FALL- WINTER 2024-2025 Newsletter
Lonnie Rich
Retired Art Educator and Working Artist
From the Studio
After such a hot sticky summer, I am welcoming this fall and its cooler, drier weather. We had a good summer here with lots of out-of-town visitors coming in to enjoy the beaches.
In July, I had ankle surgery on my right ankle to correct some tendon issues. My surgeon says it will take at least ten to twelve months for me to walk normally again. It has been slow go, as the swelling and pain have been intense. I've been going to physical therapy twice a week now and that is giving me some of my strength back. There are some days when I can hardly walk, especially after a trip to the store.
I've managed to do some work in the studio in-between company and keeping my foot elevated. Mostly I have focused on doing my illuminations and binding them into book form. Calligraphy is something I can do sitting down and not stress my ankle. Doing the embellished pages can be tedious, but when they come together (calligraphy and designs) there is a nice feeling of accomplishment. Using a variety of calligraphic styles has been an interesting challenge, as one can easily fall back on previous habits of forming letters and mix styles when it's not appropriate.
Using a light table really helps, as I'm able to keep lined paper on it and not have to hand measure and draw my lines on my writing paper. That also helps with erasing. Usually, I can simply delineate my borders and start my writing and embellishments.
There have been several exhibits where I've shown my books and framed illuminations. My "Sermon on the Mount" book recently received an honorable mention in a show. Sharing the books in shows can be a little nerve racking, as people constantly turn through the pages. So far none have been torn, nor has anyone spilled drinks on the pages.
The following images are from the Kolbrin Bible that I selected to illuminate.
