Penelope Culbertson

Penelope’s Story

Penelope’s calligraphic journey began right here in Portland when she was just a teenager, after she attended a transformative workshop with the legendary Lloyd Reynolds at Reed College. That day changed everything. She raced home afterward and taught her younger sister every exercise and principle she had learned — because from the very beginning, Penelope didn’t just learn calligraphy from Lloyd… she learned how to teach calligraphy.

An eager Lloyd disciple, she joined his fledgling WABSIH (Western American Branch of the Society for Italic Handwriting, the precursor to the Portland Society for Calligraphy) group as a teenager. While her path later took her on extraordinary adventures — including years living in Mexico and Hawai‘i — the magic of calligraphy stayed close to her heart. LLoyd’s teachings have always remained the center of who she is. During her time in Hawai‘i, she taught herself watercolor, becoming a successful commercial artist selling paintings and creating traditional gyotaku fish prints for returning fishermen — transforming their catch into treasured works of art.

Penelope has always remained deeply connected to the lineage from which she learned. She spent countless hours studying alongside fellow students of Lloyd — including her dear friend Jaki Svaren, whose wisdom and artistry influenced her profoundly. And in turn, Penelope has spent over 60 years passing the joy of calligraphy on to others. She taught both calligraphy and watercolor in school environments for nearly 40 years, and she has continued nurturing adult learners in workshops and home-based classes for decades beyond that.

She has built beautiful communities of learners — whether in a classroom, on retreat, or around the dining table in her cozy Ladd’s Addition home. She specializes in Italic and has mastered dozens of other scripts. Her drop-in classes are welcoming, affordable, and filled with encouragement — places where beginners find confidence and longtime scribes rediscover joy.

Since returning to Portland from Hawaii in the 1990s, Penelope proudly rejoined the guild and has represented PSC through demonstrations at Art in the Pearl, Gathering of the Guilds, and other public events — helping new generations discover the magic of pen and ink. She truly believes calligraphy belongs in everyone’s hands.

Penelope is a steadfast supporter of PSC’s retreat tradition, working to ensure this cherished gathering continues to thrive year after year. Though she has never sought the spotlight or formal leadership roles, her presence has been constant — at meetings, exhibitions, State Fair installations, celebrations, and every corner of guild life.

Her own artistic accomplishments are many: watercolor florals, gyotaku prints, and calligraphy work exhibited in galleries. This year, she earned an Honorable Mention at the Oregon State Fair for her original ribbon script — a letterform style she invented herself.

Her family reflects her influence as well: sister Debra Mader (her first student), niece Sarah Mader, and grand-niece Anya Mader are all PSC members —as well as several of her grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews.