Courses and workshops
Lasagna
Next PRINCE ALBERT OPEN STUDIOS
18-21 June 2020
Demo and walks start at 10:00 and 14:00 daily
Please allow at least 2.5 hours +should you wish to see and experience something of all the farm has to offer
There will be a pop up coffee shop with lovely coffee, teas and eats (Visitors are however, welcome to leave at
any time)
We start with a demo and talk, a walk about in the studio and small gallery and thereafter visitors are welcome
to do any of the walks on the farm They have a choice between the hand carved stone route, the land art installations,
the Word labyrinth, a visit to the Letterhuis* or doing the prayer walk
(*Since Die Letterhuis is a guest house, viewing will depend on availability)
Aswater farm and die Letterhuis also offer accommodation for visitors to the Prince Albert Open Studios
COURSES
Unless another venue is mentioned the workshops take place at Die Letterhuis’ Studio, Aswater farm, Prince Albert
To book for any of the courses below, kindly e-mail heleen@letterhuis.co.za or sms 0833255757
I will then forward you the banking details A 50% deposit serves as registration
FEBRUARY
INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL RURAL WORKSHOP in Prince Albert, South Africa
29 Feb-3 March 2020
with MASSIMO POLELLO
EU 800
On the beautiful farm 'Aswater' in the Karoo lies a calligraphic treasure called ' Die Letterhuis'
- a studio with original calligraphy by various international calligraphers, a unique Word labyrinth,
hand carved letters in stone and land art installations
It is a unpretentious place of Peace and Beauty. We invite you to attend much loved and admired
Massimo Polello's 'Indigo' workshop from DV 29 February to 3 March 2020 and share in the experience
of a farm stay and superb teaching in a small town barn workshop.
Instagram: heleen_de_haas
About the course
Massimo describes the course as follows:
“Acrylics, inks, powder pigments, gesso and several dyeing techniques for
background on paper will be used to get a spiritual atmosphere to integrate
perfectly our calligraphy. In combination with the blue backgrounds we will
explore the expressivity of the calligraphic line in contrast with “distortions”
of the Roman letters.”
“INDIGO is a very spiritual color, it is linked to increased intuition and
perception. It is one of the colors of the rainbow, a dark purplish blue gets it
name from the indigo plant used to create the indigo dye. The oldest known
fabric dyed indigo dating to 6,000 years ago was discovered in 2009 at Huaca
Prieta, Peru. Many Asian countries, such as India, Japan, and Southeast Asian
nations have used indigo as a dye (particularly silk dye) for centuries.”
Payment:
EU 800
Includes the
-
course fee,
-
all the imported papers
-
most of the colours we will be using,
-
shared accommodation,
-
meals and teas
*In the unlikely event of the course being cancelled deposits or part thereof will be
refunded. We look forward to welcoming you!
Kindly indicate whether you would like to do the cookery class and also whether you
would require farm accommodation between the workshop and the cookery class
There are various things to do for students staying on-for more information on what to see and do please
visit these sites:
.interesting facts about Prince Albert
>karoo
>prince Albert
About Massimo Polello:
We are most privileged to have Massimo come-he is a humble, gentle teacher and
highly creative artist. He creates a nurturing environment in which to teach and gets
the most out of his students. Massimo presents workshops internationally and you
can learn more about him by visiting his website (http://www.lacalligrafia.com/about/)
MARCH
5 March 2020
Calligrapher and cook!
Cooking an Italian meal
Italian cooking course with Massimo. We wil make simple but delicious dishes: a home
made pasta and sauce, starters (tapa style) and of course, dessert, and then, Italian style,
enjoy the meal together
Cost: One night stay , breakfast and course fee R1500
Two night stay, supper, course and two breakfasts R1900
Course time: 16:00-20:00
Space for this class is limited, so kindly register as soon as possible by paying a 50% deposit
9 March 2020
Hartstaal
Woordfees, Stellenbosch
APRIL
25-27 April 2020
Botanical workshop
Willie Schlechter
Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Karoo while exploring its unique landscape and flora through the art
of botanical drawing and painting. This 3-day workshop offers the participant the opportunity for plain air sketching,
where upon they are guided through various stages of drawing and watercolour painting in order to achieve a fairly
accurate depiction of a plant/fruit
R1400 (Course and lunch fee for students not staying on the farm)
R2500 (Course fee, student rate accommodation for two night stay on Friday and Saturday & meals)
Student tariff per person sharing. Arriving Saturday (classes start at 14:00) and departing Monday afternoon
(class ends at 12:00)
(You are most welcome to arrive Friday and self cater at student rates of R300 pppn. The same applies
should you wish to depart on Tuesday)
MAY
1-3 May 2020
Asemic semantics
'Tis what we feel but cannot express in words'
Making emotive marks and drawings and then re-interpreting them into letters. Writing patterns that carry meaning,
but are not necessarily legible. A workshop that will be enjoyed by creatives at all levels. Participants will have time to
explore the various art installations on the farm during the course.
