Hands-On Fountain Pens In-Store Class Apr 4

Hands-On Fountain Pens In-Store Class
Saturday, April 4, 2-4pm
Instructor: Janet Salmons
Limit: 7 students. All participants must be 15 years or older.

Class Details

Want to get someone’s attention? Send a hand-written letter! Think how happy your friend will be to find something personal in the usual pile of bills and sales fliers. If you use a fountain pen to write the letter, you’ll also be treating yourself. That’s because a fountain pen provides a timeless and unique writing experience. In this hands-on workshop, author and artist Janet Salmons invites you to get a feel for using a fountain pen.

Janet collects fountain pens, has been using them forever, and has written with and tested all types. To start the class, she covers the basics of how to select, care for, and use one for both writing and drawing. She then demonstrates how the choices in pens, nibs, inks, and paper all affect what’s written.

For a truly hands-on experience, you receive a new Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen that is yours to keep. Janet steps you through how to set up this starter pen in class, and shows a few different styles of writing for you to play with as you test the pen. As a bonus, she provides her handout on how to care for and troubleshoot fountain pens – thorough and helpful! 

Writing by hand is a pleasure in and of itself, but there's more to it than that. A keyboard is fine for quick notes or for left brain, work-a-day writing. However, studies show that writing with a fountain pen helps release right brain activity – just what’s needed when recording thoughts, reflections, or insights. It’s also a drawing tool that works with watercolors and other media. 

Come join Janet to learn what an enriching experience putting nib to paper can be!

An email will be sent to participants the Monday before the class. Classes with homework may receive pre-class info earlier.  No email? Double check the email address you entered when you registered and your SPAM folder. Due to SPAM filters and inbox settings, we cannot guarantee you will see, read, or open these emails. Two Hands Paperie assumes no responsibility for non-attendance of a class. Contact twohandsclasses@gmail.com with any class questions and see our Class Policies page for more information. 

Class Materials

Please feel free to bring the following optional materials:

• Optional: a notebook for taking notes

Class Materials Include:

• Handouts with fountain pen info - selecting, care of, and troubleshooting fountain pens. Starter guide to writing/drawing and resource guide.
• Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen, nib, ink cartridge, and converter
• Small bottle of fountain pen ink
• Paper sampler packet
• Practice paper (fountain pen friendly!)
• A small jar or cup of water to practice filling and cleaning the fountain pen
• Paper towels/wipes

Class Refund/Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the first class meeting will be refunded or, at the participant's option, used to pay for another class. Two Hands Paperie will retain a $10 processing fee for EACH class cancelled by a participant. After 14 days, there is no refund or credit. In addition, the fee for a class cancelled within this 14-day timeframe by a participant cannot be transferred to pay for another class. These policies are to ensure that teachers are compensated for their investment in materials and in time spent preparing for the class. We reserve the right to cancel a class if fewer than 3 students enroll 48 hours prior to the scheduled class time. If for any reason Two Hands Paperie cancels a class, students will be called at the phone number on file and refunded the FULL class fee.

Instructor Bio

Janet Salmons blends imagination with curiosity in an eclectic life-work mix. One minute she’s writing an academic book or blog post; the next she’s painting, art journaling, beading, or sewing. She believes that imagination, design, and expression are inspirational and therapeutic for newbies as well as experienced artists. Throughout her academic career she was an advocate for the use of visual and creative methods, and has presented and written extensively on the value of handwriting, drawing, images, and media in research and scholarly communications.

Janet has extensive professional and volunteer experience in the arts. She spent a decade directing a cultural education and outreach program at the Cornell University Center for Performing Arts, and also worked with the National Endowment for the Arts as a site reporter across the US. She served on the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company board, the Boulder Arts Commission, including a year as chair. She’s excited to mesh her teaching expertise with her passion for engaging people creatively by teaching at Two Hands Paperie. See what Janet is up to on her website: salmons.blog