It is also
deeply moving to know that his work as artist and teacher will live on in
your beautiful efforts to add beauty to our world, just as Lefty dedicated
his life to doing. We will always hold both our sweet dad and all of you in
our hearts.
With love and gratitude,
Christi and Terry