learning brush calligraphy with nicole miyuki

Travel journaling, so much easier when you can do all the fun creative writing and calligraphy. So I looked up on social media and Instagram some of the bloggers that I follow and Nicole Miyuki caught my eye, her Instagram is (www.instagram.com/nicolemiyuki/?hl=en), i saw that she was having  a workshop in the OC - which is close(er) to LA than some other that I've seen and after looking at her style, so fluid yet vibrant, it was exactly what I was looking for. We we showed up @wayfare (www.instagram.com/wayfarehq/) a common working space/workshop area - with coffee in the front and workshop space in the back. I would have never guessed that this beautiful space was located in the middle of what looked like doctor offices. In a sea of beige buildings you walk in to see friendly faces and the most decked out common space I've ever seen. I took a few pictures for inspiration at my own place.

 I find my little name tag, perfectly scribed in gold ink on top some handcrafted boxes (which we actually got to keep, yay memento!!!) inside was all our supplies for the day. Water color set, one her favorite brushes for water color calligraphy and some other paints as well as a DIY card and some paper to practice on as well as a (what I'm going to call) a Nicole Miyuki workbook.

We all started out learning the basics, some of us more advanced than others and by some of us I mean mine looked like a 2nd grader was coloring in one of those Zen coloring books and the girl sitting across from me was making beautiful calligraphy from the heavens. It was good though because we all have learned on different platforms so our entire group (there was about 8 of us) all learned how to adjust and use a new brush (the one provided). Before this I had only used a water color pen, where you can load in water in the base of the pen and then you can dip it into the paint wells and get creative. We used actual brushes which made me feel like a kid in art class. 

After almost 3 hours I looked at my watch stunned that time went by so fast but as the saying goes, time flies when you're having fun. If you're in the LA/OC area then I highly suggest taking her workshop which can be found on her website (http://www.nicolemiyuki.com). Her style is so unique and she really does encourage you to take her style for the workbook and put your own twist on it. 

Sharing my most recent travel journal soon with all my new calligraphy practice! 

Thanks Nicole for a great class!