The Portland Society for Calligraphy was founded by Lloyd Reynolds and a group of his students after a long alliance with the Society for Italic Handwriting in England. Portland Society for Calligraphy is the oldest calligraphy guild in the United States. We were first known as the Western American Branch of the Society for Italic Handwriting.
We offer an extensive workshop program aimed at all levels of skill. Our teachers include internationally renowned calligraphers as well as local talent. We sponsor an annual weekend retreat during the month of February at the Menucha Retreat Center in the beautiful Columbia Gorge. The Guild also exhibits members’ artwork in an annual non-juried show.
BLM STATEMENT
Joining the society
Becoming a member of your local calligraphy guild is a great way to find friends, mentors, and professional contacts. Our guild contains some of the area’s most notable and accomplished scribes, as well as a number of newcomers looking to dip their pen for the first time.
We encourage you and your friends to come and visit us during one of our regular monthly meetings (September-June), and see what all the fuss is about. When you arrive, make sure to tell someone it’s your first time visiting and we’ll be sure to make you feel right at home.
Thank you for your interest in being a member of the Portland Society for Calligraphy. Due to currently transitioning to a new website, we are postponing any additional membership registrations. If you would like to be notified of when the new system is ready, please email Leslie at membership@
Upcoming Events
Beautiful Words
2022 Member Exhibit
“Summer afternoon-summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ~ Henry James
Do you agree with Henry James? What two words, when juxtaposed, are beautiful to you? Do you have words with a strong message? What do you want to convey, in just two words? What are the two words that inspire a longer piece of your own composition?
This open-ended theme allows calligraphers to not only explore the beauty of writing and design, but also empowers them to write word pairings that are personally meaningful. Your words can be either serious or playful, bold or subtle. We know that the calligraphic expression of your text will be exciting!
This exhibit will be displayed in two venues: the first will be an online exhibit in the fall of 2022. Links to the Prospectus and photo instructions are on the exhibit page here.
The Magic of the Parallel Pen…Beyond Letters!
A two-day workshop with Suzie Berenger
class full – registration closed
We are so excited for our workshop with the fabulous Suzie Beringer from the Pacific Northwest! In this workshop, students look at the Pilot Parallel Pen and the many possibilities the pen offers for artistic expression. Suzie will share great design ideas that look at creating different borders along with showing how to manipulate this pen to create beautiful foliage as well as other endless designs.