R1400 (Course and lunch fee for students not staying on the farm)
R2500 (Course fee, student rate accommodation for two night stay on Friday and Saturday & meals)
Minimum amount of students 10
Venue: Letterhuis Studio, Aswater farm, Prince Albert
Times:
Arrive Friday in time for 14:00 class Depart anytime Sunday after class which ends at 12:00
(You are most welcome to arrive Thursday and self cater at student rates of R300 pppns. The same applies
should you wish to stay Sunday )
19 May
Connect 2020: The Art of Living Prince Albert workshop
A New Song: 'Writing' music
A fun, non-threatening workshop in which the right brain will be allowed to play while we write' music letters'
from the heart
Cost R700
22& 23 May
Connect 2020: The Art of Living Prince Albert workshop
A journal of meaningful visual recordings
Creating visual recordings of experiences in an innovatively bound book. The focus will also be on design
and composition. Students will make an asemic visual journal with meaning: using writing-like elements that are
not necessarily legible but carry meaning. This will be a journey of experiences recorded visually
Leesette Turner & Heleen
R1400 (Course and lunch fee for students not staying on the farm)
R2500 (Course fee, student rate accommodation for two night stay on Friday and Saturday & meals)
Minimum amount of students 10
Venue: Letterhuis Studio, Aswater farm, Prince Albert
Times:
09:00-16:00
(You are most welcome to arrive Thursday and self cater at student rates of R300 pppns. The same applies
should you wish to stay Sunday )
29-31 May
Creative retreat
Focus: 'Listen to the Wind Words'
Sometimes life happens so fast that we struggle hearing God...
In this 2 day creative retreat we will become still, take photos of the beauty God has blessed us with,
translate them into graphic images, introduce colour, learn to translate the invisible into visible images,
‘listen’ with our eyes, and record our responses to Holy Spirit's revelations This workshop is not only for artists-it is
for anyone who would love to draw nearer to God. It will be a time of enjoying God’s rest in a non-threatening,
creative way- to visually respond to His character as reflected in the various art installations
R1400 (Course and lunch fee for students not staying on the farm)
R2500 (Course fee, student rate accommodation for two night stay on Friday and Saturday & meals)
Venue: Letterhuis Studio, Aswater farm, Prince Albert
Times:
Arrive Friday in time for 14:00 class Depart anytime Sunday after class which ends at 12:00
(You are most welcome to arrive Thursday and self cater at student rates of R300 pppns. The same applies
should you wish to stay Sunday )
JUNE
6 June
Cape Friends of Calligraphy workshop
A New Song: 'Writing' music
A fun, non-threatening workshop in which the right brain will be allowed to play while we write' music letters'
from the heart
Venue: Tygerberg Art Centre, Bellville, Cape Town
14,15 & 16 June 2020
Prince Albert Open Studios workshop
Italic calligraphy
Italic is an elegant script: a beautiful and expressive script-capable of conveying vulnerable romanticism, intense
controlled emotion and everything in between! In this three day course participants will be introduced to the script
and its variations
Times: Saturday 14:00-17:00
Sunday & Monday 09:30-16:30
Tuesday 09:00-12:00
R1950 (Course, teas and lunch fee for students not staying on the farm)
R3100 (Course fee, student rate accommodation for three night stay Saturday, Sunday, Monday & meals)
(You are most welcome to arrive Friday and self cater at student rates of R300 pppns. The same applies
should you wish to stay Tuesday )
18-21 June 2020
Prince Albert Open Studios
Visitors are invited to please come at either 10:00 or 14:00 in order to have time for all we have to offer on the farm
Should you however have to leave earlier, you will be most welcome. Our pop up coffee shop with treats and soup
with home made bread will once again be open
JULY
4 July
Calligraphy workshop in Cape Town
AUGUST
7,8 & 9 August 2020
Asemic workshop
Leesette Turner & Heleen
R1400 (Course and lunch fee for students not staying on the farm)
R2500 (Course fee, student rate accommodation for two night stay on Friday and Saturday & meals)
Min students 10
Venue: Letterhuis Studio, Aswater farm, Prince Albert
Times:
Arrive Friday in time for 14:00 class Depart anytime Sunday after class which ends at 12:00
(You are most welcome to arrive Thursday and self cater at student rates of R300 pppns. The same applies
should you wish to stay Sunday )
OCTOBER
16-18 October 2020
Pointed Brush Lettering
The dancing brush-including writing on glass
Suitable for non calligraphers
'When you write, you must gather the free flowing of your heart'
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
This is not a workshop on learning a specific alphabet or style, but learning how to dance with a pointed brush to the
song of what or Whom your heart delights in and in the process design your own alphabet.This workshop is suitable
for both calligraphers and non-calligraphers
R1400 (Course and lunch fee for students not staying on the farm)
R2500 (Course fee, student rate accommodation for two night stay on Friday and Saturday & meals)
Venue: Letterhuis Studio, Aswater farm, Prince Albert
Times:
Arrive Friday in time for 14:00 class; depart any time Sunday after class which ends at 12:00
(You are most welcome to arrive Thursday and self cater at student rates of R300 pppns. The same applies
should you wish to stay Sunday )
Resident Calligrapher and Letter Artist
Heleen de Haas
Heleen is a South African calligrapher , letter- and conceptual artist and teacher
Her work has been published internationally and has been exhibited both internationally and nationally.
Apart from being passionate about teaching (traditional, contemporary and experimental styles of calligraphy), lettering design and collaborating with other artists, she loves taking calligraphy off book pages and out of frames into everyday life
Her special field of interest is making the invisible visible: using lines to convey meaning, creating work with soul and presenting retreat-like workshops to awaken creativity
Visitors to the area are most welcome to come and stay in the various self catering or camping accommodation options or visit the studio, view the original calligraphic art by international calligraphers, have a look at Die Letterhuis (which is an installation in its own right), do the prayer walk and the Word labyrinth, walk the hand carved stone route or view the land art installations along the river in the Poplar wood. On the farm is also the tiniest of tiny galleries with ceramic and calligraphic work on display as well as a uniquely designed Word Labyrinth
Follow Heleen on instagram : heleen_de_haas
Below: Freestyle embroidery by Elske Maxwell
