*This list will be regularly updated as we add more workshops, seminars & special events.

Friday, February 28, 2020

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM    Italics with Nik Pang

Italic script is still considered by many calligraphers & typographers to be a “perfect script” thanks in part to its flowing lines and readability. Join Nik Pang to learn the history, forms, and execution of creating classic (and perhaps a few contemporary) Italic hands.

$60 fee includes all materials and handouts. Beginners are welcome. Ages 13 and up.
Recommended: pencil and ruler. Show admission must be purchased separately.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM   Our Pens, Our Stories with Michael Kahwajy-Hyland

Join Turning Point Pen Company’s Michael Kahwajy-Hyland for a facilitated discussion on the stories behind the pens we choose. What makes them significant or special? What meaning do we bring to the tools we use? Bring yourself, your favorite pen and perhaps a story to share with others.

Free with paid show admission.

 

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM    The Erasable Podcast Live Show

Join Andy, Johnny and Tim from The Erasable Podcast for their first-ever live show! Fans of pencils and all things graphite won’t want to miss this special event.

This episode will be recorded live for later broadcast.

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Saturday, February 29, 2020

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM    Zentangles with Jessica Davies

The Zentangle Method® is an easy-to-learn, fun and relaxing way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Almost anyone can use it to create stunning, non-representational art. It increases focus and creativity and provides artistic satisfaction, along with an increased sense of personal well-being. This workshop provides beginners with a background in the history of Zentangle, introduces them to the basic steps of the method and exposes them to associated vocabulary and tools. Students will be immersed in creating actual Zentangle art during this 2-hour class. Jessica will also demonstrate how to use your beautiful inks and fountain pens to create stunning images.

Jessica Davies is a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) who teaches at The Queen’s Ink in Savage, Maryland.

$40 fee. All supplies, including a Zentangle starter kit, are included. Show admission must be purchased separately.

 

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM    Buying and Selling on eBay with Gary Garner

If you’re a regular eBay user for buying and selling writing tools, you know it can be a valuable resource – but it can also be challenging to evaluate sellers AND potential customers. Gary Garner provides tips & tricks on making the most of your eBay experience. Free with paid show admission.

 

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM    Fountain Pen 101 with Baltimore Fountain Pen Club

Everything you ever wanted to know about starting out with fountain pens but were afraid to ask…join the Baltimore Fountain Pen Club to learn the basics of fountain pens, including use, styles, filling options, finding resources for information, and more. Pens, paper and ink provided by Pen Boutique.

Free with paid show admission.

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM    Swirls & Twirls with Gourmet Pens

Come learn some fun and simple swirls and twirls with Azizah of Gourmet Pens!

In this workshop, Azizah will teach you some basic flourishes that you can use in your snail mail, in your inky journals, and everywhere for added flair.

Supplies: Please bring your own inked fountain pen(s), pencils, or any other analog writing instrument instrument you feel comfortable with, and a fountain pen friendly notebook/notepad.

$40 workshop fee. Does not include show admission.

 

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM    Origami with Hong Nguyen

Learn the Japanese art of paper folding in this hands-on workshop with Hong Nguyen.  $10 materials fee. Suitable for ages 10 and up.

Show admission must be purchased separately.

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM  Cityscape Drawing Tips & Tricks with Urban Sketchers Baltimore

Drawing city life that captures everything from people to buildings doesn’t have to be difficult! The Urban Sketchers Baltimore team offers a demonstration on how to establish scale using common building components; the importance of including entourage (people, vehicles, signage, etc.); and how to avoid overthinking while sketching. They’ll show how different hatching techniques can build tone and dimension to sketches. Through example and practice, participants will be using hatching, cross-hatching, scribble-hatching and more to add more layers to their sketches. Bring a sketchpad and favorite tools for sketching.

Free with paid show admission.

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM    Everyday Writers: Choosing the Best Tools for Home & Office with The Gentleman Stationer

Have a hard time deciding what should be part of your everyday carry from home to work? Joe from The Gentleman Stationer is here to help you figure out how to choose the best pens, paper and ink for your professional life. Free with paid show admission.

 

4:oo PM – 5:00 PM    Meet the Makers: Paper Goods Edition

What does it take to be a successful maker of stationery products in a digitally driven world? Three notebook makers and a letterpress card maker sit down to talk about their experiences, lessons learned, and what they love about working with paper. Moderated by Ana Reinert of The Well-Appointed Desk.

Panelists: Alisa Brock, DramaMama Bookshop; Vito Grippi, Story Supply Co.; Kari Miller, Tiny Dog Press; Chris Rothe, Write Notepads & Co.

Free event with paid show admission.

 

 

9:00 PM – 10:30 PM     Pen Shows After Dark with Fountain Pen Day

Join Cary Yeager of Fountain Pen Day for this popular after-hours party full of fellow pen & paper lovers! Giveaways and other fun activities are all part of the fun.

Limited seating. Free with paid show admission.

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Sunday, March 1, 2020

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM     Copperplate Calligraphy with Nik Pang

Copperplate calligraphy, also known as roundhand, engrosser’s, and engraver’s script, is considered by most to be the mother of all pointed pen hands. Renowned calligrapher Nikola Pang will discuss the history of this calligraphic style and show you how to use dip pens in order to form the basic strokes of its construction.

$60 materials fee includes nibs, holders, papers and handouts. Beginners are welcome. Ages 13 and up.
Recommended: pencil and ruler. Show admission must be purchased separately.

 

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM     Cursive Writing with Hong Nguyen

Practice your cursive handwriting and learn new techniques. Hong is a certified instructor in American Cursive and has been teaching cursive courses for many years to writers of all ages. She has received awards for her penmanship and is dedicated to spreading the joy of cursive writing.

Suitable for ages 10 and up. $40 fee. Show admission must be purchased separately.

 

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM    Cataloging Your Collection with Rachel Crawford

Do you struggle with managing your pen and ink collections, whether using analog or digital tools? After multiple requests from pen friends, Rachel Crawford will be sharing her ultra-portable methods of cataloging inks, as well as her method of cataloging pens. Learn how she sets up her ink notebooks, plus how she set up and maintains an easy-to-use database that can be accessed anywhere.

Prerequisite: Set up free account with Airtable and download app to mobile device.

Free with paid show admission.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM    Pelikan: The Early Years with Tom Baley

Founded in 1838 as a manufacturer of paints, inks, and dyes, Pelikan went through a series of product line changes until it presented the world with the first piston filler fountain pen in 1929. The basic concept has remained the same for over 90 years with few changes. Learn more about Pelikan’s pre-World War II history and examine the actual pens from this era from instructor Tom Baley’s personal collection. Free with paid show admission.

 

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM    Pens for Kids with Pen Collectors of America (PCA)

This Pen Collectors of America presentation is a fun, educational workshop for kids to learn about the history of pens & find joy in writing by hand. Free with paid adult show admission.