Our Member Teachers
The Portland Society for Calligraphy is very lucky to have many talented calligraphy teachers in its membership. Some are well known and respected internationally. In addition to teaching workshops hosted through PSC and other calligraphy guilds, they also provide classes independently, or through local community colleges. Many calligraphic hands, as well as a variety of techniques are covered in their courses.
You can find a list of classes currently being taught by these teachers at the link below. We invite you to take a look, and see if anything interests you.
Calligraphy classes are offered on a regular basis at Portland Community College, Mt. Hood Community College, and the Multnomah Arts Center.
These classes are not sponsored by PSC. Any questions you have about the courses should be directed to the teacher.
Humanist Bookhand
Multnomah Arts Center
Tuesdays, September 29 – December 1 (8 weeks)
6:00–9:00 pm
Humanist bookhand, the basis for the most widespread typefaces in use today, is an ideal starting point if you’re new to calligraphy. This friendly, legible calligraphic script was revived and reinvented again and again over the centuries because of its usefulness in diverse contexts. Get comfortable with nibs, ink, and paper and find out about the history of this widely practiced artform. As well as learning the lowercase and capital letterforms and some fascinating calligraphy history, you’ll be guided in the creation of a handmade book showcasing your lettering.
Roman Square Capitals
Multnomah Arts Center
Thursdays, October 1 – December 3 (8 weeks)
9:30am–12:30pm
Our historical starting point this term, the Capitalis Quadrata or Roman Square Capitals, is a pen-written incarnation of the majestic inscriptional alphabet of ancient Rome. We will learn an accessible version of this alphabet, take some time to play with colors, shapes, and textures, and move on to write modern square capitals, a timeless and stylish alphabet that will bring polish and presence to your lettering projects. Along the way, you’ll be guided in the completion of a hand-bound book featuring your own calligraphy.
I teach Calligraphy on campus at Mt Hood Community College.
The class is every Friday morning 9-11:50 am on campus at MHCC.
2026-2027 year:
- Fall term starts September 25
- Winter term starts January 8
- Spring term starts April 2
Calligraphy – Historical and Decorative Styles (ART219) Art department
Each term looks at a different script:
Fall term: Foundational and Roman Capitals
Winter term: Italic Calligraphy
Spring term: Uncial and Carolingian scripts
This class is appropriate for complete beginners and also students who have previously attended a calligraphy class. We learn how to use dip-ink pens, the basics of letter construction, the class progresses to look at layout and design: how to arrange your letters in a pleasing way. The final project is to create a calligraphic artist book.
Penelope Culbertson
To inquire about classes or register, Please email me at culbertson.calligraphy.@gmail.com or text at 503 997-7474
A variety of small, ongoing calligraphy classes, some on zoom, and some in person in my SE Portland studio.
$10 per class for zoom
$15 per class for in person
- Italic
- Italic Handwriting
- Pointed Italic
- Uncials
- Carolingian
- Gothics
- Bookhand
- Fraktur
- Akim
- Layout
- Rustic Capitals
- Legend
- Fridays 4:30-5:45 in person. Beginning Italic, Italic handwriting, Pointed Italic
- Saturdays 12:30pm-2:00pm In person class in my studio. Starting new scripts and working on a one to one basis. Trying out some finished pieces.
- Sundays 4pm-5pm on Zoom. Exploring numerous scripts with pen and ink. Developing a style, layout, finished work.
- Mondays 2-3pm on zoom. Exploring numerous scripts with pen and ink. Developing a style, layout, finished work.
- Beginning Italic. Thursdays at 3:00pm
- Beginning Copperplate. Thursdays 2-3pm
Calligraphy Workshops that I’ve previously presented on Zoom are available on my website as recordings. Access to the workshop recording includes the exemplars and copies of any pages written during the class.
The Workshop Recordings available: Calligraphic Spirals, Italic Calligraphy, Stars & Orbs, Gothicized Italic, Neuland, Folded Pen, Stamp Carving, Hand Embossing, Monoline Italic, Uncial, Jubilee Script, Ben Shahn Lettering, Bone Script, and Two Pages at a Time.
I offer the following classes & workshops through Portland Community College Community Education at the Sylvania Campus. Most of my classes are Saturday morning & afternoons (refer to PCC listings). I teach every term.
1. One day workshop for Beginners
- June 28th @ PCC Sylvania
- 10am – 3pm am
2. Beginning Calligraphy
- July 12- Aug 9th @ PCC Sylvania
- 9 am-11:50 am Saturdays
3. Intermediate/ Advanced Calligraphy
- July 12- Aug 9th
- 1:00-2:30 pm Saturdays
- project based
Beginning Italic: Portland Style
Hollywood District in Portland
Mondays, starting September 7th
6:30am–8:00pm, drop-in
$15/ session or 6 for $75
Portland has a surprisingly rich calligraphy history — and we’re going to learn it while learning to write.
Over six sessions, we’ll explore the Italic hand from the first broad-edged strokes to finished letters and projects, with a little Portland calligraphy history woven into every class.
Session #1 starts with the basics: pens, ink, paper, pen angle, warm-ups, and our first Italic letterforms.
Absolute beginners welcome. Come learn why Portland has been such a great place to be a calligrapher.
RSVP: Katrina@manicitalic.com
971-940-2407
Hosting live, online calligraphy classes featuring master calligraphers. Every third Tuesday at 9am PT
Offering recorded online classes for calligraphers, visual practitioners and artists.
Beginners may enjoy the “Make It Your Lettering Year” course featuring:
• Weekly prompts to get the ink flowing
• Monthly live Zoom calls featuring guest artists, how to present your work, and community calls sharing works in progress
• Lifetime access to past recordings
• Invitations to future live calls at no additional cost
Cora Pearl
Stay tuned for more classes…
Pleated Scroll
Saturday, September 12, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PDT
Live on Zoom, classes are recorded for extended viewing for 90 days
In this 2.5-hour workshop, you will learn to create a pleated scroll—a folded book form that, when opened, stretches out to a long wall hanging. The pleated scroll is ideal for displaying quotes and artwork, or sending wishes, poems or letters to friends and family. The hard covers are made with beautiful Japanese decorative papers and the book is bound with waxed linen thread and bead embellishments. A keepsake treasure! No art experience necessary.
Mini Masterpieces
Saturday, October 24, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PDT
Live on Zoom, classes are recorded for extended viewing for 90 days
Learn to create beautiful little art masterpieces, perfect for cards and book decorations (or as standalone art), using acrylic paint, a 5-layer technique, and several forms of metallic “bling.” Class will create at least 24 sparkling “mini pieces” (2”x2”) to place on greeting cards (digital templates provided). No art experience necessary.