For our latest Meet the Calligraphy interview we asked one of our long standing and highly talented members Jim Bassett about his journey with calligraphy.
When did you join the Scribes?
Sorry, but I can’t remember. It is probably seven years. (It must be in the records somewhere.) – GS confirms that Jim’s been an invaluable and supportive member since 2015.
What is your favourite script?
I tend to revert to some variation of Italic when planning a piece of work. I enjoy Gothic and its italicised form, but it is not always appropriate for general use. Italic is so versatile, you can keep it clean and simple or it can be extravagantly flourished.
What made you start learning calligraphy?
I have always been fascinated by letter/number forms. Childhood doodling turned 2s into swans etc. As a student I was involved in the college printing press “learning the case” and setting up jobs in our two Eric Gill type faces, “Perpetua” and “Gill Sans”. We also had some cases of large woodblock poster letters, Playbill and Egyptian, to play with.
As a lecturer in teacher education I was concerned with literacy. Pre digital, this involved relating what a teacher wrote down for the child to the printed letters which the children were struggling to read. Then, teachers wrote on blackboards and made their own work-cards. There had to be uniformity of letter forms to avoid confusing the children. I was also interested in the experimental “Augmented Roman Alphabet”, with its additions to the letter forms indicating their phonic variations. This later became “ITA”, the initial teaching alphabet. There also arose the whole question of teaching handwriting!!!!
On retirement I joined a calligraphy group with an ex colleague and friend who was a brilliant calligrapher. The tuition was outstanding and I have been hooked ever since; seeking out period documents, finely printed books, signwriters, graffiti artists and market traders labelling!
What calligraphy resource/tool/material could you not live without?
Parallel pens are great fun to play with especially with gouache and coloured inks. However, good old scratchy Mitchell nibs are the best (once you get them set up and working). For demonstrating on an upright easel I could not do without a broad brush and paint. Ink runs backwards from most pens on a vertical surface.
Advice for new calligraphers?
YouTube is a wonderful resource. However is only a one way resource. Only face to face teaching allows someone to watch your attempts and offer personalised corrective advice. Find a good teacher.
Favourite calligraphy piece produced so far?
I should really say “the one I am working on”. However, “Sleep After Toil”, an early piece on ink-stained paper written in bleach, runs a close second to Ring of Waves in the Glasgow Scribes project calligraphy book.
Tip for the day/week?
Download the free copy of David Harris’ book “The Art of Calligraphy”
Last TV/Movie you watched?
Paddington 2
What hobbies/activities do you do other than calligraphy?
I continue to make and sell ceramics as a member of the Scottish Potters Association. As an enthusiast of traditional music I dance and play banjo and ukulele in scratch music sessions.
What was the last book you read/or are reading?
A historical novel “The Cry of Tears” by Kate Mosse
